Climate change is right here, right now. There are myths that the earth’s climate has always changed historically – which is true, but not at his rate. The effects of climate change isn’t just being felt in Greenland or the Amazon rainforest, but here in Avon it’s effecting residents, commuters, businesses, hospitals, farmers and families – everyone.

We’re experiencing changes in our weather patterns and our seasons with hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. This in turn creates more extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, flooding and storms.

Coping with heatwaves 

Paved over gardens and fake grass reduces water absorption and contributes to increased urban heating, known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect. This is especially felt during heatwaves.

There are many ways to take action for nature in your front garden. By joining forces with your neighbours, even more can be achieved. Greener streets are more attractive, raise community spirit, improve the air quality, reduce flooding risk, help manage/cool the temperature and increase property value.

Grenville in St George shared how he added native wildflowers and habitat to his street in BS5:

• Green Bin covers
• Hanging baskets
• Planting Rowan trees to provide berries for birds
• Window boxes, tubs and containers
• Adding climbing plants to wallsHe also set up the Kensington Road Residents Association 

What is carbon sequestration?

Carbon sequestration takes carbon out of the air, e.g. trees and plants absorbing co2, and distributing it to the roots and into the soil, where it stays. This depends on the plants and type of soil.

The important thing to know here, is that the more carbon in the air, means a greater rate of climate change. This is escalated by fossil fuels and deforestation. More trees and plants means more carbon is absorbed and stored in the ground, slowing down climate change. Scale is important here and planting more trees and plants will not offset human-caused carbon emissions. There are many actions needed at individual, community, national and global levels. The Paris Agreement (international treaty on climate change) aims to limit global temperatures rising. Bristol City Council has a target for the city to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Permaculture practices works with nature and uses natural cycles and ecosystems to form principles for long term growing and land management. These principles can be applied to small gardens, allotment plots, large community spaces and farming. 

Emma from Thornbury Community Permaculture Project shared some practices to take action against climate change locally:

• No-dig beds
• Composting
• Hedgeway creation
• Deliberate wild areas and wild edges
• Wildflower meadow
• Wildlife pond
• Intentional habitats like insect houses, bird boxes and hedgehog highways
• Their herb spiral and main plant beds was designed with drought resistant gardening in mind.

Flood risk

Prolonged dry periods can compact soils making them harder and reducing their ability to absorb water. Therefore when we get heavy rainfall on dry, compacted soil, it is harder for the soil to absorb the water causing increased surface runoff and potential flash flooding. Increased waterflow to local rivers and streams overwhelms their capacity. 

Alison from Grow Batheaston has noticed the River Avon flooding more frequently and causing major disruption to the community. Batheaston was flooded at least five times in 2024. Storm Bert caused damage to homes, infrastructure, businesses and the local school was forced to close. 

Nature-based solutions, placing community groups at the heart of climate resilience planning and collective actions for nature will contribute to slowing down climate change on a local level, but are only one part of the solution.

More inspiration from Team Wilder