Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 April 2026.

Local communities, water quality and wildlife will benefit from a record £8.5 million paid by water companies into environmental restoration projects as part of a strengthened crackdown on pollution and poor performance across the sector.  

This compares to £5.8 million the year before, a 47% increase, and just under £2 million in the 2023/24 financial year. 

The Environment Agency ensures this record funding goes directly to charities and projects that restore the harm done to waterways and improve water quality, working to leave them in a better position than before any incident.  

The funding supports a wide range of local environmental improvements, including habitat restoration and river recovery projects. This will help rebuild habitats for threatened species like water voles and salmon that pollution has driven from Britain’s waterways. 

Enforcement Undertakings are legally binding agreements between the Environment Agency and companies that have breached environmental rules. The undertaking requires the company concerned to take steps to prevent repetition of the offending and to put right the damage it has caused. Often this will involve a payment to a third-party wildlife trust or environmental charity.  This money can help deliver immediate benefits to the environment, without requiring lengthy and uncertain court proceedings – complementing the EA’s wider enforcement action against serial offenders. 

Water Minister Emma Hardy said:  

Water companies must be held to account when they break the law. 

This enforcement action will see millions go directly into projects that clean up our rivers, restore habitats and benefit local communities, delivering immediate benefits without lengthy court cases. 

It comes alongside other government action to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. We’ve already banned unfair bonuses and introduced landmark legislation to hold water companies to account, and our long-term reforms will mean there is a new, single regulator focused on preventing problems before they occur.

Severn Trent Water paid the most through Enforcement Undertakings in the period, totalling £4,627,424. All of this money was directed to local charities including the Trent Rivers Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, who have the expertise to deliver targeted improvements in the affected catchments through measures such as habitat restoration, barrier removal and water quality improvements. 

Elsewhere, £300,000 paid by Wessex Water following their pollution of the River Gascoigne will be used by the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust to improve habitats in the area, including vital work to support endangered water vole populations. It will create reedbeds, wetlands and ponds at Yeovil Country Park and along Preston Brook.   

These payments follow a major increase in enforcement activity, including a record 10,000 inspections of water company sites and a significant rise in criminal investigations. More staff, better data, and increased powers mean the regulator can act faster when breaches occur and enable more targeted regulatory action. 

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: 

As the environmental regulator of the water industry, we are transforming how we enforce the rules – with better data, stronger powers and our largest ever enforcement workforce. 

This record level of Enforcement Undertakings payments means more money is being reinvested directly into restoring the environment. 

While we continue to prosecute and sanction the most serious offences, Enforcement Undertakings allow us to hold companies to account more quickly while ensuring money is channelled directly to where damage has occurred, delivering real benefits for people and wildlife.

Enforcement Undertakings are one of a range of tools available to the Environment Agency. Alongside these agreements, the Environment Agency continues to pursue robust enforcement against offenders, including prosecutions for the most serious offences.  New figures show that £8.5 million has been secured through Environment Agency Enforcement Undertakings (EUs) over the last financial year (2025/26) – the highest annual total on record. 

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust, said: 

We would prefer that pollution events didn’t happen in the first place and continue to push for the necessary action to ensure this – including ambitious reform of the water system.  

When pollution incidents do occur, it is right that polluters contribute to the costs of caring for the rivers harmed by this. Enforcement Undertakings are one way of channelling vital funds into this crucial work, but this is only a fraction of the investment needed to build catchment resilience to pollution, floods and drought.  

The Rivers Trust exists to ensure thriving rivers and is well placed to put any, and all, funding to good use to improve our waterways in line with our charity’s mission.

The government has also introduced stronger powers through the Water (Special Measures) Act, including tougher penalties and new measures to ensure regulators can act more quickly and effectively. 

Further reforms are planned, including new civil penalties to close gaps in enforcement and ensure that all breaches – including lower-level offences – are dealt with swiftly and proportionately. 

Today’s announcement forms part of ongoing action to transform the water sector, improve transparency and drive better performance from water companies. 

Notes to editors 

• Enforcement Undertakings are voluntary agreements between offenders and the Environment Agency, requiring companies to fund environmental improvements instead of paying fines to the Treasury.  
• £8 million in Enforcement Undertakings was secured in the 2025/26 financial year, the highest annual total on record.  
• The Environment Agency carried out a record 10,000 inspections of water company assets this year.  
• The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 introduces stronger enforcement powers, including cost recovery and new civil penalties. 

