Energy & Environment

Watch: webinar on the farming offer in 2024

On Friday 26 January, we held a webinar for farmers. During the session, we went through the actions and payments available through our environmental land management schemes in 2024. This post includes a link to the recording.

Updated: Tue Jan 30 2024

Ban on disposable vapes

Today's blog outlines reaction to the government's ban on disposable vapes.

Updated: Mon Jan 29 2024

Watch: an SFI special from Oxford

Earlier this month, we attended both the Oxford Real Farming Conference and the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC). In this post, we share 2 videos. The first video is a session hosted by Jim Egan and Jonathan Baker on environmental land management and the agricultural transition. The second video features farmers John Geldard and Ben Taylor-Davies. John gives his opinion on the work of the team and Ben describes his experience of SFI and plans for his farm.

Updated: Thu Jan 25 2024

We've joined forces with MSC to stop illegal waste exports

Each year our illegal waste exports team in our National Enforcement Service stops between 200 and 450 containers full of waste that does not comply with waste export regulations, such as untreated and hazardous waste. In our blog last month, we ...

Updated: Wed Jan 24 2024

East Anglia's work protecting eels

Dan Hayter, a fisheries specialist, explains how eels historically became critically endangered and what the Environment Agency are doing to protect this species.

Updated: Fri Jan 19 2024

Fisheries Enforcement 2023: A Year of Action and Collaboration

As we usher in a new year, it's an opportunity to look back at the Environment Agency's fisheries enforcement work in 2023. This year has been marked by concerted efforts from EA staff, innovative campaigns, and significant collaborations to combat illegal fishing and protect our fisheries.

Updated: Fri Jan 19 2024

Working together to shut down waste criminals

At Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, our dedicated Rural and Wildlife Crime Team, Country Watch, have been working closely with partner agencies and other local policing teams to tackle the scourge of waste crime.

Updated: Wed Jan 17 2024

Watch: future-proofing our farming business with SFI

Mother and son team, Tracey and Will, run a dairy and beef farm in Langley Mill, Derbyshire. In this film, they talk through the SFI actions they've included in their agreement, including herbal leys in rotational pasture, hedgerows, soils, legume mix with grasses and pest management. They describe how SFI helps them to balance the books, take care of the environment and build the resilience of their farm business.

Updated: Tue Jan 16 2024

Slurry Infrastructure grant: last chance to apply

Round 2 of the Slurry Infrastructure grant will close for applications on Wednesday 17 January. We're supporting many more projects than we did last year, so if you need slurry storage, now is the time to apply for a grant. In this post, I'll give you a recap of the grant and the information you need to get started.

Updated: Fri Jan 12 2024

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

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

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

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