Protecting the public realm without shutting it down
As Martyn's Law approaches, this free special report from LocalGov and Hill & Smith sets out how councils can protect public spaces without shutting them down.
Hampshire nature scheme receives £160k funding support
31/07/2026 Hampshire County Council has bagged over £150k in funding to deliver a nature recovery project. |
Campaigners strive to save historic Durham mosaic mural
20/07/2026 Campaigners are working to save a historic mural that could be lost during the demolition of Durham County Hall. |
Wakefield Council expands protections to safeguard district’s heritage
20/02/2026 Wakefield Council has strengthened heritage protections across the district with the approval of two new conservation areas and boundary updates. |
Resident fined over £100k for felling ancient tree
26/08/2025 A resident has been fined over £100,000 for illegally cutting down an ancient tree protected by a preservation order. |
Judge set to consider campsite dispute
19/06/2025 Wadhurst Parish Council is undertaking legal proceedings to protect an ecological site from ‘inappropriate developments’. |
Brighton and Hove takes steps to combat elm disease
28/04/2025 Brighton and Hove City Council is set to launch its annual inoculation programme to protect thousands of historic trees from elm disease. |
Yorkshire Wolds proposed as new outstanding beauty spot
09/10/2024 Plans have been put forward to designate part of the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). |
Climate change ‘biggest threat’ to heritage
20/11/2023 The future of the coastline, countryside and historic buildings protected by the National Trust will be threatened by extreme weather without urgent and large-scale action, a report has found. |
Beavers reintroduced to west London
12/10/2023 Beavers have been returned to west London for the first time in 400 years, Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced. |
Coventry awarded £63,000 to repair historic summer houses
08/08/2023 Coventry City Council has been awarded £63,000 by Historic England to repair three summer houses in a Grade II registered park. |
Mayor Khan announces £600,000 fund to ‘rewild’ London
15/12/2021 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a new fund to help restore wildlife sites and create more natural habitats for plants and animals across the capital. |
Seven conservation groups create UK’s first ‘super’ nature reserve
18/03/2020 The Government has announced the creation of the UK’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve (NNR) which it says will help tackle climate change and benefit more than 2.5 million visitors. |
|
Councils flout ancient woodland protections, campaigners say
01/08/2019 One year on from strengthened protection for ancient woodland in England, local planners are still 'failing to safeguard' the habitat, the Woodland Trust has claimed. |
|
Norfolk council removes bird netting after outcry
10/04/2019 A council in North Norfolk has instructed contractors to remove sections of bird netting after images of a distressed Sandmartin went viral. |
|
Council ‘disposed’ of ancient Roman artefact
07/09/2018 Colchester Borough Council disposed of a Roman water feature after it proved ‘too expensive' to maintain. |
|
Poll reveals widespread support for Conservation Areas
28/09/2017 A new poll has revealed there is widespread public support for council powers designed to protect the appearance of Conservation Areas. |