Year Apr 2025 – March 2026 

Total: £8,505,424.00 

EU REF	Company Name	Date of Acceptance	Value
EU1089	Severn Trent Water Limited	29/05/2025	£777,424.00
EU1147	Anglian Water Services Ltd	02/07/2025	£200,000.00
EU1086	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	24/07/2025	£50,000.00
EU1095	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	25/07/2025	£300,000.00
EU1149	Wessex Water Services Ltd	08/08/2025	£300,000.00
EU1059	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	29/09/2025	£300,000.00
EU1091	Severn Trent Water Limited	29/09/2025	£600,000.00
EU1167	Severn Trent Water Limited	29/09/2025	£500,000.00
EU1131	Anglian Water Services Ltd	30/09/2025	£180,000.00
EU1148	Anglian Water Services Ltd	04/11/2025	£100,000.00
EU1172	Severn Trent Water Limited	11/11/2025	£550,000.00
EU1154	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	02/12/2025	£500,000.00
EU1151	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	16/12/2025	£350,000.00
EU843	Thames Water Utilities Ltd	18/12/2025	£373,000.00
EU1152	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	19/01/2026	£250,000.00
EU868	Severn Trent Water Limited	09/02/2026	£700,000.00
EU1099	Severn Trent Water Limited	09/02/2026	£1,500,000.00
EU1159	Yorkshire Water Services Limited	10/02/2026	£500,000.00
EU1227	Northumbrian Water Ltd	04/03/2026	£200,000.00
EU1230	Anglian Water Services Ltd	25/03/2026	£275,000.00

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 April 2026.

Environment Secretary approves additional £1m of government funding to explore the reintroduction of golden eagles, restoring hopes they will return to England.

One of Britain’s most iconic birds, the golden eagle, is poised to make a return to England after more than 150 years after the Government paved the way for a recovery programme that could include reintroduction.  

Once widespread across England and mentioned more than 40 times by Shakespeare, golden eagles were virtually wiped out by persecution during the Victorian era. Only a handful of pairs have been seen in England since and the last eagle died in the Lake District in 2016. 

But a study published by Forestry England today confirms that England has the capacity to sustain golden eagle populations once more, with eight potential ‘recovery zones’, mostly in the north of England, identified as being the most suitable areas.

The Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds has welcomed the study’s findings and approved £1m of additional funding to explore a reintroduction programme with the potential for juveniles, six to eight weeks old, to be released as early as next year. 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 

“This government is committed to protecting and restoring our most threatened native wildlife – and that includes bringing back iconic species like the golden eagle.

“Backed by £1m of government funding – we will work alongside partners and communities to make the golden eagle a feature of English landscapes once again.”  

In Southern Scotland, golden eagle populations have recovered to record numbers thanks to the restoration efforts of the groundbreaking South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project. Satellite tracking indicates that some of these translocated birds have already begun to fly across the border and explore northern England. The funding announced today will help accelerate this re-establishment and, where appropriate, further reinforce it with targeted reintroductions. Replicating their successful collaborative approach in the south of Scotland, charity Restoring Upland Nature (RUN) will lead the pioneering project in partnership with a group of core partners, including Forestry England.  

Aside from being Britain’s second largest bird of prey with an impressive 2-metre wingspan, the golden eagle is a keystone species that can play a vital role in nature recovery more widely. As an apex predator at the top of the food chain, golden eagles help to keep the whole ecosystem in balance.  

Mike Seddon, Forestry England Chief Executive, said:

“It is our ambition that the nation’s forests will become the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England. And we know from our successful reintroduction projects that returning lost species is vital for nature recovery across landscapes.

“The detailed findings of our feasibility study will guide us with our partners, Restoring Upland Nature, to take the next steps to explore the recovery of golden eagles in northern England. This Defra funding means we can build on the good work we have begun, taking the time to build support and engage with local communities, landowners and land managers and conservation organisations.”

Dr Cat Barlow, Restoring Upland Nature Chief Executive, said:

“This presents a truly exciting, and potentially game-changing moment for the return of golden eagles to Northern England. Our success to date is testament to the strength of collaborative working between conservationists, raptor study groups, gamekeepers and land managers, and to the incredible support of thousands of people across communities in southern Scotland.

“With the backing of Defra and Forestry England, we now have the opportunity to replicate and build on this approach in Northern England. Our priority will be to listen, to work in partnership, and to ensure that golden eagle recovery supports both nature and the people who manage these landscapes, so that everyone can enjoy the thrill of seeing golden eagles flying high once again across the uplands of the UK.”

Forestry England’s research suggests that Scottish birds could be seen across northern England within 10 years, but it will take longer for breeding golden eagles to become established in England.  

With support from Forestry England, Restoring Upland Nature will now develop a programme of engagement with farming, game management, recreation, nature conservation, tourism and education interests in the region.   

The move to explore reintroducing golden eagles is the latest milestone as the government’s works to achieve the statutory targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and to reduce species extinction risk by 2042 against 2022 levels.  

It follows the government’s landmark decision last year to allow the legal reintroduction of another keystone species, beavers, into the wild in England for the first time in hundreds of years, and a record £60m of funding announced last week to protect threatened native species.

