Latest news with #Conservationists
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
South east rivers hit by pollution as temperatures soar
The health of rivers across south-east England is under growing threat as hot and dry weather has caused water levels to plummet and pollution to spike, according to the Angling Trust. The charity warns that the UK's hottest spring on record coupled with pollution has pushed some rivers -including the River Medway in Kent and River Wandle in Surrey - to the brink. Conservationists say low flows and concentrated pollutants such as ammonia and nitrates - that come from the likes of farming and sewage - have caused fish to die. Alex Farquhar of the Angling Trust said the concentration of pollutants was "through the roof and that's what really matters to fish and ecosystems". So far in 2025 up to 21 June, temperatures across rivers in England and Wales have been recorded at their highest since the trust began a nationwide citizen science monitoring project three years the River Wandle, a chalk stream that runs through Surrey and London, water temperatures that typically range between 11C and 13C have soared to more than 20C in places this month, putting the fragile ecosystem under temperatures in March, April, and May were significantly above average – up 1.8C higher than in spring 2023. Even small increases have major consequences for species like wild brown trout and the endangered Atlantic salmon as warmer waters hold less oxygen, disrupt spawning, and intensify the toxicity of pollutants. In its latest report, the trust said the ecological consequences of this year's warm, dry conditions were already being seen in rivers across England and far in 2025, there have been 87 confirmed fish kill incidents, including those caused by pollution, low oxygen, and natural factors. There have been 36 incidents of low flows so far this year- when river levels are reduced and pollution concentrations are Angling Trust's Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN), powered by volunteers, has this year registered record pollution the River Medway in Kent 15 sites were tested at least eight times between July 2023 and July 2024. Each one breached the upper limit for good ecological status, due to high phosphate levels. Call for action The warnings come as policymakers, regulators, and environmental groups gathered for a national summit this week to address the crisis. Water companies, Ofwat, campaigners and government representatives discussed how to curb pollution and strengthen river resilience in the face of climate restoration expert Dr Jack Hogan said the future was "not looking good". He said: "If things were to continue as they are, in the next couple of decades, many of our rivers are going to be too warm to support brown trout, so we increasingly will lose that iconic species." The situation was "looking very grave," he said as the changing conditions were impacting life "all the way down the food chain". Water Minister, Emma Hardy MP, declined an interview, but told audiences that the government was committed to improving water quality and ensuring security of said: "We're looking to build new reservoirs. I've been round to visit some of them and see what's happening. And we want, by the end of this parliament, to have cut those sewage spills by half."CEO of Ofwat, David Black, also declined an interview. Water companies respond to criticism Water companies said they were increasing investment in reducing storm overflows, upgrading infrastructure and further habitat enhancement to help improve the health of our rivers but acknowledged that the dry spring was having an impact. The situation has drawn comparisons to the drought of 1992, when rivers like the Darent in Kent ran dry. Experts fear a repeat could be on the horizon.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
‘Historic moment' as reintroduced pine martens welcome first babies
Pine martens reintroduced to Dartmoor have successfully bred, marking the first time the species has reproduced in the South West of England in over a century. Camera-trap footage confirmed the presence of young kits, with films showing them exploring their new Devon habitat. This breeding success follows the release of 15 pine martens in autumn 2024 as part of a broader conservation effort to restore the species to the region. Conservationists involved in the Two Moors Pine Marten Project expressed their excitement, calling it a "historic moment" for nature's recovery. The project anticipates gradual population growth and plans a further release of pine martens in Exmoor this autumn.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Somerset in Pictures: Sun and Glastonbury clean-up
