Energy & Environment

Arable and Horticulture webinar follow up

We recently held a webinar for arable and horticulture farmers. Our aim was to go through the 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for those farm types and answer your questions. In this post, I'll share a summary of the things we covered and set out the offer for these sectors.

Updated: Thu Jan 04 2024

Environmental land management in 2024: details of actions and payments

Today we published an update to the Agricultural Transition Plan on GOV.UK. It includes our progress, priorities and plans for the coming years. In this post, I'll share a summary of the update which includes details of scheme payment rates, premium payments, new actions and plans for a single application service.

Updated: Thu Jan 04 2024

Working with farmers to protect our future land

Agriculture is the biggest sector we regulate in terms of individual businesses, with around 100,000 premises covering 70% of the land in England. Every year, the EA works together with farmers to bring the changes and improvements which will protect our future land and resources and secure better compliance with environmental regulations.

Updated: Thu Dec 28 2023

King's Lincolnshire coast visit to feature in Boxing Day documentary

In summer 2023, King Charles III visited a new Natural England National Nature Reserve (NNR) on the Greater Lincolnshire Coast to film for a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Boxing Day. The Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR was officially declared ...

Updated: Fri Dec 22 2023

Celebrating a Decade's Work Returning Fish to the River Derwent.

Since the River Derwent was dammed 300 years ago - at the start of the Industrial Revolution - its fish stocks dwindled. Devoid of fish since the mid-20th century, a project to open it back up to the likes of salmon began in 2013. Now, fish are flourishing along all 20 miles of the Derwent.

Updated: Wed Dec 20 2023

Natural England welcomes Government's commitment to Nutrient Mitigation

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enabling sustainable development by investing in schemes to reduce nutrient pollution in England's rivers and estuaries. Read more on GOV.UK. Natural England welcomes the announcement which provides the certainty needed for all providers ...

Updated: Wed Dec 20 2023

Our hidden marine mammals - the harbour porpoise

What is the first animal that springs to mind when you think of a UK marine mammal? A cousin to dolphins, harbour porpoises might not have been your first answer but there are many reasons to care about these fascinating ...

Updated: Wed Dec 20 2023

Wigan Greenheart Landscape Recovery: an industrial past and a thriving future

The Wigan Greenheart Landscape Recovery project covers a combined area of approximately 1,446 hectares in Lancashire. In this post, project manager Tony Da Silva shares an overview of the site, its history and the project team's ambition to support a thriving natural environment in which people, wildlife and agriculture can flourish.

Updated: Tue Dec 19 2023

Environment Agency bathing waters storm overflow data

The Environment Agency has analysed Event Duration Monitoring data on storm overflows associated with bathing waters across England for 2023. This data, provided to the EA following the end of the bathing water season (May to September inclusive), is a ...

Updated: Mon Dec 18 2023

Meet two Environment Agency interns helping to protect our water environment.

Our Summer Diversity Internship Programme (SDIP) offers students from diverse backgrounds the chance to kickstart their careers and give them an insight into the breadth of work undertaken by the EA. Ever wondered what this would be like? We spoke to Rion Hoshino and Siobhan Gunn, who completed the internship this summer, to find out more about their experience.

Updated: Fri Dec 15 2023

Reflections from COP 28 - Nature recovery for a secure future

The COP28 climate summit has concluded in Dubai with an agreement headlining on the need for a global journey away from fossil fuels. Behind the high drama of the oil, coal and gas economy were discussions about other subjects, including ...

Updated: Fri Dec 15 2023

Government takes a step forward for marine nature recovery

By Jonathan Burney, Director of Marine Strategy and Government Advice The Government have released their response to the public consultation on the principles of Marine Net Gain (MNG). This exciting, emerging area of marine policy offers opportunity to accelerate marine ...

Updated: Wed Dec 13 2023

Improving Farm Productivity grants: get ready for Round 2

In a few weeks' time, you will once again have the opportunity to apply for an Improving Farm Productivity grant. The grant pays for capital items including robotic, automatic and solar equipment that improve farm and horticulture productivity. To help you prepare, we've published guidance on GOV.UK. In this post, I'll share an overview of the grant, the changes we've made following Round 1 and link to the guidance.

Updated: Wed Dec 13 2023

Introducing the Smaller Abattoir Fund

A sustainable network of smaller abattoirs is an important part of the food supply chain. They support food security and maintain a competitive route to the market for a wide range of meat products. In this post, we'll share the details of a grant designed to support this part of the sector.

Updated: Wed Dec 13 2023

Next round of Large R&D Partnerships competition on the way

On 15 January, we'll open another round of the Large R&D Partnerships competition. Part of the Farming Innovation Programme, this competition offers a share of £7.8 million to farmers, growers and foresters in England to take forward ideas that improve productivity, sustainability, resilience and move the sector towards net zero. Together with our delivery partners Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we published the competition guidance today.

Updated: Wed Dec 13 2023

Working with HMRC to shut down illegal waste exports

There are many types of waste crimes committed by those who think there is a quick buck to be made from illegally handling waste. One of those crime types is the illegal export of waste from our shores to places ...

Updated: Wed Dec 13 2023

Coverage of Fisheries negotiations 2023

Annual fisheries negotiations took place between the UK, EU and Norway this autumn, where catch levels were agreed for over 80 important stocks including northern shelf cod and North Sea saithe.

Updated: Tue Dec 12 2023

Dartmoor - next steps from the Independent Review

By Dave Slater, Natural England Regional Director for the South West The Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor has been published today and makes a number of recommendations on the future of Dartmoor. We welcome this review and ...

Updated: Tue Dec 12 2023