News stories from 2008

Fri, 1 Aug 2008: Renewables and energy efficiency could plug the 'energy gap': If the Government is serious about renewables and energy efficiency, Britain doesn't need to build major new power stations to keep the lights on. That is the conclusion of a new report by independent energy experts Pöyry for WWF and Greenpeace.

July 2008

Thu, 31 Jul 2008: River Slea: a great place to fish: An Environment Agency survey has shown that the number and variety of fish in the River Slea has returned to normal, five years after a pollution incident decimated populations.

Thu, 31 Jul 2008: Support for flood risk households: Defra has today set out plans to contribute at least £5 million to a scheme to support households in England which face a particularly high risk of flooding but which are not protected by traditional community level defences. The funding comes on top of any help already provided by local authorities, the insurance industry and households themselves.

Wed, 30 Jul 2008: Northern Ireland must "punish river polluters more severely": SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has urged Northern Ireland's Minister of the Environment to do more to punish offenders after it emerged that the Glenavy River has been polluted 76 times in the last ten years.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008: Dead fish in a River Wye tributary being investigated: Environment Agency Wales are investigating the cause of death of nearly 1000 young salmon and trout (fry) in the Rhyd Hir brook, a tributary of the River Wye in Rhayader.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008: Russians dive deep in Lake Baikal: Russian scientists have reached the bottom of the world's deepest freshwater lake in Siberia.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008: Unconventional oil could cost us the earth: With oil prices soaring, investing in unconventional fuel sources (such as oil sands or oil shale) could appear to be an attractive option, but according to a new report by WWF and the Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), such investments are both environmentally and economically unsustainable and can only serve to undermine international efforts to combat climate change.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008: Punters get police protection on the River Cam: Whatever next: the police are helping to protect punters from young river hooligans in Cambridge.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008: Stranded whale safely freed from Forth Estuary: Volunteers have helped to free a minke whale that became stranded on mudflats two miles up the River Forth.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008: Alien seaweed strikes Loch Sunart: Yes, those pesky aliens are back. This time attention is focused on a Japanese seaweed (Heterosiphonia japonica) spotted off the Isle of Oronsay, near Loch Sunart.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008: Dolphins at risk in Broadhaven Bay: Shell's controversial pipeline project continues to cause consternation for campaigners at Glengad.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008: New ways to tackle illegal wildlife poisoning: A renewed campaign to protect wild animals from illegal poisoning by pesticides has been launched by Farming Minister, Jeff Rooker. Over the next three years the Campaign Against Illegal Poisoning will focus on preventing poisoning, educating people against accidental poisoning, and improved detection of poisoning cases. The Campaign is a joint partnership by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Natural England, the Countryside Alliance, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008: Report shows water efficiency can help save money and the environment: Saving water in the home can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to lower energy and water bills, according to a new report from the Environment Agency. It shows how the water industry and householders can significantly reduce emissions through smarter energy and water use.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008: River volunteers go searching for aliens: Volunteers are working alongside the Environment Agency, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire councils to stop the non-native invasive weeds (including Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed) which are threatening to choke Bristol waterways.

Sun, 27 Jul 2008: Otter watching on the River Blyth: Forget cheap weekend flights to foreign cities: the real treasures are on your doorstep, as Jessica Aldred discovers on a nature-watching weekend in Northumberland.

Thu, 24 Jul 2008: Cooking the climate books: As we've reported here once or twice (or fifty times), the UK government continues to fiddle the figures on climate change. George Monbiot's latest exposé in The Guardian is well worth a read.

Tue, 22 Jul 2008: Have a go at fishing this week: The Environment Agency will be supporting events taking place in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire this week to try and encourage more people to have a go at fishing. The events are being held as part of National Fishing Week, a week dedicated to the sport of angling, with hundreds of events being organised across the country. The week runs from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 July and aims to encourage newcomers to the sport to have a go, and invites those who have not fished for years a chance to take up the sport again.

Tue, 22 Jul 2008: Comprehensive audit of natural resources announced: A wide-ranging review of England's wildlife, habitats and ecosystems has been launched by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn. The two year project will result in the most comprehensive picture ever of our natural environment, the benefits it provides to society, and how it is changing.

Mon, 21 Jul 2008: Four cheers for Tony Juniper: As Andy Atkins takes over the helm at Friends of the Earth, we send cheers, thanks, and best wishes to outgoing chief Tony Juniper, whose accessible, indefatigable campaigning has helped to keep the environment near the top of the political agenda over the last few years.

Mon, 21 Jul 2008: River Tees seal colony breaks record: A colony of about 70 seals on the River Tees has produced 12 pups this year.

Sun, 20 July 2008: Thousands flock to Glasgow river festival: Good weather helped the huge river festival on the Clyyde this weekend.

Sat, 19 Jul 2008: Watersports boost for Tees: Stockton Council wants to boost water sports on a 13-mile stretch of the Tees.

Sat, 19 Jul 2008: River Ellen chemical spill identified: The Environment Agency has located the source of a spill that killed 4000 fish, including salmon and trout.

Fri, 18 Jul 2008: Thank fish you can talk: New research reported in Science suggests how the basic structures involved in speaking first appeared in fish 400 million years ago.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008: Development Pressures Risk Changing the Face of the South East: CPRE has criticized new development plans for southern England: "Disappointingly the Government has stuck to its targets for very high rates of growth and development in the South East region. This is despite the clearly expressed views of residents, that development pressures must be moderated. Such rates of growth will change the face of the region and damage the environment, countryside and quality of life."

Wed, 16 Jul 2008: Natural England sets its 'green test' for new developments: Wildlife rich green spaces must be at the heart of all new development for the benefit of the natural environment and people's health and wellbeing, Natural England has saud, as 20 new Growth Points around the country are announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Wed, 16 Jul 2008: Thames faces floods and droughts: People living within the Thames basin face increased risk of floods and droughts as the landscape changes as a result of climate change, according to a new WWF-UK report. The Thames Vulnerability Assessment Report shows that changes in weather patterns will lead to a decline in the number of plants, fish and other animals.

Wed, 16 Jul 2008: Seas come to life around Lundy: The UK's only no-fishing zone around Lundy has been a major boon for marine wildlife.

Wed, 16 Jul 2008: SAS beach cleaners go on tour: Fancy Cleaning up your Beach? The first week of the school holidays sees Surfers Against Sewage on the road and coming to a beach near you, along with the nice people from Barefoot Wine. The tour dates are: Porthtowan, Cornwall (28th July), Porthcawl, Wales (29th July), Bournemouth (30th July), Brighton (31st July), Cromer (1st August), Tynemouth (2nd August).

Tue, 15 Jul 2008: Diary of Colorado River drought: BBC correspondent Matthew Price is travelling down the Colorado River this week, posting a diary about the river's troubles.

Tue, 15 Jul 2008: Alien mussel invaders defeated by 'Wanted' poster: The Countryside Council for Wales has tackled an invasive species in the Menai Strait with tactics straight out of a Hollywood western!

Tue, 15 Jul 2008: Mystery insect found in Museum garden: An insect, not seen in the UK before, has been discovered living in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Garden.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008: Watch the waters this summer: The usual safety warnings this summer: "The Environment Agency is urging youngsters planning to go fishing, cycle or simply hang out with friends down by their local river over the summer holidays to be aware of the dangers posed by fast-currents, weirs and locks, cold water, and unstable riverbanks." Fair enough, but how about some decent labelling of rivers and inland waters where it is safe to swim? How about greater designation of inland bathing waters in the UK?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008: Agency investigates Somerset trout kill: Hundreds of trout have died in a pollution incident on the Pill River in West Somerset. A mystery pollutant has wiped out the entire fish population on a four mile stretch of river between the village of Withycombe and Blue Anchor near Minehead.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008: Swan uppers raise fears of high Thames: The annual swan upping takes place this week, with the Queen's Swan Marker expressing fears that high water levels in the Thames could be affecting the birds' breeding.

Mon, 14 Jul 2008: Prepare yourselves for flooding: On Monday 14th July, the Environment Agency advised a conference in Gloucester how they could be prepared to cope with the risks of flooding in the future. Paul Tullett, Area Manager West, told the conference that as the impacts of flooding cannot be stopped, people at risk need to take some responsibility for preparing themselves, especially with the likelihood of more frequent flooding as climate change occurs.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008: Two books on overfishing reviewed: The Observer's Alex Renton "compares and contrasts" two books on the fish crisis: "The Last Fish Tale: The Fate of the Atlantic and Our Disappearing Fisheries" by Mark Kurlansky and "Bottomfeeder: How the Fish on our Plates Is Killing the Planet" by Taras Grescoe. In Renton's view, Grescoe wins by a whisker.

Sat, 12 Jul 2008: Shakeup of water abstraction will protect rivers and hit consumers: A somewhat mistitled piece in The Guardian ("Water bills rise to save wildlife") reveals major changes in how water companies plunder our rivers.

Thu, 11 Jul 2008: Agreement on flood insurance is good news for customers, says government: Millions of householders and businesses will continue to receive long term flood cover after an agreement was reached between insurers and the Government. Defra and Treasury ministers met with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) yesterday to finalise a deal which will ensure flood insurance remains widely available for homes and small businesses..

