Positive Climate News - January 2026

This month's collection of positive climate news stories highlight how Christmas trees have been replanted to boost sea defences, the aquarists who have travelled from Hull to America to help protect endangered sea turtles, and the two wind farms off the west and north Wales coastline that have secured UK government funding.

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1. New ranger to help restore park's natural habitats

Northumberland National Park Authority have hired a new ranger to help restore natural habitats by training volunteers to help in conservation efforts. Community groups will work to collect data on wildlife and habitats along the Hadrian's Wall area. They will put together recovery plans, promote biodiversity and share the benefits of nature-based land management with residents and visitors.

Find out more on the BBC website.

2. Wild salmon award for river conservation efforts

The Ribble Rivers Trust has won a national wild salmon conservation award for its plans to protect the endangered fish and reduce flood risk in the River Hodder in Lancashire.

The project, due to start in late spring 2026, will involve local communities, schools and anglers, and support measures to slow water flow to create vital spawning habitat for salmon.

Find out more on the BBC website.

3. Historic forest to grow with mass tree planting

After buying Hoarthorn's Farm in late 2024, Forestry England will plant thousands of trees at the 88-hectare (217 acre) site near Berry Hill in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

Tom Brockington, area manager for Forestry England, said the move is "very significant" with between 1,000 and 1,500 trees being planted per day in the forest's first expansion since 1817.

Find out more on the BBC website.

4. Christmas trees replanted to boost sea defences

Thousands of Christmas trees taken down after the festive season have been given a second lease of life and planted into sand dunes to boost natural sea defences along the Fylde Coast, Lancashire, which has eroded over the last century.

Once half-buried into the sand, the branches of the trees will trap sand as the wind blows, eventually creating new sand dunes which grow seaward over time, creating a first line of defence from the tide.

Find out more on the BBC website. 

5. First city bans fossil fuel ads and meat adverts in public spaces

Amsterdam’s City Council has passed a legally binding ordinance that will remove fossil fuel advertising from billboards, transit shelters, and city-owned digital screens from May 2026. The measure also covers other high-carbon ads (including meat), making Amsterdam the first capital city in the world to take this step through local law.

Find out more on the Creatives for Climate website.

6. Woman running a hedgehog rescue from her Staffordshire garden

For 25 years, Joan Lockley has run a hedgehog rescue from her Staffordshire garden. The 82-year-old says she helped more than 600 of the animals over the past 12 months from her "hosprickle" at her home in Cheslyn Hay.

This year, she was awarded a British Empire Medal for her efforts in running West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue. She says she will never stop doing what she can to protect the animals.

Find out more on the BBC website.

7. Nature recovery scheme gets £2m funding boost

The Eden Project scheme, Nature: Connection and Recovery, has been awarded more than £2m of funding from the National Lottery. The programme aims to make nature central to boosting health and wellbeing while giving communities tools to take action on climate change.

Find out more on the Eden Project website.

8. Aquarists help save endangered sea turtles

Two aquarists who work at The Deep aquarium in Hull have travelled to America to help the New England aquarium rescue critically endangered sea turtles along their migration route.

The volunteers look after turtles who have been "cold-stunned" on their journey south to warmer waters and it is the seventh year that volunteers from The Deep have taken part in the conservation project, which involved several aquarium partners across the world.

Find out more on the BBC website.

9. Volunteers want to take over lease to preserve lake

The Friends of New Brighton Marine Lake in Wirral hope to take over the lease of a 90-year-old marine lake with the aim of preserving its future for swimming and water sports.

The volunteers are determined to improve the lake's water quality after noticing it was deteriorating, often full of debris and rubbish and at risk of another blue-green algae outbreak.

Find out more on the BBC website.

10. Wales secures funding for two offshore wind farms 

Two wind farms off the west and north Wales coastline have secured UK government funding to support the national grid and up to 7,000 jobs are expected to be created.

The Erebus wind farm, set to be built off Pembrokeshire, would become Wales' first floating offshore wind farm, following two projects already operating in Scotland. A second wind farm, Awel y Môr, using more traditional offshore turbines, is planned close to existing projects and will be 10km (6.2 miles) off Rhyl, Denbighshire.

Find out more on the ITVX website.

By Eveline Vouillemin ©