Latest news with #Gravesend
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Poisoning prompts urgent plea to Aussies over invasive backyard plant
A poisoning has prompted a plea to Aussies to be aware of the grim truth lurking behind the alluring appearance of a 'pretty' plant often found on roadsides. While it might look like a harmless succulent, mother-of-millions — an invasive weed that escaped from suburban backyards — poses a serious risk to humans, pets, wildlife and livestock. The plant, native to Madagascar, is known for its striking red flowers that emerge every winter, however the blooms have a less than attractive side. The flowers are 'extremely toxic' to cattle, which 'often seek out alternative food sources when seasonal conditions impact pastures', a spokesperson for NSW's Local Land Services (LLS) told Yahoo News. A case of mother-of-millions poisoning in livestock was recently identified by a LLS veterinarian near Gravesend in the state's north west, the spokesperson explained, prompting a warning from the government agency. 'Cattle are the usual victims of poisonings,' the organisation posted online, adding ingesting even a small amount can cause diarrhoea, drooling, loss in appetite and death from heart failure. Livestock poisonings occur more frequently during the cooler months when 'plants are flowering, and frosts and dry weather have reduced palatable feed'. Popular backyard plant causes sudden death in livestock Mother-of-millions is also toxic to pets — especially dogs — and humans, but it's unlikely either would eat enough to become poisoned, according to NSW WeedWise. 'While mother-of-millions poisoning is uncommon, it can cause sudden death in livestock,' the LLS spokesperson told Yahoo. 'Livestock can die quite rapidly depending on the amount ingested and they can continue to die for a number of days after removal from the source. 'Landholders are encouraged to regularly inspect their properties and learn how to identify weeds such as mother-of-millions using NSW WeedWise, and report any new weed incursions to the Local Control Authority.' Invasive mother-of-millions can 'spread rapidly' Mother-of-millions, which was historically planted in gardens due to its ornamental qualities, is a declared weed in Queensland, but it's also considered a problem species in NSW and the Northern Territory, Imogen Ebsworth, the Invasive Species Council's (ISC) engagement director, told Yahoo. 'It spreads rapidly and can quickly take over natural areas if it escapes gardens,' she said. 'Because it's still legally sold and traded in many places, it's slipping under the radar — most Australians don't think of succulents as weeds.' However, experts are taking the plant very seriously. 'It was nominated as a Weed of National Significance, which is reserved for species with the potential to cause major environmental and economic damage,' Ebsworth explained. Following an assessment process, the species was not included. Mother-of-millions remains a weed of potential national significance and is widely distributed in the country's east. It can also be found in Victoria and parts of southern and Western Australia. The plant is frequently introduced to new areas in dumped garden waste and spreads in waterways or flood events. It is commonly found growing on sandy soils and disturbed sites such as roadsides, fence lines, and rubbish tips 🌱 Council's warning as popular plant sprouts up in 'hectic' location Aussies urged to dig up invasive plant that becomes 'very difficult to remove' 🏙️ Aussies told to check their backyards as popular plant 'infests' major city Calls to remove toxic weed from nurseries Ebsworth told Yahoo the ISC would 'love to see mother-of-millions removed from sale across the country'. 'Escaped garden plants are the primary source of new weeds in Australia,' she said, noting three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals. She described the status quo as "a regulatory failure". "To date, self-regulation has failed. We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed. That's a system designed to fail.' In the meantime, Aussies are encouraged 'to be really careful' and refrain from tossing garden cuttings. 'Don't share or swap it, and if you need to dispose of it, bag it up securely and put it in the bin, not the compost,' Ebsworth you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Plea to Aussies after 'pretty' roadside find leads to poisoning