Additional information:

• The programme will be delivered in partnership with the pioneering charity project that helped to restore the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland.
• This follows Defra revealing a new campaign, “Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife”, which will encompass the government’s existing and future work to protect and recover native species through projects including the flagship Species Recovery Programme.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 April 2026.

Two appointments have been made to the board of the UK Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish).

Pam Vick and Paul McCourt have been appointed to the Seafish board for a first term of three years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.

Paul McCourt has also been appointed as Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair.

Seafish is a non-departmental public body which strives to create a sustainable, profitable future for the UK seafood industry. It offers regulatory guidance and services to all parts of the seafood industry, including catching and aquaculture, processors, importers, exporters and distributors of seafood, as well as restaurants and retailers.

Seafish appointments are made jointly by Defra, Welsh Government, Scottish Government, and DAERA and Northern Ireland Office. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. 

Seafish Board comprises independents and specialists and it is two independent positions that will be replaced. Industry specialists on the board will be replaced when positions are available.

Biographies

Pam Vick

Pam Vick has been appointed as an Independent Member to the Seafish Board. She brings 20 years’ experience of strategic commercial business development, marketing and communications, and has extensive experience serving on boards across many sectors. Pam is currently Ambassador for Women on Boards UK and a Trustee for the British Ecological Society.

Paul McCourt

Former Chief Financial Officer at InPost UK, Paul McCourt has over 25 years’ experience of financial leadership, having held executive roles at Menzies and Ingenico.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 April 2026.

Strengthened UK-Japan trade arrangement slashes red tape for British organic exporters, cutting costs and bureaucracy.

British organic food producers will see red tape slashed and the doors opened to one of Asia’s fastest-growing organic markets, Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced.

Coming into effect today (Wednesday 1 April), the UK and Japan have formally recognised the equivalency of each other’s organic livestock standards. This will create significant market access for British exporters to meet growing consumer demand for organic products in Japan, from organic bacon and sausages to cheese and butter.

This means British businesses will need only a single UK organic certification to sell their organic livestock products in both countries, cutting costs and bureaucracy and breaking down a major trade barrier.   

The government has identified removal of this trade barrier as one of its market access priorities, with the potential to boost British export sales and generate millions in additional trade each year according to industry estimates.

Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

From Welsh organic cheese to world-class organic British beef, our farmers and producers set the gold standard for quality.  

This arrangement tears down barriers and gives them access to Japanese consumers who are increasingly seeking out the very best organic products the world has to offer.

Among those eyeing the opportunity is a Welsh organic dairy producer that has been growing its exports of organic cheese across Asian markets and is now looking to establish a foothold in Japan.

Stuart McNally, Business Development and Sales Manager for Calon Wen, said:

This is a very welcome breakthrough for Calon Wen, a farmer-owned organic dairy co-operative, and for the wider UK organic sector.

This equivalency with Japan allows us to pursue opportunities previously out of reach. This includes organic business tenders worth substantial trade annually. It’s a positive step that supports our family farms and strengthens the reputation of Welsh organic dairy in premium export markets such as Japan.”  

Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia, valued at an estimated £1.4 billion in 2023, and expanding rapidly, driven by Japanese government initiatives to promote organic consumption domestically.  

The UK-Japan organics market already enjoys a thriving trade partnership, where British organic produce including tea, fruit and vegetable juices, cereals, sauces, and syrups are already winning over Japanese consumers, who in return export popular staples like organic soy sauce, noodles, and green tea enjoyed by British consumers.
   

The UK’s organic sector continues its impressive growth trajectory, expanding 4.2% in 2025 to reach £3.9bn retail value – a trend sustained since 2012. The EU, Switzerland, US, and Republic of Korea stand among the other key export destinations for British organic products.

This arrangement builds on many recent wins for the livestock sector such as the recent beef tariff rate quota, worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised, and genetics market access in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Notes to editors

• Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia after China, with an estimated value of approximately £1.4 billion in 2023.
• The new arrangement expands the UK’s existing organic equivalency arrangement for mutual recognition of organic standards between the UK and Japan to cover organic livestock products for the first time and will come into effect on 1 April 2026.
• This builds on an earlier agreement that was reached between the UK and Japan in September 2025, boosting new trade in organic alcoholic drinks.  
• The scope of the products covered by the arrangement includes all types of UK organic certified meat and dairy products, including beef, lamb, pork and chicken, processed meat products such as bacon, sausages, hams and cured meats, dairy products such as butter, cheese, yoghurt, milk powders and processed eggs, and other processed food products containing animal ingredients, for example pet food.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 April 2026.

A total £90 million funding for species recovery across England.

Hundreds of England’s most threatened native wildlife are to be protected from extinction, thanks to the largest ever government funding for threatened species announced today.

The government will invest £60 million over the next three years – more than double the previous round of funding – into the Species Recovery Programme, marking the largest ever government investment in directly supporting threatened species. A further £30 million will be dedicated to fund species recovery on the national forest estate. 

