Climate news archive

Read past press releases and news stories related to the climate and ecological emergency

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Staff from Chard Reservoir receiving their check from a representative at Tesco's in Chard.

An innovative mobile classroom is on the way for Somerset Council’s Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve thanks to a £1,500 grant from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme. The grant, applied…

An aerial view of Wellington Sports Centre showing an array of solar panels and other decarbonisation features including air source heat pumps.

A major milestone has been reached as Wellington Sports Centre announces the official completion of its £3.6million decarbonisation and refurbishment project. The centre, which is operated by Everyone Active in…

A view of the platform at Bishops Lydeard Railway station.

Somerset Council and West Somerset Railway PLC have jointly submitted a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) to the Government to restore scheduled train services between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. In…

A little boy helping to plant a tree in a garden.

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Somerset Tree Strategy,  the Council is asking people to use the awareness week as a chance to think about trees and take…

A woman's hand setting a program on an energy efficient washing machine.

Since October, the energy price cap for households using gas and electricity has gone up by around 10%, which makes it the perfect time to look for ways to cut…

Strawberry Line Ribbon Cutting

Somerset Council has joined residents and volunteers to celebrate the opening of another 2 new sections of the Strawberry Line, a traffic free greenway through the county. On 8 November,…

Chard Reservoir with lightly rippled water on a partially sunny day, including reeds, waterfowl and foliage in the background.

A major scheme that will strengthen Chard Reservoir’s barrier and help protect local communities from its potential to flood is due to get underway. The Council is budgeting up to…

New Somerset Council Green Estates Rangers, featuring from L to R: Lydia Winthorpe, Erica Cox and Julia Kennaby.

Somerset Council recently welcomed three new members to its Natural Environment Team. A grant from the Government Department of Culture’s Levelling Up Programme has allowed the Council to create these…

Two workers on a tiled roof of a home fitting new solar panels.

Somerset homeowners are encouraged to take steps towards more energy-efficient homes and lower energy bills with a Somerset Council-backed Lendology loan. With energy prices rising this winter, Lendology CIC, a…

A beautiful sunny day view of the river Tone near Taunton, with flourishing trees on the bankside.

Somerset Council is asking for community opinion to shape the future of Taunton’s cherished waterways. The Taunton Waterways Strategy and Guidance is now open for a 6-week consultation and the…

An internal view of the children's area at the new refurbished Wellington Library

On Monday, 30 September at 9:30 am, Wellington Library will reopen its doors, to welcome the community back to its historic Fore Street location after being refurbished. An official opening…

Landscape view of Somerset countryside

Somerset Council’s Lead members for the environment have written to Ed Miliband asking for a renewed Government commitment to helping local government achieve the nation’s net zero targets. The letter…

An ariel view of Ham Hill showing the boundary of Hedgecock Wood with closed paths outlined in light blue and closed paths outlined in red

Steps to remove diseased ash trees in part of Somerset Council’s Ham Hill Country Park will start next month. The work is essential on health and safety grounds and will…

The biggest resurfacing programme in at least 4 years continues across Somerset over the next 2 weeks. Somerset Council’s road surface treatment specialists Kiely Bros are undertaking work that will…

Solar panels with wind turbines in background.

Somerset Council is empowering businesses to reduce their carbon emissions by registering for the Go Green Scheme. Part of the scheme will enable businesses to take advantage of a free…

Members of the Ham Hill team punching the air in celebration of winning a green flag award

Somerset Council is thrilled to announce that four of their managed open spaces have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award for 2024. Ham Hill, Yeovil Country Park, Wellington Park,…

The Council’s new lighting contractor, VolkerHighways Ltd will provide an eight-year maintenance contract covering all the council’s street lights, lighted signs, bollards and other electrical equipment on highways and public…

Stock illustration of a corporate building next to A to B energy rating bars by Yip from Pixabay.

Somerset Council is offering businesses practical help to reduce the amount of energy they use which will lead to a lower carbon footprint whilst reducing their bills. Launched last October,…

A man stood next to a air source heat pump fitted at his home

The Retrofit Somerset project led by Somerset Climate Action Network in partnership with Somerset Council has recently launched a partnership with green tech company Thermly to trial a heat pump…

A man holding a young tree sapling beside wording that says Root for somerset. Make your trees count along with a link to the page to map newly planted trees

Somerset Council is calling out to anyone who has recently planted or plans to plant trees, to ‘root for Somerset’ and add them to the Somerset Tree Planting Register. As…