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Thousands of seabirds to benefit from Solway Firth expansion
The red-throated diver will be joining the extensive list of species already protected by the MAP.
Red-throated diver and ringed plover to join list of protected species.

A stretch of water on the English-Scottish border is to be given additional protection in a bid to improve seabird populations.

The Solway Firth, which is classified as a Marine Protected Area (MAP), is being expanded by 92,070 hectares, becoming a total of 135,750 hectares in size. 

Some 125,000 seabirds will benefit from the expansion of this site, said Defra, with the red-throated diver and ringed plover joining the extensive list of species already protected. 

The move follows work undertaken by Nature Scot and Natural England and a public consultation on the introduction of further protections. 

The expansion will provide greater clarity on where boundaries of important foraging areas for protected seabird species are and offers the opportunity to adopt additional management measures if required, such as bylaws to manage commercial fishing or the zoning of water sports. 

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “The UK seabird population is of global importance with the UK holding more than a quarter of Europe’s breeding seabirds. This addition to England’s vital MPA network is a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to protect and improve the resilience of our marine environment and its precious wildlife.

 “Together with the development of our Seabird Conservation Strategy, we will help the coastal environment to recover and thrive for future generations to enjoy.”

Marian Spain, Natural England chief executive, said: “The new protections at Solway Firth, based on advice from the UK’s world-leading scientists will create more space for nature to recover and signify a significant step forward in enhancing protections for a range of globally important sea and shorebirds.

“We will continue to work with Defra as they develop their Seabird Conservation Strategy to understand the challenges that seabird populations currently face and consider what further measures are needed to help their recovery.”

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Free event for the global unowned cat community

News Story 1
 International Cat Care (ICatCare) has announced a free, virtual event dedicated to caring for unowned cats to explore new ideas and ways of working.

iCatConnect 2025 takes place on Wednesday, 12 November, and is open to everyone working and volunteering with unowned cats. It will include a line-up of 12 international cat welfare experts, who will consider the bigger picture of unowned cats and explore practical, effective, and inclusive solutions.

Following the session, attendees can put their questions to the experts and share their views. They will also hear frontline challenges and real-world case studies shared by contributors working in shelters, TNR, community cat programmes, and veterinary teams from around the world. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.