Short beaked common dolphins (Chris Gomersall 2020VISION)
The Wildlife Trusts call for urgent action to strengthen protection in North Sea hotspot
A new report published today by The Wildlife Trusts highlights the growing risks to whales, dolphins and porpoises in UK waters and outlines the priority actions needed to tackle them, particularly in the species’ hotspot of the North Sea.
The report, Priority Actions for North Sea Cetaceans 2026, finds that while large parts of UK seas are designated as protected, these legal safeguards are in many places too weak, poorly enforced, or fail to keep pace with emerging threats to whale, dolphin and porpoise populations in UK waters.
As the largest non-governmental organisation working in marine conservation in the UK, The Wildlife Trusts warn that the biggest threats—including getting caught in fishing gear and disturbance from noisy human activity—are not being tackled fast enough.
Ruth Williams, head of marine conservation at The Wildlife Trusts says: “Our report reveals that action to protect dolphins, porpoises and whales is wholly inadequate. Simply designating areas as protected sites is not enough; what’s needed now is real action if whales, dolphins and porpoises are to flourish in our waters once more.“
A host of positive “tipping points” can spark rapid nature recovery, a leading expert says.
Action to protect and restore nature must accelerate radically to meet global goals for 2030 and beyond.
Writing in the journal Nature Sustainability, Professor Tim Lenton says positive tipping points are key to achieving this.
He highlights potential tipping points – moments when a small change triggers a rapid, often irreversible transformation – in nature, human societies and areas where the two combine.
“The destruction and degradation of the natural world pose an existential threat,” said Professor Lenton, of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter.
“We are already crossing or approaching several dangerous ecological tipping points, including the dieback of warm-water coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest. But just as human activity can drive negative tipping, we can bring about positive tipping points to spark large-scale nature recovery.”
While addressing climate change is vital for protecting nature, specific social and ecological tipping points can regenerate ecosystems, spread nature-positive activities, and reduce drivers of nature loss.
An adder basking in the sun across protected heathland, highlighting the importance of conserving Britain’s fragile wild spaces (Amphibian & Reptile Conservation)
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation has published a new guidance document, Creating hibernation sites for reptiles, providing practical, evidence-informed advice to help land managers support adders and other reptiles through the winter months. This guidance was published as part of the New Forest Species Survival fund.
Hibernation sites, also known as hibernacula, are critical features for reptile survival, offering shelter from cold temperatures and enabling populations to persist within landscapes year after year. However, these features are often overlooked, poorly understood, or lost through habitat change and inappropriate management.
The use of artificial hibernation sites for reptiles remains relatively understudied. This new guidance highlights what reptile hibernation sites are, how to identify them in the field, and when and how new sites may be created. The guidance is based on a combination of peer-reviewed research, technical reports and on-the-ground experience, drawing where possible on studies of British reptiles and supplementing them with relevant international evidence. While the document has a particular focus on adders, the principles and recommendations are relevant to a range of reptile species and habitats across the UK.
Conservationists are celebrating the continuing increase in numbers of wood white butterflies following their re-introduction to Worcestershire ten years ago.
In 2016 staff and volunteers from Butterfly Conservation and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust embarked on the Making a Stand for the Wood White project. Prior to the reintroduction, Monkwood nature reserve was the last known site in the county to support a thriving population. The butterflies had last been recorded there in 2008.
Targeted management of the habitat at Monkwood was implemented over a number of years to ensure it was suitable for reintroduction. Following research into donor populations and the seeking of permissions to collect a sustainable number of individual butterflies, reintroduction became a reality.
With funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and after extensive monitoring of donor populations, experts collected adult butterflies from two Forestry England sites. Over 2016 and 2017 30 wood white butterflies were released into Monkwood nature reserve, a few miles from Worcester.
In 2018 133 wood whites were recorded during one visit in mid May. 10 years on and the numbers of butterflies are going strong.
Defra has enabled unrestricted public access to the national soil map – the most comprehensive soil data available for England and Wales.
The map can be accessed via the LandIS (Land Information System) portal.
The move was announced as part of the government’s Land Use Framework, published earlier this year, which includes a commitment to improve access to high-quality soil data to support better land management and food production.
Defra also plans to publish an updated version of the ALC (Agricultural Land Classification) map for England.
LandIS brings together a wide range of detailed soil maps and data sets for England and Wales. It has been managed by Cranfield University for more than 20 years, but until now most of the data was only available through licences or behind paywalls.
