Greenpeace: The government is failing to monitor almost half of England’s “most important wildlife sites”, putting them at risk of fly tipping, pollution, water contamination, invasive species, and the unchecked impacts of a changing climate. Of the 4,126 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) currently in existence, 47% have not been examined in the last six years, as is required by national monitoring guidelines, according to data released by the environment department this summer. Natural England, the government agency responsible for monitoring, has faced significant budget cuts in recent years.  A source inside the body told Unearthed that “we just don’t know what the condition of the best habitats in the country is anymore” and warned that the body could be open to legal challenges because staff are making decisions based on old data. The news comes eight months after Theresa May launched the government’s 25 year environment plan, which promised to “not only conserve but enhance” protected areas. Click here to read more