Positive Climate News - December 2025
- Eveline Vouillemin
- Dec 23, 2025
- 6 min read
This month's collection of positive climate news stories highlight the largest recycled plastic bottle cap mural ever to be showcased in the UK, the native animals making a comeback across Europe, and global community efforts to protect and preserve local habitats.
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Rare sighting of red squirrel on Wallington Estate
In 2021, Storm Arwen destroyed 48 hectares of woodland at Wallington Estate, Northumberland, which was a key habitat for red squirrels. Since then, efforts have been underway to restore their habitat and entice red squirrels back.
The work appears to have been successful as a red squirrel was spotted by a visitor in the Wellbeing Woods at Wallington Estate last month, marking the first sighting since Storm Arwen.
Find out more on ITV News.
Traditional craft preserved with construction of new crawiau fence in Eryri
In Eryri, crawiau (slate fencing) was once a more common sight in the area. However, with the rise of materials like wooden posts and wire fencing, the tradition of slate fencing began to fade.
In Nant Ffrancon, a new crawiau fence was recently completed by rangers and volunteers new to the craft, helping to preserve the important skill while reconnecting people with the land and its history.
Find out more on the North Wales Live website.
Stockport unveils largest bottle cap recycled mural in the UK
A huge mural created using recycled materials has been unveiled in Stockport town centre, becoming the largest recycled plastic bottle cap mural ever to be showcased in the UK.
Created by local artist, Caitlin Atherton, co-owner of local recycling community benefit society, Plastic Shed, the handcrafted mural has been fitted together using 100% recycled plastic boards and features approximately 80,000 plastic lids, all collected and donated by the local community over the past five months.
Find out more on the One Stockport website.
Puffins make a comeback to Isle of Muck
Puffins were discovered nesting on the Isle of Muck Nature Reserve, off Islandmagee, this summer for the first time in Ulster Wildlife’s 25-year history of managing this seabird sanctuary.
The discovery, made during routine surveys, marks a major milestone in the recovery of one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic and vulnerable seabirds.
Find out more on the Ulster Wildlife website.
Finland’s Climate Mentor Program empowers students to fight climate change
The Finnish city of Lahti has launched the world’s first Climate Mentor program, a new approach to environmental education that pairs high school students with young climate experts.
The Climate Mentor program started this autumn at two local high schools and focuses on personal mentoring rather than traditional classroom lessons about climate change.
Find out more on the Happy Eco News website.
Loma Santa marks first Indigenous protected area in the Bolivian Amazon
The Bolivian government has officially declared Loma Santa a new Indigenous protected area. It is the size of the Hawaiian island of Maui, and sits at the heart of the T’simane Forest, an expanse of the Amazon in Bolivia.
The initiative to establish Loma Santa as an Indigenous protected area was led by the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory and their leader Alfredo Matareco said, “We want to help ensure that our forests and our land are preserved so that our children and future generations can also enjoy our Loma Santa and all the natural riches it holds.”
Find out more on the Mongabay website.
Vultures return to the Făgăraș Mountains
After more than 70 years of absence from Romania’s Făgăraș Mountains, the griffon vulture is set to return. The species disappeared in the mid-20th century due to direct persecution - being hunted and shot because it was considered harmful - as well as due to poisoning and the collection of eggs for private collections.
The first griffon vultures will be brought from Spain, with the support of partners from the Vulture Conservation Foundation. Reintroducing this species will restore an essential ecological function - that of cleaning and maintaining the balance of nature - and will contribute to the long-term health of the ecosystem.
Find out more on the Carpathia website.
Canada’s only supermarket rooftop garden keeps on producing
On top of the IGA supermarket, in Ville-Saint-Laurent, sits a 29,000 square foot garden which has been in operation for eight seasons now. This year, there are 40 different organic vegetables, herbs and Quebec garlic growing in the garden. The produce is either sold in the store or shared with local organisations.
Find out more on the Global News website.
Annual report highlights South Gloucestershire nature efforts
South Gloucestershire council has published its latest annual climate and nature emergency progress report which details efforts to address environmental challenges. Highlights from the past year include the creation of 11 hectares of wildflower meadows, 16 new community orchards, 6,673 trees planted, 14 new or restored ponds through the council’s Common Connections project, and newly begun work on a 30-hectare woodland.
Find out more on the Gazette Series website.
White storks back in London after 600-year absence
A breeding colony of white storks will be re-introduced to London for the first time in 600 years as part of a rewilding project. The native birds, which were driven to extinction in Britain in the 1400s, will be located in Eastbrookend Country Park in Dagenham from October next year, making the site the second publicly accessible white stork reintroduction project in the country.
Find out more on the BBC website.
Planting of first national forest in decades starts
The planting of what will become the UK's first new national forest for more than 30 years has begun. The 30-hectare Pucklechurch Wood will be part of the UK's new Western Forest, stretching across Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
More than 22,000 native trees will be planted between now and March, followed by a further 22,000 the following winter.
Find out more on the BBC website.
Breckland Flora Group celebrates a decade of safeguarding East Anglia’s rarest plants
The Breckland Flora Group – a volunteer-led group that has transformed understanding of some of the UK’s rarest and most threatened plants – celebrated its tenth anniversary last month.
From just a handful of recorders in its first year, the group has grown to 60 trained volunteers, who meticulously count, map and photograph plants, recording habitat conditions and threats. Volunteers range from experienced botanists to complete beginners, all trained in plant identification and survey skills.
Find out more on the Plantlife website.
Beaver spotted at nature reserve for first time
A nature reserve has recorded the first wild beaver living at its site. The animal was spotted several weeks ago at Pensthorpe Natural Park near Fakenham, Norfolk.
This is thought to be the first wild beaver in Norfolk for centuries. Reserve manager Richard Spowage said, "The fact that it has chosen our land to establish a territory reflects the ongoing work we have been doing to improve our river and surrounding land for nature.”
Find out more on the BBC website.
Volunteers help to create Japanese-style microforest
More than 850 trees have been planted by volunteers including primary school children to create a Japanese-style microforest. They helped to plant a mixture of native woodland trees and shrubs on Treales village field in Lancashire.
It is the 31st microforest to be planted by the county council. The number of trees now totals 35,000 and there is a forest in each district.
Find out more on the BBC website.
Grove of giant redwoods planted in smallest county
Saplings of giant redwoods - the world's largest trees - have been planted in England's smallest county. Earlier this year campaigners saved seven giant redwoods planted in the 1800s from the axe under expansion plans for nearby Grange Top Quarry in Ketton, Rutland.
Now quarry owner Heidelberg Materials has joined forces with the nature-loving locals to plant 12 new redwood trees to replace a second grove of sequoias which will still have to make way should the quarry expansion be granted approval.
Find out more on the BBC website.
Non-profit created to preserve biodiversity in Georgia
At the beginning of 2025, 22 year old Isaiah Scott founded Rookery and Roots Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to preserving biodiversity in the coastal region of Effingham County, Georgia.
Through donations from family, friends, parents and the community, he has raised $160,000 to purchase 16 acres of land in Rincon that will be home to a bird sanctuary, a protected natural habitat for native species.
Find out more on the Savannah Morning News website.
By Eveline Vouillemin ©
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