
Malmesbury cow river rescue ends successfully
In a post on Facebook Malmesbury Fire Station described the incident as a "turnout with a difference". "A fantastic team effort from all involved return the cow to the field to enjoy the rest of the day," the post added.
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
'Balsam bashers' clear River Lim's invasive Himalayan balsam
"We got to the field and it was just a sea of pink," said retired conservationist Graham Roberts, who is waging a war on Himalayan says he is retired but each summer he leads a team of volunteer "balsam bashers", ripping out the invasive plant that's damaging the eco system on Dorset's River it all seems like an impossible and never-ending task but he's quietly confident they will be able to clear the entire river within five years."We have done almost two seasons," he said. "It's challenging but we will carry on as long as we are fit and able to do it." About 70 people are signed up to River Lim Action - a group campaigning for clean water, fish passage, and working to save native species on the river."We often get 10 or 12 people," said Mr Roberts. "Last weekend we had 17, and we managed to clear a huge field last week."Himalayan balsam was first imported as a garden plant in the late 19th Century but just one plant produces an average of 800 seeds, which can explode when ripe up to 7m (23ft) smothers out native species and its root system fails to bind river banks, making them prone to love it, but it means they are spending less time pollinating native plants. Mr Roberts said the Environment Agency and Dorset Council did not have the resources to tackle the problem, leaving conservation groups and volunteers to step up.A decade-long clearance project on the Lymington River and its tributaries in Hampshire saw 661 volunteers pull Himalayan balsam along 53km (33 miles) of and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said areas that had once been dense with balsam had been "restored to a carpet of native bluebells, stitchwort and pink campion".Mr Roberts said: "The Lim is a small river, about 5km (3 miles) long, so I'm hoping we can get rid of it."The problem is that seeds can stay dormant for up to three years, which is why we've said five years. "We can clear the surface balsam then, three years on, they've come back a massive amount."River Lim Action is being supported by Lyme Regis Town Council, which has committed five years of funding for gloves, bins, secateurs, and tools to get into the bramble where the balsam is growing."People say it's too big a problem but someone has got to grab it and say it's really important," said Mr Roberts."If we're not careful, the whole of England will be covered in Himalayan balsam." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Author raises money for Channel Islands Air Search
A book series aimed at children between the ages of five and eight has had its latest edition written and will raise money for a Channel Island charity. Leo Seeker, written by Simon Applegate, shines a light on the emergency services in the islands through it's characters, with Leo being a small search and rescue plane from Guernsey.A share of proceeds from the book sales will go to Channel Islands Air Applegate said he hoped "to create an awareness of the service because we are a voluntary service and entirely dependent on the generosity of Channel Islanders". Leo Seeker works with friends from Jersey, France and Alderney to rescue those in difficulty at other characters are Albert, the red French helicopter, Mona, the green and orange lifeboat, Christine, the ambulance boat and the blue and orange lifeboats of the Channel Islands also feature. The first book Meet Leo was launched in 2022 and the second More Stories about Leo was launched in 2023. All the stories are based upon real-life rescues carried out by the Channel Islands Air Search. "Create an awareness" Mr Applegate said: "I have been a member of Channel Islands Air Search since it started in 1980, so 45 years ago, and I flew as a pilot for air search for 28 years."Between us all we thought well... the stories are worth telling and I decided in my retirement I would pick up my pen and have a go at writing it up."


BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Withernsea RNLI lifeguards recall rescue of girl swept out to sea
Lifeguards have recalled the moment they saved a young girl who was swept out to sea at Withernsea Joseph Leggatt spotted a struggling girl in the water on 13 July and alerted supervisor Louis Evans, who rescued her and brought her to safety.A RNLI spokesperson said the girl had swallowed water and her parents were advised to take her to hospital to be checked for secondary Evans said: "This was the first time I've had to carry out a rescue in seven years of lifeguarding and I would certainly consider it a life saved." The lifeguards were taking part in a routine patrol when Mr Leggatt spotted a young girl struggling in the flagged to Mr Evans that she was a weak swimmer before she slipped off a sandbar and was swept out beyond her Evans ran towards the scene with the RNLI rescue board and brought the girl safely back to shore where she was reunited with her family and medically supervisor praised his fellow lifeguard and said Mr Leggatt's work "played a key role in the rescue"."Thanks to Joseph's quick observation and teamwork, we were able to intervene just in time," he lifeguards are urging beachgoers to swim between the red and yellow safety flags to avoid similar incidents warning comes ahead of Withernsea's Blue Light Weekend, a fundraising event inspired by RNLI manager Steve Medcalf, who died in 2022 trying to save his dogs from a fire. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices