Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 August 2024.

A second man has been interviewed about the large-scale fly-tipping that occurred across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

One man was arrested on 1 August in Harlow, Essex, and a second man was interviewed on 8 August in relation to large-scale, organised fly-tipping across several counties including Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

In addition, three warrants were executed by Hertfordshire Police. The arrest was part of an Environment Agency investigation into the large-scale, organised dumping of waste across East Anglia and the Home Counties, named Operation Eagle.

Hertfordshire Police were integral to the arrest and custody of the suspect, enabling Environment Agency enforcement officers to successfully continue the investigation.

Waste crime pollutes our environment, undercuts legitimate business and significantly affects our farmers and rural communities.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 August 2024.

The first Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements for 2024 are now live as the government starts to deliver on its commitment to restore stability for the farming sector by continuing the controlled rollout of the scheme.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

This Government recognises that food security is national security. We said we would provide stability for farmers and we are delivering on this commitment by confirming that the first Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements are now live.

This is the first step to increase farmer confidence, as part of our new deal for farmers, to boost Britain’s food security, restore nature and support rural economic growth. We will optimise Environmental Land Management schemes so they produce the right outcomes for all farmers – including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms.

We will protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals, make the supply chain work more fairly, prevent shock rises in bills by switching on GB Energy and use the government’s purchasing power to back British produce.

New guidance and updates to the Find funding for land or farms tool will be fully available by the end of the day (Monday 5 August).

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 August 2024.

Government commits to address low confidence and provide stability for the farming sector as figures show confidence remains poor.

The government has announced its commitment to introduce a new deal for farmers to address low confidence and provide stability for the farming sector.

Figures released by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, show confidence remains poor.  The data indicates that half of farmers don’t feel positive about their future in farming.  Of those farmers saying they are making changes, a quarter of plan to reduce the size of their businesses and 14% plan to leave farming in the next 3-5 years.

The results make clear the need for the end of farmers being rocked by the chop and change of farming schemes, optimising Environmental Land Management schemes so they work for all farmers including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms, and action by the new government to restore stability and confidence in the sector.

They follow the negative trend seen across the past few years. This is a complex problem, with several factors contributing to this persistent trend. Farmers have been struggling with extreme weather events like flooding and sudden huge rises in energy costs and been undermined by damaging trade deals.

The latest Farming Opinion Tracker for England gives a snapshot of the views and opinions of the sector between end of April and beginning of June. The latest results show that trade agreements with other countries were a factor for 29% of farmers who made changes to their business.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:

Confidence amongst farmers is extremely low.

The new Government will restore stability and confidence in the sector introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security alongside nature’s recovery.

We will protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals, make the supply chain work more fairly, prevent shock rises in bills by switching on GB Energy, better protect them from flooding through a new Flood Resilience Taskforce and use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce.

The work of change has now begun.

The government is introducing a new deal for farmers to boost Britain’s food security and drive rural economic growth. This will include:

• Optimising Environmental Land Management schemes so they produce the right outcomes for all farmers – including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms – while delivering food security and nature recovery in a just and equitable way.
• Seeking a new veterinary agreement with the European Union to cut red tape at our borders and get British food exports moving again.
• Protecting farmers from being undercut by low welfare and low standards in trade deals.
• Using the government’s purchasing power to back British produce
• Setting up a new British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in our rural communities.
• Speeding up the building of flood defences and natural flood management schemes, including through a new flood resilience taskforce to protect our rural homes and farms.
• Introducing a land-use framework which balances long-term food security and nature recovery

The speech made by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, at the Garden Museum in Lambeth on 31 July 2024.

First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for joining us today – and in particular to our hosts at the Garden Museum. I used to be the council leader in Lambeth, and it’s exciting to be in a familiar space.

It’s great to see lots of familiar faces, many who I met during my time on the opposition benches. Those years are happily behind us now.

We’re united in our ambition to restore nature and support our rural economies and our rural communities. In the past, to me, it’s too often felt like the government wasn’t listening to our partners across the sector.

I want to change that.

I’ve been honoured to be appointed as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what is one of the most exciting and important briefs anywhere in government.

But I know I can do more in this job if I work in close collaboration with all of you.

So, your voices will now be heard.

Because that is the way that together we can deliver the change our country wants to see and that our country voted for a little over three weeks ago.

Things need to be different – and will be – different.

We are at a critical moment for nature.

We all want a future where our children can splash about carefree in our rivers, where our fields are full of healthy crops, where our shelves are full of good nutritious, affordable food, healthy animals graze, and our marine life flourishes.

But without change we face a future where torrents of sewage swill through rivers, rolling hills transform into mountains of waste, the dawn chorus is increasingly silenced, and homes and businesses are underwater.

