# data[].attributes.body
Scottish wildcats can swim, first record🐈

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
‘First recorded’ sighting of a Scottish wildcat swimming

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The female, which is fitted with a GPS radio collar, was spotted on the River Spey.

# data[].attributes.headline
Fire fungus appears after Cairngorms wildfire🔥🍄‍🟫 

# data[].attributes.subject
Fire fungus appears after Cairngorms wildfire🔥🍄‍🟫 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bright orange ‘fire fungus’ emerges in wake of Cairngorms wildfire

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Forestry and Land Scotland says the fungus is among the first signs of life in areas of burned woodland, following a major wildfire last month.

# data[].attributes.headline
Grave of Iron Age woman found in Dornoch

# data[].attributes.subject
Grave of Iron Age woman found in Dornoch

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Archaeologists uncover Iron Age woman in ‘beautifully made’ grave

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The discovery was made ahead of a planned expansion of a Highland quarry.

# data[].attributes.headline
There is a dark skies  strategy being drafted for the Highlands

# data[].attributes.subject
There is a dark skies  strategy being drafted for the Highlands

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Draft dark skies guidance drawn up for the Highlands

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The plan to reduce light pollution could be put out for public consultation at a later date.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Solar eclipse 2026: What’s the weather forecast for the UK?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Look to the skies on Wednesday because one of the most spectacular solar eclipses for decades is coming the UK’s way with likely optimum viewing conditions for many.

# data[].attributes.headline
How to get good views of the Perseid meteor shower☄️

# data[].attributes.subject
How to get good views of the Perseid meteor shower☄️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Perseid meteor shower reaches peak: When and where to catch a glimpse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On Wednesday night the Perseids will peak offering the best chance of seeing a ‘shooting star’.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bluetongue virus detected in Scotland for first time, not good

# data[].attributes.subject
Bluetongue virus detected in Scotland for first time, not good

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Potentially deadly bluetongue virus found in Scotland for first time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A single case of bluetongue is found in a sheep on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway.

# data[].attributes.headline
Torridon - Scotland’s newest National Nature Reserve - way hay

# data[].attributes.subject
Torridon - Scotland’s newest National Nature Reserve - way hay

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NTS has managed Torridon since the late 1960s and has set out a long-term vision to help nature thrive there over the next 200 years, in partnership with local communities and landowners.

Chief executive Philip Long said: "An NNR designation reflects the significance of the location on both a national and international level, and there's no question that the sublime beauty, ancient history and rich natural heritage of Torridon warrants this accolade."

Torridon is the first NNR to be declared in Scotland since 2017 when NTS' Glen Coe and Mar Lodge Estate sites were granted the status.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Torridon declared Scotland's newest national nature reserve

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It is the first since Glen Coe and Mar Lodge Estate were granted the status in 2017.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Project to conserve Scotland’s rare ‘wee trees’ secures funding

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The grant means conservationists can go ahead with mapping surviving areas of woodland that grow high up on mountainsides.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Arctic is heating faster than the rest of the planet. New data illustrate how dire that is

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A puffin chick - known as a puffling - has been spotted on the Dorset coast in southern England for the first time in 30 years.
For years, volunteers had watched the nearby cliffs hoping to see a baby puffin, and now their wait has paid off.

Volunteers spent almost four months observing the adult puffins.

Seeing them courting, mating and carrying nesting material had given them hope that something special might be about to happen.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Baby puffin spotted on Dorset coast for first time in 30 years

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sighting comes after volunteers spent almost four months observing the adult puffins.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How afraid should we be of Scotland’s jellyfish?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many people are scared of the jellyfish due to the fear of painful stings and the creature’s unpredictable nature in the water.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Langholm Hen Harrier, at least one good news story for this species🦅

# data[].attributes.subject
The Langholm Hen Harrier, at least one good news story for this species🦅

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The remarkable survival story of a Langholm Moor hen harrier

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sorrel - tagged in 2016 - has survived when most of her peers have died, been killed or gone missing.

# data[].attributes.headline
Wildfire smoke blows from Cairngorms to Aberdeen

# data[].attributes.subject
Wildfire smoke blows from Cairngorms to Aberdeen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cairngroms wildfire smoke blows into Aberdeen - 59 miles away

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Residents as far away as Aberdeen have been advised to keep doors and windows closed as the fire reaches its 10th day.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dry spell leaves river flows ‘among lowest on record’

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The environment agency Sepa warns some rivers in southern and eastern Scotland could soon move to “significant scarcity”.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Volcanic fragments rain down as Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This eruption episode sent fragments made of ash, pumice, and pieces of volcanic glass into communities, forcing highway closures and the evacuation of tourists.

# data[].attributes.headline
Planting sea grass, a great way to capture carbon

# data[].attributes.subject
Planting sea grass, a great way to capture carbon

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It meant an 04:00 BST alarm and, for some of the other 20 or so volunteers I joined at Calshot Beach near Southampton, even earlier.

A particularly low tide in the Solent meant the sea would reveal a crop on which conservationists are pinning their hopes to rebuild a depleted coastline.

Seagrass seeds.

Just like trees and plants, seagrass has a superpower - it can absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide.

The same area of seagrass can absorb 35 times the amount a tropical rain forest can.

It locks in carbon and releases oxygen back in to the environment.

Seagrass also creates structure and habitat for thousands of species.

The UK has lost more than 90% of its seagrass meadows over the last century.

Disease, disturbance and pollution have meant vast swathes of once vibrant green seabed have been left bare.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How picking seagrass seeds can help to combat climate change

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Volunteers harvest seagrass seeds in a bid to boost underwater meadows in the south of England.

