Blogs

Scratching the surface of Wales' toxic legacy

Hana Khan
Legal and Policy intern for Cymru and Northern Ireland
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 24 Mar 2025

Hana shares her experiences of working on the contaminated land campaign for Friends of the Earth Cymru and what she learned along the way.

Net Zero or Zero Net? Ban plastic netting in turf

Bleddyn Lake, Campaigns and Development Manager, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 20 Feb 2025

Plastic nets in grass turf are damaging our wildlife and increasing the amount of microplastics in our soil. Friends of the Earth Cymru are joining the call for this harmful practice to be stopped. Sign our petition today.

Craig-yr-Hesg Quarry from Cefn Eglywsilan by Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Welsh quarries should not damage people or wildlife

Jenny Lloyd, Local Action and Community Campaigns Officer

Published: 19 Dec 2024

The materials our society needs, Jenny argues, shouldn't be extracted in a way that harms people or nature. Quarrying for the minerals and stone we need has to done in a sustainable way, and greater regulations and protections are needed.

Everyone should have a right to a healthy environment

Kierra Box
Trade and Environmental Regulation campaigner
Friends of the Earth

Published: 22 Jul 2024

For years, too many polluters have been allowed to get away with it in Wales. As Kierra explains, Welsh communities suffering the effects don't have recourse to a proper environmental watchdog but that is all about to change.

Cardiff unites for warm homes

Published: 22 May 2024

The weather may be heating up but Friends of the Earth groups in Wales are continuing their campaign calling for warm homes for everyone, knowing that we cannot go into another winter where people's lives will be put at risk by sky high energy bills and heat leaking homes.

Child grasping a few toys and looking at the camera

Starting a toy library: it’s easy if you try

Maia Banks, founder of The Honeycomb Toy Library

Published: 17 May 2024

Setting up any sort of enterprise from scratch can seem daunting. But if you, like me, feel an urge to build something in your community, like to play, and want to make a dent in our environmental footprint, you might find setting up a toy library is worth the challenge.

Righting the wrong: readdressing Wales’ historical legacy

Kirsty Luff, Communications Officer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 17 May 2024

In the past, Wales was an industrial powerhouse. Local communities across the country, the last to benefit from the gargantuan wealth from all the mining, ironworking, and other extractive industries, are still paying a hefty price.

Image taken from above of young girl on rug surrounded by toys

How can play become accessible and sustainable?

Bleddyn Lake,
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 22 Apr 2024

How can we save a bit of money, reduce the number of toys cluttering our homes, decrease the number of toys going to landfill and, even if it's only in a small way, lower our climate emissions?

Two people holding up a quilt outside Westminster

Quilts for Warm Homes unite in Westminster

Raoul Bhambral
Volunteer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 19 Mar 2024

Cardiff Friends of the Earth’s Warm Homes Campaign quilt joins the display.

Ukrainian refugees plant an orchard with a Welsh community

Lynn Gazal
Chair, Climate Action Caerffilli Gweithredu Hinsawdd

Published: 31 Jan 2024

Ukrainian refugees in Caerphilly have planted fruit trees in a local park to show their gratitude to the Welsh community. Lynn, one of the organisers, tells the inspiring story of how this 'gratitude orchard' came to fruition.

Tackling microplastics – what more can Wales do?

Kirsty Luff
Communications Officer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 29 Jan 2024

Present in our oceans and soils, microplastics are a harmful and pervasive phenomenon. But what can be done in Wales? Kirsty Luff investigates in an article published by the Welsh Agenda (Institute of Welsh Affairs)

Black silhouettes behind a sign that says 'Warm Homes for all' in English and Welsh/Silwetau du tu ôl i arwydd sy'n dweud 'Cartrefi Cynnes i Bawb' yn Gymraeg a Saesneg

Community groups demand action on warm homes

Jennifer Lloyd
Local Action and Community Campaigns Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 7 Dec 2023

Communities from across Wales got crafty for the United for Warm Homes Day of Action 18th November.

Arts, crafts and a community quilt – all for Warm Homes

Raoul Bhambral
Volunteer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 1 Dec 2023

Cardiff Friends of the Earth brought people together from across the city to make a community quilt this November.

Person with FOE teeshirt looking at solar panels on a hillside

Pensions that benefit people and planet

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 24 Nov 2023

Our campaign to persuade local government pension funds in Wales to move their investments away from fossil fuels and other highly polluting and carbon intensive industries started in 2015.

Recycle Môr: A Sustainable Solution to Pembrokeshire’s Fishing Gear Problem

Will Jackson
Sea Trust Wales

Published: 6 Sep 2023

Have you ever taken a stroll along Pembrokeshire’s stunning coastline? Well, beneath its beauty lies a not-so-pretty problem.

Two people at a protest holding a Earth's on Fire sign

Wales bangs the drum at the ‘Big One!’

Elsa Pullman
Activism and Community Campaigns Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 25 Apr 2023

Hundreds of people from Wales made their way to London for the Big One on Earth Day last Saturday (22 April 2023), including members of Friends of the Earth local action groups.

Wales urgently needs new laws to protect nature

David Kilner
Nature Positive Campaign Coordinator
Climate Cymru

Published: 24 Apr 2023

Nature is on a knife edge. To halt and reverse the catastrophic decline, Wales needs a nature positive bill, says David Kilner, co-ordinator of the Nature Positive campaign in Wales. David thinks we are close but now is the time for a final push.

Help a bee (and other pollinators) in 2023!

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 24 Feb 2023

Our pollinators need our help! Now the pandemic is over, let's go outside and make our towns, villages, and schools as bee friendly as possible. Bleddyn encourages us to take part in Wales's bee friendly scheme.

Methane – it’s role in averting climate catastrophe

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 17 Feb 2023

In this blog Bleddyn Lake considers how reducing methane emissions could avert runaway climate change by preventing or delaying tipping points and calls for a methane action plan for Wales.

Why more of us should know about Kathleen Carpenter

Kirsty Luff
Communications Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 8 Feb 2023

Sustainability is the theme of the 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11th February 2023. It is a fitting time to pay tribute to one of the first scientists to study the effects of pollution on life in Welsh rivers.

Sustainable travel - can Welsh tourism lead the way?

Sarah Wichall
Volunteer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 18 Jan 2023

Tourism contributes hugely to the Welsh economy but it also contributes to climate emissions. It's time for Wales to position itself as a destination for eco-tourism, and cater to the growing demand for sustainable travel from eco-conscious visitors.

How to reduce the impact of what we consume

Sarah Wichall
Volunteer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 6 Dec 2022

With the Welsh Government set to publish some data on Wales’s consumption emissions footprint by the end of the Senedd term, Sarah looks at what Wales imports as a nation, its effect on our planet and how we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Bus on a road in rural Wales with mountains in background

Reforming transport is key to solving the climate crisis

Paula Renzel
Welsh roads and climate campaigner
Transport Action Network

Published: 1 Dec 2022

With climate change well underway, the only way we can avoid the worst of a climate catastrophe is by urgently reducing emissions and reviewing the way we live, work and travel.

Friends of the Earth local groups at a climate rally in Cardiff for COP 27

Thousands rally across Wales for COP 27

Julian Rosser
Activism and Community Campaigns Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 15 Nov 2022

As world leaders gathered at the UN climate change summit in Egypt, campaigners marched in Caernarfon, Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff.

Graphic with text 'Amdani! - even small changes make a big difference to our planet.

Amdani! helps everyone to play their part

Kirsty Luff, Communications Officer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 9 Nov 2022

Our world as we know it is under threat like never before. We’re told we must all play our part if we are to avert this catastrophe, but how can we get everyone on board?

What do fridges, cow farts and pig iron have in common?

By Bleddyn Lake, Campaigns and Development Manager, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 12 Oct 2022

Bleddyn Lake scrutinises the latest emissions data for Wales and calls on Welsh Government to make it more accessible.

Someone using the kitchen tap to pour a glass of water

80 litres per person per day

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 2 Aug 2022

As we struggle with the heat, a long dry spell, huge cost of living increases and possible water shortages, Friends of the Earth Cymru Campaigns and Development Manager, Bleddyn Lake, looks at how setting a new improved water use target in Wales could have many positive benefits.

Crowd of people inside a conference venue standing behind a banner, 'Fossil Fuels are Finished' with their arms in the air

How Egnïo 2022 energised the network

Becky Harford
Activism and Community Campaigns Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 1 Jul 2022

For the first time in three years, our groups, activists and supporters met face-to-face at Egnïo 22. Becky, our Activism and Community Campaigns Officer, reflects on what we learned from these two one-day events in Pontypridd and Bangor.

