Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 December 2023.

New permitting regimes for a recreational catch and release fisheries in UK waters expected to be in place by summer.

Recreational anglers will have broader access to a catch-and-release Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in English waters, the government has announced today (Thursday 7 December).

Responding to overwhelming support for proposals in a consultation, Defra has confirmed that it will introduce legislation in the spring to establish permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna.

This will mean that the English fishery should open from summer 2024, supporting skippers and helping to bring more tourists to coastal communities.

The opening of the fishery has been made possible following the UK’s exit from the EU, with the establishment of UK-specific quota for bluefin tuna opening opportunities to manage the species sustainably outside the EU.

Data from the fishery will be used to improve monitoring of bluefin tuna populations and ensure that the species is managed in English waters in a sustainable manner.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

“This announcement has been made possible following the UK’s exit from the EU and follows overwhelming support for our proposal across the fishing industry and environmental groups.

“It will bring social and economic benefits to the fishing industry and coastal communities, whilst ensuring the ongoing sustainable management of Atlantic bluefin tuna.”

The announcement also follows the success of the catch-and-release (CHART) tagging programmes, delivered by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Swansea University and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, which have allowed some recreational anglers to target bluefin tuna for the last three years.

Following the success of CHART, a formal consultation was held between July and September 2023 to gather views on the design for a permitting regime to enable the opening of catch-and-release recreational fisheries for bluefin tuna in UK waters. Stakeholders were asked for views on the key principles for the design of permitting regimes, the level of interest and the social and economic benefits the fishery could bring.

Stakeholders gave overwhelming support for the proposals in the consultation, which included an outline of the design of new permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna in the UK and an outline of Defra’s operational approach to implementing the English fishery.

Each UK fisheries administration will determine if and when to introduce a bluefin tuna catch-and-release recreational fishery in its waters. Defra intends to open a catch-and-release fishery for bluefin tuna in English waters in 2024.

Defra is currently trialling a separate commercial fishery for bluefin tuna. This trial will run until 31 December 2023.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 December 2023.

Export of livestock for slaughter and fattening will be banned under new legislation.

New legislation will put an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain.

The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill – which has been introduced in Parliament today (4 December 2023) – delivers on a key manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animals including cattle, sheep, and pigs.

This legislation is only possible now we have left the European Union and will stop animals enduring unnecessary stress, exhaustion and injury on long journeys.

As the highest ranked G7 nation according to World Animal Protection’s Index, the Government is committed to high animal welfare standards and ensuring all animals are treated kindly at all stages of life. We have been clear that animals should only be transported when necessary, and if possible should not travel long distances to be slaughtered.

The Bill will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically in high welfare UK slaughterhouses, reinforcing our position as a world leader on animal welfare, boosting the value of British meat and helping to grow the economy.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

This Bill makes use of post-Brexit freedoms to strengthen these standards by preventing the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, which we know causes animals unnecessary stress and injury.

The legislation follows a 2020 consultation on ending live animal exports in which 87% of respondents agreed that livestock should not be exported for slaughter and fattening. This Bill also follows a manifesto commitment and Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge to ban the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening.

Kerry Postlewhite, assistant director of campaigns and prevention at the RSPCA, said:

After fifty years of campaigning to end live exports, it is so important, and welcome, that the UK Government is acting to ban the live export of animals – outlawing the long, crowded journeys, mental exhaustion, physical injury, dehydration and stress that are a reality for farm animals on these unnecessary journeys.

It is great that the new Defra Secretary of State has shown such strong and enthusiastic support previously for a ban on live exports – and we look forward to this policy becoming a reality.

Philip Lymbery, Compassion in World Farming’s Global CEO, said:

We greatly welcome the publication of legislation to ban live exports. This is an historic moment which we hope will finally see an end to the unnecessary export trade in cattle and sheep for slaughter or fattening from Great Britain. We urge a speedy passage for this long-awaited measure, to ensure that the export of unweaned calves on journeys often lasting 60 hours or more will finally be banned. And that a line will be drawn under the practice of sending sheep on journeys that can last many days, simply to be slaughtered on arrival.

We have campaigned relentlessly for over 50 years to make this cruel and outdated practice illegal, so we are delighted the Government is taking action to end this trade, finally consigning it to the history books.

Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, said:

We are delighted that the government has introduced this Bill and will put its muscle behind making it law. We know horses are being exported for slaughter ‘under the radar’ despite none being officially declared for this purpose. This Bill will finally make it illegal, something we have been campaigning for since our charity’s foundation almost 100 years ago. We look forward to working with Defra to ensure that the right measures are put in place to enforce this hugely significant piece of legislation.

Live exports in other specific circumstances, for example, for breeding and competitions, will still be allowed provided animals are transported in line with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare.

The Bill is just one part of a wider Government effort to enhance our existing world-leading standards. For farm animals, we have introduced new statutory welfare codes for pigs, laying hens and meat chickens, banned the use of conventional battery cages for laying hens and made CCTV mandatory in slaughterhouses.

Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021, we have: brought in new laws to recognise animals sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences, backed a ban on glue traps, introduced legislation on compulsory cat microchipping, and brought the ivory ban into force and announced an extension to cover other ivory bearing species.

The full list of animals covered by the Bill is: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 December 2023.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed that 97% of farmers have received their final BPS payment in the first few days of the payment window.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed today (Monday 4 December) that 97% of farmers have received their final BPS payment in the first few days of the payment window. The announcement means that a further £525 million has now been released into the rural economy, building on the advance payments made in August this year.

So far over 91,000 applications and claims have been completed across the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Countryside Stewardship (CS) revenue and Environmental Stewardship (ES) schemes. These payments support farmers to run profitable and productive businesses while delivering environmental outcomes in a range of habitats. £70 million under the Environmental Stewardship scheme will be issued in the next few days.

We have acted on feedback to support farmers improve their cashflow by releasing Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) payments early. Farmers who have a live Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 agreement before the end of this year will receive an accelerated payment worth 25% of the annual value of their agreement in the first month of their agreement, helping with cashflow and ensuring SFI works for farm businesses.

Around 850 farmers whose agreements started in October and November have now received their early payment, with a total £2.8 million paid, and those whose agreements started on 1 December are set to receive their payment in the coming days.

RPA Chief Executive Paul Caldwell said:

This year farmers and rural businesses have continued to face a number of challenges and that’s why the RPA has been working hard to improve cash flow and make sure farmers receive their final BPS payments as quickly as possible.

Delinked payments will provide financial support over the next four years as we encourage farmers and land managers to enter our environmental land management schemes where they will be paid to take actions that will support sustainable food production while protecting the environment.

Today’s announcement precedes the move to delinked payments which are due to replace BPS in England in 2024 and will run until the end of 2027. Delinked payments will be based on the average BPS payment made to the business for the 2020 to 2022 scheme years. We will apply progressive reductions when we calculate delinked payments each year. You must also have claimed and been eligible for BPS 2023 to receive delinked payments. There is no need to apply for delinked payments and RPA will pay anyone who is eligible.

All eligible farmers should receive their CS/ES and final BPS 2023 payments payment before the end of the payment window on 30 June 2024. We are working hard to complete our checks and pay the remainder as promptly as possible but some claims can take longer to complete.

BPS payments are made directly to farmers’ bank accounts via BACS transfer so farmers should make sure that the RPA has the most up-to-date account details on the Rural Payments service. If you need to update your account details, call the Rural Payments Agency helpline on 03000 200 301, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 November 2023.

Steve Barclay pledges to champion British agriculture in first speech to farmers, with a focus on innovation and automation to boost productivity.

The Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has used his first major speech to set out his commitment to backing British farmers and being on the side of rural businesses.

In his keynote speech at the Country Land and Business Association conference in London today (30 November), the Environment Secretary set out his vision for an innovative and productive agriculture sector, supporting the sector to continue to develop into a more sustainable and profitable industry.

Almost £45 million in competitions and grants are set to open in the coming weeks as part of the Government’s £168 million investment this year to support farmers to foster innovation, boost productivity and improve animal welfare.

This includes an initial £30 million on offer in the second round of the Improving Farming Productivity Grant, providing capital grants of £25,000 – £500,000 towards robotic and automatic equipment, with further funding potentially available depending on levels of interest. For the first time, it will also fund grants of between £15,000 and £100,000 towards solar equipment which can be fitted on rooftops and float on irrigation reservoirs, helping increase energy resilience and take-up of renewable energy generation on farms.

Almost £8 million will also be available in the third round of the Large R&D Partnership, a competition specifically designed to boost industrial research and experimental development projects, and a further £850,000 through the Research Starter Round 4 competition to identify and accelerate new agricultural solutions, funding growers or foresters who have bold, ambitious, early-stage ideas.

