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Over 10,000 children in Yorkshire hospitalised owing to toxic air pollution
New Freedom of Information data obtained by Mums for Lungs has found that over 200,000 children are taken to hospital with breathing difficulties in a survey of 11 major English cities.
The youngest children are most affected. Over 120,000 babies and toddlers aged up to 3 accounting for over half (57%) of those admitted to A&E or hospital.
Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air relative to their body size than adults. Exposure to pollutants including nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter is associated with respiratory illness and can exacerbate conditions such as asthma.
In Yorkshire, the city of Sheffield was one of the cities surveyed and the results are grim. Over 10,000 children were hospitalised owing to breathing problems in just one year, with the greatest number being admitted over the winter months. Over 2,000 of these patients were under 3-years-old
The data also includes 20,863 children across the Greater Manchester trusts represented (children admitted and attended A&E); 19,627 across the two Birmingham trusts in the dataset; 12,066 in the Liverpool hospitals and 10,724 in Sheffield.
Unfortunately, not all cities and towns were surveyed, but if they were, then the number of people hospitalised would be significantly higher.
Rachel Smedley, a parent in Sheffield, outlined her concerns about the pollutants in her city: “As a mother of three children I am incredibly concerned about air pollution in our city. Our eldest child suffers with chest issues and was under a consultant in the respiratory department for a few years. His chest issues always get worse in the colder months when domestic wood burning significantly worsens the air quality where we live. People still don’t seem to realise how polluting wood burning is. It’s hard not being able to protect your children from this. Sometimes I end up calling them in from the garden because the smoke is so strong which is sad as playing outside is really good for them. But I know it seeps into our house too, even with all the windows and doors closed. It upsets me a lot and makes me want to move but it seems to be a big problem in so many places.”
Looking at the national data, Jemima Hartshorn, Mums for Lungs, said:
“This is an air pollution emergency. Behind every number is a child who is struggling to breathe and a family looking for help. We cannot keep treating dirty air as inevitable or acceptable – our children deserve cleaner air around schools, nurseries, their homes and busy roads, and we need action now. We need to restore funding to tackle air pollution in the Budget and Government to bring down pollution across the country. Let’s be frank, non-essential wood burning and diesel vehicles have got to go. We all deserve to be healthy.”
She continued, “London being declared to be illegally polluted again – failing to comply with limits that should have been met 15 years ago. This has to be a wake-up call for our Mayor to continue the work he started which has seen pollution levels fall. We need to ensure we can swap the most polluting diesel vehicles for cleaner options: cars, vans and buses. And Government needs to stand up to industry and ensure non-essential wood burning is phased out without any further delay.”
As part of their national campaign, Mums for Lungs is calling for: action to reduce non-essential domestic wood burning; practical measures to reduce traffic-related air pollution, particularly around schools and other places where children spend time, including a transition away from diesel vehicles (cars, vans and buses); a clear, enforceable pathway towards World Health Organization air-quality guidelines at least in line with the EU and a public health campaign to raise awareness of air pollution, its sources and impact on everyone’s health.Urgent need for cleaner air
Dr Elizabeth Wan, a resident doctor in North London and mother of a child with asthma, said: “As a local doctor and a mum, these numbers represent so much anxiety, pain and sadness for so many families. Children in London deserve better – they should not be punished with poor health simply because of where they live. We need cleaner air for all of us, and we need it urgently.”
Mums for Lungs hope that the upcoming Clean Air Night on 17th November will draw more attention to these shocking figure, especially as the young, who are particularly vulnerable have no agency in this issue and rely on adults taking action on their behalf to make this a child-centred focus.
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Review of ‘The Last Witness: One Man’s Fight for the Truth and the Conspiracy to Silence Him’ by Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor
‘The Last Witness’ is a shocking account of Douglas Gowan’s struggle from the 1960s on to draw attention to widespread pollution of toxic chemicals in Wales. These chemicals were dumped by the giant chemical company Monsanto and contained dangerously high levels of PCBs. This book follows the initial podcast and the BBC documentary, ‘Buried’, as the investigators, alongside the actor Michael Sheen, attempt to separate the facts from fantastical fiction, to discover what historical risks and impacts there were to communities, as well as ongoing health risks and concerns.
As Sheen comments, ‘Douglas’s story is also the story of our times. Tens of thousands of tonnes of the chemical in question are buried all over the UK. And more than seven million forever chemicals are in production right now. We must all understand what is happening, because a crisis is unfolding that touches every single one of us.’
That toxic chemicals were dumped is not in question. ‘The spot sampling from the farm had revealed that PCBs reached 50 parts per million in the water during heavy rain, and 20 parts per million in the soil.’ Brofiscin Quarry in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales widely described as one of the most contaminated toxic waste sites in Britain. What is most concerning is that the pollution is not limited to one small area in Wales. As the authors, Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor write, ‘The spread of PCBs is a global environmental catastrophe that will haunt the planet for hundreds of years. And yet, it is emblematic of a broader crisis that is unfolding. PCBs have given birth to more than 10,000 forever chemicals that lace our blood, food and drinking water.’ They draw attention to the ground-breaking (pun intended) work of the environmental group Watershed Investigation, which in 2024 uncovered that there are over 21,000 historical landfills in the UK, all potentially oozing toxic chemicals into natural areas, communities and even straight into schools. Their pollution map is freely available to the public and should be carefully checked, especially if anyone is thinking of buying a home in a different part of the country and is unaware of historical industries which operated there.
