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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Experts reveal what to wear during a heatwave if you want to look stylish AND stay UV protected - and what to avoid
Summer has well and truly hit the UK with soaring temperatures leaving Brits sweltering - and wondering what to wear to stay coolly and stylishly protected from the sun. With temperatures expected to rise to a scorching 34C in London on Monday, many will be wondering how to balance comfort, style and sun safety - but fret not as there is a way. Stylists Natasha King and Rebekah Roy told Femail that looking your best this summer doesn't mean sacrificing comfort - or breaking the bank. King said a breezy maxi dress, an oversized sun hat, strappy sandals and a linen shirt should be among your summer wardrobe staples. Roy revealed that a cotton bra and t-shirt combination is the 'secret insider tip' for keeping cool in high temperatures. Materials like linen, cotton and bamboo were given the green light by both fashion pros as they are light and airy. While it might be tempting to show a bit of skin to relieve yourself in hot weather, Roy advised against revealing clothing. 'The best pieces to wear during a heatwave while still looking fashionable are floaty dresses, oversize shirts and wide leg trousers,' she said. Rebekah Roy (pictured) revealed that a cotton bra and t-shirt combination is the 'secret insider tip' for keeping cool in high temperatures 'Nothing too short or skimpy as you want to protect your skin from sunburn. You want airflow and you want to avoid anything that traps the heat.' Natasha added: 'A big myth is that less clothing equals more comfort in the heat; not true! Opt instead for loose-fitting garments with long sleeves for better coolness and UV protection.' She said synthetic fabrics like polyester should be avoided as they trap heat. Both style gurus say to steer towards lighter hues like creams, whites and pastels that reflect sunlight rather than dark, heat-absorbing colours. 'Light colours are your best friends in summer. Think whites, pastels, light blues, and soft pinks. These shades reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it, keeping you cooler,' King said. FLOATY FROCKS Light maxi dresses are a top choice in summer for their versatility, coverage and style. They are a fuss-free choice as they can be thrown on with a pair of sandals or sneakers and you're ready to go. You can also dress up and down for any occasion whether it be a quick trip to the supermarket or brunch with the girls. Breezy maxi dresses come in all shapes, sizes, colours and patterns so anyone will be able to find a style that suits them. Cream Striped Puffed Sleeve Midi Dress - New Look £35.99 Shop Flowing Midi Dress - Zara £29.99 Shop Striped Tomato Midi Dress - Oliver Bonas £78.00 Shop Mia Tiered Shirt Dress - Boden £68.00 Shop TRENDING HUES Light colours are your best friends in summer. Think whites, pastels, light blues, and soft pinks. These shades reflect sunlight rather than absorbing it, keeping you cooler,' King said. 'Make sure you pick the right shades for your skin tone!' Colours like butter yellow, powder pink, tangerine and chocolate brown are all trending these summer months according to King. 'Every season has its must-have colours, and this summer it's all about butter yellow.(It's) perfect for brightening your wardrobe with a soft, warm touch,' she said. 'Powder pink adds a timeless grace and chic elegance to any outfit. Tangerine infuses bold energy and a vibrant pop for eye-catching style,' she added. For those who do favour darker shades, even in the summer, King said chocolate brown is a fantastic solution. 'It works in your everyday wardrobe much like black or navy, but with a richer, more luxurious feel that can instantly elevate even the simplest pieces,' she said. Tiered Midi Dress in Yellow - F&F £36.00 Shop Raine Tailored Linen Shorts - Reiss £98.00 Shop Short Sleeve Linen Blend Shirt in Pink - Stradivarius £19.99 Shop Brown Colorado Midi Dress - Nobody's Child £69.00 Shop FRESH FABRICS Breathable, lightweight and natural fabrics are ideal for summer clothing as are moisture-wicking and won't weigh you down. 'Fabrics like linen, cotton, and bamboo are breathable and comfortable while offering some sun protection. Look for clothing with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) ratings for added security,' King said. Roy also revealed that a cotton bra is a summer must-have. 