Investing in a sustainable future for our coastal economy
(UK Research and Innovation) The UK marine economy is worth £48 billion with strong growth in renewable energy and aquaculture. However, the marine environment is under pressure from the triple ocean crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Researchers will investigate how to strengthen the marine economy while protecting ecosystems and communities.
Passive rewilding can rapidly expand UK woodland at no cost
(UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology ) A long-term passive rewilding study has shown that natural woodland regeneration could make a significant contribution to meeting the UK’s ambitious tree planting targets – potentially at no cost and within relatively short timescales. The research, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), found natural growth due to seed dispersal by birds, mammals and wind can produce biodiverse and resilient woodland.
Controversy over new UK regulation to protect peatland
Regulations are to be brought in to prevent the burning of heather and other vegetation in a move to better protect peatlands. The protection for blanket bog habitats has been welcomed as vital for globally important land, but criticised by…
£1.2 million grant for researchers tackling flood and landslide hazards
(University of Exeter) A project to reduce risks related to landslides and floods has received £1.2m funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
Invasive rushes spreading in upland farm fields
(Lancaster University) Scientists have used a series of Google Earth images to plot the spread of rushes in farm fields in the West Pennine Moor SSSI — an area of the Lancashire uplands between Bolton, Bury and Darwen. Using more than 200 images from Google Earth taken across a 13-year period between 2005 and 2018, the researchers found that rushes have spread across the surveyed area by between 82 per cent and 174 per cent.
Spending time in the garden linked to better health and wellbeing
(University of Exeter) Spending time in the garden is linked to similar benefits for health and wellbeing as living in wealthy areas, according to a new large-scale study.
After a 240-year hiatus, white-tailed eagles are coming back to southern England
For centuries, there’s been an eagle-shaped hole in the skies over England where the majestic white-tailed eagle once soared. The enormous raptor — its wingspan stretches nearly eight feet — was hunted to extinction some 240 years ago. “They are…
Litter problem at England’s protected coasts
Beaches in or near England’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have the same levels of litter as those in unprotected areas, new research shows.
‘The losses could be profound’: floods wreak havoc on wildlife
For 900 years, Lugg and Hampton wildflower meadows in Herefordshire have bloomed into a wash of colour in spring. These fertile meadows were highly prized, and the Norman lords who owned them used the hay crop to help fund Hereford’s…
Wilful blindness continues, completely unabated
Here is an annotated (in bold and italics) copy of the government response to the phenomenally popular petition by Chris Packham to ban driven grouse shooting (see here). Basically, Defra maintains its wilful blindness of the issues and their responsibility…
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