Ashby and Taylor chronicle that ‘Through the 1990s, scientists began to realise that Monsanto and other companies had either manufactured or dumped so much PCB that the chemicals had spread almost everywhere…By 2000, they were listed as among the ‘dirty dozen’ most dangerous chemicals in the world by the UN.’
They conclude their evaluation of PCBs by saying, ‘As far as environmental disasters go, the dispersal of PCBs and the birth of the forever chemical age is near the top.’
Other toxic examples from around the world are explored in ‘The Last Witness’, as the authors delve into the common-place practices of some chemical companies and their seeming disregard for safety. They follow the US example of Anniston, where Monsanto and its spin-offs agreed to pay out more than $700 million- the biggest settlement of its kind in history.
They follow Robert Bilott’s investigation into PFOA contamination in West Virginia and his exposure of the DuPont chemical company for its practices and reticence to be honest with communities. The town of Bentham in North Yorkshire, UK- home to one of Britain’s biggest manufacturers of fire-fighting foam- is also highlighted as a place where it was uncovered that the groundwater there had some of the worst forever chemical contamination ever seen in the UK- approximately 2,400 times over the EU’s proposed ‘standard’ level. The authors repeatedly ask in the text- what scandals lie all around without us realising?
They ask, is Britain covering up a chemical secret? And note that, ‘In 2007, the Environment Agency did the first-ever widespread soil testing around the country. It tested in more than 300 locations and found PCBs in every single one.’
The question of how many potentially contaminated sites exist in Britain and more importantly what councils and companies are doing to remediate the risk has a very chilling answer. ‘When Friends of the Earth asked Welsh councils how many ‘potentially’ contaminated sites existed in Wales alone, the answer came back as 43,000. Only 82 of the sites have officially been designated as ‘contaminated’.
Throughout the course of their investigation then, Ashby and Taylor conducted blood tests to discover the impacts on human health- they included themselves and Michael Sheen in these tests and the shock at those discoveries can be seen plainly in the documentary, ‘Buried’. Their results of PCB findings give rise to the question of how they could have become contaminated in a world where they have been repeatedly told that they are safe.
‘For years, decades even, governments have reassured us that the chemicals aren’t getting out at high enough levels to hurt local communities. Our blood results suggest otherwise.’
Ashby and Taylor did not conduct this investigation with blinkers on. They were conscious throughout that their star witness, their ‘last witness’ , had a difficult relationship with factual events and evidenced events and they acknowledged that openly. They are also conscious that it was a useful campaign from Monsanto to ‘play the man’ and not the ball.
‘So many characters and institutions in this story have blemished records and a complicated relationship with the truth, and Douglas was no exception.’
They close this chapter of their investigative work, by arguing that there is more to come. That other chapters and revelations are waiting to be written. We all don’t need to be Erin Brockovich, or Robert Billot, or Rachel Carson for that matter, but we do need to be informed- as our world is now in unprecedented territory.
‘In some ways, it is the tale of one eccentric gentleman against one poisonous pool that seeps into his beloved country. But it’s not really just that, is it? Douglas represents all of us, flailing around in the poison, while companies wash their hands and move on to the next product with scant regard for the environmental and human damage. We are living in a time of unprecedented mass production and unprecedented mass contamination.‘
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Campaigners challenge ‘sustainable’ claim of 2.7 million chicken factory in North Yorkshire
Local campaigners have today lodged a further objection to the 2.7 million chicken factory planned for the quiet village of Melmerby in North Yorkshire.
Their objection follows a revised form of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in August 2026, which according to the applicant, Forest Poultry Ltd, gives the green light for their proposal.
Forest Poultry Ltd have submitted a planning application to erect six poultry housing units, 126 metres in length, to produce approximately 2.7 millions birds each year. Each house would accommodate approximately 60,000 birds, resulting in a total capacity of 360,000 birds across the site.Harrison Pick, the planners for the proposal, argue that the revised NPPF, under the section ‘Achieving sustainable development’ outlines a clear presumption for planning authorities in their decision-making in favour of sustainable development. They outlined their view on the public council portal saying,
‘Policy S5(1)(a) establishes that development for agriculture should be approved outside settlements unless the benefits are substantially outweighed by adverse effects. Agricultural development is the first category of acceptable outside-settlement development in the Framework. The presumption operates in favour of approval.’
They continued, ‘Policy E2(1)(b) requires that substantial weight be given to the benefits for domestic food production, animal welfare, and/or the environment that can be demonstrated through farm and agricultural modernisation. All three of those benefits are engaged by this application.