# data[].attributes.headline
Most people want action on climate change to help improve their lives.

# data[].attributes.subject
Most people want action on climate change to help improve their lives.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
People want action on climate change adaptation and mitigation to improve lives | King’s College London

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
People across the UK are supportive of tackling climate adaptation and mitigation together, shows a new report from the Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub at King’s and Climate Outreach.

# data[].attributes.headline
Greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut to avoid worst sea-level rise

# data[].attributes.subject
Greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut to avoid worst sea-level rise

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
July: Cuts to greenhouse gas emissions needed to avoid worst sea-level rise flooding | News and features | University of Bristol

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A pioneering study has revealed that by the turn of the next century at least half a million more people in the UK will be exposed to risk of coastal flooding – a 25% increase compared to now.

# data[].attributes.body
Fish fossil older than the dinosaurs found in Leeds 🐟|>🦖🦕

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Is this Leeds’ oldest fish? - BBC Sounds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A fossil dating back around 320 million years has been found in Roundhay Park.

# data[].attributes.headline
Scottish wind farm nears end of useful life to be rebuilt with fewer, larger turbines

# data[].attributes.subject
Scottish wind farm nears end of useful life to be rebuilt with fewer, larger turbines

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Whitelee Windfarm near Glasgow to be rebuilt with fewer, larger turbines

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Whitelee Windfarm has been producing electricity for about 20 years on a stretch of moorland near Eaglesham but is reaching the end of its life.

# data[].attributes.headline
Rare Asian bird spotted in UK, great for twitchers🐧

# data[].attributes.subject
Rare Asian bird spotted in UK, great for twitchers🐧

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
“Extraordinary sight” of rare bird from Asia spotted in UK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A long-tailed shrike has been spotted in Eastleach in Gloucestershire after flying off course from Asia.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UK’s furry bumblebees ‘keeling over’ in heatwaves

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The furry bodies of UK bumblebees are specially adapted for cold weather - making heatwaves a struggle.

# data[].attributes.headline
Zoological dark arts bringing the extinct New Forest Cicada back to Britain🪰🦗

# data[].attributes.subject
Zoological dark arts bringing the extinct New Forest Cicada back to Britain🪰🦗

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Eggs of extinct singing insect brought to Hampshire from France

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Species Recovery Trust hopes to reintroduce the New Forest cicadas not seen in UK since the 1990s.

# data[].attributes.body
UK water reach record temperatures, not good

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UK waters hit with extreme heatwave as global sea temperatures reach record levels

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Experts warn that some marine species are at risk of ‘mass mortality events’ in ever-warming oceans

# data[].attributes.body
New food source found for deep sea life

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Deep-sea life has a secret food source scientists never expected

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists discovered that extreme deep-sea pressure squeezes valuable nutrients out of sinking organic particles, providing an unexpected food source for ocean microbes. The finding could rewrite our understanding of both deep-ocean ecosystems and how carbon is stored on Earth.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Climate extremes are becoming the new ‘normal’ for the UK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
“What we used to think of as extreme, we increasingly consider as normal.” That is the summarising comment from Mike Kendon, the Met Office lead author of the latest edition of the State of the UK Climate report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New monkey species with orange lips found ‘hiding’ in DRC forest

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists describe “amazing feeling” to look into the face of an animal that so few people knew existed.

# data[].attributes.headline
Iron Age settlement found above Royal Wootton Bassett

# data[].attributes.subject
Iron Age settlement found above Royal Wootton Bassett

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Possible Iron Age settlement found above Royal Wootton Bassett

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Experts have “rewritten the history” of the area following the discovery.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UK weather: the ongoing heatwave delivers exceptional hours of sunshine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The current heatwave has been hot, dry and exceptionally sunny with some locations seeing double the number of sunshine hours usually recorded at this point in the month, as Darren Bett explains.

# data[].attributes.headline
 Change in Atlantic currents may cause even more weather extremes💨🔥❄️

# data[].attributes.subject
 Change in Atlantic currents may cause even more weather extremes💨🔥❄️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
After record heat, could the Atlantic make Britain’s weather even more extreme?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As temperatures rise, scientists are investigating whether a changing Atlantic could bring more volatile weather to the UK

# data[].attributes.headline
UK contributes 1% to global emissions - but every little causes a problem!

# data[].attributes.subject
UK contributes 1% to global emissions - but every little causes a problem!

# data[].attributes.headline
El Nino likely to intensity increasing chance of weather extremes

# data[].attributes.subject
El Nino likely to intensity increasing chance of weather extremes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
El Niño is forecast to intensify, increasing likelihood of extreme weather

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Geneva, Switzerland (WMO) - El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are forecast to strengthen rapidly over the coming months, increasing the likelihood of heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events in many parts of the world, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

# data[].attributes.headline
Big tropical trees can get water to their top branchs easily

# data[].attributes.subject
Big tropical trees can get water to their top branchs easily

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Giant trees have no trouble pumping water to top branches

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The world’s tallest tropical trees have no trouble pumping water to their topmost branches, new research reveals. Conventional scientific theory suggests that as trees grow, it becomes harder to transport water from roots to leaves

# data[].attributes.headline
UK seaweed industry needs public suppor to thrive

# data[].attributes.subject
UK seaweed industry needs public suppor to thrive

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Community support essential to growing seaweed industry

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New report sets out recommendations for policy makers and those planning to farm seaweed

# data[].attributes.headline
There are probably more insect species than we thought

# data[].attributes.subject
There are probably more insect species than we thought

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Study suggests Earth harbours far more insect species than previously thought

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
University of Plymouth news: Dr Robert Puschendorf, Associate Professor of Conservation Biology, used his expertise in the tropical rainforests of Costa…

# data[].attributes.headline
Loss of Hoverflies ~ they are important pollinators

# data[].attributes.subject
Loss of Hoverflies ~ they are important pollinators

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New data on insect pollinators show dramatic decline in hoverflies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New data on insect pollinators from the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) have been published during Insect Week. The data collected every year across Great Britain (GB) between 2017-2024 show a mixed picture for pollinators. Numbers of hoverflies, a vital pollinator species, declined by around a third in both their abundance and number of species across the period, signalling possible risks to the health of our ecosystems.

