Podcasts about Environment Agency

Half a million pounds is going from the UK Government to a project aiming to improve soils in Ukraine. The ongoing research, being run by the Royal Agricultural University, has identified significant damage to soils from the war there - things like heavy metal contamination from bombardments. The new money will help set up soil labs. We speak to the professor leading it and a farmer in Ukraine.Small changes in the way a river catchment is managed can have a big impact - reconnecting floodplains, re-wiggling rivers and slowing the flow upstream can reduce the flood and pollution risk and encourage more biodiversity. A ‘whole Cumbria strategy', which involves three River Trusts, the Environment Agency and Natural England – has just been named as one of only four finalists for a prestigious global award, the Thiess International River prize. It's up against river projects in the USA and Albania. We see the kind of work the Cumbrian River Restoration Partnership Programme is doing in the Lake District.The Environment Agency's urging farmers to think ahead and get ready for storage of slurry this winter.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Today, the Environment Agency reported a 60% rise in serious pollution incidents by water companies within a year. There were 2,801 pollution incidents in England in 2024, the highest on record, up from 2,174 in 2023. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee called the situation “woeful” and said regulators were “missing in action.” The data comes ahead of a landmark review of the water industry, to be published on Monday. Adam is joined by Esme Stallard, Climate and Science Journalist, and Joe Crowley, Investigative Journalist who has made three BBC Panorama documentaries on the industry. Also, doctors say eight UK babies have been born using genetic material from three people to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions. Adam discusses this with James Gallagher, Presenter of Inside Health on Radio Four.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a whatsapp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bit.ly/3ENLcS1 Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gabriel May. The social producers were Grace Braddock and Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Environment Agency says there was a big increase in the number of serious water pollution incidents recorded in England last year. The watchdog says water companies were behind the serious contamination of rivers and streams on seventy-five occasions -- that's a a rise of 60 percent on the year before. Also, Donald Trump calls the Wall Street Journal a "pile of garbage" newspaper -- as he denies its report that his name was on a lewd birthday greeting to the sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. And heath chiefs warn of the risks of botulism from cosmetic procedures.

Nature is in decline across the UK. 2023 data shows the abundance of terrestrial and freshwater species has on average fallen by 19% across the UK since 1970. Yet working with nature may be part of the answer to reversing this decline.  As the Environment Agency release a new position statement on nature-based solutions, we're joined by their Director of Water, Helen Wakeham and the CEO of the Rivers Trust, Mark Lloyd.Hear Helen and Mark discuss the rationale behind sharing their position on these types of solutions and what role they have to play in the environment we want to nurture.  We explore whether they can be seen as greenwash and if the wider value of these solutions is really accounted for by our current regulations.  And we discuss the challenge of insufficient performance data making it difficult to confidently allow wider scale adoption.  There are seeds of positivity as we consider how taking a catchment-view could enable some bold decisions that leave a positive legacy for our environment.As ever, find out what Helen and Mark both want to make possible with the Planet Possible Magic Wand.Read the new position statement on Nature-based Solutions. (Launched 17th July '25)Join our mailing list to head first about the latest episodes.Thanks to our sponsors BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment for supporting Planet Possible. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

The Government is carrying out a farming profitability review in England, to inform policy. There's been a call for evidence and practical solutions. We ask the National Farmers' Union what could be done to help.Out in the sunshine at the Great Yorkshire Show - pig showing and curly fleeced Wensleydale sheep.A new strategy for tackling rural crime across Wales will offer greater protection for people and wildlife in the countryside, according to the Welsh government. Priority areas include tackling damage to ancient monuments, or heritage crime, and attacks on livestock, with new awareness courses for animal owners.Chronic bee paralysis has been in bee populations for thousands of years, but cases are rising in the UK and it's estimated up to 2% are affected. The disease is not notifiable so doesn't have to be reported, and bees can have the virus and not show symptoms. We speak to Professor Giles Budge who's working on the disease at Newcastle University.The Environment Agency is increasing the number of inspections on farms to tackle pollution and poor practice. We join an inspector making a return visit to a farm in Shropshire.All week we're taking a deep dive into the UK's shellfish industry. Almost 90% of the mussels produced in Scotland are grown in Shetland. We visit a farm which produces 1000 tonnes a year on long ropes dotted on 24 sites around the islands. We also visit Oban where scientists are working on a trial to selectively breed our native oysters to make them more resilient to climate change and pollution. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

The Climate Change Committee report shows little progress on the reduction of emissions from agriculture and substantial action still needed.Many UK supermarkets have made public commitments to sourcing 100% of their beef from the UK. But in recent months some seem to be moving away from these pledges. We ask how much beef is being imported, from where, and why.A group of farmers are seeking a judicial review over the decision to re-impose inheritance tax on some farm businesses. Work has begun to clear more than 30,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste from a Kent woodland, in an operation led by the Environment Agency.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Natural hazards can initiate events which challenge the safety and operation at hazardous installations. In this episode, we explore with Dr Mike Nicholas, Senior Advisor, Climate Change Adaptation and COMAH, at the Environment Agency, the risks, measures and procedures that could be implemented to help improve resilience to extreme weather events and other climate change impacts.

Livestock moving into Wales from England will have to be tested for the disease bluetongue from the first of July, after the Welsh Government decided not to join England in a nationwide restriction zone. Wales and Scotland have no cases of bluetongue so far this year and hope testing and vaccination will keep it out. But livestock organisations say it'll cause chaos at the borders with huge delays and financial losses for farmers. This week the Chancellor unveiled her spending review, which resulted in relief among some farmers, who'd feared big cuts in budgets for environmental projects. In the event, while there is a cut, it's not as big as many had feared - £2.7b will go to sustainable farming and nature recovery in England; there's also investment in flood defences. Defra though is facing cuts to its own budget of 2.7%, which some worry will land on arms length organisations like Natural England and the Environment Agency. All this week we've followed the journey of a loaf of bread from seed to milling into flour. We find out what challenges seed breeders and farmers face in producing the perfect grain of wheat. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Sally Challoner.

