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Second stoat trapped and killed on Orkney island weeks after first capture

A second stoat has been trapped and killed on Rousay in Orkney, weeks after the first confirmed invasive stoat was caught. The non-native predators threaten ground-nesting birds and the Orkney vole, found nowhere else in the world.

4 min read

BBC Weather Presenter Reports from Newquay as Storm Austen Batters UK

Storm Austen causes power cuts affecting over 9,000 homes in Cornwall and Devon, with red warnings for Channel Islands and amber alerts for southwest England. BBC weather presenter reports from Newquay.

1 min read

COP17 Faces Pressure to Rescue Biodiversity Deal as Nations Miss 2030 Targets

World leaders gather at COP17 in Armenia to rescue a stalled biodiversity deal as nations miss 2030 targets. A rare Persian leopard sighting offers hope, while new coalitions and funding commitments aim to accelerate conservation efforts globally.

5 min read

Magnitude 7 earthquake kills 16 in Tibet, hundreds of homes destroyed

A magnitude 7 earthquake has struck Tibet's Nagqu region, killing at least 16 people and destroying 339 homes. Rockfall has blocked roads, hampering rescue efforts in high-altitude areas. The region remains vulnerable to seismic activity and recently suffered catastrophic floods.

2 min read

Storm Adam kills at least four in southern France as flooding sweeps region

Storm Adam has killed at least four people in southern France after triggering unprecedented flooding, with record rainfall of 538 millimeters in six hours. Storm Austen is now approaching from the Atlantic.

3 min read

£65,000 grant launches three-year effort to save rare arctic-alpine plants

A three-year conservation project to protect rare arctic-alpine plants in Upper Teesdale has received £64,739 in government funding. The Teesdale Special Flora Research and Conservation Trust will engage volunteers in seed collection and propagation to restore endangered species including the uni...

4 min read

New Cumbria Lab Opens as Hub for Upland Research and Conservation

A new laboratory at RSPB Wild Haweswater in Penrith opens as a hub for upland research, funded by ornithologist Denis Summers-Smith's estate. The facility supports Cumbria Connect's work across 34,000 hectares, with researchers already conducting grazing experiments and fungal restoration studies.

3 min read

Fuel leak in River Taff halted after killing fish and forcing window closures

A kerosene leak in the River Taff that killed fish and prompted window-closure warnings has been stopped. Up to 25,000 litres contaminated 2.5 miles of the river before the source was identified on Friday night.

3 min read

Climate groups slam 'maddening' Jackdaw gas approval as betrayal of climate goals

Environmental campaigners have condemned the UK government's approval of the Jackdaw gas field, arguing it undermines climate targets and will not reduce energy bills. Critics warn the decision damages Britain's international climate credibility.

6 min read

Wimpole Estate records 5,242 wildlife species despite regional drought

Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire has recorded 5,242 wildlife species over six years, including rare barbastelle bats and great crested newts, demonstrating that nature can flourish alongside farming despite regional drought conditions.

4 min read

Storm Austen to batter UK and Ireland with severe gales and heavy rain

Storm Austen will bring severe gales and heavy rain to the UK and Ireland from Thursday evening into Friday, with amber and orange weather warnings issued for the most exposed areas. A second weather system will follow over the weekend.

5 min read

Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks in UK Skies This Week

The Orionid meteor shower peaks in UK skies on 22 October, with 10–20 meteors per hour visible under clear skies. Moonlight will interfere until 03:00 BST Thursday, but conditions improve thereafter. UK weather looks wet and windy, though some clear spells are possible.

3 min read