We are pleased to announce that yesterday we published and laid before parliament regulations which set in motion changes to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for projects requiring planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act. Read this post to find out more.
Across the UK, we are already seeing its impacts through hotter summers, more intense rainfall, flooding, drought, pressure on water resources, and disruption to services and infrastructure. That’s why today, as part of the Climate and Nature moment, we've announced that the Government is investing up to £30 million to strengthen the evidence base needed for climate …
Today, the Government has published its 30by30 Delivery Plan, backed by funding of up to £37 million a year over the next three years to accelerate practical action for nature. The plan sets out how government, landowners, farmers, businesses and communities will work …
Wild Again is the UK Government's umbrella campaign coordinating species reintroductions, conservation projects, and habitat restoration across England under one shared identity. The campaign spans the full breadth of nature recovery: large-scale reintroductions of beavers, pine martens and golden eagles; conservation work …
Restoring nature across the government estate – and beyond During London Climate Action Week, Defra published the Government Estate Nature Plan (GENP), the first plan of its kind globally, setting out how nature will be restored across government-owned land in England. In this …
Place matters. Restoring nature, effective planning, decisions about land use, managing catchments – all depend on local factors. To successfully deliver our outcomes and make a real difference to people, Defra must operate effectively locally. This is crucial for everything we do – …
My name is Anika Dowling, and I am a policy advisor in Defra’s Peat team. In this blog I’ll set out what each new scheme offers and how you can apply. In the Environmental Improvement Plan, we announced our new Peatland Programme for 2026 to 2030. This month, we’ve launched …
Ruth Davis shares her reflections from her recent visit to China with the Defra Secretary of State, Emma Reynolds. Read this post to find out more.
The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a landmark reform to the way housing and infrastructure developers meet their environmental responsibilities. Yesterday, 18 June 2026, two sets of secondary legislation were laid before Parliament. This is an important step towards putting the fund into practice, …
Rivers are at the heart of many of our towns, cities and countryside landscapes. They shape the places we live, support wildlife, and offer people somewhere to walk, wheel, cycle, volunteer, spend time with family, and connect with nature close to home. …