SRA Annual Report 2024-25: Adapting to the water-related impacts of climate change
The third Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) objective in the SRA Strategy 2024-34 is to “increase the resilience of people, places and the environment to flooding, while adapting to climate change”. This objective reflects both a long SRA engagement with adaptation efforts and a recognition that, in future, different ways of doing things will have to be seriously considered, and gradually and thoughtfully acted upon.
Between 2019 and 2023, the SRA and the EU’s Interreg 2 Seas programme jointly funded an initiative called Adapting the Levels. As its name suggests, this concentrated on the Somerset Levels and Moors. In March 2023, the SRA Board agreed to fund a follow-up to this called Adaptations & Associations on the Somerset Levels and Moors, to involve more people and organisations. (Associations refers to Moor Associations: see page 44). In March 2024, the SRA Board agreed to a further follow-up called Adapting Somerset, delivered by Somerset Wildlife Trust, now casting ambitions across a wider area.
In 2024-25, progress was made with both follow-up initiatives. In each place taking part, the aim has been to work together with local people on producing a bespoke climate adaptation plan, with themes and priorities for action chosen by local people. These have generally included matters such as influencing local planning and development, improving and increasing green spaces, sharing knowledge, raising awareness, and doing useful things like tree planting and installing green roofs and walls. All plans have also had chapters about flooding. Text continues below images.
A 58-page plan for Glastonbury was published in August 2024, its flooding section urging eight actions including:
- installing water butts in residential areas and on public buildings
- creating rain gardens and ponds
- replacing public paved surfaces with permeable alternatives
- rainwater harvesting around business parks
A 59-page Polden Hills plan followed in September 2024, its flooding section urging six actions including:
- promoting water retention solutions
- implementing natural flood management techniques
- improving drainage infrastructure
- enhancing community flood resilience
In February 2025, a 45-page draft plan was published for the Under Hamdon Parishes (including Ash, East Lambrook, Martock, Kingsbury Episcopi, South Petherton and Stoke sub Hamdon). Its flooding section urged five actions:
- promoting and strengthening community flood response
- maintaining drains, gullies and watercourses
- implementing rainwater collection and sustainable drainage systems
- supporting vulnerable residents during floods
- co-ordinating parish-wide flood management
Work also began in 2024-25 – as part of Adapting Somerset – on plans for Wells and Spaxton. Preparations began for Frome.
Practical follow-up activities to plans have included workshops at Bridies Farm, Glastonbury, teaching people how to create rain gardens, harvest rainwater and build green roofs using upcycled materials. In the Polden Hills, Shapwick Parish Council has been planting trees and swards of wildflowers for natural flood management, and Catcott Primary School has created a climate-resilient garden with trees, shrubs, vegetables, and herbs to help manage flows of water.
All plans are available via the Act to Adapt section of the Somerset Wildlife Trust website, which is regularly updated and has a large amount of inspiring and helpful information.