Latest news with #DEFRA
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The hotspots for Japanese knotweed in Somerset
JAPANESE knotweed season is underway, and North Somerset residents are being urged to check for local infestations. According to invasive plant specialist Environet, there are 583 verified sightings of Japanese knotweed in Somerset, with 0.36 cases per square mile. The figures come from Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap, an online tool that tracks more than 100,000 verified sightings across the UK. The map allows the public to search by postcode, view infestation risk levels, and submit new reports with photos for expert verification. Here are the top Japanese knotweed hotspots in Somerset for 2025: 1 Bath - 159 2 Portishead - 37 3 Clevedon - 30 4 Weston-Super-Mare - 24 5 Keynsham - 21 =6 Taunton - 15 =6 Winscombe - 14 8 Wincanton - 12 9 Radstock - 11 10 Nailsea - 11 Japanese knotweed, introduced to the UK in the Victorian era, spreads via underground rhizomes that can grow up to 3 metres deep and 7 metres wide. While serious structural damage is rare, the plant can lower property values and lead to disputes. A DEFRA report estimated the annual cost of tackling knotweed in the UK at nearly £250 million. Environet Director Emily Grant said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment.'
North Wales Live
20-07-2025
- Climate
- North Wales Live
The three North Wales villages that are hotspots for invader that can damage homes
The "top ten" places in Wales blighted by Japanese knotweed have been named - and three are in North Wales. With the Japanese knotweed growing season now well underway, invasive plant can damage properties, patios and paving and devalue land. Now invasive plant specialist Environet has revealed Wales's knotweed hotspots for 2025 using the latest data from its online tracker, Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap. There are a total of 31,338 verified knotweed sightings in Wales, or 3.9 incidences in every square mile, compared to 1.1 incidences per square mile in England. They show the worst places in this region are Betws-y-Coed and Dolwyddelan in Conwy, and Tanygrisiau in Gwynedd. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday Now populated with over 100,000 known incidences of the UK's most invasive plant, the map is updated with new verified sightings throughout the year, say Environet. This provides the most comprehensive online record of Japanese knotweed in the country, it claims. Members of the public can enter their postcode to discover the number of sightings nearby, with hotspots highlighted in yellow, orange or in the worst cases red, helping them understand the level of risk posed to their home or one they wish to buy. They can also help populate the heatmap by reporting knotweed infestations using the 'Add Sighting' feature and attaching a photograph of the plant so it can be verified by experts. Wales's Top 10 Japanese knotweed hotspots for 2025 are: Incidences 1 Newport city - 1,239 2 Cardiff city - 949 3 Swansea city - 936 4 Llanelli, Camarthenshire - 693 5 Betws-y-Coed, Conwy - 421 6 Neath, Neath Port Talbot - 396 7 Dolwyddelan, Conwy - 298 8 Llanafan, Ceredigion - 289 9 Rogerstone, Newport - 268 10 Tanygrisiau, Gwynedd - 254 Japanese knotweed first arrived in UK in the Victorian times in a box of plant specimens delivered to Kew Gardens and was quickly adopted by gardeners and horticulturalists, who were unaware of its invasive nature. Knotweed begins to emerge in early spring, quickly growing into lush green shrubs with pink-flecked stems, heart-shaped leaves and bamboo-like canes. But it can pose serious problems for homeowners. Its underground rhizomes that can grow up to three metres deep and spread up to seven metres horizontally, emerging through cracks in concrete, tarmac driveways, pathways, drains and cavity walls. While serious damage to property is rare, since mortgage lenders require knotweed to be dealt with when a property is sold, it can cause legal disputes between neighbours and reduce a property's value by approximately five per cent, say Environet. A 2023 DEFRA report put the cost of tackling knotweed to the UK economy at nearly £250 million a year. Environet Director Emily Grant said: 'By mapping verified sightings, we're helping people understand the level of risk in their local area and encouraging early identification and treatment. 'Vigilance is the best way to protect your property from Japanese knotweed, making sure you tackle it as early as possible before it becomes well established. At this time of year, knotweed is in full growth mode and easy to spot with its bright green heart-shaped leaves which grow in a zigzag pattern up the stems. "Mature plants flower around August, when they produce clusters of tiny white blooms."
