27 Aug 2026
Image description: Blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) in the canal network in Bruges, Belgium Image credit: P Mantha on Unsplash Blue-green algae blooms causing mass disruption Successive heatwaves across the UK this summer have triggered a wave of blue-green algae blooms in rivers, lakes and coastal waters, causing widespread disruption to swimmers and raising deeper concerns […]
27 Aug 2026
Image description: A farmer wearing a blue shirt and orange dungarees squats next to a line of sprouting crops. Image credit: Sivalingam and Molly Vasanthakumar,Woodland Farm National Drought Group to meet weekly as drought conditions persist The National Drought Group has moved to weekly meetings as drought conditions continue to intensify, despite the recent […]
23 Jul 2026
Photo credit: redcharlie Europe’s current drought is being shaped by a compound of rainfall deficits and a much warmer, thirstier atmosphere, according to a rapid attribution study published today by World Weather Attribution (WWA). Analysing conditions from January to June 2026 across a western European domain and an eastern one, scientists from 13 countries found that […]
18 Jun 2026
Image description: River Lee running through Cork City. Image by Daniel Byram from Pixabay. Ireland’s water quality remained largely unimproved in 2025, according to the EPA’s latest monitoring report. Excess nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture, wastewater discharge and runoff, continue to degrade water bodies across the country. Improvements in some rivers and lakes were offset […]
06 May 2026
Image description: an underwater seagrass meadow. A warning from “underwater forests” New research has found that sewage and agricultural pollution in rivers is having an “alarming” impact on marine invertebrate life in Britain’s seagrass meadows. The study, carried out by Project Seagrass and Swansea University, examined 16 sites along the British coastline affected to […]
30 Apr 2026
Image description: White sheep on green pastures near a lake, taken in Loughross, County Donegal, Ireland. Photo by Brian Kelly on Unsplash Regulations falling short despite farmer efforts Despite positive investment and efforts from farmers, key regulations designed to reduce agricultural pollution have failed to deliver meaningful improvements to water quality in Northern Ireland, […]
26 Mar 2026
Image description: Ecologically damaging Blue Green algae blooms (cyanobacteria), close up from river bank along Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland. A High Court challenge has been launched by an eel fisherman against the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) over the Lough Neagh pollution crisis. The judicial review his being brought against DAERA by eel fisher […]
05 Mar 2026
Image description: A landscape photo of a section of the River Thames at sunrise. Photo by Paul Macallan on Unsplash The Environment Agency and the University of Stirling have published a new report on the links between phosphorus concentrations and ecology in English rivers. While phosphorus is an essential nutrient for the growth of […]
