James Cooper

National Forest to be planted in Oxford-Cambridge corridor Trees will be planted alongside new homes and businesses, the government says.

Good to see a new National Forest announced - linked to the growth agenda. It will enhance quality of life there as with the Northern Forest. But what a missed opportunity to show leadership on the UK's own temperate rainforests- a source of national pride #COP30 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

As the PM heads to the Amazon, remember that Britain is a rainforest nation On Thursday, the Prime Minister will arrive in the Amazon rainforest for the COP30 climate talks, hosted this year by Brazil. As Keir Starmer composes his speech, he should remember that Britain, t…

As the PM heads to the Amazon for COP30, remember that Britain is also a rainforest nation.

UK Ministers must support Brazil's plans to save the world's tropical rainforests. They must also set a goal to restore Britain's own lost temperate rainforests:

lostrainforestsofbritain.org/2025/11/05/a...

There was a discussion on LinkedIn yesterday about the good days of Academic Twitter before everything went to crap and we left. I'm curious why we haven't been able to recreate that here. A lot of the same folks are here, but there's not as much engagement. What's Bluesky missing? ⚛️🧪

Great to see this campaign from @thetimes.com It's so important that we #GetBritainReading www.thetimes.com/article/4328...

Kemi Badenoch’s climate gamble doesn’t add up Repealing the 2008 Climate Change Act would not spare Britain costs — it would only make adaptation and mitigation more expensive

This just looks like ill judged opportunism. What we really need is work to reinforce the UK's place as a global leader. That means innovative action which links the tackling of the climate and nature crises and delivers tangible benefits to communities www.ft.com/content/1154...

Our final event on Sunday we'll be looking at one of the key debates of the current parliament between nature protection and NIMBYism. Along with our friends at @nationaltrust.org.uk and The Woodland Trust.

Tree of the Year: Glasgow's Argyle Street Ash wins title The tree defeated nine other contenders in a public vote to win the annual prize.

A very worthy winner of Tree of the Year- Glasgow's Argyle Street Ash www.bbc.com/news/article...

Great opening to #WildsummitUK from @richardbenwell.bsky.social ''We need to be more positive, more propositional"

Pie chart showing progress of 5.98% against a target of 30%

The UK has a target to protect 30% of land & sea for nature by 2030🏞️

But progress isn’t adding up - just 6% of land across the UK is protected, with 5 years to go🥀

New findings are launched as we prepare for #WildSummitUK tomorrow, where nature voices from across the country will push for action 🌱

The Druids Oak is 800 years old - can it help save forests? Scientists are decoding the DNA of Britain’s ancient oaks to crack the secrets of their superpowers.

Can the Druids Oak help save forests? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three people standing in front of Cora Linn waterfall, surrounded by trees.

We enjoyed meeting @imogenwalker.bsky.social at the bonnie Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve recently (beautifully managed by scotwildlife.bsky.social) to discuss expanding urban tree cover, the UK Internal Market Act & other matters. Thanks for your time, Imogen!
#MairTreesPlease

The Guardian view on the cultural life of trees: we must protect our natural heritage | Editorial Editorial: From Shakespeare to Radiohead, ancient woodlands have shaped the UK’s creative landscape. They deserve to be celebrated

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Greetings from Glencoe. En route with @wtscotsocial.bsky.social and Woodland Trust UK to find my all time favourite tree

Overall this is a tough spending settlement for Defra but it's encouraging to see the importance of continued investment in trees and nature-friendly farming recognised. A priority should be to build on the success of projects like the Northern Forest which deliver across government #SpendingReview

A digital graphic styled like a quiz show features Rachel Reeves standing behind a glowing blue podium labelled “NATURE OR NO NATURE.” Above her, the question reads: “Which of these annual costs could nature-friendly farming cut?” The multiple choice options are: A) Water pollution (£1.3bn) B) Ammonia emissions (£1.48bn) C) Flooding (£1.3bn) D) All the above. The background is a vivid green with spotlight rings and sparkles, mimicking a high-stakes TV quiz show.

New week, new Nature or No Nature!

Rachel Reeves: Your spending choices could be a turning point for nature.

Our 100k strong petition asked you to increase nature-friendly farming funding, which our research shows could reduce costs elsewhere.

So your question today is:

Rescue our Forgotten Forests - Woodland Trusticon/search

Really good to see. You may be interested to see this recently launched Woodland Trust campaign www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-t...

Without big changes, the Government’s Planning Bill could spell disaster for nature 🥀

The Gov has promised a win-win for building & nature, but right now the Bill doesn't deliver🏡

@richardbenwell.bsky.social explains what the Gov needs to do to make the Bill work for people and nature 👇

That sycamore wasn’t ‘just a tree’. It was a link to our wiser past Technology has eroded our understanding of time. These phone-toting vandals sum up our quick-hit culture

Brilliant piece by Mattthew Syed about the wider significance of the Sycamore Gap felling and our relationship with time www.thetimes.com/article/6504...

NEW DATE: The nature of our economy » Green Alliance Green Alliance is an independent think tank and charity focused on ambitious leadership for the environment

Prof Dasgupta's review for the Treasury advocated thinking differently about the economy and nature. How to put it into practice? Looking forward to discussing at @green-alliance.org.uk event tonight.

UK charities urge ministers to stop scapegoating nature for planning failures Exclusive: RSPB and National Trust among groups saying rhetoric from Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer at odds with public sentiment

We stand with 80+ charities urging the UK government to stop scapegoating wildlife for planning failures like the housing crisis. The planning bill must protect our countryside, rivers & wildlife, not sacrifice them for short-term gains.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Disappointing to see Kemi Badenoch walking back from net zero commitment. Environmental security is a vital part of wider security agenda where Conservatives have had strong story to tell. Plus key components of the policy such as tree planting deliver many other other benefits to society.

Rugby league due its first knight – but Sir Kev must wait his turn Now 90, Billy Boston rose above discrimination to establish himself as a role model in a community that was proud to support him. He and his sport should be properly honoured sooner rather than later

My column on honours lists, the snubbing of rugby league, a history of racism in 20th century Welsh rugby and why Billy Boston should be league's first knight.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

My heartwarming return to the woods planted by Sunday Times readers Fifteen years ago you paid for 5,000 native trees at Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire. Look how they’ve grown!

www.thetimes.com/article/ca9b...

Image of wildflowers growing with houses in the background

The Prime Minister was wrong to blame nature protection & regulators for stopping development🏡

Leading nature groups have written to Keir Starmer calling for an urgent meeting to discuss how nature & sustainable development can go hand-in-hand👇

wcl.org.uk/docs/2024/le...

📷Cassie Crocker

Sunny and crisp morning in Westminster