Local communities celebrate the council's unanimous decision to reject an application for a new opencast coal mine, in Nant Llesg, near Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales, Caerphilly

How to decarbonise public sector pensions

Bleddyn Lake,
Campaigns and Development Manager,
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 11 Feb 2022

In Wales, when it comes to public sector pensions funds getting rid of their fossil fuel investments, everyone looks to everyone else to act. Bleddyn, long-time campaigner on this issue, explores exactly what it will take to get past this stalemate.

How Caerphilly gained a Tiny Forest

Lynn Gazal and Terry Gordon,
Climate Action Caerphilly

Published: 25 Jan 2022

Lynn Gazal, full time mum and environmental campaigner and Terry Gordon, a retired Geotechnical engineer, tell the story of how a community group brought a Tiny Forest to their local park during the Covid-19 Pandemic, and some things they learned along the way.

Picture of the staff of Play it Again sport, with some kids

Play it Again Sport makes sport accessible

Natasha Burnell
Enterprise Manager, Play it Again Sport

Published: 4 Nov 2021

A social enterprise with a mission has recently been awarded a grant by the People's Postcode Lottery and won the BASIS Social Impact, Engagement and Education Award 2021).

10,000 voices call for bold climate action

Kirsty Luff
Communications Officer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 26 Oct 2021

On Tuesday 19 October, we joined Climate Cymru, Stop Climate Chaos Cymru and other organisations to present over 10,000 voices demanding urgent action on climate change to the Welsh Government.

Snowdonia National Park (Image by ian kelsall from Pixabay)

Is your pension wrecking the planet?

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 11 Oct 2021

The pension funds of Welsh councils still invest in fossil fuels, but did you know other organisations pay into the same fund?

How much more inclusive is cycling now?

By Sam Farnfield
Senior Officer, Pedal Power

Published: 7 Sep 2021

Sam Farnfield, Senior Officer for Cardiff charity, Pedal Power, looks at ‘inclusive cycling’, and how much closer we are to making the term a reality in Wales.

Stop biomass - it adds fuel to the fire

Gareth Ludkin
Co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth Cardiff

Published: 20 Aug 2021

The burning of virgin wood for energy continues to spread across Wales under the guise of renewable energy. Gareth Ludkin, Climate Activist and co-ordinator of Cardiff Friends of the Earth thinks it's time to invest in genuine solutions.

Stand up for Wales at the UN Climate Talks - a blog

Jennifer Mair Carew,
Ambassador, Climate Cymru

Published: 1 Jul 2021

Jennifer Carew tells us about Climate Cymru's campaign to gather voices from all over Wales in the lead up to COP 26, so we can make sure our voices are heard by the people in power.

Picture of three people holding divest placards

How to save the planet from poor decision-making

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 30 Jun 2021

Bleddyn Lake considers shines a light on how poor decision-making is threatening to derail our efforts to solve the climate and nature emergencies and how we can inoculate ourselves against it.

St Lucia and Wales face similar environmental issues

Bianca Gittens
Volunteer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 27 Apr 2021

Bianca, one of our volunteers, is from St Lucia, an Island in the Caribbean. In this blog, she compares Wales to her home country. Although they are on completely different sides of the world, these two small nations are similar in some ways and face some of the same challenges.

Beyond Recycling strategy has some nice surprises!

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 4 Mar 2021

Bleddyn Lake reflects on what the new Welsh Government circular economy strategy means for people living in Wales.

Yes to zero-waste by 2030 but no to burning

Chamodi Peiris
Friends of the Earth Cymru volunteer

Published: 17 Feb 2021

Chamodi Peiris looks at different zero-waste initiatives around the world, arguing that Wales's 2050 zero-waste target needs to be brought forward to 2030 and cautioning against Wales allowing any new incinerators to be built.

Wales's industries are key to winning the net zero race

Joe Cooke
Friends of the Earth Cymru volunteer

Published: 4 Feb 2021

The pace of climate change is increasing and Wales, like other nations, must step up its level of ambition. Volunteer Joe Cooke looks at Wales's path to net zero and what needs to be done to get to the finish line as soon as possible.

How people power saved a green space in Caerphilly

Bianca Gittens
Friends of the Earth Cymru volunteer

Published: 21 Jan 2021

This is the story of how some amazing people in Caerphilly worked together to stop a beautiful area of countryside from being turned into a housing estate, so that the whole community, including families with little or no gardens, can continue to enjoy the green space. But the fight is far from over...

Let’s all get behind the draft transport strategy!

Dr Ian Taylor
Director, Transport for Quality of Life

Published: 20 Jan 2021

The Welsh Government is consulting on its new transport strategy. Here, Dr Ian Taylor explains how it is our best hope for a transport system which is fairer on people and planet.