Taken together, the provisions of the August 2026 NPPF strongly support the principle of the proposed development. The framework establishes both a presumption in favour (Policy S5) and a requirement to give substantial weight to the identified benefits (Policy E2), while specifically endorsing improved livestock accommodation as a supported category of rural development (Policy E4). There is no conflict with any national policy provision that would require refusal.’
Benefits do not outweigh environmental impacts
A comprehensive and detailed objection however, published by the ‘9 Villages Local Group’, which highlights many inconsistencies and concerns with the application documents, argues that the development has not been shown to be sustainable and that therefore the presumption of the revised planning policies would not apply.
‘We conclude that the proposed IPU does not constitute sustainable development
because, when assessed as a whole, its economic benefits are not demonstrated to
outweigh its significant environmental and social impacts, including its potential
detrimental effect on public health as well as the taxpayers’ burden. The proposal
would permanently develop BMV Grade 2 agricultural land, a finite resource
important for food production, while introducing an industrial-scale poultry operation, that would generate additional ammonia, particulate matter including PM2.5, odour and noise, together with substantial HGV and other vehicle movements.’
The group highlights that sufficient mitigation has not been completed by the application and indeed is contrary to the principles aimed for in the revised National Planning Policy Framework.
‘The proposal therefore fails to demonstrate that its environmental and social costs can be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, particularly in relation to BMV agricultural land, cumulative air pollution, biodiversity, and traffic impacts. Accordingly, the development would represent an unsustainable form and location of development, contrary to the NPPF’s sustainable-development principles and the statutory requirement under
section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to determine the application in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.’
‘Serious deficiencies’
The ‘9 Villages Local Group’ also emphasise assessments in the application which they argue are inaccurate, each of which they claim would constitute a ‘serious deficiency’ and thereby supporting the argument that this development is not ‘sustainable’ and that the harms outweigh any benefits. These range from the detrimental impact on air quality, waste management and disposal, public health issues and biosecurity, and the UK food security.
‘The ES (Supporting Information, July 2026) contains a self-defeating ammonia
admission drawn from the Applicant’s own background figures; a CCIA that does not,
on its own evidence, satisfy the Finch test; it claims to meet waste management
strategy that depends on a power station whose operator has publicly stated its
future is in doubt because the Government’s Renewable Obligation Certificate
support expires in March 2027 and no successor scheme has yet been confirmed; a
food security narrative built on unsourced industry data, distorted percentages, and
an internal contradiction (a development justified by reducing imports that is itself
critically dependent on imported feed); no guarantee whatsoever that the product of
this development will serve the UK market it claims to support; a misapplication of
planning law in scoping out the loss of irreplaceable Grade 2 agricultural land; an
understated and undated period of severe visual harm to a public right of way; a
human health assessment that omits an entire recognised exposure pathway while
leaning on a permit that may not yet exist; fails to assess the human and
environmental impact of particulate matter; amenity safeguards that are managerial
promises rather than binding conditions; and a transport assessment that treats the
absence of historic collisions involving traffic that does not yet exist as reassurance.
Individually, each of these is a serious deficiency.’
They note, for example that the Thetford Biomass Power Station’s future is in real doubt.
‘The Applicant does not confirm whether Thetford Biomass Power Station’s continued
operation beyond March 2027 is secure. There is no evidence of a contract with
Thetford Power Station for the disposal of waste – nor any indication of the prospect
of one. If Thetford closes as predicted, this proposed site’s approximate 3,968
tonnes of poultry manure will presumably be at the back of the queue of Thetford’s
current clients searching for an alternative waste disposal route.’
The objection urges the Planning authority to ‘require the Applicant to provide a fully evidenced alternative waste disposal strategy that does not depend on the continued operation of Thetford and should commission independent advice on whether any such strategy exists at the scale required. The LPA would surely be justified in enquiring of the Applicant: “Where is all this poultry manure actually going to go?”
The campaign group further notes that the food security argument and narrative pushed by the industry ‘collapses entirely’, when the production figures for this site suggest a contribution of approximately 0.2% of national demand.
‘The facility would produce approximately 4,957 tonnes deadweight per year against UK poultry consumption of approximately 2.5 million tonnes per year (Defra, 2026) — a contribution of approximately 0.2% of national demand. It would not, on any credible analysis, make a meaningful dent in a national supply shortfall, and the ES makes no attempt to quantify its contribution in those terms. When the food security argument is tested against the Applicant’s own production figures, it
collapses entirely.’
What happens next?
North Yorkshire’s Planning Committee have two planned meetings later this year to discuss any proposals which appear on those proposals. It may be that this application for a 2.7 million chicken factory in the heart of North Yorkshire will prove to be a test case for the application of the revised NPPF. It should be noted that the same policy which Forest Poultry Ltd is relying on for approval for this development also open the door for any transport, energy, water and telecommunications infrastructure, therefore, solar farms, onshore wind farms and data centres could all be summarily approved, unless the benefits of doing so would be substantially outweighed by any adverse effects.
Those wishing to celebrate the proposed chicken factory would also be ushering in other energy infrastructure destroying remaining arable and green belt land in the country, or destroying the Best and Most Versatile agricultural land from productive use.