Wed, 9 Jul 2008: Overfishing is even worse than we thought: According to a report at the International Coral Reef Symposium this week, subsistence and recreational fishing is almost completely unreported in official catch statistics.

Wed, 9 Jul 2008: Cambodian dolphin fights for survival: BBC reporter Guy Delauney reports on efforts to save another threatened species.

Wed, 9 Jul 2008: New Darlington water sculpture: Darlington Arts Centre has an impressive new sculpture using stainless steel and falling water.

Wed, 9 Jul 2008: Daleks triumph over blackbirds: The Daily Mail bemoans a TV generation more likely to recognize daleks than garden birds.

Tue, 8 Jul 2008: Trawlermen cling on as oceans empty of fish... and the ecosystem is gasping: George Monbiot writes: "The oil price now seems to be all that stands between us and runaway climate change, it is also the only factor which offers a glimmer of hope to the world's marine ecosystems."

Tue, 8 Jul 2008: G8 leaders fail on climate goals says WWF: Enough hot air from world leaders. WWF has criticised the Group of Eight (G8) leaders on their failure to boost international climate negotiations at their summit in the city of Toyako in Japan. WWF is concerned at their lack of commitment to mid-term targets to control climate change and judges the goal to reduce global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 50% by 2050 to be insufficient.

Mon, 7 Jul 2008: Sheffield tackles river litter: The Environment Agency and Sheffield City Council are working to blitz dirty bits of the city's rivers and brooks.

Mon, 7 Jul 2008: Wetlands hold the key to protecting our past and future: Large areas of wetland need to be created, protected and restored across England in the next 50 years if the country is to meet the challenges of the future. The call comes from the Wetland Vision Partnership, an alliance of conservationists and government agencies, including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, the Environment Agency and English Heritage.

Mon, 7 Jul 2008: Bedford River Festival will be "best yet": The Bedford River Festival on 12-13 July 2008 will be the biggest and best yet, say the organisers.

Mon, 7 Jul 2008: Construction resumes on the River Frome fish pass project: A partnership project by the Environment Agency and the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset Fisheries Association to help salmon migrate up the River Frome is back on track. The project will construct a fish pass on a weir at Louds Mill in Dorchester. At the moment fish have extreme difficulty in leaping over the weir to reach better spawning grounds upstream. This is important for their survival in the Frome.

Sat, 5 Jul 2008: Campaigners Celebrate Victory On EU Seal Ban: Good news for campaigners on the proposed EU ban on the import on seal products from Canada. The EU's Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has just announced to EU ministers that legislation for a trade ban on all seal products from Canada will come into force in a matter of weeks.

Wed, 2 Jul 2008: What's involved in extreme kayaking?: A quick look at what you need to consider before taking the plunge.

Wed, 2 Jul 2008: Another hefty fine for Severn Trent: The beleagured Midlands water company has just been hit with another huge fine for providing false information about leaks.

Wed, 2 Jul 2008: Battle to save lock-keepers' cottagers: Campaigners are fighting Environment Agency plans to close some lock-keepers cottages, claiming safety will be put at risk in pursuit of profit.

Wed, 2 Jul 2008: Carbon Capture and Storage policy: WWF responds: The Government has opened a new public consultation on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) policy, seeking views on the proposed EU legislation on regulation of CCS and on what the term 'CCS Ready' might mean in practice.

Tue, 1 Jul 2008: Living by Ethiopia's sewage canal: BBC News looks at the realities of poor sanitation in Addis Ababa.

Tue, 1 Jul 2008: Local areas will tackle environmental challenges: According to Defra, local authorities are increasingly taking on the burden of tackling eco problems at the local level.

Tue, 1 Jul 2008: Tesco Blight Threat Battle Begins: The ability of communities to prevent damaging supermarket development will be tested in a key public inquiry which starts this week near the Norfolk town of Sheringham. The result could have implications for the future of supermarket development right across the country says the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Mon, 30 Jun 2008: First study into greenhouse gas emissions from farms: The first study of its kind to provide detailed measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from farms in England has revealed big differences from one agricultural sector to another.

Fri, 27 Jun 2008: Sea Shepherd announces new whale defense campaign: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has officially announced plans to return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary to once again oppose illegal Japanese whaling activities.

Wed, 25 Jun 2008: Bug forum launches at Museum: Coinciding with National Insect Week , the Bug forum will help the National History Insect Identification Service to answer some of the thousands of enquires it gets each year.

Wed, 25 Jun 2008: A third of world "fish" are demoted!: The new World Register of Marine Species contains about 122,500 validated marine species names, with experts having recognized and tidied up some 56,400 aliases (32% of all names reviewed). It also contains some 5,600 images, hyperlinks to taxonomic literature and other information. The project is half way to its goal of realizing a complete inventory of marine species by October 2010.

Wed, 25 Jun 2008: Remembering the 2007 floods: The BBC looks back on the wettest summer on record (so far!) with charts, videos, and news archive material.

Wed, 25 Jun 2008: SAS Makes Beaches Barefoot Friendly: Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have teamed up with Barefoot wine to launch a nationwide beach clean-up tour this summer. The week-long anti beach litter tour will encourage people to get down to their local beach and do their bit to make it clean and safe for all to enjoy.

Wed, 25 June 2008: Hope fading for Clyde dolphin: Conservationists are trying to help a dolphin that swam up the River Clyde this weekend.

Mon, 23 Jun 2008: Invent an insect!: Are you under 13 years old? Do you love drawing and colouring? Do you think you could invent your very own insect? If so, then Buglife and National Insect Week have the perfect competition for you!

Mon, 23 Jun 2008: CCTV aims at Ribble poachers: Poachers on the River Ribble in Lancashire are being targetted with CCTV surveillance. Whatever next...

Mon, 23 Jun 2008: South west rivers: your chance to ask the experts about flood defences: Members of the public will have a chance to find out more about flood defences in Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset at a meeting organised by the Environment Agency.

Mon, 23 Jun 2008: May 2008 rod licence proscutions: Over 200 anglers were brought in front of the courts by the Environment Agency in May for fishing without a valid rod licence, resulting in more than £35,000 in fines and costs. Guilty defendants had to fork out an average of £150 each, which is the equivalent of buying a coarse rod licence six times over.

Sat, 21 Jun 2008: Plant the seed of outdoor enjoyment: get your kids into the garden!: Gardens across England, large or small, can be havens for wildlife and are great places to get children interested in the natural environment, Natural England has said, as it hosts the 2008 Wildlife Gardening Conference at the Zoological Society in London.

Fri, 20 Jun 2008: Flood protection measures for homes and businesses: The Government has outlined plans to assist individuals and businesses to better protect their property from the impacts of flooding. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn visited a flood affected neighbourhood in Leeds to see first-hand how the impacts of flooding on homes and businesses can be reduced.

Fri, 20 Jun 2008: Lyme Bay to become haven for underwater wildlife: Damaging fishing practices using trawls and dredges will be banned in 60 sq nautical miles of Lyme Bay from early July. Recreational sea angling and diving, as well as traditional methods of harvesting scallops by hand and collecting lobsters and crabs in pots will remain, and could thrive as a result.

Wed, 18 Jun 2008: Australia: Murray-Darling river basin faces disaster: A chronic lack of rainfall is threatening parts of the Murray-Darling basin beyond recovery.

Tue, 17 Jun 2008: New swing bridge for River Hull: A spanking new £6.6 million swing footbridge has been approved by the government.

Tue, 17 Jun 2008: Government announces draft floods and water bill: According to Defra: "The country will be better prepared to deal with surface water flooding in the future, under new plans to be set out in the Draft Floods and Water Bill. The Environment Agency will take a new strategic overview role for all forms of flood risk management throughout the country, while local authorities will take the lead for surface water flooding in their own communities, supported by the Agency."

Mon, 16 June 2008: Environment Agency Wales launches new water recreation strategy: Environment Agency Wales is encouraging people to take to the waters this Summer with the launch of a new water recreation strategy. It explains how to use the waters safely and responsibly in a way that won't damage the environment and recognises the rights of fellow users. Going fishing, sailing, canoeing, gorge walking or simply paddling with the children are all included in the strategy, which promotes water recreation as a great way of getting fit whilst enjoying some amazing outdoor scenery.

Mon, 16 Jun 2008: Mark Lynas' climate book wins prestigious science prize: Six Degrees, a book about the mounting impacts of climate change, has won the Royal Society Prize for Science Books 2008.

Mon, 16 Jun 2008: Maidstone River Festival refuses to die!: A massive "Well done!" to the organisers of the long-standing Kent festival who have refused to cancel this year's festival following a dispute over police charges. Maidstone River Festival returns on Saturday 26 July 2008 and long may it continue.

Mon, 16 Jun 2008: Pond-dipping still a firm favourite: Children got the chance to discover the creatures lurking in the depths of a South Tyneside pond on Sunday 15 June, when they went pond dipping at Monkton Pond. The event involved the children using nets to sweep the pond and collect the small organisms in trays. They then looked at the creatures and identified them with the help of experts and ID charts, before returning them to their home.