It comes as Defra unveils a new campaign, “Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife”, which will encompass the government’s existing and future work to protect and recover native species through projects including the flagship Species Recovery Programme.

The programme, run by Natural England, funds conservation projects including habitat restoration, captive breeding and species reintroductions, helping to tackle habitat loss, safeguard our fragile ecosystems such as ancient woodland and chalk streams, and restore nature-rich landscapes.

Successful projects set to receive funding for 2026-2029 will be confirmed by Natural England in May but early indications suggest the funding will support action across a wide range of species from birds to beetles, moths to mammals and spiders, snails and seahorses. 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 

This Government is bringing threatened wildlife back from the brink with the largest ever investment in species recovery.

This long-term commitment is a decisive step towards reversing the decline of nature and protecting it for generations to come.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said: 

If there is one positive thing about species decline, it is the fact that it is usually reversible. For decades Natural England’s species recovery work has revealed how even the rarest of the rare can be brought back from the brink. The red kite, lady’s slipper orchid, pool frog, beaver and large blue butterfly are among the examples that demonstrate the many opportunities at hand.

Through the proven winning mix of good science and effective partnerships we know that many species can be restored to favourable status. This new government funding is most welcome, and will enable us to support even more of the many initiatives underway across England to halt and reverse the decline of our wonderful wildlife.

Over the past three decades the programme has helped protect over 1,000 species and prevented the national extinction of at least 35 species. More than 600 species benefited from conservation efforts by the programme between 2022-2024, including water vole, hazel dormouse and oystercatcher. Among the key successes were the first red-billed chough to hatch in the wild in Kent for over 200 years, the successful reintroduction of black grouse to the North Yorkshire Moors, and the return of the large marsh grasshopper to the Norfolk Broads after an 85-year absence.     

England is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. Since 1970, wildlife populations have fallen by a third with one in six species at risk of extinction. The funding uplift will help support the government’s mission to reverse this decline and meet our legal targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan, which commit to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 and reducing species extinction risk by 2042 against 2022 levels. 

The government has already announced the largest nature friendly farming budget in history, with £11.8 billion to be spent across this Parliament, the creation of three new National Forests, and approved the first wild beaver releases since they were hunted to extinction around 400 years ago. 

Additional information:

• The majority of applications for Species Recovery Programme funding are still undergoing assurance. These projects will be considered at the Programme Board in May, after which funding decisions and announcements for that group will be made later in the month.
• Examples of successful projects delivered with funding from the Species Recovery Programme: 

Hawkshead bee in Hastings       

The species highlight of the project was the discovery of Andrena fulvago (Hawksbeard Bee) by ecologist Andy Phillips. This rare species had not been recorded in Hastings for over 100 years. The wildflower areas created by Groundwork South will help support this rare bee species, along with many others.       

Chough in Kent      

The successful reintroduction of Chough in Kent for the first time in over 200 years following an extensive captive breeding programme and supervised release and monitoring. The success of this project, carried out by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park was demonstrated by first wild hatched chick in 2024, birds nested again in 2025.      

Black grouse on the North York Moors      

The successful translocation and reintroduction of breeding black grouse on the North Yorks Moors saw new nests hatched and 15 birds fitted with radio transmitters to monitor movements and health. This project will also release further individuals this year as part of the grant extension.       

Adders in Berkshire      

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust installed two adder tunnels beneath the Old Thornford road in Berkshire which bisected Greenham and Crookham commons. The tunnel was completed in March 2024 and additional habitat enhancements were made to help direct adders towards the tunnel entrances instead of the road. In May 2025 trail cameras installed at the tunnel entrance caught evidence of an adder using one of the tunnels.      

Horseshoe bats in Sussex      

Vincent Wildlife Trust has worked on three disused buildings to make them ideal for bat breeding. Their project Horseshoes Heading East focussed on connecting up suitable breeding and hibernation places for greater horseshoe bat across Sussex. Greater horseshoe bats at one of the sites have successfully bred, with mums and pups in the incubator and a new attic space.       

Waders in Essex      

The RSPB and Essex Wildlife Trust worked together across wet grassland, grazing marsh, reedbeds and saline lagoons in the Blackwater and Colne Estuary to install predator fences and water control features to make the site even better for breeding waders. The works have already proved successful with a lapwing nest spotted this spring and 6 other lapwing were seen displaying, as well as a pair of redshank.      

Lady’s slipper orchid in Yorkshire      

Natural England has worked with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Plantlife for thirty years collecting thousands of seeds, conducting germination trials and growing on seedlings to try and bring back our most impressive and rarest orchid, the lady’s slipper. Now, with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust also part of the partnership, the first known example of this rare and beautiful plant naturally propagating in the wild has been recorded.      

Avocet in Worcester      

Upgraded islands within the lakes at the reserve at Upton Warren, which had eroded over time, have received positive responses from the visiting birds, with 57 Avocet recorded on the 28th March ’25. This is a fantastic outcome given the short timeframe over which this project has been delivered by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.      