‘Sustainable farming practices’
Maya Pardo of Communities Against Factory Farming, told me that,
“The new National Planning Policy Framework makes it very clear that animal welfare and the environment are on the same footing as domestic food production – see policy E(1)(b). Councillors should feel confident that they can reject cruel industrial poultry units due to the poor welfare that will be experienced by the Frankenchickens, whose short five weeks on this earth are not a life worth living, in these animal factories.
“We’ve been warned by the government that animal farming at its current scale, which relies on soya imports from South America to make up 18% of animal feed, is a threat to national security. We’re importing over a million tonnes of soya every year to feed Frankenchickens in industrial sheds. Instead of expanding this harmful and cruel industry, food policy should focus on reducing meat production and supporting farmers to transition to sustainable farming practices to grow food for human consumption.” -
Review of ‘The Carbon Wave: A Story of Democracy, Parenthood, and the Race to Protect Our Planet’ by Leah C. Stokes
‘Climate change is not our destiny. Together we can change the future.’
It is important to read that again.
‘The Carbon Wave’ chronicles the story of how bold climate legislation in the United States was passed, but it does so through the lens of personal narratives of determination and sacrifice to leave the world a better place for our children. A vision especially shared by parents, but also by those who wish to be better ancestors.
Stokes’s narrative is focused on North American political manoeuvrings and negotiations, which may appear confusing to a UK audience, which do not necessarily align their identity so closely with political ideologies. The idea of challenges and difficulties with bipartisan bills, and the complexities and nuances of succeeding in getting a Bill passed, is perhaps an unusual one. Change the words, however, and it can be seen clearly that political action can often lag behind popular opinion and desire for change. Even when those climate changes, in the guise of extreme weather, are bringing hurricanes, wildfires and droughts, the political juggernaut can seem slow.
But the political system is made up of people and that is where the hope lies.
‘The Carbon Wave’ speaks to, and celebrates, the steely determination and dedication of many individuals, who worked on separate projects and pulled on different levers, but who collectively are part of the wave of climate policy writers and climate activists. What is more remarkable, is that all of these people working for climate policy and legislation, are not working in silos, like automatons- they are humans and are fragile. They put in incredible hours to drive climate policy forward, to work on op-eds and policy statements, conduct media interviews, and evaluate the financial funding for projects, all while managing somehow to balance pregnancies, young children and family life. Even when trees crash through their roofs in extreme weather, they don’t give up. Even when personal sacrifices become health issues, they don’t give up. ‘Pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood, and activism: all of it had started to catch up with me. My hands broke out in a rash. Then I started to have chest spasms, making it difficult to breathe.’ Adrian Deveny, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, notes, ‘To be a part of these historic pieces of legislation, you put yourself on the line, and you make sacrifices because it’s important. It’s much bigger than you, and your needs, or your sleep.’
They understand that it is a mountain worth climbing.
Progress is being made and it is a real testament to those who move the wave forward, bringing a real truth to the words attributed to Margaret Mead- ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’
Stokes acknowledges that change can be difficult against a financial behemoth like the fossil fuel industry, with their narratives of personal ‘carbon footprints’. She notes, ‘We have all too easily accepted the idea that we’re all to blame for the climate crisis.’ The delaying and denying playbook from the ‘merchants of doubt’ is a well thumbed strategy of manipulating the public. ‘It was 2007, and “carbon footprints” were all the rage. The claim was that we were each responsible for producing some amount of emissions, and we each needed to work, relentlessly, to reduce them.
No individual can reduce their carbon emissions to zero- no amount of personal sacrifice will do it. Until we get rid of fossil fuel infrastructure in every corner of our society, individual behaviour changes are mere nibbles around the edges of the problem.’
Instead Stokes champions that collective individual actions can come together in a powerful manner once we realise that our actions bring others along with us, and that it takes less than we think it does to get others to follow and hope. Her aim is summed up thus: ‘Let’s replace the carbon footprint with a new idea: the carbon wave.’
This ‘carbon wave’ could bring about the biggest climate changes necessary for a sustainable future, but it is incumbent upon us all to at least try.
‘We don’t yet know if we will be able to rip out all of the world’s fossil fuel infrastructure by 2050. But I know that it’s up to all of us- including you, the reader of this book- to try and make that happen.’
Stokes imagines a possible world where our collaborative approach as a species to solve the biggest threat we have faced, can be successful.
‘But this story is not just a work of history: it’s a reminder that we can and must join together to tackle the climate crisis. The choices we make now will determine our future.’
We have now been given a call in ‘The Carbon Wave’ – let’s get to work.
P.S. Carbon Brief is worth reading alone for the powerful testimony of Dr Stokes to senators.