Mon, 16 Jun 2008: China: flooded Yellow River could burst its banks: The risk of another natural disaster looms large, following heavy rain in north China.

Thu, 12 Jun 2008: Reducing flooding naturally: one year on from 2007 summer floods: The key to long-term, cost effective flood prevention could be held in England's National Parks and farmland landscapes. Thriving wetlands, restored peat bogs and free-flowing rivers are recommended by Natural England to reduce the harmful effects of flooding. By increasing the natural capacity of the countryside to absorb and hold excess water, we can help to slow run-off and dramatically decrease the risk of flooding.

Fri, 13 Jun 2008: Coal is unlucky for everyone: Friday 13th proved unlucky for Drax. Climate protestors halted a coal train carrying fuel for Drax power station in Yorkshire, the single biggest source of CO2 in the UK. Dressed in white overalls and canary outfits, the protestors used safety signals to stop the train on a bridge overlooking the power station, before climbing on board and dumping coal off onto the tracks.

Thu, 12 Jun 2008: Tidal options on the Severn: The BBC's Mark Kinver looks at tidal barrages and tidal lagoons and reviews the arguments for and against.

Wed, 11 June 2008: New initiative to boost Atlantic salmon: A new project is aiming to address threats to Atlantic salmon in Scottish rivers including the Tay, Tweed, Dee, Spey and South Esk.

Wed, 11 June 2008: Strathclyde Loch open for business again: Strathclyde Loch has been declared safe again after a recent algal bloom.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008: Dolphins may have been "scared to death": The dolphins that died after becoming trapped in Cornish rivers this weekend may have been scared ashore, experts believe.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008: Another wash-out for Ouse Washes breeding birds: Floods over the meadows of the Ouse Washes have wiped out the nesting season for wading birds for a second successive year. Several hundred pairs of ground-nesting waders (lapwings, redshanks and snipe) have lost eggs or recently hatched chicks.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008: Ban balloon races, conservationists say again: The Marine Conservation Society is renewing its campaign against balloon races, which can kill wildlife. We've been supporting this campaign for a decade. See our education pages for more.

Tue, 10 Jun 2008: Kids get creative for World Environment Day: On 7 June, the Environment Agency got creative with Ishango Science and Technology after School Club in Birmingham. Children had the task of creating award winning art that was also environmentally friendly to celebrate World Environment Day.

Tue, 10 Jun 2008: Environment Agency reports 12 months on since the summer floods: Nearly 12 months on since unprecedented rainfall led to widespread flooding in England and parts of Wales, the Environment Agency has completed 34 flood defences to increase protection to more than 30,000 homes and signed up 73,000 more people to its free flood warning service.

Tue, 10 Jun 2008: Rod licence blitz brings positive results: More than 8,200 anglers were checked for a valid rod licence by Environment Agency officers over the May Bank Holiday, with the evasion rate continuing to fall for the fourth year in a row.

Tue, 10 Jun 2008: Surfers' covert film exposes plastic pellet's route from factory to beach litter: To mark World Environment Day, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) investigators have released a film that exposes poor industry practice from plastic injection moulding factories, which is leading to a pollution epidemic of the nation's waterways and coastline.

Mon, 9 Jun 2008: New protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon: The Brazilian government has announced the creation of three new protected areas in the Amazon to mark World Environment Day. This comes just a month after the creation of four other protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon. Together, these seven protected areas will protect 5.8 million hectares of Amazonian forests.

Tue, 3 Jun 2008: UK businesses warn Government against climate law blunder: Top UK businesses believe the government may be about to get it wrong again on landmark green legislation due to go through the Commons this summer. Two thirds of FTSE 100 and 250 firms surveyed for Friends of the Earth believe it will be a mistake for the Government to exclude international aviation and shipping emissions from the new Climate Change Law.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: National Insect Week: 23-29 June: The Royal Entomological Society is delighted to announce that National Insect Week is back, giving people of all ages the opportunity to learn more about the most fascinating creatures on our planet.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: New flood scheme for Ripon: New anti-flooding measures costing £11.7 million have been revealed.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: Learn fly fishing, for free, in the East of England: Free fly fishing taster sessions are being offered over the summer months by the Environment Agency in the Bishop Auckland, Seaham and Ponteland areas. All sessions are suitable for 12 year olds and upwards, and run from 10am to 4pm. All equipment is provided, and people should bring a packed lunch and wrap up warmly, in case the weather isn't good.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: Uplands need to adapt to threat of climate change: A more concerted effort is needed to tackle the threats of climate change facing the uplands, the Environment Agency has said.Covering about 40% of our landscape, uplands provide many benefits to us and are some of our best national assets. They produce clean water and store huge amounts of carbon. They provide a home to some of our best wildlife and protect lowland from flooding by having the capacity to store water.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: British Waterways cracks down on unlicensed boats in the Midlands: The waterways watchdog has warned illicit boaters it will seize unlicensed craft in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: What do you think of new Kent and Sussex reservoirs?: Opinions are being sought on plans for new reservoirs in the South East.

Mon, 2 Jun 2008: Watch Out For Dragons And Damsels In Distress: This is the fifth year that British Waterways has conducted it's annual survey and last year, despite the wet weather, there were almost 4000 sightings of over 60 different species. For 2008, British Waterways has joined forces with the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) to focus on dragonflies and damselflies.

Sun, 1 Jun 2008: Oldest live birth in fossil fish: Nature has reported the discovery of a 380-million-year-old fossil fish.

May 2008

Fri, 30 May 2008: Safeguarding the Amazon is vital for global climate: Protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon have the potential to reduce total carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by 1.1 billion tonnes by 2050, a new report from WWF-Brazil has revealed.

Thu, 29 May 2008: Biodiversity loss: world's poor lose out again: World leaders at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Bonn will hear that damage to forests, rivers, marine life, and other ecosystems could halve incomes for the world's poor.

Wed, 28 May 2008: Spuds you don't like: On May 6th around 30 protesters shut down the BASF UK headquarters at Cheadle Hulme near Manchester. BASF is planning to run the UK's only trial of GM crops this year, a trial of blight resistant potatoes.

Tue, 27 May 2008: U.S. study finds climate change impacting water, agriculture, and wildlife: Climate change is fueling forest fires, creating water scarcity, harming animal habitats, and causing other significant changes throughout the United States that will only worsen as global temperatures increase, concludes a new federal government assessment of current and future climate change impacts.

Tue, 27 May 2008: Guernsey beaches still blighted by sewage: Guernsey tourism continues to suffer from antediluvian sewage treatment practices that leave beaches failing minimum standards.

Tue, 27 May 2008: WWF honours global conservation work: A number of prestigious WWF awards for outstanding contributions to conservation have been announced at our annual conference in Turkey.

Mon, 26 May 2008: Greater access to nature as Lottery programme opens doors on the natural world: Natural England has announced a £25 million Lottery funded grant programme Access to Nature is now open for business.

Fri, 23 May 2008: River Towy festival cancelled by sewage: Organisers have cancelled a major river festival in Wales after sewage and waste was discovered in the river.

Thu, 22 May 2008: SAS Grassroots tour comes to an end in Portrush: Each year Surfers Against Sewage plans a weeklong tour that visits key watersport sites up and down the country: "Over the last few years we've been the length and breadth of the country and met some great people that are passionate about protecting and improving their coastal environment for all to enjoy."

Thu, 22 May 2008: Time to end our oil addiction: The increasing cost of fuel, rising carbon dioxide emissions and fears about where our energy comes from highlight the urgent need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, Friends of the Earth has said.

Thu, 22 May 2008: Monster chub on the Tyne: Environment Agency officers working on the River Tyne had a big surprise recently when they caught an impressive specimen of chub in their fish trap at Riding Mill, near Hexham. Measuring 54cm in length and weighing in at an impressive 6lbs, the fish is one of the largest recorded from the River Tyne.

Thu, 22 May 2008: Encouraging fishing at 'have a go' day in Norwich: Novice and lapsed anglers are being invited to an angling open day at Bawburgh Lakes Fishery (Bawburgh, Nr Norwich) where the special guest will be four times world champion Bob Nudd.

Fri, 23 May 2008: Beaches getting worse again: The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has announced a 10% drop in the number of bathing beaches recommended for excellent water quality in its annual Good Beach Guide, compared to last year.

Fri, 23 May 2008: Acidifying oceans are new threat from climate change: Oceans along the north west coast of America are becoming more acidic, potentially putting ecosystems at risk.

Thu, 22 May 2008: You can swim but you can't hide: more oceanic sharks on the IUCN Red List: The first study to determine the global status of 21 species of oceanic pelagic sharks and rays reveals that 11 of them are threatened with extinction, says IUCN on International Biodiversity Day.

Thu, 22 May 2008: Fishing in Connemara: There's a lovely photo slideshow of May's Connemara fishing frenzy on The Guardian website. If you've ever wondered what fishing in Ireland might be like, look no further.

Wed, 21 May 2008: Carbon capture and storage: is the UK ready?: The government must act to ensure that no new coal-fired power stations are built in the UK until carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has been proven to work on a large scale and can be installed from the outset, a new report by WWF has warned.