# data[].attributes.headline
June Heatwave ~ Silent Killer ~ Urgent Action Needed

# data[].attributes.subject
June Heatwave ~ Silent Killer ~ Urgent Action Needed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In a letter published today, the Chair asks the government how it plans to tackle overheating in hospitals, care homes, schools and prisons, as well as its views on measures such as establishing maximum workplace temperatures, prescribing active cooling such as air conditioning, and changing school timetables.

The Chair also asks the government about standards to ensure new housing is resilient to future heat, and the work taking place on the imminent Fourth National Adaptation Programme (NAP4). The Climate Change Committee has been highly critical of the Plan's predecessor (NAP3), saying it falls "far short of what is needed".

During a recent evidence session, witnesses told the Committee that current rates of global warming are unprecedented and that heat extremes are often outpacing scientific predictions, leaving the UK likely to face longer and more intense heatwaves. One witness told MPs that the UK was "built for a climate that no longer exists".

Chair comment

Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, said:

"This week parts of the UK are facing temperatures approaching 40 degrees, a level of extreme heat that was once unthinkable yet now is becoming increasingly likely.

The effects of such extreme heat can be disruptive and devastating. Without action, we will see economic productivity take a hit; more people needing attention in hospital and suffering with poor mental health; more hospitals, care homes and schools overheating and more of our critical transport, water, food and IT systems failing. Economic productivity will be hit, but more importantly we will likely see a significant number of deaths as a direct result of the current heatwave.

The evidence could not be clearer that extreme heat is an urgent threat to the UK. Yet the government is currently falling "far short of what is needed", according to its independent climate advisors.

Taking action carries a significant cost. But the cost of doing nothing is far, far greater. I want to know what action the government is taking to tackle extreme overheating, a problem that will only grow worse without intervention, as well as its views on important measures to adapt to what seems to be our new normal."

Further information

Image: Pexels/Jason Reid

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
June heatwave: Urgent action needed on "silent killer" of extreme heat - Committees - UK Parliament

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As a record-breaking heatwave hits parts of the UK this week, the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee has pushed the government on what it is doing to tackle the “silent killer” of extreme heat.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why some trees might fall during prolonged extreme heat

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists are studying how trees respond to hotter, drier conditions caused by climate change.

# data[].attributes.headline
Dolphins being harassed; police investigate🐬🐬🐬

# data[].attributes.subject
Dolphins being harassed; police investigate🐬🐬🐬

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Police probe report of dolphins being harassed near Fort George

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
They are trying to trace a small vessel seen near Fort George - possibly flying a Norwegian flag.

# data[].attributes.body
Golden Eagle that was shot, habilitated and released back into the wild🤙🦅

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Golden eagle released in Borders conservation project shot with 17 pellets

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Gamekeepers in the Lammermuir Hills spotted the bird with damaged wings around the beginning of June.

# data[].attributes.headline
Extreme weather impacted millions in Africa in 2025

# data[].attributes.subject
Extreme weather impacted millions in Africa in 2025

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Extreme weather and climate events impact millions in Africa in 2025

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (WMO) – Extreme weather and climate-related events affected at least 13 million people and led to over 3 000 reported fatalities in Africa in 2025, with knock-on effects across all sectors of the economy and society, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

# data[].attributes.headline
Geriatric butterflies may provide a clue to ageing processes

# data[].attributes.subject
Geriatric butterflies may provide a clue to ageing processes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
June: ‘Geriatric’ butterfly species lives nearly three times as long as their relative | News and features | University of Bristol

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A tropical butterfly has evolved an ingenious anti-ageing strategy by delaying the ageing process enabling it to live far longer than its closest relatives, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published in Nature Communications today [16 June].

# data[].attributes.headline
Worldwide historic weather data now available

# data[].attributes.subject
Worldwide historic weather data now available

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Historic weather data made available to scientists and public, spanning Antarctica to Greenland | Royal Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An archive of over 1600 sets of meteorological, magnetic and tidal observations taken from 1706-1915 from across the globe has been digitised for the first time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Government steps up action to tackle illegal deforestation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New rules will ensure everyday products sold in the UK including coffee and cocoa do not contribute to illegal deforestation around the world

# data[].attributes.headline
Sadly the Major Oak has died: had to happen one day

# data[].attributes.subject
Sadly the Major Oak has died: had to happen one day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
We are extremely saddened by the announcement of the death of one of Britain’s most iconic trees, the Major Oak in Sherwood. This incredible ancient tree has inspired awe and wonder in countless… | ANCIENT TREE FORUM | 12 comments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We are extremely saddened by the announcement of the death of one of Britain’s most iconic trees, the Major Oak in Sherwood. This incredible ancient tree has inspired awe and wonder in countless visitors. We offer our condolences to the staff at Sherwood Forest and to local people, who will feel this loss very deeply. The RSPB deserve considerable credit for their efforts to save the Major Oak following historical damage. We hope that the lessons learned from Sherwood and other important sites can be shared widely to help safeguard the future of our oldest and most valuable trees. To read the ATF’s full press statement please visit: https://lnkd.in/ePVg6yCC | 12 comments on LinkedIn

# data[].attributes.headline
Kew publishes world state of nature, planets and fungi

# data[].attributes.subject
Kew publishes world state of nature, planets and fungi

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Kew's State of the World's Plants and Fungi project provides assessments of our current knowledge of the diversity of plants and fungi on Earth, the global threats that they face, and the policies to safeguard them.