‘I’d like to close by sharing something personal…I have two newborn babies that are two months old at home right now, and I have left them to come here and speak with you all because I know the urgency of this moment. I’m here not just to speak on behalf of my newborn children but on the behalf of all the children in the United States. I’m also here to speak on behalf of young people who are deeply fearful of what their future holds. And quite frankly, I’m here to speak on behalf of all of us, because we are already seeing what climate change is doing to the places and the people we cherish most. This is a pivotal moment in history. The world is watching. Either Congress will pass a bold climate investment package this fall or we will lose the last best opportunity we have and waste another decade. We don’t have any more decades to waste to act on the climate crisis.’ -
Review of ‘Come Rain Or Shine’ by Laura Tobin
‘Come Rain Or Shine’ is a delightfully informative and accessible book on weather features and weather phenomena.
Tobin’s passion and enthusiasm for her subject sparkles on every page and she arms her readers with surprising facts about the weather- every British person’s favorite conversation topic! As she acknowledges, ‘There’s no doubt that we Brits are obsessed with the weather.’
From clouds, to oceans, to pressure, to precipitation, to temperatures, Tobin engagingly breaks down technical topics into a layperson’s understanding, hoping that when we look at the skies, or watch a weather forecast, we can be more informed about the ‘delicate balance that sustains life on Earth, and the vast, interconnected systems that we all form part of.’
She does not shy away from addressing the key differences that have been recorded in observational measurements over the decades and offers a hopeful, (one doesn’t want to say forecast!) view of the opportunities that lie ahead of us.
‘Everywhere we look, our planet is changing before our eyes: relentless extreme weather events are destroying ecosystems, and communities around the globe are being devastated. We are at a turning point for us and our planet, on a tipping point of irreversible change. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.’Tobin follows with the truism that, ‘One of the most important things you can do to tackle climate change is talk about it.’
Tobin vividly recalls the summer of 2022 in the UK where temperatures exceeded 40°C and she has a gift for personalising the weather experiences which she has had, sometimes painful, sometimes poignant, which brings the moment alive for the reader. Perhaps it is the storyteller within her, which rejoices in the wonder of the weather and marvels at the experiences of others, whether these be hurricane hunters, or William Shatner’s account of his journey into space and what that meant to him- the understanding and clarity which that brought him. There is a feeling that we could all share his experience, as the warnings of future climates are becoming clearer with every passing day. Tobin notes, ‘What was once impossible is now not only possible but becoming more likely.’
This is not, however, a doom-laden book, but rather a celebration of the intricacies, influences and complexities of weather systems. Our lives are underpinned by the impacts of the weather- from disrupted journeys, to storms, to heatwaves and monsoons. Tobin effectively underscores that there is a vast equilibrium of inter-connected systems, which are oftentimes ‘invisible’ to the public, which extend far beyond the need to carry an umbrella, but which affect aviation through aircraft landings and take-offs, the financial world, huge global sports events, military actions, space launches, as well as shipping, transport and trade. ‘Weather increasingly shapes global politics acting as a’threat multiplier’ that influences elections, policies and national security priorities.’
As Tobin concludes, ‘We all love to hate the weather.’ What she marvels in and what she wants us to do, is to peek behind the curtain of the simple weather forecast on our phones, or on television, and understand that this information is reliant on a huge number of observers, recorders, organisations and other individuals, who gather the information around the world and make it available to all.
‘Come Rain Or Shine‘ is a glowing testament to the huge numbers of people who work in meteorology, as well as television producers and programme directors, which share the vision and ideal that an informed public is a powerful tool to be used to shape tomorrow by understanding today.
When we click on our weather ‘forecast’ then, let us remember the advancements which have allowed us to understand our world a little more. And if this book does nothing else, at least it may make us a little kinder to meteorologists when their ‘forecasts’ go slightly awry.After all, we can’t control the weather any more today than we could in the past, but we can control how we process, manage and adapt to the changing entity that is our weather.
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Yorkshire moves into drought but no water restrictions expected
Environment Agency moves Yorkshire into drought status
Yorkshire Water is not planning to introduce water restrictions for customers despite Yorkshire today being moved into drought status by the Environment Agency, thanks to extensive work to manage supplies, reduce leakage and move water around the region’s network.
Recent rainfall not enough
Water Minister Emma Hardy said:
“The recent rainfall is not yet enough to replenish all the water we’ve used over the spring and summer, and the Yorkshire drought declaration highlights the situation is still serious.
The Government is carefully monitoring the actions of all water companies, and expect them to follow their drought plans, quickly fix leaks, and reduce demand.
Long-term resilience against our changing climate is a priority for this government. Our strengthened Water Bill will start a decade-long journey to a very different water system, including nine new major reservoirs to secure supplies.”
Drought status reflects the prolonged dry conditions that have affected Yorkshire over recent months. It does not automatically mean water restrictions are required.
Current reservoir stocks sit at 42.7%, below where they were at this point in 2025 (52.9%), due in part to the wetter weather in September 2025 which led to the largest ever increase in water resources in a week.
Groundwater in the Hull aquifer stands at 40% – the same as it was in early October 2025.
Andy Shaw, head of water production, treatment and energy at Yorkshire Water, said: “Yorkshire has experienced an exceptionally hot and dry summer, and conditions have remained dry into September, with the region receiving just over half the normal long term average rainfall in Sept. This has placed continued pressure on reservoirs, groundwater sources and rivers across the region.
