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A view across the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels in summertime. Photo taken from a hill side, with the grassy slope in the foreground and the flat fields, criss-crossed with ditches, stretching into the background.

Image: - Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

View south over the Somerset Levels from Walton Hill in summer View includes Butleigh Moor, Somerton Moor, Street Moor, Low Ham Moor, Walton Moor, Pitney Moor, Huish Moor

Project

Act Together to Adapt

Working with communities and councils to respond to climate change

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Nature-based solutions (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/what-we-do/create-wilder-somerset-2030/create-nature-recovery-network/nature-based-solutions)
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Team Wilder (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/get-involved/team-wilder)
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Adaptation Toolkit (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/climate-adaptation-toolkit)
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Sign up to the newsletter (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/act-adapt-newsletter-sign-form-0)

Taking community action further

Communities across Somerset are already planning for climate change. Through our Act to Adapt programme, local groups have developed tailored Community Climate Adaptation Plans on how to respond to flooding, heatwaves, drought and wildfire in their local area.  
 
Act Together to Adapt builds on this work, focusing on how these community-led plans can be better recognised and integrated into local decision-making.  
 
This 12-month project (March 2026 – February 2027) is delivered in partnership with the University of Bristol and in collaboration with Somerset Council and is funded by the MACC Hub Flexible Fund.

University of Bristol and MACC Hub logo

Why this project matters

There is already a huge amount of local knowledge and effort going into climate adaptation across Somerset. But currently, there is no clear or consistent way for this work to feed into council planning and policy. 
 
This project is about closing that gap, helping to connect community experience with the systems and processes that shape decisions

How we’re doing it

We’re working closely with communities and Somerset Council to explore what works, what’s needed, and how to make change happen in practice. This includes: 

⸙ Workshops – co-designing tools and approaches with council officers and communities

⸙ Walkshops – exploring local places together to understand risks and opportunities

⸙ Focus groups – testing ideas and sharing experiences

⸙ Interviews – gathering insight from councillors and officers 

What we hope to achieve

By February 2027, the project will deliver practical tools to help Somerset Council better respond to community climate action, including: 

⸙ Clear pathways to include community climate adaptation plans in planning and policy 

⸙ Guidance for decision-making and engagement 

⸙ Training approaches to support council staff 

⸙ A framework to track progress and impact over time 

⸙ A model that can be used by other local authorities across the UK 

Building on Act to Adapt

This project builds directly on our Act to Adapt work with Somerset communities. Those plans are already helping people respond to climate risks locally, from managing flood impacts to supporting wildlife and improving resilience. 
 
Act Together to Adapt is about making sure that this work becomes a part of how local decisions are made. 

Project team

This project is managed by Natalie Barnett, Climate Adaptation Officer for Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Natalie Barnett

Portrait photograph of Natalie Barnett, SWT

My work focuses on helping local areas prepare for and respond to climate impacts like flooding, drought, and wildfire. 

Through community workshops and consultations, I facilitate the development of Climate Adaptation Plans that protect both people and wildlife. I collaborate with communities, farmers, landowners, local authorities and experts to implement adaptive strategies, such as natural flood management and resilient habitat creation. 

By combining environmental expertise with community-driven approaches, Somerset Wildlife Trust is working to build a network of climate-adapted communities and ecosystems across Somerset.

Email me on natalie.barnett@somersetwildlife.org 
 



 

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