The Environment Agency says the north west of England is in drought. One farmer tells us this year's crops are already ruined because of a lack of water.Two proposed reservoirs have been given 'nationally significant' status by the government to speed up the planning process. Decisions on the Lincolnshire Reservoir which is planned for an area near Sleaford and the Fens Reservoir near March in Cambridgeshire will now be accelerated. Ministers say the law will also be changed so that in the future all projects which are, as they put it, 'fundamental to national water resilience' will automatically be designated as 'nationally significant'. Farming communities are concerned about the impact on productive farmland, and one farmer says the Lincolnshire scheme will wipe out her home and her business.All week we're talking about the nation's national parks. The Scottish Government's decided not to go ahead with plans for a new national park in Galloway. After a long legal battle supreme court judges ruled that wild camping is allowed on Dartmoor, we speak to the park's chief executive. In Wales we report on a nature recovery project in Pembrokeshire which works with farmers to enhance farmland by the coast. In The Broads Norfolk farmers and environmentalists are trying to tackle the damage being caused by deer. Golden Eagles have been extinct in England since 2015 when a solitary bird died in the Lake District. But could that be about to change? A conservation project in the south of Scotland which began in 2018 has seen a huge increase in the eagle population there, and some of those birds have begun exploring places like the Northumberland National Park where one was spotted just a few weeks agoPresenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Scottish farmers are being warned to prepare for a possible summer drought. SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued a water scarcity alert as 17 river catchments are so low. In England the Environment Agency says two thirds of rivers are below normal or lower for the time of year. This week we're digging into the world of potato production - none of which would be possible, of course, without healthy, disease-free seed to get the crop started. Growing seed potatoes is a high-value, tightly regulated, specialist sector, and in the UK it's largely concentrated in Scotland where the disease risks are lower thanks to a cooler climate. Europe was a key market for Scottish seed, but Brexit changed all that. The EU's plant protection rules mean the trade is no longer allowed. However growers haven't given up on resuming exports and efforts continue. The asparagus season is underway, traditionally, the spears of this tender crop are only picked from 23rd April, St George's Day, to 21st June, the longest day of the year. It's crucial for growers to have their best produce ready at the right time. Not only that, getting it to market and making sure it's quality is perfect can pay real dividends when supplying top end restaurants and catering. We join one grower who welcomed the whole supply chain to his farm to see how the asparagus they buy from him, is grown.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Today is a big day in the battle to take over control of the Kent County Council with results coming in from the local elections. All eyes are on the rise of Reform UK who have taken significant victories nationally – we'll hear from reporters at counts across the county. Also in today's podcast, three beaches have received the highly unwanted title of having some of the worst bathing water quality in England.They've all been awarded the dreaded gongs in the 2025 'Brown Flag Awards' – these are beaches rated as 'poor' by the Environment Agency due to their potentially unsafe levels of bacteria in the water. There's been backlash over plans to install a Ferris wheel in the middle of Ashford Designer Outlet – with some residents complaining “this isn't an amusement park” Bosses at the shopping centre have applied for permission to put the wheel in the main car park for half of the year.The Sweeps Festival is back in Rochester this long weekend in a celebration of music, dancing and street vendors. We've been chatting to a restaurant owner on the High Street about what the annual event brings to the community. And in sport, Gillingham will be hoping to spoil the party for Port Vale as they head up north for their final game of the season. Their hosts will be pushing for the title, but the Gills will be looking to keep their 11 game unbeaten run alive. 

Joining Rachael Forsyth on this week's HortWeek Podcast is John Durnell from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust and Alistair Emery, founder of Land and property investment and consultancy, Kingwell.John and Alistair are collaborators on significant natural capital scheme at Keyhaven near Milford-on-Sea converting degraded arable farming land into a "high value wildlife site".Kingwell bought the farm in 2020 and is working with Hampshire Wildlife Trusts to create meadows and grassland, enriching the biodiversity as large-scale BNG habitat.The land will be transformed in five or six phases which will be offered to developers as BNG credits - "we thought was probably what the market would absorb" Alistair says.Working alongside local authorities and the Environment Agency in a form of public-private partnership HWT will provide technical support on habitat creation and ongoing management of the land over the next 20 or 30 years. As John says, "frankly if we're going to turn around the sort of fate of wildlife in the UK I think every single sector is really going to have to do its bit."Alistair talks about the benefits from a land owner's point of view and how it can benefit rural business and community as well as the environment: "Farmers are under a lot of pressure to look at how they can diversify and commercialize their farms, particularly with BPS falling away. It's looking at what are the opportunities that can keep farms going. Environmental schemes such as this are going to play a part in enabling farmers to continue."They outline the carbon sequestration benefits of soil restoration and way the "nascent" BNG credits market will interact with local construction schemes and planning departments.Alistair says: "Our planning system is broken. And it's not broken because of things like BNG. It's it's other factors that are driving that."Also in the planning system, developers are finding ways to get around BNG, finding exemptions so that they don't have to deliver it onsite or even offsite."I think things will change. It's a very new thing. It was only February last year that it became statutory and small developments in April. It takes a long time to get these schemes approved and over the line and supply."John says: "What I always find frustrating is when the Government infer that lack of supply or BNG or protection for the environment is the thing that's stopping house building. And frankly, that's risible when... if you speak to most developers, they'll admit that it's high interest rates, lack of planning officers, lack of capacity... [and] things like lack of labour. They discuss the teething troubles with BNG, issues with planning and posit options on how system might be adapted to allow the various agencies to work together more effectively, which means, John insists, public and private partnerships.They also make the case for larger schemes. Alistair says: "If you have on-site mitigation where you've got fragmented patches of areas within developments that are completely unconnected and going back to the resource problem of the local authorities, then being able to monitor and enforce to ensure that the biodiversity is actually being delivered in those areas, it just doesn't work. It will only work properly if we can do it strategically on large areas of land like what we've got in Keyhaven.John adds: "Small areas suffer from this thing called edge effect where the edges, problems come in from the edge and the edges tend to be degraded to a certain extent....mitigating at scale strategically is a really, really good model. " Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under Arnolds Field, tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been burning for years, spewing pollution over the area. Locals fear for their health – and despair that no one seems willing to help By William Ralston. Read by Sam Swainsbury. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