Produced in conjunction with an international scientific symposium, Kew's State of the World's Plants and Fungi report sets an important international standard from which we can track trends in the global status of plant and fungal diversity.

Since 2016, we have published five reports which you can read below.

State of the World's Plants and Fungi 2023

Our fifth report in the State of the World's series lays out the current condition of the world's plants and fungi globally, and is titled 'Tackling the Nature Emergency: Evidence, gaps and priorities'

It is the second report that is accompanied by a full volume of expert-reviewed scientific publications from our partners, the New Phytologist Foundation. Their special collection on 'Global Plant Diversity and Distribution' includes open-access papers published in the journals New Phytologist and Plants, People, Planet.

In parallel, an open-access, global review of fungal diversity is published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources.

Drawing upon the expertise of 200 contributors from more than 100 institutions across 30 countries, the report is a global collaborative effort which takes an in-depth look at the worldwide drivers and patterns of biodiversity, provides new insights into extinction risk, and identifies critical knowledge gaps and how to address them.

In eleven chapters, we present compelling stories of what we can learn from new sources of data and how these learnings can help us foster future research and conservation.

State of the World's Plants and Fungi 2023 report (PDF)

State of the World's Plants 2017

This is the second annual report in which we have scrutinised databases, published literature, policy documents, reports and satellite imagery to provide a synthesis of current knowledge on the world's plants.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We publish reports that give our assessment of the current knowledge on the world's plants and fungi.

# data[].attributes.headline
Forgotten pollutants, not considered but still cause global warming 

# data[].attributes.subject
Forgotten pollutants, not considered but still cause global warming 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
‘Forgotten’ pollutants cause 15 per cent of global warming

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
So-called indirect greenhouse gases, including carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds, aren’t covered by climate policies even though they heat the planet

# data[].attributes.headline
Box of delights: Kew archives all online 🌹💐🌸🌹🌺🍀

# data[].attributes.subject
Box of delights: Kew archives all online 🌹💐🌸🌹🌺🍀

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
‘Every box has been opened’: London botanic gardens digitizes 7 million specimens

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As Kew Botanic Gardens completes a scan of its collections, AI tools could help in the fight against biodiversity loss.

# data[].attributes.headline
A growing approach to conservation; what do you think?

# data[].attributes.subject
A growing approach to conservation; what do you think?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rarely seen predatory snakefly spotted in Inverness garden

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Only one of the UK’s four species of the tree-top living insects are found in Scotland.

# data[].attributes.headline
Be vigilant - Oak Processionary moth is nearing peak season

# data[].attributes.subject
Be vigilant - Oak Processionary moth is nearing peak season

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Warning on oak processionary moth issued ahead of peak season

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Public and forestry trade vigilance needed as we enter the greatest risk period for oak processionary moth (OPM).

# data[].attributes.headline
Drones used to help restore Peak District woodlands

# data[].attributes.subject
Drones used to help restore Peak District woodlands

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drones take flight to help restore Peak District ravine woodlands

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
First-of-its-kind drone seed-spreading trial of ravine woodlands launches in the Peak District to tackle ash dieback on hard-to-reach slopes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PN770

Hydrogen can be a low-carbon fuel. When it is burned, it releases energy without producing carbon dioxide. Hydrogen can either come from fossil fuel sources or produced using electricity and water. If the electricity used to produce hydrogen fuel comes from a renewable source (such as solar energy), the hydrogen can have low carbon emissions.

The government is aiming to increase UK production and usage of low-carbon hydrogen in some industries, and to support development of pipeline and storage infrastructure to enable transport and supply.

Low-carbon hydrogen

The Climate Change Committee says that low-carbon hydrogen has a small but important role in reducing UK carbon emissions, particularly in industrial applications that are hard to electrify, such as manufacturing and chemical production, and for some sustainable fuels and energy storage.

The previous government's 2021 hydrogen strategy and subsequent announcements aim for there to be up to 10 GW (gigawatts) of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity in the UK by 2030. However, there are concerns that this will not be possible and that there will not be sufficient demand for this hydrogen. The current government intends to publish a renewed hydrogen strategy, with a more focused and essential role for hydrogen.

To date, the government's support for low-carbon hydrogen focused on increasing production; so far around 2 GW of hydrogen production has been shortlisted or approved for government funding through the Hydrogen Production Business Model and cluster sequencing rounds.

Regional hydrogen pipelines

One way of transporting hydrogen around Great Britain is by using pipelines, such as are currently used for transporting natural gas. These could connect producers, storage and users, with network sizes ranging from local to regional and national.

Natural gas network operators are currently developing a range of regional pipeline networks, aimed at supporting new production sites and clusters.

The national hydrogen network

Regional pipeline networks would serve industrial clusters, but a national transmission-level network could link these regional networks. (In natural gas infrastructure, transmission refers to the 'core' infrastructure, which delivers large quantities of gas quickly over larger distances to a few places; distribution refers to the more extensive network delivering gas to end users.) A national hydrogen transmission-level network that linked these clusters could potentially improve the cost, security and availability of hydrogen supply, and expanding the locations for hydrogen production and use.

National Gas, a private company that owns and operates natural gas transmission infrastructure in the UK, is developing up to 2,500 km of a national hydrogen network across Great Britain, known as Project Union. Parts of the development involve repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen transport, and other parts involve building new dedicated infrastructure.

Project Union is Great Britain's part of the wider European Hydrogen backbone project transmission network, which plans supply corridors delivering hydrogen to Central Europe. There are potential hydrogen import and export opportunities, but uncertainties remain over timelines, cost and demand, and there have been some delays and cancellations of hydrogen projects across Europe.