By enabling some of the UK’s most promising innovation and research initiatives to get off the ground, this funding will not only see our farmers become more efficient and productive, but will also equip them with the knowledge and tools to maintain our high degree of food security.

Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association Rural Business Conference in London, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

My pledge to you is that this government will always back British farmers who produce some of the highest quality food in the world, contribute billions to our economy, and to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude for taking care of our countryside.

In addition, the Environment Secretary also launched the third round of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF). With individual grants of up to £100,000 on offer from a total £5 million, this round has been designed specifically to support farmers to prepare nature projects that will help attract investment from the private sector.

This is a further step forward in meeting the Government’s target to stimulate at least £500 million of private sector investment into nature recovery in England each year by 2027 – rising to at least £1 billion each year by 2030.

Alongside these new competitions opening in the coming weeks, 2024 will see the extension of the Farming Innovation Programme grants to include the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) fund, where businesses will be able to apply for a share of £44 million to test and trial new technology and techniques on farms.

Today’s announcement builds on the success of previous competition and grant rounds, with winners already driving practical examples of innovation and automation across the sector.

Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, run in partnership with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has committed over £125 million in funding to date and supported 150 projects involving 400 organisations.

This includes Bradley Farms in partnership with Harper Adam’s University who are combining advanced robotics and intelligent software to create ‘The Fieldsman’ – a robot that seeks to drive productivity by navigating autonomously through blueberry plantations to collect crucial data on crop production, growth, health and yields.

H.L. Hutchinson Limited, successful in the second round of the Large R&D partnerships, are developing new systems for measuring and assessing fruit tree status. This aims to transform the tree fruit industry and deliver new levels of environmentally sustainable crop production, increasing efficiency and yield while lowering cost and environmental impacts.

Meanwhile, through the Improving Farming Productivity Grant – part of the Farming Investment Fund – Woodcote Farming Ltd were able to purchase two ‘Farmdroid’ robots to plant flowers and weed their fields, enabling their business to produce a higher yielding crop while reducing reliance on labour and pesticide usage.

Jim Bubb from Woodcote Farming Ltd said:

Being successful in the farm productivity grant took our business to the next level. Purchasing our Farmdroid robot with the help of the grant has revolutionised the way we grow crops.

Weeding by hand has been significantly reduced and we can look forward to a sustainable future, reducing requirements on labour, improving the environment and producing a better crop.

Round 2 of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund also saw the Environmental Farmers Group (EFG) receive £100,000 in funding to establish the Green Avon Valley Project to help farmers understand natural capital assets. Launched in May 2022, the EFG completed its first trade in March 2023 and now comprises 257 farmers and covers 140,000 hectares.

The NEIRF grants can be used to help farmers blend public and private investment, complementing the Government’s environmental land management schemes which are designed to be compatible with the growing market for environmental outcomes, where scheme participants can earn income from public and private sector sources for things such as carbon sequestration or payments for natural flood management.

The Government’s funding in innovation and technology forms part of the £2.4 billion being invested to support the sector every year to the end of this Parliament. It sits alongside the Government’s new farming schemes – Countryside Stewardship, Landscape Recovery and the Sustainable Farming Incentive – to produce food sustainably while championing the environment.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 29 November 2023.

Government sets out ambitious new nature package, with measures to improve access to green space and connect the public with the natural world.

Helping more people get access to our natural heritage and putting nature at the forefront of government efforts to tackle climate change are at the heart of a new package announced by the Environment Secretary today (29 November).

The new package of measures includes launching a search for a new National Park, 34 new landscape recovery projects, new forests and funding to help more children get outdoors and into the great British countryside, in what is the latest step by the government in its drive to improve public access to the natural world and recover nature.

The series of nature pledges comes ahead of COP28 later this week, where the Prime Minister will continue our leadership set out at COP26 to champion the role of nature in tackling climate change.

The search for a new National Park – a manifesto commitment – will begin in the new year. This will be focused on looking for England’s most beautiful nature spots, alongside the area’s ability to connect people with nature.

This comes alongside new funding for England’s most special places, with a further £15 million pledged to support our existing National Parks and National Landscapes, helping to support our most iconic landscapes. The government has also published the final response to the Glover Landscapes Review, which sets out how we will make these precious sites fit for the future.