In today's episode, Rusty and Simon, co-founder of Tyler Grange, sit down with four key members of the TG family to dive deep into what makes this forward-thinking organisation tick. Covering key themes such as embracing change, cultural innovation, and building resilience - including bold moves like implementing the four-day workweek - the discussion highlights each guest's unique values around the organisation's approach to mentoring, personal growth, and creating a supportive, flexible work environment focused on employee wellbeing.[00:50] Julian Arthur — Technical DirectorJulian Arthur joined Tyler Grange in January 2010 from Waterman Group. As Technical Director, he leads on innovation, tackling complex projects as an Ecologist and expert witness. Passionate about green infrastructure, Julian works to balance the needs of wildlife, people, and clients while mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders.[08:00] Jon Berry — Managing DirectorJon Berry joined Tyler Grange in January 2010 and currently holds the position of Managing Director. With over 25 years of experience as a chartered Landscape Architect and qualified Arboricultural Consultant, Jon is responsible for the business's performance and strategy. He is deeply committed to living the company's values and exploring new ideas, innovations, and collaborations.[29:54] Carly Goodman-Smith — Operations DirectorCarly Goodman-Smith, Operations Director and committed Ecologist, joined Tyler Grange in June 2010. Driven by the core values of TG, Carly is passionate about mentoring and continuously improving the business to benefit everyone.[45:50] James Harmer — Finance DirectorJames Harmer joined Tyler Grange in May 2019, bringing his financial expertise from the Environment Agency. As Finance Director, his mission is clear: to ensure the business has the cash flow and profitability needed to grow, thrive, and support a happy, successful team.In this episode:[00:02:11] How Rusty's influence and the concept of "dream catching" shape career development at Tyler Grange.[00:04:03] How Tyler Grange supports self-driven growth, offering personal and professional development opportunities without forcing involvement.[00:09:02] Examining strategies for building a strong culture and helping employees cope with external challenges.[00:16:38] The importance of embracing change in an organisation's identity and its impact on employee alignment and recruitment at Tyler Grange.[00:34:35] Carly Goodman-Smith talks about how a safe space for sharing ideas and feedback at Tyler Grange fosters resilience.Connect with Tyler Grange here:https://tylergrange.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/tylergrange/Please like, subscribe or follow, so you're notified of any new episodes coming up, and if you're keen to reach Rusty or Simon with any suggestions, feedback or comments, you can contact them via the show's LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bouncebackability-podcast/

According to The Rivers Trust's State of Our Rivers 2024 report, just 15% of England's river stretches achieved good ecological health and none are in good overall status. Failures can be attributed to multiple sources, including agriculture and rural land management activities, treated and untreated sewage discharge, and urbanisation and transport pollutants. Mark Lloyd (CEO, The Rivers Trust) and Helen Wakeham (Director of Water, Environment Agency) discuss what needs to be done to tackle the problems and restore our waterways to health. How can we address monitoring and policy gaps, and how do we make sure that the solutions and policies put in place are fit for the future as new threats emerge? Chaired by Dame Fiona Reynolds. This University of Bath IPR event took place on 19 March 2025.

Masked raiders have stolen £100,000 worth of stock from a wholesalers in Medway.At least eight people are thought to have cut their way into the industrial estate unit in Chatham in the early hours of last Wednesday. Hear from reporter Sean McPolin who has been covering the story.Also in today's podcast, a woman who was tied up during a violent robbery in Sevenoaks has described it as an "horrific experience".A man armed with a gun stole nearly £1.5 million worth of jewellery from a property in Parkfield near Wildernesse Golf Club last June.The work and pensions secretary's confirmed personal independence payments won't be frozen following a backlash from Labour MPs.Liz Kendall's also announced changes to the eligibility for universal credit from 2028. Hear the response from shadow minister and Faversham MP Helen Whately.A Kent pub chain boss has warned fewer part-time jobs will be available and prices will rise as major tax changes come in next month.The amount employers have to pay towards national insurance is to increase after being announced in last autumn's budget. We've been speaking to Phil Thorley from Thorley Taverns in Thanet.Work to clear woodland near Ashford of tonnes of illegally dumped waste is due to get under way next week.The Environment Agency's confirmed equipment will start to be moved onto Hoads Wood and removing the rubbish will take more than a year. We've got reaction from Sally Smith from Kent Wildlife Trust.And, Bedgebury Pinetum have announced a program of events to celebrate their 100th anniversary.Since 1925, the site has grown from a tree collection into an internationally significant conservation centre which welcomes more than half-a-million visitors each year.

The Climate Change Committee has called for a transformation in agriculture in its latest report. The CCC advises the UK government on ways to reduce emissions in order to meet net zero by 2050. Its 7th report sets out a plan from 2038 to 2042, and recommends a 27% drop in the number of cattle and sheep, and that we all eat less meat. It wants to see more woodlands, more peatlands re-wetted and more energy crops like miscanthus. Scientists at Scotland's Rural College have been feeding cattle an extract from daffodil bulbs to help reduce methane. The ground-breaking research aimed at reducing emissions is called "dancing with daffodils".Fly tipping is on the up - the latest Environment Agency figures for England show more than a million incidents of rubbish being dumped on public land last year, up 6% from the year before. Those stats don't include fly tipping on farms, and the Country Land and Business Association says in its latest survey, 90 per cent of respondents reported having rubbish - from fridges to tyres - dumped on their land in the past year. Rural groups and councils are calling for tougher penalties for fly tippers.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Send us a textEpisode 269 - Luke Kozak on Fishing, Friends and the EAI sat down and chatted with my friend Luke after eating a good breakfast and casting a few rods.I talk with him about his fishing career, when he used to guide with me, the places he likes to fish and the people he has met along the way.We also talk about the conservation work he did on rivers before joining the Environment Agency. He speaks about what is happening behind the scenes there.I hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I did

In this episode 240 of the podcast I bring you a rundown of when you may be able to recover your costs if you are successful in making a claim or defending a claim in the Employment Tribunal. In this episode of the podcast we cover: What you need to know to avoid having a costs order made against you. When you may be at risk of having to pay the other party's costs. When a costs award may be made What the Employment Tribunal will consider when they are deciding whether to make a costs award. If costs can be awarded against someone who does not have a legal representative. If costs will be awarded against you if you do not have the money to pay. What vexatious, abusive or disruptive conduct is. Why unreasonable conduct in the bringing or defending a claim can lead to you having to pay costs. What the Employment Tribunal will consider when determining if a case has no reasonable prospects of success. The type of costs order that can be made. The amount of costs that you can recover.   Cases covered in this weeks' podcast Hargreaves v Evolve Housing and Support (2024) Clements v Secretary of State for Justice (2021) Legge v Environment Agency [2024] 3 WLUK 616  Vaughan v London Borough of Lewisham and others UKEAT/0533/12     Training for your Team Would you like to arrange training for your team to reduce the risk of both unhappy employees and claims being made against you? Please get in touch for a no obligation discussion, we can offer training anywhere in the UK in person or delivered remotely via MS Teams. Please drop me an email alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk       Fixed Price Advice from Real Experts As part of our HR Harbour annual subscription service for employers we provide guidance and training for employers, supervisors and managers. If you would like to know more about the HR Harbour Service and how you can get unlimited support from as little as £210 per month please contact me for a no obligation discussion – alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk or you can find full details here: HR Harbour Don't forget you can contact us by telephone 01983 897003, 01722 653001, 020 3470 0007, 0191 375 9694 or 023 8098 2006 We have a variety of free documents and letters which are available to download here: DIY Documents We are also on YouTube! You can find a range of topics and also listen to this podcast on YouTube here: YOUTUBE   Zoes Law Raising awareness of melanoma and skin cancer. You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/zoepanayilaw

