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Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bees’ Needs Week buzzes back for 2023 [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bees’ Needs Week buzzes back for 2023 [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 July 2023.

    Bees’ Needs Week launches for 2023, encouraging everyone to protect pollinators.

    Bees’ Needs Week (10 – 17 July) is back with a call for the public to take five simple steps to help boost bee numbers and monitor pollinators in their local green spaces.

    Bees are fundamental to food production, pollinating crops and contributing more than an estimated £500 million a year to UK farming and food. They are also vital to the wider natural environment, pollinating wildflowers and trees which then support other insects, birds and mammals.

    There are thousands of pollinators in the UK but they are under threat from habitat loss, invasive species, pests and disease and climate change. Bees Needs Week brings together beekeepers, community groups, academics and government calling upon everyone to take five simple steps to look after pollinators and help restore the natural world.

    The actions are straightforward and every action counts, no matter how big or small. To better protect bees, everyone can:

    1. Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees
    2. Let your garden grow wild
    3. Cut your grass less often
    4. Don’t disturb insect nest and hibernation spots
    5. Think carefully about whether to use pesticides

    Environment Minister Trudy Harrison said:

    We simply wouldn’t be able to live without pollinators. These marvellous insects have a unique ability to move pollen between plants which sustains whole ecosystems and creates a resilient food supply for wildlife and people.

    Everyone can do their part – whether it’s taking part in a count, allowing your garden to grow more wild, or planting more flowers. The actions we take in Bees’ Needs Week and beyond will boost help give nature a boost and create a better future for all.

    Monitoring for insects in your garden, park or local area is a great way to help scientists understand what pollinator populations look like. As part of Bees’ Needs Week, thousands will be taking part in a Flower-Insect-Timed Count (FIT Count) which involves taking ten minutes to observe flowers and insects in good weather before sharing the information on the app. FIT Counts can be completed anywhere, wherever there is an abundance of flowers, and every observation helps improve survey records and knowledge of pollinator activity

    Professor Simon Potts, Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the University of Reading, said:

    The sad truth is that bee populations are declining due to habitat loss, harmful chemicals used in insecticides, and climate change.

    Fewer bees means flowers don’t get pollinated and it will be harder to grow fruit and veg in our gardens or allotments.

    Bees buzz about in the background so many people might think they don’t need our support, but there a lot of things we can do to make bees’ lives easier and help keep our fridges full of healthy food.

    The Pollinator Monitoring Scheme is the first scheme in the world to generate data on the abundance of bees, hoverflies and other flower-visiting insects at a national scale. It will provide information that will help us measure trends in pollinator populations and target conservation efforts.

    As set out in our Environmental Improvement Plan, the government is committed to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 and reversing this decline by 2042. We are taking robust action to reduce the decline in pollinators and support them to thrive – this includes the Environmental Land Management Schemes and the Species Survival Fund – a £25 million initiative which will restore and create nature rich landscapes for wildlife. To find out more about Bees’ Needs Week and how to get involved, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bees-needs/bees-needs-campaign

  • PRESS RELEASE : Bigger fines possible for littering and fly-tipping [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Bigger fines possible for littering and fly-tipping [July 2023]

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

    Maximum on-the-spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping to increase under PM’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan.

    On-the spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping are set to rise as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced today (Friday 7 July), delivering on the Prime Minister’s Action Plan to clamp down on these crimes and build stronger communities.

    Environmental crimes like littering and fly-tipping are cynical and opportunistic, damaging wildlife and nature, creating eyesores and ruining our enjoyment of the great outdoors. The new upper limit to fines will deter people from harming our public spaces in the first place, and ensure that those who continue to offend face tougher consequences.

    To help equip councils with everything they need and strengthen their arm, government is laying a statutory instrument increasing the upper limits for various fixed penalty notices (FPNs) on Monday 10 July. This means:

    • The maximum amount those caught fly-tipping could be fined will increase from £400 to £1,000
    • The maximum amount those who litter or graffiti could be fined will increase from £150 to £500
    • The maximum amount those who breach their household waste duty of care could be fined will increase from £400 to £600

    Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said:

    Everyone loathes litter louts and people who dump rubbish. We are increasing the penalties local councils can apply for this behaviour that spoils our streets and harms nature.

    Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    We’re taking action right across government to crack down on anti-social behaviour and ensure waste criminals face justice – but it’s vital that communities have the tools they need to address the problem as well.