“The Environment Agency’s decision to move Yorkshire into drought reflects these conditions, but it does not mean water restrictions are currently needed.
“Through careful management of our water resources, extensive work to reduce leakage and the operation of our regional water network, we are not planning to introduce water restrictions for customers at this time.
“Winter rainfall will be important in helping reservoir and groundwater levels recover, and we will continue to monitor conditions closely.
“Water demand remains unusually high for this time of year, so we are asking customers to continue using water wisely wherever possible. Small actions such as shorter showers, running full washing machine loads and checking for leaks at home can make a real difference.
“At the same time, our teams continue to work around the clock to reduce leakage, maximise water supplies and ensure homes and businesses across Yorkshire continue to receive the water they need.”Three droughts in five years
Our climate is changing and the current drought now means there have been three in the past five years – 2022, 2025 and now 2026. As a result of climate change, we are experiencing longer hotter summers and more intense rainfall in winters, leading to an increased likelihood of drought and flooding events. -
Review of ‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson
I must begin by making a whispered confession- this is the first time that I have read ‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson. Of course, I have previously been aware of its revolutionary impact, ground-breaking work and awakening of the public, but it always seemed to be a book to be read at another time.
Here, then, is perhaps the tragic beauty of ‘Silent Spring’; that though I read this book through the lens of 2026 and in the United Kingdom, I do not have to search the news for too long to see similar stories of communities bitterly complaining about being contaminated by the chemical industry, of the environment being polluted by ‘forever chemicals’ such as TFA, and even only this past week, that blood samples from a range of Europeans have indicated the highest TFA levels yet measured in humans. The tragedy being that despite 64 years from its publication in 1962, we continue not to heed the clear warnings raised by Carson and allow ourselves to be the guinea pigs of a chemical industry intent on profits.
Chapter headings sound ominously familiar to the modern day reader: ‘Rivers of Death’; ‘Realms of the Soil’; ‘And No Birds Sing’; and ‘Surface Waters and Underwater Seas’. Passages of the text are so relevant to the world of 2026, that it seems that they were only written in the past year. ‘For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death.
They have entered and lodged in the bodies of fish, birds, reptiles, and domestic and wild animals so universally that scientists carrying on animal experiments find it almost impossible to locate subjects free from contamination.’
Carson points the finger firmly at industry, which may explain their expensive campaign against her catalogue of examples which exposed them. ‘All this has come about because of the sudden rise and prodigious growth of an industry from the production of man-made synthetic chemicals with insecticidal properties…New chemicals come from our laboratories in an endless stream.’
Carson aims to teach the uninformed public- ‘If we are going to live so intimately with these chemicals- eating and drinking them, taking them into the very marrow of our bones- we had better know something about their nature and their power.’ In her ‘Elixirs of Death’ chapter, she chronicles a range of weedkillers and their potency. The desire for a quick and easy method of killing unwanted plants has given rise to a large and growing array of chemicals that are known as herbicides, or, less formally, as weed killers. And it shouldn’t take long for the modern reader to recognise modern brands, such as ‘Roundup’ which have caused controversy in the present for having active ingredients which the WHO describes as, ‘probably carcinogenic to humans.’
Carson’s prophetic voice continues as she turns her attention to water pollution and the rise of carcinogens, painting a picture which again, is echoed in the current state of UK rivers. ‘…an appalling deluge of chemical pollution is daily poured into the nation’s waterways.’ Sadly, the public only notice this when there are significant ‘newsworthy’ fish die offs. ‘For the most part this pollution is unseen and invisible, making its presence known when hundreds or thousands of fish die.’ She does warn however of ‘doomism and defeatism’ and advocates for action and awareness. ‘To assume that we must resign ourselves to turning our waterways into rivers of death is to follow the counsel of despair and defeatism.’
Carson warns about the dangers of accepting this new contaminated world, and argues that, ‘Man has put the vast majority of carcinogens into the environment, and he can, if he wishes, eliminate many of them.’ It is horrifying to note that in recent news, we have seen twin stories which highlight the impact and dangers of our contaminated world. New research has indicated that cancer rates are rising more quickly among young people, while at the same time, 485 chemicals in US pesticide products have now been linked to breast cancer. It appears that we may have wasted the past 60 years trying to ‘turn off the tap’ of the chemical deluge of our planet. ‘No longer are exposures to dangerous chemicals occupational alone; they have entered the environment of everyone- even of children as yet unborn.’
Carson’s central message- decades old now and still not urgently acted on- is that the potential harm of pesticides, insecticides and chemicals have not been fully assessed and the long term health impact on humans may continue to be a ticking time bomb, where prevention could be the most effective solution. ‘The central problem of our age has therefore become the contamination of man’s total environment with such substances of incredible potential for harm.’
We cannot continue to live in a contaminated world. Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ moved the needle significantly on the dangers of the widespread use of pesticides and the awareness of a massive industry profiting from an ecological desert. As recent press stories reveal however, the names of the chemicals have changed in the 21st century, but the dangers remain.
