Heatwave moves to amber alert

The Met Office has raised its heatwave alert for the UK to amber - this means that there is a significant chance that over the next few days, the temperatures will cause significant health risks. Most at risk are the elderly and young babies, but also those with heart and breathing problems, or anyone who is immobile.

If you're not in this position yourself, think of your neighbours who might be and keep a check on them. It does not take very much excess heat for people in these circumstances to get heatstroke - the reason that 15,000 people, mostly elderly, died in France in 2003. Most deaths were not in the searing south, where they are used to dealing with these things, but here in the north, where we're not used to high temperatures. 

Precautions advised by the NHS include:

* Stay tuned to the weather forecast on the TV or radio. If you’re planning to travel, check the forecast at your destination, too. 

* Plan ahead. Stock up with supplies so you don't need to go out during extreme heat. Think about what medicines, food and non-alcoholic drinks you'll need.

* Keep plenty of water to hand and stay in the shade whenever possible.  

* Identify the coolest room in the house, so you can go there to keep cool.

* Avoid going outside between 11am and 3pm as this is the hottest part of the day. Spend time in the shade and avoid strenuous activity.

* Help others. Check up on your neighbours, relatives and friends who may be less able to look after themselves (for example, if they have mobility problems). 

* Drink water or fruit juice regularly. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.

* Keep rooms cool by using shade or reflective material external to the glass, or if not possible by closing pale coloured curtains. NB: Metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter.

* Keep the windows closed while the room is cooler than it is outside. If safe, open windows at night when the air is cooler.

* People with heart problems, breathing difficulties or serious illnesses may find their symptoms become worse in hot weather. Make sure you have enough medicines in stock and take extra care to keep cool.

Managing at Monty

In this house, we are on three floors, including an attic conversion, and the temperature from floor to floor is very different. On the top floor, right now, it is purgatory. Above 28 degrees, we've learned to keep the Velux windows closed, otherwise hot air, heated by the dark slate roof tiles, is drawn in by Venturi effect, making the air even hotter. After nightfall, we go up and open every window wide, allowing cool air to flow through, so sleeping is not a problem - it is only daytime temperatures that are ghastly.

On this floor, where we now have our office, the temperature is middling. I'm sitting here in a strappy dress and it's quite bearable even without a fan. Again, though, the windows are tight shut - it's a lot hotter outside than in. 

On the ground floor, because the walls are stone and the floor is terracotta, it is actually quite cold. We used to draw our curtains shut in summer to keep the heat out, but this is no longer necessary since our green planting has grown up and shades the house quite darkly all summer. Like all the other floors, the doors and windows are only opened at night.

The first summer we spent here, the sun was like an anvil - far hotter than we were used to in Britain - so we quickly planted shade trees and shrubs close to the house. In the South of France, they usually plant plane trees, as these come into leaf late - allowing spring and winter light to enter - then produce huge leaves all summer for a solid canopy that falls quite early in autumn. We have walnuts and sweet chestnuts, which behave in a similar manner (as well as being good croppers). 

Given the more extreme summer temperatures Europe is forecast to experience, next winter might be a good time to think about investing in shade trees or large shrubs if you have a garden big enough. Something deciduous but with large leaves is the best bet: figs, ornamental elders and physocarpus are useful shrubs; virginia creeper, golden hop and grapevines will cover a pergola nicely; while sycamore, maple, plane, sweet chestnut and walnut are all good options for shade trees. 

These are natural, and effectively free, ways to keep cool rather than using fans and air-conditioning, which besides being un-eco-friendly also can't be relied upon if the power fails.