Funding mechanism

The government has committed over £500 million to support the development of the first regional hydrogen pipeline and storage network, but this funding has not yet been allocated. The date of the first allocation round of the Hydrogen Transport Business Model has been delayed and is currently unconfirmed. The government has previously said its aim is to support mature projects that connect multiple producers and users, alongside hydrogen storage projects, while demonstrating value for money.

Funding will focus initially on regional pipeline infrastructure. These are expected to be funded by government or through a levy on gas shippers. Some stakeholders and parliamentarians are concerned about the effect of such a levy on domestic energy bills, with thinktank research estimating that government's hydrogen aims could increase energy bills by £118 a year.

Safety and feasibility studies

Although hydrogen and natural gas are both combustible gases, they have some different chemical properties, such as density and reactiveness with steel.

Industry-led trials by National Gas and the gas distribution network operators have examined the feasibility of repurposing pipelines to transport hydrogen. The results show that the existing network could be suitable for hydrogen transport with some additional safety recommendations for upgrades, improved leak detection, inspection and replacement of old distribution pipes. Some assets would require replacement, such as gas analysers, metering and compression systems.

Regulation

Hydrogen is within the scope of the Gas Act 1986, and this has regulatory implications for developing a new hydrogen market. There may be issues in balancing hydrogen supply and demand, and there are risks of placing unnecessary regulatory burdens on initial developers. The government has consulted on the economic regulatory framework for the initial hydrogen market.

Blending and domestic use

It may be possible to blend hydrogen into the existing natural gas network, to increase demand for hydrogen and support early producers. There are ongoing discussions and trials of whether this could be feasible.

Hydrogen could also be used for domestic home heating, but this would require greater expansion of the hydrogen network along distribution pipelines and would likely increase energy bills. The Climate Change Committee recommend that the government should rule out the prospect of 100% hydrogen for heating, in favour of heat pumps to prevent uncertainty in infrastructure development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hydrogen has potential as a low-carbon fuel in some industries. How can hydrogen be transported and what are the plans, progress and challenges in creating a hydrogen pipeline network?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Matt McGrath & Esme Stallard, BBC Climate & Science

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mangrove forests are healing after decades of human destruction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Swampy mangrove forests are staging a surprise comeback - which is good news for coastal communities and the climate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Prepare for El Niño, UN warns - it could be the strongest in decades - BBC News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists fear the combined effects of El Niño and human-caused climate change could reshape weather around the world

# data[].attributes.headline
Star-moss killer fungus found in Britain, it kills an invasive moss species🤙

# data[].attributes.subject
Star-moss killer fungus found in Britain, it kills an invasive moss species🤙

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Killer fungus discovered that destroys UK invasive plant

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A newly discovered species raises hope that some native British habitats could be restored.

# data[].attributes.body
Global temperature records ahead especially in the Arctic❄️❄️❄️🎿

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New report suggests more global temperature records ahead

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Third new national forest to bring nature closer to communities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Government commits up to £7.5 million and calls for delivery partners to submit bids to help deliver landmark new forest covering more than 200 square miles

# data[].attributes.headline
New Cross-border charter for the river Wye- a first

# data[].attributes.subject
New Cross-border charter for the river Wye- a first

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The River Wye has become the first river in the UK to be given cross-border rights covering it from source to sea.
The charter, which was launched in Hay-on-Wye, recognises how important the river is for people and nature now, and in the future.

It's been endorsed by councils, campaigners and environmental groups from England and Wales.

"The river has a right to perform its natural functions and be free from pollution," said Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, who signed the charter on behalf of Herefordshire Council.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
River Wye becomes first UK river to gain charter rights

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Wye has become the first river in the UK to have a charter covering it from source to sea.

# data[].attributes.headline
New map of lakes will help protect them🌐

# data[].attributes.subject
New map of lakes will help protect them🌐

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New global map helps protect the world’s lakes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new, interactive global map, known as the Global Lakes Explorer, helps scientists, policymakers, educators, and the public to explore where nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are entering lakes and how this pollution may change in the future.

# data[].attributes.headline
Wildfire risk inceasing in Scotland and Ireland🔥🔥🔥

# data[].attributes.subject
Wildfire risk inceasing in Scotland and Ireland🔥🔥🔥

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Wildfire risk is now spreading to cool climates like the Scottish Highlands and Irish uplands

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Changes in ways of farming are part of the reason why wildfires are more likely this summer, even in traditionally colder climates.

# data[].attributes.headline
Lots of dead sharks found on Welsh beaches 🦈🦈🦈

# data[].attributes.subject
Lots of dead sharks found on Welsh beaches 🦈🦈🦈

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dead sharks and fish found washed up on Welsh beaches

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The dead fish, at Saundersfoot and Pembrey beaches, were probably part of a discarded catch.

# data[].attributes.body
Choughs found back at Tintagel Castle after many years absence🐦‍⬛

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Birds connected to King Arthur have been seen at Tintagel Castle

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Birds connected to the legend of King Arthur have been spotted in the ruins of a castle also associated with the mythical ruler

# data[].attributes.body
Way hey - rare species including glowworms found in Scottish rainforests

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rare species found in Scotland’s declining rainforest

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A citizen science project is aiming to document species on the Cowal Peninsula for the first time in 50 years.

# data[].attributes.headline
£11bn per year: estimated cost of planning for future climate change 

# data[].attributes.subject
£11bn per year: estimated cost of planning for future climate change 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British way of life under threat from heat, flooding and drought - Climate Change Committee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Climate Change Committee today publishes A Well-Adapted UK. This new report sets out a comprehensive package of solutions to address the growing impacts of climate change affecting every aspect of life in the UK.

