Looking to enjoy a sustainably homegrown Christmas feast this year? Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, hosts a free Grow How session in its Edinburgh store to show customers how to prepare a delicious dinner with all the trimmings.
Dobbies’ Grow How interactive session will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday 6 August, perfectly suited for novice gardeners and experts alike.
Dobbies’ horticultural experts will spend 10-15 minutes delivering an informative ‘how to’ guide on growing Christmas dinner staples – Charlotte Potatoes, Autumn King Carrots, Kale Dwarf Green Curled, Parsnip Tender & True, Swiss Chard Bright Lights. In addition to this, the experts will share top tips on creating a thriving herb garden to elevate your meal.
Impress your guests and feed the whole family from your back garden, allotment or balcony space. Potatoes are a great starting crop for children looking to ignite a passion in gardening, so get the whole family involved in the Christmas preparations this year.
Growing your own vegetables is a great way to support the environment and enjoy some of your five a day this Christmas. Sustainability is at the core of this workshop, and Dobbies is highlighting the key benefits of using peat-free compost and safer pest control products in your planters and patches, in addition to showcasing that growing your own heavily reduces your carbon footprint, packaging waste, food waste and eliminates the need for harmful chemical fertilisers.
Sarah Murray, Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager, said: “We’re putting on our Santa hats early this year at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and doing everything we can to get our customers ready for the big day in a sustainable way.
“We’re passionate about encouraging growing your own and are looking to help reduce our customers’ carbon footprint when it comes to food transport and wastage.
“Our customers really enjoy our monthly Grow How sessions, and we’re excited to get into the festive swing this August in our Edinburgh store.”
For more details on Dobbies’ Edinburgh Grow How sessions in August, visit www.dobbies.com/grow-how.
If you’re unable to attend the event, Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, shares his top tips on growing your own Christmas dinner:
“When growing your own Charlotte Potatoes ensure you’re continually covering shoots with peat-free compost. This encourages the potatoes to multiply and stops them going green. You’ll know your potatoes are ready to harvest when the plants start to flower but the leaves stay green.
“Charlotte Potatoes can be kept in a sealed dark bag for seven-eight months, so be sure to keep these wrapped up and ready for your festivities.
“Autumn King Carrots need an open site with fertile and well-drained soil, an ideal vegetable for growing in a deep container. Sow your crop in the autumn months and make sure to cover them with an insect mesh to prevent carrot flies. Your harvest will be ready in about 10 weeks so if you plant in October, they’ll be ready to eat just in time for Christmas day.”
Herbs are another brilliant and easy plant to grow in the garden or from your windowsill inside.
Marcus explained: “Herbs are great to grow at home and you can use them in a wide variety of dishes throughout the year. They’re easy to maintain and just need regular water, warmth and light to grow.
“For festive flavours Parsley, Sage, Thyme and Rosemary are some of my favourites, and Mint is a great option if you’re looking to jazz up some festive candy cane cocktails.”
For more advice on growing your own, additional tips and inspiration, visit:
Following a two-year Covid gap, Scotland’s top plumbing apprentices have finally had the opportunity of demonstrating their expertise at the much-anticipated SkillsPLUMB competition held at Glasgow Clyde College last month.
Organised by SNIPEF, Scotland and Northern Ireland’s plumbing and heating industry’s trade association, the SkillPLUMB competition, which enables talented apprentices to showcase their skills and knowledge of best plumbing practice, is designed to promote standards and skills across the plumbing industry by developing competence into excellence.
Under close inspection by industry experts, competing apprentices tested their expertise on a series of challenging practical tests and were assessed on their individual knowledge, practical skills and employability attributes against set criteria in a competitively timed environment.
The action-packed day saw a total of 24 apprentices from colleges and training centres across Scotland competing for the top prizes in the lead and copper competitions. The winners were as follows:
LEAD Winners
First: Gregor McNee of Dundee & Angus College who is employed by Tayside Boiler Services.
Second: Ryan McCrone of Glasgow Clyde College who works for Cruden Building (Scotland) Ltd.
