Latest news with #MickSmith
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Incredible discovery at beloved Aussie national park after tragedy
Signs of life are returning to a beloved Australian national park, where a dramatic post-fire transformation is underway, just months after bushfires tore through the landscape. A series of striking images shared from the Wimmera region of the Grampians National Park in Victoria reveal a burnt but bouncing-back bush. While charred trunks and blackened soil still dominate much of the scene, fresh green shoots, fungi and returning birdlife point to a hopeful recovery. Following devastating summer bushfires that burned nearly 80 per cent of the national park, a rapid-response strategy involving habitat pods, emergency feeding stations, and intensive predator control has helped protect some of our most vulnerable wildlife "Since the bushfires, we've helped critically endangered species that call the Grampians home — we're really pleased to see signs of recovery," Parks Victoria District Manager Mick Smith told Yahoo News Australia. "In the days after the fires, we dropped food using drones and helicopters, hoping some populations had survived." Mick said volunteers helped put together more than 350 habitat pods that small mammals like the Potoroo can use for shelter from foxes and feral cats while the bush is recovering. "We also ramped up efforts to remove feral animals that prey on native species," he said. Among the returning wildlife are Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies, which have been spotted on monitoring cameras eating and drinking at feeding stations, including three healthy joeys. "We've also seen Potoroos and Smokey Mice. While there is a long way to go, the signs are good for the native species of the Grampians," Mick said. Across the national park, epicormic growth is appearing on eucalypts — sprouting from dormant buds beneath the bark — while new seedlings are pushing through the soil. Shrubs are regenerating from the base, and early successional species like fungi and Banksia are beginning to thrive in the disturbed landscape. An unusual early-season bloom has also been spotted in the form of earth star fungi, whose spores travel widely after fire events. At the same time, Banksia and Hakea seed pods, long sealed shut by a wax-like coating, are opening in response to heat, dispersing seeds to help regenerate the next generation of plants. While the return of birds like honeyeaters — which can switch to eating insects when nectar is scarce — is a welcome sign, full habitat recovery will take years. Rare victory in fight to protect iconic and critically endangered species Photo shows desperate move to slow down invasive predators in national park Predators forced out with fence covering 2,000 hectares Tiny cardboard habitat pods, which resemble little teepees, have played a surprising role in the recovery. Developed with input from First Nations groups, these biodegradable structures offer instant cover for vulnerable species, mimicking the natural debris lost to fire. Over time, they break down and feed the soil — a small but powerful intervention as nature finds its feet again. "There's still a long way to go, but seeing animals return and vegetation regenerate gives us real hope for the future," Mick said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Faye Tozer looks radiant as she gives first TV interview since split from husband of 16 years - but H steals the show with jaw-dropping reveal about his famous blond hair
Faye Tozer looked radiant as she gave her first TV interview since her split from husband of 16 years - but H stole the show with a jaw-dropping reveal about his famous blond hair. Pop group Steps appeared on Tuesday's instalment of Lorraine to chat about Here & Now - The Steps Musical with host Lorraine Kelly, 65. The band - who is made up of Faye, Ian "H" Watkins, Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards and Lisa Scott-Lee - looked seriously chic for their telly appearance. Faye looked incredible in a pink sheer shirt, white trousers and pink open toe heels. She opted for a natural glamorous make-up look and styled her blonde locks into loose curls. The singer failed to discuss her husband Mick Smith's relationship after sparking fears for their 16-year marriage after posting a cryptic post about his heartbreak. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. But Ian "H" Watkins (pictured) stole the show with a jaw-dropping reveal about his famous blond hair while chatting on the live programme Meanwhile Ian AKA H raised some eyebrows when he made a shocking revelation about his locks. Right at the start of the interview, Lorraine praised the band for their co-ordinated outfits, with all of them wearing pink. She turned to H and said: 'Well, you go without saying!' Claire confessed: 'We're calling him Simon today. He's got his Simon Cowell glasses on.' H added: 'They are rose-tinted.' Lorraine told him: 'I'm loving the hair!' H clapped back: 'None of it is real,' leaving the host open-mouthed and his bandmates in stitches of laughter. It comes after the band took to the Britain's Got Talent stage to open the show. The group performed with the cast of their new musical, Here & Now, which is based on the band's biggest songs. The jukebox musical follows the workers and customers of a seaside superstore and is packed full of tunes from the group's back catalogue, which includes 14 consecutive UK top five singles. Taking to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes snaps from their BGT show, Ian posted a snap of the band together in a lift, looking incredible in matching black and sparkly outfits. Captioning the glamorous shot, he wrote: 'Serving @bgt realness. Shoutout to our glam squad'. Ian also filmed a video of the group backstage addressing their fans, as he began: 'Hi, we're Steps and we are super excited to be opening BGT tonight.' Claire took over to add: 'We are going to be performing with the cast of our brand new musical, Here & Now.' Lisa continued: 'So, tune in from 7pm. It's gonna be a party!' before Ian signed off: 'See you soon!' Fans were thrilled to see the group together, writing: 'OMG cannot wait for this'; 'We missed you so much'; 'Yay! My favourite 5 people on the planet together again'. While even Rylan Clark couldn't hide his excitement, commenting on the post with a string of heart-eyed emojis. Steps ruled the charts after forming in 1997, with mega-hits such as Tragedy, 5, 6, 7, 8, and Deeper Shade Of Blue, before parting ways in 2001. The fivesome reunited in 2011 and then again in 2017 in celebration of their 20th anniversary, going onto release their fifth album, Tears on the Dancefloor. Here & Now was written by Shaun Kitchener and is produced by the band themselves in collaboration with theatre company ROYO and music mogul Pete Waterman. Announcing the project in January last year, the group said: 'We've been lucky to do many things together as a band, but the question we get asked again and again is "where is the Steps musical?" Well…it's finally here and we couldn't be more excited. 'We've searched for the perfect story for our music and we've found it in the aisle of a seaside superstore where four friends set out on their own Summer of Love. 'It's a story of friendship, romance and community; packed with our biggest hits and sure to have everybody laughing, crying and dancing in the aisles. We can't wait to open the doors this year, and see you there!' Fans went wild for the announcement, with one quipping on X: 'Not getting a ticket would be a Tragedy.' The musical follows in the footsteps of other jukebox musicals such as Greatest Days, which is based on Take That's songs, and ABBA's global smash hit Mamma Mia which is the sixth longest-running show in West End history.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Steps' Faye Tozer ‘splits from husband of 16 years' and moves out of marital home
STEPS' Faye Tozer has reportedly split from her husband of 16 years, moving out of their marital home just weeks before Christmas. Singer Faye, 49, is said to have left the family's South Tyneside home, sparking concern after her husband Mick Smith, 43, posted a series of emotional messages on social media. 1 Despite once calling him her 'rock' and 'partner in crime,' Faye and businessman Mick are understood to be 'going through some things'. Cryptic Instagram posts have fuelled fears that the 'Strictly curse' may have struck again - albeit several years late.