A poisoning has prompted a plea to Aussies to be aware of the grim truth lurking behind the alluring appearance of a 'pretty' plant often found on roadsides. While it might look like a harmless succulent, mother-of-millions — an invasive weed that escaped from suburban gardens — poses a serious risk to humans, pets, wildlife and livestock. The plant, native to Madagascar, is known for its striking red flowers that emerge every winter, however the blooms have a less than attractive side. The flowers are 'extremely toxic' to cattle, which 'often seek out alternative food sources when seasonal conditions impact pastures', a spokesperson for NSW's Local Land Services (LLS) told Yahoo News. A case of mother-of-millions poisoning in livestock was recently identified by a LLS veterinarian near Gravesend in the state's north west, the spokesperson explained, prompting a warning from the government agency. 'Cattle are the usual victims of poisonings,' the organisation posted online, adding ingesting even a small amount can cause diarrhoea, drooling, loss in appetite and death from heart failure. Livestock poisonings occur more frequently during the cooler months when 'plants are flowering, and frosts and dry weather have reduced palatable feed'. Invasive plant causes sudden death in livestock Mother-of-millions is also toxic to pets — especially dogs — and humans, although incidents of poisoning in the latter are unlikely. 'While mother-of-millions poisoning is uncommon, it can cause sudden death in livestock,' the LLS spokesperson told Yahoo. 'Livestock can die quite rapidly depending on the amount ingested and they can continue to die for a number of days after removal from the source. 'Landholders are encouraged to regularly inspect their properties and learn how to identify weeds such as mother-of-millions using NSW WeedWise, and report any new weed incursions to the Local Control Authority.' Mother-of-millions can 'spread rapidly' if it escapes gardens Mother-of-millions, which was historically planted in gardens due to its ornamental qualities, is a declared weed in Queensland, but it's also considered a problem species in NSW and the Northern Territory, Imogen Ebsworth, the Invasive Species Council's (ISC) engagement director, told Yahoo. 'It spreads rapidly and can quickly take over natural areas if it escapes gardens,' she said. 'Because it's still legally sold and traded in many places, it's slipping under the radar — most Australians don't think of succulents as weeds.' However, experts are taking the plant very seriously. 'It was nominated as a Weed of National Significance, which is reserved for species with the potential to cause major environmental and economic damage,' Ebsworth explained. Following an assessment process, the species was not included. Mother-of-millions remains a weed of potential national significance and is widely distributed in the country's east. It can also be found in Victoria and parts of southern and Western Australia. It is introduced to new areas in dumped garden waste and spreads in waterways or flood events. 🌱 Council's warning as popular plant sprouts up in 'hectic' location Aussies urged to dig up invasive plant that becomes 'very difficult to remove' 🏙️ Aussies told to check their backyards as popular plant 'infests' major city Calls to remove toxic weed from Bunnings, nurseries Ebsworth told Yahoo the ISC would 'love to see mother-of-millions removed from sale across the country'. 'Escaped garden plants are the primary source of new weeds in Australia,' she said, noting three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals. 'That's not a Bunnings problem or a rogue nursery problem — it's a regulatory failure. To date, self-regulation has failed. We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed. That's a system designed to fail.' In the meantime, Aussies are encouraged 'to be really careful' and refrain from tossing garden cuttings. 'Don't share or swap it, and if you need to dispose of it, bag it up securely and put it in the bin, not the compost,' Ebsworth said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The England superfan who spends thousands supporting Lionesses
A Lioness superfan says she spends thousands of pounds supporting the England women's national Bleach, from Gravesend in Kent, has travelled around the world to watch her favourite footballers – and even built a Lioness-themed pub in her back garden."I don't regret a single penny I've spent supporting the Lionesses," said Ms Bleach, ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final against Sweden on 42-year-old said while she had been a football fan since the age of two, the Lionesses winning the Euros in 2022 "catapulted women's football in this country into the stratosphere". She added: "I have watched both the men's and women's for years, but to be able to watch women's football on mainstream channels feels very special. This is what I wanted since I was 15." Ms Bleach, a sports physiotherapist, said she previously coached an 11-year-old Chloe Kelly at the Middlesex Centre for said she was proud that the formerly "quiet and shy" girl was now an inspiration for millions as a striker for both Arsenal and England."She wouldn't say boo to a goose," Ms Bleach said. "I wouldn't have looked at her then and said she would be who she is today."It's not handed to any of the girls on a plate, so they deserve it all the more." Ms Bleach says she also uses 10 days of annual leave a year to pursue her 2003, she travelled to the US to watch the Lionesses and meet her idol Kelly and her partner Elizabeth also spent five months building a £3,000 pub in their garden - The Lionesses Den - to watch the Women's World Cup in 2023, and a further £1,000 on memorabilia."When there's big tournaments, I look at the schedule and book annual leave right up to the final, in the hope they get there," Ms Bleach said she booked tickets to most matches, including the final of the 2023 World Cup in Sydney, which England finished as face Sweden in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Euro at 20:00 BST on Thursday on BBC1.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- The Guardian
