The UK Pulse The Pulse of the UK

Peers urge tighter controls on pet flea treatments

A House of Lords committee has urged tighter controls on pet flea treatments, warning that widespread use may harm rivers, aquatic life and wider ecosystems.

4 min read

In the foreground, a cat squints at the camera. Behind her and out of focus, a vet can be made out, smiling and wearing blue scrubs as she uses a bright green flea comb to inspect the fur on the cat's head.

Former dairy farm to become North Somerset wildlife reserve

Avon Wildlife Trust has bought Ebdon Farm near Wick St Lawrence with a £5m grant and plans to turn the former dairy farm into wetlands and a nature reserve.

4 min read

Aerial view of farm buildings and fields. There is an off-white extended farm house with a reddish roof and lots of outbuildings and barns. Several grass fields can be seen in the background.

Peat fire underground sparks heathland blaze at Headon Warren

Firefighters tackled a peat-fed blaze at Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight after a five-day wildfire destroyed about nine hectares of heathland.

5 min read

The aftermath of the wildfire at Headon Warren, West Wight - charred heathland alongside cliffs with sea seen to the edge of the land.

National Trust adds 32 hectares to Saltram park

The National Trust has added 32 hectares of former farmland to Saltram in Plymouth, creating new park space, a 2.5km trail and plans for more wildlife habitat.

4 min read

A wooden wayfinding sign stands beside a rural path bordered by grass, trees and fenced fields. The sign points to “Wixenford Way,” “Meadow Path,” and “Turnpike Trail.” In the background, hay bales dot a golden field, with trees and a distant town visible beyond.

Kenya probes mysterious deaths of 15 elephants near Amboseli

Kenyan officials are investigating whether pesticide exposure caused the deaths of 15 elephants near Amboseli National Park, but conservationists and farmers say the evidence is inconclusive.

5 min read

Four elephants grazing in Amboseli National Park

Devon farmer says bluetongue outbreak left her feeling isolated

A Devon farmer has described feeling “so alone” as suspected bluetongue spread through her sheep, with 92 positive cases recorded in England by the end of July.

4 min read

A close up of a sheep which is looking over a fence in an enclosure.

Arson arrest made over Washington state's largest wildfire

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson over Washington state's largest wildfire as three major fires continue near Spokane, forcing more than 60,000 evacuations.

4 min read

A member of the Spokane Valley Fire Department battles a fire northeast of Spokane, Washington

Residents devastated after swan family dies at Canvey Lake

Residents near Canvey Lake in Essex say they are devastated after a swan family died following blue-green algae concerns and repeated wildlife losses at the local nature reserve.

4 min read

Three swans, one is white and two are grey. They are walking on a green field.

Guatemala volcano erupts, sending lava into the air

Guatemala’s Fuego volcano has erupted, prompting evacuations, ash warnings and an orange alert as pyroclastic flows continue.

2 min read

A dramatic volcano eruption in Guatemala beneath a star-filled night sky, showcasing nature's power.

Deadly landslide strikes Ethiopian monastery during prayer service

Funerals have been held after a landslide killed 14 people at an Ethiopian mountain monastery during an overnight prayer service in Amhara region. Rescue efforts have been halted.

1 min read

A row of brightly draped coffins laid before Orthodox clergy holding crosses and ceremonial umbrellas as grieving relatives and worshippers gather around

Inside the right’s climate-denial split over net zero

A rightwing media row over climate change, net zero and wildfires is reshaping political debate as England faces drought, heatwaves and escalating fire risk.

11 min read