November can be a dull month of the year. With the cold, wet weather and Christmas feeling like it’s an age away, it can seem like there’s not much to look forward to. Our positive planet newsletter is sure to give you a boost of positivity, as we highlight the top feel-good climate news stories from the past few weeks.

Cycling levels in the UK soar

A new report from the Department of Transport has found that the amount of people cycling in the UK is now much higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The results found that 54% more people are now choosing to cycle regularly, which is great news for the environment, as it means there are fewer cars on the road!

Rare flowers have bloomed in Chile’s Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the hottest places on earth. However, a type of rare flower has recently started to bloom there. This is very unusual, with the flowers only blooming every 3-5 years. The natural occurrence of the flowers has prompted the government in Chile to make the Atacama Desert a protected National Park in order to help preserve them.

Wild baby bison is born in the UK

Wild bison became extinct in the UK a century ago due to over-hunting. However, a new project has re-introduced the animals to a woodland in Kent. Recently, a baby bison was born out of the herd for the first time in hundreds of years! The new baby was a happy surprise for the project organisers, and they’re hoping the herd will continue to breed in the near future.

Scotland generated a record amount of renewable energy

Scotland has exceeded its renewable energy targets throughout May, June and July. The country was up by 36%, which is a huge increase when compared to last year.

It’s thought that Scotland has passed their targets due to windier weather this year, meaning its wind farms have been performing much better than expected.

Amsterdam launches a new ‘repair’ cafe

People in Amsterdam are also feeling the pressure of rising costs. The average European home has around 74 electrical items inside, and so if one of these breaks it can become very expensive.

A local cafe has started to offer repair services and skill workshops for free, allowing people to save on the cost of replacing their items. This also means there are fewer items being discarded when broken, which is brilliant news for the planet!

A music venue in Glasgow is now powered by dancing

The music venue SWG3 has started to generate its own renewable energy source from the heat of bodies on the dancefloor. The cutting-edge new system means the venue’s owners can completely disconnect their gas boilers, which will cut 70 tonnes of carbon emissions a year!

We hope that our latest positive eco-news stories have perked you up. Keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment of our newsletter in two weeks. Until then you can follow us on social media @ForHousing, for more top tips on how you can help save the planet.