The summer of 2026 brought the challenges of our changing climate into sharp focus. Provisional government figures recorded 1,354 wildfires, including 624 in July alone, making this the second worst year on record. 

For our National Landscapes, the consequences have been devastating. 

In July, a catastrophic wildfire tore through around 370 acres of Dunwich Heath in the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, destroying precious habitats, threatening rare wildlife and leaving a much-loved landscape facing years of recovery. 

And with hotter, drier summers predicted, the need to prepare, adapt and build resilience has never been more urgent. 

And the challenges don't end with summer. With the Met Office warning of heightened potential for wet, windy and stormy weather in the months ahead, the Government is convening a new flood taskforce to strengthen national preparedness. With an estimated 6.3 million homes and businesses in England at risk of flooding, the need for coordinated action has never been clearer. 

That was at the heart of discussions at Westminster Insight's Extreme Weather Resilience Conference, where the National Landscapes Association joined experts from central and local government, the third sector and emergency-response organisations to explore the challenges ahead and the solutions needed. 

Joss Wozencroft, the Association’s Policy and Advocacy Officer, who attended the event and said: “From devastating wildfires and prolonged drought to increasingly severe flooding, National Landscapes are on the frontline of a changing climate. But they are also at the forefront of solutions, pioneering innovative, nature-based approaches that can help protect communities, restore ecosystems and build resilience to extreme weather. 

“As the national voice for National Landscapes, we have a vital role in ensuring the expertise and experience of those working on the ground help shape decisions at a national level. The establishment of the Government's new flood taskforce underlines the urgency of this challenge and the importance of a coordinated response. 

“No single organisation can tackle these threats alone. By connecting expertise, strengthening partnerships and championing collective action, we can turn national conversations into meaningful change, helping our landscapes and communities prepare for whatever the future brings.”

And there's already important work happening on the ground. 

🌿 Connecting the Culm is pioneering nature-based approaches to managing flood risk and helping communities adapt. 

🔥 Surrey Hills National Landscape is embracing new technology, with wildfire detection sensors helping protect vulnerable habitats. 

🌱 North Pennines National Landscape is delivering vital peatland restoration, helping to restore natural habitats that can store water and carbon and support climate resilience. 

But as the scale of the challenge grows, so too must our collective response. 

That's why the National Landscapes Association is bringing colleagues together through its new Wildfire, Drought & Flood Working Group, creating opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen preparedness, explore solutions and develop a more joined-up approach across our National Landscapes. 

Alongside our involvement in national conversations like Westminster Insight's conference, this work is about ensuring the expertise, experiences and needs of National Landscape teams help inform the wider response to extreme weather. 

Joss added: “Because protecting these extraordinary places, and the communities and wildlife that depend on them, requires more than individual action. It requires strong partnerships, shared expertise and a commitment to working together. 

“A huge thank you to Westminster Insight, the speakers and everyone who contributed to such an important and thought-provoking event.”