Tue, 20 May 2008: Don't fish without a licence: Bailiffs from the Environment Agency will be out in force next weekend, visiting waters in the Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire area and making sure that all anglers have valid rod licences and are using legal methods.

Tue, 20 May 2008: Manx warns swimmers and boaters: As the summer season moves forward, Manx authorities are warning swimmers and boaters to keep clear of each other.

Mon, 19 May 2008: New flood defences for River Mole: The Environment Agency has finished work on new flood defences to protect about 10,000 homes in Esher, Surrey.

Mon, 19 May 2008: 'State of the Natural Environment' report published: Natural England's 'State of the Natural Environment' report published today brings together for the first time the evidence we have about the current state of our natural environment. It shows the natural environment in England is much less rich than 50 years ago and remains under pressure from a significant range of threats: more intense use of the land and sea; continuing economic development and climate change.

Mon, 19 May 2008: England needs a new approach to conservation, says Natural England: Natural England has called for a new approach to managing our natural environment if it is to stand any chance of adapting to the next 50 years of unavoidable climate change and the modern pressures of development.

Mon, 19 May 2008: England's Wildlife in a State: Commenting on the Natural England report 'State of the Natural Environment', Buglife (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) said: "British bugs, snails, butterflies, bees, wasps, ants, starfish, spiders, beetles and other animals without backbones are the most sensitive indicators of the health of the natural environment and have never been in so much trouble. Riverflies have declined by over 66%; more than three quarters of our butterfly species are in decline, including on SSSIs; two thirds of our bumblebees are disappearing; around 250 species of beetle have 'gone missing."

Sun, 18 May 2008: How did Cardiff fish die?: An investigation is under way to find out how rudd, roach and chub died in the River Ely and Cardiff Bay.

Fri, 16 May 2008: Wildlife vanishing fast: The Living Planet Index (LPI), which tracks nearly 4,000 populations of wildlife, shows that overall, numbers of species on land, in the sea and in fresh water fell by 27% between 1970 and 2005. Marine species such as swordfish and scalloped hammerhead were particularly hard hit, falling by 28% alone between 1995 and 2005. Seabirds have suffered a rapid decline of about 30% since the mid-1990s.

Thu, 15 May 2008: Serious pollution case for Northumbrian Water: Northumbrian Water were fined £4,000 in Sunderland Magistrates Court today (May 15) for seriously polluting a stream in County Durham with raw sewage.

Tue, 13 May 2008: New River Thames bridge will be "swan friendly": The ivory-coloured Walton Bridge in Surrey will have built-in protection for swans who crash into it accidentally.

Tue, 13 May 2008: Sticky problem for farmers: The Environment Agency is asking farmers to take great care when handling molasses because of the environmental damage it can cause.

Tue, 13 May 2008: New booklet helps irrigators who are thinking about building a storage reservoir: The Environment Agency has published a guide for farmers, golf course managers and others who are considering building a storage reservoir for irrigation.

Tue, 13 May 2008: Surfers launch new primary school water education pack: Another well done for Surfers Against Sewage, who have just launched a new online and free Key Stage 2 (KS2) school's resource covering English, Science, Geography and Citizenship. The resource, designed with cool, animated characters is called Save Our Seas (SOS).

Tue, 13 May 2008: WWF highlights ways to reduce human-wildlife conflicts: Better planning by governments could save lives and prevent millions of dollars in crop and income losses among the rural poor, according to a new WWF study on the conflict between humans and wild elephants in Africa and Asia.

Tue, 13 May 2008: Tankers bring water to thirsty Barcelona: BBC correspondent David Shukman reports on why the Spanish city is bringing in emergency water supplies by ship.

Mon, 12 May 2008: Pollution-hit River Stour re-stocked with fish: The Environment Agency has teamed up with a Hampshire trout fishery to re-stock a section of the River Stour in Dorset after the local fish population was virtually wiped out by pollution.

Thu, 8 May 2008: Environment Agency clears 'everything but the kitchen sink' out of the River Cherwell: Televisions, fridges and cookers were just some of the discarded rubbish the Environment Agency removed from the River Cherwell to reduce the risk of flooding in Banbury.

Thu, 8 May 2008: Water lillies on the Clyde will make solar power: A firm of architects has proposed building solar panels shaped like artificial lily pads to generate electricity.

Thu, 8 May 2008: First-ever comprehensive global map of freshwater systems: Over a decade of work and contributions by more than 200 leading conservation scientists have produced a first-ever comprehensive map and database of the diversity of life in the world's freshwater ecosystems. The map and associated fish data are a collaborative project between World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy.

Thu, 8 May 2008: Surfers celebrate Tintagel sewage victory: Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigners have today welcomed Hilary Benn, Secretary Of State for the Environment decision to refuse South West Water permission to carry on dumping raw sewage at Tintagel and Bossiney.

Wed, 7 May 2008: Hundreds of UK power stations and treatment plants at flood risk: BBC News has seen a confidential government report detailing infrastructure sites at risk from floods.

Wed, 7 May 2008: Green Belt loss a daily reality despite government pledges: There has been significant loss of Green Belt land since 1997 and more is planned, despite the stated commitment of the Prime Minister to robustly protect it, according to CPRE.

Tue, 6 May 2008: Recreational boat owners urged to protect wildlife: A new WWF-backed DVD will help recreational boat owners to reduce the number of injuries and deaths of animals from boat collision. "The vast majority of boat owners take to the water to enjoy the natural world, and would never wish to cause harm to its wildlife. Yet by being too eager to get a good view, this can be the end result," said Colin Speedie, director of Wildlife Safe (WiSe), the training and accreditation scheme for UK tour boat owners that organise trips to see marine wildlife.

Tue, 6 May 2008: Early warning could have saved Welsh fish: Earlier contact from the public could have limited the number of fish killed in a pollution incident at a river in St David's last week, as Environment Agency Wales launches a full investigation into the incident.

Tue, 6 May 2008: Mangrove loss may have worsened Burma cyclone toll: Removal of coastal mangroves may have exposed Burma's coastline to the force of last weekend's cyclone.

Sun, 4 May 2008: Mayfly making a comeback in Scottish rivers: But elsewhere, mayfly are declining. The Highlands could become a stronghold for the species in future according to Buglife.

Fri, 2 May 2008: Sheffield stream gets new lease of life: Wyming Brook near Sheffield is being given an environmental boost on Tuesday May 6 when the Environment Agency stocks it with small fish called bullhead. The bullhead will help to restore the natural ecology of the stream as they are an important food species for a wide range of predators, particularly brown trout, herons, kingfishers and dippers.

Thu, 1 May 2008: Helping our salmon and sewin to come home: Salmon and sea trout (sewin) are entering our Welsh rivers as they begin their Spring "run". This year many will find new stretches of river open to them for spawning as a result of new fish passes constructed from sustainable Welsh Oak.

Thu, 1 May 2008: Invading mitten crabs could be exported: The Natural History Museum suggests Chinese mitten crabs could be "sent back" to China as food.

April 2008

Wed, 30 Apr 2008: New summit to save Africa's Niger river: Nine west-African nations meet this week to consider a 20-year plan for rescue the Niger, one of the world's greatest rivers, on whom the lives of 110 million people depend.

Wed, 30 Apr 2008: Fighting climate change in homes and communities: More noisy initiatives to help us tackle climate change from the government that keeps on giving us more airports, roads, and other drivers of climate change.

Tue, 29 Apr 2008: Making a noise about peace and quiet: Countyside campaigners CPRE are making a noise today about the need for peace and tranquillity to protect our health and well being. Since the 1960s the area of England affected by noise and visual intrusion has doubled. Parts of our cities are now 10 times noisier than a decade ago.

Tue, 29 Apr 2008: Slurry: come and get it!: Environment Agency Wales is offering Welsh farmers free advice about slurry storage and spreading. Slurry is an important fertiliser source, and good storage and spreading can increase the profitability on any farm.

Tue, 29 Apr 2008: Pollution in County Tyrone river kills 870 fish: A major spill of farm effluent into the Fardross river, a tributary of the Blackwater, has killed hundreds of fish including brown trout and salmon.

Mon, 28 Apr 2008: Diving for clues to climate change: Daniel Schweimler of the BBC reports on how scientists are studying climate change impacts on the oceans.

Mon, 28 Apr 2008: Environment Agency gives rare water beetle a helping hand: When it comes to choosing a home, the brown diving beetle is fussier than most. First he needs water, but it has to be swift flowing. It also needs to be shallow with no over-hanging vegetation. And as if that isn't enough, the river bed must be made of flint or gravel.

Thu, 24 Apr 2008: SAS go 'Turdabout' in Guernsey: It's election day in Guernsey and SAS are urging the electorate to vote for those candidates that support a move away from the raw sewage 'pump and dump' philosophy currently used on the island.

Mon, 28 Apr 2008: Climate change: Arctic impact accelerates: A new study by WWF warns that climate change is having a greater and faster impact on the Arctic than previously thought. The report shows that the melting of arctic sea ice and the Greenland Ice Sheet is severely accelerated, prompting concerns that both may be close to their 'tipping point'; the point where, because of climate change, natural systems may experience sudden, rapid and perhaps irreversible change.

