JANUARY 2026
Workday in the park……… a fine workday on 17th January 2026 ………
Thanks to all the volunteers for tackling so much……..https://www.heatonmoorpark.co.uk/january-spruce-up-in-the-park/
National Day of Local Action for Nature and Green Spaces
Saturday 18th April.
From the National Federation of Parks and Greenspaces…….a day of action It’s timed to be a few weeks before the local elections, when politicians will be in listening mode, hopefully. There are many opportunities to get involved….. plant a tree, make a mini meadow or arrange a nature walk…… have a coffee & cakes morning. Or just do a photo on the village green. This coincides with the April Garden in the park day……..
https://mailchi.mp/71243388fda7/community-planning-alliance-new-website-social-media-6749964?e=4a9e8a7b62
Commercial activities in parks…… the debate rumbles on…….
Some more information from London Centric…..
The Battle of Brockwell Park, the ongoing saga over whether Lambeth council should let promoters take over the large south London open space for private ticketed events, is once again on the agenda. In a statement, Lambeth Council has largely thrown in the towel and accepted that the private promoters that organise events such as Field Day will in future have to go through a full planning process. ………Labour-run Lambeth council said it now plans to hold fewer events held in Brockwell Park. The first one to be cancelled is the Lambeth Country Show, a free event which was subsidised by the council and used the private festivals’ infrastructure.
https://www.londoncentric.media/p/lambeth-country-show-cancelled-brockwell-park-festivals-mighty-hoopla-field-day
Water bankruptcy
Water Bankruptcy……. strange as it might seem with so much rain here, the world is facing the threat of “water bankruptcy”
.The world has entered an era of ‘global water bankruptcy’, UN warns. Problems of water shortage are acute in Iran, California, Kashmir, Yemen. A report has been issued by the UN:
Global Water Bankruptcy:Living Beyond our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era 2026
https://unu.edu/inweh/collection/global-water-bankruptcy
https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-the-un-report-global-water-bankruptcy-living-beyond-our-hydrological-means-in-the-post-crisis-era/
Implications for the UK have been discussed in the Guardian……
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/22/what-happens-england-water-run-out-drought-tunbridge-wells
Global biodiversity loss…..crossparty report
The UK Government has finally published the long awaited national security assessment on global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse. It is grim reading.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-security
Bird flu and the park……Bird flu in wild birds in UK 2016-2025 – statistics …….. #birdflu #birds
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds#full-publication-update-history
Wild flowers ….BSBI press release – 2026 New Year Plant Hunt ….. As the climate warms, hundreds of wild flowers bloom in midwinter https://bsbi.org/take-part/activities/new-year-plant-hunt/results
Public attitudes to science ….The 2025 Public Attitudes to Science Survey is out, with a mixed picture of how the UK sees science -Strong support for scientists https://pas.ipsos.com
Natural environment …..Progress in improving the natural environment in England 2024/2025 ….report from Office for Environmental Protection…..
https://theoep.org.uk/report/progress-improving-natural-environment-england-20242025
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Fo7glaNZMF4&t=2s
Involuntary parks: Human conflict is creating unintended refuges for wildlife
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/01/involuntary-parks-human-conflict-is-creating-unintended-refuges-for-wildlife/
Insects are victims too: Global study shows impacts of invasive alien species on populations
Researchers say insects are often seen as invaders due to high-profile species like yellow-legged hornet and harlequin ladybird https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112647
Birds are being trained to pick up litter…..Smart feeders from a Swedish startup reward birds with grains when they bring trash like cigarette butts and bottle caps………..(from Viral Rush)
And a park a minute.…. One Minute Park allows you to visit parks from around the world for one minute each. These are just one minute videos, not webcams……. https://sites.elliott.computer/one-minute-park