ENVIRONMENT
Could ‘just planting more trees’ be bad for the environment?
Not all trees are created equal, says Dr. Rich Stockdale, CEO, Oxygen Conservation. Plant something non-native or unsuited to the local climate and you risk creating ecological imbalance and putting existing wildlife at risk.
In recent years it feels like...
Two months to go – The Rothbury Estate appeals for donations to cross finishing line
The largest appeal in The Wildlife Trusts’ history needs a further £9m to reach its target as it asks businesses and individuals for ‘a momentous final effort’ in fundraising.
The 9,500-acre Rothbury Estate in Northumberland—the largest piece of land to...
The Bristol company ‘making wetlands great again’
A biomaterials company developing regenerative materials for textiles has been recognised for its efforts to restore one of the UK’s most degraded landscapes - peatlands.
Ponda was named Innovator of the Year at the first Pride in Our Planet Awards, in...
Landmark EU rule change on cleaning products
Tech company Genesis Biosciences has welcomed the revised EU Detergents Regulation (EU) 2026/405 which explicitly recognises detergents containing microorganisms for the first time.
Microbial products use microorganisms such as Bacillus as functional raw materials and active ingredients. Despite being commonplace for several decades,...
From fields to microgrids: rethinking local energy
Small-scale farming in Holland can teach us a lot about building neighbourhoods which feed and power themselves, says Jamie Lewis, Product Design Lead, POWWR.
In the Oosterwold district in the Netherlands just east of Amsterdam, residents are required to dedicate...
Eroding edges: the quiet crisis along UK shores
Rising water levels and more powerful, frequent storms are driving greater erosion in the UK. Roger Smith, managing director of Hesselberg Erosion Protection, explains how early intervention with new approaches and technologies can help.
Across much of the UK, coastal...
Bee sentinels on patrol at French packaging plants
An international paper company has revealed the first results of its partnership in bee biomonitoring. DS Smith and Apilab launched the scientific partnership in 2025.
Their aim? To transform bees into environmental sentinels at 13 packaging facilities across France.
As bees...
UK pollinator decline is serious threat to environment … and the bottom line
Declining insect activity is not some distant concern. It’s influencing yields and profits across the food chain now, warns Casey Woodward, CEO & Founder, AgriSound.
For too long, the conversation about pollinators in UK agriculture has sat solely in the...
Farmers say their sustainability efforts are ignored
A growing disconnect between farmers and the wider food supply chain has been highlighted by new research, revealing that 92% of farmers say their sustainability efforts go unrecognised.
Despite this, the research found that 61% of farmers are willing to...
Renewed partnership commits to long term restoration of Nosterfield Quarry
A wildife-rich habitat and unique wetland landscape will be created when a major North Yorkshire quarry ceases operations in 2031.
Tarmac, which operates Nosterfield Quarry near Ripon, and the Lower Ure Conservation Trust (LUCT), have agreed to develop a shared...
Beyond borders: African agritech could strengthen UK farming
Smart farming tools pioneered by African start-ups – combined with UK strengths in AI and data – could transform the farming landscape. Yassine Laghzioui, Chief Entrepreneurship and Venturing Officer at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), and CEO of UM6P Ventures,...
Keeping toxic road run-off out of Brighton water supply
A landmark project in Brighton is on track to protect 90% of the city’s drinking water from toxic road pollution.
Every time it rains, millions of litres of water wash off roads, carrying a dangerous mix of oil, tyre particles,...
Overfishing is emptying UK seas – It can be stopped
Our fishing industries – and the oceans they depend on – face catastrophic collapse unless action is taken now, warns Alec Taylor, Director of Policy and Research at Oceana UK.
Half of the UK’s top ten fish stocks are in...
Green economy ‘thriving’ in National Parks
A major independent study is calling for nature to be enshrined in UK growth plans.
The South Downs National Park is the “economic powerhouse” of England’s protected landscapes, according to a new independent study.
With protected landscapes covering a quarter of...
Lab grown meat: cleaner, kinder, greener?
