search
date/time
Cumbria Times
A Voice of the Free Press
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturefictionCartoons
No cookies. No tracking. No advertising.
Lions Rescued From Russian Bombs Released Into Their Reserve At Yorkshire Wildlife Park
The family of lions rescued from Russia's bombing in the Ukraine was finally released into their reserve at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after several weeks of rehabilitation. Mum Aysa and her three 18-month-old cubs finally got to feel the grass under their paws and were able explore their reserve.
All photos: Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Get Out For The Count!
Red Admiral credit Mark Searle Butterfly Conservation
Leading wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, has revealed the dates of this year’s highly anticipated Big Butterfly Count, which will take place from 12 July - 4 August. The annual citizen science programme attracts tens of thousands of people out into their garden, local green space or the countryside to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies and helping to inform conservation action.
1:00 AM 4th May 2024
ZSL Launches Nationwide Appeal For History
1877 event admission card for fellows of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) © Jas Lehal, PA
The conservation charity’s “History Hive” launches public call for memories and memorabilia to mark countdown to 200 years of zoo history
1:00 AM 4th May 2024
Hedgehog Awareness Week: 'Welcome Wildlife'
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by Ralph from Pixabay
Hedgehog Awareness Week is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and takes place every year. It aims to highlight the problems hedgehogs face and how you can help them. Hedgehog Awareness Week in 2024 is 5th - 11th May.
12:00 AM 4th May 2024
Charity Ready To Rescue Honey Bee Swarms
photo credit The British Beekeepers Association
Members of the British Beekeepers' Association across the country are starting to collect swarms of honey bees as the beekeeping season gets underway. Thousands of beekeepers become volunteer swarm collectors from now until about the end of July to rescue honey bees in search of a new home.
12:00 AM 4th May 2024
UK's Most Troublesome Garden Plants Revealed
As spring emerges now is the prime time for trimming back old growth to make space for new life in our gardens. While we adore plants, it’s important to be able to identify those that could be invasive and not only harm the aesthetics of our homes but they can also devalue our properties by up to 20%. Invasive plant species can devalue properties for several reasons: 1.
12:00 AM 4th May 2024
Offshore Energies UK & Xodus Launch Offshore Nesting Bird Census
The offshore energy industry is launching a new Offshore Nesting Bird Census (ONBC) to better understand how endangered sea birds use oil and gas platforms for nesting and rearing chicks. The aim is to gain insight into geographic distribution of these unconventional breeding sites and how they are used, so new data and knowledge can be shared.
10:14 AM 3rd May 2024
Europe's Only Surviving Amur Leopard Cub Gives Hope For The Species
Europe's only surviving Amur Leopard Cub gives hope for the species for International Leopard Day. Her birth at award winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park was a step forward to save the most endangered big cat species in the world.
8:32 AM 3rd May 2024
The Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet: Why The Concern?
A destructive, and potentially dangerous, invasive insect has made its way to the UK. Read on to find out how to spot it, how you can help stop it…and how to keep yourself safe this spring and summer.
1:01 AM 27th April 2024
Elusive Orchids And Deadly Carrots
Jack Ogg
Gardening Correspondent
Galactites tomentosa
Obviously my usual column is about York Gate and I will talk about the garden as well, but I have to mention my recent family holiday to the Algarve, Portugal. We went at the end of March for a few reasons – my wife and kids have fair hair and burn at the slightest hint of sun; the price is much more reasonable at this time of year; and it’s not as busy.
1:01 AM 27th April 2024
Guide To Top Shade-Loving Plants To Enhance Your Garden
Got a shady spot in your garden and worried you can’t grow anything? Fear not, with the right selection of plants, you can transform these dark nooks and crannies into a colourful and thriving area.
1:00 AM 27th April 2024
Opinion
Why Animals Need Conservatives
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
Polling suggests the chances of the Conservatives forming the next government are poor. And with a Labour government looking to be the most likely outcome of the next election, many animal advocates hope that a more left-wing government will support bolder laws to protect animals in Britain. However, they shouldn’t ignore Conservatives. Animal advocates reflect a diverse group.
