Charity
Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum granted £190,000 for community project
The Julia Rausing Trust has awarded the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum a £190,000 grant to invest in a community-led tree planting project
Environment
Fungi translocation to restore woodlands
A nature restoration experiment, Forestry England is moving soil rich in vital fungi from an ancient woodland to a newly planted site in North Yorkshire.
Research
Phytophthora ramorum sniffer dogs
Innovative project by Forest Research, successfully trains detection dogs to specifically identify the tree pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum
Plants
National Trust announces recipients of Trees of Hope
Marking National Tree Week, the National Trust announced the recipients of the much-loved Sycamore Gap tree saplings grown from its seed.
Natural Capital
BNGx launches digital BNG marketplace
Green tech start-up, BNGx has unveiled its digital marketplace for Biodiversity Net Gain units, registered with Natural England
Plants
Trials show peat-free growing media outperform peat equivalents
RHS trials show peat-free growing media retains water better than peat equivalents, producing better quality or similar plants
Environment
Biodiversity eDNA study across forests in the UK
A comprehensive biodiversity study is being conducted by means of innovative eDNA Technology across 250,000 hectares of the UK’s forests to ascertain the condition of nature and the variety of wildlife in our forests.
Research
Arctic microalgae can photosynthesise in the dark
Scientists have discovered that microalgae, located 50 metres down in the deep depths of the Arctic Ocean can photosynthesise – in near darkness.
Wildlife
Trichomonosis: Are our bird feeders up to scratch?
Could our feeding of wild birds, be aiding the spread of trichomonosis which has caused rapid decline of the British Greenfinch population and poses a threat to other beloved garden birds?
Report
Trichomonosis: Fatal disease causing rapid decline of our greenfinches
Not mentioned enough, trichomonosis is a fatal disease and the cause of the rapid decline of the British Greenfinch population and poses a serious threat to other, beloved garden birds.
Research
New study investigating routes of finch trichomonosis transmission in gardens
A new study is being conducted to improve understanding of finch trichomonosis transmission and mitigation measures for which public involvement is needed.
Wildlife
Defra reports overall decline in wild bird numbers
Worrying figures from Defra indicate that wild bird numbers in the UK are continuing to fall.
Regulation
Ruth Davis appointed as the first UK’s Special Representative for Nature
The UK government has appointed Ruth Davis OBE as the first Special Representative for Nature, a joint FCDO and Defra role reporting into the Environment Secretary and the Foreign Secretary.
Environment
Green Cities Europe Award 2024
Ten countries are up the Green Cities Europe Award, in recognition of outstanding sustainable, urban green space initiatives across the Continent.
Research
Survey reveals majority of Kew staff are against the Herbarium move
The results of the Herbarium Impact Survey for staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, confirm that the majority of respondents are not in favour of the move to Thames Valley Science Park.
Business
Gaze Burvill becomes ‘Grown in Britain’ certified
Luxury garden furniture maker, Gaze Burvill has become Grown in Britain certified, confirming their commitment to using British timber and supporting the sustainability of UK’s woodlands.
Regulation
Ten-Minute Rule Motion to prohibit the sale of peat
On the 6th of November 2024, Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP of Glastonbury and Somerton will conduct the first reading of a Ten-Minute Rule bill to end the sale of peat.
Design
Elemental: green design audit tool
Developed by Nicholsons in association with the Society of Garden Designers, the British Association of Landscape Industries and the Royal Horticultural Society, ‘Elemental’, the green design audit tool will be available to garden and landscape designers in spring 2025.
Awards
Green Estate CIC wins national award for green innovation
Best known for Pictorial Meadows, the Green Estate CIC has been awarded the British Chambers of Commerce Green Innovation Business of the Year Award for creating sustainable, resilient urban spaces that support both nature and people.
Wildlife
WWF: 73% decline average size of global wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020
The WWF’s Living Planet Report indicates severe decline in average size of monitored wildlife populations, due to human activity such as habitat destruction and climate change.