Project
Act to Adapt
Supporting communities across Somerset to adapt to climate change through a series of collaborative events.
Wells Act to Adapt Plan has been adopted by Wells City Council
A step forward for our Wells environment and climate resilience was taken by Wells City Council on Thursday 26 June 2025 when it voted to adopt the Wells Act To Adapt Plan. The Plan was guided through a public consultation from October 2024 to May 2025 by Somerset Wildlife Trust and was funded by Somerset Rivers Authority and sets out the strategies for local authorities and agencies including Wells City Council, voluntary organisations and businesses, and individuals across the following 4 key themes:
- Improving and Increasing Green Spaces
- Adapting to flooding
- Encouraging Community Driven Climate Action
- Co-ordinating Emergency Plans
Tessa Munt MP, Cllr Denise Denis, Natalie Barnett, Somerset Wildlife Trust Climate Adaptation Officer
The Plan will be formally launched at Wells Eco-week on Saturday 11 October 2025. At the recent public meeting, Wells City Council was congratulated by Tessa Munt, MP for Wells, for achieving this milestone and making the plan a reality. Whilst it will involve hard work and commitment by all organisations and the public, she said it would provide strategies to work on and wished every success to Wells City Council, organisations and the public.
Act To Adapt Plan can be viewed online:
Act to Adapt - Wells | Somerset Wildlife Trust
Mendip Hills National Landscape
Mendip Hills National Landscape is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
For further information please click on the following link:
Mendip Hills National Landscape
Wells is principally a small city of 11000 inhabitants, nestling in the bowl of the beautiful Mendip Hills and on the edge of the Somerset Levels. It is a small compact, historic urban settlement with a distinctive character and which makes it a unique place to live, work and visit.
Two historic parks or gardens are registered Grade 2*- Milton Lodge and The Bishops’ Palace; The Cathedral Green fronts the beautiful Wells Cathedral, and the Wells City Recreation Ground is the setting for the Scheduled Monument Bishops Barn.
Wells City Council provides 3 allotment areas and maintains the roundabout and city centre plantings throughout the year.
Wells City Council Climate Emergency Working Group
reporting to the Outside Spaces Committee and Wells Environment Network
In 2019, Wells City Council passed The Climate Emergency Motion which committed the Council to reduce the negative impact of what we do on the environment we live in as well as the effects of our carbon emissions and footprint on the climate change.
Councillors, residents and organisations are working together to achieve an increase in biodiversity across the city, improve active travel and provide information and support to the public for energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.
Wells Neighbourhood Plan 2023-2029 contains the Policies ENV1 and Env2 to guide and support Wells City Planning Processes and designates 29 Local Green Spaces in accordance with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework.
Community Organisations and Projects
Wells Ecoweek 2024
Participants — Wells Environmental Network
The Ecoweek+ festival has shone a spotlight on the incredible efforts of Wells' residents and organisations to protect and nurture the local environment. Held from 11th to 20th October, the event offered a wide range of engaging activities, workshops, and discussions aimed at raising awareness and inspiring action toward a more sustainable future. People were engaged in the urgent questions: What can we do? How can I help? How can I get involved? The community's enthusiasm was evident, with many eager to learn how they could contribute to positive environmental change.
Tor Hill Lane Wilder Verges Project -Sustainable Wells in partnership with Somerset Council and Wells City Council