# data[].attributes.headline
First mega-fire recorded, they will be more 🔥

# data[].attributes.subject
First mega-fire recorded, they will be more 🔥

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scientists say four-day moorland blaze was UK’s first megafire

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The term has been used to describe last year’s Dava Moor fire due to its size and the damage it caused.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Walkers sick after drinking river water on the West Highland Way

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Two walkers on the long distance route fell severely ill after drinking from a burn despite using filters.

# data[].attributes.headline
If you damage rare plants you get fined💐🌸🌺🍀🌷☘️🥀🌼

# data[].attributes.subject
If you damage rare plants you get fined💐🌸🌺🍀🌷☘️🥀🌼

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ceredigion farming family fined for damaging rare flowers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lloyd Jenkins and his parents pleaded guilty earlier this month to damaging a protected wildlife site.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bottling the Sun in a Liquid Battery☀️🛢️

# data[].attributes.subject
Bottling the Sun in a Liquid Battery☀️🛢️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scientists “bottle the sun” with a liquid battery that stores solar energy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have created a remarkable new material that works like a “rechargeable solar battery,” storing sunlight inside tiny molecules and releasing it later as heat — even long after the sun goes down. Inspired by reversible changes found in DNA and photochromic sunglasses, the system captures solar energy without relying on bulky batteries or the electrical grid. The molecule can hold energy for years and packs more energy per kilogram than lithium-ion batteries.

# data[].attributes.headline
White-tailed Sea Eagles to be released in Exmoor😁, farmers are not happy😫

# data[].attributes.subject
White-tailed Sea Eagles to be released in Exmoor😁, farmers are not happy😫

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
White-tailed eagles to be reintroduced in Exmoor despite farmer concerns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Some farmers fear the reintroduction of the UK’s biggest bird of prey will threaten their livestock.

# data[].attributes.headline
Converting grass to arable causes environmental problems

# data[].attributes.subject
Converting grass to arable causes environmental problems

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Converting grassland to arable farming risks soil health and water quality, new UK study shows | Rothamsted Research

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new study from Rothamsted Research highlights the environmental trade-offs of converting grassland into arable farmland, showing significant reductions in soil macronutrients and increased nutrient pollution.

# data[].attributes.body
Stoats spread to outer Orkney island for the first time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First spotting of a stoat confirmed in Orkney’s outer isles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It was pictured on a camera set up in Rousay - swimming distance from Orkney’s Mainland.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Magnus the wandering walrus swaps Scotland for Norway

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The young male - who was named Magnus during his travels - is spotted again after crossing the North Sea.

# data[].attributes.headline
Green energy hub for former Scottish Pit Museum⛏️⛏️ >>🌟🌟🌟

# data[].attributes.subject
Green energy hub for former Scottish Pit Museum⛏️⛏️ >>🌟🌟🌟

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Renewable energy hub planned for Scottish coal museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Renewable energy hub planned for Scottish coal museum

# data[].attributes.headline
Mars rover frees itself by shaking itself about a bit🚀☄️

# data[].attributes.subject
Mars rover frees itself by shaking itself about a bit🚀☄️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mars Curiosity Rover frees itself after getting stuck in rock

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Mars Curiosity Rover has been doing experiments on the Red Planet since 2012, and while doing some drilling, managed to get itself a little bit stuck.

# data[].attributes.headline
Windermere has warmed up over the last 80 years

# data[].attributes.subject
Windermere has warmed up over the last 80 years

# data[].attributes.headline
Biologcial invasions harm animals across the world

# data[].attributes.subject
Biologcial invasions harm animals across the world

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
May: Biological invasions can cause significant suffering to animals worldwide | News and features | University of Bristol

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It is well known that biological invasions can be severely harmful to native biodiversity – preventing the damage they cause is a global conservation priority. A new study by the University of Bristol has highlighted a different type of impact that they cause – the often-overlooked animal welfare consequences of biological invasions. The research, published in Nature Communications today [5 May], reveals that invasive species can cause significant suffering to both native and introduced animals worldwide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Most comprehensive review of how deep-sea mining might affect unique sea life | Natural History Museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There’s increasing interest in deep-sea mining, but the impacts that this will have on the animals that live in the depths isn’t fully understood.

# data[].attributes.body
Big Tsunami recorded in Alaska 🗻🌊

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Kate Stephens and Helen Briggs and Kevin Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Massive Alaska megatsunami was second largest ever recorded

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New research suggests glacier melt driven by climate change is increasing the risk of giant waves.

# data[].attributes.body
Massive pollution found in the River Spey 😫😖👎

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Duncan Ferguson, director of the Spey Fishery Board, said it was one of the largest pollution incidents he had seen in 36 years of working on the river.

"It's a tragic event," he said. "It's a really bad outcome and it didn't have to happen."

Ferguson said the salmon population could face a five-year period of recovery.

He added: "There are no invertebrates left, thousands of fish have died. This part of the river is now basically inert. It's a tragedy and it can't be repeated."

The chemical is thought to be industrially linked, he said.

The spill comes during the peak period for fly fishing on the Spey.

A Sepa spokesman said: "We are investigating a potential pollution incident in a tributary of the River Spey and are working to identify the source and impacts."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fish, eels and birds killed in River Spey pollution incident

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fly fishers say the salmon population at the burn in Moray has been wiped out and could take years to recover.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sewage having ‘alarming’ impact on underwater forests in UK rivers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists found seagrass meadows affected by sewage had far fewer small invertebrates, like crabs.