Government will also announce 34 new Landscape Recovery projects across England. These projects will cover over 200,000 hectares of land, including woodlands, rainforests and sustainable food production, building on the 22 Landscape Recovery projects already underway which aim to restore over 600km of rivers and protect and provide habitats for at least 263 species. These projects are part of the Government’s new farming schemes, replacing the bureaucratic common agricultural policy from the EU, helping farmers produce food alongside environmental benefits whilst accessing green finance opportunities.

More children and disadvantaged young people will also be able to access green spaces with a further £2.5m committed to helping children experience the benefits of the great outdoors. This will build on the success of the Generation Green project which created over 115,000 opportunities for children in the last four years. Research has shown that 18% of children living in the most deprived areas never spend time in any kind of natural space. Today’s announcement will help change that by opening up more green spaces for the next generation and we’re also improving access to our woodlands with a new Woodland Access Implementation Plan.

New powers will also come into force that will strengthen requirements for local authorities to consult with communities before cutting down street trees. Under plans first announced in the Environment Act, this will empower people to have a greater say in preserving much loved trees on their streets.

As well as putting people more in touch with nature, the new package of measures which will touch every part of England, will help tackle climate change and drive forward the UK’s pledge to protect 30% of land and halt the decline of species by 2030. These further measures include:

• A new plan to recover England’s temperate rainforests – backed by £750,000 of Research & Development funding to improve resilience, management and protection of our unique temperate rainforests in England found in Cornwall, Devon and Cumbria.
• A competition to create a new National Forest – this forest for the nation is inspired by the success of the existing National Forest in the Midlands, which spans 200 square miles across parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.
• Two additional Community Forests – these will be created in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley and will see 175 hectares of new woodland planted by 2025 alongside new pipeline forests.
• A more nature friendly built environment – legislation for Biodiversity Net Gain will be laid in parliament this week with guidance published as the Government takes its next step to ensure developments leave nature in a better state.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

I shared in the nation’s profound sense of anger in response to what happened at the Sycamore Gap earlier this year, but the public’s outrage fundamentally demonstrated just how much love the British people have for the natural world.

From Yorkshire’s historic rolling moors to ancient rainforest on the Cornish coast, we are home to many globally significant landscapes. We must do all it takes to protect these much-loved spaces and ensure that love for the natural world continues into the next generations.

As I head to COP28, we are reasserting the UK’s leading role in promoting our iconic landscapes and keeping nature at the centre of our action to tackle climate change.”

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Nature is at the foundation of food production, water security, and is critical to our economy, and our mental and physical health. It is why it is so important to deliver on our commitment to halt the decline of nature and safeguard at least 30 percent of our extraordinary landscapes.

Through our Environmental Improvement Plan and today’s announcement, we are creating more opportunities for people to access nature, spend time outdoors and enjoy our beautiful countryside – as well as supporting wildlife. A healthy natural environment is critical for our wellbeing, our economy and combatting climate change.”

Tony Juniper Chair of Natural England said:

Having more well connected and wildlife-rich habitats is a central priority for meeting our Nature recovery ambitions. This includes enhancing landscapes, helping more species thrive, improving climate adaptation and wellbeing for people.

As we look ahead to COP28 it is timely to set out practical actions that reflect the deep connections between Nature and climate change. The wide-ranging measures announced today mark a positive step forward and we look forward to supporting the government in delivering them”.

Sir William Worsley, Chair of the Forestry Commission said:

Trees improve people’s quality of lives and are the heart of our communities. It is vital that alongside increasing tree planting across the nation, we protect our existing treescapes and woodlands and ensure more people have access to them.

The ambitious new measures announced today build upon the ongoing work of the Forestry Commission. From rare British rainforests in our countryside to the trees in our towns and cities, we will continue to ensure trees bring benefits for future generations.”

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

The Landscape Recovery scheme has a vital role to play in enhancing our natural environment at a landscape scale, delivering benefits for water, wildlife, and people.

It’s promising to see so many farmers, landowners, and stakeholders from around the country getting involved. I’m delighted that we can support even more of these ambitious projects than originally planned.

Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust said:

As world leaders head to Dubai for the Climate Change Conference, I am pleased to see that restoring nature is high on the Prime Minister’s climate action agenda.

