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South Wales Argus
30-06-2025
- Science
- South Wales Argus
Llanbadoc and Usk celebrate the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace
The day will commemorate the life and career of the Llanbadoc-born genius and will feature a day-long series of events in and around Llanbadoc and Usk. The date of this year's celebration coincides with the 167th anniversary of the momentous presentation by Wallace and Charles Darwin to the Linnean Society, London. The presentation introduced the world to the idea of evolution by means of natural selection. Wallace spent his early life in Usk and is often called the 'forgotten father of evolution.' While Darwin's name has become widely recognised, it was Wallace who independently conceived the theory and sent his manuscript to Darwin in 1858 – an act that prompted the historic presentation on July 1 that year. Wallace's immense stature in the scientific pantheon was summed up by David Attenborough: 'Wallace was one of the great naturalists of the 19th century and is regarded as the period's leading expert on the geographical distribution of animal species. Man arrested after woman hit by car on city street Road in Newport closes and causes traffic congestion due to 'fallen tree' 'He was also a prolific author, an explorer and social critic – and was indeed one of the most famous people in the world at the time. Today he is best known for independently conceiving the theory of evolution by natural selection, which prompted Charles Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species.' Usk Civic Society has long championed the legacy of Wallace, particularly his local connections and his deep affinity with nature, which was nurtured by the Welsh countryside. This year's event will include talks, exhibitions and a guided walk highlighting local links to Wallace's formative years. The Civic Society has said: 'Wallace's contribution to science is immense and we are proud to honour him here in Usk. His work helped change the way we understand the natural world and his legacy continues to inspire.' The event will also explore Wallace's later life, his work in natural history, and his advocacy for social justice, another aspect of his legacy that is being increasingly recognised today. Using knowledge of species distribution in the Indonesian archipelago, Wallace also correctly predicted continental drift, decades before German scientist Alfred Wegener, who scooped Wallace and others by publicising his findings in 1912. Today, Wegener is credited with the theory. Wallace's work on species distribution, which identified distinct biogeographical regions, predicted continental drift and this was established by Wallace as early as 1863. Usk extends a warm welcome to all who are interested in Wallace's legacy and hope their efforts will help recover his presence in the public mind. Wallace was born in Kensington Cottage, Llanbadoc, 1823 and died in Dorset, 1913. Anyone attending walks is asked to think about appropriate clothing. Schedule of events: 11.00 Start and Welcome 11.30 Guided Walk 1 long (1 ½ hour) 11.45 Guided Walk 2 short (1 hour) 11.45 Accessible (wheeled) Walk 12.00 Exhibition in Sessions House12 to 3.45 Short Films- 3 or 4 short films on a repeating loop 1.00 Usk Brass Band 1.00 BYO Picnic in park / Sessions House 1.00 Teas, Coffees, Cake 1.00 Craft Activities 4.00 Talk by Ray Hale. Wild Indonesia: The Search for the Birds of Paradise. 5.00 Finish .
BBC News
24-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Tewkesbury wheelie bins 'a blight' on historic town centre
A petition has been started to pressure a council to issue fines and control the number of bins left on the street of an historic Civic Society has said the bins are spoiling a conservation area, and suggested homes should only be allowed wheelie bins if they can store them also wants the council to provide screened areas for bins when storage is not possible. Chair Alan Purkiss said the society wanted to protect the town's conservation area, adding: "We've got a lovely heritage of listed buildings, alleys and the riverside and it's been degraded somewhat by domestic and commercial bins." Mr Purkiss said it is becoming a real problem, with bins "prolific" on some of the smaller streets in Tewkesbury."There's lots of people living in town these days and it's not nice for them, it's certainly not nice for visitors. Would you want to take a photo of a nice building and have a bin in front of it?" he said."We would like to see the authority actually make fines a possibility, as once fines exist, people's habits change.""For people with a genuine need for putting a bin somewhere, it can be handled with the blue bag policy or some kind of community facility - there are ways you can handle it. There needs to be a deterrent." Resident Debbie Whitfield, 61, said she agreed the bins look unsightly, but said issuing fines was too strong a measure."I think they should be moved, the town needs to look pretty again," she said. "I don't think it should go that far [issuing fines], but they should be warned by the council if they're not removed." Another resident Trevor Bunt, 63, said he was concerned about where the bins would be stored."It's a good idea, but Tewkesbury is a small place and they don't have enough places for bins any more," he said."In theory, yes, it would be nice if they were out the way, but they need a solution first."The petition has been signed by nearly 240 people, and will be discussed by Tewkesbury Borough Council on Tuesday 23 officers said enforcing the issues within the petition is "a heavy-handed approach" and would take "additional resource to do so".They have recommended the council supports the petition organiser in his efforts to take a community led approach to the Murray Stewart, Lead Member for Environmental Services said: "We are fully committed to working with our communities and stakeholders to find a mutually agreeable solution for all and for the council's need to manage waste and recycling."