Welcome to our January MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.In this episode we're joined by Julie Foley,  Director of Flood Risk Strategy & National Adaptation at the Environment Agency and we explore...The recently updated flood and coastal erosion risk information for England that means one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by the middle of the century.2024 was the 4th warmest year on record in the UK – so why do we talk about weather but find climate such a tricky topic?How to achieve greater inclusivity of multicultural communities in flood projects.Check your long term flood risk... https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-riskOur 2024 Season of Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Frustrated residents say a popular countryside footpath has been turned into an impassable bog following dredging work.The Environment Agency completed the work in November, but the foot-deep sludge from the drainage channel is still blocking the route.Also in today's podcast, a woman has been rescued from a vehicle by firefighters after flooding shut several roads.It's after heavy rains and flood warnings have been issued for the county – with more potentially severe weather on the way. There's been a huge turnout at public meeting over Deal water quality after ‘do-not-swim' warning issued at beach over sea pollution levels. You can hear from one campaigner who says it's essential there's action to improve water quality this year. The boss of a much-loved farm shop which is shutting its doors after more than 40 years says they've been “overwhelmed” by the response to the closure.The site in Cliffe Woods will serve it's final customers this Saturday. And for the first time you can hear from new Gills manager, after Mark Bonner parted ways with the club over the weekend. John Coleman is the new man in charge – and has told the KentOnline Podcast he's got his eyes set on a turn around in form.  

Our guest speaker is Andreas Galatoulas, Data Analytics and AI Director at AECOM, sharing how they as a global consultancy are using AI across its construction, engineering and infrastructure projects. As a qualified data leader and with national publications for his work, Andreas drives AECOM's on data strategies, data ethics and auditing AI models. At the NCE TechFest Awards, Andreas led the team which won the Best Use of Technology: Artificial Intelligence for their work with the Environment Agency for flood image analysis.We also hear from two Urbano Member SMEs, Alex Luketa, Partner at Xerini and Mark Wakeling, Technical Manager from Plowman Craven, on how they use AI and other tools to enhance tech development projects with clients in the ACTE sectors.Support the show

A bus company's investigating after a driver was filmed telling a passenger she gave 'disabled people a bad name'.The confrontation happened after Nargis Fakhri, who uses a wheelchair, tried to board the 140 Arriva service at Strood Retail Park.Also in today's podcast, we've been hearing how "Do Not Swim" warnings for some of Kent's busiest beaches will be a blow to local businesses.The water quality at Dymchurch, Littlestone and near to Deal Castle has been rated 'poor' following investigations by the Environment Agency. It's led to fears it could impact summer tourism next year.Hear from the leader of Folkestone and Hythe council.The Chatham and Aylesford MP has been leading a debate in parliament over what can be done to tackle fly tipping.Millions of pounds is being spent annually on clean ups and Tris Osborne says many people face a postcode lottery when it comes to dealing with it.As one of the biggest stores at Bluewater closes for the final time today, another new shop is opening.Reporter Cara Simmonds had a sneak peak around Sephora and spoke to the managing director.And finally, a trader who's been selling ice creams, burgers and buckets and spades from a kiosk on Sheppey for more than 50 years has decided to call it a day.Janet Deadman has made the difficult decision to leave the business in Beachfields, Sheerness. She's been speaking to reporter Joe Crossley.

Send me a Text Message hereFULL SHOW NOTES https://podcast.nz365guy.com/620  Emma-Claire Shaw, a dynamic low-code product manager and consultant at Defra in the UK, brings her vibrant personality to our latest discussion. With a bustling family life, including two young daughters and a dog, Emma balances her work with a passion for social activities such as music festivals and fitness through early morning gym sessions and trail running. Her intriguing relationship with food reveals a chocoholic side matched with a deep interest in nutrition and a primarily plant-based diet. We unravel her insights into the latest gut health trends, where she shares her experiences with nutrition and I reveal my experiments with Celtic salt for weight management.Our conversation takes a fascinating twist into the world of Microsoft Power Platform, as Emma shares her journey of implementing transformative low-code solutions in government operations. Her experiences highlight the impact of Power Apps in streamlining processes such as fleet vehicle logs and port inspections at Defra, showcasing the potential for increased efficiency in the public sector. We also reflect on the significant role of Microsoft 365 and the evolution of tech adoption in government, sharing compelling stories from around the world, including innovative uses of similar technology in container inspections in Australia.As we round off our episode, we dive into the digital transformation efforts of environmental agencies in the UK, focusing on initiatives like the Environment Agency's efficient fishing rod license verification via Power App. Emma discusses the ongoing challenges with offline data access in remote areas and shares strategies that have been successfully deployed elsewhere, such as in Western Australia. We also delve into Natural England's modernization of its licensing schemes, marking a shift from paper-based forms to a centralized digital platform, reflecting a broader move towards operational efficiency and innovation in government processes. Join us for this captivating narrative that weaves together technology, lifestyle, and wellness.90 Day Mentoring Challenge 10% off code use MBAP at checkout https://ako.nz365guy.comSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening

   A group of 110 Water Guardian volunteers test the river water quality in our catchment (which is part of Sussex.)..The Guardians are part of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust. Their work will be discussed at a meeting at Buriton Village Hall on Wednesday 13 November at 7:30pm. Sian Macleod, a Water Guardian and Trustee for the Western Sussex Rivers Trust explains their work to Mike Waddington. There is a lot of information abut improving water quality, improving biodiversity and the partnerships - water companies, the Environment Agency, local farmers and landowners and the Water Guardians - working to improve quality, at Home · Western Sussex Rivers Trust (wsrt.org.uk)      :  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers this year are growing less oilseed rape than they have for the last 30 years. That is partly due to the expense of growing it, the dreadful wet weather preventing crops getting established, and the fact that it succumbs to the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle. A group in Scotland however are growing it organically - so how do they do it?Thatched buildings are a common sight in many rural areas, but a shortage of seasonal labour, materials and outdated machinery are some of the modern-day challenges facing a thatcher today, according to a report by Historic England which warns that the traditional industry could be at risk. And campaigners fighting for the clean-up of thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste in a Kent woodland are threatening legal action against the Environment Agency. Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Alun Beach