A healthier environment here in the UK will protect all of us from climate shocks, help reduce carbon emissions, and bring back wildlife and landscapes that are such a strong part of our national identity.  I also support efforts to increase access to nature – which can do so much to improve people’s health and wellbeing – and I look forward to working with Ministers as they develop their plans.”

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts:

It’s great to see more support for farmers who want to help heal nature through Landscape Recovery. There’s been a huge demand for this new scheme and rural groups have come together to create visionary projects that strengthen farm businesses, reverse species decline and restore habitats at scale. These have huge benefits for wildlife, store carbon, prevent pollution from reaching rivers and hold back water, thus alleviating flooding and the effects of drought.

The UK Food Security report found that climate change and biodiversity loss are the biggest medium to long term threats to domestic food production – and so securing long term funding for Landscape Recovery schemes is absolutely vital for us all. The latest assessment shows that one in six species is now at risk of extinction and the abundance of nature is more threatened than ever, so speeding up the roll out of ambitious nature friendly farming schemes has never been more important.

Dr Darren Moorcroft, Woodland Trust Chief Executive said:

The health of people, and our planet depends on a diverse, nature rich environment. The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree reinforced how hugely people in the UK value trees as a vital part of our natural heritage. An emphasis on enhancing access for, and engagement with young people is pivotal to building a better, greener future and is to be welcomed.

Whoever is in power we need action on the urgent need for greater protection for our oldest most remarkable trees, our living legends, as well as increasing the protection and restoration of ancient woods – international leadership begins at home. We also need to see proper funding and support for woodland expansion, ensuring land managers feel confident to invest in planting trees for the long term to deliver the many benefits they provide to society.

Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests, says:

It’s fantastic that we have two new Community Forests joining our growing partnership, bringing the total number of Community Forests up to 15. Both Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest and Trees on Tees will receive key support from the Government’s Nature for Climate fund through the Trees for Climate programme, helping to introduce more trees to areas most in need.

Communities in both areas will be both part of the transformation and benefit from the creation of the forests, improving the local environment and connecting more people to nature.

Today’s announcement delivers the next steps of our Environmental Improvement Plan and builds on the UK’s strong environmental leadership – since 2010 we have created or restored wildlife habitats the size of Dorset, established 100 Marine Protected Areas across 35,000 square miles of English waters, and passed the world-leading Environment Act with long term targets to restore nature.

The UK led global efforts to protect nature through the COP26 Presidency in Glasgow, where it brought together 140 countries in a historic agreement to protect the world’s forests and halt land degradation.

At COP28 in December, the UK government will continue to champion nature recovery and will set out further action to achieve our ambitious targets to restore our natural world.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Environmental Policy in the UK is devolved and today’s package of announcements apply in England only.
• On the 22 November Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) were rebranded ‘National Landscapes’ to boost understanding of their national significance
• Protected landscapes (the collective term for National Parks and National Landscapes) will receive an additional £10 million funding next year to restore wildlife habitats and improve access, achieving more for people and nature
• The government has also made a further £5 million available this year which Protected Landscapes can apply for to improve the water environment of these special places
• Protected Landscapes cover nearly a quarter of England’s land area and are key to our commitments to halt and reverse the decline in species abundance and the protection of 30% of land for nature by 2030. The government has today published the response to the review on protected landscapes, setting out the action plan for the future of these landscapes.
• The Environment Secretary has commissioned Natural England to begin identifying an area which will be considered for designation as the next National Park in England. A final decision will be made by the Secretary of State.
• The two new Community Forests will build on the success of the 13 existing Community Forests across England and will contribute to our tree planting targets.
• England’s Community Forests are delivering the multi-million-pound national Trees for Climate programme. Launched in November 2020, the programme is playing a significant part in national government’s commitment to address climate change and carbon mitigation through tree planting and woodland creation. In the first three years of the programme 2,063 hectares of new woodland were created with 81% having public access. This planting season the England Community Forest network have a target to plant 2,000ha, a 100% increase on last year’s figures.
• A new competition will be launched to create a new forest for the nation.  The competition will invite bids from across England for transformational woodland creation at scale, or the strategic connection and enhancement of a range of existing woodlands, across defined geographies.  It will be inspired by the best practice established in the Midlands, by the National Forest Company.
• The Landscape Recovery Projects will sustainably manage more than 20,000 hectares of woodland, including some temperate rainforest, with over 7,000 hectares of woodland creation, restore more than 35,000 hectares of peatland, benefit over 160 protected sites (SSSIs) and involve at least 700 land managers. This builds on the success of the first 22 Landscape Recovery projects which are already underway, aiming to restore more than 600km of rivers and targeting the conservation of more than 260 flagship species. The successful projects will now be awarded a share of around £25 million in development funding to finalise delivery plans.
• Generation Green, a project backed by £2.5 million funding first launched in 2019, has resulted in more than 115,000 opportunities for young people to access nature. Today we are announcing £2.5 million to connect more children from under-represented groups, building on the success of this project. This will help deliver our commitment set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan for everyone to be within 15 minutes of a green space or water and to reduce barriers to access. This builds on research from the Defra landscapes review which confirms that 18% of children living in the most deprived areas never visit nature at all.
• A plan to recover England’s temperate rainforests which confirms £750,000 of investment in research and development to improve resilience, management and protection; funding to restore vulnerable woodland habitats; and support for landowners to grow and expand woodland cover. This is part of the £750m Nature for Climate Fund, which is helping plant millions of trees across England to meet our legal requirement to have at least 16.5% tree and woodland cover by 2050 to help tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis.
• The Woodland Access Implementation Plan outlines our ambitions for improving the quantity, quality and permanency of access to woodlands and sets out how we aim to achieve this. This includes offering funding through existing land management schemes to land managers or landowners to create or maintain responsible access to trees and woodlands. This is the latest step in Government ambition to help more people access nature and increase woodland access.
• The first group of Statutory Instruments for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be laid in parliament on 30 November (second group published in draft for stakeholder understanding), marking the next steps in introducing mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain across England. This is a flagship environmental policy building on the initial framework and powers to introduce BNG that the Environment Act gave us. BNG will be fundamental in help the country meet our target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030, whilst delivering more beautiful and nature friendly developments. Guidance and negative Statutory Instruments issued by Defra and DLUHC will be available from 30 November.

