Past events

Missed one of our events? Not to worry catch up on what you missed below

Sedgemoor District Council

Sedgemoor hosted a number of events for their climate champions

Environment Champions Launch event 2021

• Held on June 16th virtually learning about projects going on across the districts and talks from Jolyon Chesworth (Team Wilder) and Steve Mewes (Green Wedmore). Unfortunately, due to a technical issue, their presentations weren’t recorded

Environment Champion Autumn event 2021

• Our environment champions heard from Neil who has been wildflower planting in Cannington and the public’s response. Andrea and Richard from The Berrow conservation group spoke about their community engagement and conservation work and about finally horse-logging that took place in Stowey Wood.

COP26: What does it mean for Sedgemoor

This event was held in partnership with Burnham & Weston Energy and the University of Exeter addressing the outcomes of COP26.

Through an engaging panel of experts, campaigners and policymakers, the event steered participants through the main conclusions of COP26, what gaps need filling and what opportunities exist on a local level to accelerate our progress towards our carbon neutral ambition.

Three breakout rooms covered the topics of local funding for climate projects, climate adaptation and opportunities for businesses. Within these smaller discussions there were valuable contributions from all attendees; the University of Exeter was able to draw out these key emerging themes:

• We have the potential in this area to be leaders of climate action
• To be successful, we need a route map and to decipher how we all, given the diverse networks involved and affected, work together
• Local responsibility for meeting climate objectives lies with everyone in terms of what we do and choosing who we work with including suppliers and partners
• Clear, sensitive, communication is needed to increase understanding and enable change
• There is value in those already taking action

Environment Champions Spring event 2022

Joined by Nigel Cox, horticultural lecturer at Bridgwater College, for a talk on Sedgemoor’s wonderful wetlands. We also heard about Sedgemoor District Council’s No Mow May initiative at Apex Park, and Environment Champions spoke about the exciting projects they have been involved with so far this year

Environment Champions Summer Event 2022

Our champions were presented with a run-down of the new Community Adaptation Toolkit for community spaces, which helps parishes and communities adapt their buildings to the impacts of climate change. Sedgemoor District Council’s Ecologist Pete Grainger updated on the successes of No Mow May at Apex Park, and how this impacted wildlife in Sedgemoor. We previewed an exciting new climate change video from Sedgemoor District Council, which will help residents to better understand the topic and inform them about what we’re doing as a council. Finally, we discussed how Sedgemoor District Council can help communities who want to organise their own litter picks and beach cleans during the Great British Beach Clean.

South Somerset District Council

South Somerset held a number of events with more information on each below

• Somerset Business Climate Summit 2022: Businesses came together from across Somerset to learn share and be inspired about reducing their climate impact
• Building Sustainable Communities: Having talked about the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of Building Sustainably, Bradfords Construction presented their first event focusing on the ‘how’. Bradford’s and Trustmark presented about understanding how you can go about building sustainably
• Wyke Farms: Sustainable Visitor Centre Tour and Anaerobic Digestor: Read a review of our tour of Wyke Farms’ sustainable energy visitor centre and find out how they have transitioned to becoming a low-carbon business.
• Insulating Somerset Webinar: Find out about the steps to improve your properties’ energy efficiency
• Down by the River: Flood risk in Somerset: Somerset Rivers Authority and Somerset Film present “Down by the River”, a new documentary film exploring flood risk in Somerset and celebrating local community resilience.
• Community Buildings: How to undertake a DIY Energy Audit: Watch the Community Council for Somerset’s Webinar and find out how to under a DIY energy audit of your village hall. Find the energy audit pack here
• Climate and Ecological Crisis? What’s all the fuss about: David Ramsden MCE spoke about the Climate and Ecological Crisis and the impact it has and will have on us
• Bringing the climate conversation to a wider Audience: A webinar with climate author George Marshall who discusses bringing the climate conversation to a wider audience
• The Problem with Phosphates: An overview of phosphates and why they are causing environmental issues in Somerset
• The Environment in the South West – Levelling up the conversation: An exciting panel discussion on the 2021 Environment Act and what it means where you live
• Building Sustainable Communities: Rewatch the presentations from Bradfords Building Company’s Sustainability in the construction industry.
• Community Renewable Energy Forum: Somerset Climate Action Network hosted a forum showcasing the various community energy projects across Somerset.
• Levels Climate Forum – SCOP26: Held on 6th November 2021 to discuss all topics around COP26. Watch all speakers on the YouTube channel
• Rivercide – Polluting Rivers: Friends of the River Frome presented a screening of Rivercide in November, a groundbreaking investigative documentary into the state of UK rivers, presented by environmental writer George Mobio
• Re-wilding Somerset: Catch up on CPRE’s hugely successful event in November 2021 exploring how we can all make Somerset a wilder, greener place where wildlife and communities can thrive.
• FSB hosted a free online conference exploring the significant role small businesses can play in the transition to net zero. A summary can be found here
• SSDC’s Wildflower Seminar: Online webinar on their no mow may trails with a talk from Plantlife’s Dr Kate Petty (3:56), SSDCs Horticultural lead (41:16) and local case studies (1:08:52)