Environment

Green Hill Solar Farm was approved by the Planning Inspectorate on October 8

Residents 'deeply concerned' by the sheer scale of proposal of huge solar farm

Library picture (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Ancient woodland covers just 2% of region, new analysis reveals

Kim Tegg launched Beautiful Borders 13 years ago in what was a complete career change after returning to college to train in horticulture, and she is now the proud founder of Beautiful Borders Plants Ltd too.

Founder of nearing decade-and-a-half proudly launches wholesale plant venture

Anglian Water is installing hundreds of kilometres of new pipes across its network and progressing plans for two new reservoirs and a desalination plant

Hosepipe ban to remain in place as drought conditions look to continue into 2027

Library picture of a solar farm (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images)

Developer behind huge solar farm responds to fears over impact

The group's aim is working collaboratively to conserve and enhance the Billing Road Cemetery to create a safe, accessible, enjoyable and sustainable place for the benefit of all.

Friends of Billing Road Cemetery invite town to discover history of 13-acre site

The family-run Colready Highlands Farm first opened its doors to the public in July 2023, originally as a six-week holiday highland cow experience, and it has since gone from strength to strength.

Here’s what award-winning Colready Highlands Farm has planned for rest of 2026

The clean-up operation on the A45 between Wellingborough and Raunds

'UNSIGHTLY': 420 sacks of litter cleared from A45 in Northamptonshire

Fridge-freezer storage capacity has been increased at Enva's Corby site / Residents can only dump one fridge-freezer per trip/ NNC

ID must now be shown at all tips in north Northamptonshire

The two hotspots: Victoria Gardens (top), and Greenwood Road (bottom)

WNC gives landlord ultimatum over fly-tipping hotspot on busy walkway

Pictures of the site taken this month (August)

Wildfire fears over HUGE fly-tip 'where rough sleepers are making fires'

Extreme heat warning for Thursday, August 13/ Met Office

Extreme weather warning issued for Northamptonshire with possible high of 37°C

Luton Airport concourse impression

Luton Airport expansion to go ahead after clearing legal hurdles

A total of 17 locks along the Northampton Arm of the canal connecting the River Nene to the mainline of the Grand Union Canal is closed to boats.

Total of 17 locks on Northampton stretch of Grand Union closed to save water

Meadow Road Park, Kettering drought conditions in Northamptonshire/IMG

Prolonged dry spell in Northamptonshire as virtually no rain falls in July

A petition was sent to Downing Street in February opposing the plans for Green Hill Solar Farm

Plans for huge solar development across Northamptonshire enter 'decision' stage
Green Hill Solar Farm has progressed to the next stage, as the project that would see a significant portion of green space across Northamptonshire has officially entered the ‘decision’ stage with a final determination anticipated to be announced in the autumn.
William Carter

RHS judges visit colourful Bloom displays in Northampton town centre.

In pictures: Planters and more on show for East Midlands in Bloom judges

A hosepipe ban has been announced by Anglian Water for the East of England, which includes Northamptonshire (Credit: Getty)

Hosepipe ban for Northamptonshire as Anglian Water introduces restrictions

The River Nene in Kislingbury

Environment Agency issues statement after teenagers became unwell from river

The owners of Daventry Laundrette in Tamar Square have been fined for failing to confirm how their commercial waste is disposed of.

Laundrette owners fined for failing to confirm how commercial waste is disposed

The sunflower fields at The Patch in full bloom in August 2025 - they will be closed to the public this summer in order to protect the land

Northamptonshire attraction to take year off to protect land

Raw sewage flowing into a stream in Miller's Meadow, Semilong, connected to the River Nene on Thursday June 4.

Anglian Water responds after dog walker spots raw sewage flowing into River Nene

A resident was fined after an unlicensed waste carrier fly-tipped their rubbish in a Northamptonshire village. Photo: WNC.

Resident fined £600 after unlicensed waste carrier fly-tipped their rubbish

The eActros 600 joins a fleet of biofuel-powered race and marketing trucks.

Brackley’s Mercedes roll out fully-electric truck in Formula 1 milestone

Residents are being urged to use licenced waste collectors to avoid rubbish being fly-tipped. Photo: WNC.

Residents warned over risks of using unlicensed rubbish collectors

Volunteers from the Northants Litter Wombles and JAM - Helping Out raised concerns about the issue at Hunsbury Hill Country Park, which is nearby to Tesco Extra on Clannell Road. Photo: Julia Harris.

Tidy Our Town: Major supermarket apologises after complaint of trolleys in water

Here's how the areas surrounding Wellingborough Road and Kettering Road were looking on Wednesday (May 6)

OPINION: 'I toured our town and was disgusted at the level of fly-tipping'
In December 2024, I took a walk down one of the grottiest streets in Northampton and found that it was a disgraceful half-a-mile stretch of pure filth.
Logan MacLeod

Street art projects have begun in areas of Northampton often targeted with graffiti. (Artwork by James Thompson).

Street art commissioned in graffiti areas as council introduces measures

This huge fly-tip is down Martin's Yard, just off Spencer Bridge Road.

Concerns raised over 'the worst fly-tipping he has ever seen'

Improvements are being made to the reservoir at Sywell Country Park

Water level reduced at Northants reservoir so improvements can be carried out

The Kings Heath Partnership – a group of organisations with a vested interest in the area, facilitated by WNC’s community development and safety teams – worked collaboratively to improve the area and address local priorities.

Community out in force to transform Kings Heath in ‘powerful show of pride’

The town’s second ‘Deposit Return Scheme’ machine has been placed on the ground floor of Weston Favell Shopping Centre, in addition to the first which has been open at the University of Northampton since February 2025.

‘Gamechanger’ machine which incentivises recycling now OPEN at shopping centre

An old tyre was among a lorry load of rubbish collected in one litter pick (left) and carrying out a litter pick later at night on the A14 (right)

315 bags of rubbish, eight tyres and half a sofa collected in A14 clean-up

Flytipping in Northampton
Credit: Nadia Lincoln LDRS

Councillor calls out WNC for 'weak' approach to flytipping new figures released

George and Josh Taylor have reimagined their family’s former dairy farm into The Shire Retreat, designed for authentic connection, relaxation and escapism.

Pair who transformed family farm to wellness retreat proudly welcome businesses

Mark Watson sent FOI requests to both WNC and Buckinghamshire Council in October last year, requesting data on how many people had been fined for throwing litter out of cars, vans and lorries between January 1 to October 25, 2025.

Tidy Our Town: WNC responds as Womble calls for crackdown on roadside litter

More electric buses will be hitting the streets of West Northamptonshire soon, according to the council.

17 new electric buses added to fleet following Government funding

Otter Falls Enclosure at Woburn Safari Park. Photo: Woburn Safari Park

A new generation at Otter Falls: Why two tiny pups matter more than you think

Large scale fly tips have decreased in West Northamptonshire over four years. (File picture).

'Tipper lorry load’ fly-tipping incidents decreases, despite national data

Protestors signs left outside the Council building at the September meeting
Credit: Nadia Lincoln LDRS

Controversial plans for huge bioenergy plant approved

Huntsman Philip Saunders of the Pipewell Foot Beagles pleaded guilty at Northampton Magistrates' Court to hunting a mammal - a protected hare - with dogs/National World/UGC

Huntsman ordered to pay more than £5k and have his horn destroyed

Joely Martin founded Northampton Party Kits in February last year, which gives people across the town the opportunity to hire reusable tableware for parties and other events.

Meet the mother who launched innovative and sustainable party kit hire business

Local residents attended in protest to the plans.
Credit: Nadia Lincoln LDRS

Councillors will debate controversial bioenergy plant plans again

Dedicated volunteer Mark Watson was among a team of 10 wombles who took on clearing the Badgers End layby on the A4500 westbound just outside of Upton heading towards the M1 at the end of last year.

Tidy Our Town: Dumping ground layby persists as womble calls for WNC to close it

The Northampton Town Centre Environmental Policy sets clear expectations for how businesses and landlords should store their bins and dispose of waste – with the aim of helping to reduce clutter and create a more welcoming environment. Photo: West Northamptonshire Council.

WNC claims to have engaged with 500 businesses as part of town centre crackdown

Tia Cottingham, who has lived on Elizabeth Walk since 2011, captured this photograph of a dead rat among littering and fly tipping and she believes the issue has worsened in recent years.

Tidy Our Town: Resident photographs dead rat in ‘disgusting’ neighbourhood

Campaigners stood alongside MPs Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) and Stuart Andrew (Daventry) at 10 Downing Street

Petition against huge solar farm in Northamptonshire sent to Downing Street

The CCTV camera tower is currently installed in a rural fly-tipping hotspot.

AI CCTV camera installed at rural fly-tipping hotspot to deter litter dumpers

Alicia Waters Galan has been named the winner of the Young Change-Maker of the Year Award.

Girl, 12, wins award after collecting more than one million pieces of litter

A new year brings time for reflection, resolutions and goals, so why not take the opportunity to try something new and join the Northants Litter Wombles in their commendable efforts to improve this county? Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.

Tidy Our Town: Here’s why 2026 is the perfect time to join the Litter Wombles

The project involved the change of use to the layby, with a Traffic Regulation Order now in place

Efforts targeting notorious fly-tipping hotspot in Northants village paying off

WNC says around 97 percent of tip visitors are now booking their slots in advance.

Nearly 4,000 extra people used tips between Christmas and New Year, council says

Labour councillor Rufia Ashraf, ward councillor for Dallington and Spencer, has criticised the ongoing state of Sandhill Road in St James (pictured), where dumped rubbish and fly-tipping have become a recurring problem.

'How can people live like this?': Councillor SLAMS residents for flytipping

The site had become disgracefully strewn with litter and overflowing bins.

Owner of filthy alleyway in Northampton town centre has been revealed as… WNC

Helene Kluger-Langer, who has been a regular contributor to the Tidy Our Town campaign throughout this year, has lived in Vernon Walk for more than 40 years.

Tidy Our Town: Resident slams ‘unimaginable’ area with hope for better in 2026

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