18 May 2019

EEA ‘There is a shared vision to achieve clean, non toxic seas but their contamination with synthetic substances as well as heavy metals continues to be a large-scale problem in Europe. According to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, between 75 and 96 % of the assessed area of Europe’s regional seas have a […]

18 May 2019

Defra ‘The British Overseas Territories (‘OTs’) are globally significant in their ecological richness, containing over 90% of the UK’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Constitutional responsibility for decision making in many policy areas relevant to biodiversity and conservation lie with the OTs, which are highly dependent on the assets provided by their natural environment, terrestrial and marine […]

14 May 2019

The Draft National Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England consultation has been making all the headlines with a call for renewed investment at £1billion a year in FRM and the possible need to move vulnerable communities in the event of climate change threats.  These ideas were elaborated in high profile speech by […]

14 May 2019

‘Blank cheque’ Ag Bill will cut out formal consultation on public goods scheme Farmers Guardian: News 08 May 2019 Abi Kay Farm bodies will not be formally consulted on the detail of Defra’s public money for public goods scheme and the policy will receive less scrutiny than other major legislative changes, Farmers Guardian can confirm. In an […]

14 May 2019

Tobias Phibbs: Royal Society of Arts RSA  Defra is adopting a public money for public goods approach to supporting farming and the natural environment after Brexit. ‘While this approach is still in its infancy it has produced promising initiatives as well as difficult points of contention. The RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission suggests a […]

14 May 2019

Common Space The Scottish Government has announced a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks and containers as part of plans to tackle climate change. Announcing the new scheme, which will include the ability to return aluminium and steel cans as well as drinks containers made of glass and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic to retailers with a […]

14 May 2019

£500k to tip the balance of the Broads Norfolk Wildlife Trust ‘Two of the largest Broads in Norfolk will have their underwater ecology ‘manipulated’ to restore their clear water and in turn the water plants that were once commonplace across Broadland’s waterways. Norfolk Wildlife Trust has received almost half a million pounds for its ambitious project […]