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Yorkshire Water have ‘no plans for water restrictions’ as reservoir levels hit 45.5%
As the latest water situation report for September is published, Yorkshire Water repeat their statement that they have ‘no plans for water restrictions’. Levels hit 45.5% for September, coming very close to the 46% levels of September 2025, when the region was under a hosepipe ban. Readings remain well below the 68.7% average for this point of the year.
Last year, the September reading was the beginning of levels going back up, however, we have not seen this climb this year- monthly levels are still dropping.
On a more granular level, which tracks weekly readings, Yorkshire Water posted last week that, ‘Reservoir stocks in Yorkshire have risen for the first time in 13 weeks, following recent rainfall and the usual autumn reduction in water demand.’
Andy Shaw, head of water production, treatment and energy at Yorkshire Water, said: “It’s encouraging to finally see a bit of an increase in our reservoir levels after a long, dry summer. Our reservoir stocks and the Hull aquifer remain some way short of where they should be at this time of year and will need rainfall above long-term average to recover to where we need them to be going into 2027.
This summer has been a challenging one, and our teams have worked around the clock to manage the water supply to ensure all our customers have the water they need, without the need for any usage restrictions.
Avoiding restrictions in such a hot, dry summer is testament to the work we’ve done since last summer to increase the resilience of our operation. However, we also recognise that there is much more to do to improve and deliver the service our customers expect, and we’re committed to doing that as part of our largest ever upgrade of our network by 2030.’
All rivers in the region are also ‘below critical level’ at present. Increases are reliant on sustained wet weather, which may appear mid- October, but with increased rain, also comes sewage discharges into the rivers and waterways of Yorkshire, with the River Wharfe below, one of the rivers significantly impacted by sewage pollution.
Current levels do not appear close to the drought control line at present, but this is very dependent on the amount of rain that the region receives. As Andy Shaw noted on the 24th September, ‘We are expecting a drier spell to end September, so it is important people continue to take steps to review their water usage and make any changes to water use where they can. This, combined with our efforts to improve the network, will help the reservoirs and groundwater levels recovery over the next few months so we can enter 2027 in a healthy position.’
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Review of ‘Eat The Planet Well’ by Dave Goulson
Certainly, I missed the parade of ‘Eat The Planet Well’ by Dave Gouson, when it was published earlier this year, and what a shame.
This is a delightfully informative book which takes the reader on a journey through our ‘toxic food systems’ and suggests a pathway, which is more than just a ‘faddy diet plan’, but instead one which works with the natural world to feed us in a healthy, sustainable manner.
This book is very timely, as we currently lurch from climate crisis to climate crisis, and more and more pressure is placed upon threatened ecosystems, whether through drought, floods, deforestation or government narratives which are not moving fast enough to fend off a greedy and profit-orientated food industry. As Goulson points out, ‘Our food system has become toxic: toxic to us, and toxic to our planet.’ He paints a shocking picture of our current world, a world where ‘soils have become degraded and lifeless; our rivers are awash with a toxic mix of chemical fertiliser, human and livestock excrement, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides and plastics; landfills overspill with rotting food waste and used disposable nappies; our climate careens towards chaos.’
Goulson, however, is too shrewd to offer us a doom-laden scenario, without offering us individual choices which we can make. Here the book comes into its own- there is more emphasis on the individual consumer, indeed there is a chapter called ‘Don’t Wait For the Government’, which seems both sensible and appropriate. This is very much what the environmental and sustainability audience need- a reminder of the power of the individual and to quote Erin Brockovich- a reminder that ‘Superman Isn’t Coming’ and that we are neither hapless nor helpless, but active agents and stakeholders in our own stories, with the power of choice.
‘Eat The Planet Well’ effectively explores the nuance of complex systems, while tackling issues such as ‘Is Organic Food Healthier’, ‘The Rise of Ultra-Processed Food’, ‘Do Livestock Suffer?’. The chapters are packed full with concise factual information, with the repeated underlying message that this book is not meant to be a didactic one, but rather a book about family. He quotes Michael Pollan who echoed the idea of moderation,when he said, ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’ Goulson explains that by ‘eat food’, Pollan means eat real food– or as he puts it another way, ‘food that your grandmother would recognize’.
Goulson evaluates the trade-offs that consumers might balance, when trying to avoid foods which have been sprayed with pesticides, foods which are ‘greenwashed’ to look and be labelled healthy, and a confusing smorgasbord of accredited organisations which offer ‘guarantees’ that the food is sustainable or healthy. He understands the ‘grey’ between positions, that when the ‘Global Western’ world suddenly decides to cut off a product like palm oil, that there are direct impacts on local livelihoods elsewhere.
‘Even if one could somehow engineer a global collapse in the demand for palm oil, another likely adverse consequence would be the loss of thousands of rural jobs in low- income countries, and of millions of jobs involved in transporting and processing palm oil.’
Goulson is advocating informed choices and decision making from those who can. He cautions against the dangers of industry lobbying and media campaigns. He urges us to remember that ‘Perfect is the enemy of Good’ and that we can take action- a key area described in the book is that of food waste, which is somewhat in our control.
