Defra's response to coverage on Thames Water
Today's blog covers Defra's response to media coverage on Thames Water.
Updated: Thu Mar 28 2024
Why we're putting area limits on some SFI actions
Since we opened the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for applications, we've continued to refine the scheme. One of the things we've been monitoring is the impact of those actions which take land out of food production. In this post, we'll explain why we're putting area limits on some SFI actions.
Updated: Thu Mar 28 2024
2023 Event Duration Monitoring Data Publication
Today (Wednesday 27 March) we have published storm overflow (Event Duration Monitoring data) for the 2023 calendar year. Event Duration Monitors record the number and duration of spills from storm overflows. To view mapped data visit Storm Overflow Spill Frequency (arcgis.com) ...
Updated: Wed Mar 27 2024
Horticultural farmers and growers in England - apply for an FETF grant today
With the deadline fast approaching, I want to encourage horticulture growers and farmers in England - and contractors to them - to consider applying for a grant offered through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2024 (FETF).
Updated: Mon Mar 25 2024
Farming Podcast: improving animal health and welfare on your farm
In this episode of the Farming podcast, our lead for healthier animals, Martin Jenkins, talks to dairy farmer Karen Halton. They are joined by infectious disease expert and vet James Russell. They explain what to expect from the SFI annual health and welfare review,
Updated: Thu Mar 21 2024
Meeting our Water Needs for the Next 25 Years
When we make a cup of tea, coffee, or get a cold drink from the tap, we sometimes take for granted the huge journey that the water has been on. We may not be aware of the amount of work ...
Updated: Thu Mar 21 2024
5 tips for managing your woodland this spring
Nature Recovery Advisor MacBradan Bones shares his tips on managing your woodland in spring.
Updated: Wed Mar 20 2024
Animal Health and Welfare grants now available
You can now apply for an Animal Health and Welfare grant through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024. These grants go towards the cost of items on a list that support animal health and welfare. We developed the list with farmers, vets and other experts. There are over 130 items on the list and 29 are new for this round. You'll see a range of items: from mobile cattle handling systems to enclosed piglet creeps to poultry perches. If you're a livestock farmer, it's worth taking a look.
Updated: Wed Mar 20 2024
Join our webinar for livestock and grassland farmers
On Thursday 14 March, we're holding a webinar for livestock and grassland farmers to learn more about the funding opportunities available in England in 2024. A link to register for the webinar is included in this post.
Updated: Tue Mar 19 2024
Webinar follow up: the offer for arable and horticulture growers
On Thursday 29 February, we held a webinar for arable and field horticulture growers in England. In this post, I'll share the recording and summarise the themes that emerged in the questions and I'll set out the best ways for you to get answers.
Updated: Mon Mar 18 2024
Next phase of TB eradication strategy
We look at coverage on the launch of a consultation setting out next steps for the Government's TB eradication strategy.
Updated: Fri Mar 15 2024
Protecting our freshwater fish species - why the close season is so important
Between March and June every year, many coarse (freshwater) fish will be preparing to spawn (breed and lay eggs), spawning, or recovering from spawning. This can be both stressful and exhausting and if they are disturbed, they may well decide ...
Updated: Fri Mar 15 2024
From application to agreement: making the process to join SFI simple
When you apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), we want your experience to be smooth and we want to offer you as much flexibility as possible. In this post, we'll set out what you can do and what we're doing to make the process of applying as straightforward as it can be, so you can join the 14,000 other farmers, growers and land managers who've already applied.
Updated: Thu Mar 14 2024
The science of Natural England: now and then
By Dr Tim Hill, Chief Scientist at Natural England Science, evidence and evaluation sit at the heart of Natural England. Our teams work across a range of ecological, earth, economic and social sciences. With a strong focus on collaboration with ...
Updated: Thu Mar 14 2024
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund: improving productivity and slurry management grants available
I am pleased to say you can now apply for a productivity and slurry management grant through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). In this post, I'll set out the process to apply, links to the guidance and details of an upcoming webinar to learn more.
Updated: Wed Mar 13 2024
Blending private and public finance
We want farmers and land managers in England to confidently and securely access payments from both the public and private sector for the environmental benefits and food they produce. In this post, we'll give a summary of our work and the initiatives supporting our ambitions in this space.
Updated: Tue Mar 12 2024
Coverage of fairer labelling consultation launch
Today we are looking at coverage following the launch of our fairer food labelling consultation.
Updated: Tue Mar 12 2024
Environment Agency monitoring of the South West's largest abstractor
Mark Pilcher, Land and Water team leader in West Cornwall, talks about our demanding work to inspect one of the largest abstractors of water in the south-west. The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for regulating water in England - its ...
Updated: Tue Mar 12 2024
Grants available in 2024
In this post, we'll give you a summary of the grants to look out for this year.
Updated: Tue Mar 12 2024
Coverage of £180m of investment fast-tracked to prevent sewage spills
Today, we are looking at coverage of today's announcement that water companies have committed £180m in fast-tracked investment to prevent sewage spills.
Updated: Mon Mar 11 2024
The evidence we use to develop our environmental land management schemes
We're committed to ensuring that the policies underpinning our environmental land management schemes are based on the very latest and best possible evidence. One evidence source is the recently published qualitative environmental impact assessment (QEIA). In this post I'll give an overview.
Updated: Mon Mar 11 2024
Natural England wildlife licensing statistics for 2023
Many wild animals and plants are protected by legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. As nature conservation adviser and regulator, one of Natural England's roles is to licence ...
Updated: Fri Mar 08 2024
Building Partnerships for Nature's Recovery in the North
By David Renwick, Regional Director for the North at Natural England Last week saw a momentous week for nature across the north with the second annual Nature North conference in Newcastle and the Convention of the North in Leeds. As ...
Updated: Thu Mar 07 2024
Bathing water classifications and short-term pollution
Our blog on 1 February explained how we approach monitoring, sampling and testing of bathing waters and our approach to keeping public informed and warned when there are short term risks of pollution which bathers would rightly want to be ...
Updated: Wed Mar 06 2024
Careers in Forestry: Mark's story
This National Careers Week, Mark West from the Green Task Force looks back at his career so far, and how he made the change from 12 years in uniformed service to working in forestry and conservation.
Updated: Wed Mar 06 2024