Climate Group

Doing our bit to tackle climate change in Carhampton and Blue Anchor!

Climate change and its impact on the world we live in is one of the most significant issues facing us all today. Councils in Somerset have declared a ‘climate emergency’ and have published a plan for addressing climate change. They have set two goals: to reduce carbon emissions and to make our communities more resilient to extreme weather events.

And did you know that the UK has one of the lowest variety of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms (‘biodiversity’) in the western world? So, we need to increase the variety, as well as protect what we have, before it is too late.

In Carhampton and Blue Anchor, we want to do what we can to address these problems. In January 2021, a group of interested residents came together to discuss the issues and think about what actions we can all take to improve the outlook for our community. The group decided on the following aims:

Raise awareness of the climate emergency in a non-threatening way.
Suggest small actions to reduce carbon emissions.
Promote actions to boost biodiversity and improve the environment.
Engage with local experts and like-minded groups for knowledge sharing.

These actions support the Somerset Climate Emergency Strategy (see below for further reading).

Contact Details

climatecarhampton@gmail.com

Past Events & Community Involvement

Since 2021 we’ve run speaker events, community litter picks, wildlife mapping, an open wild gardens afternoon, and two Repair Cafés each year. In 2025 we held two key speaker events, the first in June on the topic of housing for the future and then in October on the topic of being plastic free! In addition we held a spring and autumn repair cafe.

Nature Recovery in our Parish: What Can We Do?

Our event on 28th March, 2026, heard from 3 expert speakers: Stephen Dury from Somerset Council’s LNRS team, ecologist Graham Boswell and nature restoration adviser Paul Rutter. The event had a dual focus: local action for nature recovery and local monitoring of species and habitats. The speakers emphasized the need for action both at a local level, in our own gardens but also on a wider scale in our all important farmland which makes up 75% of Somerset’s landscape; increasing biodiversity doesn’t need to mean reducing food production.

Upcoming Event on Renewable Energy

Saturday 17 October, 10:00 to 12:30pm – Carhampton Village Hall

Our next event is on the topic of ‘How we should use our land for solar and wind energy‘. Our key speakers will be:

> Dr Guy Parker, Director, Wychwood Biodiversity

> Fletcher Robinson, Trustee and Planner, The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Somerset

There will be time for a Q&A discussion. This is a free entry however, cash donations are welcome. Tea, coffee and cake will be available.

Somerset Council: Climate Emergency Further Reading

The former Somerset County and District Councils collaborated for several years on a joint climate strategy and action plan. Since April 2023 Somerset Council has been carrying this work forward. For the latest updates and resources, visit the Somerset Council website.

Come and Join Us!

All interested villagers are welcome to join the Carhampton Climate Group to share ideas, organise events, or just lend a hand. Got suggestions or want to volunteer?