Water voles in Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire      

Four Species Recovery Programme projects have created habitats for water voles in Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire including creating new bankside habitat, wetlands and ponds, and planting hedges to provide cover and food plants.  Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, aided by contractors and volunteers, installed twenty water vole ‘motels’ along the banks of the canal in Coventry to provide safe resting and feeding places. In addition, more than 420 water voles were captive reared and released to help increase population numbers and distribution.       

Atlantic salmon and pearl mussels in Cumbria      

West Cumbria Rivers Trust, working with the Freshwater Biological Association delivered river habitat improvements including removing barriers to the passage of Atlantic salmon. This also benefitted pearl mussels, as their larvae spend around 9 months of their lifecycle on the gills of either salmon or trout, before dropping off into gravels to continue their growth. 2475 juvenile freshwater pearl mussels were released under licence into streams in Cumbria to bolster the populations.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 April 2026.

Three independent board members have been appointed to the Consumer Council for Water. 

Alison Austin and Hilary Florek have begun three-year terms today (1 April 2026). Peter Judge’s three-year term will begin on 1 November 2026. These appointments have all been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as published by the Cabinet Office. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  

The Consumer Council for Water is the independent, statutory body that represents all water and sewerage consumers across England and Wales. It provides advice and information on water matters and investigates complaints. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Biographies

Alison Austin

Alison Austin has extensive experience as a public sector Non-Executive Director and runs an independent sustainability consultancy supporting businesses with environmental, social and governance strategy. She spent 25 years at Sainsbury’s in roles spanning marketing, food technical, and sustainability, developing a strong understanding of consumer needs in the food sector. Since leaving Sainsbury’s 16 years ago, she has remained active in areas linking consumer interests and sustainability across both corporate and public sector organisations. Her previous roles include Non-Executive Director of the Consumer Council for Water and Independent Board Member for Seafish, where she represented Northern Ireland for six years. She has also served as a Trustee of WRAP, focusing on food waste, packaging reduction and the circular economy, and has worked with SGS UK Ltd and the Soil Association on governance of auditors for certification and accreditation standards. Alison was appointed to the Food Standards Agency’s Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes in June 2021, a role in which she represented consumers’ interests. She resigned in November 2025 to join the Agency’s Board as a Non-Executive Director. 

Hilary Florek

Hilary Florek is a strategic communications and marketing specialist with extensive experience in both the public, private and third sector. She was Chair of the Marine Management Organisation from February 2018 until December 2024. She is currently Chair of North East Access to Finance and a member of the Board of Advance Northumberland. She sits as a Member of Court at Newcastle University and is the Chair of Court Steering Committee. She is a member of the Board of the Durham County Cricket Foundation and a Trustee of Lawnmowers, a Theatre Group for young people with learning difficulties. Prior to this, she was Chairman of the Port of Tyne for three years having served previously as Deputy Chairman. She also served on the Board of the Glasshouse International Centre for Music. She began her career with the Vaux Group PLC and became PR and Communications Director, a position she held until 2000 when she established her own PR and Marketing consultancy. 

Peter Judge

Peter Judge’s early career was as a corporate lawyer in private practice before moving in-house to be the Legal and Procurement Director and Group Company Secretary of the Regional Development Agency, One North East (2003-2012), where he developed a reputation for strong leadership, innovation and for improving efficiency, governance and stewardship of public resources. Peter chairs the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute and is Senior Independent Governor of Northumbria University, together with a number of other non-executive roles. Peter was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Marine Management Organisation in 2019. As Attorney General of the British Overseas Territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (2014-2017), Peter was responsible for both Governments’ legal functions including prosecution, regulation, fisheries enforcement and new legislation. He successfully sponsored an international agreement on closer cooperation between British Overseas Territories. Peter was awarded an MBE for services to Economic Development and the North East region in 2012 and named UK In-House Lawyer of the Year by The Lawyer Magazine in 2010.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 March 2026.

Trail hunting is set to be banned in England and Wales – delivering a key manifesto commitment. A public consultation will open today on how to take the ban forward.

Trail hunting is where hounds follow a pre-laid animal-based scent across the countryside, mimicking traditional hunting. It became popular in the UK after the Hunting Act 2004 became law, as an alternative to traditional fox hunting.

This can result in wild animals, including foxes and hares, being injured or killed by dogs, as well as household pets in some cases. The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild animals are not placed in danger as a result of dogs picking up their scent, as opposed to the intended animal-based scent trail.

Concerns also persist around whether trail hunting is being used by some as a “smokescreen” to facilitate illegal hunting with dogs.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has previously said he believes trail hunting is providing a smokescreen and it “gives people the opportunity to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago”

We want alternative practices such as drag hunting and clean‑boot hunting, which use non‑animal scents, to continue to thrive. We recognise that hunts can support jobs and local businesses, and bring people together across the countryside. We are committed to ensuring that responsible rural pursuits, where there is no risk to our precious wildlife, can continue.