With access restrictions removed, LandIS data can now be freely used to support research and decision-making across sectors such as agriculture. According to the University, the NATMAP (national soil map) can help non-soil specialists better understand soil resources and identify potential soil risks.
NATMAP is one of the largest soil datasets in Europe, containing decades of information on more than 30,000 soil samples and 250,000 soil observations.
We’re excited to be working once again with Citizen Zoo on an inspiring conservation project to help return the large marsh grasshopper to Norfolk and beyond.
This rare and beautiful insect disappeared from East Anglia decades ago, but thanks to our continued partnership and the dedication of volunteers, its story is changing.
The large marsh grasshopper is not only the UK’s largest grasshopper, but one of its rarest. The adults are a vibrant mix of green and yellow with red legs, making it, arguably, our most attractive grasshopper too.
Despite its size, it is often heard before it is seen. Most grasshoppers stridulate, by rubbing a row of pegs on their hind legs against their wings, this creates their familiar vibrating ‘song’. However, the male large marsh grasshoppers call by flicking their back leg off the edge of their wing, which produces a distinctive loud click.
Formerly found across southern and eastern England, habitat loss restricted the species to a few areas of the New Forest, Somerset and Dorset. It is dependent upon healthy functioning peatlands and is mostly restricted to valley mires (lowland peatbogs) now in England, although it was formerly found in a wider range of habitats.
New National Research Reveals “Rural Reality” Gap as Communities Face Mounting Pressure
The Rural Services Network has today (28 April 2026) launched major new research revealing the lived realities of rural life across England, highlighting a growing disconnect between national policy ambition and the day-to-day experiences of rural residents.
Delivering for All: Rural Realities draws on over 2,400 responses from rural residents, alongside in-depth focus groups, making it one of the most comprehensive insights into rural life in recent years.
The findings present a clear and consistent picture: Rural communities are under pressure and feel forgotten in rural policy, but remain full of untapped potential.
A Web of Interconnected Challenges
The research reveals that the challenges facing rural communities are not isolated, but deeply interconnected, spanning housing, transport, connectivity, health and care, the rural economy, planning, and the transition to Net Zero.
Key findings include:
Housing: Homes are increasingly unaffordable for local people, with second homes and external demand pricing families and young people out of their communities.
Transport: Declining public transport leaves many reliant on private cars, increasing costs and isolation for those without access.
Connectivity: Patchy mobile signal and inconsistent broadband limit access to work, services, and opportunities.
Health and Social Care: Long distances, workforce shortages, and limited provision mean care is often delayed or difficult to access.
Rural Economy: Local economies face structural challenges, with limited opportunities and barriers to business growth.
Planning: The system is widely seen as a barrier, restricting development and failing to meet local need.
Net Zero: Rural communities face unique challenges in the transition, from off-grid homes to infrastructure constraints.
These issues are experienced daily by millions of people living in rural England.
Singing male Pied Flycatcher (Image: British Trust for Ornithology)
Every year, bird lovers throughout the UK celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day on 3 May. This is a time to enjoy the very essence of spring via the early morning medium of birdsong.
However, all is not as it seems and nature’s remarkable annual concert is today a much-diminished event, with many of our favourite birds continuing to decline in devastating numbers, as revealed in a recent report.
Wherever we may live, whether in rural or urban landscapes, the sound of birdsong is a defining feature of the spring season. However, this melodic soundscape has become an aural shadow of its former self. Whatever your age, it is almost certain that every generation prior to yours experienced a louder, fuller, and more resonant Dawn Chorus.
Research continues to show that populations of many of our most familiar songsters are on a downward trend, and despite occasional glimmers of hope, the story is one of continual decline.
The recently published Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report is the main scheme for monitoring population changes in the UK’s most common and widespread breeding birds and once again its pages reveal some bleak findings. BBS produces population trends for 119 bird and nine mammal species. The annual survey, funded by and combining the expertise of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), RSPB and JNCC, and the dedicated input of almost 3,000 volunteers, provides the single most detailed annual assessment of the UK’s wildlife.
Visitors will watch live veterinary procedures and conservation science in new wildlife health centre.
We're marking our two hundredth anniversary today (Wednesday 29 April 2026) with the unveiling of ambitious plans for a new world-leading wildlife health centre – made possible by the most significant donation in our 200-year history.
The new centre at our UK headquarters at Regent's Park will deliver world-class care for the animals at London Zoo and support our global science and conservation efforts. It will bring veterinary science to everyone – with visitors to the centre able to watch live procedures, from penguin health checks to porpoise post-mortems.