    That’s why we are supporting local authorities by increasing the upper limit for on-the-spot fines and ringfencing the proceeds for clean-up and enforcement operations.

    In addition to increasing the upper limit on fines, last week, the government launched a consultation on ringfencing the receipts from FPNs for litter and fly-tipping to fund local authorities’ enforcement and clean-up activities, such as spending the money raised from fining criminals on further enforcement officers. This would see the money paid by criminals go directly back into repairing the damage from their crimes, or into enforcement efforts to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

    The consultation seeks to understand more about how FPN receipts are currently spent and what the impacts of restricting the spending of these receipts to a set list of enforcement and clean-up functions would be.

    The government wants councils to take a much tougher approach to this type of anti-social behaviour. Taking proportionate and effective enforcement action against people who intentionally or carelessly damage their environment is a practical step local authorities can take to change behaviour and deter others from offending.

    Our enforcement guidance, as part of the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, advises on best practice for litter enforcement from local authorities. The guidance makes clear that in no circumstances should enforcement activity be considered a means to raise revenue. New powers under the Environment Act 2021 will allow us to ensure that enforcement powers are used with a high degree of professionalism, whether by council staff or private contractors, and to place this enforcement guidance on a firm statutory footing.

    In 2021/22, councils dealt with almost 1.1 million incidents of fly-tipping and issued 91,000 fines, along with other enforcement actions.

    Local authorities will have the freedom to set the rates that offenders should pay, within the limits above.

    Today’s announcement marks the latest step in the delivery of the Prime Minister’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan and comes during national ASB Awareness Week, run by Resolve and now in its third year, which runs from 3-9 July.

    Earlier this week the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched applications for the Million Hours Fund, which will enable the equivalent of more than 200 youth clubs to open their doors for an extra night each week in anti-social behaviour hotspots, to make sure young people are supported away from bad life choices and given the opportunities they need to thrive.

    We have also announced that more than 50 councils across the UK are to benefit from funding of £1.2 million from the Chewing Gum Task Force to remove discarded chewing gum from our streets and prevent it from being littered in the first place.

    And the Home Office has launched pilots of ‘hotspot’ policing – increasing police presence in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour – and the ‘Immediate Justice’ scheme, which sees those found engaging in anti-social behaviour made to repair the damage they inflicted on victims and communities, with an ambition for them to start work as soon as 48 hours after their offence so victims know anti-social behaviour is treated seriously and with urgency.

    The Anti-Social Behaviour Taskforce met yesterday (6 July), and was chaired by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman and attended by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove. The taskforce met to discuss anti-social behaviour and restoring pride in place in communities. The meeting brought together Ministers and national and local partners, including Police and Crime Commissioners to discuss the positive progress to date.

    The higher fines to crack down on littering and fly tipping comes alongside Defra’s wider work to tackle waste crime and take the fight to offenders.

    In April, grants totalling £775,000 will help councils roll out a range of projects to crack down on fly-tipping were announced. Twenty-one local authorities will benefit from the grants, with schemes including roadside CCTV and social media campaigns in Plymouth and targeted surveillance at hotspot areas in Pendle.

    Defra has also announced that fees for disposing of household DIY waste at recycling centres will be abolished – helping people to deal with their waste responsibly and removing a financial burden that gets in the way of people dealing with their waste responsibly.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Farming Minister takes part in tractor relay on mental health [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Farming Minister takes part in tractor relay on mental health [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 July 2023.

    Mark Spencer drives tractor to Parliament to shine a light on mental health in rural communities.

    The Farming Minister Mark Spencer has today (6 July 2023) driven a tractor around Parliament Square into the Houses of Parliament to help raise awareness of mental health in farming and rural communities.

    The trip around Westminster marks just one segment of the Len’s Light Tractor Relay – which is covering over 2,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End – to shine a spotlight on how mental health can affect those in rural communities and help break down stigma surrounding mental health in the farming sector.

    Len’s Light was launched in June this year by Lynda and Andy Eadon in memory of their son Len Eadon who took his own life in January 2022, and is working with the Farming Community Network, Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) and Papyrus to raise awareness and funds to support farmers’ mental health.

    The relay comes as the Farm Safety Foundation recently surveyed 450 UK farmers under the age of 40 and found that 94% of them agreed poor mental health is one of the biggest hidden problems facing the industry today – up from 84% three years ago.

    Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

    It’s hugely important that we raise awareness of the mental health impacts in farming and rural communities and I’d like to pay tribute to all those charities and individuals, including Lynda and Andy, who are working tirelessly to bring this to light.

    I’m honoured to have played even just a small part in this goal by getting behind the wheel today, and will continue to do all I can to ensure farmers can access the support they need, including through our Future Farming Resilience Fund and ongoing work with charities such as Yellow Wellies.

    Andy and Lynda Eadon, Founders of Len’s Light, said:

    Len’s Light is a nationwide journey reaching out to everyone in the rural community with the message that no one in the rural community should feel isolated and alone.

    Len’s Light Tractor Relay would not have started if we had not reached out for support from Sir Jeremy Wright MP, Mark Spencer MP, Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Safety Foundation, and the NFU team – especially Minette Batters and George Bostock.

    With the help of everyone, we will continue to talk about positive mental health in the rural community which hinges around talking, listening and honesty.

    Today’s relay builds on other important work to reduce stigma around mental health in farming. Earlier this year, for example, Sam and Emily Stables received Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Points of Light award for their work establishing ‘We Are Farming Minds’, a charity that offers a befriending service and dedicated 24-hour helpline staffed by trained volunteers, and provides funding for farmers to access professional counselling services.

    The government is investing at least £2.3 billion of additional funding a year by March 2024 to expand and transform mental health services in England so that two million more people will be able to get the mental health support they need.

    Farmers’ mental health and wellbeing are also being prioritised and supported in the government’s Future Farming Resilience Fund, which provides free business support to farmers and land managers in England. This includes support from in-house experts or signposting to external expert services, and the government has worked with the Farm Safety Foundation to provide advice and information on how to identify potential mental health issues and provide tools for addressing them.

    The Len’s Light Tractor Relay began at John O’Groats on 20 June, with a specially designed beacon on the front of the tractor lighting up the route. The relay has stopped at livestock markets and machinery depots around the UK to spark conversations around mental health with farmers and others living in rural communities, as well as raising awareness at large agricultural events including the Royal Highland Show. The final leg of the relay will take place at Land’s End on 23 July.

    NFU President, Minette Batters, said:

    As an industry we’ve got to make greater strides to talk openly about our mental health and wellbeing. We’re encouraging the farming community to start a conversation with a neighbour, friend or family member. It really could make a huge difference.

    I applaud the bravery of Andy and Lynda Eadon who have worked so tirelessly to shine a light on achieving positive mental health in farming and rural communities. Having lost their own son, they’re both doing all they can to ensure no one in the countryside feels isolated or alone. The Len’s Light tractor relay is an extraordinary and emotional journey by a couple who are determined to make a difference to mental health and wellbeing. On behalf of the NFU we wish them all the very best on their onward journey.

    Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said:

    There are thousands of farmers struggling with long term ill health in the industry and many more with mental health conditions. These people are working every day regardless to ensure we have food on our plates.

    Initiatives like this by Lynda and Andy – under the most tragic of circumstances – really do make a difference.  We are so grateful to them and admire them for the hard work and pure determination that making this journey through the country will help raise awareness and prevent another farming family going through the worst of tragedies.

    Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, said:

    We would like to say a big thank you to Andy and Lynda Eadon and all those who are supporting their remarkable Len’s Light campaign.

    Their event is raising valuable awareness of suicide prevention which in turn will help us to continue giving hope to young people who are struggling with life.

    Fundraising and generous donations help to pay for potentially life-saving calls, texts and emails to our confidential HOPELINE247 service, which offers support and advice to young people and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be having thoughts of suicide.

    Dr Jude McCann, Chief Executive Officer, The Farming Community Network, said:

    Andy and Lynda and the Len’s Light campaign are carrying a vital message of support that is resonating with farmers and people living in rural communities across the UK. None of us should feel alone – we are part of a supportive community that is here to listen, support and help.

    No matter what pressures you may be facing, FCN and other farm support charities are here to help people find a positive way forward. FCN volunteers understand farming life and its unique stresses, and can be contacted in confidence 365 days of the year on 03000 111 999 or help@fcn.org.uk.

  • PRESS RELEASE : More than £1.2m funding for councils to clean up chewing gum from our streets [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : More than £1.2m funding for councils to clean up chewing gum from our streets [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 6 July 2023.

    Fifty-six councils across the UK to receive funding totalling more than £1.2 million to target chewing gum stains.