Baroness Sue Hayman, Animal Welfare Minister, said:  

We pledged to ban trail hunting in our manifesto and that is exactly what we intend to do.

The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild and domestic animals are not put at risk of being killed or injured – that is clearly unacceptable.

We understand that this is a complex issue and so we are seeking views from everyone with an interest to help shape how we bring this forward.

This announcement follows the publication of the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy which outlined the most ambitious reforms to animal welfare in a generation – improving the lives of millions of animals across the UK. 

 A public consultation will open today on how to take the ban forward. It will run until 18 June.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2026.

His Majesty King Charles III launched the England Coast Path at an event at Seven Sisters today.

• Renamed as the King Charles III England Coast Path in his honour in 2023 the 2,700 mile-long trail is the longest managed coastal walking route in the world giving unprecedented access to coastline, 
• With 1,000 miles of new access and improved infrastructure throughout the path will deliver a boost to the visitor economy and coastal communities. 

The King Charles III England Coast Path was officially launched today (Thursday 19th March) by His Majesty the King at an event held at Seven Sisters in Sussex.     

His Majesty walked a 2-kilometre stretch of the coast path, taking in the spectacular views of the Seven Sisters and enjoying the sight of the majestic chalky cliffs and the famous coastguard cottages that cling to the clifftop, immortalised in popular imagination through books and Hollywood movies alike.    

The Seven Sisters route forms part of the unique King Charles III England Coast Path, which is now the longest managed coastal walking route in the world, to be enjoyed both by visitors and local communities.      

Work on the King Charles III England Coast Path began in 2010 with the first section opened at Weymouth so that people could watch the 2012 Olympic sailing events from the nearby cliffs and beaches.     

Since then, works have taken place across the country from Cumbria and Cornwall to Northumberland and Norfolk with new stretches giving people access to the big skies and beaches of East Anglia, the rolling dunes of Formby beach, the ancient geology of the Jurassic Coast and now the iconic white cliffs of Seven Sisters that are being celebrated today.     

Once completed, 1,000 miles of new path will be created and 1,700 miles improved, allowing people to walk the beautiful headlands, cliffs, beaches, and dunes that make up the English coast. New signage and infrastructure such as bridges and boardwalks are being installed, helping to improve the accessibility of many coastal areas. 

All new and existing paths are now of National Trail standard and will help to attract more income from tourism for coastal communities as people come to visit the path.  

His Majesty was accompanied on the walk by the Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper and the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds.    

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:     

“The King Charles III England Coast Path is a testament to how access, conservation, and community can come together to make people’s lives better and is a fitting tribute to His Majesty and his lifelong passion for nature.  

“With this national asset, people around the country alongside international visitors will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the English Coast and the feeling of wellbeing, both mental and physical, that it brings. This will reconnect people with the land, support nature recovery, and create a more inclusive, sustainable future.” 

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:     

“We have one of the most stunning coastlines in the world and the King Charles III England Coast Path gives people a new way to explore it.

“This is the longest managed coast path in the world, creating amazing opportunities for people to visit spots of natural beauty in our coastal towns and villages.”

Visitors to England’s coastal paths already generate £350 million in spending within local coastal economies each year and support nearly 6,000 jobs. The path opens up new opportunities for growth along its route, with the potential to become part of the fabric of coastal economies by boosting tourism and revitalise coastal towns. 

One of the key features of the King Charles III England Coast Path is its ability to ‘rollback’ with coastal erosion. This means that the path can be easily moved inland to adapt to the changing shape of the coast and ensure access rights remain in place for the future.    

This launch is the culmination of more than sixteen years of work from Natural England and over 50 coastal local authorities, landowners and others across the country, including Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust and access organisations such as the Ramblers Association, Disabled Ramblers and British Mountaineering Council.    

The King Charles III England Coast Path has been full submitted to government for approval, while work continues to open remaining stretches around the country. Around 2,100 miles of the path are currently open with full access rights in place. By summer, we expect around 90% of infrastructure works to have been completed.  

The event kicks off a year of celebration of our coast with a range of visitor experiences being made available across the year and comes on the same day as the declaration of the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve, which was also opened by His Majesty the King today.   

Named in honour of His Majesty, a lifelong champion of the natural world, both the King Charles III England Coast Path and the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves stand as enduring commitments to protecting nature and public access.      

Two commemorative plaques were unveiled by His Majesty to be a lasting legacy of the day.    

The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023 to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.  

NOTES TO EDITORS     

• His Majesty’s visit to Seven Sisters today was covered by the royal rota.   
• The duty to create an England Coast Path was first placed on Natural England by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.    
• The England Coast Path became the King Charles III England Coast Path in 2023, to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.    