‘Overall, enough food is wasted in the EU each year to fill 3 million articulated lorries.’
He continues, ‘The scale of food wasted by households is staggering, particularly in the Global North. For example, in the UK we throw away 12 per cent of the food we buy, about 4.4 million tonnes, equivalent to 160 kilograms of food per household per year.’ He argues that from a household financial perspective, this also has the benefit of saving money, which could be used elsewhere.
The book is packed with details on the impacts of pesticides, GM crops, and meat and milk alternatives for those shocked by animal welfare conditions. In addition, Goulson gives many examples of places and ventures where sustainable eating and living work hand in hand with nature, rather than against. He applauds and advocates farms where ‘growing food sustainably means looking after the soil and working with nature.’
Goulson concludes the book with advice, which is well-known by now. And this is an important point- despite a powerful industry narrative against consumer choice- the path forward is agreed. Despite a powerful meat lobby, vegetarianism is becoming more popular, plant-based meals are more available and even lab-created food is here.
‘[M]ost of us should eat only a little meat and fish, less sugar and processed carbs, and more nuts, fruits and vegetables– is broadly agreed across the scientific community.’
Successfully tackling food waste, improving water use efficiency and finding more equitable means for the distribution of fertilisers amongst the world’s farmers can help us achieve a global food transformation, worthy of Norman Borlaug.
For a fast-paced 21st century world, where everything must be available all-year-round, slowing down would do us wonders. Working with nature, whether we have our own allotments or small window boxes, would help us re-connect with the world beneath our feet.
Goulson finally encourages us that ‘Wonderful food is out there’. He closes the book with many recipes and resources to help empower his audience to recognise food which is healthy, cheap and with a low environmental footprint. These are the real ‘super-foods.’
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Yorkshire Water’s CEO permanently ‘unavailable’ for Ripon City Council’s accountability meeting
Despite no future meeting date being set, Yorkshire Water’s CEO states she cannot attend meeting, owing to her ‘availability’.
Ripon City Council recently invited the CEO of Yorkshire Water to a council meeting following levels of pollution in local rivers. The invitation, unanimously agreed on by councillors present, read, ‘This council calls upon Yorkshire Water to cease the practice of discharging sewage into our local rivers. This council believes that local children when water levels permit should be able to paddle safely in our rivers free from pee and poo.
This council invites the Chief Executive to come to a future meeting of the council and explain why Yorkshire Water think this practice is acceptable and outline what measures Yorkshire Water will be implementing to ensure that this practice ceases.’
When asked whether Yorkshire Water would confirm the attendance of Nicola Shaw, the CEO, a spokesperson said:
‘A Yorkshire Water representative will be available for a meeting with Ripon City Council – though at this stage, it is unlikely to be Nicola, based on her availability.’
It appears that the CEO is permanently unavailable to be accountable to councils and customers for the levels of pollution in Yorkshire’s waterways, as no date had been offered for the meeting and therefore Nicola Shaw had declared herself ‘unavailable’ for all future council meetings.
‘Our storm overflows operate more often than we would like’
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson admitted that pollution levels were unacceptable saying: “Our storm overflows operate more often than we, and our customers, would like, and we’re committed to reducing their operation.
“We’re underway with a £1.5bn investment programme to reduce the number and frequency of storm overflow discharges across the region between 2025 and 2030 – this includes a number of projects in Ripon that are currently being investigated. This follows a £180m investment in the couple of years prior.
“We’re seeing the positive results of these investments. In 2025, we reduced the number of discharges into watercourses by 24.5%, following on from a 12% reduction in 2024.”
Mayor of Ripon, Andrew Williams, commented, ‘We are still waiting a formal reply at RCC and are still looking to engage with the CEO over issues directly related to the three local rivers in Ripon, whilst Yorkshire Water may have invested resources elsewhere, we are still experiencing the regular discharge of sewage into the river network even on dry days. This is simply not acceptable and the practice must cease.’
National debate does not offer public referendum
Water Minister, Emma Hardy, commented during the debate in response to the e-petition created by campaigner Ash Smith that, ‘The failures of the past cannot continue.’ She continued, ‘30 years of privatisation has not left the sector in a good state and that’s probably an understatement.’
The Minister added, ‘All of the failures that people have mentioned are outrageous’ and noted that ‘It is horrific that we have ended up in this situation.’ She concluded by saying, ‘We will look at all possible solutions for the water industry and we will bring forward reforms to make the water sector work for people and places again.’
Clive Lewis, MP, who spoke during the debate argued that ‘For me, it comes down to this: when compounding crises threaten our water supply, do we want corporations and billionaires in control of it?’ Additionally he took to social media to warn ‘If government is to overhaul failing infrastructure, accelerate the green transition and reshape strategically important industries like water and energy, it needs the freedom to act without facing billion-pound claims from foreign investors.’
Rivers of sewage
While debate continues around which reforms would be practical and timely, local river campaigners around the country, continue to hold their breath during every rain shower, for fear that the ‘floodgates will open’ and that rivers will be deluged with pollution and turn into rivers of sewage.
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