1:00 AM 27th April 2024
Earth Day 2024: Planet Vs. Plastics
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by Nicky ❤️🌿🐞🌿❤️ from Pixabay
Earth Day is on the 22 April every year and marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
For Earth Day 2024 EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.
1:00 AM 20th April 2024
The Potential Dangers Of Mushroom Foraging
Did you know the world's most deadly fungus is common in England? Death cap is responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. These innocent-looking mushrooms have tinted green caps, white stems and white gills.
1:00 AM 20th April 2024
Can You Spot The Missing Cactus In This Bustling Plant Shop?
Brits are certainly smitten with houseplants, with many even seeing them as crucial for sprucing up home décor. In fact, the average Brit shells out over £300 a year on their leafy friends, proving just how much we adore them! Tombola has crafted a tricky new puzzle, challenging readers to search for a plant that flourishes in the sunny Mexican climate...
1:00 AM 20th April 2024
Celebrate Spring With The Pink Moon
The next full moon rises on the night of 23 April in the UK and is called the Pink Moon. Unfortunately if the sky is cloudy it will be marred from view, but don't fear as the moon will appear in the sky for a few days. The full moon occurs when it is exactly on the opposite side of the earth from the sun and will appear full for two to three nights.
1:00 AM 20th April 2024
Boost Garden Butterfly Numbers By Up To 93% With One Simple Step
Letting parts of your garden grow wild with long grass can increase butterfly numbers by up to 93% and attract a wider range of species, according to new research from leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation.
1:00 AM 20th April 2024
Curlew Awareness Day
Curlew sculptures at Malham photo credit @Ruth_Kittiwake
Ahead of World Curlew Day on 21 April, Yorkshire Dales environmental campaigning charity, Friends of the Dales hosted a successful awareness raising event about the plight of the critically endangered curlew at Malham.
8:18 AM 19th April 2024
Winning Schools In IKEA-Let’s Go Zero Competition Excel In Upcycling, Repairing, Outdoor And Eco-learning
Students at Coppice Valley Primary School in Harrogate jump for joy in the space that will become their ‘go-outside classroom’.
Four winning schools across the UK including two from the north of England have been announced as winners in the IKEA-Let's Go Zero sustainable schools’ competition.
1:00 AM 16th April 2024
‘Water Vole Watchers’ Needed To Survey Local Waterways
A young water vole in a burrow. Credit Emily Marnham
Wildlife conservation charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers in all corners of England, Scotland and Wales to survey endangered water voles, whose populations have plummeted by a staggering 90% since the 1970s.
1:00 AM 13th April 2024
Time To Walk In A Bluebell Wood
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by Mandy Whalley from Pixabay
Because of all the rain we have had is it too soon to walk in a Bluebell Wood. Bluebells normally flower between mid-April and late May, but the best time to see bluebells in the North of England is generally late April to May and they make a colourful backdrop to a springtime walk.
1:00 AM 13th April 2024
Lioness And Her Three Cubs Have Been Reunited At Yorkshire Wildlife Park After Escaping Bombs In Ukraine
A mum and her three cubs have finally been reunited at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after escaping bombs in Ukraine. Mum Aysa, 4, spent nine months separated from her 18 month old cubs Emi, Santa and Teddi in a holding facility in Poland - confined without even being able to see the sky.
10:03 AM 11th April 2024
Ready For The Lime-Light: Wildlife Trust Launches Urgent Wild Ingleborough Appeal To Save Nationally Important Landscape
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is appealing for support to restore and protect Ingleborough’s nationally-important limestone grasslands and limestone pavements, and the unique flowers and plants found there.
12:29 PM 8th April 2024
Hen Harrier Survey Results 2023: Numbers In England Give Cause For Optimism But Much More To Be Done
Numbers of Hen Harrier, one of England’s rarest birds of prey, are on the increase, but their future still hangs in the balance according to a new survey.
1:00 AM 8th April 2024
Critically Endangered Snail Back In England After 30 Years
The Critically Endangered Glutinous Snail has found a new home at Askham Bryan Wildlife Park, based on the outskirts of York, in a bid to breed and save the species from extinction. During March 2024, staff at Askham Bryan made the journey to Snowdonia National Park in Wales, where this species of snail can only be found in one Lake – Llyn Tegid.
