Major Landscape Restoration Project Begins in Northumberland
An ambitious new landscape restoration project is underway in Northumberland, following the purchase of the 3,035-hectare Emblehope Estate by environmental organisation RESTORE.
The project aims to restore nature and improve climate resilience across the landscape over the next 30 years. Plans include rewetting around 800 hectares of peatland, restoring native plants and habitats, and introducing low-intensity grazing to support biodiversity. 🌱
The restored peatland could also help reduce flooding by storing an estimated 100,000 cubic metres of additional water, acting like a giant natural sponge and slowing water flowing downstream.
The project is a major example of how restoring natural ecosystems can benefit wildlife, communities and the climate — showing the positive impact that large-scale nature recovery can have.
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Renewable Energy Reaches a Turning Point
The global energy system could be reaching a “tipping point”, with renewable energy continuing to grow at an impressive rate.
According to a new review by the Energy Institute, global electricity use increased by 3% in 2025, with renewables providing enough additional electricity to meet the entire increase. Solar power grew by an incredible 30%, while global battery capacity increased by 66%.
China continued to lead the growth in renewable energy, installing more wind and solar power than the rest of the world combined. India also saw renewable generation increase by almost 24%, alongside a fall in electricity generated from coal, oil and gas.
However, global emissions are still rising. The review highlights the need for faster action to improve energy efficiency, switch to cleaner technologies and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
The rapid growth of renewable energy is encouraging, but the message is clear: we need to keep accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.
Helping New Woodlands Store More Carbon
New research from Imperial College London has found that adding crushed basalt to newly planted forests could increase the amount of carbon they store by up to 27% over four years.
Scientists also found that adding microorganisms from established forests to woodland soils helped young trees grow, increasing aboveground plant growth by 13% over the same period.
The study tested these approaches across 72 new woodland plots in Wales, exploring how simple, nature-based interventions could help young forests establish more successfully.
Healthy new woodlands are important for biodiversity, climate action and resilient landscapes. While more research and long-term monitoring is needed, these findings could help improve future woodland creation projects and support young forests as they grow.