For 200 years we've brought people and wildlife together in the spirit of understanding and discovery, and the planned centre will continue that legacy with the UK's first viewing gallery in a vet hospital.
Unrivalled veterinary heritage
From employing the world's first zoo vet in 1829, to constructing Europe's first purpose-built zoo vet hospital 70 years ago, through to giving 250,000 children a unique glimpse into the veterinary world through our Vets in Action programme, our veterinary heritage is unrivalled.
The anonymous gift will allow us to create a brand-new centre integrating clinical care, a teaching hospital and wildlife disease research. Central to the project is our commitment to the One Health approach; recognising that the health of animals, people and ecosystems is fundamentally interconnected. With this endeavour we will commit to our belief that wildlife health is global health and must be treated as such.
Numbers of singing male Nightingales reach their second highest level in more than a decade across RSPB nature reserves.
Nightingale (image: RSPB)
One of nature’s most famous singers, the Nightingale, is making a comeback in the UK. Visitors to RSPB nature reserves in the southeast of England could now find themselves serenaded by one of our beautiful vocalists, with 176 singing males recorded in 2025, a 7% increase from 2024 and a second record high.
A species under pressure
Nightingales migrate to breed in the UK from mid-April after spending the winter in Africa. Their song has inspired musicians and writers for centuries, and they were the first ever wildlife to be broadcast on UK radio. But the species is on the UK's Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern, and between 1995 and 2024 the UK breeding population dropped by 34%.
Unlike Nightingales that breed elsewhere in Europe, all the UK's Nightingales spend the winter in one small area of West Africa. This means that environmental factors there can have a direct impact on how many birds make it back to breed here each spring. They also return to exactly the same spot to nest every year, so having good quality habitat waiting for them when they arrive matters.
Helping Nightingales soar once again
The drop in the UK’s breeding Nightingales is mainly due to the wide-scale loss of the scrub and thicket that they favour for breeding. Further contributing factors are a rise in deer populations that browse and damage such habitats, and a lack of coppice management of woodland. Where woodland isn't coppiced, the dense regrowth they need simply doesn't grow.
Scotland’s biggest annual nature writing competition is underway for its third successive year.
Words of the Wild, organised by the Scottish Wildlife Trust in association with the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, invites budding writers to share their stories about Scotland’s wildlife and wild places.
This year’s theme is “Changing seasons” as entrants are encouraged to write about nature’s most notable moments throughout the year – from the first budding bluebells in spring to the influx of wintering birds such as whooper swans, waxwings and pink-footed geese.
The theme also reflects the impacts that climate change is having on our seasons, with many natural processes being knocked out of sync by rising temperatures. The summer of 2025 was the warmest on record in the UK, while mild days in early spring are bringing insects out of their hibernation-like state long before the chicks that feed on them have hatched.
Jo Pike, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “Words of the Wild is fast becoming a highlight of our year and this time around we’re focusing on the moments in nature’s calendar that mean the most to you. But we also want to hear about how climate change is affecting the seasons and the wildlife that depends on this cycle. Perhaps you’ve noticed tadpoles emerging earlier in spring or uneaten berries dropping from trees in autumn. Following the success of our previous competitions, I have no doubt that this year’s theme will resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds, bringing to life another collection of powerful stories.”
Young pine trees are taking root at higher altitudes on Mar Lodge Estate NNR thanks to our conservation work. (Image: National Trust for Scotland)
As we publish the first annual review of our Plan for Nature, we’re taking the opportunity to call for more investment in nature from the incoming Scottish Government.
Over the past year, the National Trust for Scotland has invested £2.65 million in nature conservation projects, made possible by the contributions of our charity’s supporters and funders. The regeneration of more than 2,000 hectares of native pinewood (ensuring the continued growth of vital woodland habitat), the introduction of nature-friendly farming across the country, and work to protect one of Britain’s rarest birds are among our many nature conservation achievements in 2025–26. These achievements offer tangible proof that investment at scale brings positive returns for nature, climate and society.
Jeff Waddell, Head of Nature Conservation at the National Trust for Scotland, said: ’Our charity has now completed the first full year of our Plan for Nature, and we are delighted with the results. For example, over 2,000 hectares of native pinewood regeneration has been completed at Mar Lodge Estate, the largest nature reserve in the UK. This is mirrored by vital restoration work at the Old Wood of Drum in Aberdeenshire to maintain ancient trees and double the area of wood pasture.’