1:00 AM 8th April 2024
Diamond Anniversary Is Off To A Booming Start
Bittern in flight at Leighton Moss by site manager Jarrod Sneyd
Bitterns, the UK’s loudest bird, are having an incredible start to the season in Lancashire, with the RSPB reporting ten ‘booming’ males at RSPB Leighton Moss in Silverdale. It is the greatest number recorded on the reserve since the 1990’s. The Bittern is still considered a rare bird in the UK, but Leighton Moss has played a pivotal role in saving this endangered species.
1:00 AM 6th April 2024
Three Endangered Asiatic Lion Cubs Born At London Zoo
Asiatic lion cubs born at London Zoo © London Zoo
Conservation zoo celebrates boost to international conservation breeding programme
1:00 AM 6th April 2024
Young Gardener At The Auckland Project Scoops Prestigious Award For A Third Time
A talented young gardener working at The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity and collection of visitor attractions in Bishop Auckland, has won an award for Young Horticulturist of the Year.
12:00 AM 5th April 2024
Partnership Boosts Disabled Access At Swinsty And Fewston Reservoirs
A long-term partnership between Experience Community and Yorkshire Water saw a group of Mountain Trike users exploring Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs recently, providing them with an opportunity to use the specialist kit and build their confidence in accessing the countryside.
8:28 AM 3rd April 2024
UK’s Butterfly Winners And Losers Of 2023 Revealed
The latest results from the annual UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), led by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), show that 2023 was a mixed picture for butterflies, with some species soaring while others continued worrying declines.
1:00 AM 3rd April 2024
New Badger Watching Experience Opens At Wild Haweswater
A new badger watching hide and wildlife experience, designed to enable visitors to get up close and learn more about these beautiful creatures, as well as the threats they face, opens today at Wild Haweswater, near Penrith in the Lake District.
11:32 AM 2nd April 2024
5 Ways To Create A Hedgehog-Friendly Garden
Hedgehogs are a quintessential part of British wildlife yet their populations have been dwindling over time due to habitat loss and changes in wildlife which has impacted their diets. However, it appears there is a brighter future for our popular garden visitor, with a 2% increase in hedgehog sightings in recent months!
1:00 AM 30th March 2024
‘Bizarre’ Place You Should Keep Easter Flowers Overnight To Prevent Drooping
Easter is one of the biggest occasions for floral gifting- in fact, it’s estimated that Easter and Passover account for around 9% of all holiday flower purchases1. If you’ve been lucky enough to receive a beautiful bouquet of blooms, you’ll know how frustrating it can be when they start to wilt prematurely.
1:00 AM 30th March 2024
Spring Lawn Care Tips
Photo by Kouji Tsuru on Unsplash
The perfect garden lawn is practical to use, lovely to look at and an asset to your home. Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your lawn after the winter months so it can flourish all year round and make your neighbours green with envy! The British Garden Centres team take you through the main lawn care tips for spring so you can have a lush green garden all summer long.
1:00 AM 30th March 2024
Rare Breeding Birds Arrive Back In Yorkshire After Record Year
Black-necked Grebe - Image credit Dave Ward
A rare breeding bird has arrived back in Yorkshire after spending the winter months predominantly further south and around the coast. Black-necked Grebes have begun arriving back at RSPB St Aidan’s, where the nature park is home to around 30% of the UK population of this rare and vulnerable species.
11:38 AM 27th March 2024
Research Reveals How Some Of The Most Beautiful Places In The World Could Look By 2050
Today around 8.30pm local time, thousands of people will be taking an hour to do something positive for the planet during Earth Hour. DiscoverCars.com recently produced a report on the environmental damage some of the most popular destinations for road trips around the world could suffer due to climate change, including wildlife and nature reserves.
11:22 AM 23rd March 2024
Sand, Stone And Spring
Jack Ogg
Gardening Correspondent
Rebuilding The Photo: Sam Booth
When we built the new café at York Gate, we also created the sand garden. It is like the famous metal paint advert, it does what it says on the tin: it’s a sand garden. The substrate is sand and nothing but sand for roughly 3ft give or take a grain or two, and the plants are directly planted into it.
