GAP Group North East Opens New Yorkshire Facility to Strengthen UK Electrical Recycling Network

Electrical recycling specialist GAP Group North East is continuing its nationwide growth with the announcement of a new operational facility in Yorkshire, strengthening its ability to support businesses, local authorities and compliance partners across England and Wales.

The fully accredited electrical recycling and resource recovery provider already operates established processing facilities in Gateshead and Perthshire. 

The addition of a Yorkshire site marks another significant step in the company's long-term strategy to provide faster, more efficient and more accessible recycling services throughout the UK.

The new facility will serve as a central hub, improving coverage across Yorkshire, the Midlands, the South of England and Wales. By reducing collection distances and streamlining logistics, GAP Group North East aims to deliver quicker turnaround times and greater flexibility for customers managing waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

According to the company, the expansion has been driven by increasing customer demand and a commitment to ensuring consistent service standards regardless of location.

Nigel Tomlinson, Commercial Director at GAP Group North East, said the new site reflects the company's determination to provide customers with the highest levels of support and efficiency.

"As demand grows, our mission is to make sure every customer, wherever they are in the UK, receives the same level of service, speed and compliance support. The Yorkshire site is about us providing what our customers need."

The opening is expected to bring several practical benefits for organisations handling electrical waste. Reduced transport distances will help improve collection efficiency while potentially lowering vehicle mileage. Customers can also expect shorter lead times between collection requests and processing, helping businesses meet project deadlines and compliance obligations more effectively.

The additional capacity will also allow GAP Group North East to respond more quickly to urgent, large-scale or complex recycling requirements.

The move comes at a time when demand for responsible WEEE disposal continues to rise. Increasing environmental regulations and growing expectations around sustainability are encouraging organisations to work with trusted recycling partners capable of handling a wide range of electrical waste streams safely and compliantly.

From retailers carrying out store refurbishments to schools upgrading IT equipment, construction firms clearing sites and facilities management companies coordinating collections across multiple locations, organisations are facing increasing pressure to dispose of electrical waste responsibly.

By expanding its operational network, GAP Group North East is positioning itself to meet that demand while helping customers achieve their environmental goals. The Yorkshire facility represents not only a geographical expansion but also a commitment to supporting a more efficient and sustainable circular economy across the UK.

GAP Group North East is expanding with a new Yorkshire facility, improving electrical recycling services, WEEE compliance and resource recovery across the UK.

https://gapgroupuk.com

Animal Welfare Charities Unite to Support UK Rescue Centres Through Donate a Dinner Campaign

Naturewatch Foundation and Teckels Animal Sanctuaries have partnered for the 2026 World Animal Day Donate a Dinner campaign, supporting rescue animals across the UK.

Animal rescue centres across the UK are facing increasing challenges, from rising operating costs to growing numbers of abandoned pets. 

In response, two animal welfare organisations have joined forces to raise awareness and provide much-needed support for rescue animals waiting to find loving homes.

Naturewatch Foundation has announced that Gloucestershire-based Teckels Animal Sanctuaries will be its official charity partner for the 2026 World Animal Day Donate a Dinner campaign.

To mark the launch of the partnership, Naturewatch Foundation CEO Sarah Carr and members of the charity's team visited Teckels Animal Sanctuaries, presenting a £100 donation. The contribution will provide a meal for all 42 dogs currently being cared for at the sanctuary while they await adoption.

The visit offered a powerful reminder of the pressures rescue centres continue to face. Many organisations are dealing with increased demand, higher food and veterinary costs, and the long-term consequences of irresponsible and illegal breeding practices.

Among the dogs currently looking for homes at Teckels are three Pomeranians named Paula, Pearl and Podge. The trio were rescued from a property where around 120 dogs were reportedly being kept. Believed to be between eight and eleven years old, the dogs had never experienced everyday activities such as going for a walk outdoors before arriving at the sanctuary.

The Naturewatch team also met Apollo, a three-year-old Huntaway cross Husky, who is hoping to find his forever family.

World Animal Day takes place annually on 4 October and encourages people around the globe to take action to improve animal welfare. Naturewatch Foundation coordinates the international campaign and runs its popular Donate a Dinner initiative, which encourages individuals, businesses, schools and community groups to support local rescue centres by helping provide food and supplies for animals in their care.

Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation and coordinator of World Animal Day, said she was delighted to visit Teckels and meet both the dedicated staff and the animals waiting for homes. She added that by launching the campaign early, the charity hopes organisations across the country will begin planning ways to support their local rescue centres on World Animal Day.

Chelsea Rogers, Social Media Manager at Teckels Animal Sanctuaries, welcomed the partnership, describing the support as invaluable at a time when the rising cost of living continues to impact rescue organisations.

More information about the 2026 Donate a Dinner campaign will be announced closer to World Animal Day. In the meantime, supporters can help their local rescue centres through donations, fundraising activities or by providing essential supplies.

Every meal donated can make a meaningful difference to an animal waiting for a second chance.

