BIZARRE: 6 - You Need To See This

First new national forest in 30 years to be planted in west of England

The Western Forest will see 20 million trees planted by 2050

The Independent UK · Mar 21, 2025

New ‘national forest’ plans for west of England unveiled

The Western Forest will create thousands of acres of woodlands and tree cover by 2030, with plans to plant 20 million trees by 2050.

Evening Standard · Mar 21, 2025

Watchdog investigating whether Defra breaking laws on cleaning up English rivers

Office for Environmental Protection says targets for water quality likely to be missed, and clarifying rules may help

The Guardian - UK · Mar 20, 2025

Fury as Defra closes key nature-friendly farming scheme to new applicants

The abrupt move is described as ‘another shattering blow’ to the sector, which is already at loggerheads with Government.

Evening Standard · Mar 12, 2025

Ditches and canals are a big, yet overlooked, source of greenhouse gas emissions – new study

It’s a cold winter morning in the bleak and bare arable fields of the East Anglian fens. At the edge of a field, a scientist dips a long pole into a ditch. So, what is a climate researcher doing here?

The Conversation · Mar 7, 2025

‘Slavish’ catch limits ignored scientific advice, say conservationists in case against Defra

Blue Marine Foundation charity asks high court to declare quota decision unlawful amid concern over sustainability of fish stocks

The Guardian - UK · Mar 6, 2025

Promise to phase out lead from UK game shooting has failed, study finds

Vow in 2020 aimed to keep shot out of human food chain but study finds most game carcasses still contain lead

The Guardian - UK · Mar 6, 2025

Government went against scientific advice in setting fishing quotas, court told

Blue Marine Foundation is bringing legal action saying the quotas contribute to a long-term decline in fish stocks and fishers’ employment.

Evening Standard · Mar 5, 2025

Government says it will not ‘water down’ single malt whisky definition

Scotch whisky producers said an application by Defra for protected status for English single malt would be ‘very damaging’ for the Scottish industry.

Evening Standard · Mar 4, 2025

Farmers worried if they will make it to 2026 amid ‘cashflow crisis’, says NFU

Union conference dominated by row over planned inheritance tax changes as farmers battle the bad weather and turbulent geopolitics

The Guardian - UK · Feb 25, 2025