Wed, 23 Apr 2008: New approach to stocking to boost native trout: Protecting native brown trout is at the heart of a new Environment Agency approach that will benefit both anglers and the native trout population in rivers and lakes throughout England and Wales.

Tue, 22 Apr 2008: "Accidental river improvements" lead to huge watersports boost in Oklahoma: Improve your river and everything else will surely follow, as politicians and civic leaders have discovered in Oklahoma City.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008: Environment Agency successfully eradicates Top Mouth Gudgeon: An alien fish that threatened to wipe out the local fish population in two East Devon lakes and the River Otter has been successfully removed by the Environment Agency.

Fri, 18 Apr 2008: Byelaw reminder for Sea Trout and Salmon Anglers on Eden and Border Esk: Sea trout and salmon anglers on the Rivers Eden and Border Esk, and their tributaries, are being reminded that new byelaws are now in place to help conserve these species. Anglers are now only allowed to kill a maximum of two sea trout per day within the River Eden and Border Esk, and all their tributaries, from 1 April to 30 September.

Fri, 18 Apr 2008: Pollution kills 5,000 fish in River Gipping: Local malt manufacturing company, Muntons, has been prosecuted for causing a major pollution of the River Gipping at Stowmarket in July 2007 killing thousands of fish.

Fri, 18 Apr 2008: Habitat improvements breathe new life into the River Avon: Sluices, ditches and weirs. No, not a firm of solicitors, but some of the vital structures on one of England's best-loved rivers benefiting from a multi-million pound makeover pioneered by the Environment Agency with Natural England.

Tue, 22 Apr 2008: Development of Standards for Shrimp Farming in East Africa and Central America/Mexico Moving Forward: According to WWF, there's encouraging progress in developing responsible shrimp farming.

Fri, 18 Apr 2008: Sewage spilled into River Dee: Scottish Water and SEPA are trying to find out how four wastewater pipelines became blocked.

Thu, 17 Apr 2008: Over Half Of Guernsey's Election Candidates Want Sewage Treatment Improvements: Surfers Against Sewage continue to press Guernsey to clean up its act. 55% of Guernsey's election candidates believe the current system of dumping the island's raw sewage at sea each day to be unsatisfactory and support raising the level of sewage treatment applied. 44% of the island's election candidates go further by supporting a full (tertiary level) sewage treatment policy.

Wed, 16 Apr 2008: River Tweed on alert for parasites: Anglers and others who use the Tweed are being asked to help fight a parasite that could lead to the wipeout of the river's entire fish stocks.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008: Bill Bryson says: "Stop the Drop": Litter is getting worse and authorities not doing enough: tough anti-litter and fly-tipping campaign takes to the streets and the countryside. The President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), author Bill Bryson, has launched Stop the Drop, the charity's major campaign against the growing blight of litter and fly-tipping in England's countryside.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008: Illegal fishers plunder Arctic waters: WWF-UK warns in a new report that Alaska pollock, a species increasingly being promoted in the UK as an alternative to overfished cod, is at threat from illegal fishing.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008: Make way JR, river cleaners are heading for Dallas: This coming Saturday, volunteers will pick up trash on the banks of the Trinity river in Dallas. Read how American cleanups differ from British ones.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008: Oh Moeritherium! Elephants came from the water: Scientists have traced the ancient amphibious relative of modern elephants.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008: Scottish Water boost for bonnie banks: A stretch of the western banks of Loch Lomond (one of Scotland's most iconic tourist attractions) is set to benefit from a GBP2m project which is due to start in the next few days.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008: Is it time for fish rations?: The Guardian's Leo Hickman asks if it really is time to stop eating fish.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008: River Soar oil spill is "worst for decades": Cleanup officers in Leicestershire say a heating oil spill will have major effects on the river.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008: Really Wild time for Thames Barrier garden visitors: TV presenter and naturalist Nick Baker will lead a bug hunt near the Thames Barrier on Thursday 17 April 2008, at 2pm, to officially open the Thames Barrier Learning Centre's new wildlife garden.

Sat, 12 Apr 2008: "No Catch" organic cod farm collapses in £40m disaster: A high-profile venture to farm organic cod ethically in Scotland has collapsed after three years.

Fri, 11 Apr 2008: Southern Water pleads guilty to sewage pollution of River Medway: Are we back in the 19th century? Another water company is fined for an unnecessary sewage spill.

Wed, 9 Apr 2008: Huge increase in flood defence spending for Yorkshire: The Environment Agency today announced a 20% increase in flood funding for the Yorkshire region, rising from £35 million last year to over £42 million for 2008/09.

Wed, 9 Apr 2008: Rush to beat paving legislation could prove disastrous for wildlife: Homeowners must spare a thought for wildlife before rushing into paving over front gardens ahead of new planning regulations, urges the RSPB. Numbers of song thrushes, house sparrows and starlings have all plummeted over the last 30 years, and the RSPB fears people who rush into paving over front gardens ahead of the permission scheme may make matters worse.

Wed, 9 Apr 2008: Northern Ireland Water under investigation: The NI Water company faces a probe over how it handled water charges.

Tue, 8 Apr 2008: Huge fine for Severn Trent Water: The Midlands water company is fined £35 million for poor service.

Tue, 8 Apr 2008: Bob Nudd at Coaching Day for Young People: The Environment Agency, with Cottenham Village College, has organised a fishing coaching day with four times World Champion Bob Nudd on 18th April at Leyland Water, Waterbeach, Cambridge.

Tue, 8 Apr 2008: Biowaste challenges and opportunities in the coming decade: Facing up to the challenges of dealing with biowastes over the next decade will need the right balance of controls and incentives to encourage the reuse of waste while protecting the environment and human health, according to the Environment Agency.

Tue, 8 Mar 2008: Forth Wars Success: Good news and a campaign victory from Scotland! Following pressure from several environmental groups, including Surfers Against Sewage, Forth Ports have made the decision not to allow Russian tankers to transfer oil in the Firth of Forth.

Mon, 7 Apr 2008: Plans for major offshore wind farm welcomed: Friends of the Earth has welcomed plans for a new wind farm off the Yorkshire Coast. The Humber Gateway wind farm will help tap into the abundant clean green energy resources we have in the UK.

Thu, 3 Apr 2008: "Eco-towns: right idea, wrong place", say CPRE: Countryside campaigners CPRE expressed deep disappointment at the Government's shortlist of proposed eco town schemes. CPRE senior planner Kate Gordon said: "Our main worry is the proposed location of many of these schemes. We fully support the Government’s aspirations for achieving the highest standards in terms of sustainability and affordability. But achieving high environmental standards on site is not enough if the development is in the wrong place to begin with."

Thu, 3 Apr 2008: Marine Bill needed for all of UK: The draft Marine Bill published today by the Government includes encouraging measures to protect our marine environment, but its effectiveness will be limited unless it is implemented throughout the UK, said experts at WWF-UK.

Tue, 1 Apr 2008: £400 fine for dumping six rubbish bags: Fly-tipping just six bags of household waste cost one Ashington resident over £400 at South East Northumberland Magistrates Court on Monday 31 March.

Tue, 1 Apr 2008: Health benefits of green spaces and tree-lined streets: Great inroads could be made into urban ill health if just a fraction of the NHS annual budget for preventative health was spent on the natural environment in our towns and cities, says Natural England.

March 2008

Mon, 31 Mar 2008: Public says Britain not yet prepared for climate change impacts: Nearly 70% of people think the UK is not prepared to deal with the potential impacts of climate change, a survey by the Environment Agency revealed today.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008: Action needed to reduce democratic deficit in regional planning: Regional planning suffers from a serious democratic deficit. If Regional Development Agencies are to have planning responsibilities from 2010 new arrangements must ensure that decisions are not left to unelected quangos. The Agencies must also evolve beyond their current focus on economic growth.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008: Sustainable homes: not just DIY: The UK's poorly insulated, energy inefficient housing stock could be easily transformed into cheaper to run, low carbon homes by the end of the next decade. But a new report by WWF-UK shows that without a radical shift in Government policy the UK is set to miss out on the biggest opportunity to cut household energy bills, and reduce CO2 emissions.

Fri, 28 Mar 2008: Fined for turning river orange: A mineral extraction company and its director have been fined for allowing a high level of sediment to enter Tongwell Brook at Newport Pagnell, turning it orange and potentially having a serious effect on the spawning ground of Dace and Barbel.

Fri, 28 Mar 2008: Otters return to Bristol city centre: Otters make a welcome return to one of Britain's busiest river cities after being driven out by pollution more than half a century ago.

Thu, 27 Mar 2008: Astraction reporting changes will 'streamline system': New rules for recording and reporting how much water is taken from rivers or underground sources by water companies and other abstractors will help better manage water resources, protect the environment and cut red tape, according to the Environment Agency.

Thu, 27 Mar 2008: Fall in UK carbon dioxide emissions welcomed: Commenting on provisional 2007 estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions published today by the Government, Friends of the Earth's energy campaigner, Robin Webster, said; "It's good news that carbon dioxide emissions were lower in 2007 than 2006, although the suspicion is that this is down to good luck rather than good judgement. But Labour still isn't delivering the kind of climate action we need - on energy, on transport, or on housing."

