Into the woods: growing up with the trees
Join us for this month's 'Into the woods' blog by Faye Dawson, who shares her experiences of growing up with a family-owned woodland near Bath.
Updated: Fri Jul 26 2024
Storm recovery in Lincolnshire
My name is Paul Dutchburn, and I am the Asset Performance Team Leader in the South Humber & East Coast (SHEC) in the Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire Area. Six months after the eighth storm of the 2023-2024 season, I am now ...
Updated: Wed Jul 24 2024
The Environment Agency has published its annual Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) report
The Environment Agency has published its annual Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) report of the environmental performance of England's nine water and sewerage companies during 2023. The EPA is the only independent comparison of environmental performance across the sector. While it ...
Updated: Wed Jul 24 2024
BNG lessons learned with Local Planning Authorities
By Ruth Andreyeva, Director of Land, Water and Seas strategy Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in England earlier in 2024, after many years of collaboration across industry and the public sector. We celebrate this milestone wholeheartedly, but we're not ...
Updated: Tue Jul 23 2024
Flood & Coast Excellence Awards 2024: Celebrating Innovation and Collaboration
This week, the Environment Agency hosted the Flood and Coast Excellence Awards. These celebrate some of the most innovative and impactful flood and coastal erosion risk management projects from across the country writes Caroline Douglass, Environment Agency Executive Director of ...
Updated: Fri Jul 19 2024
How grass cutting on flood defences reduces the risk of flooding
Abigail Ovenden, Asset Management Engagement Advisor in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, talks about how important it is to cut grass on flood defences and why such work is done. You may have seen our Environment Agency teams and contractors out cutting ...
Updated: Fri Jul 19 2024
Understanding algal blooms in the River Wye
My name is Jason Doe and I'm a freshwater ecologist in the Environment Agency. I have been surveying algae in the River Wye for several years and find the interactions between aquatic life and its environment fascinating. Plants and invertebrates ...
Updated: Fri Jul 19 2024
Farmers - Protect yourselves from waste criminals
A wet winter has meant it's been a difficult start to the year for many farmers. Facing reduced early crop yields or worse still, zero yields, the temptation to cut costs or diversify, to find additional income is more tempting ...
Updated: Thu Jul 18 2024
Government introduces new bill to clean up water sector
Today we are looking at the introduction of the government's first steps to transform the water sector.
Updated: Thu Jul 18 2024
Anglian Water Services Ltd fined £50k in case brought by the Environment Agency
We continue to work on our largest ever criminal investigation, to date, into potential breaches of environmental permit conditions by all water and sewerage companies discharging into English waters. The extent of potential non-compliance involves more than 2,000 wastewater treatment ...
Updated: Tue Jul 16 2024
Helping farmers get ready for winter with slurry storage support
Is your farm winter ready? We know winter woollies are well packed away, crops are growing, combine harvesters will soon be in the fields and many of you will have fingers crossed for dry, settled weather. But time keeps moving ...
Updated: Tue Jul 16 2024
Citizen Science in the West Midlands
My name is Lydia Ashworth and I have been a Citizen Science Coordinator for the Environment Agency in the West Midlands since July 2023. In this blog, you can find out about the Environment Agency's 'Supporting Citizen Science Project' and ...
Updated: Mon Jul 15 2024
A simpler, clearer and faster way to decide when to consult Natural England on planning applications that might affect a SSSI
By Sarah Middlehurst, Senior Officer, Natural England Today sees the launch of a new tool that will help local planning authorities (LPAs) decide when to consult Natural England on planning applications that might impact a SSSI. The new and improved ...
Updated: Thu Jul 11 2024
Coverage of government announcement on steps to reform water sector
Today we are looking at coverage of today's water company roundtable held by Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed.
Updated: Thu Jul 11 2024
Coverage of Secretary of State, Steve Reed's attendance at the Great Yorkshire Show
There has been significant coverage of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed's first official visit since taking office at the Great Yorkshire Show. The Secretary of State met with farmers and stakeholders, including visits to the NFU and CLA stands. Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner also attended the event.
Updated: Thu Jul 11 2024
The importance of woodland and trees to UK bats
Sonia Reveley, Woodland Specialist at Bat Conservation Trust, explains more about UK bats, the challenges they face, and how woodland owners and managers can help.
Updated: Wed Jul 10 2024
The power of plankton: Advancing our understanding of the role and value of plankton as marine natural capital
In this new Marine Science blog, scientists from Cefas, the University of Plymouth, and Environment Agency discuss new research by the Pelagic Natural Capital project (PelCap), which is helping to monitor the impact of human activities on plankton health in ...
Updated: Thu Jul 04 2024
This year's Sustainable Farming Incentive offer
In this post, we'll share details of the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and links for you to learn more.
Updated: Thu Jun 27 2024
Coverage of BBC investigation into potential illegal dry spills by water companies in 2022
There has been expected coverage by the BBC on their investigation into England's water companies discharging sewage when the weather is dry. The investigation suggests 6000 possibly illegal spills occurred during 2022. The coverage notes that three water companies shared ...
Updated: Fri Jun 14 2024
New evidence Asian hornets overwintering in UK
There has been widespread coverage this morning across BBC Breakfast, the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian and the Daily Mail focused on new evidence Asian hornets have overwintered in the UK. Genetic analysis conducted by APHA's National Bee Unit, found that three Asian hornets queen's trapped last month in Sussex are the offspring of a nest that was destroyed in the area, in November 2023. Whilst this is the first evidence of Asian hornets overwintering in the UK, it is not considered to be strong evidence of an established population.
Updated: Tue Jun 04 2024
Anglian Water Services Ltd convicted in case brought by Environment Agency
Update on Environment Agency court case against Anglian Water
Updated: Fri May 24 2024
Draft determinations for water companies
The economic regulator of the water sector Ofwat has confirmed it will delay its publication of water company draft determinations until 11 July 2024.
Updated: Fri May 24 2024
Environment Agency explains that pollution in Windermere is reducing but more needs to be done to tackle all sources of
Andy Brown, Environment, Planning and Engagement Manager at the Environment Agency, explains that pollution in Windermere is reducing but more needs to be done to tackle all sources of pollution, not just sewage.
Updated: Fri May 24 2024
High court ruling on Farming Rules for Water
Today we are looking at today's high court ruling on Farming Rules for Water
Updated: Fri May 24 2024
Our Natural Health Service
By Esther Smith, Senior Adviser, Health and Environment, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Area Team The links between health and nature have arguably never been clearer. The healing power of nature is taking centre stage for people's health and nature's recovery ...
Updated: Fri May 24 2024