Third: Ben Mitchell of West College Scotland (Paisley) who is employed by James Frew.
COPPER Winners
First: Sean Esslemont of Moray College who is employed by McDonald & Munro Ltd.
Second: Kayne Forsyth of North East College Scotland who works for Camwater Ltd.
Third: Jack Forbes of Edinburgh College who is employed by A Alexander & Son (Electrical) Ltd.
The competition gave participants three hours to complete practical exercises in copper pipework or lead work before their work was to be critiqued assessed and marked by a panel of technical experts.
As the Scotland regional heat for SkillPLUMB, the highest-scoring competitors in the copper competition may go onto represent Scotland in the WorldSkillsUK 2022 National Finals which will take place this November in Middlesbrough.
The judges of the lead competition were Alan Marshall, Associated Lead Mills, Robin Hall, SNIPEF Past President and George Todd, SNIPEF Technical Advisor.
The judges of the copper competition were John Docherty, SNIPEF Junior Vice-President, Paul Dodds MBE, UK Skills, Mally Butters, British Plumbing Employers Council (BPEC) and Martyn Raine, SNIPEF Technical Manager.
Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, attended the event as the SkillPLUMB competition’s guest of honour.
Stephanie Lowe, Acting Chief Executive Officer of SNIPEF, said: “This great event would not be possible without the support of our partners, funders and sponsors to whom we wish to say a huge thank you, not least to Associated Lead Mills for supplying the lead and Mueller Europe for supplying the copper.”
To help tackle illegal migration, the UK government is proposing tougher penalties for hauliers and vehicle drivers found carrying clandestine migrants
As part of the continued fight against illegal migration and the criminal gangs behind it, changes to the existing clandestine entrant civil penalties scheme will be made through the Nationality and Borders Act.
These include new civil penalties for hauliers and vehicle drivers who fail to adequately secure their vehicle and conduct proper checks, regardless of whether a clandestine entrant is found, as part of efforts to prevent dangerous journeys which risk serious injury or even death.
Since 2020, the number of clandestine entrants coming to the UK via HGV and goods vehicles has continued to increase year on year. The government is determined to stop this, including via these refreshed penalties for hauliers and vehicle drivers who leave themselves vulnerable to exploitation.
Ahead of implementation, we are seeking the views of vehicle drivers, companies and other interested parties on all these new measures.
The consultation with the industry will run for 8 weeks and will close on 12 September 2022.
Alongside the consultation, the Home Office will be running a series of engagement events to explore these issues in more detail.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Simon Baynes MP said: “We are determined to do all we can to prevent illegal entry into the UK.
“Criminal gangs who risk the lives of desperate people for profit are taking advantage of those whose vehicles travel in and out of the country.
“Far too many vehicles are currently not adequately secured, and we will seek to increase penalties on those who are negligent and prosecute those who are complicit.
“This consultation is the next vital step in achieving this, and we look forward to working with the haulage industry and other interested parties to ensure that they are aware of the necessary requirements.”
The recently enacted Nationality and Borders Act is part of the UK government’s New Plan for Immigration to make it fairer for those in genuine need, deter illegal entry into the UK, break the business model of people-smuggling networks and remove those from the UK with no right to be here.
With the UK facing the hottest temperatures on record this week, many of us will be wondering how to protect our tech items from overheating and facing long lasting damage.
Experts at VPNOverview.com reveal the best ways to keep your phone and other devices cool in this weather:
Remove your phone case
Keeping your phone in a case is a great way to protect it from damage, however, a case can be a form of insulation and will keep in any heat from your phone, increasing the risk of your phone overheating. Taking your phone case off will let heat dissipate quickly and keep your phone cooler. Naturally, phone cases are important in the way of protection to your phone, but even taking it off for a few minutes in a safe environment can do your phone the world of good.
Take your phone out of your pocket
Whilst it can be useful to keep your phone in your pocket, pockets are small spaces and they end up pressing your phone to your skin, meaning your phone will take in a lot of your body heat. If you don’t have a bag to keep your phone in when you’re on the go, a looser pocket such as an oversized shirt pocket can also be a good place to keep your phone.
