Business
Dutch Flower Auctions Association: new peat-free growing medium grading
The new S57 grading characteristics and values, growers can now indicate to what extent the product has been grown peat-free.
Environment
Forest for the Nation competition
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is launching a competition to create a new Forest for the Nation in England.
Worth a listen
Podcast: Cultivate Your Future
Raoul Curtis-Machin, Director of Horticulture and Visitor Experience at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh talks to Neville Stein on the Cultivate Your Future Podcast.
Regulation
Unlimited penalties for polluters
Companies who pollute the environment can be hit with unlimited financial penalties from the Environment Agency.
In a nutshell
Squirrel pox virus
The Westmorland Red Squirrel Society reported a case of squirrel pox virus at Neaum Crag in the Lake District, a reminder of the importance of bird feeder hygiene.
Environment
DEFRA: No plans to ban artificial grass
Stating a commitment to eliminating all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 and acknowledgement that artificial grass has no wildlife value, Defra has no plans to instigate a ban on plastic grass.
Worth a read
The battle of the Stag beetle
Lucanus cervus, famous for its impressive jaws is a globally threatened species and numbers in Britain are in decline.
Environment
Al Gore: COP28 is now on the verge of complete failure
Climate advocate and former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore calls the COP28 discussions into question.
Environment
EFRA urges prioritising soil health on same level as air and water
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) published the findings of its inquiry into soil health last week.
Worth a listen
Looking out for Bumblebees
Horticulturist, Sarah Wilson talks to Gill Perkins, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust about bumblebee populations and habitats.
Plants
Bodnant Garden home to new metacollection of Wollemi pine
Critically endangered, Wollemi pines date back to the time of the dinosaurs and restricted to fewer than 100 trees in Wollemi National Park, Australia.
Environment
Supporting seed supply for the nation’s forests
The Forestry Commission is investing in the private and public sector to ensure resilient, diverse, and bio-secure supply of tree seed to meet 2050 (16.5% cover) planting targets.
Wildlife
Bringing beavers back to Cairngorms National Park
NatureScot approved the licence application for Cairngorms National Park Authority to translocate Eurasian beavers to the park, with the first sites receiving beavers in the coming weeks.
Plants
Shining a light on lichens
Plantlife, the international conservation charity managed to secure their £80,000 campaign target to increase shine a light on this intriguing family of vital organisms.
Awards
London Tree and Woodland Awards
Celebrating the work of individuals, communities and professionals to protect, improve and expand London’s tree and woodland cover.
Environment
COP28 underway
Latest round of climate talks opened today in Dubai with stark warning that the world is but taking baby steps to combat the planetary crisis that requires bold action now.
Regulation
Defra announces £15m investment in protected landscapes
Government pledges to champion the environment in the run up to the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai.
Worth a read
Suburbanising the countryside
Rural landscapes deserve much more consideration and respect than currently granted.
Regulation
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) become ‘National Landscapes’
A new name to reflect the contribution made protecting the nation from climate change, nature depletion and the wellbeing crisis.
Wildlife
Eurasian eagle owl living in Central Park
New York City’s avian celebrity, Flaco the owl seems to have made Manhatten’s famous park his home.