New Rare Wild Orchid Seen In UK For First Time In 100 Years
Over-picking by Victorian collectors, gripped by the orchid craze of the time, was thought to have made the yellow cup-shaped and purple-petalled plant extinct by the early 1900s.
But a single plant was discovered in a remote location in the Yorkshire Dales in northern England in 1930. Its location was kept secret and volunteers have since provided round-the-clock monitoring to prevent it from being stolen.
Last summer, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust -- supported by various conservation groups -- discovered the first new lady's-slipper orchid to appear in the wild since then, it said Tuesday.
It is the culmination of a decades-long bid to bring back the flower, and has sparked hopes that it could one day be restored across its former range in northern England.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust secured a grant from Natural England's species recovery programme two years ago to protect the habitat, rearing many new orchids and reintroducing plants into suitable terrains.
The new plant was spotted at one of the reintroduction sites, meaning planted-out orchids had produced seeds that had germinated into new plants.
Jono Leadley, managing the project on behalf of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, called it a "truly thrilling moment".
"To see a healthy population of lady's-slipper orchids back in their native area that are now reproducing themselves gives us real hope for the future," he said.
The orchids were propagated by London's Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, after a call for help was issued in the 1990s.
That led to a small number of privately-owned, wild-sourced orchids being offered as part of a breeding programme.
"Trying to save the lady's slipper orchid in England has been one of RBG Kew's flagship conservation projects for many years," said RBG Kew's senior research leader Mike Fay.
"It is a long-lived species, with seedlings taking many years to grow to the stage where they can flower and produce the seeds that will give rise to the next generation," he added.
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Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
British bats are a conservation success story
Soon after sunset, a furious clicking can be heard at Hanningfield Reservoir in Essex. Some clicks emanate from bat detectors, which convert the high-frequency sound waves emitted by flying bats into noises that humans can hear. Others come from thumb counters, held by volunteers who are trying to tally the bats that pour out of a building. The racket resembles electronic music of a challenging type. Two decades ago squeaks at Hanningfield alerted conservationists to the presence of soprano pipistrelles, which are among the smallest bats in Britain. The roost has become busier, swelling from a summer peak of around 500 pipistrelles in the early 2010s to at least 2,000 today. It is an extreme example of a general trend. The recent success of bats in Britain is a conservation triumph, but it suggests an uncomfortable conclusion. Laws that make building homes and infrastructure intolerably hard can have a good effect. Bats are much harder to tally than birds, owing to their nocturnal habits and inaudible calls. Counts of hibernating, roosting and feeding bats show different trends. But almost all of the common species of bat are more numerous than they were when reliable measurement began in the late 1990s. The greater horseshoe bat, named for the shape of its nose, has tripled in number. Birds are faring considerably less well. Bob Stebbings, who started studying bats as a child in the early 1950s, reckons that Britain still has many fewer than it once did. In the 18th century, the Rev Gilbert White claimed to see hundreds of bats at once over the River Thames. Poisonous timber treatments, bad weather and more intensive agriculture killed many bats in the second half of the 20th century. 'The bad bits of land that had rotting haystacks and old farm machinery disappeared,' says Mr Stebbings. Bats can live for decades, generally have just one pup a year and form colonies. As a result, the accidental or deliberate eradication of a big maternity roost can set a species back for years. Bats are probably reviving in Britain because environmental laws have made such shocks rare. They seem to resist white-nose syndrome, caused by a fungus, better than American bats. They have long been associated with magic, especially the dodgy kind. In 'Macbeth', the witches chuck bat fur into their stew. In Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula turns into a bat. The Victorian fascination with vampire bats (which live in Latin America) did not help. But bats would probably have disturbed anyway. As birdlike creatures that lack feathers, they strike some as untidy and unnatural. These days bats have the magical power of blocking housing and infrastructure, or raising its cost. Norfolk County Council is struggling to build a major road near Norwich because of a colony of rare barbastelle bats. Nearby, in Thetford, people who oppose the redevelopment of a council estate have installed dozens of bat boxes, hoping to entice some of the protected creatures. Notoriously, a 'bat protection structure' is being built over the new hs2 railway line in Buckinghamshire at a cost of over £100m ($135m). For a government eager for growth, this is unacceptable. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has urged builders to 'stop worrying about the bats and the newts'. A planning bill that is working its way through Parliament will weaken legal protections for bats and other creatures. Developers should find it easier to demolish habitat in one place, provided they pay into a fund that enhances it somewhere else. The Bat Conservation Trust argues that the bill creates a 'licence to kill'. But the charity, and other wildlife outfits that oppose the legislation, have a problem. Although bats currently enjoy powerful legal protections, they have few close friends. The bct has 5,410 members, though other people belong to local bat groups. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has almost 1.2m. Ms Reeves would not dare to speak casually of cuckoos or curlews. Public attitudes to bats have warmed over the years, though not to the point of adoration. A Greek study of attitudes to 12 species found that western barbastelle bats came dead last for attractiveness, below black vultures and fire-bellied toads. A study of Americans put bats roughly level with sharks. Cute in real life, bats can appear diabolical in photographs, making them the opposite of human supermodels. Technology could make them more popular. Bat detectors are becoming cheaper and better. They tell people what kind of bats are around them, and can turn their inaudible sound waves into pretty patterns on a screen. From there, it is a short step to recognising a few species by sight. Noctules rise early and fly high and straight; pipistrelles flit at tree height; Daubenton's bats fly low and skilfully over water, plucking insects off the surface with their feet. The better you know something, the more you worry about it.