Change your phone’s settings
There are a few changes you can make in your phones settings that can reduce the battery and energy that your phone is using and subsequently keep your phone cool. Firstly, you should turn off any data settings when you don’t need it, or even go one step further and put your phone on airplane mode when you’re not using it. This can save your phones battery which is closely linked to your phone’s temperature. Another setting you can change is your phones brightness. Turning down the brightness will reduce the amount of battery being used and subsequently lessening how much your phone heats up.
Don’t overuse your phone
There are apps and software’s, particularly gaming apps and video apps that can use up a lot of battery on your phone and can warm up your phone. If you’re already in hot weather, it would be wise to avoid using these apps unless absolutely necessary – even if that means finding shade or a cooler spot to use your phone, it will make a big difference to your phone’s temperature.
Keep your phone out of the sun
It may seem obvious but preventing your phone from overheating is far easier than repairing your phone from overheating. Simple things such as keeping your phone in a cooler room or in the shade can go a long way in terms of protecting your phone, so next time you’re out and about, be conscious of where you’re leaving your phone and make sure it’s in a shady or cool spot.
Butterfly Conservation launches this year’s Big Butterfly Count with a warning that time is running out to help save species.
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are urging the whole nation to help Britain’s butterflies by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count.
Butterfly Conservation revealed in May that half of Britain’s remaining butterfly species are now on the Red List and threatened or near threatened with extinction. Last year’s Big Butterfly Count saw the lowest ever number of butterflies recorded. As butterflies and moths are an important indicator of the health of our environment, a reduction in their numbers is a cause for serious concern.
However, taking part in the Big Butterfly Count is one really positive way that everyone can help.
The information gathered is vital in helping scientists understand more about what is happening to the nation’s butterflies and therefore put in place the conservation measures needed to protect them.
In recent years Butterfly Conservation has helped save two species from extinction in the UK and halted the decline of many others. The charity has proved that with the right information and targeted action, species can be brought back from the brink,
Dr Zoe Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation says: “Thanks to the wonderful British public who take part in their thousands, the Big Butterfly Count is the largest natural history citizen science project involving insects in the world and provides us with a valuable snapshot of what is happening for butterflies across the whole of the UK.
“It can act as an early-warning system, letting us know how various environmental changes are impacting insects, and allows us to gather vital data from places that would otherwise be totally unrecorded.”
With the numbers of butterflies in decline, learning as much as possible about them is more important than ever. Zoe adds: “We really need people’s help this year to help us figure out where our butterflies are and what we need to do to save them. It’s not just the rare species of butterfly – the ones with restricted habitat or foodplants – that we are concerned about. Some of our previously commonly seen butterflies, like the Small Tortoiseshell, are also declining rapidly.”
The Small Tortoiseshell, which can be found all over the UK and was once a familiar species in gardens throughout the country, has declined by 79% since 1976. It’s one of the species included in the Big Butterfly Count, and Butterfly Conservation hope that data from citizen scientists will mean more can be understood about its fate.
Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count is not only good for butterflies – it’s good for humans too!
Dr Amir Khan, Butterfly Conservation Ambassador, is one of a number of famous faces supporting the Big Butterfly Count. He says: “Spending time in nature is hugely beneficial to our mental health. Just a short amount of time spent in the natural world can alleviate stress, and connecting with nature can help us feel happier and more energised.
“Watching butterflies for just fifteen minutes can be a wonderful and calming experience. It is good for you as well as benefitting butterflies by helping Butterfly Conservation gather the important data they need to understand how to better protect these special insects. It is truly a win-win situation for all of us.”
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey open to everyone, of any age, living in towns, cities or the countryside.
Taking part requires you to spend just 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies, and some day-flying moths, you see. It is easy to do and the more people who do it, the greater the benefits to our understanding of nature and how to help it.
