Latest news with #WestCountry
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
This Morning's Josie Gibson lands new ITV show – and fans will get to see inside her new house
JOSIE Gibson has landed a massive new TV series – where she will open her home for a new documentary. The This Morning favourite is set to renovate her new West Country home into a sustainable and environmentally friendly oasis. 4 4 And cameras will be on hand to catch all the ups and downs of the overhaul for a new ITV1 primetime series. She aims to give the Somerset property a 21st century makeover with the help of her handyman family members – including scrap metal trader brothers Josh and Charlie, and her cousin Tom, who's a builder. Speaking about the project, Josie said: 'My dream is to build a house as eco and luxurious as possible where you are immersed in the sanctuary of nature. 'I want to use the acres of land to try and do my best to have a little small holding. I want bees, birds, badgers, to all live in harmony. 'Though, I'm becoming increasingly concerned that my harmonious dream is slowly turning into a construction nightmare.. I can't wait to bring the audience along on this journey with me!' Josie's main mission on the project is building elements into the home that will help the environment and sustainable living: including growing her own food and even having her own bees on the property. Throughout the course of the show, she will also be recruiting her new neighbours and friendly locals, who can use their expertise to bring her dream project to life. She is hoping to maintain the four-acre property's beauty and keep it eco-friendly. But that doesn't mean she won't want some mod-cons as well, with Josie's home also getting an at-home gym and walk-in wardrobe. The series, titled Josie Gibson's Big Country Build, will run for seven episodes and will air in 2026. Inside This Morning's Josie Gibson's stunning Irish getaway with idyllic horseback ride & beach trip amid surprise surgery Dom Bird, Senior Vice President of MGM Unscripted said: 'Josie's energy is infectious and her enthusiasm unstoppable. Her renovation experience, however, is less apparent. 'They'll be chaos, charm, and more than a few bumps in the road as Josie and her band of builders attempt to turn her newly acquired wreck into the dream home she's always wanted'.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
The battle that reshaped the course of English history
It has been 380 years since the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalists at the Battle of Langport, paving the way for one of the biggest changes in England's Somerset battle effectively ended Royalist control in the West Country, a key strategic region. This boosted Parliamentarian morale and crippled their opponents forces in one morning of believe that the battle of July 1645, fought during the English Civil War, marked a turning point that ultimately led to the execution of King Charles I and the abolition of the Julian Humphrys, of the Battlefields Trust, said: "This battle really was the beginning of the end for the Royalists." Lord Goring led the Royalists for King Charles I, while Sir Thomas Fairfax headed the Parliamentarian's New Model Army, known as the Roundheads, who were a skilled, disciplined Humphrys said the Royalist army was different."They weren't the finest of troops you could say… a bunch of boozers really and their discipline was poor, they didn't have much money."They weren't being payed and they lived by nicking things off the local population who didn't like them in the slightest," he added. Lord Goring was holding an area about one mile east of Langport towards the village of Huish Royalists wanted to buy time so their army could pull back to Bridgwater. They planted musket troops along the hedges, with a few guns to protect the ford was then that the Parliamentarians came in with "a bold attack", said Mr cleared the hedges of Royalists at what is now Picts Hill by sending musketeers meant their cavalry could "splash across the crossing and drive the Royalists back".The Royalist troops did not put up much of a fight after the Roundheads crossed the water and were driven back quickly, he Humphrys added that metal detectors are stilling unearthing musket balls and pistol shots from the action. Some local people who were being affected by the war armed themselves and were known as "clubmen".They would defend their area from the army pillaging their homes using things like cudgels and pitchforks."The reality for the people of the time was disrupted trade, the armies were never very healthy so they spread disease, they damaged buildings, they took people's 1645, the people of Somerset were "very fed up of the war", Mr Humphrys added. Oliver Cromwell Mr Humphrys said Oliver Cromwell, the most famous Roundhead, detailed that he was actually there at the time, but "he was more of a second-in-command"."He was a fairly minor east Anglian MP, but it was these victories which got him promoted gradually over time."This led to him eventually commanding the whole of Parliament's army," Mr Humphrys added. When it comes to commemorating the Civil War, Mr Humphrys said "we need to remember these people were our ancestors"."Many of the ordinary soldiers had very little say of whether they fought or not and the cost of a civil war is a huge tragedy wherever it happens.""A greater percentage of the population died from this civil war than in World War One," he said.