'A secret insider tip to stay cool is wearing cotton underwear and a cotton bra. You want the fabric closest to your skin to be able to breathe,' she said. While cotton and linen are summer no-brainers, bamboo is a material that is often overlooked but both King and Roy say it's perfect for warm weather. Roxanne Linen Double-Strap Dress - Reiss £158 Shop Pure Cotton T-shirt - M&S £6.50 Shop WIDE LEG WONDERS Trousers with wide legs provided much-needed airflow on hot days and won't cause overheating like tight-fitting garments. No one wants to feel constricted or be tugging at tight waistbands in 30C but wide leg trousers give the wearer room to breathe. They also provide modesty for those who are averse to short-shorts and prefer to keep their legs out the the sun's armful UV rays. Wide-leg bottoms strike the balance between casual and polished and can be paired with a loose-fitting cotton tee or button up shirt. Somerset Pull-On Trousers: Linen Edition - Anthropologie £98.00 Shop Red Tile Print Wide Leg Trousers - Tu Clothing £18.00 Shop Linen Stitch Detail Cropped Wide Leg Trousers - The White Company £98.00 Shop Dark Crinkled Wide Leg Trousers - New Look £25.99 Shop DON'T SKIP THE ACCESSORIES Accessories should never be dismissed as they can transform a plain or casual piece into a curated and complete outfit and be an extra guard from the sun. 'A wide-brim hat and sunglasses are must-haves in your summer wardrobe - not just for style, but for essential sun protection,' Roy said. 'Wear a lightweight scarf to cover your shoulders or to protect your neck, and choose a bright colour especially if you're wearing white or creams to elevate your look.' She added that a brightly-coloured summer basket bag can be the cherry on the cake when styling a warn-weather look and is as practical as it is chic. 'It's roomy enough to carry your sunglasses, accessories, and sunscreen, while also giving off that effortlessly carefree vibe,' she said. King suggests a pair of tan brown sandals that are versatile enough to be worn with any number from a flowy dress to an oversized tee and trousers. Red & Pink Summer Tile Square Scarf - Oliver Bonas £20.00 Shop
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I was a thriving student with a place at a top university until I tried my first line of cocaine... within two years I was taking it daily, I'd dropped out and wanted to kill myself
When she was 16, Camilla Collins had a bright future. The student had won a place at the prestigious fashion school Central Saint Martins with a career in the arts in mind. Everything was looking great. But one night at a party, she tried a line of cocaine. Within two years she'd dropped out of university and was contemplating suicide. Things had got so bad, Camilla said she couldn't go a day without the drug, she'd lost all her friends and family and barely recognised herself. Now 37 and sober, Camilla has warned against the rise in the casual use of the Class A drug - as campaigners have revealed deaths from cocaine have soared to a record high in the UK, amid complaints 'doing a line is a common as having a pint'. Speaking exclusively to Femail, Camilla explained how she became addicted to the drug in her early twenties, and how she turned her life around. 'The kids at school used to smoke a bit of weed,' she said. 'That never agreed with me because it was a downer. 'I was always the type of person who wanted the upper. 'I never really had besties at school and I tended to go out with people that were older than me. 'So I had my fake ID and I used to go to clubs with them and just be around them and that was when I was introduced to it. 'That was when it came on to my radar. 'I was probably around 16 or 17 when I had my first line of coke. 'I remember thinking something along the lines of this was the best thing since sliced bread because you just love being out and chatting to people and it helps you party longer. 'And then a couple of years down the line it got to the point where I couldn't go out without it,' she confessed. 'It starts off as a weekend thing but then it bleeds in to the week and obviously over time became a problem. 'And I was spending more time in pubs and I became a bit of a nightmare. 'I'd even alienate the people that sort of did it - they'd want to go home and I'd want to carry on for days. 'And then I'd hang around pubs and make new friends and of course when you're on that type of drug it wouldn't be a pretty sight. 'I'd be at different parties and picking people up on the way.' And although she knew she wasn't truly enjoying herself, she said she found she couldn't stop. 'It was a lifestyle... and you enable yourself in any way, when you've got any sort of addiction.' After leaving school, Camilla got into Central St Martins School of Art and Design, hopeful of fashion career ahead. But within a year, aged 19, she dropped out and 'barely recognised herself'. 'It gives me chills thinking back to the people I was with. 'When you're in it, you're so far from the life you had before, you just don't even know how to get back. 'You're just a shell of yourself and just trying to get through the day.' The turning point for Camilla came one Christmas at a drinks reception and dinner with her mother. She explained she was on the rooftop bar at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, looking out across Hyde Park but found she was unable to enjoy it. 'I'd stayed up all night and overslept and missed my hair appointment with a family friend. 