Energy & Environment

Apply now for a water screening study

From today, small groups of farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study. An LRO is a water resources scheme that improves the resilience or supply of water in a local area. LRO screening studies are one way farmers and growers can better understand their options to improve the supply or resilience of water. In this post, I'll share the background, explain how the studies work and include links to learn more and apply.

Updated: Mon Apr 22 2024

Coverage of the UK-wide ban on wet wipes containing plastic

There has been coverage, including in the Telegraph, Sky News, The Independent, Daily Mail, The Times and The Mirror of the publication of the government response to our consultation on a ban on plastic-containing wet wipes. Today's announcement sets out the next steps to ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic across the UK.

Updated: Mon Apr 22 2024

Tackling plastics in woodland creation

This Earth Day (22 April), Woodland Officer Katie explains some of the partnership work the Forestry Commission is involved in to help reduce the use of plastic associated with tree planting and creating woodlands.

Updated: Mon Apr 22 2024

Laying the hedgerow regulations

We are pleased to tell you that legislation to protect hedgerows has today been laid in both Houses of Parliament. If approved by Parliament, the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 will put baseline hedgerow management practices into law, providing a consistent approach across all people operating on agricultural land.

Updated: Tue Apr 16 2024

Providing guidance to protect habitats and threatened native species

By James Marshall, Deputy Director for Norfolk and Suffolk As the government's advisers on the natural environment, Natural England's role is to ensure our environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of people and wildlife. Recent media reports ...

Updated: Tue Apr 16 2024

Webinar follow up: livestock and grassland

We recently held a webinar for livestock and grassland farmers in England. In the webinar, we gave an overview of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer and how the scheme supports both productivity and the environment. We also covered the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway and the grants on offer through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. In this post, we summarise what we covered and include the recording and links for you to learn more.

Updated: Mon Apr 15 2024

Webinar follow up: uplands

On Wednesday 27 March, we held a webinar on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes for upland farmers. In this post, we summarise what we covered and include links for you to learn more.

Updated: Mon Apr 15 2024

Storm Henk: grants available for affected farmers

If you suffered damage to your land during Storm Henk that was uninsurable, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact you about financial support to help cover the costs of returning your land to the condition it was in before flooding occurred. In this post, we'll give an overview. Post updated 12 April.

Updated: Fri Apr 12 2024

Acting on the recommendations of the Dartmoor Review

Last year, ministers commissioned an independent review into protected site management on Dartmoor. Chaired by David Fursdon, the review was undertaken with advice and input from a panel of expert advisers, local farmers and stakeholders. The review aimed to help us better understand how we can work with farmers to deliver much-needed environmental improvements on Dartmoor, balancing this alongside agricultural production, public access and cultural and natural heritage. Today we published our response to the report.

Updated: Thu Apr 11 2024

Reducing methane emissions to help combat climate change

The Environment Agency has set out in one place what it is doing to help reduce methane emissions in England, bringing together all their work in a new Methane Action Plan (2024-26). Mark Ellis-Jones, the national Climate Change and Energy ...

Updated: Thu Apr 11 2024

Trees and biodiversity net gain on small sites

Amanda Newsome, Biodiversity Net Gain Advisor and Jim Smith, Urban Forestry Advisor at the Forestry Commission explore how integrating trees into new developments can contribute towards delivering biodiversity net gain.

Updated: Thu Apr 11 2024

Farming Rules for Water: The vital role of soil testing

Established by Defra in 2018, the Farming Rules for Water (FRfW) were introduced to reduce and prevent diffuse water pollution from agricultural sources. They are applicable to all farmers and land managers across England and work to safeguard water quality ...

Updated: Wed Apr 10 2024

Water Restoration Fund: grants now available

Groups of farmers in England can now apply for a grant to improve freshwater habitats. Through the new Water Restoration Fund, local groups can apply for funding to bolster their capacity and capabilities for delivery of on-the-ground projects which improve the water environment. In this post, we'll explain how the fund works.

Updated: Tue Apr 09 2024

Working together to meet government targets for tree planting in England

Ian Tubby, Head of Policy and Advice at the Forestry Commission, and Adrian Jowitt, Principal Adviser Woodland Policy at Natural England reflect on the recent CEO visit at Cranborne Estate, where Marian Spain and Richard Stanford discussed our shared vision for woodland creation.

Updated: Mon Apr 08 2024

Working together to meet government targets for tree planting in England

Ian Tubby, Head of Policy and Advice at the Forestry Commission, and Adrian Jowitt, Principal Adviser Woodland Policy at Natural England reflect on the recent CEO visit at Cranborne Estate, where Marian Spain and Richard Stanford discussed our shared vision ...

Updated: Mon Apr 08 2024

Delivering for people and planet

In 2018, the government published its 25 Year Environment Plan which outlined 10 overarching goals for improving the environment within a generation. Here are 60 ways we are delivering this for people, the planet and nature.

Updated: Fri Apr 05 2024