Pale Evening Primrose

Environment

Pollution is changing the scent of flowers

Sensory pollution arising from human activity is degrading the chemical compounds responsible for floral scents, confusing insects trying to locate flowers.

White spotted sable moth

Wildlife

Rare White-spotted Sable moth spotted

Leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is celebrating the discovery of a new breeding group of rare White-spotted Sable moth near Canterbury.

Bumblebee on echinacea

Wildlife

RHS calls on public to spot bumblebees on blooms

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is launching a nationwide initiative to monitor ‘Bumbles on Blooms’, in a bid to identify which plants are most visited by bumblebees in spring and help these vital pollinators to thrive.

Forest with trees and ferns

Natural Capital

BNG market drive: Biodiversity as an asset class

Biodiversity markets offer a distinctive avenue to expedite funding for conservation while offering a financial incentive for preserving and restoring natural ecosystems.

Bee on Comfrey

Natural Capital

Councils should aim to go beyond 10% BNG

Research by Wildlife and Countryside Link has revealed that in most Local Authorities, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will fail to go beyond “offsetting”.

Epping Forest

Fungi

Epping Forest valued at £1.9 billion to society

New report reveals that Epping Forest, London and Essex’s largest green space is worth around £64.4 million a year in public benefits, with a present value of £1.9 billion over 50 years.

Soil

Research

Sound waves appear to stimulate soil

A new study on sonic restoration has found that fungi respond to noise in soil, unlocking potential for improved ecosystem recovery.

Natural Capital

High-tech aerial mapping of hedgerows

Scientists have harnessed innovative technology to produce a comprehensive map of hedgerows across the length and breadth of England.

Meadow

Natural Capital

The Statutory Biodiversity Metric

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) publishes the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) metric calculation tool.

Sheffield from above by drone

Environment

HTA Environmental Horticulture Manifesto

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has officially released its Environmental Horticulture Manifesto, outlining ten key priorities for a future UK Government.

Fly-tipping example. Sofa dumped in a field.

Environment

The fly-tipping curse

Latest government figures show more than one million fly-tipping incidents last year, revealing an issue blighting rural communities across the country.