Continual Improvement is at the heart of every ISO Standard.  The cyclical nature of ISO Standards lends itself to regular review and update of your Management System, to ensure it's working efficiently and to address any issues or opportunities that inevitably crop up. However, Integrating these improvements can be challenging, even for mature systems. Today Ian Battersby explains the concept of Improvement as defined in ISO Standards, how to find root cause for non-conformities and integrating improvement actions from multiple sources.   You'll learn ·      What is meant by ‘Improvement' in ISO Standards? ·      Common misconceptions about Improvement in ISO Standards ·      How to address non-conformities in your Management System ·      Finding the root cause of a non-conformity ·      Integrating Improvement actions   Resources ·      Isologyhub   In this episode, we talk about: [00:30] Join the isologyhub – To get access to a suite of ISO related tools, training and templates. Simply head on over to isologyhub.com to either sign-up or book a demo. [02:05] Episode summary: Ian Battersby will be explaining what Improvement means in relation to ISO Standards, how to address non-conformities and integrating the required Improvement actions. [02:30] What is meant by ‘Improvement' in ISO Standards? – One of the requirements of all Management System standards is to determine and select opportunities for improvement (Clause 10). This is the fundamental aim of Management Systems: to make things better In the words of the standards, it is so that an organisation can: “Implement any necessary actions to meet customer requirements and enhance customer satisfaction These shall include: a) improving products and services to meet requirements as well as to address future needs and expectations; b) correcting, preventing or reducing undesired effects; c) improving the performance and effectiveness of the management system.” An organisation going through certification for the first time may never have had in place a system for planning improvements.  Some organisations are dealing with improvements, but not necessarily through a single, consistent route. While you can meet the requirements of the standards without a single route, the standard is not prescriptive in how you go about this. [04:45] Common misconceptions about non-conformities – the standard does go on to cover nonconformity and corrective action (10.2); is it suggesting these as the main source of non-conformities (NC).  It isn't really explicit about other sources, other than specifically including customer complaints as a form of NC. However, there's a strong argument for consolidating data from different sources, so it's worth considering how complaints data is handled. Other sources of non-conformities can include your Internal Audit findings, addressing where you may not be meeting client expectations, addressing failure to meet legal obligations ect. As a reminder, ISO 9000 (Fundamentals and vocabulary) includes the definition of nonconformity: non-fulfilment of a requirement: need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or obligatory i.e. Legal / client expectation. [10:00] Addressing non-conformities – You need to evaluate the need for action to eliminate the cause of the nonconformity, to ensure that the issues doesn't recur, or pop-up elsewhere. When a non-conformity does occur, you need to: ·      Determine the causes ·      Determining if similar nonconformities exist, or could potentially occur; Any corrective actions should be appropriate to the effects of the nonconformities encountered. So, you don't need to commit a huge amount of resource to minor issues. [11:40] Join the isologyhub and get access to limitless ISO resources – From as little as £99 a month, you can have unlimited access to hundreds of online training courses and achieve certification for completion of courses along the way, which will take you from learner to practitioner to leader in no time. Simply head on over to the isologyhub to sign-up or book a demo. [13:40] Finding the cause of non-conformities  – Without removing the cause, repetition may occur, and this is where integrating improvement data from multiple sources comes into its own. The idea of Common cause is - a single cause may manifest itself in very different outcomes. For example, a lack of competence could lead to a process being delivered wrongly, leading to reducing level of quality in service or product, which would be picked up as an NC. Competence is an area which can also lead to NC's, through the result of a helath & safety incident or environmental incident if people aren't trained to use equipment or follow set procedures.   It can also lead to a customer complaint where the failed process is apparent to a customer. If a product NC isn't spotted until after the product delivered/in service it could lead to a warranty claim Or even a claim for damages should it lead to harm/loss to the customer It could lead to regulatory breach or even enforcement or legal action Some of these outcomes may not be apparent until they have impacted upon a customer or other interested party, so would not be recorded internally through a nonconformity system. All this to say, finding the root cause will require looking in a lot of different places. Having a common methodology in place to address non-conformities, including considerations for different types of issues, makes life a lot easier. [15:55] Integrating Improvements from multiple sources: There are many sources which can highlight opportunities for Improvement, including: Internal Audit – This is a conformity assessment, so any gaps or issues identified will be NC's that need addressing. Surveillance Audit / Certification Audit – Your Certification Body will also be conducting a third-party conformity assessment, which may highlight something you've missed in your own internal audits. Supply Chain Audit – Auditing your supply chain can also highlight NC's that you can encourage them to address, both for your benefit and theirs. Client Audit – You may be audited by clients, especially where there may be specific technical industry related issues. Management Review – This is the perfect platform to identify Opportunities for Improvement. You can highlight NC trends from Internal Audits here and define if they need to be addressed separately. You will often have members of senior management present at a Management Review, so there is a greater chance for you to plan tangible actions to address issues, especially if they are business critical. SWOT / PESTLE – This usually happens early on in the Implementation phase, but there's no reason why you can't repeat the exercise on an annual basis. This exercise directly identifies your risks and opportunities, both from internal and external sources. Getting input from all levels of staff as they may also shed light on potential NC's and opportunities other departments may not even be aware of. Accident reporting / Safety observations – Any incident should be viewed as an opportunity to improve. Some accidents are unavoidable, but many are a result of someone not following instructions, equipment being left unattended or in the wrongs location ect. Addressing these will help you to ensure a safer environment. Site inspections – Just walking around your site can yield new insights. Ask other departments that may not visit your area to do a sweep and report any findings. Sometimes all you need is a fresh pair of eyes to highlight issues you've missed.   Complaint / Other customer feedback – Allow clients and stakeholders to have input. Regulatory requirements – You may discover you are breaching a regulation, which needs to be addressed ASAP. Consider a legal register to keep track of all your legal and regulatory requirements. Enforcement (HSE, EA, professional body) – You may have opportunities for improvement enforced by professional bodies such as the HSE or Environment Agency. Management Action – Any management meetings should take opportunity suggestions from both management and the general workforce. Product NC's – If you're in the manufacturing industry, you likely already have a system in place for monitoring any product related non-conformities. This process can be applied on a broader scale, as it embodies the same principles: Identify the problem, find the root cause, address the root cause, put preventative measures in place to stop recurrence.  If you'd like to book a demo for the isologyhub, simply contact us and we'd be happy to give you a tour. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ●     Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●     Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