Heal Rewilding Partners with Great Yellow to Bring Biodiversity Net Gain Units to Market

Emma Lewis Supermoon

A major new partnership could help accelerate nature recovery across England while creating fresh opportunities for developers to meet their environmental obligations.

National charity Heal Rewilding has appointed Great Yellow to market and sell Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units generated at its flagship Heal Somerset rewilding site. 

Over 600 high-quality BNG units are expected to be created overall, with over 170 units becoming available during the first phase of the project.

The collaboration brings together two organisations committed to restoring nature at scale while attracting long-term investment into environmental recovery projects.

Located on a 460-acre former dairy farm in Somerset, Heal Somerset was purchased by Heal Rewilding in December 2022 and is being transformed through nature-led recovery methods designed to restore habitats, rebuild wildlife populations and strengthen ecosystem health.

Biodiversity Net Gain was introduced under the Environment Act and requires most new developments in England to deliver at least a 10% measurable improvement in biodiversity compared with pre-development conditions. 

As demand for off-site BNG units continues to grow, projects such as Heal Somerset are becoming increasingly important in helping developers meet these requirements while supporting genuine environmental gains.

Heal Rewilding says it selected Great Yellow because of its strong alignment with the charity's values and its expertise in connecting high-integrity nature recovery projects with organisations seeking measurable environmental outcomes.

Jan Stannard, co-founder of Heal Rewilding, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to integrity, transparency and long-term ecological ambition.

The charity believes that Biodiversity Net Gain can become a powerful mechanism for supporting large-scale nature recovery, provided projects are backed by credible management plans and measurable long-term outcomes.

The Somerset site is already delivering impressive results. Surveys have recorded 94 bird species, 17 bat species and 24 butterfly species since rewilding began. Heal also reports that the site supports nearly three times the abundance of small mammals compared with a nearby landholding.

Beyond helping wildlife, healthy ecosystems can provide wider benefits for communities and the environment, including improved soil quality, cleaner water, greater resilience to flooding and drought, increased carbon storage and stronger climate adaptation.

Great Yellow believes the partnership demonstrates how ambitious rewilding projects can provide developers with reliable, compliance-ready BNG units while delivering meaningful ecological improvements.

As nature recovery becomes an increasingly important national priority, Heal hopes the partnership will show how environmental markets can help channel investment into projects that benefit wildlife, communities and the climate for generations to come.

https://www.healrewilding.org.uk

That's Food and Drink: Pret A Manger Faces Animal Welfare Campaign Over C...

That's Food and Drink: Pret A Manger Faces Animal Welfare Campaign Over C...: Animal welfare charity Anima launches a major campaign against Pret A Manger, accusing the chain of delaying its pledge to phase out fast-gr...

World Oceans Day: Why Our Blue Planet Needs Us More Than Ever

Mark World Oceans Day by discovering why healthy oceans are vital for wildlife, climate stability and our future, and learn simple ways to help protect them.

Every year on 8 June, people around the globe come together to celebrate World Oceans Day, a reminder of just how important our oceans are to life on Earth.

Covering more than 70% of our planet's surface, the world's oceans are far more than vast stretches of water. 

They help regulate our climate, provide food for billions of people, generate much of the oxygen we breathe and support an incredible diversity of wildlife, from tiny plankton to majestic whales.

Yet despite their importance, our oceans face growing challenges.

Plastic pollution remains one of the most visible threats. Millions of tonnes of plastic enter the sea every year, harming marine life and breaking down into microplastics that can eventually make their way into the food chain. Sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals are particularly vulnerable, often mistaking plastic waste for food.

Climate change is also taking its toll. Rising ocean temperatures are contributing to coral bleaching, disrupting marine ecosystems and altering migration patterns for many species. At the same time, increasing levels of carbon dioxide are making oceans more acidic, creating additional challenges for shellfish and coral reefs.

Overfishing and habitat destruction continue to put pressure on marine environments, threatening both wildlife and the communities that depend on healthy oceans for their livelihoods.

The good news is that individuals can make a difference.

Simple actions such as reducing single-use plastics, recycling responsibly, choosing sustainably sourced seafood and taking part in local beach or river clean-ups can all help protect marine ecosystems. Even small changes, when adopted by millions of people, can have a significant impact.

World Oceans Day is also an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and wonder of our seas. Whether it's a walk along the coast, learning about marine conservation projects or supporting organisations working to protect ocean habitats, there are countless ways to connect with the natural world.

The theme of World Oceans Day is ultimately one of hope. Around the world, scientists, conservationists, governments and local communities are working together to restore habitats, protect endangered species and develop more sustainable ways of living alongside our oceans.

As we mark World Oceans Day, it's worth remembering that every drop of water on our planet is connected. Protecting the oceans isn't just about safeguarding distant coastlines and marine wildlife, it's about protecting the health of the entire Earth.

Our oceans have given us so much. Today is the perfect day to think about how we can give something back.

The Hidden Financial Risk of Biodiversity Loss: Why Nature Matters to the World Economy

The Hidden Cost of Nature Loss Could Push Nations Towards Financial Crisis.