# data[].attributes.headline
Big octopi ruled the seas when dinosaurs walked the land🐙🐙🐙🐙

# data[].attributes.subject
Big octopi ruled the seas when dinosaurs walked the land🐙🐙🐙🐙

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Meet the 19 metre octopus that may have prowled ancient seas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Giant octopuses may have ruled the oceans 100 million years ago, according to fossil evidence.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
He said: "Our green bridges are designed to blend with the landscape and connect habitats, animals and people, leaving a lasting legacy which ensures nature thrives."

The company hopes the bridge will help wildlife on the commons to flourish.

The green bridge, which is 30m (98ft) wide, also includes a path for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists.

It is the first of its kind in the UK to support lowland heathland habitats, one of the country's rarest habitat types, says National Highways.

It replaces a pedestrian bridge, built in the 1980s, and provided no connectivity for wildlife in the two separate heathland plots, which have been divided since the 1970s when the A3 was built.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UK's first heathland green bridge near Cobham opens next month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National Highways says the bridge spanning the A3 will provide a crossing for wildlife and people.

# data[].attributes.headline
Some green solutions might make things worse!

# data[].attributes.subject
Some green solutions might make things worse!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why some green solutions can increase emissions | King’s College London

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Researchers argue recycling and reuse can increase energy use, making emissions harder to cut.

# data[].attributes.headline
New fast-track breeding system system for disease-resistant Ash 

# data[].attributes.subject
New fast-track breeding system system for disease-resistant Ash 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A fast-track method of breeding disease-resistant ash trees has been developed by researchers leading efforts to conserve the species.

Researchers at the John Innes Centre, who have adapted the embryo extraction method, found that it rapidly speeds up the germination of European ash seeds. A process that can take up to six years in nature now takes around one week in the lab.

The rapid seed germination method has already produced more than 2,000 seedlings for trials and research. It has been welcomed by the international research community, and, with adaptations, could be adopted by landowners, conservation volunteers, and enthusiast gardeners.

The method, outlined in a recent study, offers hope for those trying to preserve the threatened species by establishing populations of ash families propagated from mother trees that show resistance to ash dieback.

The technique involves carefully extracting the embryo from the seed coat using a knife and tweezers and placing it on an agar nutrient jelly to give this slow starter a helping hand.

Dr Elizabeth Orton, a John Innes Centre researcher and first author of the study, said: "Ash seed usually takes two to three years to germinate in the wild, and we have reduced this to about a week in the lab. We have produced hundreds of seedlings rapidly for experimentation, for our seed orchard or for planting in the wild."

"We've had so much interest from both other researchers and from stakeholders keen to help restore ash populations. One of our next steps is to develop a kitchen method so that people can do this at home, using substances that you can purchase online such as household bleach and agar to treat the seed as part of the process."

The ash dieback epidemic spreading across Europe has created an urgent need to propagate new populations from ash trees with resistance to the disease.

This is needed to restore ash in the landscape and to advance research methods which probe the genetics and mechanisms by which trees can resist pests and pathogens.

Research efforts have so far looked at finding trees which show visible resistance to the fungal pathogen that causes dieback. Approaches include cloning resistant trees, grafting healthy cuttings on rootstock or using air layering, a method used to clone desirable traits in difficult to root species.

But propagation from seed remains the most effective way to preserve the high genetic diversity of ash. This offers best protection against a range of pests and pathogens and allows populations to adapt to new climate conditions.

A problem has been that the distinctive winged seeds of ash have a long dormant period in nature. Seeds are protected in a hard case and require a stratification period (a warm summer period followed by a chilly winter, sometimes repeated) before they germinate, usually in the second spring after formation.

This rapid seed germination protocol developed by the John Innes Centre team is based on earlier research It involves carefully removing the embryo, and therefore bypassing seed dormancy. Embryos, after being cultured on agar media, are ready to transplant as seedlings into compost within 14 days in the lab. The process is likely to take a little longer (two to three weeks) in non-specialist settings.

After a period of 10 months in a glasshouse, the ash seedlings are ready for planting outside.

Using this accelerated method, researchers now have a way of germinating ash seeds which can be reliably used to produce orchards of thousands of trees. It has been used to create a seed orchard at the Wendling Beck, nature recovery project, near Dereham, Norfolk. These trees selected because they show resistance to ash dieback, will breed, set seed and, hopefully, produce a new generation of resistant trees.

This study and its next steps offer a cause for hope, says Dr Orton: "This propagation method is a big step forward and the interest I have had has been very positive. People from all over the international research community are working on restoring ash populations together and our contribution has added to the atmosphere of hope that we can speed up natural selection and transform the fortunes of ash trees."

"With the modifications we are making the technique could be adopted by conservation volunteers and other non-specialists to support local efforts in growing diverse ash populations for restoration projects."

Ash dieback, caused by the fungal pathogen ( Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) was first detected in the wild in the UK by John Innes Centre researcher Dr Anne Edwards in 2012, in Ashwellthorpe Woods, Norfolk. It is believed to have been in the UK much longer via a combination of wind-blown spores from the continent, plus movement of horticultural stock carrying the fungus.

Between 5-10% of ash show good resistance to the fungus, and conservation volunteers and researchers have been scouring woodlands for examples of healthier trees from which to propagate new populations. Even so, many hundreds of thousands of ash have succumbed to the disease, and more will follow, a threat not only to the keystone species but also to the many species that associate with it.

The Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle which has already devastated ash populations in the United States, is a further threat to this beloved and versatile species. Research by the John Innes Centre and partners is looking into the possibility that trees that show resistance to ash dieback fungus also show resistance to the beetle.

Dr Orton said: "Climate change means that pests and pathogens can become established in previously unfavourable locations and the movement of infected timber and horticultural material means that we are in a race to protect keystone species such as ash. With this model we can restore natural resistance much quicker, not only in species such as ash but others such as elm."

Rapid germination of seeds of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) to restore populations in the face of ash dieback, appears in the Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research.