Thu, 27 Mar 2008: Save River Severn boat graveyard: A marine archaeologist has launched a petition to save wrecked wooden boats along the banks of the Severn.

Thu, 27 Mar 2008: Oceans face new plastic peril: BBC reporter David Shukman describes new research showing how plastics concentrate toxins.

Wed, 26 Mar 2008: Environment Agency launches flood awareness guides: With climate change likely to increase the risk of extreme weather events and floods, the Environment Agency has launched three simple flooding guides that offer crucial advice on how to protect your home and family - before, during and after flooding.

Wed, 26 Mar 2008: New nuclear stations are "a distraction": According to Friends of the Earth's nuclear campaigner, Neil Crumpton: "The Government is misleading the public about nuclear power. A replacement nuclear programme is not an effective solution to climate change as it would only generate between 4 and 5% of our energy needs."

Wed, 26 Mar 2008: Big decline in garden birds say RSPB: The RSPB's 2008 Big Garden Birdwatch results show the average number of birds seen in each garden has declined by a fifth since 2004, however four species of finch, which spend the winter in the UK, have increased.

Wed, 26 Mar 2008: Dolphins use branches and weeds to charm opposite sex: The South American river dolphin has some unlikely courtship rituals, according to a new report in Biology Letters.

Tue, 25 Mar 2008: Ipswich flood defences get go ahead: A £40 million-plus solution to Ipswich's flood fears has moved a big step closer with the announcement by the Environment Agency that the first phase of funding is secure. A tidal surge barrier across the River Orwell is the main part of the proposals put forward by partners behind the Ipswich Flood Defence Management Strategy, including Ipswich Borough Council.

Tue, 25 Mar 2008: Water: Mexico will clean up its act: Mexico will invest in water projects to try to guarantee that at least 95% of the population has access to clean drinking water by 2012.

Tue, 25 Mar 2008: Government helps farmers who want to go organic: Defra today launched a free national information and advice service for farmers thinking of converting to organic production methods. The new advisory service will provide conventional farmers with free and impartial information and advice on the principles and mechanics of organic production to help them decide whether conversion is appropriate for their enterprise.

Sun, 23 Mar 2008: River Severn tourism bid launched: Advantage West Midlands is trying to restore tourism to areas hit by flooding in Shropshire last year.

Sat, 22 Mar 2008: Scientists find giant sea life in Antarctica: Some big new creatures have turned up in the chilly southern waters!

Fri, 21 Mar 2008: Stanley Mill to be preserved on banks of River Tay: A historic mill on the River Tay is to be preserved under new plans.

Thu, 20 Mar 2008: Fish are key to reef survival: Coral reef communities are developing strategies for coping with climate change.

Thu, 20 Mar 2008: It's World Water Day!: World Water Day 2008 will be celebrated by the UN on Thursday, 20 March. In 2008 the day will highlight issues on sanitation in accordance with the International Year of Sanitation 2008. People around the world are encouraged to celebrate the day to draw attention to the world's sanitation challenge.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008: Five miles of trees to be cut along the Thames: Campaigners are trying to stop what they say will be a hugely destructive tree felling.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008: UN Secretary General speaks about World Water Day: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reminds us of our disgraceful progress in tackling the world water crisis: "Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of the abysmal sanitation conditions endured by some 2.6 billion people globally. That adds up to an unconscionable 1.5 million young lives cut short by a cause we know well how to prevent. Leaders who adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 envisioned halving the proportion of people living without access to basic sanitation by the year 2015, but we are nowhere near on pace to achieve that Goal. Experts predict that, by 2015, 2.1 billion people will still lack basic sanitation. At the present rate, sub-Saharan Africa will not reach the target until 2076."

Wed, 19 Mar 2008: Don't be an an Angling April Fool: remember your rod licence: Although the coarse fishing on rivers closed season started on March 15, there are still plenty of canals, stillwaters and fisheries where anglers can try their luck. But one place not to try your luck is the local magistrates court, just because you forgot to buy a new rod licence. The Environment Agency is reminding anglers licences expire on March 31.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008: New nuclear power stations move a step nearer: Nuclear regulators, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA), today announced that the first step of "Generic Design Assessment" (GDA) carried out on four designs submitted for new nuclear power stations had found no shortfalls at this stage - in terms of safety, security or the environment - that would prevent any of them from ultimately being constructed on licensed sites in the UK. But we still oppose the plan with our No New Nukes campaign.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008: Think, don't sink: advice for driving in a flood: Just six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feet and two feet of water can sweep a vehicle off a road. The Environment Agency has teamed up with Devon County Council and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness of the dangers of driving through flood water and fords.

Wed, 19 Mar 2008: Thames Barrier: good for many years yet: The Thames Barrier will still be protecting London till at least 2030, according to experts.

Tue, 18 Mar 2008: City councillors give River Ness hydro-scheme the green light: A feasibility study to investigate re-instating a 32-year-old hydro-scheme on the River Ness, Inverness has been given the go-ahead from members of The Highland Council's Inverness City Committee. A site on the River Ness near Whin Park is the location that will be investigated for the re-instatement of a mini hydro-scheme which was decommissioned in 1976.

Tue, 18 Mar 2008: Anyone can be a green volunter: Environmental volunteering is for everyone, not just the knowledgeable few, says Natural England.

Tue, 18 Mar 2008: New Heathrow terminal is bad news, say Friends of the Earth: Green group FoE remind us of why expanding so many airports is such a bad idea.

Fri, 14 Mar 2008: Oil and gas threat to dolphins: WWF-UK is urging the government not to grant licenses for oil and gas activities in Scotland and Wales, near Britain's two main protected areas for bottlenose dolphins. "Bottlenose dolphins are a national treasure, adored by many and vital to our oceans. But their ability to feed, breed and communicate could now be seriously disturbed by sounds from oil and gas activities," said Emily Lewis-Brown, Marine Climate Change Officer at WWF-UK.

Sun, 16 Mar 2008: Melting glaciers start countdown to climate chaos: The average rate of melting and thinning of glaciers has more than doubled. Find the full report and data at the World Glacier Monitoring Service.

Wed, 12 Mar 2008: It'll be owlright on the night: An Environment Agency partnership project is proving hugely successful in increasing barn owl numbers on Yorkshire rivers. Working in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Partnership the project has so far involved putting 44 nest boxes on poles and cutting the amount of mowing on river banks to improve the habitat for the small mammals that owls prey on.

Wed, 12 Mar 2008: So much for bottled water!: A government department charged with supplying Northern Ireland's tap water spent almost GBP180,000 on bottled water in three years. Amazing.

Wed, 12 Mar 2008: Act local on climate change: A new GBP4 million programme to help local authorities tackle climate change has been announced by Environment Minister, Phil Woolas and Local Government Minister, John Healey. The programme will spread existing best practice on climate change among local authorities, and provide training and mentoring to help them reduce emissions and adapt to the already unavoidable effects of climate change.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008: Lessons to be learnt from the best of British salmon rivers: Visitors from one of Norway's top salmon rivers are visiting north east England and the Scottish borders for four days to learn why the area has the best salmon rivers in the UK.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008: Trout in the classroom comes to North Yorkshire school: Schoolchildren at Kettlewell Primary School in North Yorkshire are getting a first hand experience of wildlife, as part of the Environment Agency's Trout in the Classroom project.

Wed, 5 Mar 2008: Children give brown trout a boost: Primary school children from Clackmannanshire and Falkirk have released trout they reared themselves into local rivers. What a great project!

Tue, 11 Mar 2008: Thousands of fish killed in Ballymartin river: There's been a major fish kill on a 12-mile stretch of the Ballymartin River and Six Mile Water in County Antrim.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008: Five nation census to save dolphins: A milestone in the protection of the world's engangered river dolphins has been achieved with the successful completion of an ambitious 13 river, five nation census of South America's river dolphins.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008: Hope for whales: WWF has welcomed signs of a willingness between pro and anti whaling nations to work together to find a way forward at an international meeting in Heathrow, London. "I'm detecting a willingness for governments at least to talk," said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of the Global Species Programme at WWF.

Mon, 10 Mar 2008: Natural England welcomes consultation to protect marine life and scallop stocks in Falmouth Bay: Damaging fishing methods used to collect scallops has to stop in areas where they might harm habitats and species, says Natural England, at the start of Defra's consultation into closing the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to trawls and dredges

Wed, 5 Mar 2008: Antarctic cod "hibernates" for the winter: Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the University of Birmingham have discovered an Antarctic fish species that adopts a winter survival strategy similar to hibernation.

Wed, 5 Mar 2008: A new spin on whisky and water: A secret byproduct of whisky manufacture is being used to clean up contaminated water and land.

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Canoeist dies on the River Calder: A 37-year-old has died after becoming trapped in a weir on the Calder in West Yorkshire.

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Environment Agency speeding boater prosecution makes waves: A speeding boater was brought to justice thanks to a partnership between the Environment Agency and Surrey Police Force, after the wash from his boat caused damage to property and potential danger to life in Summer 2007.

