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Press releases

Media enquiries can be sent to media@wcl.org.uk

Press releases are one channel for our members to raise awareness of joint sector issues. The latest press releases can be read here.

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Time has run out for another plan without action

Published on: 13 July 2026

Today the Government announces its Delivery Plan to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030. 30by30 is Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and failure to achieve it will leave the UK in breach of its international commitment to halt and reverse nature loss. It will also leave British people more vulnerable to the most severe impacts of climate change. With only 4 years left until 2030, it is essential that this Delivery Plan sets out exactly how landscapes and landowners in England can contribute to 30by30.

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Nature is the beating heart of adapting to climate change

Published on: 1 July 2026

Nature and climate charities are calling on the Government to put nature at the centre of plans to protect the UK from worsening heatwaves, flooding, drought, and food insecurity, following the publication of the Climate Change Committee’s latest adaptation report.

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This Roadmap could be the beginning of a regenerative farming revolution

Published on: 24 June 2026

Today the Government announces the Farming Roadmap – a long-awaited plan which should set out the future direction of the agricultural sector. This is a massive opportunity for the Government to get farming right. Environmentalists have long been calling for more, and longer term, funding for Environmental Land Management schemes. This would help support farmers transition to more nature-friendly methods while maintaining profitable businesses. NGOs want to see farmers rewarded for healthier soils to capture more carbon, more trees for natural cooling and water retention, and less harmful chemicals sprayed on the land.

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Dangerous flame retardant chemicals found in most English rivers and all wildlife tested

Published on: 16 June 2026

Hazardous and persistent chemical flame retardants have been found most English rivers, and at unsafe levels in all wildlife samples analysed, according to new analysis of Environment Agency and water industry data by The Rivers Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link.

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There is a risk is that demand will once again outstrip supply for SFI26

Published on: 11 June 2026

Today, Thursday 11th June, Government announces the budget for the next Sustainable Farming Incentive. Although the headline figure of £290m is encouraging, £60m for new agreements (Window 1) will not yet drive new nature-friendly farming actions at the scale needed for wildlife recovery. Please find a reaction below from Wildlife and Countryside Link, the largest environmental coalition in England.

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Bycatch-22: first-ever report exposes shocking scale of wildlife deaths in UK commercial fishing

Published on: 10 June 2026

More than 10,000 seabirds, 1,000 whales and dolphins, and hundreds of seals are being accidentally killed every year by commercial fishing boats operating in UK waters, according to a first-ever report exposing the true scale of bycatch in the UK.

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Government’s planning loopholes risk stripping nature from the most deprived communities in England

Published on: 4 June 2026

Government loopholes that let developers dodge planning rules risk stripping England’s poorest communities of green space, trees and wildlife, new research warns.

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The public demand Clean Water Now. It’s time the Clean Water Bill delivers

Published on: 13 May 2026

Environmental and health charities back a new report calling for Government to finally ban PFAS forever chemicals in non-essential uses.

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Cancer-linked chemicals in products from frying pans to school uniforms must be banned

Published on: 23 April 2026

Environmental and health charities back a new report calling for Government to finally ban PFAS forever chemicals in non-essential uses.

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Penalties are still not big enough to make English waters safe

Published on: 13 April 2026

Today the Environment Agency announces that this financial year water companies have paid £8.5 million in enforcement undertakings, which will be reinvested directly into restoring the rivers, lakes, and seas which were polluted or damaged.

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