07 Aug 2024

In a new blog, Ruth Andreyeva, Natural England’s Director of Land, Water and Seas strategy, outlines lessons from working with LPAs since long before BNG became mandatory. 1. Be strategic     Assessing how best to deliver benefits for nature and local people and communities 2. Work with others     Sharing good practice among […]

07 Aug 2024

Ofwat has published the outputs of its sessions for customers on the PR24 draft determinations. The meetings were hosted by Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water – one for England and one for Wales – and allowed customers and other stakeholders to quiz the regulator’s top team about the draft price and service decisions […]

07 Aug 2024

From the BBC A £2.1m flood protection scheme that began in 2021 has now been completed. The natural flood management scheme in County Durham was developed to protect communities in Upper Weardale from flooding. Twenty-five features were constructed in the area to hold water back during times of heavy rainfall. Laura Parsons, a project manager […]

06 Aug 2024

Every year brings exciting and interesting observations of marine life and environmental conditions that help us to understand how the marine environment ‘works’, how it is changing and whether management of human activities and impacts is making a difference to the health of our seas. Topics covered range from the marine heat wave, blooms of jellyfish, […]

06 Aug 2024

The Solent Seascape Project, the UK’s first large-scale marine restoration initiative, has been internationally recognized as a UN Ocean Decade Action, highlighting its global significance. The project aims to restore vital marine habitats—salt marshes, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and seabird sites—across the Solent, a rich estuarine system between the Isle of Wight and mainland England. […]

06 Aug 2024

The UK government has announced a record-breaking budget of over £1.5 billion for its latest renewable energy auction, marking a significant increase of £500 million from previous allocations. This move, unveiled by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, aims to accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy by 2030, boosting energy security, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, […]

06 Aug 2024

The Government has announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), to be completed by the end of the year, to deliver on legally binding targets to save nature. 2030 ambitions remain The Government will develop a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery plans to meet each of […]

06 Aug 2024

A Private Members Bill to regulate and limit bottom trawling in MPAs, introduced by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, has had its first reading in the House of Lords. As currently drafted it states that the regulations must prohibit bottom trawling in MPAs. These are defined as including Marine Conservation Zones, Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, […]