Birdwatch: a newish arrival to England's southern shore means gulls galore
I rarely go out without my binoculars. When I do, I feel rather tense, in case an unusual bird should appear. But I decided that a stroll through Gravesend with my two-year-old grandson was unlikely to test my birding skills. On the way, I showed Sammy the usual sparrows, starlings, feral pigeons and a flock of black-headed gulls loafing about on the Thames foreshore. Then I noticed that some had a blacker head than their familiar cousins, and their wings were not tipped with black, but pure white. These features, along with their blood-red bill, made them look like a black-headed gull with a makeover. They were, of course, Mediterranean gulls. Back in Somerset, this is a scarce visitor – I've seen just one this year on my coastal patch. But in Kent they are common residents, and we now see them every time we visit Sammy's favourite playground. The species' name is misleading, as Mediterranean gulls are not especially common around the Med. When I began birding, they mainly bred near the Black Sea, and were considered globally threatened. But in recent decades they have spread north and west to colonise Britain. Yet unlike other newish arrivals, such as the collared dove, Cetti's warbler and great white egret, they have stayed under the radar – probably because people tend to lump them into the catch-all category 'seagull'. So next time you are visiting a seaside town in southern England, look out for these attractive birds.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shaquille O'Neal delights Staten Island shoppers with heartwarming dress giveaway gesture
It was a regular afternoon at a boutique in Staten Island until a very big surprise walked through the door. Last week, customers browsing for special occasion dresses were stunned when legend Shaquille O'Neal stopped by unexpectedly. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What started as a quick visit for a restroom break turned into a heartwarming moment. Before leaving, Shaq quietly paid for every customer's dress in the store, leaving everyone speechless and grateful. Shaquille O'Neal surprises customers at Staten Island dress shop with heartwarming gesture On 9 Jule, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal walked into O Couture Boutique in Staten Island, New York. He wasn't there to shop. He was in the neighborhood filming for the TV show Gravesend and simply needed to use the restroom. But his quick stop turned into something much bigger. According to boutique staff and eyewitnesses, Shaquille O'Neal arrived in style riding in a set of three large black SUVs. Inside the boutique at the time were a bridal party and a young girl shopping for her quinceañera dress with her mother. Shaq didn't just say hello. Before he walked out, he paid for every single dress the customers were planning to buy. No cameras. No fuss. Just a quiet act of kindness that left everyone in shock. Shaquille O'Neal leaves lasting memory with shoppers while filming in New York The moment quickly became a trending story online after the boutique shared a post on Instagram @o_coutureboutique_. Their caption read, 'LOOK WHO'S IN THE HOUSE TODAY @shaq the ONE & ONLY stopped into @o_coutureboutique_ today. We don't lie when we say this is the best place to be in NYC. With Shaq in the building everyone gets a dress!! Shaquille O'Neal delights Staten Island shoppers with heartwarming dress giveaway gesture (Image Source: Instagram) @shaq Thank you for coming in and truly making the employees and customers day! Always a fun day here a O'Couture ' One customer, who had been helping a teen find the perfect dress for her Quinceanera, told reporters that Shaquille O'Neal's visit 'turned an ordinary day into something magical.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Another added, 'He didn't ask for attention. He just smiled and helped.' The store owners confirmed the moment was unexpected and unplanned. 'He was in town for work. We didn't even know he was coming,' one employee said. 'He was so polite. Then he paid for everything. Everyone started crying.' Shaquille O'Neal, now 52, is known for his giving nature. He's helped families in need, supported strangers in stores, and often finds quiet ways to help without making it a big deal. Also Read: This stop at O Couture Boutique was just another example of how the former NBA star uses his fame to brighten people's lives.