'And everyone had their glad rags on and I was there with a drink. 'I didn't have any coke or anything but I remember looking through the windows and thinking "what if? What if I just fell?". 'And it was so lovely to be up there and it should be beautiful but I just felt like I was in such a dark place. 'I would never ever be able to feel joy again or anything and I just thought "If only I could get through the door, what a relief it would be to just jump off". 'After that I thought, "well I'm so f***ed. 'I'm in a hole so deep I literally cannot see a way out. 'Before I'd have a drink and a line on the weekend and it would be alright but now the drugs weren't even working. 'I was at rock bottom essentially.' That same night, Camilla told her mother everything and asked her for some help. The next morning, the mother and daughter went for an initial consultation at The Priory in North London, where Camilla then stayed for a month. After leaving, she got a sponsor, attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings and go her life back on track. But, she admits it wasn't always easy. She has relapsed several times but said it's been years since she last used cocaine. Instead she's thrown herself in to her businesses, having trained as a special effects make-up artist with two thriving make-up and wedding companies under her belt. Camilla has also now turned to coaching and is helping other entrepreneurs maximise their potential. Camilla's story is not unusual. Victoria Seed, an addiction and family recovery specialist told MailOnline cocaine widely entered the market 30 years ago, its purity might have been in single figures but more recently there have been some samples which have a reported purity of 90 per cent. It's part of the reason as to why in 2024, cocaine-related deaths in the UK hit a record high. A record-breaking 5,448 drug poisoning deaths were recorded in 2023 – a rate of 93 deaths per million people. This is the eleventh consecutive annual rise, up on the 4,907 recorded in 2022, and the most since records began in 1993. Victoria explained that many don't reach out until they or their partners notice they are unable to function properly because of their addiction. She said: 'Most people 'function' in daily life but what they don't understand is that as soon as a drug (including alcohol) starts affecting their life negatively, it's time to make a change. 'Sometimes people find that they can't trust their partners who might be putting the children to bed but still racking up a line or taking drugs and driving, putting children at risk.' She said that there are still barriers to cocaine dependence, explaining that sometimes those who use the drug will try to function 'normally' to prove they don't need it. 'Sometimes people will be up all night and sleep all day and you often find that they might be up all night and then try and stay up all day to prove to their partners that they're fine and functioning,' Victoria explained. She added that it's difficult to treat because it's not as simple as handing someone a dose of methadone and that instead there have to be behavioural and lifestyle changes. 'With cocaine, it's seen as a 'psychological' dependence, so we look to provide behavioural treatments like CBT and therapeutic intervention.' The latest data from ONS (Office for National Statistics) that in total, there were 5,448 deaths related to drug poisoning in 2023 - a staggering 11 per cent rise on the previous year, and the highest level since records began in 1993 Victoria added that many will have a wake-up call where they realise the costs of their cocaine usage outweighs the benefits. Camilla echoed Victoria's thoughts, explaining that for many it is difficult to reach out for help. She said: 'Addicts will carry a significantly heavy weight of shame which makes it even harder to ask for help but it's so important that you do because cocaine addiction is rarely something you will be able to tackle on your own. 'While rehab may not be possible for everyone, a complete change in environment - people, places, things that trigger old thought patterns and behaviour - will be necessary to stop usage, overcome the reliance on cocaine, and allow oneself to rebuild their self image, confidence, and learn to live happily without the need for mind altering substances.' Cocaine usage is often not just a party drug but a way for people to deal with trauma or pre-existing mental health problems but instead of aiding them it often exacerbates existing issues with cocaine increasing the risk of depression and suicide risk, anxiety, panic, paranoia, psychosis. And it isn't just cocaine usage that is the problem Increasingly people are dying after mixing the drug with alcohol which creates an entirely new drug - cocaethylene. Cocaethylene is a toxic metabolite produced in the liver when cocaine and alcohol are mixed together. Instead of breaking down cocaine, the presence of alcohol changes the process