85% of UK's saltmarshes lost
A new report by WWF and Sky in association with Blue Marine Foundation, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and UN Climate Change High Level Champions, has found that the UK has lost over 85% of it saltmarshes due to to development, pollution, and climate change.
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that form in sheltered areas like estuaries and bays, where plants have adapted to survive the constant ebb and flow of the tides. As well as being home to hundreds of species, saltmarshes provide flood protection to 100,000 homes in England and Wales. They also help to store carbon and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The Humber Estuary supports 16 species of international importance including Avocet, Marsh Harrier, Golden Plover, and Bar-tailed Godwit and is one of the most important estuaries in Europe for breeding and overwintering birds.
To access the report, visit: State of the World’s Saltmarshes | WWF
Groundwork: Powered By Us
Groundwork have launched a new report, 'Powered By Us', which sets out why community and climate change must be at the centre of the government's new youth strategy.
Developed in collaboration with Groundwork’s Youth Advisory Board, the report calls on policy makers, community leaders and organisations across the UK to prioritise young people in efforts to create a fairer, greener places to live and work.
The report explores what young people need in the following areas:
- Connecting with nature
- Having a voice in local decisions
- Driving practical climate action
- Accessing green careers and opportunities
To access the report, visit: Powered by Us – Putting community and climate at the heart of a national youth strategy - Groundwork
Coronation Gardens for Food & Nature: Schools 2025 pack
Coronation Gardens for Food and Nature has developed free resources for schools to help children grow their own food and learn what to cook from their gardens.
The 2025 pack includes:
- What to grow in term time
- What to grow if you don't have outside space
- What it could cost
- What to do with it
- How to get started
- How to go further
For more information, visit: Schools | Coronation Gardens
Ash trees rapidly evolving resistence to dieback
A scientific study has found that new generations of wild ash trees are rapidly evolving resistance to the fungus that has threatened their survival.
By allowing natural regenerations of woodlands to take place, researches have said that this evolution is successfully occuring. However, this is still contingent on whether the development of resistence in the ash trees can outpace trees being lost to the ash dieback fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which was first identified in the UK in 2012 and has killed millions of trees.
For more information, visit: ‘New hope’: ash trees rapidly evolving resistance to dieback, study reveals | Ash dieback | The Guardian
Defra: New standards for sustainable drainage systems published
Defra has published new non-statutory guidance on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that apply to England. The standards provide guidance on recycling water, reducing flood risk, improving water quality, biodiversity and supporting thriving green spaces in the built environment. The new standards represent a step forward in capturing the multi-benefits of SuDS, but commentators have called for them to be made mandatory. They should support decisions made using the existing SuDS implementation mechanisms as stated in paragraphs 181 and 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
To access the new SuDS guidance, visit: National standards for sustainable drainage systems - GOV.UK
Defra: Call for evidence on expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery
Defra has launched a call for evidence on how to best support and incentivise the private sector to invest in nature recovery. It seeks views from businesses, investors, nature service providers, environmental organisations and the public on how the government can work with the business sector operating in England.
This call for evidence will not result in any decisions from government, but rather aims to inform ongoing conversations on the matter.
The call for evidence closes at 11:59, 7th August 2025.
For more information, visit: Expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery - GOV.UK
Buglife: Nature-based activities at night - Curious Cranefiles
Buglife, in partnership with the University of Derby, have launched a citizen science prjoect that seeks to understand the impacts of night-time nature experiences on human wellbeing.
By participating, you’ll be part of an innovative study that seeks to expand what we know about the importance of nighttime nature experiences. No special knowledge or experience is required—just your curiosity and willingness to explore!
For more information, visit: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The Tree Council: 'Branching Out' fund
The Tree Council have recopened their 'Branching Out' scheme to fund community tree planting next season.
Grants of between £250 - £2,500 are available per application. Applicants who are eligible include community groups, schools, not-for-profits, residents' associations, Tree Warden Networks, charities and many more.
The deadline for applications is midnight on 14th November, 2025.
For more information, visit: Branching Out Fund - The Tree Council
British Ecological Society: Outreach and engagement grants
The British Ecological Society (BES) are providing funding of up to £2,000 for individuals, teams and organisations to engage public audiences with the excitement of ecological science.
