Tag
Stone, Concrete, and Chlorophyll: The Quiet Revolution Reshaping England's Cities
England's towns and cities are increasingly embedding green infrastructure into urban planning, driven by Natural England's Green Infrastructure Framework, which helps reduce air temperatures, support nature recovery, and improve community wellbeing. Key initiatives in early 2026 include a landmark 500-hectare regional park in west London, an ambitious green and blue routes network across Greater Manchester, and a knowledge-exchange visit to Bristol by Lithuanian urban planning experts. Natural England is also gaining international recognition, with its approach to urban greening drawing praise from European partners at a network meeting in Bonn.
Where Solar Panels Meet Singing Birds: The Solar Farm Rewriting the Rules
Natural England Chair Tony Juniper visited a solar farm in Essex, where he observed how clean energy generation and nature recovery can successfully coexist, with the site achieving an 80% biodiversity net gain alongside producing electricity for thousands of homes. The article argues that the assumption clean energy infrastructure must come at the expense of nature is a false choice, highlighting how good design, early environmental planning, and measures such as wildflower meadows and hedgerow enhancements can deliver strong ecological outcomes. Natural England encourages developers to engage with them from the earliest stages of project design to maximise benefits for both nature and the UK's clean power goals.
No Mow May: Good Idea, But Maybe Think Bigger
No Mow May is an initiative by the charity Plantlife that encourages gardeners to reduce grass cutting during May, allowing wildflowers to bloom and support pollinators, insects, and small mammals. Now in its eighth year, the campaign is growing in popularity, with 32% of 2025 participants joining for the first time. Rather than simply skipping mowing for one month, the article advocates for a longer-term approach — such as dedicating a permanent wild patch or cutting pathways through uncut grass — to provide sustained benefits for wildlife beyond a single month.