For the past fourteen years, nature has been on a trajectory of decline – here at home and also internationally.

It’s shocking – and profoundly upsetting – that Britain has become one of the most nature depleted countries on the planet.

The voices of environmental organisations, farmers, businesses, rural businesses and so many others were ignored by the previous government.

But I want to thank all of you for your efforts, whether that was fighting to protect vulnerable habitats and species, supporting farmers and fishing communities, or keeping rural communities alive.

We want to reset the approach, raise ambition, and renew momentum

so that our children – and their children – can have the future we want them to enjoy

with clean rivers, fresh air, and limitless opportunities wherever they grow up.

I want to restore that sense of national pride in our beautiful countryside.

We need to show leadership on climate and nature at home, so we have the credibility to lead internationally.

And that work of change has now begun.

Britain is back on the international stage for nature and for the climate.

I’ve set Defra five key priorities.

We will clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas.

In the last few weeks, we’ve reset that relationship with the water industry with tough first measures introduced already, to start to stop illegal pollution of our waterways and a strong new partnership that is intended to bring in a massive investment in jobs that will upgrade our broken sewage infrastructure.

We will end the throwaway society and work towards a zero-waste economy where resources are reused and recycled, creating new jobs and investment, but also protecting nature.

We will support farmers to strengthen Britain’s food security and boost rural growth with a new deal for farmers, cutting energy bills, ending trade deals that undermine environmental and welfare standards, and buying more British produce with the public purse.

We will speed up nature’s recovery, working with civil society, communities and businesses to restore and protect our natural world on land and in our oceans – at home as well as internationally.

And we will speed up the building of our flood defences and drainage systems to keep people and businesses safe, generating jobs in all regions of our country.

The Prime Minister has been clear that this Government’s top priority is to grow the economy.

And whether it’s creating jobs and attracting investment in our water and waste sectors, building economic resilience through better flood defences and nature-based solutions or supporting our food and drink sector, from fishers and growers to retailers and hospitality, Defra’s work is fundamental to all of the government’s missions.

Nature will get back its voice at the very heart of this government because, as everyone in this room already knows, without nature there is no economy, no food, no health and no society.

It underpins everything.

We’ve all enjoyed the mental and physical benefits of spending time outdoors.

Access to nature has a key part to play in Labour’s mission to rebuild our NHS and improve the health of our nation.

We are indebted to so many of you in this room whose work enables people to get outside, in our stunning National Parks, local nature reserves

or right here in Lambeth, with community sessions in the museum’s garden.

And we’ve committed to open up even more opportunities for adults and children alike to get out and enjoy nature

with nine new national river walks, three new national forests, and increasing responsible access to the countryside so more people can enjoy the best of rural Britain and create memories that will last a lifetime.

I recognise that we face a crisis – nature is dying, our rivers are polluted, and urgent action is paramount.

But this decline is reversible

and with the right approach I am confident we will change course.

This approach involves collaboration and working in partnership –

listening to your expertise and experience so we can shape policy and create the regulatory environment that will allow us to succeed.

I’m delighted to sow those first seeds of change at the Garden Museum here today.

Just as seeds take time to grow, we can’t fix our environment or clean up our rivers overnight – but, together, over the next weeks, months and years, we can nurture our countryside, restore nature, and build our rural economies so they bloom once more.

Now let’s get those conversations going again tonight.

Please come and say hello to me and my ministerial team dotted around the room [Daniel Zeichner, Emma Hardy, Mary Creagh].

We’re all really keen to speak with you, to listen with you, not just tonight but also to work with you in the months and years ahead.

Because as I’ve said, if we can tap into your insight, your expertise, and the networks and communities that you all represent, then nature and the future of nature is in the very best possible hands.

Please enjoy the rest of the evening

Thank you very much.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 July 2024.

New maerl beds discovered just off the coast are crucial in supporting other marine species.

Dive into the ocean…pink?

What colours would you expect to see when dipping beneath the waves off the coast of Cornwall? Perhaps the calm blue of the waves, or the soft greens and browns of the seaweeds.

Few people would expect the rose pink of a maerl bed – the Barbieland of the underwater realm.

These slow growing, fragile beds of rare pink calcified seaweeds form the basis of marine food chains in the area, and as well as being breathtakingly beautiful, are hugely important for the local ecosystem.

Maerl beds act a little like coral reefs, slowly growing to provide three-dimensional structure which is a habitat for many other seaweeds and small organisms.

This has led maerl to be recognised for its crucial role in supporting fish populations and underpinning healthy fisheries.