1:02 AM 23rd March 2024
Easter Adventures With The National Trust’s Easter Egg Trails
This Easter school holidays, there are eight National Trust Easter trails to choose from in Yorkshire. Jam-packed with outdoor activities and experiences, every single Easter trail is different.
1:00 AM 23rd March 2024
Join For Earth Hour 2024
The largest global environmental movement Earth Hour returns for its 18th edition with the Biggest Hour for Earth
1:00 AM 23rd March 2024
The Worm Moon Is The First Spring Season Moon
The first full moon of the spring season is the Worm Moon which will reach its peak on Monday 25 March but it should be visible in the night sky for a couple of days either side.
1:00 AM 23rd March 2024
World Water Day 2024 - Water For Peace
Today, World Water Day 2024 calls us to action, to unite around the theme of 'Water for Peace' and to leverage water as a tool for building a more stable, peaceful world. Access to drinking-water is a human right, but when water is scarce or polluted, or when people have unequal or no access, tensions can rise. This underscores the need to harness the cooperative power of water.
1:00 PM 22nd March 2024
National Forests Day: The UK's Best Forests To Discover On 21st March!
To celebrate National Forests Day on 21st March the outdoor people at Millets have compiled a list of some of the best forests to explore in the UK. The list includes the best places for family-friendly trails, dog walks, picnics and even bike rides. Wild, ever-changing and the backdrop to many a fairytale, but in addition to this forests are a massively important part of the outdoors.
1:00 AM 21st March 2024
Is It The First Day Of Spring?
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by 84264 from Pixabay
In 2024 the spring equinox is on Wednesday 20 March and marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This means we are halfway between mid-winter and mid-summer and spring is finally here.
1:00 AM 20th March 2024
Breathtaking Close-Ups Reveal The Secret Life Of Reptiles And Amphibians
Mountain Chicken Frog at London Zoo ©Jamie Price
Specialist photographer Jamie Price creates exclusive image gallery for London Zoo’s new Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians
1:00 AM 16th March 2024
Spring Into Action – Preparing Your Lawn For The Year Ahead!
As winter’s chill starts to fade, garden enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring. March is traditionally the start of the lawn care year, a time characterised by blossoming flowers, lush greenery, and the prospect of enjoying longer, warmer days outside.
1:00 AM 16th March 2024
How To Keep Your Garden Furniture Immaculate After A Long Winter
Be garden party and BBQ ready, come rain or shine, with these top garden furniture cleaning and styling hacks for all budgets.
1:00 AM 16th March 2024
The Best Summer Bulbs To Plant Now
During the warm summer months, gardens in full bloom are a sight to behold. If you're looking to add vibrant colours to your outdoor space, planting summer bulbs that will come back year after year is a great option. Whether you prefer bold and bright blooms or delicate and fragrant flowers, there's a summer bulb out there for you.
1:00 AM 16th March 2024
Dealing With Storm-Damaged Trees: Tips On What To Do Next
If you’re familiar with the names Henk, Isha and Jocelyn, you’ll know they’re the titles given to recent storms which wreaked damage across the UK. As we approach Spring, tree surgeon Daniel Fortuna, of Dr Tree Ltd, has provided tips to property owners on how to deal with damage to trees caused by high winds.
1:00 AM 16th March 2024
These Are The Hazards To Look Out For On Your Next Dog Walk
Whether you’re a dog walker by profession or a loving dog owner, avoiding plants that could harm your pets during your springtime walk is a must. Not only can your pet eating a toxic plant be concerning, but it can also be costly, with the national vet spending jumping from 4 billion to over 5.3 billion in 2022.
1:00 AM 16th March 2024
Help Wildlife With A Big Green Hike
For the third year running, the People's Trust for Endangered Species is taking part in the Big Green Hike, and they are hoping you can join hundreds of others in this event to raise funds for wildlife. The Big Green Hike is a nationwide sponsored walk on the weekend of Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April 2024. Whatever kind of hike suits you, you can do.
3:06 PM 12th March 2024
more