Hear from Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, as we dive into the challenges of climate adaptation and what it means for our cities. 2023 was not only the warmest year on record, it also marked the warmest 10-year period on record. As we witness first-hand the impacts of a warming climate, including heatwaves, more intense precipitation and increased flooding, the case for building resilience against these risks becomes ever more important. This is particularly so in our cities, where the concentration of populations and economic activity make adaptation non-negotiable. This episode's guest has recently led a comprehensive review of the Climate Resilience of London, which takes stock of the city's preparedness for climate impacts and makes a series of recommendations for how the city needs to bolster its efforts. In this episode, we explore: How cities are vulnerable to cascading and interconnected risks, which amplify the impacts of climate change; How a collaborative approach to learning and building resilience will be critical in the years ahead; And how adaptation and resilience need to be woven through our all our decision making, while paying particular attention to the most vulnerable communities To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: climateriskpodcast@garp.com   Links from today's discussion: Read the final report of the London Climate Resilience Review: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/climate-change/climate-adaptation/london-climate-resilience-review C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: https://www.c40.org/ Thames Estuary 2100 Group report directory: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/thames-estuary-2100-te2100   Speaker's Bio(s) Emma Howard Boyd, Chair, London Climate Resilience Review Emma has been the Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, leading the delivery of its work since summer 2023. She has had an extensive career in financial services at the forefront of the climate change, environmental and sustainable finance agenda. Emma is also currently Chair of ClientEarth and a Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience, and outgoing Chair of the Green Finance Institute. She has been Chair of the Environment Agency and an ex-officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2016 to 2022. Emma serves on several boards and advisory committees which include The Major Projects Association, Climate Arc, and the European Climate Foundation. She was the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 until its sunset in January 2021.

Having created a watchdog for the environment, the government took its teeth out and muzzled it. Can public outrage rouse the Environment Agency to action? By Hettie O'Brien. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Fishing is a very popular pastime. In England alone, the Environment Agency issued more than 900,000 fishing licenses between March 2022 and April 2023. But illegal fishing on rivers and watercourses is on the up, according to the police, who are stepping up patrols with other agencies. Angling clubs pay thousands of pounds every year to stock rivers with fish for members and taking fish without permission is theft. Better training of police in poaching laws has, however, led to a recent spate of convictions and a legal first for volunteer river bailiffs.A new housing development in Essex is welcoming some new arrivals, but they're not excited home-owners. That's because houses on the estate at Manningtree come complete with their own flock of sheep and a full-time shepherdess.We're talking about trees all this week and today it's the threat to our trees from pests, pathogens and disease. Climate change, pollution, land use change and invasive species are all making trees more vulnerable to pests and diseases, like ash dieback. It was first detected in the UK back in 2012, since then it's swept across the country with devastating effect on our third most common broad-leaved tree. According to the Woodland Trust, ash dieback will eventually kill up to 80% of ash trees across the UK. Dead trees are dangerous trees, so local authorities are spending millions of pounds managing trees that are deemed unsafe. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

The US, UK and Australia on Monday said they were considering working with Japan in the trilateral Aukus security pact, the world's biggest chipmaker will build cutting-edge facilities in Arizona in exchange for billions of dollars in subsidies, and the Environment Agency for England and Wales is allocating £11mn collected in fines against water companies, to environmental restoration projects.Mentioned in this podcast:TSMC boosts Joe Biden's AI chip ambitions with $11.6bn US production dealUS, UK and Australia say Japan could join part of Aukus pactRegulator seeks to quell public anger on UK water with £11mn restoration fundRegister for our FTWeekend Festival in the US! The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT's executive producer. The FT's global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show's theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People living in Sittingbourne say they feel trapped in their homes as roads works and new housing developments cause daily congestion. They're caught in the crossfire as the government set housing targets leaving local authorities to deal with the consequences.Also in today's podcast, thousands of NHS dental procedures have been cancelled in Medway over the last two years with more than 1.1 million not performed.It comes as half of all dentists based in the Towns say they won't do any more NHS work due to financial pressures, “too much bureaucracy” and difficulty with recruiting and retaining staff.A dead rat has been found decomposing in the kitchen of a popular sushi restaurant in Canterbury. They were forced to stop service immediately and given a damning one-star food hygiene rating. Swalecliffe has been named as one of the places in the county most affected by sewage spills in the last 12 months. New figures from the Environment Agency show there were more than 11 spills there - you can hear from Sally Burtt-Jones from SOS Whitstable. And a Kent couple who are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary share their secrets to a long and happy marriage. Ron and Phyllis Wills say they've barely spent a day apart since they met in 1953. 

The Wildlife and Muirburn Bill has passed through the Scottish Parliament and brings in the licensing of grouse shoots, banning animal snares and changing the rules on the burning of heather. For the RSPB it's game changing legislation, for gamekeepers a disproportionate response.Conservation groups are calling for a clean up of an ancient woodland in Kent, which they say has been left devastated by the dumping of illegal waste. This is a place called Hoads Wood near Ashford, which is privately owned by a number of people. The Environment Agency says it's investigating a number of individuals and companies for fly-tipping.All this week we've been talking about shellfish and the oyster fishery on the Fal Estuary is steeped in history. Only sailing and rowing boats are allowed to be used to pull small dredges. But even this light touch hasn't been enough to keep the native oyster population at sustainable levels, so in a rare move, the few fishermen and women who are left are now asking for tougher regulations.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Episode 13 of the "Aerospace Ambition Podcast" featuring Kay Köhler from the Umweltbundesamt is out!Talking Points• What is the role of Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency?• How do you get from scientific discoveries to regulation?• Why did the first try to regulate contrails 15 years ago fail?• When will there be a prize tag on contrails?• What is CORSIA, what is the EU ETS?• Where do CORSIA and the EU ETS work together?• Where are loopholes for airlines in these systems?• How is uncertainty around CO2 equivalencies factored into allowances?GuestKay Köhler serves as a Senior Technical Officer in the Aviation Unit at the German Environment Agency (UBA). Holding both a Master in Public Administration and a Master in Aerospace Engineering, Kay previously oversaw emission protection, including noise and air pollution control for stationary installations, at the City of Berlin for approximately ten years. Since 2013, he has been employed at the UBA, concentrating on the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and the non-CO2 impacts of aviation. Additionally, he participates in several European working groups related to aviation.AAMBITION Newsletterhttps://mailchi.mp/55033eb444bd/aambition-n++++Heartfelt shoutout to Kieran: Keep pushing on this ‘long final' of handing in your PhD thesis!