Meatly made history with the world’s first approved cultivated meat pet food. We ask CEO Owen Ensor: What’s next for lab-grown meat.
What is cultivated meat?
Cultivated meat is real meat, just made differently.
Instead of raising and slaughtering animals, we grow...
First harvest for unique North Sea seaweed farm
The project - situated between offshore wind turbines - is providing a valuable insight into seaweed cultivation.
Seaweed farmers have made the first-ever harvest at North Sea Farm 1, a commercial-scale seaweed farm located off the coast of the Netherlands...
Four million oysters to the rescue
A new reef is set to provide a significant boost for marine life in the East of England.
New oyster reefs are being deployed off the North Norfolk coast to improve water quality and help restore a healthy ocean ecosystem.
The...
Food industry will suffer if nature crisis deepens
A sustainable food charity is appealing to investors to step up and safeguard nature and biodiversity.
With the UK government backtracking on measures to prevent biodiversity loss, The Food Foundation has warned that if we fail to address biodiversity loss...
AI traffic management could stop ‘smog traps’
Narrow city centre streets flanked by tall buildings may be trapping pollution, leading to poor air quality..
Research by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) shows that streets narrower than 20m experience irregular and often dangerously high spikes in particulate matter (PM).
“There’s...
Holding back the floods with nature’s help
Climate change is putting pressure on UK infrastructure with up to eight million properties in England at high risk of flooding by 2050. A collaborative effort is required to prepare for, withstand, and recover from extreme weather events, says...
Will the Water Gap see the UK’s growth ambitions float away?
Water scarcity isn’t tomorrow’s problem - it’s already reshaping the UK’s industrial landscape. Chris Deadman, managing director, Alpheus, investigates.
With England projected to face a 5 billion litre a day shortfall for public water supplies by 2055, and a further...
Business leaders urge government to get biodiversity net gain back on track
An open letter from industry leaders and environmental charities is urging the Government to get Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) back on track across England.
The letter1 follows recent proposals to remove small and medium-sized developments from BNG commitments, a move...
Where there’s muck, there’s brass – and a reputation to manage
There aren’t many industries as essential - or old - as waste management. And while the sector has evolved significantly with modern technologies and regulatory frameworks, it still faces challenges, particularly in managing its corporate reputation. Dean Enon, Catalyst...
The Hidden Costs of Water in Food Production—and How to Cut Them
Water is critical to food and beverage (F&B) production—but with rising costs and stricter regulations, efficient water management is a growing challenge. Torben Poulsen, Business Development Manager for Pumps and Drives at ABB Motion, explains how smarter pump controls...
Crowdfunder launched for Bristol ‘food forest’
A Bristol community group hopes to raise £20,000 to develop a ‘food forest’ for local people.
Generation Soil CIC aims to provide fresh, nutritious food once the market garden is up and running, with the help of its team of...
Fix THE Planning Bill or nature will pay the price
Over 30 charity leaders have warned that new planning reforms threaten to demolish environmental law.
CEOs from 33 nature organisations have written to Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, issuing a warning over new planning laws.1
Their...
Invest in your own small piece of nature
Businesses are invited to invest in parcels of land in a UK National Park that are then secured for nature for the next 30 years.
Efforts to create a huge new wildlife haven in the South Downs National Park through...
Why sustainable buildings are more valuable than ever
Demand for sustainable buildings has surged, positioning them as some of the most valuable assets in real estate. Architect Julie Winrow explains how energy-efficient design, climate resilience, and focus on occupant wellbeing are transforming the property market.
The value of...
Forest of hope grows from industry’s ashes
Thirty years ago, a bold idea took root in the heart of England — to turn a landscape scarred by industrial decline into a thriving forest. Today the National Forest Company celebrates its 30th anniversary with a tribute to...
The rubbish reality: a country blighted by litter
Over 90% of places surveyed across the country are plagued with litter, reveals shocking new report.
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has released a landmark report exposing the alarming scale of England’s litter crisis and its disproportionate impact on the...