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 March 2026.

Some of the worst illegal waste sites across England to be cleared, restoring pride in our communities.

Waste criminals across England face their toughest ever crackdown, as the government and Environment Agency unveil a sweeping package of measures targeting illegal dumping.   

The new Waste Crime Action Plan sets out a zero-tolerance approach, with action to prevent waste crime at its source by closing loopholes and equipping regulators with the tools they need to stop waste criminals.   

Under the plans, the government will ramp up efforts to punish offenders committing waste crime. This could see them ordered to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid work cleaning streets and parks as part of new “clean-up squads” and required to repay the cost of clearing the waste they illegally dumped.

Expanding enforcement activity is key, and the Environment Agency will also increase its on-the-ground activity against waste criminals – intervening earlier on larger sites. Backed by an additional £45 million from the government over the next three years, this will strengthen enforcement activity and ensure waste criminals face the consequences of their actions. This represents a significant uplift of the Environment Agency’s enforcement budget, which stood at £10 million in 2024/25.  

The government will directly fund the clean-up of some of the worst illegal waste sites in the country including in Wigan, Sheffield and Lancashire – where a combined 48,000 tonnes of waste has been illegally dumped. The Environment Agency has already conducted preliminary assessments of these sites, with further clean-up assessments to come.

The government is forcing fly-tippers to pay to clean up illegal waste sites, it will also introduce a Landfill Tax rebate for local authorities that step up to clear sites, easing financial pressures on authorities. 

For too many communities across England, criminals have left them living in the shadow – and the smell – of illegal waste sites – but this government will not put up with it.    

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds said: 

Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This Action Plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences.  

Waste criminals will be forced to join clean up squads and made to pay for the clearing of illegal waste sites. We will give enforcement officers new police-style powers to bring offenders to justice.” 

As part of a new 10 Point Plan, the Environment Agency has set out how it will act earlier to address illegal activity and deliver more consistent enforcement action. This includes making greater use of restriction notices – powers that can shut down an illegal waste operation immediately, with no warning. Any operator who ignores a restriction notice faces up to 51 weeks in prison. 

Where evidence shows that carriers or operators are handling waste illegally, the Environment Agency will also act decisively – suspending or revoking their permits and deregistering authorisations that will shut them down. 

Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Philip Duffy said: 

Waste crime is not a new issue, but the threat is evolving and our response needs to move up a gear.  

We will act earlier, faster and smarter by shutting down illegal sites before they become established, using our powers decisively to strip rogue operators of their permits, and working with police, HMRC and councils to go after criminal assets. 

These measures will ensure we stay one step ahead of waste criminals and protect the communities, businesses and environment that they blight.  

But we can’t fight this battle on our own and will need the public’s eyes and ears to report illegal dumping through Crimestoppers or our incident hotline.” 

The measures announced today represent a fundamental step up in tackling waste crime, targeting the problem at its root to prevent illegal sites from ever taking hold. Measures include: 

• New enforcement powers: Defra and the Home Office will arm Environment Agency officers with new police-style powers to intervene earlier, bring more criminals to justice and hit organised gangs where it hurts by disrupting their finances.  
• Boosted enforcement budget: An additional £45 million for the Environment Agency to spend on waste crime enforcement over the next three financial years, on top of the £5.6 million increase for this financial year announced previously.  
• New Intelligence Unit to identify risks earlier: The Environment Agency will create a new Operational Waste Intelligence and Analysis Unit to hunt down waste criminals using every tool available – from aerial surveillance to financial data – and ensure enforcement is faster and smarter.  
• Penalty points on driving licences: Defra and the Department for Transport will give courts the power to award penalty points on driving licences for fly-tipping offences. Litter louts responsible for the most serious cases could face losing their licence altogether. This will make it harder for repeat offenders to continue dumping illegally. 
• Naming illegal waste operators: For the first time, illegal waste operators will be named and shamed by the Environment Agency. Information will be shared across the waste sector to put waste criminals on notice and ensure waste is not put in the wrong hands.  
• Supporting landowners: Defra will work with the insurance industry to create more comprehensive policies and remove any existing barriers, helping farmers, businesses and landowners to be covered for the cost of clearing illegally dumped waste from their land. 
• Clean up the worst illegal waste sites: the government is now committing to clearing up some of the most egregious sites and will start on-site feasibility assessments for the following sites as soon as possible:  

• Bolton House Road in Wigan where 18,000 tonnes of waste was dumped  

• A stretch of land in Hyndburn where 10,000 tonnes of waste was dumped 

• An industrial site in Sheffield where 20,000 tonnes of waste was dumped 

• A Landfill Tax rebate scheme for local authorities: The government is aware of concerns that Landfill Tax can be a blocker to clearance of high-risk illegal waste sites. We will therefore develop with local authorities a rebate scheme for landfill tax to tackle this issue. 