The report is part of a new national compendium showcasing how cities and universities are rethinking innovation ecosystems for inclusive growth
Coastal cities can drive place-based innovation and regeneration by placing their natural environment at the heart of economic, social and civic development, according to new research.
Led by researchers from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, the paper explores how the UK’s first National Marine Park is redefining the relationship between city and sea.
Against a backdrop of long-standing challenges facing coastal communities – including economic stagnation, health inequalities and environmental pressures – it proposes a new, integrated model of regeneration.
By connecting environmental restoration, education, cultural engagement and economic development, the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park positions the marine environment not as a backdrop, but as a driver of place-based innovation.
This approach, according to the study’s authors, demonstrates how coastal cities can build more resilient and inclusive economies by aligning natural assets with skills development, community participation and new forms of enterprise.
Flowers of common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Warwickshire, 2026.; Credit: Joana G. Vicente
Hedgerows are one of the most recognisable features of the UK landscape — and at their heart stands hawthorn. Now, a new national research initiative is calling on volunteers to help strengthen our understanding of hawthorn resilience in a changing world.
The project, a collaboration between Forest Research, Fera, The Tree Council, and the International Plant Sentinel Network, aims to assess how resilient hawthorn is to pests, diseases and environmental pressures and how this vulnerability may impact the surrounding treescape. Samples from across the country are needed, and that’s where volunteers can make a real difference.
“By taking a little time to observe hawthorn, volunteers can play a vital role in ensuring these much‑loved trees continue to shape our landscapes and support ecosystems for generations to come,” said Forest Research social scientist, Laura Baker.
Why hawthorn matters
Hawthorn is the backbone of UK hedgerows, making up an estimated 70% of their structure. These hedgerows play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, preventing soil erosion and connecting habitats.
Despite its importance, surprisingly little is known about how resilient hawthorn populations are to emerging threats and how vulnerabilities could impact the wider treescape.
The Wildlife Trust BCN has joined other Wildlife Trusts to issue an urgent open letter as part of the Save Our Chalk Streams Movement to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed.
The letter calls for immediate, robust legal protections for England’s chalk streams—some of the rarest most fragile habitats in the UK. As part of the ongoing Save Our Chalk Streams campaign, we are urging the Government to honour the previous commitments to enhancing the protections for chalk streams by officially designating these rare rivers as irreplaceable habitats within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Why Chalk Streams are Global Jewels
85% of the world’s chalk streams are found right here in England and a considerable portion of them run through Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. They are characterised by their crystal-clear, mineral-rich water which is filtered through ancient chalk bedrock. As rare habitats they are home to some of our most iconic and endangered species including Atlantic salmon, water voles and rare flora such as stream-water crowfoot. They are not just important for wildlife, our waterways are also important places for people to feel connected to nature too. These streams and their wildlife are woven into our cultural fabric, serving as the inspiration for classic literature like The Wind in the Willows.
People planning to enjoy Wales’ great outdoors this Bank Holiday weekend are being urged to act responsibly and think carefully about the impact their actions can have on the environment, wildlife and local communities.
The period of warm and dry weather experienced across Wales has seen the risk of wildfires increase.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) officers have been working closely with Fire and Rescue Services and other partners to support efforts to manage and tackle grass and wildfires across the country.
On Wednesday (29 April 2026), NRW deployed a fire-fighting helicopter to carry out targeted water drops on the Elan Valley wildfire, Cwmystwyth, due to the high risk to nature, difficult ground access, forecast winds and lack of significant rainfall.
Since last night, teams have assisted South Wales Fire and Rescue Service at a large wildfire at Waun Wen near Merthyr Tydfil.
With conditions forecast to remain dry over the coming days, Wales is now entering an elevated-risk period for wildfires. While teams will continue to work around the clock to protect people, nature and property, NRW is also reminding people of the devastating consequences lighting fires and using disposable BBQs can have on the environment.
Richard Preece, Duty Tactical Manager for Natural Resources Wales, said: “Wales’ landscapes are incredibly special, but they are also vulnerable. It only takes one careless act for a fire to start and quickly get out of control. We’re asking everyone visiting the outdoors this Bank Holiday to think about the consequences of their actions and help us protect our wildlife, our water and our communities.”
As people enjoy the outdoors over the coming Bank Holiday, people are urged to be #WildfireWise by following simple but critical advice:
never light fires in the countryside.
only use disposable BBQs where signs say you can, never leave them unattended and ensure they are fully put out before you leave.
take all litter home, especially glass bottles.
avoid discarding cigarettes or matches.
report any signs of fire or suspicious activity immediately by calling 999.
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