Articles by Helena Horton Environment reporter

How ambitious ‘forest city’ plan for England could become a reality

Cross-party coalition behind proposals hope eco-friendly scheme for million people could begin before end of decade

Ban on veggie ‘burgers’: plant-based products may lose meaty names in UK under EU law

Exclusive: Trade agreement means UK is subject to some food labelling rules, with vote on vegetarian food terms this week

3 days ago

Technology

At least 15 English sewage plants use plastic beads spilled at Camber Sands

Exclusive: Experts urge water companies to update plants to avoid another catastrophe, as analysis reveals scale of use

4 days ago

Science

Three sugar cubes worth of plastic enough to kill a puffin, study finds

Scientists find tiny amounts can be a ‘fatal dose’ for marine life in the most comprehensive study of its kind

5 days ago

Technology

Southern Water apologises for catastrophic spill of plastic biobeads in Sussex

Resulting pollution on Camber Sands beach poses threat to wildlife including dolphins and seals

Nov 10, 2025

Technology

‘Environmental catastrophe’ fears as millions of plastic beads wash up on Camber Sands

MP asks for explanation from Southern Water amid concerns the spill could have dire impact on rare sea life

Nov 8, 2025

Technology

‘Environmental catastrophe’ fears as millions of plastic beads wash up on Camber Sands

Southern Water is being investigated amid concerns the spill could have dire impact on rare sea life

Nov 8, 2025

Technology

England facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year

Government and water companies are devising emergency plans for worst water shortage in decades

Nov 8, 2025

World

Celebrity chefs urge Britons to ‘bang in some beans’ to boost legume consumption

Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and major supermarkets want to double amount of beans Britons eat

Nov 5, 2025

World

Low-income areas in England and Wales face worst air pollution, analysis finds

Exclusive: Experts say impact on people of colour and those who do not drive is ‘grave environmental injustice’

Nov 5, 2025

World

New set of forest towns to be built between Oxford and Cambridge

Communities in the middle of new national forest to show how housebuilding can be delivered alongside nature

Nov 5, 2025

World

Third of British farmers made no profit in past year, report finds

Only 14% of farmers surveyed for Farmdex report had 10% or more profit margin amid drop in subsidies since Brexit

Nov 4, 2025

New planning bill could jeopardise UK’s trade deal with EU, ambassador warns

Exclusive: Proposed legislation removes EU-derived nature protections as government hopes to boost economic growth

Oct 29, 2025

Offshore windfarm projects may be exempted from new UK nature rules

Exclusive: Firms say added costs would mean they are unable to install enough turbines to meet green energy goals

Oct 28, 2025

Young first-time buyers forced into ‘nature deserts’, UK data shows

Exclusive: High cost of homes near green spaces may be deepening health inequalities, says wildlife coalition

Oct 26, 2025

Airport expansion will put UK’s net zero goal in ‘serious jeopardy’, MPs warn

Committee urges ministers to set out measures to reduce carbon emissions before work starts on new runways

Oct 23, 2025

No major banks have yet committed to stop funding new oil, gas and coal, research finds

‘The objectives of the Paris agreement are slipping further out of reach,’ say researchers from LSE

Oct 21, 2025

Business

Water firms in England could face harsher sewage fines under new Environment Agency powers

Government consults on allowing regulator to use lower civil standard of proof and introducing automatic penalties

Oct 21, 2025

Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country

Three specimens discovered in what was previously one of the only places in the world without the insects

Oct 21, 2025

Nearly half of UK garden space is paved over, RHS study finds

Homeowners urged to use more robust planting and permeable materials to help mitigate flood risk

Oct 20, 2025