matrixlaw.co.uk/news/high-cour…

The developers will be able to claim that they can create a new grassland of equal value somewhere else, make it a bit bigger than the one they destroyed and call it “net gain”. It will be nothing of the sort, because old grasslands have much greater value than new ones.

'December' from Eliot Hodgkin's 'The Months', 1950.

England's worst bathing waters. Judged only for a couple of bacteria, mind. And sampled a handful of times during May - Dec. These Environment Agency classifications out today.

“First baked beans made with British-grown haricots” shouts pretty much every news outlet. But have they fact checked University of Warwick press release? Obviously not. Does it matter? Well, it’s just not true. It also disregards the work of lots of brilliant people over many years

Like the other signatories to this statement, NNNS oppose the planned building of the Norwich Western Link on the grounds of the unacceptable impact it will have on wildlife and the wider natural landscape. You can find out more about these impacts here: norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/ndr

Beetles, not berries #Christmas

After the effect of 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office', let’s hope Toby Jones is also working on new TV dramas about water pollution, climate change, covid, PPE contracts, the refugee crisis, the cost of living, energy prices, and the NHS

There’s something magical about the joy gifted by winter trees 🤌✨ I found all these at the weekend, in one little square of woodland. January is a month of amazing botanical colours and shapes if you take the time to stop and notice 😌

"The announcement last week of new Countryside Stewardship payments will offer farmers much more funding to manage features on their land for flood resilience and water quality." This photo shows the Chimney Meadows floodplain doing its job 💧🌼 oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24039422.…

Digging #ponds on floodplains. When you dig a pond on a #floodplain it is not a new pond. Floodplains are ancient wetlands with seedbanks that may be very long-lived. So the plants that colonise (quickly) likely originate from centuries old stock

Today’s annual The Rivers Trust State of The Rivers report makes desperate reading. Not a single waterway in England or NI is in “good overall health”. Not one. To adapt WH Auden, “a culture is no better than its rivers.” Link to full report in article👇 theguardian.com/environment/20…

Prof Tom Cameron An example of legitimately managed access (plus: fences can include gates). The key is separating the arbitrary exclusions from the justified.

Stuart 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Of course it won't be a polemic - needs a bit of both. What is exciting about this is it's managed access - and it's working - I am a fan of fences - I am not convinced education will deliver as it only takes 5% to ruin the nesting season

Yet another brilliant exclusive by that unstoppable team at watershed_investigations National Highways is one of the largest polluters of rivers in England yet none of what they do is permitted the Environment Agency, who should be taking them to court, say they are in "advice and guidance" mode. 🤬

Oil, exhaust, dust from brake pads, tyre wear, containing heavy metals, arsenic & chemical nasties build up on roads. Then when it rains they're swept via storm drains into rivers. Our new joint podcast with @planetp_ossible featuring Joanna Bradley podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why…

We have debated water company scams and their pollution of our beautiful natural spaces, streams, rivers, and beaches SO many times that I can't bear the limp excuses any more. Water privatisation has failed. #RenationaliseWaterNow!

📢 Our rivers are in crisis! The latest #StateOfOurRivers report paints a grim picture of sewage, chemicals, nutrients, & more. 📉 Data is needed to tackle these issues, yet water monitoring has declined. Learn more and join the call for action 👇 theriverstrust.org/report

Horrified by the sight of road runoff belting out into waterways? It's about to get worse. As Joanna Bradley explains £millions have been spent on new 'smart' motorways which produce more runoff but they've built them without treatment systems. More 👇 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why…

Matt Gaw ✨ is launching our campaign to ensure the Waveney is a river fit for swimmers. Don't miss out; book online now BungayFisherTheatre theguardian.com/books/2024/mar…