Emma Reynolds has been appointed the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK. How will she sort through all the recent reports and reviews into the highly contentious future of the water sector in the UK? What actions will she take from the various recommendations

There is drought in many parts of the UK. Should it be water companies that decide (and announce) when things like hosepipe bans are implemented or could there be a better process?

What are Sponge Cities? How has China had so much success with them and should the approach be replicated in other parts of the world?

Host Niki Roach and CIWEM Director of Policy Al Chisholm discuss all of the above current issues in this month's Planet Possible MiniPod.

If you want to find out more about the 'A Fresh Water Future Conference' in December, visit:

www.ciwem.org/events/a-fresh-water-future-conference-2025

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

This episode explores Niki's visit to Havant Thicket, the first new reservoir to be built in the UK, in 30 years.

Niki spoke to Terry Fuller from Future Water, Robert Taylor CEO of Portsmouth Water and other key members of the delivery team about this ambitious project.

The site is owned by Portsmouth Water, who will store and supply Southern Water, as part of a water cooperative.

Once complete, the site will hold 9 billion litres of water and will serve 160,000 customers.

It’s also the first of ten further reservoirs that are planned to be built across the country, in the next 20 years.

The project balances the difficult trade-offs, such as loss of ancient woodland, against major rewilding, habitat restoration, and reduced pressure on water supply.

As a sustainability lead project and with a collaboration focus between water companies and environmental groups, the huge build plans to leave a strong legacy of education, recruitment, training, and a new recreational space for the local community.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

In this month's MiniPod, we're joined by CIWEM President Hannah Burgess and we discuss...

1. The consultation on how flood funding is awarded and how that opens the door to more voluntary groups, and environmental NGOs, directly accessing funding.

2. The news that a global plastics treaty is being debated, alongside some ideas for individual actions.

3. We also consider the updated national sustainable drainage standards which should drive more consistency in what's delivered.

Useful Links

Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about new episodes - http://eepurl.com/i7VmiA

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Have we reached an important positive tipping point where more people than ever of power and influence want to talk about - and take action on - the challenges facing our planet in climate, nature and water?

It certainly seems to us - making this podcast - that more people want to talk about environmental issues, and we want to play our part by amplifying planet positive messages both from people of real influence... and people making real progress.

In this episode we bring you a collection of interviews. First up, two new conversations, recorded at Northumbrian Water's Innovation Festival in Newcastle, with George Clarke (architect and TV presenter on Channel 4) and Simon Reeve (TV adventurer and author).

Plus, we revisit some of our most powerful conversations from the last 12 months, including...

Chris Packham talking about biodiversity and his call-to-action for all individuals wanting to help the planet

Dr Roz Savage MP explains how her own passion for nature led her to lead the Climate & Nature Bill

Sue Jefferson from Circular Molton and Norton talks about how she is making huge progress on making the circular economy a reality at a local scale.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

We're joined by Adam Bedford - Collaborative Projects Director at FERA Science, in this month’s MiniPod and we discuss...

1. The news that more than 80% of famers are worried about the climate crisis harming their livelihood.

2. A group of British, Ukrainian and Dutch engineers trying to rebuild Ukraine as efficiently and sustainably as possible, by recycling the rubble from bombed buildings to make new concrete.

3. We also consider the impact of the recent final report, from the Independent Water Commission, on our farming communities and agriculture.

Useful Links

Read The Guardian’s article on UK farmers, and their worries about the climate crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/02/farmers-climate-crisis-livelihood-extreme-weather-study

The Times article on the smart way to rebuild Ukraine can be read https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/smart-way-rebuild-recycle-rubble-mbbhgdl32

Find the Independent Water Commission review of the water sector https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-water-commission-review-of-the-water-sector

Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about new episodes - http://eepurl.com/i7VmiA

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

The Cunliffe Review has just been published and proposes massive change to the UK water sector. What are the headlines? Are the recommendations right? Do they go far enough? What are the implications for the water companies, campaigners, the general public... and the bigger picture of climate, nature and the environment as a whole?

CIWEM's Director of Policy Al Chisholm and host Niki Roach give their expert analysis.

Read the summary report here

Read the full report here

Planet Possible is supported by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Nature is in decline across the UK. 2023 data shows the abundance of terrestrial and freshwater species has on average fallen by 19% across the UK since 1970. Yet working with nature may be part of the answer to reversing this decline.

As the Environment Agency release a new position statement on nature-based solutions, we’re joined by their Director of Water, Helen Wakeham and the CEO of the Rivers Trust, Mark Lloyd.

Hear Helen and Mark discuss the rationale behind sharing their position on these types of solutions and what role they have to play in the environment we want to nurture. We explore whether they can be seen as greenwash and if the wider value of these solutions is really accounted for by our current regulations. And we discuss the challenge of insufficient performance data making it difficult to confidently allow wider scale adoption. There are seeds of positivity as we consider how taking a catchment-view could enable some bold decisions that leave a positive legacy for our environment.

As ever, find out what Helen and Mark both want to make possible with the Planet Possible Magic Wand.

Read the new position statement on Nature-based Solutions. (Launched 17th July '25)

Join our mailing list to head first about the latest episodes.

Thanks to our sponsors BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment for supporting Planet Possible.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

We're joined by The Guardian newspaper Biodiversity Reporter, Phoebe Weston in this months MiniPod and we discuss...

1. The news that water contamination by forever chemicals from an airport in eastern France has resulted in 3000 vulnerable residents unable to drink their tap water.
2. A groundbreaking tree-planting programme that is uniting farmers and rewilders in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
3. UK data shows 60% of adults think climate and the environment are important issues – we’ll explore the role of the media in portraying these topics responsibly.

Useful Links

Read Phoebe's article on ghost woodlands and rewilding here

Read the Office of National Statistics – public and business attitudes to environment and climate change 2024 survey here

Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about new episodes - click here to sign up

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland