From Guest Blogger Dimitris Papadopoulos: UK Green News Roundup

Britain is an ecologically diverse nation making a concerted effort to move away from fossil fuel use, protect its fauna and flora and create a zero waste economy.

With that in mind, here’s a roundup of recent green news stories from the sceptred isle.

Scotland’s melting snow

Scottish environmental experts have reported that the UK’s longest-lasting patch of snow has melted.

The miniature glacier, dubbed The Sphinx, was located at Garbh Choire Mor on Braeriach and had survived in its mountainside home for 11 years.

It has only completely disappeared in this spot seven times in the past 300 years and last melted in 2006.

A series of mild winters in Scotland has also meant that in August there was no snow on Britain’s highest peak Ben Nevis for the first time in six years.

This is bad news for the Scottish snow sports industry who’ll be hoping for a lucrative covering of the white stuff this winter — although the associated lack of avalanches means mountain rescue teams have enjoyed some respite.

Retail’s recycling push

A group of major retailers are collaborating to encourage customers to recycle used household batteries after research indicated more than half of respondents still throw them in the bin.

The firms have committed to making recycling points more prominent inside their stores — this should prevent batteries ending up in landfills and ensure their valuable heavy metals are put to good use.

Used UK batteries are currently transported to mainland Europe for recycling.

But the first UK dedicated UK plant will open in Scotland later this year and has enough capacity to cope with Britain’s full complement of dead domestic batteries.

Bees and Brexit

Brexit will be good news for Britain’s bees — according to Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

The Eurosceptic politician lays the blame for the deaths of countless birds, bees, small mammals and fish squarely at the door of meddlesome EU environmental legislators.

For Gove, a green Brexit can be achieved through repealing these laws, committing to more ambitious recycling targets and increasing the punishments meted out for animal cruelty offences.

Cynics may point out the flipside — the European Commission makes massive contributions to British environmental projects spearheaded by university researchers across the country, but the funding plug will be pulled post-Brexit.

And uncertainty around future immigration plans may make it more difficult for European academics to come to Britain to collaborate on cross-cutting ecological initiatives.

But online learners undertaking distance learning degrees can qualify without the need for a visa while reducing their carbon footprint — so it’s swings and roundabouts.

From Brexit to bees and disappearing glaciers — there’s never a dull moment in Britain’s quest to go green.

Are you involved in an eco-friendly UK project? Share your stories in the comments section.