New research warns that biodiversity loss could increase national debt costs, weaken economies and push some countries closer to financial crisis. 

Here's why protecting nature makes economic sense.

When we talk about biodiversity loss, most of us think about disappearing wildlife, shrinking forests, or declining bee populations. But new research suggests the consequences could reach much further than the natural world, all the way into government finances, national economies, and even taxpayers’ pockets.

A major new study published in the scientific journal Nature warns that financial markets are currently failing to account for the economic risks posed by environmental degradation. The result? Trillions of dollars of assets could be significantly mispriced, leaving countries exposed to serious financial shocks.

Researchers from the University of Sussex, University of Sheffield, Edinburgh Business School and SOAS examined what would happen if key ecosystem services suffered even a partial collapse. These services include wild pollinators that help grow crops, marine fisheries that support global food supplies, and tropical forests that provide valuable natural resources.

Their findings are striking.

The team estimates that biodiversity loss in these areas alone could reduce global GDP by around US$2 trillion every year. That economic damage would then ripple through financial markets, affecting countries’ credit ratings and making it more expensive for governments to borrow money.

Some of the world’s largest economies could be hit particularly hard. The study suggests India’s sovereign credit rating could fall by four grades, while China could drop by more than five grades. Together, the two countries could face an additional US$119 billion in annual debt interest payments.

Across the 23 countries included in the research, annual borrowing costs could rise by more than US$162 billion. That is close to three-quarters of the world’s total overseas development aid budget.

Researchers argue that current credit rating systems fail to recognise nature loss as a major economic risk. Professor Matthew Agarwala of the University of Sussex warned that governments may ultimately face difficult choices, including raising taxes, cutting public spending, or allowing inflation to rise if environmental decline continues to undermine economic performance.

The study draws parallels with the 2008 financial crisis, suggesting that markets may once again be overlooking a growing threat until it becomes impossible to ignore.

Perhaps the most important message is also the simplest: protecting nature is far cheaper than dealing with the consequences of losing it.

As governments around the world debate how to fund conservation and biodiversity recovery, this research offers a powerful reminder that healthy ecosystems are not simply environmental assets, they are economic ones too.

You can read the report here https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-026-03081-7

How Your Garden Lighting Could Be Harming Wildlife. And What You Can Do About It

Is Your Garden Lighting Harming Wildlife? Why Dark Nights Matter More Than You Think.

Leaving garden lights on overnight can disrupt bats, hedgehogs, moths and other wildlife. Discover how to create a wildlife-friendly garden after dark.

Many of us love a well-lit garden. Solar path lights, decorative lanterns, security floodlights and illuminated patios can make outdoor spaces feel welcoming and safe after dark.

But while garden lighting may look attractive to us, it can create significant problems for some of the wildlife that visits our gardens every night.

As awareness grows about biodiversity loss and declining wildlife populations, experts are increasingly encouraging homeowners to think carefully about how much artificial light they use outdoors.

Why Darkness Matters

For millions of years, wildlife evolved around natural cycles of daylight and darkness. Many animals rely on darkness to hunt, forage, navigate, breed and avoid predators.

When gardens remain brightly lit throughout the night, these natural behaviours can be disrupted.

Artificial light can affect:

Bats searching for insects

Hedgehogs moving between feeding areas

Moths and other pollinating insects

Owls and other nocturnal birds

Amphibians such as frogs and newts

Even relatively small amounts of light can alter how these animals use a habitat.

The Impact on Insects

One of the most visible effects of garden lighting is on insects.

Moths, beetles and other flying insects are naturally attracted to artificial light sources. Instead of feeding, pollinating plants or finding mates, they can spend hours circling lights until they become exhausted or fall victim to predators.

This not only affects the insects themselves but also the many animals that depend on them for food.

With insect populations already under pressure across the UK, reducing unnecessary lighting can provide valuable support.

Bats and Hedgehogs Need Darkness Too

Many bat species avoid brightly lit areas altogether. A floodlit garden may effectively create a barrier that prevents bats from accessing feeding routes.

Hedgehogs can also become reluctant to cross illuminated spaces, making it harder for them to travel between gardens in search of food and shelter.

As gardens become increasingly important wildlife corridors, maintaining dark areas can help these animals move more freely.

Simple Ways to Make Your Garden Wildlife-Friendly

The good news is that you do not need to sit in complete darkness to help wildlife.

Consider:

Using motion sensors instead of lights that stay on all night

Switching lights off when they are not needed

Choosing warmer-coloured bulbs rather than bright white LEDs

Directing light downwards instead of allowing it to spread widely

Creating "dark zones" where wildlife can move undisturbed

Using timers to limit lighting during late-night hours

Even small changes can make a significant difference.

A Better Balance

Garden lighting certainly has its place, particularly for safety and security. However, by using it thoughtfully, we can enjoy our outdoor spaces while also supporting the wildlife that shares them.

Sometimes one of the most environmentally friendly things we can do is surprisingly simple: switch off the lights and let nature enjoy the night.

And you'll be doing your bit for your nocturnal visitors.