    More than 50 councils across the UK are to receive grants totalling more than £1.2 million to remove discarded chewing gum from our streets and prevent it from being littered again.

    Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cardiff, Glasgow, Ipswich, Liverpool, Sunderland and Wiltshire are among those to benefit from the second round of funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force.

    Launched in 2021, the Task Force was established by Defra and is administered by charity Keep Britain Tidy, with funding provided by gum producers. It aims to clean gum off pavements and put in measures to stop it being dropped in the first place, helping clamp down on anti-social littering.

    Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million and, according to Keep Britain Tidy, around 77% of England’s streets and 99% of retail sites are stained with gum.

    The Chewing Gum Task Force brings together some of the country’s major chewing gum producers, including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle. Together, the producers have pledged up to £10 million over five years via the scheme to tackle gum littering.

    The latest round of funding includes:

    • Grants of up to £25,000 for cleansing with a fully funded bespoke gum litter prevention package.
    • Further grants of up to £25,000 for Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cardiff, Doncaster and Glasgow for the fully funded bespoke gum litter prevention package and long-term monitoring and evaluation carried out by not-for-profit social enterprise Behaviour Change.

    Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    Littering blights our communities, spoils our countryside, harms our wildlife and wastes taxpayers’ money when cleaning it up. That’s why we’re working with gum producers to tackle chewing gum stains.

    After the success of the first round of funding, this next slice will give councils further support to clean up our towns and cities.

    In its first year the task force awarded 44 grants worth a total of £1.2 million, benefitting 53 councils who were able to clean an estimated 2.5km2 of pavement, an area larger than 467 football pitches.

    By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 80% in the first two months. Monitoring and evaluation carried out by Behaviour Change has shown that a reduced rate of gum littering is still being observed six months after clean-up and the installation of prevention materials.

    Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said:

    Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome.

    However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.

    Naomi Jones, corporate affairs director at Mars Wrigley UK, said:

    We’re pleased to be supporting the work of the Chewing Gum Task Force again this year. While the majority of consumers already bin their used gum properly, we know there’s still work to be done to change the behaviour of people who are disposing of their gum irresponsibly.

    In its first year, the Task Force’s work saw 2.5km2 cleaned in council areas around the country. Behaviour change interventions achieved chewing gum litter reductions of up to 80%. This year, we’ll be to be funding and partnering with another 56 councils, across the four nations, in 2023.

    In 2022, individual councils received grants of up to £20,000 to fund street cleaning and the purchase of cleansing equipment. Larger grants of up to £70,000 were available to two or more councils working together to achieve a greater impact.

    In Grimsby, machines made by Eco Removal Systems were used to clean unsightly chewing gum stains in the town centre. Due to the crew wearing the machines as backpacks, the team quickly became known as ‘Gum Busters’. The stains were removed using an eco-friendly detergent made from sugar beet. This was heated and sprayed directly on to the gum to vaporise it.

    Four councils – Birmingham, Newport, Glasgow and Belfast – benefitted from a full independent evaluation of their clean-up and prevention signage. A reduction of up to 80% in gum littering after two months was measured as a result of the interventions, through a combination of pre- and post-intervention gum counts and footfall analysis.

    The task force was announced as part of the government’s strategy to support the evolution and regeneration of high streets across the country, which includes 15 Town Deals totalling £335 million to fund community regeneration projects, the transformation of derelict buildings and communities being given the chance to own local pubs, theatres, sports grounds and corner shops.

    Littering is a criminal offence. In the Prime Minister’s Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan, we have committed to raising the upper limit on spot fines later this year from £150 to £500 in England.

    To tackle littering of drinks containers, from 2025 we will introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers where people will be incentivised to recycle their bottles and cans by placing a small deposit on drinks products.

    We have also banned some of the most littered plastic items in England and plan to introduce further bans from October 2023.

    The opening of this next round of funding comes alongside further steps this week to deliver the Prime Minister’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan which sets out the government’s approach to making sure these issues are treated with the urgency they deserve by establishing a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour, and giving the police and local authorities the tools they need to tackle the problem.

    Coinciding with Resolve’s ASB Awareness Week, pilot schemes have begun in police force areas to increase police patrols in hotspot areas, helping deter crimes from happening in the first place, and to deliver ‘immediate justice’ whereby offenders will be made to repair the damage they’ve caused to their communities with an aim to start reparative work within 48 hours.

    Earlier this week, the government also opened the first round of the Million Hours Fund, to make an initial £3 million of grants available for youth organisations to provide more out-of-school activities and support more young people in areas of high need this summer – ensuring young people are helped away from bad life choices and are given access to greater support.

    The full list of councils to receive funding is below.

    • Newark and Sherwood
    • North Tyneside Council
    • London Borough of Hackney
    • Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
    • Sevenoaks District Council
    • Rushcliffe Borough Council
    • London Borough of Waltham Forest
    • East Cambridgeshire District Council
    • Liverpool City Council
    • Manchester City Council
    • North Devon Council
    • Sunderland City Council
    • Leeds City Council
    • Braintree District Council
    • London Borough of Newham
    • Tewkesbury Borough Council
    • Canterbury City Council
    • Southend-on-Sea City Council
    • Stoke-on-Trent City Council
    • Colchester City Council
    • Blackpool Council
    • Haringey Council
    • City of London Corporation
    • Ipswich Borough Council
    • City of Doncaster Council
    • Redbridge Council
    • Cumberland Council
    • Middlesbrough Council
    • Lewes District Council
    • Newcastle City Council
    • Pendle Borough Council
    • Milton Keynes City Council
    • Wiltshire Council
    • Wirral Borough Council
    • Oxford City Council
    • London Borough of Lambeth
    • Ealing Council
    • Warrington
    • Wigan Council
    • Cardiff Council
    • Newport City Council
    • Cyngor Gwynedd
    • Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
    • Bridgend County Borough Council
    • Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council
    • Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
    • Vale of Glamorgan Council
    • Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
    • Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
    • Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
    • Derry City and Strabane District Council
    • Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
    • Mid Ulster District Council
    • South Lanarkshire Council
    • South Ayrshire Council
    • Glasgow City Council
  • PRESS RELEASE : Second Permanent Secretary appointed at Defra [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Second Permanent Secretary appointed at Defra [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 July 2023.

    Nick Joicey appointed as a new second Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today announced the appointment of Nick Joicey as a new second Permanent Secretary.

    Nick is currently serving as a Director General in the Cabinet Office. He will start in the coming weeks.

    The second Permanent Secretary will act as Defra Group Chief Operating Officer and will oversee the Strategy and Science and Analysis groups within the department. Current Chief Operating Officer Sarah Homer will take up the role of Director General for Portfolio Delivery.

    Welcoming Nick’s appointment, Defra Permanent Secretary Tamara Finkelstein said:

    Nick has been appointed in a new second Permanent Secretary role as part of our work to build a Defra group that is designed to deliver for the future.

    I am delighted that Nick will be taking up this important role and I look forward to welcoming him back the department at this exciting time.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    Nick is a highly experienced public servant and will bring a wealth of knowledge from across government.

    I look forward to welcoming him back to Defra where he previously served with distinction as we continue to deliver on our exciting agenda to improve the environment and support our vital food, farming and water sectors.

    Nick Joicey said:

    I am thrilled to be joining Defra as Second Permanent Secretary and Group Chief Operating Officer and excited at the prospect of delivering on Defra’s ambitious agenda of improving our environment, rural communities and food, water and farming sectors.

    I know what a brilliant department it is from my time there as a Director General. I am looking forward to working with the brilliant teams in Defra, across government and in the sectors to see this agenda realised.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Support for farmers to access investment to drive nature recovery [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Support for farmers to access investment to drive nature recovery [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 19 June 2023.

    The first ever Nature for Finance event will bring together farmers, land managers, investors and conservation experts to identify new investment opportunities.

    As part of the delivery of one of the Prime Minister’s five priorities to grow the economy, additional support to help farmers access private investment to support nature recovery on their farms will be announced today (19 June).

    The first ever ‘Nature for Finance’ event will bring together farmers, land managers, investors and conservation experts to identify new investment opportunities that drive forward actions to mobilise investment in nature recovery while continuing to keep the nation fed.

    At the event, held at 10 Downing Street, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey will announce the intention to launch an additional round of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) later this year to help farmers address barriers to accessing private investment to help nature’s recovery.

    This round will be the first time the NEIRF focuses specifically on the farming sector, helping farmers to come together at a landscape scale to combine their offer to investors, and enabling more types of farmer to access and benefit from nature markets.

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey said:

    Food production and enhancing the environment go hand in hand. We must continue to support farmers to keep our nation fed while also safeguarding the valuable biodiversity and landscapes we rely on.

    Today’s event is an important step forward in bringing together farmers and financiers to invest in nature and unlock new opportunities to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of farm businesses.

    Food production relies on a healthy and thriving natural environment and nature markets offer a new way for farmers to generate income alongside food production. To date, 86 projects across England have received development grants of up to £100,000 through two competitive rounds of the £10 million NEIRF in 2021 and 2022.

    Today’s event follows last month’s UK Farm to Fork Summit at No10, at which representatives from the whole food supply chain came together to identify ways to boost growth, drive innovation and improve sustainability so that we boost food production alongside delivering nature recovery for our countryside.

    The NEIRF funds projects that have the potential to produce revenue from the benefits nature provides to attract and repay investment, as well as projects able to produce an investment model that can be scaled up and reproduced.

    The Wendling Beck Exemplar Project, a collaboration between private landowners, local authorities, environmental NGOs, and Anglian Water, has already benefitted from NEIRF support. This aims to transform land use for environmental benefit while also selling ecosystem services such as Biodiversity Net Gain.

    Glenn Anderson, Project Lead of The Wendling Beck Exemplar Project said:

    Wendling Beck is a pathfinder project for financing land-use change through new nature markets. Projects like Wendling Beck are critical in safeguarding long-term food security – through mitigating existential challenges to climate, water and biodiversity – and enhancing the national natural capital reserves which underpin our economy.

    The project was fortunate to receive funding from the NEIRF, which supported the projects feasibility and design at a critical time. The funding enabled us to consolidate the project structure and lay some important foundations on which the project now stands.

    The Secretary of State will also announce the start of the piloting phase of a new version of the Green Finance Institute’s (GFI) investment readiness toolkit which will provide a tailored framework offering farmers valuable advice on how to create investable nature finance projects. In the pilot phase, the GFI will gather insights from stakeholders – including those in attendance at the event today – to ensure the toolkit meets the specific needs of farmers.

    The government will also consult later this year on specific steps and interventions needed to mobilise additional nature finance through voluntary markets and protect against the risk of greenwashing, seeking input from experts in finance, business, environment, and farming sectors.

    The UK was the first major country to publish a green finance strategy in 2019 which was updated this year alongside a new Nature Markets Framework. Significant progress has been made in integrating nature into the economy, including statutory targets for environmental improvement and the development of a policy framework for scaling up nature markets. Defra’s new partnership with the British Standards Institution will ensure the adoption of sound scientific standards underpinning nature investments and avoiding greenwashing.

    Archie Ruggles-Brise, Estate Manager of Spains Hall Estate in Essex, said,

    The opportunities for land managers to engage directly with finance professionals, tech providers and local authorities around environmental markets are rare, especially at this early stage of the market. So to be afforded that chance through the Essex County Council led NEIRF project is exciting.

    This could be game changing for farms, as once the income side is proven it opens the door for all kinds of support for transition to alternative, more sustainable, land use choices. It’s all about having more choice, especially beyond commodity markets, now and in the future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Council DIY waste charges abolished [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Council DIY waste charges abolished [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 June 2023.

    Charges to dispose of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres will be removed.

    Households will no longer have to pay to get rid of DIY waste, Environment Minister Rebecca Pow announced today (Sunday 18 June).

    Following overwhelming public support, the Government will abolish the fees which some local authorities charge for disposing of DIY waste at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). This will support householders to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner and encourage recycling.

    Around a third of Local Authorities still charge for household DIY waste. The changes outlined today will mean councils treat DIY waste the same as household waste and could save households up to £10 for an individual item – for example, a sheet of plasterboard.

    This will make it much easier and cheaper for people making home improvements to get rid of their waste – and may reduce the temptation to use waste cowboys who fly-tip rubbish.

    Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

    We want to make it as easy as possible for people to dispose of their waste properly and that’s why we are removing the financial burden on doing the right thing with DIY trash.

    This not only supports our wider work to tackle fly-tipping and waste crime, but we are helping home improvers across the nation make their dream projects a reality.

    These changes complement wider action we are taking to tackle fly-tipping and waste crime, which is estimated to cost the economy £924m per year in England. Earlier this year we announced grants totalling £775,000 to help councils roll out a range of projects to crack down on fly-tipping. We have consulted on reforming the waste carrier, broker, dealer regime and on introducing mandatory digital waste tracking, and we are also developing a fly-tipping toolkit with National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to help spread best practice among local authorities on tackling the issue.

    Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association, Jacob Hayler, said:

    We welcome any measures that make it easier for householders to dispose of waste correctly and responsibly at their local Household Waste Recycling Centre, which in turn reduces the chance of it falling into the hands of criminals or being fly-tipped.

    Tackling the scourge of waste crime, from low-level fly-tipping to industrial-scale illegal operations, will require a multifaceted approach which is why we also support additional measures being introduced to help local authorities and to implement digital waste tracking alongside reform of the licensing regime for waste carriers, brokers and dealers.

    The Government clarified the law in 2015 that local taxpayers should not be charged for disposing of household waste at civic amenity sites – scrapping backdoor “tip taxes”. It has also repeatedly stated that councils should not be charging for such DIY household waste disposal either.

    The changes announced today clarify that DIY household waste should be treated the same as household waste.

    These reforms will protect the local environment by encouraging responsible waste disposal, whilst keeping down the cost of living for households.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK presses for further progress on global food security at G20 [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK presses for further progress on global food security at G20 [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 June 2023.

    Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to improving global food security, at the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Hyderabad.

    The Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey has this week reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to improving global food security through sustainable agriculture.

    Speaking at the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Hyderabad, India, the Secretary of State urged countries to come together and harness the power of nature to get food to people’s plates both now and for future generations.

    The meeting focused on identifying actions and solutions to help tackle global food security and nutrition, including moving to sustainable agriculture to lower impacts on climate and environment while increasing global food security, and ensuring agriculture and food systems are more resilient to shocks.

    Ministers also discussed how we can achieve more sustainable food supply chains to reduce impacts such as deforestation caused by unsustainable agriculture, as well as the importance of long-term action and support for farmers and rural communities to ensure we can continue to feed a growing population.

    The Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey said:

    Building more resilient food security must be an urgent, ongoing priority for G20 and sustainable agriculture must be at the heart of our efforts.

    As well as making the most of science, tech and innovation, we need to recognise that protecting and supporting the power of nature is essential, and in many cases the most effective and cost-effective way to roll out solutions at scale.

    These discussions build on the UK’s ongoing commitment to develop and scale-up more sustainable agricultural practices at an international level and follows the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit in Washington last month. At the Summit, the UK announced a £3 million investment to help fund a new consortium to develop, test and scale up new and alternative fertilisers that can enhance soil health and agricultural productivity.

    It also builds on strides the UK is making at home to support farmers to run sustainable, profitable and productive farming businesses. This includes more than £168 million in grants being made available to farmers this year to drive innovation, support food production, improve animal health and welfare and protect the environment, as well as accelerating the roll out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

    Up to £30 million has recently been awarded to cutting-edge farming projects that will boost food production, move towards net zero, and create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. Meanwhile, the second round of Landscape Recovery launched last month to support up to 25 more projects to protect and restore thousands of acres of the English landscape.

  • PRESS RELEASE : No sandeel fishing for 2023 in effort to protect marine ecosystem [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : No sandeel fishing for 2023 in effort to protect marine ecosystem [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 June 2023.

    UK fishermen will not be permitted to catch or swap any of the UK’s 5,773 tonnes of North Sea sandeel quota in 2023.

    For the third consecutive year, the UK government has decided to not allow UK sandeel fishing for 2023 for the benefit of the wider marine ecosystem – such as seabirds and marine mammals – that feed on these eel-like fish.

    This means that UK fishermen cannot catch or swap any of the pre-agreed quota for sandeel fishing in the North Sea – totalling 5,773 tonnes.

    Sandeels are an important forage fish and dietary source for vulnerable seabirds, marine mammals and commercially valuable fish. Industrial fishing of sandeels is shown to have an impact on the health of these other species within the marine ecosystem.

    Without effective fisheries management measures, loss of sandeels through commercial fishing could be detrimental to the breeding success and population resilience of certain UK seabirds which, as well as puffins, also include kittiwakes and razorbills.

    Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

    By not allowing the UK commercial fishing of sandeels, we can better protect and enhance the lives of vulnerable seabirds and marine mammals that play such a crucial part in our marine ecosystems.

    Sandeels are an important component in the food chain for some of our most treasured species, such as puffins, and the decision to not allow sandeel fishing for a third year running will help benefit our seabird populations and allow wildlife to thrive.