The BBC has been told that farmers in Wales who support overhauling their subsidies to help the environment feel "intimidated" and afraid to speak out.  It comes as some farmers are staging protests across Wales over plans for a greener post-Brexit funding scheme for agriculture, which farming unions say is unworkable.  But the Nature Friendly Farming Network, representing around 500 farmers in Wales, told BBC Wales that sticking to "business as usual" would not help the industry succeed in the long term.  It's been very wet and, as we've been reporting, lots of farmland is or has been underwater. That means crops destroyed and new crops not being planted. We've heard from farmers while the rain is clearly the problem, they say the Environment Agency is sometimes not helping. The Chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, spoke at last week's National Farmers Union conference, and unsurprisingly flooding was top of the agenda. He explained the EA's flood strategy in rural areas.The Rivers Trust have released their latest State of Our Rivers report which shows the extent of farm pollution in rivers. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

This week we look at the positives about Scotland, King Charles's Cancer; EU caves into farmers; Biden and 'Mitterand'; Nicky Haley in Nevada; Michelle O'Neill; Corruption in the EU parliament; Ecocide;  the growth of BRICS; El Salvador's NAyib Bukele; James Marriot on egalitarian, elitist, education; Woke Comedy; 'Gas the Jews', BBC 'Holohoax' employee fired; Police ban singing Christian songs outside church; Newcastle ban lesbian Terf;  'Don't tell them Pike'; The misinformation of Prof Dame Juliet Gerrard; Environment Agency bans 'mother and father';  Electricity; The Church and fake asylum seekers; SEEK 22; with music from Big Country, the Wurzels, Led Zeppelin; Simon and Garfunkel; the Magpie Geordie; Lindisfarne;  OMD; and the Spooky Mens' Chorale. 

This week we are chatting about something super important seeing as we are in the heart of a cost of living crisis. AFFORDABILITY! Now for me, it's a key component for whatever purchase I make, but at the same time, I am definitely the type of person that wants quality products and I am personally happy to pay a little more for something if I know the quality is going to be there! Today I am speaking to Stephanie Matson from COSMOS organic certified and AFFORDABLE brand, Dr Organic. Available online and at Holland and Barrett stores nationwide!Stephanie has more than 20 years' experience, having started working life delivering environmental projects for Government departments and NGOs such as the Environment Agency before moving into organic beauty 15 years ago. She has worked for a diverse range of sustainable and ethical beauty brands and has been driving for sustainability at Dr. Organic for two years. Subscribe to this podcast in all places where you listen to podcasts and drop us an email at info@sustainablyinfuenced.com, or follow us on Instagram and TikTok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the water regulation guidelines, the cab cards developed by the Environment Agency, and how outdoor pig producers can minimise the risk of pollution. AHDB's Knowledge Exchange Relationship Manager Andrew Palmer is joined by the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) Advisor Helen Blower and Farming Rules for Water lead, Jackie Vale. Useful links Water regulations for farmers | AHDB Farming rules cab card Environmental Permitting Regulations | AHDB Water Regs UK Limited - Water Regulations Guide Check for Drinking Water Safeguard Zones and NVZs (data.gov.uk) Rules for farmers and land managers to prevent water pollution - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Applying the farming rules for water - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Feedback We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts. If you'd like to give your feedback, please complete our short questionnaire, which will help us to improve the podcast on an ongoing basis, or email us with your thoughts, comments and suggestions: foodandfarming@ahdb.org.uk 

One of the scariest things for scientists is watching entertainment media portray your field of study inaccurately—the horror! Flood resilience officer and social volcanologist Jazmin Scarlett turned her hobby of playing video games into a paper discussing the depictions of volcanic hazards in games such as Pokémon, LEGO DC Super Villains, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The typical video game volcano nearly always has molten lava, but would these games be even more fun to play if they incorporated fissure eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and the dangerous effects of ash and toxic gasses? Jazmin talked with us about her views on natural disasters in fiction media, what scares her about volcanoes, and why she left volcanology to work on flood resilience with the UK's Environment Agency. This episode was produced by Katrina Jackson and mixed by Collin Warren. Art by Jace Steiner.

While the world becomes drier, profit and pollution are draining our resources. We have to change our approach. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

I am joined on the river with Westcountry fly angler and guide Harry Chance.We talk about his love of fishing the small streams of Devon, look for some rising trout along with his work with the Environment Agency.We talk tactics and enjoy time together on the river.

A farmer was jailed last week for what the Environment Agency and Natural England describe as the ‘worst case of riverside damage' they'd ever seen. John Price admitted seven charges of damaging a stretch of the River Lugg in Herefordshire. He was sentenced to a year in prison and has to pick up the £600,000 bill for restoring the river. What are the implications of this when it comes to protecting our waterways in future? We speak to Natural England and the Wildlife Trust who raised the alarm. All week we're going to be looking at one of the fundamentals of farming: seeds - from seed banks to seed breeding and the work being done agricultural seed companies. We start off with a seed expert and professor of crop production from the University of Reading. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Roger Falconer is Emeritus Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering, at Cardiff University, UK, and an Independent Water Consultant. His research and consultancy interests are in hydro-environmental modelling and his models have been used in over 100 Environmental Impact Assessment studies world-wide and provide one of the engines to the model Flood Modeller (marketed internationally by Jacobs). He has published over 450 papers in journals and conference proceedings and given over 600 keynote conference presentations and lectures to learned societies and universities world-wide. He is a Fellow of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences. He was President of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (2011-15). He consults regularly on flooding projects world-wide and was a member of the: Government's National Flood Resilience Scientific Advisory Group, Natural Resources Wales' Flood Risk Management Committee (2006-16), Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (2019-date), Independent Expert Group (of 3) reviewing the recent London Floods (2021-date). He regularly gives TV and media interviews on flooding. Dr. Richard Crowder, Jacobs Director, Water & Environment, is an internationally recognized flood risk management professional with more than 25 years of experience. His history in the industry is one of innovation and doing things differently. He is a business leader with experience spanning research, innovation, project delivery, client management, sales, and operational management. Richard is known for taking on challenging projects and using innovation and digital delivery to solve problems and deliver projects in new and more efficient ways. This covers the full range of flood risk management disciplines including appraisal, environmental services, engineering design, asset management, and hydrological and hydraulic modelling. He joined Halcrow (now Jacobs) in 2002 and has held senior leadership roles including Regional Business Development Director (Europe) for the water sector, and framework manager delivering engineering and environmental services to the Environment Agency (England). He is currently part of Jacobs' Water Catchment Management leadership team responsible for Growth, the Director responsible for Jacobs family of flood products, and the Framework Director leading Jacobs contract with the Environment Agency to deliver flood mapping and modelling services.  

