Into the woods: from quarry to nature reserve
Join us for this month's 'Into the woods' blog by Rebecca Clayton, who explores the transformation of Clints Quarry Nature Reserve.
Updated: Mon Aug 19 2024
The impact of the Common User Charge
Today's blog outlines the government response to recent coverage of the Common User Charge introduced under the Border Target Operating Model.
Updated: Fri Aug 16 2024
We've enabled thousands of homes in the Tees area - and much more!
The Nutrient Mitigation Scheme (NMS) continues with our sixth nutrient credit round now open in the Tees. To date we have offered credits for over 6,000 new homes in the Tees catchment area and have mitigation ready to meet thousands ...
Updated: Fri Aug 16 2024
Going beneath the surface to reduce flood risk
Sam MacAllister and Tracy Hodsman from our asset performance teams explain how looking beneath the surface can be a key part of ensuring those on dry land have their flood risk reduced. The Environment Agency manages many different structures up ...
Updated: Thu Aug 15 2024
There's still time to get free business advice
The Farming Resilience Fund offers free, tailored business support to help farmers and land managers plan during the early years of the agricultural transition. With over 100 actions available through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) a range of grants to explore and with the advice offer ending in early 2025, now is a good time to talk to an adviser and plan for the future.
Updated: Thu Aug 15 2024
Coverage of Ofwat's £168m enforcement action against three water companies
Today we are looking at coverage of Ofwat's announcement that it will be pursuing enforcement action against Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water.
Updated: Wed Aug 14 2024
Fish on Film: the challenges of using AI to improve sustainable fisheries management
In January this year, Cefas installed a Remote Electronic Monitoring system on our research vessel, the Cefas Endeavour. Why, you might ask... Do you really need to monitor a vessel that is already doing monitoring? Remote Electronic Monitoring - Let's ...
Updated: Wed Aug 14 2024
Introducing Natural England's Science Advisory Committee
Prof Sallie Bailey, Chief Scientist I am excited to have started my role as Chief Scientist and recently attended my first meeting of Natural England's Science Advisory Committee (NESAC). NESAC is a formal committee of Natural England's Board, who are ...
Updated: Wed Aug 14 2024
An update on SFI and our agri-environment schemes
It's been a while since our last post. We're glad to be back! Over the past month, we've been welcoming Defra's new ministerial team, who are fully committed to environmental land management schemes. We've been working with them to optimise our schemes and grants for farmers, food security and nature recovery. In this post, we'll update you on the SFI rollout, provide links to new supplementary scheme guidance and share details on endorsed actions and capital items.
Updated: Mon Aug 12 2024
Clarifying the Facts: Tagging of hedgehogs and licensing requirements
There has been some misinformation on social media recently regarding the tagging of hedgehogs to enable identification of individuals. This blog post from Natural England aims to set the record straight and provide clarity on this important issue. Background Marking ...
Updated: Mon Aug 12 2024
Government to double water bill compensation for poor customer service
Today we are looking at coverage of government plans to double reimbursement payments for water company customers when their basic services are impacted.
Updated: Mon Aug 12 2024
National conversation needed on how to turbo-charge Nature recovery while building the homes the country needs
England doesn't have enough houses, and also doesn't have enough Nature. If we are to succeed in meeting our national needs, we require more of both. For too long we've been told that the only way to build more homes ...
Updated: Mon Aug 12 2024
Restoration of Coastal Grazing Marsh in Essex
My name is Nicola and I work as a Catchment Co-ordinator in the East Anglia Environment Programme team. I work across Essex from the River Colne to the Mardyke including our extensive coastline. A key aspect of my job is ...
Updated: Mon Aug 12 2024
From acorns, mighty oaks do grow... four years of the Nature for Climate Fund Programme
Bella Murfin, the Director for the Nature for Climate Fund Tree Programme in Defra, reflects on the last four years.
Updated: Thu Aug 08 2024
Behind the scenes: how Environment Agency scientists are testing bathing water quality
There are more than 450 designated bathing waters across England. The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring, improving, and maintaining water quality at all designated bathing waters. Importantly, designation also means that information is provided to the public to help ...
Updated: Wed Aug 07 2024
With a lot of help from our friends: assembling an England Peat Map
Contributors: Andrew Webb, Principal advisor, England Peat Map. Tom Hunt, Data engagement lead, England Peat Map. Sarah Parrott, Engagement and impact lead advisor, NCEA. Elizabeth Mitchell, Engagement and impact senior advisor, NCEA How do you make a map of something that's largely underground, ...
Updated: Wed Aug 07 2024
Dartmoor Land Use Management Group: appointment of a chair
In April, we published our response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor. We agreed with the recommendation to create a land use management group. I'm pleased to say that the position of chair has just been advertised. In this post, I'll share a short summary and provide links to learn more.
Updated: Tue Aug 06 2024
River vegetation management in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire - reducing flood risk
Abigail Ovenden, Asset Management Engagement Advisor, looks at how the Environment Agency reduces flood risk in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire by cutting vegetation. Environment Agency teams (and contractors on our behalf) manage vegetation and weed growth along 2,210 kilometres of Main ...
Updated: Mon Aug 05 2024
The Magic of Heathland Summers: Nightjars, Nature Recovery, and the Future of our Landscapes
Victoria Hawkins, Heathland Connections Nature Recovery Project Senior Advisor, Natural England. Heathland Connections is an inspiring Nature Recovery Project and I feel fortunate to spend the best part of my day working on it. In this post, I want to ...
Updated: Mon Aug 05 2024
5 tips for managing your woodland this summer
Nature Recovery Advisor MacBradan Bones shares his tips on managing your woodland in summer.
Updated: Fri Aug 02 2024
Ensuring nuclear reactor designs meet high standards of environmental protection
The Environment Agency's New Reactors Assessment Team is carrying out assessments of three small modular reactor nuclear power station designs. Andrew Pynn, Senior Advisor for the project, summarises what we have been doing on two of the projects and why. ...
Updated: Fri Aug 02 2024
Revitalising the Hamble Brook: A new wetland haven in Buckinghamshire
New life has been breathed into Buckinghamshire's Hamble Brook by a substantial wetland site spanning 2,500 square metres. This work, led by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, further extends the largest scheme of its kind involving the Environment Agency, and ...
Updated: Fri Aug 02 2024
The Chief Scientist Report: 2023
Professor Sallie Bailey, Chief Scientist at Natural England, tells us about the publication of Natural England's sixth Chief Scientist Report This Report, the sixth in the series, focusses on the impact our work has and - crucially - how ...
Updated: Fri Aug 02 2024
Bringing new life to Hull's urban waters
Hull is a city that has long been defined by its relationship with water. Environment Programme Project Manager, Dan Jagucki, talks about an innovative project to bring new life into Hull's urban waterways. Hundreds of years ago the city and ...
Updated: Thu Aug 01 2024
Celebrating Marine Protected Areas Awareness Day
As we celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Awareness Day, it's fitting that we reflect on the importance of MPAs, the role we play in manging those in English waters and the support we provide internationally to the UK Overseas Territories ...
Updated: Thu Aug 01 2024