Poor deal for English farming
At a time when Government budgets are under increasing stress and scrutiny and the environment and wildlife are facing tremendous pressures, the RSPB is highlighting the ‘poor’ deal announced by Defra today (Tuesday 10 June, 2014), which shows that of the £11bn to be spent on direct subsidies to farmers in England, very little will […]
STA members to open up their solar farms on 4th July for Solar Independence Day
Several members of the Solar Trade Association will open up their solar farms to visitors from local homes, schools, businesses and community groups across England and Wales on 4th July as part of a nationwide event called Solar Independence Day. The event seeks to give visitors the opportunity to ask any questions they have about […]
IOG celebrates 80th anniversary
A large group of Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) staff, Board members, Life Members and winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards have celebrated the IOG’s 80th Anniversary. Eton College generously hosted the event and provided a fitting backdrop as it was the workplace of head groundsman WH Bowles – one of the founding members of […]
RHI upgrade makes more green heat technologies more affordable for more businesses
Long-awaited improvements to the world’s first Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) come into force today. The non-domestic RHI pays organisations for every unit (kWh) of useful heat produced using eligible renewable technologies. This counts towards the UK’s 2020 renewable energy target and helps reduce the UK’s dependence on polluting fossil fuels. The REA and affiliated trade […]
Expansion for East Anglian energy company
Impressive growth for a Suffolk energy company has led to expansion of their Woodbridge-based team. East Green Energy has appointed two new members of staff in recent weeks, boosting their commercial offering and service delivery. Danny Milne joins the business as a Service Engineer. An apprentice-trained plumbing and heating engineer, Danny learned his trade with […]
Role of pesticides in bee decline: scientists call for evidence-driven debate
An international panel of scientists is today calling for an evidence-driven debate over whether a widely used type of insecticide is to blame for declines in bees and other insect pollinators. An EU ban on certain neonicotinoid insecticides was introduced in December 2013 because of fears they are harming pollinating insects. Pollination by insects is critical for many crops and […]
Be(e) part of the 2014 Pollinator Survey on 8 June
For the third consecutive year, the National Farm Pollinator Survey will be a key element of Open Farm Sunday. Led by scientists from the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), this important research is helping to build a greater understanding of the role insects play in pollinating crops. LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), the […]
REA responds to latest CfD proposals and move to constrain solar farms
The REA is disappointed that today’s consultations on the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Contracts for Difference (CfDs) create more uncertainty and instability for most renewable power industries. Some CfD proposals, such as the treatment of biomass conversions and onshore wind on the Scottish Islands, will remain unclear until DECC publishes details of CfD budgeting arrangements. […]
Reports forecast timber availability from British forests over next 50 years
These reports extend the 25-year forecasts published in 2011, and make specific presumptions about the extent and nature of replanting that will occur if and when existing forests are harvested. The forecasts are important aids to the development of forestry policy and to forest, woodland and infrastructure planning and management by the forestry and timber […]