and the resulting cocaethylene has unique and dangerous effects including increased toxicity and stays present in the body for longer. The effect on the body includes an increase in the risk of heart attacks, strokes and sudden death. People also become more aggressive, more impulsive and more likely to overdose with some links to suicide. But the combination of alcohol and cocaine is something that is so socially acceptable, Camilla confessed she didn't know of anyone in her social circle who only used cocaine. She said: 'I didn't know anyone who only did cocaine. We tried to go out without it before but then after a few drinks you think "let's get the gear in"'. Camilla has been lucky and has worked hard to battle through her addiction although admits it hasn't been easy. She said she had nothing after coming out of The Priory and knew she had to start her life again but she said, she managed it. 'That's what I did and I would say when I started I was a bit like Bambi, falling down but I was able to build that strength and it stopped me going back to the old life.' She also explained that it's difficult to stop people turning to drugs but admitted the prevention is better than the cure. 'The first line of cocaine is already a step too far,' she said. But for those who have already tired the drug and are feeling a dependence on it, Camilla urged them to ask for help 'before it's too late'. 'It will kill you. 'If not directly through the substance itself, indirectly through the chemical imbalance in your brain which will make you do dangerous things and/or severely depressed which leads to suicide.' The business owner added cocaine is easy for people to take and is seen as a natural follow on from alcohol but not as extreme as drugs such as heroin. And Camilla placed the increased usage on an a lack of happiness among users who are chasing a dopamine hit but who should instead be discussing their mental health. A recent study has revealed that drug-poisoning deaths in England and Wales have skyrocketed over the last 30 years and have now reached a record high. Over the last three decades, deaths related to drug usage have risen exponentially, fuelled by a huge rise in the number of fatalities involving cocaine with the tragic death toll rising for the 12th year in a row. Deaths related to cocaine usage have risen by 30 per cent since the early 1990s and fatalities were almost ten times higher in 2023 than they were just a decade earlier in 2003. In that time, thousands of people have tragically lost their lives and experts have explained the reason behind it includes an increase in purity and a greater social acceptance of its use.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Psychologist issues urgent warning about 'minor daily stresses' like being stuck in traffic which could wreak devastation on your long-term health
A leading psychologist has warned against the trauma of daily 'micro stresses' such as being stuck in traffic that have detrimental effects on your health. Dr. Becky Spelman, UK licensed psychologist, explained to Femail that human brains 'aren't wired for constant low-level friction' such as losing your keys and being in a rush. 'Repeated minor stressors can lead to the same physiological and emotional exhaustion as a single major stressor,' she explained. Indeed, Brits endure microstresses an average of eight times a day, increasing their blood pressure for as long as two hours daily, a new study from beverage company, Trip has found. Around 90 per cent of Brits experience these stressors - which include having an untidy house or not being able to find a parking space. 'When the small stresses pile up with no opportunity to decompress, they create an emotional static that affects concentration, patience, and even physical health,'Dr Spelman said. Dr Spelman suggested people 'incorporate small, daily rituals that restore calm', adding that overall management of stress should also focus on 'staying steady' during brief moments of strain. Microstresses are defined as small daily annoyances that, though seemingly small at the time, can weigh heavy on overall wellbeing when experienced in culmination. Among those counted as microstresses are seemingly minute aggravations such being being stuck in traffic, having an untidy house, or losing the remote control. Of the survey's 2,000 participants, a whopping 79 per cent admitted that while 'major problems' are less likely to get them down, the combined effect of microstresses resulted in poorer wellbeing. TRIP co-founder Olivia Ferdi, said: 'It's clear from the research that the smaller, more frequent stresses of daily life can really build up and grind us down, sometimes having more of an impact than the larger life events. 'Life is stressful enough so it can be really hard to find ways, and time, to chill out and relax. 