Latest news with #BritishIsles
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
The beaver activists risking arrest to do ‘God's work'
An anonymous activist group is illegally releasing beavers into the English wild, claiming they are skirting cumbersome bureaucracy to do 'God's work'. Releasing beavers without a license is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, prompting calls for stronger government action against unauthorised reintroductions. The government approved licensed beaver releases earlier this year to help reduce flooding risks and restore natural habitats. Beavers, which disappeared from Britain centuries ago, are recognised for their vital role in shaping environments, creating diverse habitats, and mitigating floods and droughts. The National Farmers Union has voiced concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of beavers on agricultural land, business, and food production, urging a comprehensive management plan.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Matt Baker climbs pylon in Vale of Glamorgan for new show
Matt Baker, best known for presenting Countryfile and Blue Peter, scaled the structure near Aberthaw as part of the final episode of his More4 series, Matt Baker's British Isles. The episode, which aired on Tuesday, June 24, featured Mr Baker working alongside National Grid engineers as they carried out essential upgrades to transmission pylons on the South Wales coast. Gareth Davies, an overhead line engineer who mentored Mr Baker during the climb, said: "It was great to show Matt how our overhead lines teams operate, and talk him through what's involved. "We're proud of the work we do to keep power flowing safely around Wales and beyond, and hopefully, viewers of the show will be interested to learn what we do and how we do it. "We're always looking to bring in new talent to our overhead lines teams across the country. "Hopefully, this will encourage people to look to these roles as a career. "It's rewarding work, and there aren't many offices with such a good view." Before the climb, Mr Baker completed safety training at National Grid's centre in Eakring, Nottinghamshire, and a familiarisation climb on a de-energised pylon. He then joined the team in South Wales to observe the replacement of ceramic insulators with lighter polymeric versions. The upgrade work forms part of National Grid's wider investment plans. The company is planning to invest £35 billion in its transmission network across Wales and England between 2026 and 2031. The investment aims to support growing demand from data centres, gigafactories, and new electricity generation sources such as wind and solar. The National Grid team has since completed upgrades along the full route from Aberthaw to Cilfynydd substation, helping to futureproof the energy network in the region.
Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Times
75 years of Lions history — told by those who made it
I n a short news story published on February 12, 1950, The Times reported that 'a notable change' had been made to the colours for the forthcoming British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia, the first since the war and the last that any team would embark upon by boat. Instead of dark blue jerseys, white shorts and red stockings, as in the South Africa tour in 1938, and that in New Zealand in 1930, the colours will be reversed. That is to say the jerseys will be red, the shorts white and the stockings dark blue. This change will meet the wishes of New Zealand who, very understandably, had no desire to shed their famous All Black jersey. The 1950 squad, captained by Karl Mullen, were away for six months. They played 30 fixtures, including a stop in Colombo on the way home for a match against Ceylon, and were heralded for their attractive rugby.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
C of E prepares spiritual response to war as UK military warns of rising threat
The Church of England is considering how it could offer spiritual comfort and leadership to a nation at war as the world faces mounting conflict. Rev Hugh Nelson, the C of E's bishop to the armed forces, said military personnel had been warning him for the past two years of their 'rising concern about the threat of very, very serious conflict, including conflict that involves the UK'. The church was taking the potential challenges seriously, he said. It did not want a repeat of its lack of preparedness for the Covid pandemic, Nelson told reporters in London. Preparations included looking back to how senior religious figures responded to earlier conflicts, such as the second world war and the Falklands conflict. A senior military figure will address the church's governing body, the General Synod, on the current global climate when it meets in York next month. Brig Jaish Mahan, who has served in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan, will speak about the challenges facing the UK and his own experiences in conflict. A paper published before the meeting of the synod says: 'While a conflict directly involving the UK is not an immediate risk, given the very serious impact such a conflict would have on every person in the country, we must be prepared.' Nelson referred to the government's national security strategy, published earlier this week, which warned the UK must actively prepare for a 'wartime scenario' on British soil 'for the first time in many years'. The bishop said: 'As a church, we want to take seriously those challenges, both to do everything that we can to pray for and work for and advocate for peace … [and] to begin to have conversations towards plans about how the church might need to respond if there were to be a serious conflict. 'We do not want to be in the situation that we were all in – church and wider society – pre-pandemic, when those that knew things said there will one day be a pandemic, and none of us had done anything in preparation for that. So we want to take that seriously. 'We have looked back at some of the ways in which senior church leadership – archbishops and bishops – led, the things that they said, particularly in the second world war.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Proposals for working with schools on issues of peace, war and conflict, and practical suggestions for making churches hospitable and welcoming to armed forces personnel and their families, are expected to be published in the coming months. There are almost 200 C of E army chaplains, serving as regulars and reservists across the Royal Navy, army and Royal Air Force. The synod will consider changes to enable army chaplains 'to do what they need to do without having to go through quite a lot of administrative and bureaucratic steps', said Nelson.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Matt Baker inundated with support after sharing 'last show' announcement
Countryfile presenter Matt Baker has been exploring our four nations as part of the More4 series British Isles, celebrating the remarkable locations that make up our rich tapestry of life Matt Baker has announced on social media that the final episode of his More4 series British Isles has aired. The 47-year-old presenter has spent the series exploring the UK's four nations, meeting remarkable people and visiting breathtaking locations. The fourth and final episode, which aired on Tuesday (June 24), saw Matt suspended from a towering pylon in Wales to learn about the country's connections. Before the episode aired, Matt posted a teaser trailer on Instagram, saying: "Can't believe it's the last show tonight. "Baker's British Isles has been such a joy to make - full of heart, humour, and that unmistakable charm only the folk of the UK can provide.", reports Gloucestershire Live. "Beautiful countryside, brilliant characters and proper British traditions, hopefully every episode has made you proud to live here. "Massive thanks to everyone involved, on and off screen you've all been the heartbeat of this series, thanks also to channel 4 for helping us showcase our magical 4 nations. Please catch the last one tonight 9pm More4 or catch up every episode Fans flocked to the comments section, with some calling for a second series. One fan wrote: "Can't believe it's the last one already... such an interesting series. Well done team." Others echoed the sentiment, with one saying: "No not the last one already! Really enjoyed watching Matt well done everyone involved hopefully series 2." A further fan added: "Series number 2, please! Love the format and there hasn't been a single section that hasn't been interesting. Please, please make more!". Another supporter wrote: "I have loved this series so much and hope there will be more of them in the future. It has been wonderful to see all the amazing and different traditions in each country. "Very positive view of our wonderful land. Thanks Matt xx." Matt Baker's British Isles is available to catch up on Channel 4's website
