Latest news with #NaturalEngland
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Southern Water burst sewer main work continuing in Hamble
Work is continuing to repair a burst sewer main near a conservation site, shellfish habitats and bathing burst, near Passage Lane car park in Warsash near the River Hamble, was discovered on Saturday when footpaths were Water said its teams were repairing the burst "but this will take some time" and expected to be on site throughout Sunday, the water firm said the spill had been stopped with a fleet of tankers brought in to remove sewage from the system and barriers put in place to stop further overland flows. Southern Water said tankers were being queued up along School Lane, Hamble, to take flows from the burst main to a nearby treatment works to be treated until the repair was water firm said it was keeping both Natural England and the Environment Agency regularly updated and also had environmental specialists taking samples.A spokesperson said: "We're sorry for any disruption our efforts to minimise the impact of this is causing customers in the area." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Eight new nature reserves designated in Bradford
Eight beauty spots across Bradford district have been designated as new nature reserves in a bid to boost wildlife and improve access to green in Keighley, Queensbury, Ilkley and Shipley have been selected as part of Bradford Council's bid for residents to benefit from spending time in authority worked with friends of groups across the district, Natural England and Wharfedale Naturalists trustee Steve Parkes to secure designation for the Duncan, deputy director for Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire at Natural England, said: "Creating these new local nature reserves is another step along the road of enhancing the biodiversity of Bradford." He said the project would help make the city a "bigger, better and more joined up place for wildlife to thrive"."These reserves will increase opportunities for leisure, recreation, and improved access to vital green spaces," Mr Duncan sites that have been given local nature reserve designation, following a consultation by Natural England, are:Low Wood near Riddlesden, KeighleyPark Wood, KeighleyJudy Woods, near WykeLittlemoor Park, QueensburyMiddleton Woods, IlkleyNorthcliffe Park, ShipleyPrince of Wales Park, BingleyUndercliffe Cemetery Carolyn Bowe, chair of the Friends of Littlemoor Park, said the designation would mean the group could "bring in funding and people to help us do even more".It follows the announcement that a new nature reserve on the landscape that inspired the Brontë sisters would be created in Bradford Pennine Gateway is the first of its type in the county and is part of the King's Series of 25 National Nature Reserves being developed across the Alex Ross-Shaw, portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "The designation of these new local nature reserves will boost the profile of these excellent wildlife sites, encourage people to visit and join the friends of groups for the physical and mental health benefits and strengthen resilience of nature in Bradford district."Natural England's green infrastructure standards suggest that a district with the population of Bradford should have 550 hectares of local nature reserves. The council has said it will continue to look for more sites that are suitable for local nature reserve designation to improve access to nature for residents. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Burst sewer main close to protected site
A sewage pipe has burst in "close proximity" to a protected wildlife area. Southern Water said the leak was near Passage Lane car park in Warsash, Hampshire, which is near a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The burst pipe is also close to a designated bathing spot - although the Environment Agency (EA) said there was currently "no indication" bathing water had been affected. The leak was reported on Saturday, and on Sunday the company said it had been stopped and they were taking "mitigation actions to protect the environment". One local resident told the BBC the smell was "horrible". The spokesperson for Southern Water said the leak was also close to shellfish waters linked to the River Hamble, and that they had notified Natural England and the Environment Agency as soon as they became aware of it. "We are taking a number of mitigation actions to protect the environment," the spokesperson said. "These include having environmental specialists taking samples and using a fleet of tankers to remove sewage from the system and the use of barriers to stop further overland flows." An EA spokesperson said they were liaising with Southern Water "to ensure a repair is carried out as soon as possible". "Our investigation is ongoing," the spokesperson added. "At present, there is no indication that designated bathing water has been affected." Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes said he would be "chasing to see what environmental steps are being taken urgently and what the cause was". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Southern Water Environment Agency
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Burst sewer main close to protected site in Warsash
A sewage pipe has burst in "close proximity" to a protected wildlife Water said the leak was near Passage Lane car park in Warsash, Hampshire, which is near a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).The burst pipe is also close to a designated bathing spot - although the Environment Agency (EA) said there was currently "no indication" bathing water had been leak was reported on Saturday, and on Sunday the company said it had been stopped and they were taking "mitigation actions to protect the environment". One local resident told the BBC the smell was "horrible".The spokesperson for Southern Water said the leak was also close to shellfish waters linked to the River Hamble, and that they had notified Natural England and the Environment Agency as soon as they became aware of it."We are taking a number of mitigation actions to protect the environment," the spokesperson said."These include having environmental specialists taking samples and using a fleet of tankers to remove sewage from the system and the use of barriers to stop further overland flows." Investigation 'ongoing' An EA spokesperson said they were liaising with Southern Water "to ensure a repair is carried out as soon as possible"."Our investigation is ongoing," the spokesperson added."At present, there is no indication that designated bathing water has been affected."Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes said he would be "chasing to see what environmental steps are being taken urgently and what the cause was". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Environmental champion named in Birthday Honours
The co-founder of a sustainable floristry campaign, who has advocated for the environmentally friendly use of flowers in weddings and funerals, has been appointed an MBE. Shane John Gerard Connolly, who helped set up the Sustainable Church Flowers Movement, has been a florist for 20 years and provided displays for the King's wedding and coronation, among other events. The 62-year-old from Hereford said the appointment had left him feeling "old but incredibly fortunate". Cricketer Steven Michael Davies, farmer Geoffrey Sansome and theatre director Rufus Norris have also been appointed MBEs. Mr Connolly said it was a pleasant surprise to be recognised for services to sustainable floristry. "You don't do anything thinking that you're going to get acknowledgement, so it was very strange because I never expected it," he said. "I've been doing this since 1989 and the real problem in the flower industry is that it is very heavily dependent on non environmentally friendly flowers that are imported from halfway around the world. "The way they're arranged in things like floral foam, which is a non biodegradable microplastic and that is also a problem." He has spent his career trying to "rekindle people's interest in seasonal British grown flowers". His work has been showcased at events for the Royal Family several times, an opportunity he is grateful for. "I've been incredibly lucky that I've been commissioned by the now King and the now Queen to do their wedding in 2005, to do the Prince and Princess of Wales's wedding in 2011 and to do the flowers for the coronation." Geoffrey Sansome, from Worcester, has been appointed an MBE for his services to farming and the voluntary Sector. The 64-year-old has recently retired from Natural England after 42 years of advising and helping farmers. "I've got my own satisfaction through the last 40 years from helping farmers and particularly, helping farmers respond to change," Mr Sansome said. He has now turned his efforts to supporting Ukrainian refugees in Worcestershire, having personally hosted a family and helped many others find homes in the county. He said the King's Birthday Honour gave him the opportunity to reflect on the organisations he had worked with. "My career flashed before my eyes quite a bit, thinking what had led to this," he said. "I've worked with great teams who will hopefully share some of this recognition. "I don't see this as individual effort I see it as a recognition for some great organisations I've worked for," he said. Other honours recipients with connections to Worcestershire include: Steven Michael Davies, the former England and Worcestershire cricketer is appointed an MBE for services to sport. Born in Bromsgrove, his career spanned 20 years, and in 2011 he became the first professional cricketer to come out openly as gay. Rufus Norris, the former director of the National Theatre is appointed an MBE for services to theatre. Mr Norris attended Kidderminster College of Further Education and North Bromsgrove High School. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Foster couple thought New Year Honours a wind-up Youth theatre founder appointed MBE