'Taking some time to have a breather, sitting down and grabbing a drink can give you the break that you need to keep those microstresses at bay.' According to the survey, the single biggest trigger of stress for Brits was being stuck in traffic, with a whopping 53 per cent admitting to being impacted by road jams. Second on the list and causing aggravation to 42 per cent of people, was when a bin bag breaks during the process of taking it out. Losing keys and getting stuck behind a slow walker were equally stress inducing, with a third, 33 per cent, impacted. Additionally, 32 per cent stressed when their house is a tip, while 30 percent tense up when they spill something on their carpet. Other irritants included forgetting to charge a mobile device overnight, which 27 per cent said they were impacted by, losing the TV remote, cited by 26 per cent, and having a car parked outside your house, a strain for 23 per cent. Though minor in principle, the collective impact of several small stressors can be the equivalent to a single more significant event, Dr Spelman explained. 'They interfere with our focus, elevate cortisol levels, and can even alter how we respond to bigger challenges. In a fast-paced society, giving yourself permission to slow down - even for a few moments - can be the most important form of self-care,' she said. Across the country, those most afflicted are in Birmingham, with Brummies enduring 10 stressful moments a day. In comparison, people living in Coventry reported having just six daily tense encounters. The study found that 86 per cent of Brits find life generally irritating at present, with nearly 80 per cent saying they couldn't help being impacted by daily hassles. Bearing the brunt of intense stress, 62 per cent said stress sometimes even triggers them to feel physically sick, with 59 per cent left with headaches. Sleepless nights, increased heart rate and panic attacks were also among reported side effects. Britain's most annoying microstresses 1. Being stuck in traffic – 53% 2. A bin bag breaking when you're trying to take it out – 42% 3. Losing your keys – 33% 4. Someone walking slowly in front of you – 33% 5. Your house being a tip – 32% 6. Spilling something on your carpet – 30% 7. Misplacing your mobile – 28% 8. The Wi-Fi buffering when you're binging a show – 27% 9. Forgetting to plug your phone in to charge overnight – 27% 10. Losing the TV remote control – 26% 11. Being in a rush and not being able to find an outfit – 24% 12. Forgetting to put the bins out – 23% 13. Someone parking their car outside your house for days – 23% 14. Dropping toothpaste all down yourself – 23% 15. Not being able to find a parking space – 22% 16. Spilling coffee down your top – 22% 17. Stepping in dog's mess – 22% 18. Running out of milk – 21% 19. Missing your train or bus – 21% 20. Listening to politicians – 19% 21. The batteries in your TV remote not working – 18% 22. Having a leak under the sink – 16% 23. Running out of clean socks – 15% 24. Having to re-wash plates after they've been in the dishwasher – 14% 25. A work colleague not finishing what they were supposed to do – 14% 26. Burning your morning toast – 12% 27. Opening your laptop to hundreds of unread emails – 11% 28. Watching the news – 11% 29. Having a row with a colleague at work – 11% 30. Enduring a disappointing lunch – 11% 31. Losing your headphones – 11% 32. Getting stuck in traffic on the school run – 10% 33. Not having change for a car park – 9% 34. Burning your mouth on a cheese toastie – 9% 35. The dog not coming when it's called – 8%
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Lace and Superwoman author Shirley Conran leaves half her fortune to designer Jasper Conran, the fashion designer she was estranged from for a decade
Lace and Superwoman author Shirley Conran leaves half her fortune to designer Jasper Conran, the fashion designer she was estranged from for a decade She said she spent 20 years making a fortune – an odyssey which took her from being a penniless divorcee, singlehandedly bringing up two infant sons, to the status of Superwoman. That, of course, was the title of her first book, which topped the bestseller list for four months, propelling her towards ownership of a chateau near Cannes, plus three apartments in Monaco, and – by 1994 – being named as one of the 100 richest women in Britain. But Shirley Conran, revered at the Daily Mail for establishing 'Femail', also said that she spent the next 20 years giving away much of that fortune, often to benefit women's causes or in specific acts of philanthropy, like paying for a new Collection of Modern Art at her alma mater, St Paul's Girls' School. Now, a year after her death aged 91 – just a week after a damehood had been conferred on her in hospital – her will, published this week, shows that she was true to her word. Dame Shirley left £2.5million, a fraction of the riches that snowballed after she received a £1million advance for Lace, just seven years after the publication of Superwoman, in which she'd warned that 'life is too short to stuff a mushroom'. Often described as the first 'bonkbuster', Lace was the first of six she knocked out within 15 years. Yet, by the time she drew up the will, in 2022, there was no chateau nor even one apartment in Monaco. Instead, there were two flats, both in Bayswater, west London, in one of which Dame Shirley lived until her final illness. She left one of these to her grandson Sam and the other to his brother, Max. Both are the sons of Sebastian, 69, Dame Shirley's elder son by the late Sir Terence Conran, the first of her three husbands and the man she would always describe as the love of her life, despite their fractious divorce in 1962, after seven years of marriage. The remainder of her estate is split equally between Sebastian and his younger brother, and fellow designer, Jasper, 65. That last detail is eloquent testimony to Shirley Conran's refusal ever to give up: she and Jasper were very publicly estranged from 2002 for more than a decade. But they were reconciled in 2015 when Jasper married Irish artist, Oisin Byrne. Having co-founded the Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca, her credentials are undeniable, yet Thomasina Miers has fallen foul of political correctness. The former MasterChef winner says: 'It's really interesting to me, this debate about what you're 'allowed' to cook. I've written a new book, Mexican Table, and my publisher's worried about promoting it in the States, for fear of it being called cultural appropriation.' Ay caramba! Ashcroft's next target: Farage Michael Ashcroft was in mischievous mood as he launched Red Flag, his updated biography of the PM, in Westminster. 'What is Sir Keir Starmer's great secret?' he asked, teasingly alluding to 'some fabulous gossip' and thanking 'the many sources' who'd helped him anonymously. 'There are one or two here tonight,' reflected the peer, whose guests included Nick Brown, chief whip under five Labour leaders. Ashcroft is assured of full co-operation on his next book – analysing the rise of Reform. 'We shook hands on it – I look forward to working together,' he added, singling out his star guest: Nigel Farage. He missed very few chances behind the stumps playing for England. Nor does Jack Russell – once named the best wicketkeeper in the world by cricket bible Wisden – let many slip past him as an artist. Determined to 'immortalise' British war veterans, he takes particular pleasure in a recent portrait of Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson, the last surviving member of the Dambusters Raid. 'I'd spent several years looking around the country for him,' he tells me. 'I finally found him in August 2022 – a few miles down the road from me in Bristol.' Johnson died three months later aged 101 – but it was time enough for Russell, 61, to complete the portrait. 'An absolute privilege,' he says. 'The most mesmerizing part was to sit and chat with him and listen to the most amazing life story.' Poppy Delevingne pulls out of movie project Poppy Delevingne is looking forward to giving birth to her first child this month, but, sadly, she's suffered a setback in her professional life. I hear that the model and actress, 39, has left the cast of US film The Gun On Second Street. Its director, Rohit Karn Batra, told me a year ago that he had chosen Poppy because he 'wanted to cast someone who was posh but with a West Virginia twang'. Now, however, he says: 'Poppy is no longer a part of the production.' Speaking at the DDA cocktail party at the Cannes Film Festival, he says her role will now go to Sean Penn's daughter, Dylan, 34. Poppy's spokesman insists it was her decision to move away from the project. First family wedding in a century at Liverpool's Knowsley Hall as the Earl and Countess of Derby's only daughter gets engaged The Epsom Derby is not for three weeks, but the Earl of Derby's family are already celebrating. I hear that the Earl and Countess's only daughter, Lady Henrietta Stanley, has got engaged. Hetty, 28, as she's known to chums, is to marry Alexander 'Sasha' Reviakin, 28, a descendant of newspaper magnate William Berry, the 1st Viscount Camrose. 'They met last year at the National Portrait Gallery,' a friend tells me. Sasha, who attended £52,000-a-year Winchester College, is the only son of Russian art collector Sergei Reviakin and artist Rosanna Gardner. 'We are absolutely thrilled that Sasha has proposed to our beautiful Hetty,' Lord Derby tells me. 'She has looked radiant since the day they started going out last year.' The couple are due to exchange vows at Knowsley Hall, Lady Henrietta's ancestral family seat near Liverpool. It's famous for Knowsley Safari Park, opened by the earl's uncle in 1971. 'It will be very exciting to be hosting a family wedding at Knowsley Hall, which we suspect has not happened for over a century,' Lord Derby adds. The Epsom Derby, in Surrey, was established by the 12th Earl in 1718.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Huge £1,000 fine dog owners face for common mistake while on a walk this summer – it could be dangerous for your pet too