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Environment Agency turns to willow spilling to protect river banks: Environment Agency teams are going back to basics and employing a traditional method known as Willow spilling, where a living screen of willow is interwoven into a lattice of soft wooden stakes along the riverbank, forming a solid mass of roots which protects the bank soil being eroded.

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Time to clean up our act on litter: "Litter is a major environmental problem, and one that is getting worse, not better. Today's figures are a message to those bodies charged with enforcing litter laws that they need to do more to clean up their act." This was the response of Ben Stafford, Head of Campaigns at CPRE to the results of the Local Environmental Quality Survey of England for 2006/07, which shows litter getting worse.

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Surfers Against Sewage Win 'Best Environmental Campaign' Award: Congratulations to SAS, who have won the first ever Best Environmental Campaign for their anti-marine litter campaigns (Return To Offender and No Butts on The Beach).

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Controversial Russian oil pipeline defeated: WWF-UK is celebrating the successful culmination of four years of campaigning today, after Sakhalin Energy announced the withdrawal of its request for government backing for its controversial oil and gas project in the Russian Far East, which threatened the critically endangered Western Gray Whale with extinction.

Tue, 4 Mar 2008: Pay as you go motorway lanes will increase traffic: Commenting on Ruth Kelly's plans for extra motorway lanes, Friends of the Earth Transport Campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said: "The additional capacity will encourage more traffic, which may lead to more climate-changing pollution.It's time that UK transport policy went in a different direction."

Sun, 2 Mar 2008: The Prime Minister's green credentials are not in the bag: If the Prime Minister won't even get tough on an issue as trivial as plastic bags, what hope does he have when it comes to infinitely bigger planet-saving challenges like climate change. A thoughtful article from Andrew Rawnsley in The Observer.

Sat, 1 Mar 2008: "Enjoy life while you can": Maverick climate sage James Lovelock says it's much too late for feel-good environmentalism. But there's still much to play for in the longer term.

February 2008

Wed, 27 Feb 2008: Fishy mystery at Abbey Hulton: On Thursday 28 February 2008 Environment Agency Fisheries Officers will be helping anglers from Stoke on Trent Disabled Angling Club, Moorside Fisheries, Abbey Hulton, to solve the mystery of why they are not catching as many fish as they used to.

Wed, 27 Feb 2008: Pollution turns Chinese rivers red: China's Xinglong, Tianguan and Dongjing rivers have turned red after high levels of chemicals leaked into the water.

Tue, 26 Feb 2008: The changing face of Tomorrow's England: The face of the South East of England could change forever within 50 years if opportunities to lessen the impacts of climate change are not taken now, according to a new booklet released by green NGOs. Buckled rail lines, parched golf courses, disappearing wildlife and freak weather delivering alternating flood and drought could be part of a dramatically changed way of life illustrated in the booklet which delivers a stark but simple message: If you love England, act now to save what makes it special.

Tue, 26 Feb 2008: Farming-friendly award for wildlife-friendly farming: The RSPB has a new competition for farmers, the "Nature of Farming Award", which replaces the very successful Operation Lapwing competition that ran in previous years; the difference being, you don't have to have lapwings on your land to enter!

Tue, 26 Feb 2008: Police fees cancel Maidstone river festival: One of the country's most popular and largest free river events, Maidstone River Festival, has been cancelled. In what would have been its 29th year, the event's voluntary committee have been forced into the cancellation following a new directive that the Police now charge for attending Public Events.

Tue, 26 Feb 2008: Tidal wave of interest in London's flood defences: There's a press conference at the Thames Barrier on Tuesday 18 March 2008, between 1:30-4:30pm. This is a rare opportunity to talk to the experts at the Environment Agency and Met Office, and take a tour of the Thames Barrier. You will find out what needs to be done to protect London from flooding over the next 100 years, examining both best and worst case scenarios.

Tue, 26Feb 2008: Record salmon catch on River Tweed welcomed with caution: Over 16,000 fish were landed by rods along the river Tweed in 2007, the most since records began in 1952.

Fri, 22 Feb 2008: Environment Agency entices Brown Trout back to Witham: Volunteers from the Environment Agency and Grantham Angling Association have been improving stretches of the Upper River Witham in a bid to encourage brown trout to thrive.

Fri, 22 Feb 2008: Buglife in court to protect West Thurrock Marshes: Today will see the first legal challenge under recent wildlife protection laws. In the dock at the High Court in London will be Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, whose decision to allow the development of West Thurrock Marshes threatens to cause irrevocable damage to populations of endangered bees, spiders and beetles.

Thu, 21 Feb 2008: Government promises "£400 million for low-carbon Britain": According to Defra: "Setting out details of Defra's 2008/09 budget settlement, Hilary Benn has announced an increase in funding for clean energy technologies, investments and enterprises to over £400 million over the next three years." So there's the usual spin: that's an increase to £400 million, not an increase of £400 million.

Tue, 19 Feb 2008: Northern Ireland water fined for sewage spill: Another water company dumps poop in our rivers. This time it was the turn of Colin Glen River and the River Lagan in Dunmurry.

Tue, 19 Feb 2008: Baby mussels disrupt Tyne ferry: Shellfish caused the cancellation of the Tyne Ferry this week.

Tue, 19 Feb 2008: Diverted river will keep its course: The Rea Brook in Shewsbury will continue to follow a new course after the Environment Agency found it improved the area.

Tue, 19 Feb 2008: Bulb growers protect River Fal estuary: A new partnership has "blossomed" between one of Cornwall's largest daffodil growers and the Environment Agency.

Tue, 19 Feb 2008: Impacts of Salmon Aquaculture Top Agenda at Dialogue Meeting in Barcelona: The Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue met in Barcelona, Spain this week to discuss new reports about escapes, siting and benthic impacts related to salmon farming.

Mon, 18 Feb 2008: Nine more shark species face extinction: More spark species are on the endangered list due to overfishing and finning.

Mon, 18 Feb 2008: Fish moved from Wedgwoods Main Lake: Environment Agency Fisheries Officers have been overseeing the successful movement of a hundred pounds of roach and bream from Wedgwoods Main Lake to restock the Top Lake in Stoke on Trent, in freezing conditions.

Fri, 15 Feb 2008: SAS's Spring Beach Cleaning At Porthtowan: Arh, spring is in the air. The sun has been doing its best and the beach is back on the list of places to go to. However, since you were last there, winter storms, big waves and strong South Westerly winds have driven millions more pieces of marine litter onto our beaches.

Thu, 14 Feb 2008: Volunteer frog detectives help to track frightful fungus: To help save England's frogs, toads and newts, amateur amphibian aficionados from across the country are being trained to track a potentially deadly disease that could have a devastating effect on amphibians.

Wed, 13 Feb 2008: True scale of shipping emissions revealed: A leaked UN report shows that international shipping accounts for 4.5 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide.

Wed, 13 Feb 2008: Ocean Map Charts Path of Human Destruction: A stark warning published at today's meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: "Human activity has left a mark on nearly every square kilometer of sea, severely compromising ecosystems in over 40 percent of waters."

Wed, 13 Feb 2008: Scotland in the grip of flooding misery: Are new flood defence plans too little and too late? BBC News explores above the border.

Wed, 13 Feb 2008: USA: Colorado River crisis looming: Reservoirs fed by the Colorado River could run dry within 13 years, according to a new US study.

Tue, 12 Feb 2008: New Thames River tunnel for Kent?: A business consortium called Metrotidal has submitted plans for a multi-billion pound tunnel under the Thames between Medway and Canvey Island.

Tue, 12 Feb 2008: Venetians urged to give up bottled water for Lent: The patriarch of Venice has asked Catholics to give up bottled water for Lent and give their money to water supply projects in developing countries instead.

Mon, 11 Feb 2008: Hot planet seeks solid relationship with tough Climate Change Law: Surfers Against Sewage are asking for your help this Valentine's Day: "It's your planet that's getting hotter. But you can play Cupid and cool it down before it's too late by sending a Valentines card to your local MP. We've even made the card for you."

Mon, 11 Feb 2008: Why construction work doesn't have to wreck rivers: Construction and maintenance companies who work in or near watercourses are being reminded today that pollution incidents are avoidable by careful planning.

Mon, 11 Feb 2008: Environment Agency seeks committee members in the South West: The Environment Agency is looking for new members to join two Regional Committees in the South West. Both committees are statutory and provide advice and direction, linking the Environment Agency with people affected by its work.

Fri, 8 Feb 2008: New hope for warming coral: An "ocean thermostat" could protect coral threatened by climate change, according to new research in the western Pacific Ocean.

Thu, 7 Feb 2008: Water metering needed 'sooner rather than later': The Environment Agency has welcomed publication of the Government's Water Strategy for England but said that compulsory water metering is needed sooner rather than later.

Thu, 7 Feb 2008: US Arctic oil plans threat to polar bear: WWF warns that the US government's plan to auction nearly 30 million acres of prime polar bear habitat in the Chukchi Sea in Alaska for the extraction of oil and gas is a serious threat to the lives of polar bears in the region.

Wed, 6 Feb 2008: Northern farmers invited to help save rare river species: Farmers are being asked to get involved and help to save rare species in Northumbrian rivers. As part of the process they're invited to an event on Wednesday 13 February at Wallington Hall, Cambo, Morpeth.

