Good environmental news – 10 wins in 2018
1. Saving a town from a huge coal mine
![Alyson Austin of Merthyr Tydfil Friends of the Earth smiles for the camera as she stands by a lake holding a placard thanking the People’s Postcode Lottery for funding.](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/alyson_0.jpg?itok=0Yp05au5)
Local people and our group at Merthyr Tydfil have stopped Nant Llesg from being wrecked by an opencast coal mine. Years of campaigning paid off, which is great news for the climate.
2. Empowering kids to cut air pollution
![Friends of the Earth's Clean Air Schools Pack, showing cover, stickers and worksheets.](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/CLEAN_AIR_SCHOOL_PACK.jpg?itok=I5hH2nlt)
With your funding, teachers across the country are using our clean air schools packs to educate kids about air pollution.
3. Saving bees from pesticides
![Bumblebee on wheat](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/Bumblebee%20on%20wheat.jpg?itok=-bqWhEUl)
People all over Europe demanded action to save bees. The result? The EU has now banned 3 bee-harming pesticides from being used outdoors.
4. Getting justice for anti-fracking heroes
![External view of the Royal Courts of Justice building, London](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/Royal-Courts-of-Justice%2C-London%C2%A9iStock.jpg?itok=QLFySGMZ)
Your donations meant our lawyers could intervene in the case of 3 peaceful anti-fracking protestors, who had been unlawfully jailed – and help secure their release.
5. Going plastic free across the country
![Close-up of woman holding Friends of the Earth Plastic-Free aluminium water bottle](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/al_waterbottle.jpg?itok=FvfO-qog)
Millions of people are talking about Plastic-Free Friday on social media. And across the country our local groups are turning whole cities plastic free.
6. Protecting Robin Hood's fabled home
![Actor as Friar Tuck with petition placard saying "250,000 PEOPLE SAY PROTECT SHERWOOD FOREST"](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/Sherwood%20Petition-26.jpg?itok=AOlM31L4)
Despite the sad news from Lancashire, you helped keep the frackers out of Sherwood Forest. That’s more good news for the climate.
7. Keeping rivers clean
![View over the Owenkillew river, Northern Ireland. Cottage and 2 large trees in foreground; fields behind.](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/Owenkillew_0.jpg?itok=PAXXIs7u)
And in Northern Ireland we’re supporting local campaigners working to save the Owenkillew river from toxic gold mining pollution.
8. Rewarding students for being eco friendly
Hundreds of veggie meals have been sold at Portsmouth University thanks to our pilot loyalty scheme – Kale Yeah!
9. Blocking Heathrow expansion
We launched a legal challenge against the expansion of Heathrow airport. And our groups in West London are running an inspiring campaign to block the plans.
10. Welcoming bees in Wales
![A bee-friendly garden full of greenery, purple flowers and bee hotels made from logs.](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/RS17006_P1010518-scr.jpg?itok=b2BwdrKm)
Amazing local activists have established over 50 official bee-friendly sites in Wales.
Bonus news
And just because we like good news, here's another portion of positivity.
As well as taking all sorts of important actions online, thousands of you took to the streets to celebrate wildlife, defend our climate and march against Donald Trump’s policies.
![A selection of Trump protest placards leaning against a wall](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/Protest%20Placards%20against%20a%20wall%20-%20darker.jpg?itok=ekWGNmaq)
Together we’ve achieved so much this year. And none of this would have been possible without you. Here’s to the next 12 months of changing the world.