SUMMER is almost here and if you're a dog-owner, there's a rule you should know about. If you're planning to take your pooch for country walks, avoid this costly mistake. 2 Between March 1 and July 31, dog walkers are at risk of a fine when enjoying a country stroll. While you may be tempted to let your pooch off its leash when in a more remote setting, be warned that this move could cost you up to £1,000. It's common knowledge to keep your dog leashed in busy public areas, but during the spring and summer period the same rules apply to the UK countryside. According to the Countryside Code, you should "always keep dogs under control and in sight". "The countryside, parks, and the coast are great places to exercise your dog but you need to consider other users and wildlife," the code outlines. Dog owners are required to keep their pets"under effective control" to make sure they stay away from wildlife, livestock, horses, and other people "unless invited". The government law advised members of the public to "always keep your dog on a lead or in sight" and "be confident your dog will return on command". You should also ensure your dog "does not stray from the path or area where you have right of access". The code recommends checking local signs for the area's restrictions on canines in public. "Local areas may also ban dogs completely, except for assistance dogs," the code explained. Shocking moment plane passenger 'folds' her dog into a tiny carry-on bag at gate in desperate bid to get pup onto flight The law also specified rules surrounding walking your dog in areas with livestock. "It is good practice wherever you are to keep your dog on a lead around livestock," the code stipulated. "On Open Access land and at the coast, you must put your dog on a lead around livestock. "Between 1 March and 31 July, you must have your dog on a lead on Open Access land, even if there is no livestock on the land." And while this law helps to protect livestock, ignoring it may put your pooch at risk too. More summer risks to dogs EXPERTS are warning pet owners to be vigilant when it comes to taking their dogs out this summer - especially when it comes to taking them to the beach. Dr Rebecca MacMillan says it is important that dog parents are well prepped to ensure a safe trip away with their dog. From consumption of salt water, to open holes, the Gloucestershire-based vet says there are hidden hazards to look out for. Angela Laws, who is head of community at British pet-sitting platform TrustHousesitters, also urges pet owners to 'prioritise safety' and to 'be aware of potential hazards.' Preventing injuries Large holes can be hidden amongst the sand, which can cause injury if your dog trips or falls into it. Dr Rebecca is warning pet owners, as if you are playing fetch with them, your dog might not be 'expecting a hole' as they are running, which can cause them to fall and injure themselves. Talking to the Femail, Dr Rebecca also wanted to be mindful of other beach-going pets if you and your dog choose to dig a hole and to fill it back up before heading off. Food for thought Although you would never dream of drinking the water from the sea, your pets may view it as a large bowl of water for them. However, seawater consumption is extremely dangerous for your dogs according to Dr Rebecca. Drinking saltwater can disrupt the 'balance of electrolyte in the body and cause dehydration,' according to Rebecca. This is also the case for sand as too much sand can cause a painful obstruction, 'which may require surgery.' Check the temperature Just like humans, pets can get heat stroke too. It is most likely to occur when the body's temperature rises above 36C and hits 40C. Dr Rebbeca suggests caution when the weather outside hits 25C, and especially if it's over 27C. She also warned pet owners to do their research on the type of breed of their dog, as some will be much more 'prone to heatstroke.' Dr Rebecca says these dogs include flat-faced dogs like pugs and bulldogs, and large breeds with thick coats. She urges dog parents to make sure their pet is well hydrated, try to keep them in the shade and remember to be aware of their paws burning on the ground. Digging dangers Dr Rebecca there could be anything from discarded BBQ's with hot coals, to broken glass or sharp objects. She said: 'If your pooch is prone to digging, make sure you're nearby in case of any unexpected finds.' "A farmer can shoot a dog that is attacking or chasing livestock," the law explained. "They may not be liable to compensate the dog's owner." In the event where you feel threatened by livestock or horses while walking your dog, the code recommends letting your pooch loose. "Do not risk getting hurt protecting your dog," the code advises. "Releasing your dog will make it easier for you both to reach safety." Dog owners have also been warned to keep their pets clear of nesting areas this spring. And a UK beaches have reintroduced the restrictions regarding dogs on beaches during the summer months.