Wed, 6 Feb 2008: Cain Valley celebrates its community river: Llanfyllin, Llanfechain and surrounding communities of the Cain Valley in Mid Wales are embracing a new initiative to raise awareness about their local river, the Afon Cain. To help celebrate the project local children are helping to hatch Atlantic Salmon in the Llanfyllin community centre.

Wed, 6 Feb 2008: London's Low Emission Zone Welcomed: London Mayor Ken Livingstone's introduction of a capital-wide Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has been welcomed today by Friends of the Earth.

Tue, 5 Feb 2008: Living it up at the East River Spa: If luxury's your thing, you might enjoy a visit to one of London's newest riverside attractions, reviewed here in The Times.

Tue, 5 Feb 2008: WWF in Tanzania: reefs, banks and pearls: The Tanzanian president, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has praised WWF's coastal resources management and sustainable livelihoods programmes in the country, during his official visit to fishing villages in Kilwa to donate internationally-donated equipment.

Mon, 4 Feb 2008: Bangladeshi divers pioneer low-tech scuba: Amateur divers in Bangladesh are exploring with incredibly basic technology.

Wed, 6 Feb 2008: Government urged to help bottlenose dolphins: Cornish dolphin numbers have fallen by almost two thirds in 20 years.

Sat, 2 Feb 2008: Turning the tide for wetland in the Wash: The most important wetland site in the UK, home to waterbirds such as redshank, oystercatcher and avocet, is back in good condition for the first time in a decade marking a major environmental achievement for World Wetland Day 2008, Natural England, Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee (ESFJC) and Wash fishermen have announced.

Fri, 1 Feb 2008: Hugh F-W opens salmon season on the Dee: The TV chef was first to cast off this year.

January 2008

Thu, 31 Jan 2007: Send a quick email to improve the new Bathing Water Legislation in England, Wales and Scotland: After a decade of campaigning, Surfers Against Sewage welcomed the EU's revision of the Bathing Water Directive in 2006 and now look forward to a strengthened Directive that should better protect the health of recreational water users in the UK. They need your help urgently with a special email action.

Thu, 31 Jan 2008: Caversham Lock Island to Get New Lease of Life: Caversham Lock Island will be given a new lease of life over the next few years, and Reading Borough Council and the Environment Agency are looking for a partner to help achieve this.

Thu, 31 Jan 2008: UK still cooking emissions books: The British government continues to insist emissions are falling and even goes so far as to claim: "The economy grew another 2.9 per cent in 2006, meaning that the UK is continuing to break the historic link between economic growth and growth in emissions." Maybe the fact that we're exporting more and more manufacturing to China could have something to do with it? A report late last year by Dieter Helm found more unreported emissions.

Tue, 29 Jan 2008: Special project aims to put the sparkle back into the River Clyst: Its name means 'clear', but in recent years the River Clyst has been anything but clean and clear. Monitoring by the Environment Agency has revealed a disturbing loss of wildlife and decline in fish numbers in this important Devon river.

Tue, 29 Jan 2008: Why has the River Deer turned orange?: The Environment Agency is investigating a mystery colouring of the Devon river.

Tue, 29 Jan 2008: Rare fish are good news for Cornish rivers: Some rare fish have turned up in Cornish estuaries.

Mon, 28 Jan 2008: Greenpeace whale protest runs out of steam: The BBC's aptly named Jonah Fisher has been posting a month-long diary of his voyage with the whale watchers.

Tue, 29 Jan 2008: We must avoid sacrificing our countryside to fuel our cars: We must do what we can to address climate change responsibly. But rigid targets for biofuels could put the car before the harvest. This was CPRE's reaction to Government announcement on the proposed targets the UK has been set for biofuels as part of the EU's plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Thu, 24 Jan 2008: Greenpeace whale protest runs out of steam: WWF applauds the Cuban government's decision to ban the hunting of all marine turtle species and products from its beaches and seas for an indefinite period.

Wed, 23 Jan 2008: WWF critical of EU's draft law on climate change: WWF is critical of the European Commission draft laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by only 20% per cent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. WWF believes that the target could have been more ambitious and should have aimed at a 30% reduction, in line with what was decided at the European Council of March 2007 and with the EU's objective of keeping global average temperature from rising by more than two degrees.

Wed, 23 Jan 2008: Pond weed threat to broads: The Broads Authority and Environment Agency need the public's help in reporting invasive garden pond plants which are threatening to choke the Broads waterways.

Wed, 23 Jan 2008: Natural England says it's time to sink or swim to save our seas: On the fifth anniversary of Lundy (England's only Marine Nature Reserve and "No Take Zone") Natural England has published the views of national and international marine experts and scientists who believe that political will and leadership is key to safeguarding life beneath our waves through a network of sites like Lundy.

Wed, 23 Jan 2008: Fingers pointed over Manx scallops: A Manx minister who pointed out a superabundance of scallops defends his actions now the bed has been plundered by fishing boats.

Mon, 21 Jan 2008: England's neglected heathlands: The poor condition of lowland heathland across England is putting stone curlews, nightjars and sand lizards and other endangered species of animals and plants in even greater danger of extinction, warns Natural England.

Mon, 21 Jan 2008: Beach Litter returned to source in Holland by SAS: A Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigner has returned to Cornwall from the Netherlands having shown a Dutch Shipping Company the medical bags that SAS believe were lost from their boat the MV Endeavor and which have been washing up on Cornish and Devon beaches throughout January.

Mon, 21 Jan 2008: 4shores project to create more wildlife habitat: Almost 100 metres of floodbank is about to removed from the coastal defences at Alnmouth as work begins on Phase 2 of the 4shores project. From 28 January, the defences one mile north of Alnmouth, upstream of Duchess bridge will be taken down. This will allow high tides to flood into six fields covering some 40 hectares which nature will reclaim to create natural flood defences such as saltmarsh.

Thu, 17 Jan 2008: China: Drought hits the Yangtze: Parts of the River Yangtze are at their lowest level for 142 years.

Wed, 16 Jan 2008: Fears of new floods in Oxford: The university city is just one of the places in the UK braced for a possible repeat of last year's flooding.

Wed, 16 Jan 2008: Fishing boats win new access to Helford River: Fishing boats will have a new jetty and access road on the Lizard Peninsula after a 20-year battle with conservationists.

Mon, 14 Jan 2008: Sea Shepherd Crew Remain Hostages On The Japanese Whaling Ship: Two anti-whaling activists, Sea Shepherd crew members Giles Lane from the U.K. and Benjamin Potts from Australia, remain hostages on a Japanese whaling vessel they boarded as part of a protest.

Wed, 16 Jan 2008: Climate change has growing impact on UK coasts: The latest findings of the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (governing the transfer of cargos at sea, including oil. Importantly, the Private Member's Bill also specifies that ship-to-ship transfers must meet environmental protection standards, and be treated in the same way as ship-to-shore operations.

Tue, 15 Jan 2008: Anglers urged to help River Tay salmon: Release theif" id="uk" ALT="UK">Mon, 14 Jan 2008: Defra publishes public attitudes research: Defra has today published a framework to encourage environmentally friendly behaviour among individuals and communities. The report pulls together evidence on public understanding, attitudes and behaviours and draws conclusions on the potential for behaviour change among members of the public.

="uk.gif" id="uk" ALT="UK">Thu, 10 Jan 2008: Watch out for wind-blown turtles: The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is urging British beach walkers to look out for stranded marine turtles after three of the endangered reptiles washed up on beaches in Wales and Scotland since the end of December. Strong south-westerly winds forecast for Scotland, Wales and the South West this week may bring in mf the controversial (and unnecessary) bypass across the River Kennet floodplain in the mid-1990s.

Wed, 9 Jan 2008: What do you think of the proposed new marine havens?: Government advisers have started a public consultation about seven new proposed marine special areas of conservation (SACs). Note how tiny they are.

Wed, 9 Jan 2008: Ship to shore: SAS return beach litter: Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigners spent yesterday afternoon recovering 80 Baxters medical bags that have been washing up at Sennen Cove, Cornwall.

Tue, 8 Jan 2008: Online survey to look at future of North East salmon stocks: As the start of the new salmon fishing season approaches on 1 February fisheries experts are asking anglers to go online and tell them about the main issues affecting salmon in Northumberland and County Durham rivers.

Tue 8 Jan 2008: Have your say on coastal flood and erosion risk: People who live along the North Devon and Somerset coastline between Hartland Point and Weston-super-Mare are invited to take part as stakeholders in a public consultation on the future of shoreline management in the area. The Environment Agency is running the consultation on behalf of the North Devon and Somerset Coastal Authorities Group (NDASCAG).

Sun, 6 Jan 2008: 1.8 million hits, 310,000 pages, 151,163 people: The numbers are in. Almost a decade old now, our website gets a little bit more popular each year. By the end of 2007, we were knocking on the door of 2 million hits a year from over 150,000 "unique arden recycles its organic waste by creating compost and appeals to other people to do the same. This plea came from The Duchess of Northumberland, who has given her support to the Environment Agency's long-running "Dump-it and Leg-it" anti fly-tipping campaign.