    The decision on the quota is part of the government’s wider efforts to protect sandeels, with a 12-week consultation held earlier this year to seek views on the future management of sandeels in English waters of the North Sea. The government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

    The actions to support sandeels build on the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan to support biodiversity and allow wildlife to thrive. Under this plan, the government has committed to protecting 30% of our land and sea for nature and will launch a new multi-million pound Species Survival Fund targeted at protecting our rarest species.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Further protections for England’s coastal waterways planned [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Further protections for England’s coastal waterways planned [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 June 2023.

    Consultation launched to expand the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan to cover all coastal and estuarine waters.

    The government has launched a six-week consultation on expanding its targets to tackle sewage even further to cover all coasts, estuaries and marine protected sites (12 June 2023).

    The Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, published in August 2022, set out stringent targets to protect people and the environment, backed up by £56 billion capital investment – the largest infrastructure programme in water company history.

    Since then, the government has continued to drive action to hold water companies to account, bring in tougher regulation and accelerate infrastructure to tackle pollution. Building on the measures in the plan to address the overflows causing the most harm first, the government is now consulting for six weeks on expanding the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan to cover all coastal and estuarine overflows. The current Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan covers 91% of storm overflows.

    The government has always been clear that it will go further and faster to tackle the issue of storm overflows wherever possible. The consultation follows the government announcing that targets to reduce storm overflow discharges will be enshrined in law through the Environment Act 2021.

    The government’s intention to consult on the targets was set out last month. The consultation has now launched and will be open until 24 July 2023, and follows the Environment Secretary’s demand to water companies earlier this year to share individual action plans on every storm overflow, including coastal and estuarine, this summer.

    Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

    While 93% of our beaches with designated bathing status are already rated excellent or good, there is still more to do to better protect our hugely important coasts and estuaries.

    That is why I am consulting to extend our stringent targets to cover every storm overflow in England – protecting people and the environment across the country.

    The targets outlined in the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan provide an achievable, credible route to tackling sewage and delivering the improvements customers expect without disproportionately impacting consumer bills.

    Further information

    • The Plan for Water set out the government’s strategy to tackle all sources of pollution – not just storm overflows, but also agriculture, plastics, road run-off and chemicals – as well as managing the pressures on our water resources. It set out action to clean up our water through more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement on those who pollute.

    Measures include:

    More investment

    • £1.6 billion of accelerated investment by water companies, to spend on new infrastructure to start in the next 2 years to tackle pollution and increase our water resilience – including £1.1 billion on storm overflow improvements.
    • Delivering long-term catchment action plans – community-led schemes which aim to improve waterways and surrounding eco-systems – backed up by new funding, to improve all water bodies in England. This follows the credit scheme launched by Natural England to offset the environmental impact of new housing developments.
    • Creating a new Water Restoration Fund, using money from water company fines and penalties to support local environmental projects, like re-meandering rivers and restoring habitats.
    • More than doubling the money for slurry infrastructure by increasing funding to £34 million for farmers to improve slurry storage, reducing a major source of water pollution, with a further £31 million announced this week under the Productivity and Slurry Grant to support farmers procure equipment and technology.
    • Leveraging £1 million investment in partnership projects each year to improve chalk catchments to help protect these rare and irreplaceable habitats. This is in addition to taking forward the recommendations from the Chalk Stream Strategy.
    • Launching a £6.6 million Lowland Peat Research and Development programme in 2023 to identify the best way to reduce emissions from lowland peatlands.

    Stronger regulation

    • Consulting on banning the sale of plastic wet wipes. We have also written to relevant producers about ‘flushable’ labelling on wet wipe packaging.
    • Enabling key water supply infrastructure – such as reservoirs and water transfer schemes – to be built more quickly.
    • Bringing forward the deadline for water companies to reduce chemicals in wastewater treatment to 2027.
    • Consulting on extending environmental permits to cover dairy and intensive beef farms, and to improve how this is done for pig and poultry farms, in order to better manage sources of pollution.
    • Develop new proposals to restrict the use of ‘forever’ chemicals (PFAS) found in our rivers and seas – including proposals for a ban on PFAS in fire-fighting foams following recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive.
    • Launching a new National Policy Statement on water resources so that key water supply infrastructure – such as reservoirs and water transfer schemes – can be built more quickly.
    • Integrating water and flood planning to target actions where they will have the biggest impact for nature.
    • Reducing water demand by encouraging water companies to consider how to rapidly increase smart meter installations for household and non-household customers.

    Tougher enforcement