It is classed as an “irreplaceable habitat”, because of its almost complete inability to recover from damage and if the maerl is lost the species it supports will also be lost.

Expedition ‘to find out more’

In England, very little maerl is thought to exist outside Cornwall, where it particularly thrives in clear waters, estuaries and tide swept bays.

The beautiful and ancient maerl beds of the Fal and Helford Estuaries in Cornwall have long been known about and were duly designated within a Marine Protected Area in 2005.

But far less is known about the maerl that exists outside the estuaries in the bays along Cornwall’s south coast, and in July, Natural England set out on an expedition to find out more.

A dive team of seaweed experts and specialist survey divers embarked on a mission to explore the areas just off the Roseland Peninsula and St Austell Bay.

Using scant knowledge from the few previous surveys, the skills of dive boat skipper Mike Anselmi from Porthkerris Divers and Natural England’s underwater drone, the team were able to find and survey entirely unknown areas of maerl beds.

Evidence will help seek better protection

Natural England’s Marine Senior Officer, Angela Gall, who led the survey said:

It’s incredible to think, that in Britain, within sight of the shore, there are still completely undiscovered sites. We will use this new evidence on the maerl bed sites to seek better protection for these ‘ancient woodlands of the sea.”

The divers surveyed the sites in detail, recording 110 different seaweed species and 79 different types of animals living on the maerl.

They assessed the health of the beds and collected photographic evidence.

Small samples were collected for genetic work by the University of Exeter, which will help with understanding the genetic uniqueness of maerl beds in this area.

The work was intensive, with detailed microscopic examination of many seaweeds, small snails and worms back at base camp following the dives.

The new information about maerl sites will be used to help target mapping efforts this autumn, adding to understanding of where these precious beds can be found.

It is hoped that by knowing where these sensitive habitats occur it will be possible to better protect them as the foundations of healthy ocean ecosystems.

The project was funded by Defra’s Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme, which is leading the way in integrating natural capital and ecosystem assessment approaches into Government decision making.

Over three years, the programme is gathering evidence and developing tools and frameworks to enable us to better manage our marine natural environment, and the services it provides for people – before it is too late.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 July 2024.

Volunteers helped to plant 400 wildflowers at Purple Horizons Nature Recovery site in Walsall to attract rare bees.

Wildflowers planted by volunteers in Walsall are helping to attract rare bees to the area as part of a project to restore nature in the West Midlands.

The wildflower planting was part of the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project, a partnership that includes Natural England, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust (BBCWT), Walsall Council and the University of Birmingham.

It aims to restore and connect areas of heathlands across 12,000 hectares on the fringes of the urban West Midlands to support the species which rely on it and is part of a national initiative to develop a Nature Recovery Network.

Much of the project aims to make space for bees and wasps in freshly dug earth including the Tormentil Mining Bee, a priority species in desperate need of ‘bee beaches’ – areas of soft soil banks where they burrow and build their nests. The bee is scarce in the UK due to the loss of heathlands, with around 80% of heathlands lost over the last two centuries.

Earlier this year 60 volunteers took part in the planting at Pelsall Common, Heath End and who helped to plant 400 plug plants of the Tormentil, Harebell and Cat’s Ear species. These attract the Tormentil Mining Bee and provide a source of food for the bees and their young.

Emma Johnson, Natural England’s Deputy Director for the West Midlands said:  “We are so grateful to the volunteers who have given their time to help plant hundreds of wildflowers to provide vital food for these important and amazing species.  A thriving population of wild bee species is critical to supporting healthy natural systems and for pollinating crops such as apples, strawberries and oilseed rape.

Volunteers were also able to visit the Turner’s Wood Nature Reserve, where Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust were holding an open day.

The Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project aims to create a network of heathlands, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands which will help the recovery of and ensure long-term resilience of the area’s reptiles, birds and pollinators.  Within this initiative, several partners are trialling different habitat creation methods for bees.  This includes Lichfield District Council, Staffordshire County Council, Walsall Council and the Canal & River Trust.

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing, Leisure, and Public Spaces at Walsall Council said:  “Walsall Council is proud to be a part of the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project. This initiative not only restores vital habitats for rare bees but also fosters a strong sense of community through volunteer engagement. The efforts of our volunteers today demonstrate our collective commitment to enhancing our natural environment and supporting biodiversity in the West Midlands.”

The effectiveness of the habitat creation methods is being monitored by Aaron Bhambra, a researcher at the University of Birmingham.

Aaron said:  “The work we are carrying out restoring locally important sites like these is critical for conserving threatened pollinators across the region.  The wildflowers are starting to flower and seem to have established well at the sites, we had bees foraging on them whilst we were planting them on the day so I am sure they are being used.”