Waste crime costs the English economy £1 billion every year, with an estimated 20% of all waste illegally managed. The criminal networks behind it are becoming increasingly sophisticated, causing serious harm to communities and the environment, undercutting legitimate businesses and depriving the public purse of millions in lost tax revenue. 

The Action Plan builds on work already underway in the government’s war on waste crime. Since coming into power, this government’s work to tackle waste crime, includes bolstering the Joint Unit for Waste Crime to 20 specialist officers.

Successes include a serial waste crook being forced to pay over £1.4 million for widespread illegal dumping, as well as more arrests being made as part of an investigation into illegal tipping at a site in Kidlington.  

Two arrests were also made in February in relation to waste dumped in a field near Romford, with a lorry seized and mobile phones and a laptop recovered as evidence.  

Chair of the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and Executive Vice President UK, SUEZ Group, John Scanlon, said: 

The scourge of waste crime blights communities, damages the natural environment and undermines investment in Britain’s circular economy. Factoring in all types of waste crime, including landfill tax fraud, we believe the cost to the UK economy now exceeds a billion pounds a year. 

ESA members therefore welcome Government’s commitment to increase funding for waste crime enforcement and to deliver earlier, faster and more effective interventions to deter, disrupt and stop illegal activities before they become environmental and financial disasters. Legitimate industry will play its part, in partnership with regulators, by sharing intelligence to help catch criminals, and by continuing to campaign for legislative change to ensure regulators and enforcement agencies have the power and resources they need to effectively deter criminals from waste activities.

Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, said:

CIWM welcomes the renewed focus that the Government’s Action Plan brings to tackling waste crime.  Aligned to the Environment Agency’s 10 Point Plan, this mix of new, innovative and strengthened measures is a substantial response to this concerning issue.

The scourge of waste crime causes misery and anxiety to communities affected, causing real damage to local environments and to local economies.  It also undermines the legitimate resources and waste sector, but we will not be defined by it. 

CIWM, its members, and the wider waste and recycling sector is committed to playing its part in driving towards higher professional standards across our vital services. By remaining vigilant and sharing intelligence we will work alongside sector regulators to continue to disrupt and prevent criminal behaviour in our sector.  We commend Defra for this response and look forward to the rapid deployment of the range of measures and increased resources.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 March 2026.

New plans aim to support British farmers by improving supply resilience to global market shocks and supporting innovation in the fertiliser sector.

British farmers could benefit from access to new and innovative fertilising products which have the potential to reduce air, land and water pollution under new government proposals launched today (Thursday 19 March).

The consultation and call for evidence set out plans to help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, diversify supply, and strengthen the UK’s resilience to global market shocks.

Current fertiliser regulations are widely seen as outdated and could do more to support fertiliser supply resilience and protect the environment, as well as being more agile to enable new products to enter the market. Despite its complexity, the framework has remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years and applies mainly to inorganic mineral fertilisers, limiting its overall scope.

Expanding access to a wider range of fertiliser products and introducing a more flexible legislative framework would help strengthen future fertiliser supply. 

The proposals form part of the government’s plan to work hand-in-hand with farmers and industry to put more homegrown food on people’s plates, grow the economy, and protect the countryside.

The government is actively monitoring developments in the Middle East and the impacts on the food and farming sector, including rising fertiliser prices. It has taken action to support greater price transparency, raising industry concerns with the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) and asking the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to report back on fertiliser and red diesel supply and use across agricultural sectors.

The CMA has confirmed it will work with government to identify and monitor sectors likely to be affected by price rises and disruption – including fertilisers – so we can respond swiftly to any evidence of harmful practices across the economy.

The government continues to work with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any immediate risks.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

Farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation, and they deserve a system that keep pace with modern agriculture, supports farm businesses, encourages innovation and cuts pollution.

These proposals would help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, reduce reliance on imports, and support more sustainable farming.

Jo Gilbertson, Agricultural Industries Confederation Sector Head for Fertilisers, said: 

This consultation represents an important opportunity to put in place a fertiliser regulatory framework that is fit for the future. 

Aligning with a European‑style fertilising products model, while tailoring it to UK conditions and co‑designing it with industry, should help deliver a system that protects standards, supports innovation, and works in practice for businesses and farmers alike.

The proposed reforms will also embed environmental standards and ensure labelling and marketing rules give end-users confidence that the products they buy are safe and effective.

The new framework is intended to support a more circular economy by increasing the use of recycled nutrients made by alternative technologies, cut pollution to land and water, and create opportunities for innovation and growth in the UK fertiliser sector.

Implementation of the new framework will need to be an iterative process and the call for evidence seeks views and evidence on newer and novel products and materials to inform future policy development, underlining the government’s commitment to working in partnership with the sector.  

The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on Wednesday 13 May with responses invited from farmers, manufacturers, environmental groups and the wider industry via GOV.UK.