There were over 150,000 counts submitted to the Big Butterfly Count last year, more than ever before. Though worryingly, 2021 also saw the lowest average number of butterflies logged since the event began thirteen years ago. More counts are undertaken and submitted year on year, but it seems there are fewer butterflies and moths to be seen.
Butterfly Conservation scientists are keen to see if this is a trend that continues in 2022, and how the picture differs for butterflies across the whole of the UK. This means it’s more important than ever that the public take part and help to gather the data needed.
This year the Big Butterfly Count is sponsored by garden wildlife specialist Vivara and the DFN Foundation, a commissioning charity focused on influencing sustainable change in special needs education, supported employment, healthcare and conservation.
Sarah Hancocks, Marketing Manager for Vivara, commented: “We are so excited to be extending our partnership with Butterfly Conservation and our sponsorship of the Big Butterfly Count.
“We’re incredibly passionate about nature and know that all types of wildlife play a vital part in our ecosystem. That’s why we’re on a mission to help give parts of Britain back to nature and help restore the balance of biodiversity in back gardens across the country.
“The Big Butterfly Count is a fantastic way of doing this and furthering research into, and support of, butterflies.”
David Forbes Nixon OBE, Chairman of the DFN Foundation, said: “The DFN Foundation is delighted to once more be the official co-sponsor of this great event and support Butterfly Conservation in their vital work helping us protect butterflies from extinction.
“Last year was the biggest count to date, with over 150,000 counts submitted from people across the UK and I hope we can make it even better this year.
“As we enjoy summer, I encourage everyone around the country to take part and use this as an opportunity to connect with nature in an easy and fun way. Not only will it benefit the health and wellbeing of all who take part, no matter their age, but also help save species of butterfly that are crucial to our environment and ecosystem.”
This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from the 15th July to the 7th August.
For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
Environmental campaigners have commented on the extreme weather conditions in the UK.
Friends of the Earth Scotland Head of Campaigns Mary Church said: “The extreme heat we are experiencing in Scotland, throughout the UK and Europe is one of the many frightening faces of climate change.
“We must be absolutely clear that the impacts of this heatwave on people’s health and wellbeing, on the NHS, on public transport, on the economy are the result of the continued burning of fossil fuels. Climate breakdown is here, it is deadly serious and it will get much worse unless we act urgently to end our reliance on oil and gas.
“The immediate focus should be ensuring that people are kept cool and safe through this period of record-breaking heat. But once it passes, politicians must get serious about stopping the causes of the crisis and about adapting to the increasingly extreme climate impacts that are already locked in due to our leaders’ inadequate action to date.
“Burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of climate breakdown so we must rapidly phase out North Sea oil and gas production, as part of a just transition to a renewable-powered economy with decent green jobs and affordable energy for all.
“The time for rhetorical climate leadership is long past – we need action not words and we need it now.”
Scottish Govt: caution advised in extreme heat
Amber weather warning resilience arrangements remain in place in Scotland today.
People are being asked to consider whether they need to travel and to plan ahead before making any journeys as Scotland copes with the impact of extreme heat.
Justice Secretary and lead minister for resilience Keith Brown has chaired a Scottish Government Resilience Committee meeting (SGoRR) to monitor the impacts of the Met Office Amber warning, while Transport Scotland’s resilience room is closely monitoring impacts across the transport network
The Amber warning has been extended further northeast and now includes Dundee, Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, Perth, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and eastern parts of Lanarkshire as well as the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. The warning is currently in force and will last until 23.59 on Tuesday 19 July.
Mr Brown also attended the latest Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) meeting.
He said: “Following the weather warnings, our resilience arrangements have been activated. We are receiving regular updates from partners including Transport Scotland, the Met Office, the NHS and emergency services and we’ll continue to closely monitor developments.
“I would urge people to think about whether they need to travel and if they do, make sure they’re properly equipped, and plan their journey in advance. Rail passengers and drivers should make sure they have water, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses and have a fully charged phone in case of any difficulties. Any drivers who face breakdowns should seek a safe, shady place, and stay hydrated.