As Glastonbury Festival came to an end, the sun kept shining over the county. People in Castle Cary made a range of different scare crows, including Spongebob and Harry Kane, while young grebes were spotted on the Somerset Levels. Here's a roundup of the best pictures across Somerset this week. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset What's left of Glastonbury: On Monday, thousands of music fans headed home as Glastonbury Festival came to an end for another year. A team of volunteers cleaned the site to prepare the land for a fallow year in 2026. Cricket match: Matt Henry of Somerset played a shot during Day Two of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match between Somerset and Nottinghamshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground. Rolling hills: The fog rising in Dulverton was captured by Ali on Exmoor this week. Ugly ducklings: Young great crested grebes hitched a ride from their parent on the Somerset Levels. Not so scary: Castle Cary residents have made more than 120 scarecrows for the Britain in Bloom competition, which will be assessed by Royal Horticultural Society judges on Thursday. Feathers McGraw, Spongebob and Harry Kane are among those lining the streets of a town hoping to be recognised for its community efforts. Beaver dams: Conservationists have said restoring rivers on Exmoor to a natural state and introducing beavers can help make landscapes resilient to the increasing risk of drought. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Somerset in Pics: Heatwave and Glastonbury preparations Somerset in Pics: Taking to the skies Somerset in Pics: Bath book place at Twickenham Somerset in Pictures: Cricket and Bath and West Somerset in Pictures: Glory for brilliant Bath Somerset in Pictures: Stretching out for summer
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Somerset in Pictures: Sun and Glastonbury clean-up
As Glastonbury Festival came to an end, the sun kept shining over the in Castle Cary made a range of different scare crows, including Spongebob and Harry Kane, while young grebes were spotted on the Somerset a roundup of the best pictures across Somerset this week. What's left of Glastonbury: On Monday, thousands of music fans headed home as Glastonbury Festival came to an end for another year. A team of volunteers cleaned the site to prepare the land for a fallow year in 2026. Cricket match: Matt Henry of Somerset played a shot during Day Two of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match between Somerset and Nottinghamshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground. Rolling hills: The fog rising in Dulverton was captured by Ali on Exmoor this week. Ugly ducklings: Young great crested grebes hitched a ride from their parent on the Somerset Levels. Not so scary: Castle Cary residents have made more than 120 scarecrows for the Britain in Bloom competition, which will be assessed by Royal Horticultural Society judges on Thursday. Feathers McGraw, Spongebob and Harry Kane are among those lining the streets of a town hoping to be recognised for its community efforts. Beaver dams: Conservationists have said restoring rivers on Exmoor to a natural state and introducing beavers can help make landscapes resilient to the increasing risk of drought.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Why annual hedge cutting in Jersey is a balancing act
Since 1914, people in Jersey have picked up sickles and strimmers to cut the hedges around their houses. "Branchage" is a legal requirement designed to keep roads as safe as possible, but environmentalists said they were increasingly worried the practice was destroying too much and have called for Stephen Le Quesne said branchage had been completed to varying levels of success, damaging hedges and injuring wildlife, for of St Saviour Kevin Lewis said it was important to maintain road access but added it was difficult to balance the community's competing needs on the issue. What is branchage? Branchage, which literally means branches, is the 111-year-old law that requires land owners or renters in Jersey to cut back any trees, shrubs or grass overhanging roads near their must be a 12ft (3.6m) clearance over main roads and by-roads, and a clearance of 8ft (2.4m) over footpaths. The aim is to make it safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to use the officials carry out two inspections, one in late June or early July and another in September, to check branchage has been it is not done properly, parishioners can be fined up to £100 or the parish may arrange for the work to be done and residents to be charged for it. Mr Le Quesne said he believed the island's natural environment has been degraded since the start of branchageHe said hedges being "scalped to the bone" caused environmental loss and risked erosion to old stone walls."You're losing your insect populations, you're losing your flowers, you're losing your biodiversity, you're not allowing flowers and grasses to go through their natural cycles," he suggested creating a network of green lanes across the island with minimal traffic are not cut until August or early said this could be a real boost for tourists visiting the island for its natural beauty and would encourage people to get out more. Lewis said branchage was important to maintain free access to the roads, particularly for bin lorries, tractors and emergency vehicles. He said he agreed with environmental concerns and it was important people did not cut back hedges too tightly, leaving at least 10cm of added he had only seen a few "minor infractions" during his July 2025 inspection and he preferred to issue warnings to residents instead of Government of Jersey advises people should help the environment by cutting with hand tools when possible, allowing pans to set seed if not overhanging, leaving tussocks of vegetation for insects and never carrying out heavy hedge work during bird breeding season between 1March and 31 July.
