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Scientists are preparing to establish 4,500 native trees on the fringes of the Brecon Beacons National Park using a novel fertiliser derived from human urine.The fertiliser was produced by Bristol‑based startup NPK Recovery, which linked its mobile processing unit to the toilets serving roughly 700 revellers at the Boomtown festival in Hampshire last July.During the 2025 event the system generated 540 litres of nutrient‑rich liquid, now earmarked for planting beech, Scots pine and other native species in Wales.The three‑year restoration scheme, funded by a Forestry Commission grant, will also incorporate urine collected from additional events, expanding the supply chain for the circular fertiliser.To launch the initiative, a Scots pine seedling was planted on Thursday morning, symbolising the start of what could become a lasting Welsh forest.Lucy Bell‑Reeves, co‑founder of NPK Recovery, noted that field trials have shown the urine‑based product to be as effective as conventional fertilisers, marking its first application on trees.“Using a waste product to grow trees is a circular solution that can revitalise our struggling native species,” Bell‑Reeves said, adding that “we need to stop flushing crop and tree‑growing nutrients down the loo and start using them to increase our fertiliser security.”The company previously processed 1,000 litres of urine collected from women’s urinals at the London Marathon, converting it into an odour‑free liquid using specialised bacteria that recover nitrogen and other nutrients.NPK Recovery’s mobile laboratory enables on‑site conversion, eliminating the need for transport and preserving nutrient integrity.Partnering with the charity Stump Up For Trees, co‑founded by author‑cyclist Rob Penn, the project builds on the charity’s five‑year effort that has already planted over 500,000 trees in the region, half of its one‑million‑tree target.Penn expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This groundbreaking project has implications for the future of sustainable forestry, and collaboration with NPK Recovery brings much‑needed innovation to the sector.”

Highland cows, a hardy breed known for their shaggy coats and upturned horns, have been a part of Hothfield Heathlands nature reserve in Kent. They were introduced to restore and maintain the reserve through wild grazing. However, their presence led to an unexpected consequence. The cows became an unlikely sensation on social media, particularly on TikTok, with videos of them going viral. This sudden fame attracted a large number of visitors to the reserve, who were eager to take selfies with the cows and even stroke them. Despite warnings from Kent Wildlife Trust to keep at least 10 meters away, the situation became unmanageable. The trust eventually made the decision to remove the cows from the reserve, at least temporarily, to protect them from the stress and potential harm caused by the influx of visitors. The cows, which have survived the harsh climate of the Scottish Highlands for over 1,000 years, were becoming distressed and could have reacted out of fear if the situation continued. This incident is not an isolated case. The popularity of Highland cows has caused trouble before, such as in January when three people had to be rescued after getting lost while searching for viral Highland cattle on Butser Hill in Hampshire. The hashtag #highlandcow has reportedly reached millions of people on social media, highlighting the significant public interest in these animals. The removal of the Highland cows from Hothfield Heathlands serves as a reminder of the impact of social media on wildlife and the importance of respecting the personal space of animals, even those as adorable and charismatic as Highland cows.