Easy Being Green!

Can it be Easy to be Green?

I’m sure like me you’re wondering on little things you can do to make the world a better place. ‘Tis difficult for sure but there are some ways you can help a little in taking care of the planet & each other.

Here’s a few tips most of which I’ve tried myself & they’re very easy to do!

1) Eco Talk – this mobile card SIM can be bought from £5 a month & you can use your current number if you want to. The company was set up by the founder of Ecotricity & backed by Chris Packham. Profits go towards setting up & maintaining wildlife conservation projects.

More info at: https://www.ecotalk.co.uk/

2) Ecology – this online ethical building society allows you to set up savings accounts including cash ISAs & they support mortgages for eco build homes. The savings interest is reasonable too.

For info go to: https://www.ecology.co.uk/

3) Ecotricity – they are voted by Which as Best Eco Provider October 2023 & 2024 so they must be doing good! Ecotricity is also recommended by Friends of the Earth. 

Founded by Dale Vince OBE, an eco activist who also founded the Eco Talk mobile plan above.

More info at: https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/

4) Ecosia - a search engine site where each click can generate donations towards planting trees. The browser is used by the Imperial College NHS Trust, who helped plant 229,000 trees thanks to over 11 million searches made by staff.

Super easy to get started & you can add it as your default search engine to keep up the sterling work!

The greenest browser on Earth! https://www.ecosia.org/browser

5) Ecover – a company that produces washing up liquid, household sprays, clothes & dishwasher products & refills. 

See their products at: https://www.ecover.com/en/uk/

I have been addicted recently to their website that has retro game tetris re-invented (the aim is stack ‘em up like you would your dishwasher, get them in anyway you can!)

Try your luck at: https://uk.ecover.com/tetris/

6) Ethical Superstore – a great site absolutely packed full of eco products from household cleaners, body washes, fashion, pets products, gifts & so much more.

Mosey on down to: https://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/

7) Ethical Consumer - when you're looking at pension schemes, banks, travel companies, retail brands & more you want to know which ones are the good eggs v the bad. This consumer group really delves into their practises & helps you make an informed choice.

Check them out at: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/

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Christmas Gift Ideas

As Christmas is fast approaching check out our tips on reducing waste or books you can buy in the links below. 

Our store has some re-usable Christmas Crackers that should last you for years to come. Just fill your own using pre-made fabric cracker sleeves with integrated candy-striped twine, or you can buy some of our crackers with seed balls inside. These can help keep the insects happy next summer. 

We also do home made wash cloths (for bathing or dishes) with lots of different designs. Some festive ones, animals (birds, fox, butterflies) & flowers or sea life designs & a limited selection of make up face wipes - these can be washed & used again & come with a little hessian tote bag.

I also upcycle old bottles with decorative fairy lights. The batteries are replaceable so you can keep it going for years to come. Many to choose from in our Etsy* page so why not take a look. 

*Save 12% when you order 2 or more items - use SAVE12 code during checkout!

The lovely artist Hannah Dale has written a book about her rewilding experience called 'A Wilding Year'. Grab a signed copy at: 
https://www.wrendaledesigns.co.uk/limited-edition-a-wilding-year-book

You may know her from nature inspired Wrendale designs found on plates, cups, calendars & so much more.

Check out this list of other eco books too for adults & children.

I love this idea, why not donate your unused teddies to 'Loved Before' & they will pamper it with some spa treatment & do any repairs before reselling, or buy a teddy that once had a family but needs a new home. They can be found in some Selfridge Stores or sold online. 

Check out: https://www.lovedbefore.london/

Or Store Locations: https://www.lovedbefore.london/about-us/find-us-in-the-wild

Some proceeds go to Make a Wish Foundation so the teddies are happy, & poorly children get to feel awesome too. 💚🧸💚

Or the company 'Memory Bears' makes teddies from loved ones clothing. Think about Grandad or Grandma who passed away. Why not keep them in your memory by sending some clothing samples to be made into a bear & pass it down to the younger generation to have an extra cuddle.

https://www.memorybears.co.uk/

More Gift Ideas Below

Some top tips on reducing waste this Christmas – seek out gifts from antique shops, they had a previous life so re-usable & some beautiful items can be found, who knows maybe they will make some cash one day!

Make your own gifts, something special to show that you care could help the environment too. You could even ask for craft items that locals may want to give away so could be a cheap option - Trash to Treasure sites on Facebook are a great place to start. 

Spruce Crafts has some great ideas on home made gift ideas or try this site for home made decorations you can try with the whole family.

Check out charity shops – many charities have online stores where you can browse for Christmas gifts, or why not sponsor an animal, you'll be supporting a good cause whilst buying a gift for someone special.

Lots of charities are listed in our directory to give you some ideas.

Or gift someone an experience day, know as red letter days or why not give them a home made voucher they can cash in of something you can do together, such as coffee & cake one day, redeem when required. Gift a trip to the zoo another day, that sort of thing!

Another kind gesture is to place an item or two in the food bank bins on your way out the supermarket this Winter, help feed some hungry tummies to make yourself & them feel better. 

More Useful links for an Eco Friendly Christmas:

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Books Galore
Festive Dreams
Green Christmas
Cost of Living Tips!
Less Waste at Xmas
Have an Eco Christmas
🎄 Homemade Items for Sale 🎄

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Good News for 2025

Welcome to our good news blog to keep you in high spirits!

1) UK’s electricity cleanest ever in 2024

Fossil fuels made up 29% of the UK’s electricity in 2024 – the lowest level on record. A Carbon Brief report showed renewable sources more than doubled from 65TWh in 2014 to 143TWh in 2024 (+122%).

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uks-electricity-was-cleanest-ever-in-2024/

2) Bumblebee populations increase 116 times in Scotland

Surveys of bumblebees in a 90 acre site near Perth, recorded around 50 bees in 2021. By 2023, after the site was rewilded, bumblebee numbers had topped 4000, with the number of different bee species doubling.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/bumblebees-increase-by-more-than-100x-in-remarkable-scotland-rewilding-project-from-35-bees-to-over-4000/

3) Bee corridor in Letchworth wins award

Letchworth was granted ‘Bee Friendly’ status from the Bee Friendly Trust in 2024. 

North Herts council planted more bee friendly shrubs on roundabouts, rewilded grass verges, put up more bee hotels, and made and gave away bee seed bombs.

The council allocated £10,000 to develop more bee corridors in North Herts, with Royston next on the list!

https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/news/award-winning-letchworth-bee-corridor-coming-royston

4) Funding in Hackney for bees

£250k worth of funding was allocated to create bee corridors around Hackney in 2024. Funded by the National Lottery Grant, the 3 year project aims to plant a green passageway with the help of local residents, to encourage bees and other wildlife.

https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2024/04/08/environmentalists-buzzing-250k-funding-bee-corridor-hackney/

See a bug-life video below about b-lines & how local corridors can help insects flourish: 

5) Community windfarm to fund a million trees in Hebrides

Trees are being planted in the Western Isles of Scotland in old abandoned crofts. The seeds, sourced by Hebridean Tree Ark, are harvested from local trees found clinging to cliffs as well as from uninhabited islands.

Four-fifths of the funding is from the £900,000 annual profits, made by three wind turbines owned by Point and Sandwick trust.

https://www.theenergymix.com/community-wind-farm-empowers-hebrides-reforestation-effort/

6) New rainforest in UK funded by Government Species Fund planted by drones

In a project led by the Woodland Trust, high-tech drones scattered 75,000 seeds across Bodmin in Cornwall.

The Woodland Trust hopes the new seeds will triple the area of temperate rainforest in Devon and Cornwall, to 24% of land area by 2050.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/press-centre/2025/03/drone-sows-75000-native-tree-seeds-in-cornwall-and-devon/

Learn more about English rainforest conservation below:
https://www.positive.news/environment/restoring-britains-lost-rainforests/

7) 20 million trees will be planted a new Western Forest

In 2024, the West of England became the first region to publish a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. They’re aiming to create a new forest area of 2,500 hectares of woodland by 2030 - with a longer term plan to plant 20 million trees by 2050.

https://www.wenp.org.uk/priority-programmes/western-forest

8) Irish company giving a new life to wind turbines

Decommissioned wind turbines can be put to good use. Bladebridge (which is a spin off of Re-Wind) is giving new life to old blades, including parts of a bridge, bike stores & an e-hub. 

See more at: https://www.bladebridge.ie/

Another cool idea is a small house built inside one of the blades, developed by a Swedish company in the Netherlands https://www.positive.news/society/the-decommissioned-wind-turbine-that-became-a-tiny-home/

9) Prisoners help to recycle old fishing nets

A recycling scheme that collects & sorts fishing equipment has been renewed for another 3 years. Port of Jersey started the scheme in 2023 & 430 lobster pots, 66 tonnes of rope & 9000m of nets, had been collected through the scheme.

The project is run by the Jersey port; alongside the government, Jersey Fishermen's Association and the prison service.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwydjv94q22o

10) Green washing to be banned in the EU

The EU wants to make sure that all information on a product’s impact on the environment, longevity, repairability, composition, production and usage is backed up by verifiable sources.

MEPs approved the agreement in January 2024 - EU countries have 24 months to incorporate the update into their national law.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20240111STO16722/stopping-greenwashing-how-the-eu-regulates-green-claims

Can you spot green wash claims? Try this quiz by Greenpeace: 
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/spot-the-greenwashing-quiz/

Check out our post too on green washing: Green Wash and Wish Cycling

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⚘⚘ Reasons for climate hope in 2025 ⚘⚘

https://blog.ecosia.org/why-theres-reasons-for-climate-hope-in-2025/

  Ignore your lawn in May, to help pollinators thrive! 

https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/

 Did you know 4th–10th May 2025 is British Hedgehog Awareness Week 

https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/give-hedgehogs-the-edge-this-hedgehog-awareness-week/

https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ is a great resource too!

Click here to see more good news - enjoy!

🦔 Thank you for visiting 🦔

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Positive News for July 2023

Positive News July 2023

This time of year is so uplifting but there’s always space for more good things so here’s our latest round up of good news 😊

1) King’s college Meadow - A New Study

We previously reported on wildflower meadows taking shape in Kings College Cambridge. As part of a study, King’s Research Fellow Dr Cicely Marshall, found that in spite of its small size, the wildflower meadow supported three times as many species of plants, spiders and bugs, including 14 species with conservation designations.

Terrestrial invertebrate biomass was found to be 25 times higher in the meadow, with bat activity over the meadow also being three times higher than over the remaining lawn. 

https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/news/2023/study-shows-impact-kings-wildflower-meadow

I love the fact they use horses to harvest the meadow at the end of the season with the bales offered to locals to create a meadow of their own: 

https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/a-greener-kings/kings-wildflower-meadow

2) Postcode Gardeners

Friends of the Earth & Co-Operative Bank have partnered together to place Postcode Gardeners into the most nature deprived neighbourhoods, helping to green the area & also bring neighbours together. Trial projects have taken place in Hackney, Chester & Bideford, Devon with more being planned in Birmingham, Bristol & London.

https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/planting-more-postcode-gardeners-create-greener-streets

3) Chocolate Wrappers to go Plastic Free

For the first time since its launch in 1936, Nestlé is changing the packaging of their famous Mars bar wrapper. Traditionally wrappers are made from aluminium & plastic which are hard to recycle although they can be recycled via Terracycle collection points (if there’s one in your area) who shred the wrappers & melt the plastic element into pellets.

Nestlé are piloting a new recyclable paper wrapper which will be available at 500 Tesco stores in the UK for a limited time.

https://happyeconews.com/candy-bar-wrapper-plastic-free/

Have you seen the new Smarties packaging? Smarties was the first global confectionery brand to switch to recyclable paper packaging, removing approximately 250 million plastic packs sold globally every year.

https://www.nestle.com/media/news/smarties-first-global-confectionery-brand-recyclable-paper-packaging

4) How to Recycle Old Credit Cards

HSBC are providing a new drop off point in selected branches for people to recycle their old debit & credit cards. The recycling scheme is in unison with Terracycle. Old cards will be shredded & turned into plastic pellets.

https://uk.pcmag.com/e-commerce-payments/147433/mastercard-is-encouraging-us-to-shred-our-credit-and-debit-cards

5) Royal Mail Pledges to Achieve Net Zero

Royal Mail are hoping to achieve net zero operations by using 100% renewable energy, switching to more trains (& less planes) for the movement of parcels & using electric vehicles for deliveries.

According to their site ‘We have the UK’s largest electric fleet of any major UK parcel operator, with almost 5,000 electric vans in service today. We continue to trial other alternative fuel vehicles such as micro electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as other delivery models – including delivery by drone!’

https://www.royalmail.com/sustainability/stepstozero/net-zero-operations

6) UK's First 100 Per Cent Sustainably-Fuelled Aircraft Takes to the Skies

The UK’s first ‘waste-fuelled’ aircraft piloted by the RAF took to the skies over Oxfordshire using 100 per cent sustainable fuel last year. Sustainable fuels using waste based fuels such as used cooking oil have the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent, according to the RAF.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uks-first-100-per-cent-200000100.html

7) Carbon Zero Fuel for Cars?

Former Formula One engineer Paddy Lowe hopes to start production of a new type of e-fuel this Autumn, which uses green electricity and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to make a carbon-neutral alternative to petrol. The fuel is seen as attractive as it can be used in existing cars & passenger jets which could help reduce scrappage of usable vehicles.

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/british-lab-synthetic-petrol-race-065424482.html

8) Turning Carbon Dioxide into Cleaner Fuel

A team from University of Cambridge have discovered how to create clean, sustainable fuels using carbon dioxide captured from the air and energy from the Sun.

Passing the gas through an alkaline solution, the researchers were able to concentrate the CO2 to make it easier to convert into syngas fuel using sunlight. Adding plastic waste to the system enabled the team to create useful chemicals like glycolic acid, which is widely used in the cosmetics industry.

“This solar-powered system takes two harmful waste products – plastic and carbon emissions – and converts them into something truly useful,” said co-first author Dr Sayan Kar. 

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-create-clean-fuel-thin-150153623.html

9) Electricity from Humidity! (Air-Gen )

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have discovered how to generate electricity from humidity. The researchers claim that just about any surface can be turned into a generator by replicating the electrical properties of storm clouds. Sounds very promising...

https://happyeconews.com/the-air-gen-device-that-converts-humidity-into-energy/

10) Irish Native Bee Sanctuary

To save the bees it’s important to protect native wild bees including bumble bees & solitary bees. Paul Hendrick has set up a bee sanctuary with 55 acres of organic land in County Wicklow Ireland. They purposefully do not cater for honey bees (no hives) but focus on wild native bees using meadows, flowering weeds, wetlands + trees, bushes & hedgerows to give them places to thrive all year round.

https://www.positive.news/environment/the-worlds-first-native-bee-sanctuary-how-to-save-bees/

11) Earn Eco Rewards at Bracknell Forest

Choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport in Martins Heron (Bracknell Forest) just got more rewarding, with the introduction of new Eco Rewards QR codes around the area. Residents who walk or cycle to local amenities, such as the shops, parks, schools or station, will also be rewarded for choosing active travel routes.

The expansion of Eco-Rewards programme comes after the council secured funding through South Western Railway’s Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF). Points earned can lead to discounts, prizes, or cash-back rewards!

https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/news/2023/07/eco-rewards-expansion-martins-heron

12) Rewilding at Northwood – Nurturing Nature

The Northwoods Rewilding Network was set up in 2021 to harness the growing appetite for nature restoration among farms, crofts, smaller estates and community landholdings. Northwoods now consists of over 60 land partners stewarding 14,000 acres.

In their recent email they cited the following key points:

In 2022, Northwoods land partners planted 108,000 native trees and set aside 4,800 acres for natural woodland regeneration plus 70 new ponds & scrapes, 22 ‘leaky’ dams & 130 acres of restored peatland means more homes for wildlife and a reduced risk of flooding.

9km of new hedgerows were planted & 10km of redundant fencing removed, allowing wildlife to expand and disperse (all with the help of land partners & 500 volunteers!)

https://www.scotlandbigpicture.com/

What is Happening in July?

🦋 The Big Butterfly Count is now on - Between Friday 14th July and Sunday 6th August, choose a place to spot butterflies and moths. Watch for 15 minutes. Then submit a record of the species you see!

An ID guide can be downloaded online or you can use their app to identify & report your findings. https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

🌞 Check out Plastic Free July – a movement that began in Australia which has since grown to 100+ million participants in 190 countries. 

Get some tips on how to reduce plastics at home, in the office or at school here at https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Some Useful Apps For You to Try

If you’re out & about in the garden or nature reserve why not try these interesting apps that help you identify plants or bird song?

🐦 Merlin bird app helps you identify birds. I found the ‘record bird song’ element really helpful & manages to pick up bird song even when there’s traffic noise in the background. It highlights which bird is singing & keeps a record of your spottings you can refer back to later. https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

🌻 Plant Net app helps you take photos of weeds & flowers in your garden & instantly tells you what it may be (with a ranking so you can see other suggestions). I have found it to be user friendly - some weeds I have deliberately left for insects after learning more about them. https://identify.plantnet.org/

Check out our directory for lots more useful links - enjoy!

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The Carbon Cycle - Boom or Bust?

Is Carbon Friend or Foe?

🌼 Carbon is a necessary part of the planet. Plants rely on CO2 for their ability to grow & the planet needs a certain amount of CO2 to trap in warmth. The carbon exchange between humans, oceans & plants is usually well maintained but with human intervention imbalances can occur.

The Carbon Cycle, A Foundation of Life

Carbon is stored in the ocean, rocks, fossil fuels & plants. In a carbon cycle, plants can absorb CO2 to survive (by way of photosynthesis) & release carbons when they rot down & die. 

Large forested areas can become carbon sinks and absorb more carbon than they release.  

Conversely, when fossil fuel such as coal, oil & gas (known as a carbon source) are burned they release carbon emissions high into the atmosphere causing untold damage to the environment, which then depletes the health of the planet & those who depend on it.

If trees are depleted by deforestation this adds to the problem of too much CO2 floating around in the atmosphere as they become less able to lock in carbon at ground level.

Land needs good peat cover & tree cover to help it keep carbon locked in. In oceans, plankton, mangroves & sea grasses can help keep carbon locked in too. When these natural environments are depleted they release carbons instead of locking them in creating the problem to escalate out of control.

An example is peat, which in good condition works exceptionally well as a nutrient rich, diverse landscape holding in both moisture & carbon. Peat bogs hold twice as much carbon as trees & are an important force in helping the battle against climate change. 

When they dry out the nutrients are lost & carbon is released back into the atmosphere. In dry poorly conditioned bogs, fires can also spread destroying the habitat & causing more damage to the environment by the release of warming greenhouse gases.

The National Trust are working hard to protect peat land areas & the government have stepped in too.

There are plans to invest over £50 million in peatland restoration as part of the Nature for Climate Fund, this will help to restore at least 35,000 ha of peatland by 2025.

According to the government, ‘In the UK it is estimated there are over 3 billion tonnes of carbon stored in peatlands, equivalent to all of the carbon stored in the forests of the UK, Germany and France combined.' 

The UK government are also banning the use of peat enriched compost products from 2024. This will help prevent the loss of this important carbon sink that has been around for thousands of years.

Did you know, the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world?

Moves have been underway to increase urban forests & encourage planting of hedgerows across the country. It’s awful to see the statistics in this BBC article showing the wildlife species being lost in the UK.

Farmers can help by changing their techniques for managing land to prevent over farming, which leads to soil depletion furthering the release of carbons into the air. 

A term called ‘regenerative farming’ may involve planting more hedgerows, rotating animal stock around different fields (so they’re not being over grazed) & planting wildflowers which help to add nutrients & lock in carbon. 

This can also encourage biodiversity in the landscape due to the additional tree, hedgerow & wildflower planting & may bring a return of our UK species most at risk.

It’s great to see that £500 million of the UK Governments £640 million Nature for Climate Fund will be dedicated to trees. 

Schools & local communities can also help by applying for tree packs & hedgerow packs from the Woodland Trust. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/

You can also do your bit in your own garden – check out this link for some tips on what you can do at home: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220610-how-to-turn-your-garden-into-a-carbon-sink

Blue Carbon - It's a Thing!

Another source of carbon sink often overlooked is sea grass. Projects have been underway to replenish much of the sea grass around British shores. This has an added bonus of adding refuge for fish & sea mammals which helps to add a diverse population. Diversity is key - if one plant or animal species dies out due to disease, others may be able to increase their numbers.

According to the Wildlife Trust ‘Seagrass captures carbon at a rate 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, and account for 10% of the ocean’s total burial of carbon (despite covering less than 0.2% of the ocean floor).’

Did you know that whales can also play a part in reducing global warming? Whale poop drops to the bottom of the ocean which leads to an abundance of vegetation helping to lock in carbon - the phytoplankton then feeds the whales in return – a win win!

Sequestering carbon & locking it into our seas is known as ‘blue carbon’. Helping to keep this carbon capture healthy is dependent on us looking after the oceans whether that be by protecting & planting sea grass or increasing whale & phytoplankton populations, they all have their part to play & so do we!  

For an in depth look at blue carbon & its various sources go to:
https://www.edf.org/article/what-blue-carbon-and-why-it-so-important

30 by 30 - The UK government have joined a global alliance of 73 countries to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030 - more in the link below: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/global-ocean-alliance-30by30-initiative/about 

A Few Things Happening in May

Embrace No Mow May* – it’s a good way to let nature recover from our desire to manicure everything. 

Justin Moat, a researcher from the Kew Gardens Nature Unlocked programme quite rightly says "We need to put up with scruffy lawns!" 

I love seeing the small flowers pop up, a blast of colour sometimes – we have whites, blues, purples & yellow which is cheery in my eyes. Insects would agree.

Dandelions for example create extra nutrients for the soil, food for bees & butterflies & you can even make a very easy cup of herbal tea.

*For more on No Mow May head on down to the link below: (it’s a good excuse to put ya feet up!)
https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/

Meanwhile in this year’s Chelsea Flower show – a third of the gardens will be show casing weeds!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/25/chelsea-flower-show-gardens-rebrand-weeds-hero-plants

🌳The National Hedgerow Week (8-14 May 2023) is another one to look out for this May https://hedgelink.org.uk/

Pus save 12% at our online shop throughout the month of May 💚

Some terms explained

What is net zero? We can achieve net zero by reducing carbon emissions - those that are produced can be offset by planting trees, protecting peatland areas & improving the quality of the oceans, which will help to create a net effect.

Carbon negative – where more carbon is removed than created.

Carbon neutral – where the carbon emitted is offset by the amount absorbed.

Carbon intensity – a measure of how clean our electricity is (ie how many grams of CO2 are released to produce 1 kw hour). For example fuel from fossil fuels is much more carbon intensive than fuel from green energy.

A ‘when to plug in’ app can indicate the best times to run appliances – for example weather is unpredictable & there may be more solar energy on sunny days or wind power on windy days! The app can help you find the best times.

During ‘high peak times’ of the day more electricity will be taken from fossil fuel supplies; running appliances at lower peak times may increase the likelihood of greener energy being used. 

Carbon sequestration – this can be biological sequestration (absorption & storage of carbon via trees & the ocean) or geological (via rock formations). We can also capture carbon using various man made methods below:

Carbon dioxide removal - Techniques on the table include everything from direct air capture or bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (CCS) to biochar or enhanced rock weathering. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230321-ipcc-the-rising-need-for-negative-emissions

Direct Air Capture (DAC) – removal of carbon from the air which can be stored underground or recycled. Check out some companies looking into direct air capture in the UK.

Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) – similar to above, carbon is captured within a production plant, for example in a pipeline before being stored or re-used.

Biochar – heated plant matter can be added to soil as a soil improver which enhances carbon capture & moisture retention.

Blue Carbon - Carbon that is captured & stored by ocean and coastal ecosystems.

Green Concrete – building works normally emits carbon but some developments have been made in producing green concrete that may help to absorb carbon. Also plants in city areas can help cool the buildings down.

Carbon Footprint - Your carbon footprint totals how much carbon is released into the atmosphere as a result of your everyday activities. Check out this footprint calculator produced by the WWF.

 🌍 Some Useful Links Before You Go! 

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/carbon-cycle/

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/carbon-sources-and-sinks/

https://www.edf.org/article/what-blue-carbon-and-why-it-so-important

https://www.lovelierplanet.com/2022/02/a-greener-planet.html

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220610-how-to-turn-your-garden-into-a-carbon-sink

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Positive News Autumn 2022

 Positive News October 2022

Rest your soul a little by reading something positive 🌎

1.     Super Reserve in Somerset

In May 2022, Natural England announced a new 'super' nature reserve to be created in Somerset, protecting over 6000 hectares of precious saltmarsh, heath and wetland habitats, home to nationally significant wildlife populations.

The site will link six nature reserves and managed land in the Somerset levels, coast and moors and will join England’s developing Nature Recovery Network.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-super-national-nature-reserve-created-to-protect-rare-wildlife

Various Nature Recovery projects will extend across 99,000 hectares of land in total over time – this is equivalent to all the 219 current national nature reserves in England.

2.     Bee Numbers Increasing in Sussex

Community funded projects have led to an increase in bee numbers in the South Downs. Sussex residents raised £75,000 to help a young charity, Bee Lines, plant wildflower oases across the South Downs national park.

There has been a 72% rise in bees and other pollinators since the projects began.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/22/new-wildflower-havens-in-south-downs-national-park-boost-bee-numbers

3.     Large Blue Butterfly Making a Comeback

Large blue butterflies were previously very rare in the UK. During an re-introduction program, around 1,100 of butterfly larvae were released at West Country locations, with 750 butterflies successfully emerging.

