Positive Climate News - October 2025

This month's collection of positive climate news stories highlight an artist hoping to inspire others to connect with nature, a wild food forager sharing her knowledge with the local community, and a nature reserve which has recorded its highest tally of wild birds in 25 years..

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First pine martens re-introduced in Exmoor National Park

A pioneering nature recovery project has reintroduced 19 pine martens to Exmoor National Park - marking the official return of a native species lost for over a century.

Pine martens are a native species and a woodland dwelling animal. The reintroduction marks the culmination of 7 years of planning by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project working with local volunteers, stakeholders and communities.

Find out more on the Exmoor National Park website.

Northumberland forager encouraging people to get out in nature

A wild food forager is encouraging people to get out in nature after completing her 100th guided walk. Gemma Gee, 35, has a lifelong love of blackberry picking and began foraging during Covid lockdowns. She now takes groups of people around Northumberland's woods showing them what flowers and fruit to gather and safely eat.

Find out more on the BBC website.

Six new marine protected areas declared in Spain

Spain has announced the designation of five new marine protected areas and one area of special importance for seabirds. The decision adds 17,000 km² of marine space to the country’s protected waters – bringing Spain closer to its goal of safeguarding 25% of its marine territory by the end of 2025.

Find out more on the Oceanographic website.

Free trees given away to boost nature

A council is giving away free trees through the autumn and winter months in a bid to "enhance nature". Staffordshire County Council said people would be able to plant them in their own gardens or on private land through community groups.

Oak, hawthorn, rowan, hazel, silver birch, crab apple and whitebeam would be among the trees handed out at a number of giveaway events across the county. The scheme has been organised by the Staffordshire Sustainability Board, which tackles environmental sustainability issues across the county.

Find out more on the BBC website.

Woodland sculpture brings nature to busy junction

An artist hopes a new sculpture installed at one of Bradford's busiest junctions will inspire people to get closer to nature. The art installation, titled "Big Hug" is the centrepiece of a new "eco-park" featuring more than 300 shrubs and pollinator-friendly plants.

The 10ft (3m) tall sculpture was commissioned by Bradford-based non-profit company The Leap, which supports community-led arts and culture across the district.

Find out more on the BBC website.

Green sea turtles no longer endangered species

Once hunted extensively for turtle soup, its eggs as a delicacy and decorative shells, green sea turtles had been listed as endangered since the 1980s. However, now thanks to decades of global conservation efforts, new data shows green turtle populations are rebounding.

Find out more on the Earth.Org website.

Bus shelter art celebrates nature and heritage

An art project has transformed four bus shelters with designs that celebrate a town's heritage and local nature. The work by local artists has brought "vibrant colour and a renewed sense of pride" to Fazeley, near Tamworth, said organiser New Urban Era (Nue).

The arts collective said designs included a bull that pays tribute to Fazeley's name, which is believed to mean "bull's meadow", while landmarks and birds found at a nature reserve also feature.

Find out more on the BBC website.

Nature map aims to inspire Bristol residents to get outdoors

A social enterprise is fundraising to develop a Bristol's first urban nature map with the aim of helping residents connect with nature. Urban Good CIC has developed the map with input from people living in Bristol and hopes to launch it in January 2026.

The map will show how Bristol's parks, green spaces, cycleways and waterways connect and what each of them have to offer. "The maps are really about trying to reframe what a city looks like for its residents and visitors," said Charlie Peel, founder of Urban Good CIC.

Find out more on the Bristol 24/7 website.

Nature reserve reports bumper breeding year for birds

Elmley Nature Reserve, located on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, is a family-run estate with a goal to restore nature to its 3,300 acres. Simon Ginnaw, head nature warden at Elmley, said although wild bird numbers had seen a "dramatic decline" nationally, the site had recorded its highest tally of yellow wagtails in 25 years. 

Find out more on the BBC website.

Yorkshire Dales nature reserve to be extended

A nature reserve is to be expanded to become part of the King's Series of National Nature Reserves. Ingleborough National Nature Reserve in the Yorkshire Dales will increase in size by 442 acres to 2,930 acres. The upland landscape has habitats which are home to nationally significant wildlife populations including the northern brown argus butterfly, curlew and Yorkshire sandwort.

Find out more on the University of Leeds website.

By Eveline Vouillemin ©