By Hilary McGrady, Beccy Speight, Craig Bennett

By Dr Darren Moorcroft and Richard Benwell

Football might not be coming home, but climate change already has - to all of us.

Listen to this article

This year’s heatwaves have scorched Britain. Hospitals and care homes have sweltered, schools have closed, people have struggled to sleep, to work, to parent. Tragically, an estimated 2,700 people have died from the extreme heat in May and June alone. The country just isn’t prepared for these climes.

But as anyone who spent those heat-wrecked weeks darting between the shadows of trees knows, we have a solution right at our fingertips: nature. Trees and plants offer proven protection against extreme heat, as well as buffering the effects of floods and drought.

Studies have shown how the shade provided by tree canopies can lower the temperature we experience by 8 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), a potentially life-saving difference. Healthy nature also acts like a sponge, holding water in our landscapes that can dampen the impact of fires and prevent heavy rain rushing off the hills.

The problem is that our towns and cities aren’t green enough, so not enough people are benefiting from the power of nature. The average UK urban area........

© LBC