Editor's note

Most of Britain’s wildlife has seen sharp declines in numbers since the 1970s. There were 44 million more breeding birds in that decade than in 2019, while two-thirds of all butterfly species have been on a downward trend since the decade ended. Everything from climate change to pesticides and road collisions have taken their toll on native species – let’s not even talk about bumblebees – but there are some interesting exceptions in the records of some less well studied forms of life.

In a new study, Charlie Outhwaite, a postdoctoral researcher at UCL, has found groups of species that are faring as well as or even better than they were five decades ago. Freshwater insects such as dragonflies and caddisflies have bounced back to 1970 levels in recent years after a period of decline. A similar increase was spotted for mosses and lichens – the colourful scraps of life that grow on tree trunks and fences.

What do all these species have in common? They’re all indicators of air and water quality. Some are found in more places today than 50 years ago, suggesting that Britain’s air and freshwater has improved in many places, perhaps as EU regulations have helped to clean up pollution.

Elsewhere, researchers have found that a meat-free diet could protect people from a host of chronic diseases. And as people mourn the death of the TV presenter Caroline Flack, a media expert criticises the role that tabloids played in the tragedy.

Jack Marley

Commissioning Editor, Environment + Energy

Top stories

A ruddy darter dragonfly perches on a stalk in Coleshill Park, Wiltshire, UK. Ian_Sherriffs/Shutterstock

Meet the insects that are defying the plunge in biodiversity – new findings

Charlie Outhwaite, UCL

While many surveys show the numbers of wildlife falling, there is good news for some species – including pondskaters and various mosses and lichen.

Meat contains higher levels of sulphur amino acids than plant proteins. Natalia Lisovskaya

Eating meat: links to chronic disease might be related to amino acids – new findings

Laura Brown, Teesside University; Kelly Rose, Teesside University

Eating plant-based proteins is linked with lower risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Hounded: television presenter Caroline Flack. Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images

Caroline Flack’s death is yet another reason to be angry at the way the media treats women

Beth Johnson, University of Leeds

The death of the well-known UK television personality highlights the oppressive way in which women are represented.

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