It is the first time for 150 years that the large blue butterfly - the largest and rarest of all nine British blue butterflies - has been recorded at Minchinhampton and Rodborough Common (Stroud in Gloucestershire).
 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53757437

It was also announced in March 2020 that butterflies have bounced back to the best levels in 20 years after a monitoring survey took place in the UK. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51987691

4.     Bison to Help With Rewilding in Kent

The UK is one of the most nature depleted areas and to help with re-wilding the Wilder Bean project have introduced wild bison to England, for the 1st time in thousands of years. 

Their grazing can help bring light to young shoots, their poop fertilises the land and their rolling (in dust baths) can help create habitats for lizards, birds, insects and other animals.

Three bison have been initially released in Blean Woods, Kent. The wardens were delighted to find a new calf was born in September (see video below)!

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/wild-bison-return-uk-first-054502529.html

5.     George Ezra Donates to National Trust

Partnering with You Tube's Sustainability Fund, George Ezra has donated £85,000 to the National Trust which will help them plant 17,000 more trees.

The trees will create a new woodland that will lock in carbon, help reduce flooding and create homes for wildlife, the National Trust said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/61200564

6.     Fin Whales Returning in Large Numbers

A study published in July 2022 noted large numbers of fin whales in the Southern Ocean. Researchers estimate there could be at least 8,000 fin whales in the Antarctic, where they were hunted almost to extinction in the 20th century.

One group being spotted contained 150 whales - wowsa!

https://www.positive.news/society/positive-news-stories-from-week-28-of-2022/

7.     Glastonbury Festival's Social Housing Pledge

Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury Festival has donated some land just two miles from the Glastonbury festival site to The Guinness Partnership (who build affordable social housing).

The new houses, flats and bungalows will be built and equipped with heat pumps. Michael has also generously donated £275,000 to help with development costs.

https://www.positive.news/society/glastonbury-founder-digs-deep-to-build-affordable-homes/

8.     Glasgow City Emissions Continues to Fall

Glasgow City, which is historically home to some of Scotland’s most polluted streets due to traffic emissions, reported that their CO2 emissions fell by 13% since 2020 and 50% since 2006.

The Scottish Environment and Protection Agency (Sepa) said their latest statistics across Scotland follow a downward trend in emissions since 2007.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/scotlands-greenhouse-gas-emissions-continue-171614944.html

For other Scottish news head on down to: 

https://www.lovelierplanet.com/2021/12/2021-eco-news-in-scotland.html

9.     Salvaged Metal in Future Coins

A newly planned Royal Mint factory set to open in South Wales in 2023 will aim to use salvaged metals in the production of new coins. 

Precious metals (including gold) can be extracted from used mobile phones, laptops and circuit boards. They aim to process up to 90 tonnes of UK sourced circuit boards per week, to retrieve hundreds of kilograms of gold per year.

https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/royal-mint-to-turn-electronic-waste-into-gold/

10.     Milestone Reached in Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Ocean Cleanup team released prototypes to skim plastics from an area in the North Pacific Ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. 

Their first ocean plastic cleaning prototype (system 001 Wilson), was launched September 2018 which collected a little over 7,000 kilos of plastic. 

The 2nd system (system 002 Jenny), was released August 2021 and has collected over 100,000 kilos during its 45 extractions, which is equivalent in weight to 2.5 Boing 737-800s - wow!

1,000 more extractions will be needed to complete the mission but they are delighted a milestone of 100,000 kilos has been reached. 

The Ocean Cleanup Team are hoping to release system 003 soon for more sweeps to take place at a faster rate (at 3 times the size of system 002).

https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/first-100000-kg-removed-from-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/

11.     The Great Bubble Barrier!

Meanwhile, entrepreneur Claar-els van Delft in the Netherlands devised a clever plastic catching device to be placed in rivers. 

Known as the Great Bubble Barrier it uses compressed air to push up plastics and push them to one side to be collected. This will help reduce the number of plastics that make it out to the oceans!

The project was part funded by the People's Postcode Lottery 'Green Challenge', so the UK played a part in making this happen too!

https://www.onlygoodnewsdaily.com/post/brilliant-bubble-barrier-stops-plastic-reaching-the-sea

Check out our positive news section for more encouraging reads. 
https://www.lovelierplanet.com/p/lovelier-news.html

Enjoy!

🍁