How do we adapt locally?

The changes in our weather – increasingly less stable, and more extremes of heat, wet and windy – are all leading to the question of what does community adaptation look like at the local level?

We are sure you are thinking the same, based on your own experience here in York. We can all help ourselves if we are better organised and better prepared to conserve the places we love.

The good news is that actions to reduce emissions are often very similar to those which help local communities adapt to weather impacts. They are also very similar to actions which help restore and conserve wildlife. They’re also similar to actions which strengthen community resilience – and that’s our strapline: A more connected, a more resilience and a more resourceful South Bank.

So, during heatwaves, during droughts, during floods, what plans can we make at the local level to help us all make it through? Of course government must protect us, they have responsibilities too; and it’s well known that in a worst-case scenario, it is the strength of community relationships which will be our most important and immediate source of help.

So here’s a quick update on what we’re doing. If you want to get inovled, or find out more about any of these activities, just be in touch: info@planetsouthbank.org.uk

·       We’re involved in conversations together with Clements Hall and others towards creating a more resilient food strategy for South Bank and within the city. How can more growing take place locally; and how as communities can we respond to the recent government announcement for stockpiling: what would community preparedness look like? We’ve already met with MP Rachael Maskell, and we are planning a series of individual, community and York-wide actions to take things forward.

·       Two student research teams from the University of York’s Sustainability Clinic are researching adaptations in South Bank towards water security and food security. We’re really looking forward to sharing their recommendations with you.

·       We continue to manage the community garden beside St Clements Church, for growing local produce, trying heritage seeds, and teaching growing skills. We also run regular foraging walks in the spring and summer, to educate us all about what’s growing for free on our doorstep

·       We help run regular listening circles, to support us all manage the feelings and thoughts from living through such complex and challenging times.

·       We’re increasingly incorporating creative activities into what we do – you may remember last year’s ‘thrutopia’ creativity project, How We Made It Through. Planet South Bank member Cath Mortimer has an exhibition at Southlands Church this weekend (31 October and 1 November) celebrating the once and future swamps of South Bank – this event is part of the 2026 York Environment Festival.

·       And our Street-re-Cycle events builds community relationships and reduces the need to buy new stuff. The next one will likely be May 2027 – sign up here to get e-mail notifications of this and of all our upcoming activities

One other thing you can do? If you haven’t yet seen a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing, take the chance while you can. If you’ve seen it already, take a friend or a family member to another screening – someone who you know would trust you if you said to them, ‘You really need to see this film’. For upcoming screenings in York, see https://york.earth/peb/ and here’s the map of all screenings nationally https://www.nebriefing.org/screening-map