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INSANE: Defra | Rare Historical Photos

British farms hit by record bluetongue outbreak after heatwave summer

Defra said hot and humid summer weather had created ‘favourable conditions for the biting midges that spread bluetongue’ – likely contributing to the increase in cases

The Independent UK · Oct 3

Worst ever outbreak of bluetongue hits British farms

Climate crisis blamed as virus that originated in Africa spreads to livestock as far north as Aberdeenshire

The Guardian - UK · Oct 3

Green shoots? Burnham cultivates rural links in attempt to ‘build back trust’ with farmers

Ministers have been speaking to farming activists to try to build bridges after tax changes introduced under Starmer soured relations

The Guardian - UK · Sep 26

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‘It’s really taking off’: hedge revival as farmers rediscover ancient tools

Grant applications in England surge as interest grows in habitat that captures carbon and helps reduce flood risk

The Guardian - UK · Sep 15

UK has not done enough to prepare for shocks to food supplies, says watchdog

National Audit Office urges government to act as climate crisis, disease and cyberattacks pose growing risks

The Guardian - UK · Sep 4

Bluetongue crisis spreads as government accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’

Government figures show that 795 cases of the disease have been recorded across the UK in the 2026/27 season

The Independent UK · Sep 3

Mass breeding of game birds without welfare checks may be curtailed in England

Campaigners say pheasants and partridges reared ‘on industrial scale’ do not have same protections as chickens

The Guardian - UK · Sep 2

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South West Water has worst environmental record in England, analysis shows

Exclusive: Friends of the Earth finds greatest sewage discharge in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset

The Guardian - UK · Aug 30

Flash flood warnings for UK as heavy rain batters drought-hit ground

Further showers are forecast on Friday for most parts of the UK

The Independent UK · Aug 21

Ministers are in denial about the scale of the crises we face

Letter: Having just 20 Defra staff working on climate adaptations show the government is not taking the challenges of heatwaves, wildfires and droughts seriously, writes Dr Amy McDonnell

The Guardian - UK · Aug 20

Calls for urgent law change as UK’s largest water reuse system cannot be switched on

Recycling system in Cambridgeshire development ready since 2021 is deemed not in line with drinking water rules

The Guardian - UK · Aug 19

Angry villagers spell out ‘help us’ with plastic bottles after going days without water

Customers in Kent have been warned that water levels in its drinking storage tanks remain ‘critically low’

The Independent UK · Aug 18

South East Water told to improve as villagers brand outage issues ‘shocking’

Customers in Kent have been warned that water levels in its drinking storage tanks remain ‘critically low’.

Evening Standard · Aug 18

‘Simply not good enough’ says Defra as South East Water customers face outage

It is the latest in a string of water supply issues.

Evening Standard · Aug 18

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International Business Times UK · Aug 12

UK Extreme Heat Warning Deepens Water Crisis as Southern Water Seeks Business Use Ban

Southern Water seeks a business water-use ban as an amber extreme heat warning adds pressure to drought-hit England.

The National (Scotland) · Aug 12

Less than 1 per cent of Defra staff working on climate adaptation, figures show

LESS than 1 per cent of staff in a key government department are working on climate adaptation, it has emerged.

The Guardian - UK · Aug 12

Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires

Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves

The National (Scotland) · Aug 11

Potentially deadly livestock virus found in Scotland for first time

A CASE of the bluetongue virus has been recorded in livestock in Scotland for the first time, while cases continue to rise across the UK

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The Economic Times · Aug 10

In 190 years, England witnesses driest month, now Britain usually known for its unpredictable wet weather faces third drought in five years

Britain is now ‌experiencing a ⁠flash drought ⁠caused by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures. Rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater levels continue to decline ⁠while the continued hot and dry conditions are increasing the risk of wildfires, the government said.

Euronews · Aug 10

Drought declared in 'almost three-quarters' of England, UK government says

Britain was also facing its fifth heatwave of the 2026 summer that has seen multiple temperature records being broken.

The Conversation · Jul 22

Soft plastic recycling laws have been delayed – an expert explains why

Mandatory kerbside collection of soft plastic (crisp packets, bread bags, plastic wrap) has just been pushed back from 2027 to 2030.

The Guardian - UK · Jul 2

Defra breached law when it let farmers use bee-killing pesticide, watchdog says

Office for Environmental Protection finds failures by department when it granted emergency authorisation in 2023 and 2024

The Guardian - UK · Jun 16

Dartmoor potential pony cull prompts urgent call for livestock rule change

Exclusive: Sources say Defra’s policy on livestock fails to distinguish between ponies and sheep

The Independent UK · Jun 16

Major firms launch new workplace savings scheme to boost financial resilience

IN FULL

The Independent UK · Jun 15

Coop, Next and Defra among organisations launching new workplace savings scheme for workers

The new move will help people to build up regular amounts into a savings pot, which they can potentially turn to if they get an unexpected bill

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