“When temperatures increase, it’s important to monitor forecasts and follow public health advice, including staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding excess alcohol. People should also look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.
“Water safety incidents and drownings increase in hot weather and it’s vital that people are aware of the dangers and use supervised beaches and pools when possible – follow the Water Safety Code and in an emergency call 999. People should also be aware of the dangers of wildfires.”
TUC: Urgent heatwave warning to union reps and workers
With the Met Office issuing its first “Red Extreme” and “danger to life” heat warning for Monday (18) and Tuesday (19), and temperatures in some places reaching 40°C, the TUC is calling on bosses to make sure workers are protected from the sun and the heat.
Workers should be aware that employers have a duty of care, and a legal obligation to protect their health, ensuring working temperatures are reasonable, comfortable and safe.
These temperatures present a serious risk of sunstroke, heat stress and sunburn. Working in hot weather can also lead to dehydration, tiredness, muscle cramps, rashes, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness.
If a colleague becomes confused or agitated, loses consciousness, or is unable to drink, seek urgent medical attention.
Outdoor work
Employers must work with union health and safety reps to introduce measures to protect their staff who work outdoors when the temperatures rise, including:
Avoiding outside tasks between 11am – 3pm when temperatures, and risks, are highest.
Provide sunscreen and advice on the need for protection, available in other languages for migrant workers where relevant.
Allow staff to take plenty of breaks and provide a supply of drinking water.
Provide canopies or covering over open areas and shaded areas for breaks.
Provide lightweight protective clothing, including hats.
Driving
The heat can be dangerous for workers whose jobs involve driving, as any driver suffering from fatigue is a risk to themselves and other people. vehicles used for long journeys should be temporarily taken out of use if they cannot sustain a reasonable temperature, e.g. they do not have air conditioning.
Indoor work
Indoor workplaces could also become dangerously hot, and TUC advice is that nobody should be working indoors where temperatures exceed 30°C. At 24°C employers must take action to cool the air, and other measures including:
Using fans or other mechanisms to cool the air, as well as adequate ventilation.
Relaxing dress codes and uniform policies.
Allowing rest breaks and adjusting shifts to avoid travelling in peak heat.
Moving workspaces away from windows and other heat sources, using blinds to block out sun.
Providing cool drinking water.
Maximum temperatures
Employers must ensure working temperatures are “reasonable”. The TUC believes employers must take action when indoor temperatures exceed 24°C, with 30°C being an absolute maximum – certainly no longer “reasonable”.
Guidance elsewhere states:
In the US regulations say working temperatures should not go beyond 24°C
Spain has strict guidelines on working temperature: it must not go beyond 27°C indoors or 25°C for physical activity.
In Germany, 26°C is generally considered the maximum for indoor work.
In China, when temperatures reach 37°C outdoor work is banned during the hottest three hours of the day, and at 40°C it must stop altogether.
In the UAE, outdoor work is banned entirely between the hours of 12:30 and 15:00 when it’s hottest.
SPF is PPE
Personal Protective Equipment is defined as “all equipment which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that objective.”
Sunburn and complications resulting from UVA radiation are a known risk to health, and outdoor workers are already three times more likely to develop skin cancer than the general working population. Sunscreen creates a barrier between the worker and the risk, and as such should be considered personal protective equipment.
Employers should provide sunscreen with a factor of at least 30, made available free of charge to all workers whose work involves outdoor activities.
Excuses such as allergies should be dismissed. Workers can be allergic to any number of ingredients, fabrics or materials used in equipment, for example hand sanitsier.
Refusal by a worker to wear PPE on that basis is valid. Refusal by the employer to supply it to the wider workforce is not.
The right to refuse
Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 provides workers protection from detriment (i.e. dismissal, disciplinary or a pay cut) if they withdraw from and to refuse to return to a workplace that is unsafe.
Workers are entitled to remain away from the workplace if – in their opinion – the prevailing circumstances represent a real risk of “serious and imminent danger” which they could not be expected to avert.
The TUC says workers should seek advice from their union before using their rights under Section 44.
TOM Tugenhadt was the latest candidate to be eliminated from the Conservative Party leadership contest when results of yesterday’s ballot was announced last night.
FOUR candidates now go through to the next round of voting. They are:
KEMI BADENOCH (58)
PENNY MORDAUNT (82)
RISHI SUNAK (115)
LIZ TRUSS (71)
The next round of voting takes place today – we’ll know the result at 3pm – and the shortlist will be reduced to two candidates before parliament breaks up on Thursday. Tory Party members will then choose between these final two candidates in a ballot that will take place over the summer recess.
The winner – and the UK’s next Prime Minister – will be announced on 5 September.
3pm UPDATE
KEMI Badenoch is the latest candidate to be eliminated following today’s vote. Exactly where Ms Badenoch’s votes go now will be crucial in determining which two of the final three candidates will fight it out for the votes of Tory party members over the summer to become our next Prime Minister.
The much-anticipated reopening of Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh takes place tomorrow, as the new £47m project opens its doors to the public at 7 a.m. Tuesday, 19 July 2022, after a closure of four and a half years.
Owned by The City of Edinburgh Council and managed by the charity, Edinburgh Leisure, this new state-of-the-art community sports facility, will support physical activity, sport, health, and wellbeing in Edinburgh for generations to come, whilst also recognising the legacy and heritage of the old Meadowbank.
The new venue supports accessible participation and has improved indoor facilities including two multi-sport games halls with seating, three fitness studios and a gym with triple the number of exercise stations.
Commenting on the reopening, Edinburgh Leisure’s Chief Executive, June Peebles, said: “Donald Goldsmith, the manager at Meadowbank, and his team are incredibly excited (as I am) about this much anticipated opening and are looking forward to welcoming customers old and new to this multi-million-pound investment which will provide countless opportunities for Edinburgh citizens to be active and will undoubtedly contribute to the wellbeing of our City.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “We are delighted with the new Meadowbank Sports Centre – I believe it will be one of the best facilities for community and club sport in the country. I hope the fantastic and top of the range facilities will encourage people to get more active and more often. I was very impressed when I was given my first look and I’m confident members old and new will be too.
“Participation and accessibility are at the heart of the centre, and it will bring huge physical, mental, and social benefits to generations of local people for years to come. There is a packed programme of activity and range of classes for all interests and ability. Meadowbank has been an iconic part of the Capital’s sporting history and I’m in no doubt that the new Centre will build on this legacy.”
Chair of sportscotland, Mel Young, Chair said: “Meadowbank Sports Centre has been a sporting and social hub for so many people in the Edinburgh area over the years. Thanks to this incredible £47million refurbishment, people of all ages and abilities will be able to reap the benefits of newly refurbished facilities.
“The re-opening of Meadowbank will provide the local community with access to a state-of-the-art sport and physical activity centre on their doorstep, creating significant participation opportunities.
“This collaboration between The City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure and sportscotland is a great example of partnership working developing genuine opportunities that will help make sport, and physical activity a way of life for local people.’’ sportscotland contributed £5million to the project.”
The new Meadowbank has much to offer the local community and communities throughout Edinburgh and includes the following facilities:
An outdoor eight-lane athletics track with a 499-seat stand and outdoor throwing and jumps area
A 60m six-lane indoor athletics track and jumps space
Two multi-sport halls with fixed and moveable spectator seating
A hall for trampolining and dance
Two fitness studios (capacity – 30 each), which include world-renowned Les Mills programme of classes, smart tech bars and weights
The fitness class timetable will open with 92 classes
A Cycle Studio (capacity – 30) with Life Fitness IC7 bikes and ICG myride and Les Mills RPM classes
A gym with Life Fitness equipment, dumbbells up to 50kg, Watt bikes, SkiErg, row and Cybex SPARC machines (capacity – 90)
Combined bumped plates weighs in the gym – 2927.5kg
Combined dumbbell weight in the gym – 1,918kg
40+ pieces of resistance and free weights equipment
Two squash courts
A combat studio for martial arts
A boxing gym
Two 3G (synthetic) pitches, including one with a 499-seat stand
At the start of Bees’ Needs Week, new research today (Monday 18 July) revealed that improving pollinator populations could help stabilise the production of important crops like oilseeds and fruit.