Poultry farmers are appealing to the government to include them on a list of industries which would get help paying their energy costs. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is being replaced by the Energy and Trade Intensive Industry Scheme - but agricultural producers are not included in either. Poultry production has declined recently, partly due to avian flu but also because of the huge rise in the cost of heating, ventilating and feeding indoor chickens for meat. The indoor vegetable industry is also asking the government for help with energy costs. While Scotland is battling with the snow, farmers in East Anglia and the South West are still hoping for more rain. East Anglia in particular had the driest February since 1959 and the third driest on record, and for a region where three quarters of the land produces grain and vegetables, lack of rain can have a serious impact nationwide. We visit the Euston Estate near Thetford to hear how low water levels have changed what they are growing. One of the big issues facing the dairy farming sector is pollution. Slurry that's not stored properly can pollute both air and rivers. Last year two thirds of dairy and beef farms in one region of England were found to be causing pollution, when the Environment Agency inspected 187 farms in Devon between 2016 and 2020. The EA report concluded that dairy farmers were taking a calculated business risk not to invest to stop pollution because the chances of being fined are so tiny. The Environment Agency has committed to introducing a system of environmental permits for dairy and beef farms to clamp down on pollution incidents, but the industry is worried. We visit a dairy farmer in Somerset. Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

One of the firms which operates the Government's visa scheme for seasonal workers in food and farming has had its licence revoked. AG Recruitment was one of six companies which brought temporary workers from Europe and around the world to work on UK farms. We ask British Growers what this means for a sector which is already struggling to find workers to pick their fruit and veg this summer. A farmer who lost all his ducks through bird flu, says delays with paperwork could jeopardize his plans to produce chickens instead. Tom McVeigh wants to house broilers on his farm in Suffolk after 95,000 ducks died because of avian influenza. He needs the Environment Agency to sign off on the the change of use but says they've told him staff shortages mean instead of taking six weeks to process the paperwork, it'll take six months. All week we are boldly going beyond our world to talk about how food and farming can benefit from our exploration of space. From satellites guiding tractors and scouting for illegal fishing operations, to zero gravity crops. We speak to: the UK Space Agency about how space exploration already has an impact on farms; an Israeli company which has produced lab-grown meat in space; a tech start-up which is taking technology designed for exploring Mars to weed organic crops; and a campaign group which is using images from space to keep tabs on illegal fishing. Early lambing's started, which means late nights and early mornings on some sheep farms. We join one couple who breed Texel rams in the lambing shed on their farm in Gloucestershire. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Feel like you're struggling as a manager? Are you doubting yourself, feeling like maybe it's not a great fit? In this episode we look at three things that can be a factor: your work environment, your sense of agency, and your autonomy. Work environment includes physical things (e.g., furniture, lighting, etc) as well as the culture of your organization. Agency is your capacity to take action in a situation. Autonomy is your bigger picture perspective on how much freedom you have to make decisions for your life. When you look at how these three elements relate in your own work life, you gain insight that will help you every day. Let's discuss! After the episode: Register for the group coaching program: https://kimnicol.com/newmanagers/ Book a consult to discuss 1:1 coaching: https://calendly.com/kimnicol/consultation

Researchers have identified which neurons, when electrically stimulated, can restore the ability to walk in paralysed patients. Professor Jocelyne Bloch, Associate Professor at the Université de Lausanne, tells Roland how the technology works. Astronomers have discovered the closest black hole to Earth. Researchers led by Kareem El-Badry, astrophysicist at Harvard University, identified the celestial body when they spotted a Sun-like star orbiting a dark, dense object. The origins of eels have been mystifying scientists for centuries. Though the Sargasso Sea has been their presumed breeding place for 100 years, there has been no direct evidence of their migration – until now. Ros Wright, Senior Fisheries Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency, shares how researchers finally pinned down these slippery creatures. This week, a new report from the UN Environment Programme reveals that carbon dioxide emissions from building operations have reached an all-time high. Insaf Ben Othmane, architect and co-author of the report, talks through the risks and opportunities this poses for Africa and why there is still hope for the future. After learning how long it will take the Earth's ice sheets to melt in the previous episode, we continue our journey in Greenland. As world leaders gather in Egypt for the annual UN climate conference, listener Johan isn't too optimistic about governments' ability to curb greenhouse gas emissions and get a handle on climate change. So from his coastal perch in Denmark, he's asked where we should live when the poles have melted away and coastlines creep inland. Along with the help of BBC correspondents around the world, Marnie Chesterton scours the globe for the best option for listener Johan's new home. From high-up, cold desert regions to manmade islands, Marnie's on a mission to find a climate-proof destination. But as we hear from climate scientists, we might not be the only ones on the move, and waters aren't going to rise evenly around the world. Can Marnie find a place to go, away from the expanding seas? (Image: Patient with complete spinal cord injury (left) and incomplete spinal cord injury (right) walking in Lausanne. Credit: Jimmy Ravier/NeuroRestore)

Researchers have identified which neurons, when electrically stimulated, can restore the ability to walk in paralysed patients. Professor Jocelyne Bloch, Associate Professor at the Université de Lausanne, tells Roland how the technology works. Astronomers have discovered the closest black hole to Earth. Researchers led by Kareem El-Badry, astrophysicist at Harvard University, identified the celestial body when they spotted a Sun-like star orbiting a dark, dense object. The origins of eels have been mystifying scientists for centuries. Though the Sargasso Sea has been their presumed breeding place for 100 years, there has been no direct evidence of their migration – until now. Ros Wright, Senior Fisheries Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency, shares how researchers finally pinned down these slippery creatures. This week, a new report from the UN Environment Programme reveals that carbon dioxide emissions from building operations have reached an all-time high. Insaf Ben Othmane, architect and co-author of the report, talks through the risks and opportunities this poses for Africa and why there is still hope for the future. Contributors Jocelyne Bloch, Associate Professor and Neurosurgeon, Université de Lausanne Kareem El-Badry, Astrophysicist, Harvard University Insaf Ben Othmane, Architect, Oecumene Spaces for Dignity Ros Wright, Senior Fisheries Technical Specialist, Environment Agency (Image: Patient with complete spinal cord injury (left) and incomplete spinal cord injury (right) walking in Lausanne. Credit: Jimmy Ravier/NeuroRestore) Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Roland Pease Assistant Producer: Sophie Ormiston

A tide of effluent, broken laws and ruthless cuts is devastating the nations' waterways. An academic and a detective have dredged up the truth of how it was allowed to happen – but will anything be done?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Is the UK heading for a drought? Adam speaks to the head of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan about the impact of the recent dry weather and soaring temperatures, which are forecast to hit 37C (99F) in some parts of the country in the coming days. Adam is also joined by Charlotte Smith from Radio 4's Farming Today and BBC Weather's Matt Taylor to assess how the hot conditions will affect crops and agriculture, and when we can expect some rain. Today's episode was produced by Tim Walklate with Beth Rose, Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Emma Crowe.