A nationwide pilot to bring overseas workers to UK farms has today been announced by the Environment Secretary and Home Secretary. The pilot will enable fruit and vegetable farmers to employ migrant workers from outside the EU for up to …
Darwin Plus and British Overseas Territories There has been coverage today in the Daily Telegraph of funding for conservation projects on the Falkland Islands. Darwin Plus provides around £3 million of funding annually to environmental projects in UK Overseas Territories …
Impact of the dry weather on farmers There has been media coverage over the weekend and today about calls for the Government to do more to help farmers affected by the hot weather. We understand the pressures that farmers are …
The Sunday Times today inaccurately reports a British vessel had been intercepted by the French navy and claims falsely it may have been boarded. We are responding this morning as Defra press office was not contacted regarding this claim. The …
Government confirms plans to extend plastic bag charge to all retailers
Boost in income and output for English farmers Farming income and gross output in England has risen significantly for 2017, with Total Income from Farming (TIFF) now standing at £4,077 million – an increase of 41% from 2016 - and …
Continued coverage of tensions over scallop fishing National newspaper coverage that UK vessels fishing legally for scallops in the Bay of Seine were met with aggression by French fishermen has continued today (30 August). Defra are in contact with the …
Brave Finn visits Defra Environment Secretary Michael Gove today met heroic police dog Finn and his handler PC Dave Wardell. Finn was stabbed in 2016 when apprehending a suspect in the course of his duties. He received serious injuries but …
Bumper breeding season for little terns The breeding success of the UK’s second rarest shorebird has been covered by The Northumberland Gazette and the Berwick Advertiser. 17 juvenile little terns joined the population at Natural England’s Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve …
A consultation on proposals to reduce harmful pollution caused by the burning of wood and coal in the home and Chris Packham's blog post on his 'UK BioBlitz' campaign.