The new research, published by the University of Reading, found that crops visited by pollinators had more stable yields, with 32% less variation than those crops grown in the absence of pollinators.
Thousands of pollinators – bumblebees, butterflies, moths, flies and honeybees – are essential for food production and biodiversity. But they are under threat, facing growing challenges from climate change, pests and diseases, invasive species and habitat loss.
This year Bees’ Needs Week (18 – 24 July) makes a call on the public to take Five Simple Actions to help pollinators.
These actions are easy to do, and it doesn’t matter how much space is available – every action, big or small, counts. To sustain bee populations, everyone can:
Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees
Let your garden grow wild
Cut your grass less often
Don’t disturb insect nest and hibernation spots
Think carefully about whether to use pesticides
Monitoring for insects in your local area is also a great way to help scientists understand what pollinator populations look like.
The Pollinator Monitoring Scheme is the first scheme in the world to generate data on the abundance of bees, hoverflies and other flower-visiting insects at a national scale. It will provide information that will help us measure trends in pollinator populations and target conservation efforts.
This summer, thousands of people will be taking part in a Flower-Insect-Timed Count (FIT Count) and as part of Bees’ Needs Week, the public are being encouraged to take part. Anyone can get involved by taking ten minutes to observe flowers and insects in good weather before sharing the information on the app.
FIT Counts can be completed anywhere, wherever there is an abundance of flowers, and every observation helps improve survey records and knowledge of pollinator activity.
https://youtu.be/FHIK5x8eMXo
Biodiversity Minister Lord Benyon said: “From bumblebees to moths and butterflies, pollinators are a critical part of our natural ecosystem, playing an essential role in upholding biodiversity and food production.
“Creating wildflower meadows, insect hotels or even a humble window box will boost nature. We can all play our part to support our vital pollinators.”
Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said: “Pollinators are a crucial part of a healthy environment which we all depend on.
“There are many things we can do to help them thrive, from getting involved in monitoring their numbers to leaving any outdoor space we have to flourish. Collectively, even small actions all help pollinators do the job we need them to”.
Bees’ Needs Week, coincides with the ‘Superbloom’, a thriving natural landscape planted in the iconic moat at the Tower of London.
The University of Reading’s Bee Team will be on site today (Monday 18 July), showcasing their projects which display buzzing bumblebee colonies, the world of pollinators through the microscope, and activities to help the public to understand how everyday shopping relies on pollination.
Dr Jake Bishop, from the University of Reading’s Bee Team, who led the new study, said: “This research reminds us just how much we need to look after our pollinating heroes.
“Our study shows how important bees and pollinating insects are for our food security. Every gardener, farmer and landowner in the UK can make a big difference to bees by making small changes to how they mow, grow or spray.”
This Bees’ Needs Week, Defra will also be launching the 2022 Bees’ Needs Champions Awards which celebrate the outstanding action taken by community groups, businesses and farmers to protect pollinators.
Over two million1 kitties are eating away from home with potentially devastating effects on their health
One in six pet parents (14 per cent) have put their cat on a diet because they get fed seconds – and thirds! – by their neighbours
Cat behaviourist, Nicky Trevorrow, shares her tips for ensuring a healthy and happy cat
Cats are courting more than just other people’s affections according to a new survey which found that nearly a third of cat caregivers (30 per cent) suspect their neighbours of feeding their beloved kitty titbits, treats and even full meals2.
Makers of proper food for pets Lily’s Kitchen, which commissioned the poll, is urging people to serve up ‘tough love’ instead. With findings showing that one in six owners (16 per cent) believe their cat is overweight because of being fed by well-meaning neighbours, it highlights that ‘dining out’ can have an impact on our cats’ health.