NDTV
05-06-2025
- NDTV
New Rare Wild Orchid Seen In UK For First Time In 100 Years
A new lady's-slipper orchid, once believed to be extinct in the UK, has been spotted in the wild for the first time in 100 years following a decades-long conservation drive, experts said Tuesday. Over-picking by Victorian collectors, gripped by the orchid craze of the time, was thought to have made the yellow cup-shaped and purple-petalled plant extinct by the early 1900s. But a single plant was discovered in a remote location in the Yorkshire Dales in northern England in 1930. Its location was kept secret and volunteers have since provided round-the-clock monitoring to prevent it from being stolen. Last summer, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust -- supported by various conservation groups -- discovered the first new lady's-slipper orchid to appear in the wild since then, it said Tuesday. It is the culmination of a decades-long bid to bring back the flower, and has sparked hopes that it could one day be restored across its former range in northern England. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust secured a grant from Natural England's species recovery programme two years ago to protect the habitat, rearing many new orchids and reintroducing plants into suitable terrains. The new plant was spotted at one of the reintroduction sites, meaning planted-out orchids had produced seeds that had germinated into new plants. Jono Leadley, managing the project on behalf of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, called it a "truly thrilling moment". "To see a healthy population of lady's-slipper orchids back in their native area that are now reproducing themselves gives us real hope for the future," he said. The orchids were propagated by London's Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, after a call for help was issued in the 1990s. That led to a small number of privately-owned, wild-sourced orchids being offered as part of a breeding programme. "Trying to save the lady's slipper orchid in England has been one of RBG Kew's flagship conservation projects for many years," said RBG Kew's senior research leader Mike Fay. "It is a long-lived species, with seedlings taking many years to grow to the stage where they can flower and produce the seeds that will give rise to the next generation," he added.
Mint
03-06-2025
- Mint
Why short bursts of cold showers are good for you
Long before Wim Hof turned ice baths into an internet spectacle, ancient Greeks bathed in cold water to rouse the senses. Romans built entire chambers—the frigidarium—around the idea. In Victorian asylums, cold dousing was used to 'correct" unruly behaviour. After a century of hot-water comfort, the pendulum is swinging back. Today, cold showers are touted for sharper focus, reduced inflammation, and mood boosts. Silicon Valley CEOs swear by them. Fitness influencers frame them as proof of grit. But beyond the invigorating jolt, what does science really say? Also read: To boost your mood, treat your brain to good food. Here's why 'Pairing short cold showers with breathwork or post-exercise recovery can significantly amplify the benefits," says Asad Hussain, founder and CEO of OddsFitness. 'When practiced mindfully, cold exposure taps into the body's natural stress adaptation systems that not only boost circulation and metabolism, but also train the nervous system to better handle real-life stress." The term for this mild, beneficial stress is 'hormesis'—a biological phenomenon where small doses of a stressor (in this case, cold) trigger adaptive benefits in the body. Cold exposure, Hussain explains, reduces systemic inflammation, enhances immune response, and activates brown fat—a metabolically active fat tissue known for burning energy to generate heat. From a cardiovascular standpoint, the body's reaction is swift and pronounced. 'Cold water exposure has an immediate impact on the cardiovascular system," explains Dr Sukriti Bhalla, senior consultant & unit head, cardiology, Aakash Healthcare, Delhi. 'The body perceives it as a stressor, which causes blood vessels to constrict and the heart rate to rise. In healthy individuals, this can actually be beneficial over time—it trains the vascular system to become more adaptable and resilient." ELEVEN MINUTES TO A STRONGER YOU One of the most talked-about trends in cold therapy is the so-called '11-minute rule"—a protocol involving a total of 11 minutes of cold exposure per week, typically broken into 2–3 minute intervals. 'This is the threshold where benefits like brown fat activation and neurochemical boosts begin to manifest," says Hussain. 'Beyond that, the returns diminish and the risks rise." Indeed, more is not always better. Chronic cold exposure can backfire, potentially straining the thyroid, disrupting hormonal balance, or even suppressing immunity in vulnerable individuals. Hussain emphasizes a 'short, sharp, and recoverable" approach. 