Stay cool during warm weather

With temperatures on the rise, it's important to look after your health and the wellbeing of those around you.

Older adults, babies and young children, people with long-term health conditions, pregnant individuals and those living alone are especially vulnerable during a heatwave and hotter temperatures. If you have an elderly neighbour who lives alone, consider checking in on them.

Stay hydrated and cool

Drink plenty of fluids and carry water when travelling.

Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm when the UV rays are strongest.

If you need to go outside in the heat, walk in the shade, carry water with you, apply sunscreen, and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Use cool spaces, like parks with plenty of trees.

Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, vulnerable adults, or animals.

Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.

Close curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember, it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.

While swimming can be a nice way to cool off, help keep people in your care safe by making sure they understand the key risks and safety guidelines around swimming.

You can find more information on safe summer swimming from the Royal Life Saving Society.

Help our young trees thrive 

Alongside caring for yourselves and your loved ones, we invite you to extend that same care to the young street trees around you. With warmer, drier days ahead, your support is essential to help them thrive. The number one cause of mortality for street trees in England is lack of water - but together, we can change that. 

We are collaborating closely with our specialist contractor to deliver our most ambitious watering and aftercare programme to date, which includes over 2,000 young trees. This is an enormous challenge, and any additional watering support from the community - especially during hot and dry spells – goes a long way to ensure our trees make the most of the sunlight and thrive! 

Join Friends of Street Trees 

Friends of Street Trees is a community-led volunteer group dedicated to helping our trees thrive. This spring and summer, they are calling on residents to join them by helping to water the young trees near their own homes - a small act that makes a big difference. Find out more at Friends of Street Trees.

Even if you can’t volunteer, you can still make a big impact. Even watering the young tree on your street with 10 litres every couple of days can help it survive and thrive.

Learn how to water your local street tree.