The press release issued by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 November 2023.

Government launches competition for a new national forest to improve access to nature.

A competition for a new national forest will be launched by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay this week, alongside the unveiling of two new Community Forests – in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley – as part of an ambitious package to help people across the country access nature.

Communities will be able to put their local areas forward to become a new national forest, with the winning location receiving up to £10 million to help fund the project.

This will build on the success of the National Forest in the Midlands, which spans 200 square miles across parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire.

Applicants will be assessed based on how the new forest would transform the local area, create habitats for wildlife open up access to the countryside, and help the country meet net zero targets.

The competition will launch this year with successful bids to be announced by autumn 2024.

The Environment Secretary will set out further plans on improving access to green space later this week, including new Community Forests in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley, which will see around 370 hectares of woodland planted by 2025.

This is the latest step in the Government’s plans to help people access nature, plant more trees and support nature recovery. Since joining the department earlier this month the Environment Secretary has set out his ambition to help more people get into the outdoors, enjoy the British countryside and preserve our vital natural heritage.

The Environment Secretary will be attending COP28 next month, where he will set out further action to achieve our ambitious targets to restore the natural world.

Setting out the plans, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Public access to nature is so vital, which is why we pledged in our Environmental Improvement Plan that everyone should have access to green space or water within a 15-minute walk from their home – such as woodlands, wetlands, parks or rivers. This new forest for the nation will help make that happen.

As a former Health Secretary, I have seen the benefits that nature has for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Bringing these spaces closer to where people live and work is a key priority for me personally.

On the importance of trees, he said:

The value of trees to people and nature has never been clearer. They are vital for our health and security. We can’t do without them. We know that spending time in green spaces and getting hands on with nature has a positive impact on our health and wellbeing, which is why £5.77 million has been invested through our green social prescribing programme to tackle and prevent mental ill health. I will continue to make the case for investment in this area.

I know how much nature matters, as the response to the terrible felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland showed. Improving access, planting more trees, protecting nature and creating new green spaces is our pathway to achieving this.

In my new role as Environment Secretary I am determined to ensure we continue to push forward with this important work and leave the environment in a better state than we found it for future generations.

Healthy and resilient woodlands will also get further support today through £16 million government funding for the UK’s world-leading forest scientists to address the challenges facing woodlands today – from the impacts of climate change to tree disease and pests such as ips beetles, Dutch elm disease and ash dieback.

The England Trees Action Plan and Environmental Improvement Plan set out ambitious targets to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament and to achieve at least 16.5% of tree and woodland cover by 2050.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 November 2023.

