GreyShuck

A rare bird of prey that was once close to extinction in the UK has been spotted breeding in Leicestershire for the first time.

The goshawk, a protected bird similar to the sparrowhawk, but much larger, was persecuted in the UK in the late 19th century but there was a population recovery in the late 1960s following deliberate releases.

Leicestershire and Rutland bird recorder Carl Baggot said: "It is the first documented record of this species breeding, although they are likely to have bred here in the distant past."

Hedgehog highways and bird-safe glass could become requirements for all new buildings as members of the House of Lords push through amendments to the government’s planning bill.

This may cause a headache for ministers, who have tried to avoid burdening developers with laws on nature measures such as “swift bricks”. The new Lords amendments include mandated provision for these nesting boxes, which campaigners say are crucial for the survival of the threatened species.

A cross-bench group of peers has tabled amendments to ensure new buildings must have wild animal-friendly design and architecture, including hedgehog highways and bird nesting boxes.

Today, The Wildlife Trusts and RSA Insurance, an Intact company, announce a new 18-month project to map and analyse the economic, environmental and societal benefits of restoring nature along the Trent, England’s longest river from source to sea. The opportunities for nature-based solutions along its 223.5 miles will be examined allowing the partners to create a transformational vision for the Trent’s future, and a blueprint for restoring all rivers in England for the first time.

At a time when flood, drought, polluted water and lack of access to nature are major threats, the Rivers 2040 project aims seize the opportunity for change presented by the closure of power stations and gravel pits, changes in farming and a post-industrial future for people living along the Trent.

A new approach to restoring rivers chimes with the independent Cunliffe Review of water management which called for integrated action to tackle pressures from the water industry and other sectors. UK Government is expected to progress new legislation to enact this.

New "floating ecosystems" have been installed along a section of the Nottingham and Beeston Canal.

The artificial reed beds which are made of coir rolls - cylinders of recycled plastic and coconut fibre - were filled with a variety of plants popular with pollinators before being placed in the water on Tuesday.

The Canal & River Trust said the beds will give the canal a more "natural feel" and attract more wildlife to the city centre.

Burning on England’s deep peat will be banned in order to restore habitats for rare wildlife and reduce air pollution and flooding, the government has said.

England’s peatlands are in poor shape due to having been burned, intensively drained and used as grouse moors. They naturally act like a sponge, with layers of moss and other vegetation, and store vast amounts of carbon: an estimated 3.2bn tonnes in the UK alone.

When they are in a dried-out state, they do not hold water, which can contribute to flooding of communities downstream. They also release carbon into the atmosphere, rather than storing it.

The area of England protected effectively for nature is continuing to decline, according to data from the country’s largest coalition of wildlife organisations, as experts say the government is allowing habitats to deteriorate.

The government is under a legal obligation to protect 30% of land and sea in the UK for nature by 2030, a pledge made in 2020 by the then prime minister, Boris Johnson. At the moment, however, 2.83% of England is well protected for nature, 2.4% of Wales, 4% of Northern Ireland and 12.6% of Scotland. This gives an average of 6% of the UK as a whole, which is well below the target.

The area of England effectively protected for nature has declined from 2.93% in 2024, according to analysis by Wildlife and Countryside Link. The charity coalition looked at legally protected areas such as sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), and analysed whether they were in good condition.

Butterfly numbers have bounced back after the dismal summer of 2024, but the hottest summer on record delivered only an average number of the insects in the annual Big Butterfly Count.

More than 125,000 citizen scientists joined the biggest insect survey in the world this summer, counting an average of 10.3 butterflies in each 15-minute count in parks, gardens and green spaces across Britain.

This was a marked improvement on 2024, when a record low of just seven butterflies per count were recorded. The most-seen butterfly, the large white, enjoyed a 131% increase in sightings on last year, with similarly large increases for the small white (up 128%) and red admiral (up 185%).

Organisers of a surfing competition in Cornwall said they were forced to cancel the event due to sewage in what they described as an "absolute first".

Surfing England called off the English Interclub Surfing Championships in Porthtowan on Sunday after the local council red-flagged the beach because of a sewage discharge.

Hannah Brand, from Surfing England, said: "We've never had to cancel events due to a sewage output [before] - we couldn't believe it."

More than 150 water voles have been returned to land near the River Wey in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.

Water voles are being reintroduced into Surrey and Sussex as part of a programme to bring the species back from local extinction.

Sixty acres of farm fields bought by a wildlife trust three years ago have been turned into one of Worcestershire's premier sites for nature.

A £500,000 project to improve the environment at Green Farm near Worcester has seen the return of many species of plants, animals and birds, with conservation work being funded by the National Lottery and Severn Waste Services.

Since the site next to Monkwood was taken over three years ago, 5,000 trees have been planted and wild flowers burgeoned during the summer.

YORKSHIRE'S woodlands are feeling the heat after the driest spring and summer for hundreds of years – adding pressure to already threatened habitats and the wildlife that relies on them.

That's according to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, who said the recent drought, reported by The York Press, spells danger for woods as autumn has been forced to come early.

On its woodland reserves, the trust said it has noticed direct impacts from the drought - from entirely dried-out wet woodlands to limb drop as trees lose perfectly healthy branches to reduce their drain on resources, and leaves turning autumnal early due to stress.

A RARE black-winged kite has been spotted in Gloucestershire - marking only the second sighting in the UK.

The bird of prey - known for its striking appearance and sharp eyesight - has been seen between Slimbridge and Frampton.

It is the first time the raptor has been seen in Gloucestershire and only the second sighting in the UK.