Advice and funding is being provided by Natural England, and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust are helping communities get involved.

Walsall Council was recently awarded a Defra Bees Needs Champion award in recognition of the flower planting and creation of bee-beaches.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 July 2024.

Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed has today (11 July 2024) announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector.

As Ofwat publishes its draft responses on water company spending, the new measures represent a step change after years of failure to ensure the water industry cuts illegal sewage dumping and attracts major private-sector investment to upgrade infrastructure while prioritising the interests of customers and the environment.

This afternoon the Secretary of State will also meet with water company Chief Executives to make clear that under this government water companies will be answerable for their performance for customers and the environment. He will set out his plans to work in partnership with the sector and investors to attract investment, jobs, and clean up the nation’s polluted waterways.

He has today announced:

• He has written to Ofwat to ask them to make sure funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. He also wants Ofwat to ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
• Water companies will place customers and the environment at the heart of their objectives. The Secretary of State is clear that he expects companies to change their ‘Articles of Association’ – the rules governing each company – to make the interests of customers and the environment a primary objective.
• Consumers will gain new powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. For the first time in history, customers will have the power to summon board members and hold water executives to account.
• Strengthened protection and compensation for households and businesses when their basic water services are affected. Subject to consultation, the amount of compensation customers are legally entitled to when key standards are not met will more than double. The payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circumstances including Boil Water Notices.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:

We will never look the other way while water companies pump sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

This unacceptable destruction of our waterways should never have been allowed, but change has now begun so it can never happen again.

Today I have announced significant steps to clean up the water industry to cut sewage pollution, protect customers and attract investment to upgrade its crumbling infrastructure.

That change will take time. Over the coming weeks and months, this Government will outline further steps to reform the water sector and restore our rivers, lakes and seas to good health.

These steps sit alongside the Government’s manifesto commitments to put failing water companies under tough special measures to clean up our waterways.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 June 2024.

A licensing regime for the use of rodent glue traps has opened to applicants today (19 June) ahead of new restrictions coming into force on 31 July. From that date it will be an offence to use glue traps for rodent control unless done under a licence.

Licences will be issued to professional pest controllers for the purpose of preserving public health and safety. Glue traps will only be permitted for use in exceptional circumstances where there is no alternative satisfactory solution.

The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 aims to improve humaneness for target rodents, but also other animals that can sometimes become accidentally trapped. The Act gave users and suppliers of glue traps two years in which to finish off their existing stock and move to alternative methods of rodent control.

Defra has appointed Natural England as the licensing authority. Natural England has worked with Defra to develop a licensing regime that will only permit appropriate and strictly controlled use of glue traps. Professional pest controllers can find further information on the licence application process from today on Glue trap licences – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Natural England has a responsibility to protect the welfare of animals affected by wildlife licences. Natural England provides guidance on animal welfare and is the licensing authority for other welfare-based licensing regimes.

Natural England welcomes feedback on this new licensing regime. For further information or to provide feedback, please contact us via: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 June 2024.

New fisheries arrangements will significantly reduce fishing pressure on mackerel.

Those arrangements reduce fishing pressure on the stock significantly and act as a stepping-stone towards a long-term quota-sharing arrangement involving all coastal states to the stock.

They will mean access for Norway and Faroes to fish some of their quota in the UK zone in return for an annual transfer of some of their quota to the UK.

The details of the arrangements can be found on gov.uk.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 June 2024.

All cat owners should now have their pets microchipped as new legislation comes into force today (10 June).

Owners must ensure their cat is microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks with their contact details stored and kept up to date in an approved pet microchipping database.

With more than 9 million pet cats in England, the introduction of mandatory microchipping will make it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely. Microchipping is already compulsory for dogs and is proven to be the most effective method for identifying lost pets, with microchipped dogs more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.

Microchips are safe and easy to implant with an average cost of around £25 for microchipping and registration. Charities and reputable cat rescue organisations may be able to microchip your cat for a reduced rate.

The process of microchipping involves the insertion of a chip, generally around the size of a grain of rice, under the skin of a pet. The microchip has a unique serial number that the keeper needs to register on a database. When an animal is found, the microchip can be read with a scanner and the registered keeper identified on a database so the pet can quickly be reunited with them.

Owned cats must be microchipped before reaching 20 weeks of age, with their contact details stored and kept up to date on a pet microchipping database. This includes cats that usually only stay indoors.

Microchipping is not compulsory for free living cats that live with little or no human interaction or dependency, such as farm, feral or community cats.

The legal deadline was confirmed in legislation laid in March 2023 giving owners overs a year to comply with the new requirements. Failing to comply with the law could see owners receive a fine of up to £500.