14 per cent of those surveyed have even admitted to putting their feline friend on a diet as a result.
What is more, it appears our cats are regularly playing away, with nearly two-thirds of pet parents (64 per cent) saying their cat pays visits to ‘other humans’. Admitting their moggies stand them up, staying out all hours of the day and night, a third (34 per cent) say their outings last five or more hours every day.
But our cats’ intrepid nature can end up with more serious consequences than just missing your kitty. Highlighting the impact of treating someone else’s pet, 34 per cent said their cat ‘eating out’ was a real source of stress for them, while 17 per cent have fallen out with neighbours for feeding their feline without permission.
And proving just how damaging this can be, a worrying 19 per cent of owners questioned describe their cat as overweight.
Gaining some extra rolls isn’t the only cause for concern when it comes to feeding cats you don’t know. It’s not uncommon for cats to have allergies or other special dietary requirements related to medical conditions, so falling for the charms of a wide-eyed kitty could lead to more than just disgruntled neighbours.
However, despite pet parents feeling put out by neighbours feeding their own cat, and proving how hard it can be to ignore feline charm, 32 per cent of the same people admitted they themselves have fed local cats, with a whopping 73 per cent feeding them daily or weekly.
Nicky Trevorrow, Cats Protection’s Behaviour Manager, says: “Obesity is a significant welfare issue for our feline friends that can affect their health and behaviour. All cat caregivers should ensure that they feed a good quality, complete food and avoid feeding too many titbits.
It’s important for caregivers to keep an eye on their cat’s weight. You should be able to feel your cat’s ribs easily when you stroke their body lightly and you should clearly see a waistline when you look at them from above.
“If you are in any doubt, speak to a veterinary professional about your cat’s weight and how best to reduce it if necessary. However, even the most diligent owners can still face difficulties with their majestic moggy and their weight, if their cat has a penchant for scoping out food at the neighbour’s house.
“If a cat spends a lot of time at the neighbour’s house, it is important to consider why that may be. In a lot of instances it can be that they get extra food and treats there – this, of course, is very enticing and reinforces the cat’s inclination to visit.
“However, many cats will avoid their homes if there are a lot of stressors present, for example, non-socially bonded cats, toddlers or other stressors. It is therefore always worth evaluating your home set-up to see if it is actively encouraging your cat to go seeking other homes and additional meals.
“For all cats, but especially indoor-only cats, it is important to provide them with plenty of play and enrichment to keep them active and burning off calories. A few short play sessions, with a good fishing rod toy, spread throughout the day can help with this.”
How much a cat needs to eat depends on a variety of factors, but as a guide, on average, a healthy and active outdoor adult cat needs around 275 calories a day3. And it doesn’t take much over-feeding for them to start piling on the pounds.
Feeding your moggy proper, nutritious food could even stop them from popping out for sneaky seconds or hunting for ‘takeaways’. According to a recent study by the University of Exeter4, feeding a delicious meal rich in meat protein, such as Lily’s Kitchen recipes, resulted in a 36% reduction in hunting.
Samantha Crossley, Marketing Director at Lily’s Kitchen, comments: “As much as we love our cats, they are rebels whose affections often spread beyond their owners – and their food bowls. Outdoor cats can roam and do as they please, which can often mean neighbours find themselves at the mercy of a loveable kitty begging them for scraps; when they turn on the charm, it’s hard to resist!
“At Lily’s Kitchen we know the importance of good nutrition, and that means not only proper food and complete recipes, but the right quantity of that food. Lots of owners will know all too well that cats can very easily become overweight, and although the extra tummy rolls might mean an extra cuddly hug, it can have a detrimental effect on their overall health.
“As a pet parent, choosing proper food that your cat goes wild for may wellreduce the chance of them dining out, or prowling for a takeaway and piling on the pounds. Exeter University’s recent study found that feeding cats food containing proper meat has a number of benefits including a reduction in hunting behaviours… it may leave them satisfied enough to reduce their visits to no. 31 as well!”