We are not out of the woods yet!

Ffion Edwards
Friends of the Earth Cymru Volunteer

Published: 16 Nov 2020

Trees provide us with oxygen, store carbon, stabilise soils, give life to local wildlife, and are vital for our mental and physical health. Ffion Edwards explains why our woodlands are under threat and what is happening here in Wales to help solve the problem.

Why supermarkets should put doors on their fridges

Joe Cooke
Friends of the Earth Cymru Volunteer

Published: 6 Nov 2020

Supermarkets could save enough energy to power 730,000 homes if they put doors on their fridges. Friends of the Earth Cymru volunteer, Joe Cooke, urges supermarkets in Wales to make this important change for the sake of our planet.

Picture of a man looking into a sustainable baby box

Loving the baby bundle – let's make it sustainable

Becky Harford
Activism and Communities Campaigns Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 20 Oct 2020

In Swansea, some new-born babies’ families have been gifted a baby bundle of sleepsuits, toys, nappies and other items as part of a Welsh Government pilot. Becky Harford explores why a national rollout needs to go further than the trial.

Picture of someone browsing a supermarket shelf

Tetra Paks: Unpacking the facts

Briony Latter
Volunteer, Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 16 Oct 2020

Many of us drink oat, soya or other plant milks these days. Most of the time, they are sold in Tetra Paks - have you ever wondered just how green and sustainable they are?

Time to ban the worst plastic offenders

Kirsty Luff
Communications Officer
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 5 Oct 2020

The Welsh Government wants to ban single use polystyrene cups and food containers, cotton buds, plastic cutlery and plates, beverage stirrers, straws and balloon sticks. We want more products added to the blacklist.

Wales should aim to be a zero waste nation by 2030

Bleddyn Lake
Campaigns and Development Manager
Friends of the Earth Cymru

Published: 5 Sep 2019

So what is zero waste exactly? Basically it does what it says on the tin. No waste anymore.

Clothes, how bad can they be…right?

Helen O’Sullivan
Sustainable Fashion Wales

Published: 28 Jun 2019

A blog from Blog by Helen O’Sullivan from Sustainable Fashion Wales

Blogs

Scratching the surface of Wales' toxic legacy

Net Zero or Zero Net? Ban plastic netting in turf

Welsh quarries should not damage people or wildlife

Everyone should have a right to a healthy environment

Cardiff unites for warm homes

Starting a toy library: it’s easy if you try

Righting the wrong: readdressing Wales’ historical legacy

How can play become accessible and sustainable?

Quilts for Warm Homes unite in Westminster

Ukrainian refugees plant an orchard with a Welsh community

Tackling microplastics – what more can Wales do?

Community groups demand action on warm homes

Arts, crafts and a community quilt – all for Warm Homes

Pensions that benefit people and planet

Recycle Môr: A Sustainable Solution to Pembrokeshire’s Fishing Gear Problem

Wales bangs the drum at the ‘Big One!’

Wales urgently needs new laws to protect nature

Help a bee (and other pollinators) in 2023!

Methane – it’s role in averting climate catastrophe

Why more of us should know about Kathleen Carpenter

Sustainable travel - can Welsh tourism lead the way?

How to reduce the impact of what we consume

Reforming transport is key to solving the climate crisis

Thousands rally across Wales for COP 27

Amdani! helps everyone to play their part

What do fridges, cow farts and pig iron have in common?

80 litres per person per day

How Egnïo 2022 energised the network

How to decarbonise public sector pensions

How Caerphilly gained a Tiny Forest

Play it Again Sport makes sport accessible

10,000 voices call for bold climate action

Is your pension wrecking the planet?

How much more inclusive is cycling now?

Stop biomass - it adds fuel to the fire

Stand up for Wales at the UN Climate Talks - a blog

How to save the planet from poor decision-making

St Lucia and Wales face similar environmental issues

Beyond Recycling strategy has some nice surprises!

Yes to zero-waste by 2030 but no to burning

Wales's industries are key to winning the net zero race

How people power saved a green space in Caerphilly

Let’s all get behind the draft transport strategy!

We are not out of the woods yet!

Why supermarkets should put doors on their fridges

Loving the baby bundle – let's make it sustainable

Tetra Paks: Unpacking the facts

Time to ban the worst plastic offenders

Wales should aim to be a zero waste nation by 2030

Clothes, how bad can they be…right?

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