Image Credit - Phil Robinson

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The fast-track tree breeding method that is restoring ash to the landscape | John Innes Centre

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A fast-track method of breeding disease-resistant ash trees has been developed by researchers leading efforts to conserve the species...

# data[].attributes.headline
Extreme heat affecting the world's food supply

# data[].attributes.subject
Extreme heat affecting the world's food supply

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Extreme heat is pushing agrifood systems to the brink worldwide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New FAO-WMO report assesses risks and identifies adaptation options as rising temperatures pose hazards to people, crops, livestock and fish.

# data[].attributes.headline
Mass stranding of Pilot Whales offers clues to their deep water lives🐳🐋🐳

# data[].attributes.subject
Mass stranding of Pilot Whales offers clues to their deep water lives🐳🐋🐳

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lewis stranding offers clues to pilot whales’ deep water lives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scientists say “chemical signatures” in the animals’ skin provide new data on feeding behaviour.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stranded whale moved back out to sea by barge🐳⛴️

# data[].attributes.subject
Stranded whale moved back out to sea by barge🐳⛴️

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Whale carried by barge out of German waters after weeks stranded on coast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The final operation to save the whale is being closely followed, after the failure of earlier attempts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Microplastics taken on the breeze found in mosses across UK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dr Richard Cross, an ecotoxicologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, discusses the findings and relevance of a UK-wide survey of microplastics in moss.

# data[].attributes.headline
Wildfires occurring in Scotland again🔥🔥🔥

# data[].attributes.subject
Wildfires occurring in Scotland again🔥🔥🔥

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Series of wildfires across Scotland during ‘extreme’ alert

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Scottish Fire and rescue Service (SFRS) said an ‘extreme’ wildfire warning for Western Scotland would remain until midnight.

# data[].attributes.headline
Biggest ever pollution lawsuit reaches High Court🐓🐓🐓vs 🐠🐟

# data[].attributes.subject
Biggest ever pollution lawsuit reaches High Court🐓🐓🐓vs 🐠🐟

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2023, Natural England, the UK government's official advisory body, rated the condition of the River Wye as "unfavourable - declining". The follow-up River Wye Action Plan in 2024 blamed excessive nutrients from farming and wastewater discharges as well as climate change for increasing the water temperature and reducing the water flow in hot dry summers.

Legal firm Leigh Day is bringing the case on a no-win no-fee basis. They say that although it was arable farmers who spread the manure, Avara Foods and its subsidiary Freemans of Newent should be held responsible for the consequences.

"The poultry companies that are being sued in this claim knew what the outcome of their operations were going to be when they expanded the poultry production in this area," Celine O'Donovan, one of the Leigh Day lawyers, told BBC News.

"As a result, the responsibility for the decline of these rivers needs to lie with the people that knew what was going to happen and have made the money from it and controlled the supply chain that resulted in it."

The companies being sued are accused of negligence, causing private and public nuisance and even trespass where the riverbed has been affected on a claimant's property.

In a statement Avara Foods said the allegations were "misconceived" and that it was "confident in our position and believe the claim is unsupported by any proper scientific basis." It said that river health is affected by "multiple factors" and that phosphorus levels had fallen since the early 1990s.

Welsh Water, which has been accused of increasing the nutrient load through sewage spills, said the case was "misguided" and that it had invested £76m on reducing nutrient levels on the Wye, Lugg and Usk between 2020 and 2025 and would invest £87m more from 2025 to 2030.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UK's biggest environmental pollution claim reaches High Court

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of the UK's largest chicken producers and a water company accused of polluting three rivers including the River Wye

# data[].attributes.body
Signs of Spring🌼

# data[].attributes.headline
Rare Axolotl found under Welsh bridge. How did it get there?

# data[].attributes.subject
Rare Axolotl found under Welsh bridge. How did it get there?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Discoveries of creatures like Dippy should always be reported to the government through organisations such as the National Centre for Reptile Welfare.

Director Chris Newman said there were no recorded sightings of Mexican axolotls in the world or the UK, adding that Evie probably saved its life.

"This is a quite a unique situation, and I think the young female has a keen eye to actually spot it.

I think she did remarkable to find him," he added.

Without her help, Newman said the axolotl had little chance of living very long, so she "did him a real favour" by catching him.

"That itself is no mean feat," he said.

"They're quite slippery, so I think she did really well."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Endangered Mexican axolotl discovered by girl, 10, under a bridge in Wales

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Evie and her mother were enjoying a day trip to south Wales when they came across the amphibian.

# data[].attributes.body
Flood warning system on Everest neglected, big issue cos increasing water flows expected as glaciers melt through global warming 🗻

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Everest flood warning neglected for years, Nepal officials tell BBC

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The flood warning system at Imja glacial lake has not been maintained since 2016, fearful locals tell BBC.

# data[].attributes.body
Illegal immigrant found in Speke, Grackle thought to have been a stowaway on a ship🐥

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How exotic bird of America is thought to have ended up in Speke

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sighting is believed to be only the third confirmed time a Grackle has been seen on UK shores.

# data[].attributes.headline
Badly injured Beaver now raising family🦫

# data[].attributes.subject
Badly injured Beaver now raising family🦫

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Beaver shot in face in Perthshire now raising a family

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Fig’s injuries had included the loss of two teeth and his face was peppered with shot.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stowaway baby rabbits found on North Sea drilling rig

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The unexpected visitors were shipped from Aberdeen to the Valaris Norway, off the coast of Lincolnshire.

# data[].attributes.body
Road closed cos badgers burrow underneath

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Badger burrows force closure of rural road at risk of collapse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Burrowing badgers have forced the closure of a rural road in south-west Scotland on safety grounds.