All Grants must be for projects that meet at least one of the top-level BES aims:
- Communicate evidence-based messaging for what ecology is, how nature works, and the use of ecological science as a solution to local and global challenges.
- Raise awareness and public understanding of ecological careers, their relevance and importance, breadth, and diversity, and show that anybody can become an ecologist.
- Share how individuals can take action to benefit the environment, themselves, and society.
- Increase the ability of others to deliver the above aims through outreach and engagement activities.
The deadline for applications is 8th September 2025.
For more information, visit: Outreach and engagement grants - British Ecological Society
International Tree Foundation: UK community tree planting grants
The International Tree Foundation (ITF) are awarding grants to support community-based tree planting that meet the following criteria:
- Be based in the UK
- Plant trees in public/publicly-accessible spaces: sites that are accessible to
the public, including schools, parks, rights of way, and sites managed by
community groups
- Plant indigenous tree species.This may include traditional fruit trees and
‘honorary natives’ where appropriate
- Engage community members in tree planting and enjoying the benefits of
woodlands
- Have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability
The deadline for applications is 12th December 2025.
To find out more, visit: UK Community Tree Planting Grant — International Tree Foundation
Defra: Capital Grants funding
Defra have announced that £150 million of funding is now available to farmers, land managers and rural businesses for practical environmental improvements across England, including planting hedgerows, managing boundaries, improving water and air quality, restoring habitats, and introducing natural flood management measures.
Capital Grants can be used to deliver standalone improvements or to complement existing Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship (CS) or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements.
Once funding has been allocated, the Capital Grants offer will close with a new round of funding expected to open during 2026.
For more information, visit: Capital Grants now open for applications – Farming
Rewilding Britain: Rewilding Innovation Fund
Rewilding Britain have launched this summer's Rewilding Innovation Fund, supporting projects that will have the highest impact on people and nature, on land and sea, with opportunities for shared learning with the Rewiliding Network.
Up to £15,000 is available for eligible projects.
Projects must adhere to the following criteria:
- Be based in Britain (England, Wales and Scotland)
- Cover at least 40 hectares of contiguous land
- Be part of the Rewilding Network (you may join at the point of application)
- Intend to rewild (or about to) at scale – potentially as a group of landowners – and to Rewilding Britain's rewilding principles
The deadline for applications is 29th August.
For more information, visit: Rewilding Innovation Fund | Rewilding Britain
The Tree Council: Trees Outside Woodland Fund
The Tree Council and Defra are offering funding to establish trees outside woodland to create or enhance green spaces.
The fund supports the delivery of the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) goal to increase England’s overall tree canopy from 14.5% to 16.5% of total land area by 2050, and is open to local authorities and registered charities.
Grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 are available for trees and supporting capital items are available, per application.
This fund operates as a two-stage rolling application process, open from 10th June to 31st October 2025, or until all funding has been allocated — whichever comes first. Early applications are strongly encouraged to avoid missing out on available funding.
For more information, visit: Trees Outside Woodland Fund - The Tree Council
Ørsted: East Coast Community Fund
Ørsted have launched their next round of funding for coastal communities living in East Yorkshire, the Humber and Lincolnshire to apply for either small grants between £1,000 and £10,000 or main grants between £10,001 and £50,000 for the following projects:
- Community buildings and facilities. For example: capital improvement works or measures to increase energy efficiency at village halls, community centres, museums, heritage centres and community cafes.
- Community activities and services. For example: projects addressing health and wellbeing, social isolation, community cohesion, access to amenities, young and old people’s projects, and projects providing support for local clubs and groups.
- Environmental and public open space projects. For example: projects involving parks, nature reserves, community growing schemes, and habitat/species conservation.
- Sports, recreation and play. For example: playgrounds, skate parks, indoor climbing walls, sports equipment and sports field drainage projects.
The deadline for this round of applications is midnight, 30th July 2025.
For more information, visit: East Coast Community Fund Criteria - Grantscape Grantscape
Do you have any projects you wish to share with us? Want to hear more about our work? email us at heylnp@eastriding.gov.uk
|