'Controlled hormetic stress, not overwhelming stress, is the key." In the broader conversation around longevity, cold showers join an elite group of hormetic tools that include intermittent fasting and high intensity interval training (HIIT). 'Cold exposure is unique in its impact on the nervous system and inflammation control," Hussain notes. 'Fasting and HIIT target metabolic health more directly. A thoughtful combination of all three is likely the most effective strategy for long-term vitality." The biological pathways activated by cold exposure are still being mapped, but early evidence suggests links to mitochondrial function, oxidative stress reduction, and possibly even the preservation of telomere length and favourable epigenetic changes—all markers tied to aging and resilience. Also read: A (little) pain is good for you. Here's why Adopting a cold shower habit isn't just a mental challenge— it's a physiological investment. After six months, many individuals report a cocktail of improvements including enhanced circulation, better blood sugar regulation, and even hormonal balance. 'Behaviourally, people experience better stress tolerance, focus, mood elevation, and deeper sleep," says Hussain. Perhaps most notably, cold showers seem to sharpen the mind's ability to endure discomfort. 'This tolerance transfers to real life—reducing baseline anxiety and increasing clarity," he adds. In a 2008 paper published in Medical Hypotheses, researcher Nikolai A Shevchuk proposed that 'adapted cold showers" may relieve symptoms of depression by triggering neurochemical responses like increased noradrenaline and beta-endorphin release. THE CAVEATS For all its acclaim, cold exposure can be counterproductive—particularly for individuals with certain health conditions. Women with hypothyroidism or autoimmune thyroid disease may be more vulnerable to cold intolerance, Hussain explains. Likewise, those grappling with adrenal fatigue or HPA axis dysregulation—conditions marked by chronic stress—should proceed with caution. 'For them, cold exposure might increase cortisol output, worsening fatigue, anxiety, or insomnia," he warns. Minakshi Pant, 26, an entrepreneur in Delhi, learned this the hard way. 'My friends were trying cold showers—some even ice baths—so I gave it a shot," she recalls. 'But I have Raynaud's syndrome, and my symptoms worsened. My fingers went numb, and at night they would twitch painfully." Her doctor confirmed her suspicion: cold exposure had exacerbated her condition. Prolonged or very cold exposure, especially in individuals with heart disease or high blood pressure, can provoke abnormal heart rhythms or elevate blood pressure to dangerous levels," notes Bhalla. 'For most people, starting with brief exposures under two minutes and working up gradually is both safe and effective." As with any wellness trend, personalization is key. FOR GLOWING SKIN Beyond their metabolic and neurological perks, cold showers have been touted as a path to glowing, youthful skin. But how much of that is dermatology-backed reality? 'Cold water does have tangible skin benefits," says Dr Nirupama Parwanda, dermatologist and founder of Zolie Skin Clinic in Delhi. 'It can reduce puffiness, inflammation, and tighten pores temporarily. Also read: Should you try the celeb-approved lymphatic drainage massage? For individuals with oily skin, cold water may modestly reduce sebum production. 'In conditions like dermatitis or allergic reactions, cold water can help soothe irritation and reduce itching," she notes. Cold water also improves blood circulation—briefly lending the skin a more radiant, flushed appearance. But the glow is often fleeting. 'It's a combination of physical changes and how you feel after—the mood boost plays a role too," Parwanda explains. The temporary 'tightness' or brightness is not the same as lasting transformation. While most skin types can tolerate cold showers, Parwanda cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach. 'Sensitive or rosacea-prone skin may benefit from the inflammation-reducing effect of cold water during flare-ups but abrupt temperature changes can actually provoke rebound flushing in others." She warns that cold water, compared to lukewarm water, can impede the skin's ability to absorb active ingredients in topical treatments. As colder seasons approach, the situation becomes trickier. 'In winter, cold showers can exacerbate dryness, especially for those with eczema or psoriasis," she explains. 'It's important to use moisturisers rich in ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or shea butter. And always apply sunscreen." Ultimately, the resurgence of cold showers as a wellness tool mirrors a broader cultural shift from convenience and comfort to resilience and discipline. 'Cold exposure can become a keystone habit," says Hussain, 'one that trains the mind, energizes the body, and nudges you toward a more intentional lifestyle." Tanisha Saxena is a Delhi-based independent journalist. She writes stories that are on the intersection of art, culture and lifestyle. Also read: Want to recover fast from injury? Quit fizzy drinks and alcohol
