Day: 17 May 2025

UNESCO names 16 new Global Geoparks

Stuart Mitchell

UNESCO has designated 16 new geoparks, bringing the total number of sites in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to 229 in 50 countries. The network now covers an area of almost 855,000 km², equivalent to the size of Namibia. The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, brings together territories recognized for their rich geological heritage – rock formations, mountain or volcanic ranges, caves, canyons, fossil sites or ancient desert landscapes – which bear witness to our planet’s history, evolution and climate. These sites are also…

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Birds, beetles and butterflies: conservationists reveal wildlife affected by UK fires

Stuart Mitchell

The National Trust has laid bare some of the varied species of wildlife that have been affected by April’s spate of wildfires. After the driest March in decades, and warmer than average temperatures in April, the UK has had one of the worst fire seasons on record. Fires in recent weeks have included one spanning 1,600 hectares – roughly 400 times the size of Cardiff’s Principality Stadium – at the National Trust’s Abergwesyn Common in Powys, Mid Wales. The blaze damaged vast areas of prime habitat for small mammals and…

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Royal London and Turn2us extend partnership to break down barriers to financial security with £2 million donation

Stuart Mitchell

Royal London, the UK’s largest life, pensions and investment mutual, recently announces a £2 million boost to its partnership with Turn2us, a leading charity dedicated to ending financial insecurity in the UK.   Royal London has contributed over £1.4 million to the partnership since the collaboration began in 2021, primarily supporting the Turn2us helpline, which provides vital, immediate, assistance to those struggling financially.  Building on the success of the past three years, Royal London plans to support with an additional £2 million over the next three years. Aligned to its purpose1,…

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Kris Gibbon-Walsh Named Permanent Fareshare CEO And Dominic Blakemore Appointed Chair Of Trustees

Stuart Mitchell

Following an external recruitment process, FareShare has announced that Kris Gibbon-Walsh has now been appointed as CEO, having held the position as interim since October 2024.  Dominic Blakemore has also been appointed FareShare’s Chair of Trustees, following the announcement that John Bason will be stepping down from the role after serving as Chair for 13 years.  John Bason’s time as Chair oversaw a significant expansion of FareShare, which now redistributes food to over a million people across the UK every year.  Dominic Blakemore, CEO of global food service company Compass…

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CEOs of major aid groups in Gaza warn aid system is collapsing

Stuart Mitchell

After 18 months of war, a staggering toll on civilians and aid workers, and now a six-week total siege, the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is facing total collapse with the CEOs of 12 major aid organisations making an urgent plea: let us do our jobs.  A new humanitarian access survey of 43 international and Palestinian aid organisations working in Gaza found nearly all of them – 95% – have had to suspend or dramatically cut services since the ceasefire ended one month ago on 18 March, with widespread and…

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