A BESPOKE plan to meet the effects of climate change head on has been developed in Glastonbury.

Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT), Glastonbury Town Council (GTC) and town residents joined forces to launch the new ‘Climate Adaption Plan’, which will look to plant more trees and plants, adapt to flooding, install green walls and roofs, and engage with planning authorities to ensure climate change is considered in decisions.

The final version of the plan will be unveiled at in-person event on Saturday (August 24) where people are invited to see the plan, ask questions, and share tips and advice to start implementing key changes. The event will run between 4.30pm and 7pm at St John’s Church.

Glastonbury Tor Picture: Lynne Newton

SWT has been piloting a new process, ‘Act to Adapt’, to help communities in Somerset better understand how they can adapt to climate change and prepare for the climate extremes facing the county.

It started working with the council in October last year, helped by funding from the Somerset Rivers Authority, to complete the first new climate adaption plan for the county.

Natalie Barnett, climate adaptation officer at SWT, said Somerset is one of the UK’s most climate vulnerable areas due to its long coast and large areas of low-lying land.

“It’s facing risks including sea-level rise, river flooding, and drought,” she said. “Working with communities across Somerset through the Act to Adapt process has allowed us to explain what these risks might actually mean for people and businesses, and how their day-to-day lives might be affected.

“Climate change stirs deep emotions, but we can’t shy away from this crucial conversation. Facing the reality of extreme weather and its impacts on our communities is essential.

“By normalising discussions about climate concerns, climate adaptation and encouraging action, we’re taking a vital step forward.

“This process has been all about working with communities — we’ve built plans around local concerns and ideas, which naturally leads to stronger communities, increased biodiversity, and improved wellbeing.

“It has been such a pleasure to have been involved in this project so far, and we’re absolutely delighted to be able to launch this Climate Adaptation Plan for Glastonbury.”

Residents taking part in a support network consultation event Picture: Somerset Wildlife Trust

Somerset Rivers Authority chair, Councillor Mike Stanton, said: “Across Somerset floods have been increasing in intensity and unpredictability because of climate change. Hence why one of the new objectives in the SRA Strategy 2024-34 is to ‘increase the resilience of people, places and the environment to flooding, while adapting to climate change’.

“So the SRA has been helping people in Glastonbury to work together on local ideas for achieving that objective with this new Climate Adaptation Plan.

“It’s a fascinating piece of work. It covers many parts of the town, right down to individual ponds, bus shelters and toilet blocks. If you’ve been not involved so far, please do get involved now.”

The Act to Adapt process is also currently being delivered in the following communities, with plans to expand further across Somerset in the future in the following areas:

• Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge
• Minehead
• The Polden Hills
• Wells
• Martock

You can download a copy of the final Climate Adaptation Plan for Glastonbury and learn more about Act to Adapt by visiting the Somerset Wildlife Trust website: www.somersetwildlife.org/act-to-adapt