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hawks to deter birds ahead of Grimsby car park demolition
Hawks are being used to discourage seagulls and pigeons from nesting in a multi-storey car park which is set to be demolished. Abbey Walk car park, in Grimsby, has been closed since May 2024 because of structural issues caused by water penetrating some of the have been approved to demolish the car park, which was built in 1969. However, should any habitable nests be found, the plans would have to be postponed until the chicks were able to leave the East Lincolnshire Council said trained hawks Mavric and Chief were being deployed to fly at low levels throughout the car park twice a week to provide a deterrent against birds wanting to nest there. The hawks were also being employed around vacant units on Osborne Street, which are also due to be demolished, the council added.A town centre improvement plan for the area includes a new transport hub and a 120-space surface car park. A spokesperson said the hawks were well trained, would not attack other birds and were purely used as a pillars of the Abbey Walk car park feature modernist reliefs by artist and sculptor Harold Gosney, which a conservation team has scanned using 3D technology so they can be reprinted in the future. It followed a campaign to preserve the artworks by the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic council said the demolition work would start in the coming months. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Restoration of Market Harborough Victorian council HQ approved
Plans to restore the historical Symington Building in Market Harborough have been former corset factory, built in 1889, currently serves as the headquarters of Harborough District authority has given the green light for a 39-week project costing £784,000 to repair the building's ageing the issues facing the property in Adam and Eve Street are a roof that lets water through during heavy rainfall, the authority said. The building also houses the Harborough Museum, a library, job centre, shops, a banking hub, and Citizens Advice council said work would start in will be put up at the property as brickwork is repaired and windows are replaced. John Tillotson, chairman of Market Harborough Civic Society, said: "It is great to see the council taking its custodianship of a prized heritage asset seriously. "The Symington Building is Grade II listed and an important building which should be cared for and looked after."The council previously said it also planned to repair faults at the market hall in Northampton Road over the summer.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
New frog mascot for revamped Victoria Embankment padding pool
Council bosses say a new frog-shaped litter bin will honour a previously-loved statue at Nottingham's new-look Victoria Embankment paddling popular summer attraction closed in 2021 because of ongoing maintenance problems but will re-open later this decades, a concrete frog had been the centrepiece of the pool until it was vandalised beyond repair in City Council said the new bin, which it has named Victor, will "take pride of place" at the revamped site. A spokesperson for the authority said it had conducted an oral history project with local care homes and local families who had childhood memories at the said: "The stories of the frog were very much prominent in people's minds."Children now don't remember him, but certainly the older generation, and the generation of the paddling pool users through the fifties and sixties, they very much remember him."The council said it could not bring back the concrete frog so the re-opened pool would refer to the creature in its "artwork and signage", as well as the new bin. The spokesperson continued: "We've actually been taking Victor [the bin] out and about for different photo shoots, gradually making his way to the pool."Victor's name was selected to pay homage to the name of the park in which he would reside, the Victoria a spokesperson for the Nottingham Civic Society said they had no objections about the replacement frog."I would take the view that if the kids like them, who am I to say otherwise," they told the BBC."As it wasn't Grade II listed then it ought to be alright."