Healthy and resilient woodlands supported through new £16 million government funding.

UK research into climate and pest resilient woodlands is set to boosted today with the announcement of £16 million government funding for our world-leading forest scientists.

Our trees are facing unprecedented challenges from the impacts of climate change to an increased risk of tree disease and pests – including ips beetles, Dutch elm disease and ash dieback. These kinds of diseases threaten valuable habitats for thousands of species of wildlife.

This funding will support vital research into ways to mitigate and prevent these impacts, helping to protect woodlands and plant more trees in the long term.

It comes ahead of Environment Secretary Steve Barclay setting out plans this week to improve access to green space, including a competition for a new National Forest and the unveiling of two new Community Forests – in Derbyshire and the Tees.

The Forest Research programme will back 30 projects, working with 27 partner organisations. It will also support efforts to increase England’s tree canopy – one of the government’s key environment targets.

Projects benefiting from the funding include:

• Studying the complex networks of soil nutrients and plant roots to see how they help boost woodlands.
• Work to better understand how tree seeds can fall naturally and plant themselves
• Developing our understanding of how drought is impacting tree growth
• Examining the barriers to agroforestry, where trees and agricultural crops grow on the same piece of land

Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Not only do we need to plant trees, for tomorrow, we also need to support their long-term protection from the host of threats they face due a changing climate.

Today we are investing a further £16 million in vital research to help support the resilience of our trees and woodland as part of our ambitious plans to increase tree planting across the country.

Professor James Pendlebury, Chief Executive, Forest Research said:

This is a significant and welcome investment in the forest science and evidence needed to underpin the creation of resilient woodlands and their future management and protection. It is also a huge investment in the next generation of forest scientists who will support the development of forests and woodlands fit for the future.

Forestry Commission Chair, Sir William Worsley, said:

Trees can only help mitigate the impact of a changing climate if they are resilient to those challenges themselves.

Forest Research will be vital to supporting tree planting activity through building the evidence base to inform and improve our management of trees and selection of resilient species for the future to increase woodland cover for future generations.

The Forest Research Trees and Forestry evidence programme will leave a lasting legacy, by providing strong scientific evidence to underpin our future forestry policy and support long term action for expanding and managing our treescapes.

Our England Trees Action Plan and Environmental Improvement Plan set out ambitious targets to treble tree planting rates by the end of this Parliament and to achieve at least 16.5% of tree and woodland cover by 2050. Today’s announcement supports the delivery of this ambitious programme and make sure we are using cutting edge science to make decisions.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 November 2023.

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has urged farmers to remain vigilant for bluetongue virus after the disease was found in five cows in Kent.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Pirbright Institute identified the first case of the disease earlier this month through Great Britain’s annual bluetongue surveillance programme. A 10km temporary control zone has been put in place around the affected farms, restricting the movement of susceptible animals except under licence.

Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety. The virus is transmitted by midge bites and affects cows, goats, sheep and other camelids such as llamas. The midges are most active between April and November and not all susceptible animals show immediate, or any, signs of contracting the virus. The impacts on susceptible animals can vary greatly – some show no symptoms or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in the most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals.

Through additional surveillance, the Chief Veterinary Officer has today (25 November) confirmed four additional cases of bluetongue virus at two premises in Kent within the temporary control zone. The infected animals will be culled to reduce the risk of onward disease transmission.

Strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place and farmers are reminded that animals imported from these regions must be accompanied by the relevant paperwork to clearly show they meet certain conditions designed to reduce disease risk, such as correct vaccination.

Following confirmation of BTV in a non-imported animal in England, some trading partners may restrict exports of bluetongue susceptible animals or their products. The latest information on availability of individual export health certificates can be found on Gov.uk.

NI and GB ruminants cannot be exported from an GB Assembly Centre to the European Union or moved to Northern Ireland until further notice.

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

“Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but the disease can impact livestock farms, and cause productivity issues.

“This detection is an example of our robust disease surveillance procedures in action and it is also a clear reminder for farmers that the disease remains a threat, despite coming towards the end of the midge activity season.

“Farmers must remain vigilant and report any suspicions to APHA.”

BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of BTV in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301

More information about bluetongue is available here.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 November 2023.

Environment Secretary addresses Kyiv conference and announces further support for Ukraine food security initiatives.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 November 2023.