Environment news

• Why it has not been so easy being green for the white van in the UK

  24-01-2026 15:00 via theguardian.com
  Electric van sales are behind government targets, but those fleets that have switched are seeing a real differenceSwinging a fully laden electric van around a training centre in Bishop’s Stortford feels easy, with instant acceleration that belies the racks of heavy equipment in the back. Perhaps too easy, as the sudden shriek of its proximity sensor suggests the Guardian was a whisker away from a bill for some new paintwork.The van in question belongs to Openreach, BT’s fibre broadba
  
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• Young country diary: A winter surprise – wood ants busy on their nest | Meg

  24-01-2026 12:00 via theguardian.com
  Devon: We saw massive mounds of soil and pine needles where ants were hibernating – but not all of themWe pulled into the frosty car park just as the sun was rising. It was early in the morning and I was still a little bit sleepy, but the sharp winter air woke me up. The tall oak trees that surrounded the car park looked like they were crying icy tears. Everything was silent. We set off into the cold, solemn woods with our dog charging ahead.That’s when I saw it! Further on down the
  
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• RHS unveils plans to protect UK gardens from future water shortages

  24-01-2026 09:00 via theguardian.com
  Environmental charity to prioritise water capture and storage as it urges gardeners to prepare for ‘new normal’The Royal Horticultural Society has unveiled emergency plans to protect its gardens from major water shortages in the future.The environmental charity, which owns and operates five renowned public gardens in England, said on Saturday it will invest in more water-capture and water-management projects in 2026 after severe droughts last year. Continue reading...
  
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• From scorpions to peacocks: the species thriving in London’s hidden microclimates

  24-01-2026 07:00 via theguardian.com
  An extraordinary mosaic of wildlife has made Britain’s urban jungle its homeLondon is the only place in the UK where you can find scorpions, snakes, turtles, seals, peacocks, falcons all in one city – and not London zoo. Step outside and you will encounter a patchwork of writhing, buzzing, bubbling urban microclimates.Sam Davenport, the director of nature recovery at the London Wildlife Trust, emphasises the sheer variation in habitats that you find in UK cities, which creates an ama
  
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• ‘We cannot say for sure these wolves come from Russia’: Finns try to fathom cause of record reindeer deaths

  24-01-2026 06:00 via theguardian.com
  Wolves killed more than 2,100 reindeer in Finland last year, and herders are blaming the Ukraine warJuha Kujala no longer knows how many reindeer will return to his farm from the forest each December. The 54-year-old herder releases his animals into the wilderness on the 830-mile Finnish-Russian border each spring to grow fat on lichens, grass and mushrooms, just as his ancestors have done for generations.But since 2022, grisly discoveries of reindeer skeletons on the forest floor have disrupted
  
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• Everything but the kitchen sink: how to get rid of cooking oils and liquid waste without pouring them down the drain

  24-01-2026 00:00 via theguardian.com
  Oil, out-of-date milk and even roast dinner residues contribute to the growth of fatbergs, a sticky problem for sewerage systemsChange by degrees offers life hacks and sustainable living tips each Saturday to help reduce your household’s carbon footprintGot a question or tip for reducing household emissions? Email us at [email protected] are a sticky problem for sewerage systems – blocking pipes, spawning poo balls, and even forcing the cancellation of a Bryan A
  
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