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BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Luton couple with white peacock in garden desperate to find owner
A married couple said they were desperate to find the owner of a white peacock which has taken up residence in their 83, and Bernie Deamer, 81, from Cockernhoe, Hertfordshire, said when it arrived last month, they went online to try and find its owner but got no both said it was a beautiful and friendly bird, which they named "Snowy" as it is completely said police told them that it was possible it had been stolen and then dumped. Mrs Deamer said when Snowy "landed" at their home near Luton, it jumped next door, but when they started putting out food for the pheasant, it came back."He was very, very loud when he first arrived – it was like a strong screech," she said."He just eats the clover and the pheasants' food, and he has never gone for a flower."The couple phoned nearby Hatfield House and Luton Hoo to ask if they owned the bird. They also contacted the RSPCA, but Ms Deamer said it was "not interested as it is not hurt".The RSPB said: "Whilst they can be seen in the wild in India, a lot of white peacocks are bred to be white to be used at events/weddings etc for their colouration."Ms Deamer said the bird is not ringed and they "cannot give it away as it is not our bird".She wanted someone to come and get it, but at the same time, admitted she would miss it if someone did claim it. Mr Deamer said the bird must belong to someone and added: "It could be microchipped, but you need to get close to him to check."He wanders about, and then he disappears. It is a stunning bird"Mrs Deamer said: "The fascinating thing is, at night, it goes about 60 feet up a tree and then comes down the next morning and straight into the garden."She is worried the peacock "won't survive in the winter as it is too open and we have foxes and it will be horrific". Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gorleston primary school still assessing extent of fire damage
A primary school that had to be evacuated after fire broke out on the last day of the summer term is still assessing the extent of the from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service were called to Ormiston Cliff Park Primary Academy in Orde Avenue, Gorleston, at about 13:16 BST on 18 a letter to parents, principal Louise Watkins said pastoral support would be offered to pupils and staff upon the school's return. A fire service spokesperson said: "Our fire investigation has determined accidental cause and that the fire started in the roof." The school, part of Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT), was evacuated with all children accounted for while the fire was brought under control. Over the weekend, parents were able to collect children's belongings and the school said any uncollected items, including bikes and scooters, would be stored securely until the start of the new school year in September. Former pupil Myleene Klass, now an ambassador for the school, shared WOra post of support to her Instagram with a picture of smoke billowing out of the building. She said: "To Cliff Park teachers and pupils, I'm glad you're all safe."I'm told teachers did a phenomenal job of getting you out. I'm sorry your last day of term looked like this, I'm relieved you're all ok. Sending my love." In her letter to parents, Mrs Watkins said the school was still in the early stages of "understanding the impact of Friday's fire".It said: "Despite the challenges we must now navigate, I am confident that the unity and spirit shown will help us return stronger than ever. "None of us could have anticipated the final day of term unfolding as it did. Despite it being managed to the best of our ability, it was of course a very worrying experience for all involved."While our firm ambition and intention is to re-open our provision fully as planned in September... given the extent of the fire, the work required is complex and will take time."It said some less essential parts of the building would need ongoing work from September but that the school would make sure disruption was "minimised". OAT said: "Our aim remains to welcome all pupils back to school as planned in September, ready to learn in a safe and supportive environment."We will continue to keep parents and carers updated over the summer and are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth return." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gardening pro's 3 key jobs to do this weekend to stop rose black spot – including £3 bloom boost
WE love a rose in the UK - and traditionally our gardens are stuffed full of beautiful blooms that have been bred for thousands of years. But how frustrating is it when you spot the rose leaves going yellow and starting to fall - or the beautiful buds refuse to open and shrivel up instead? 3 3 Black spot is the nemesis of all rose-growers - a fungal disease that first appears as black spots on the roses' leaves. Then the leaf will start to yellow - and fall off - usually spreading further down the plant. And although it doesn't kill the rose - it can weaken it - making it susceptible to other pests and diseases. Spores can overwinter on fallen leaves - and then infects the soil and then the plant next year. Fight against it by making sure that all the fallen leaves are thrown away - not put on the compost. And make sure the rose is pruned to allow enough air to move through the branches. Although proper hard rose pruning is generally done in late winter or early Spring - a light prune now won't be a problem. Also - mulching over winter can help. And make sure you're watering the base rather than from the top of the leaves. Give your rose a dose of proper liquid rose feed - Westland do a decent high performance liquid plant food which helps build resistance to disease. You can get it at Tesco for £8.99. Or Temu is selling Doff Rose and Shrub Feed for £2.89 - which helps maintain healthy roses. Finally - try and choose roses that are resistant to blackspot. Everyone can spot the pot plants - but you have 20-20 vision & high IQ if you can find five red roses in just 19 seconds The general advice with roses is not to plant them in the same soil that a previous rose was in. It can - in extreme cases - cause replant disease - which is where the rose will struggle to grow. You may even find it dies. It's because the roots won't establish properly. But the RHS recommends that you line the planting hole with a cardboard box with a hole in the bottom. By the time the cardboard box has rotted into the soil, the roots will have established. But if you're fed up of black spot, powdery mildew and rose rosette diseases - then have you considered growing a wild rose instead? They might not be quite as extravagant and blingy as the cultivated varieties - but wild roses - known as 'Species Roses' in the catalogues - do a very good job of growing without any human intervention at all. In fact - they're the roses that all our bred roses originated from - and almost thrive on neglect. Charles Shi is in charge of the Wild Rose Garden at Kew - designed originally by Capability Brown in 1900. As part of it's restoration, he and his team travelled as far afield as China and Vietnam to bring back roses that are so new, they haven't been named yet. He told me: 'One of the great things is whilst they flower for a short amount of time - wild roses make up for that by being very resistant to disease. 'Even if they get smothered in aphids they're absolutely fine. 'They're also more hardy. And the early flowers are followed by hips if they're not deadheaded, which feed the birds over Winter. 'It's so important to conserve them - as they could have medicinal compounds that could cure cancer - we're discovering up to 100 compounds every year in our research - which are being used in medical trials. 'They also play a crucial role in ecological conservation by providing food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.' Some of Charles' favourites include... Rosa Soulieana - which he's nicknamed The Sleeping Beauty Rose - as it's like the one in the book that surrounds the castle. Smells of Cinnamon and up to 4m high. Rosa hirtula - from the Hakone, Japan, at the foothills of Mt Fuji - The only rose with a tree-like habit, with beautiful spiky hips Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' A bushy shrub, about 1.8m in height, with purplish young foliage and almost thornless stems Rosa laevigata - has dinner-plate sized flowers.