ITV News
17-07-2025
- Health
- ITV News
What is Lumpy Skin Disease?: The cattle condition that's causing a cheese shortage 'crisis'
Rags Martel finds out how London's cheesemongers are coping with the temporary ban on unpasteurised soft cheeses made in Italy and France London, and the rest of the UK, could be (brie) facing a cheese shortage. An outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease -LSD for short - in cows in Italy and France has led the UK to temporarily banning imports of unpasteurised soft cheeses made in the two countries after May 23. It means some cheesemongers, who rely on these imports could be facing a shortage - with some reporting thousands of pounds worth of produce not being allowed into the UK and going off at the border. Mons Cheesemongers, which sells French and Swiss cheese across London, told ITV News that the ban is a "nusaince". Their East Dulwich shop has run out of Brie and fears Camembert will be finished by the end of the week too. It's meant they're losing out on sales, to the farm shops and delis they supply and that customers are not getting the cheeses they want. There are fears the ban will continue for much longer. Cheesemonger Andrew Postlethwaite said: " I think it would be pretty devastating to imagine a Christmas without raw milk, cow's cheese. "I feel potentially people don't quite realize how much of, how much raw milk French cheese they eat at Christmas, and what a big part of British culture - we've been eating French cheese since far longer than we've been drinking tea." The disease sees bovines covered in lesions, leads to a drop in milk production, immaciation and even death in rare cases. A Defra spokesperson said: 'This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers and their herds from disease. "We have strengthened protections by temporarily suspending imports of a small amount of products from Italy and France, following outbreaks of lumpy skin disease across Europe. "Unpasteurised cheeses are restricted, but as most Italian cheeses, such as Parmesan, Mozzarella, and Gorgonzola, are pasteurised this should not have a significant impact on supply chains." Some cheesemongers, have argued that the rules are too strict. Patricia Michelson, who runs La Fromagerie, has lost thousands of pounds worth of produce at the border, she told The Times. She argues that France's dairy industry is carrying on as normal, as their government tested the infected milk and found it "not be diseased in any way". Ms Michelson said: "If DEFRA wants to protect their herds in the UK then banning live animals is absolutely correct as a precaution. "Dairy herds (in the UK) are perfectly safe from French and Italian made dairy products. "EU due diligence is already rigorous but the new UK paperwork duplicates it at cost, causes delays, and adds confusion—especially at poorly managed UK entry points. "It also poses huge delays at the final import gateway in the UK. "Unless DEFRA has proof that all milk products from France and Italy are affected by LSD, we deserve clarity. "For importers, this isn't trivial—it's costly, illogical, and deeply frustrating. " But for London businesses, who sell cheese that's made in the UK, it could be a chance for their products to take centre stage. Bath Soft Cheese Co, which sells its products in London's Borough Market, is hoping they can step out of France's shadow and promote their cheese, made on a farm in Kelston with milk from their own cows. Bath Soft Cheese, Shop Manager Damien Johnson told ITV News London: "It is a bit of a crisis. "We'd like to think there would be a knock-on effect that it would give us an opportunity to promote the diversity of British cheeses and what we already produce and sell in the UK.""We hope that they contain the outbreak, mainly for the impact on the animals above all else, but we hope that it gives us an opportunity to showcase ourselves in the meantime while they sort out the problem."We don't have the fame for cheese like France or Italy does, so I think people are pleasantly surprised to find that there is a significant range of British cheeses, that can maybe replace for a period of time, the French cheeses that are no longer being shipped to the UK on people's cheese boards."
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Inside Rachel Reeves' family life with husband who has top government job
After Keir Starmer came to Rachel Reeves' defence after a difficult PMQs, we take a look at the Chancellor's life away from politics - including her famous family member Rachel Reeves admitted she was "clearly" upset during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions but insisted she was "cracking on with the job." She revealed her teary appearance had nothing to do with work and was a "personal issue". She added: "I'm not going to go into the details of that. My job as Chancellor at 12 o'clock on a Wednesday is to be at PMQs next to the Prime Minister, supporting the Government and that's what I tried to do. 'I guess the thing that maybe is a bit different between my job and many of your viewers' is that when I'm having a tough day it's on the telly and most people don't have to deal with that." Away from running the country's finances as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves has a busy home life with her husband and two children she shares with her husband. Rachel was born on February 13, 1979, making her 46 years old. She was raised in Lewisham, south-east London, to primary school teachers Graham and Sally, and attended the Cator Park School for Girls - a state school in Bromley. Her A-levels were in maths, further maths, economics and politics - giving her the ideal launchpad for her future political career. Fiercely intelligent from an early age, the self-confessed "swot" spent lunchtimes at school sitting on her own, poring over SAT exams to test herself, showing a competitive streak even then. She showed a propensity for maths from early on and won herself a place at Oxford's New College to read Politics, Philosophy and Economics, becoming only the third student from her school to ever go to Oxford. Rachel went on to achieve a Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics and joined the Bank of England's graduate scheme - in the same cohort as shamed former Health Secretary Matt Hancock. She was also the British girls' under-14 chess champion after her dad introduced her to the game at the age of seven. Rachel joined the Labour Party at the age of 16 when she was in sixth form, a year before Tony Blair's landslide victory in 1997. After two unsuccessful attempts to gain office, she was elected MP for the former seat of Leeds West in 2010 - the seat later changed its name to Leeds West and Pudsey. Who is Rachel Reeves' husband? Rachel is married to Nicholas Joicey, himself a senior civil servant who currently works as Second Permanent Secretary and Group Chief Operating Officer at DEFRA - the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. His position earns £110,000 a year, alongside Rachel's near £150,000 salary. He previously held the position of Director General of the Cabinet Office's Economic and Domestic Secretariat, and Director General for Finance at the Department for Work and Pensions. He also previously worked as Director General for Strategy, International and Finance at DEFRA, and before that was Gordon Brown's speechwriter when Brown was Chancellor. Before his political career, Nicholas was a journalist at The Observer. In the Queen's 2019 Birthday Honours he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath for services to the environment. Rachel and Nicholas met in Washington when she was working at the British embassy analysing the US economy with the Bank of England. They have two children, daughter Anna Elizabeth, who was born in 2013, and son Harold in 2015. She wrote about the experience of being the first woman in the Shadow Cabinet to have a baby, telling MMB Magazine: "I had a busy workload and a lot of pressure. Five months after my first baby was born, I came back to work, and although balancing the two was a challenge, I loved my job and had a supportive husband and family. "I travelled regularly between Leeds and London, and both of my children are good travellers who love Leeds and London." Rachel had a run-in with the activist group 38 Degrees while on maternity leave with Anna, when they emailed her constituents to point out she had abstained on a crucial vote. But under the then parliamentary rules, Rachel had been paired with a Conservative MP who had also refrained from voting, meaning her absence was cancelled out. One of her constituents emailed back 38 Degrees to point out she was on mat leave, and the group apologised. Who is Rachel Reeves' sister? As well as having a political husband, Rachel also has a famous sister who followed her into parliament. Ellie Reeves is the MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich, a seat she has held since 2017. Ellie is also Chair of the Labour Party and Minister without Portfolio since Labour came into power in July 2024. Like her older sister, Ellie showed signs of being very clever from a young age. She was educated at the same schools as Rachel and also went to Oxford, taking a bachelor's degree in law from St Catherine's College. Ellie went on to work as a barrister and is married to Labour peer John Cryer, now Baron Cryer, which entitles her to use the moniker Lady Cryer if she wants. The pair have two children.
Powys County Times
28-06-2025
- Powys County Times
XL Bully 'Scooby' spared destruction by Llandrindod court
A DOG described as 'well natured and lovely' will not be put down, as long as its Powys owner abides by a court order made this week. Charlotte Ball's XL Bully, named Scooby, was made the subject of a contingent destruction order by magistrates sitting in Llandrindod Wells on Tuesday, June 24. The case against Ball, 30, and Scooby, had been brought by Dyfed Powys Police, in accordance with the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Scooby is described as an adult male XL Bully type breed dog, fawn in colour with a white chest blaze. Nia Jones, representing Dyfed Powys Police at the hearing, said Ball, of Llwynpiod, Nant Glas, near Llandrindod, agreed with the terms of the order. 'This is a contingent destruction order,' said Ms Jones. 'It was unlawfully in possession of the respondent. But, she complied with everything required of her – the dog has been castrated, microchipped and insured. 'She was given a few deadlines but was a few days late, for example, in getting him castrated. DEFRA can't put him on an exemption list unless we get this paperwork. 'An expert met the defendant with the dog, to seize him. He was on a muzzle and a lead, and she had very good control of him. 'He is described as very well natured and lovely, he was commended by the kennels (where he was being kept) and she has been described as a fit and proper person. A cat even came past and he was calm. 'The force is very happy and content for us to return the dog to her, but we can't do it without this order.' Speaking on her own behalf, Ball said she had no objections and understood the terms of the order. The order states that Scooby must be kept on a lead and must be muzzled while in public. Ball must also have protection in place for visitors to her home and there must be no access to neighbouring houses for Scooby, and he is also not to be walked in public by anyone under the age of 18. Simon Green, chair of the bench, told Ball: 'We are content to grant the order. It is good to hear you're a responsible owner. We realise it was a clerical error.'