Times
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Times
The long-forgotten English words to describe stifling hot weather
On Saturday we are likely to see the peak of the latest heatwave, possibly reaching 34C somewhere in the West Midlands, parts of the West Country or east Wales, which may come as something of a shock to these areas, not accustomed to such intense heat. But then we are now in the dog days of summer, the period in ancient Greek and Roman times running from July 3 to August 11 that earned an unenviable reputation for being hot and steamy with hardly a wisp of wind to stir the suffocating air. The 'dog' was not a canine panting in the heat, but was named after the Dog Star, Sirius, in the constellation of Canis Major, the Greater Dog. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky and rises at this time of year alongside the sun, so when Sirius was seen rising before sunrise and then passing across the sky it was believed that the star and the sun created the hot weather — the name Sirius came from the ancient Greek word for scorching or glowing. There are also some long-lost English words that sum up stifling hot weather. 'Swullocking' described sultry or humid conditions, especially appropriate if a thunderstorm was on the way, and for people dripping in sweat the words to reach for were 'forswat', meaning overheated and covered with sweat, or the 13th-century 'besweat', which can speak for itself. The fine Scots expression 'hingum-tringum' meant feeble, barely presentable and just about hanging together, a good way of summing up what a lot of people must be feeling as they wilt in the heat. And a bit of extra drama could be injected into old heatwave conversations when 'fire-fanged' was used to describe the phenomenon of heaps of decomposing manure or compost bursting into flames in the hot conditions. And it is not only the days that are now sweltering in today's heat, because the nights are also uncomfortably hot, making it difficult to sleep. And so the 15th-century word 'forwallowed' could be good to use now, meaning extremely weary from tossing and turning all night.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My council house garden was a former drug den with hidden dangers – I transformed it with £1.7k gifts from strangers
A MUM has transformed her council estate garden with the help of £1k from strangers and gifts worth over £700. When Ste f anie Lockyer first posted a video showing off her 'POS garden ', she never expected it to blow up. 2 She was just a 36-year-old mum from a council house in the West Country, furious at the council, frustrated with the mess she'd inherited and feeling totally defeated. But fast forward just a few weeks and her TikTok account, started with fewer than 1,000 followers, has racked up over 24,000 fans, hundreds in donations, and more love from strangers than she ever imagined. She claimed her garden was a dangerous dumping ground littered with drug baggies and broken glass. Stefanie has now transformed it into a safe, colourful haven full of life, laughter, and Lego. 'Honestly,' she told her followers, 'if someone had told me that one video would get 200,000 views, I'd have thought you were cuckoo bananas.' It all started when Stefanie, who originally joined TikTok to help pay off some debt, decided to vent her frustration after moving into a new council home. The house came with a huge back garden that her 10-year-old son dreamed of using for a birthday party. But the dream was quickly shattered when they discovered the garden was far from safe. She said: 'It was basically an old drug den. 'There were baggies, broken glass, even dodgy old smug bits buried in the ground. Not what you want when your kid's asking for a party and a paddling pool.' After a particularly maddening encounter with a council worker who allegedly laughed in her face, Stephanie was determined to take matters into her own hands. Kids will have hours of fun in the garden with The Range's bargain buy - it also lights up, plays music & is on sale She posted her now-viral video, calling out the state of the garden and something incredible happened. Her TikTok blew up, strangers rallied behind her, and before long, a JustGiving page was set up. In just under a month, her supporters had donated over £1,000, with even more pouring in through her Amazon wishlist and PayPal. In total, kind-hearted strangers sent over £700 worth of gifts to help turn the ex-drug den into a dream play space. And it's not just your basic gardening gear, we're talking everything from toys and lights to a rainbow windmill. Among the donated goodies were a children's play sand set (£18.99), a helium canister for balloons (£29.99) and a pet hammock (£17.99). There was also a bundle of Lego sets, chalk, fidget toys and even a night vision toy. Plus cute garden decorations like a bamboo wind chime, a red telephone box bird feeder, and outdoor string lights to wrap around her now-iconic big trees One follower told her: 'Those trees are incredible – get some fairy lights up on them, babe.' And that's exactly what she did. She still has £161 worth of goods ready to be purchased. Stefanie's account, a raw mix of chaos, cheeky humour and real-life parenting, has struck a chord with thousands. She admitted she was "c***" at social media and did it to "p*** the council off". What started as a rant has now turned into a community project and a journey of unexpected pride. Stefanie now plans to carry on documenting her family's adventures, and is already setting her sights on the next big mission, which is giving her husband a blowout 40th birthday bash. But for now, she's basking in the joy of seeing her son finally enjoying a back garden of his own. She shared her son now has a paddling pool, toys to play with and a safe space to be a kid, saying it's all she ever wanted And thanks to the kindness of strangers, that dream has finally come true. 8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots. Tricyrtis A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'. Penstemon I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes. Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata' With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade. Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period. Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem' If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers. Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days. Rosa 'Noisette Carnee' A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November. Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol in pictures: Heatwave, Gromits and graduation joy
It has been a hot week in Bristol, with hundreds of students donning suits and gowns in the heat for their graduation of those graduating was Paul Edwards, who studied while living with complex regional pain syndrome due to being knocked off his motorbike at the age of 17. He fractured his neck and back and broke both his thighs in the is a selection of images from across the city over the past few days. Big smiles: Dentistry students were among those celebrating their graduations from the University of Bristol earlier this week. Pride: Thousands of people attended Bristol Pride on Saturday, with a march going through the city centre before music and celebrations on the Downs. The event, which celebrates members of the LGBT community (lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender) community, had Kim Wilde and Cascada entertaining crowds on the main stage. Hot weather: The thermometer has been rising, with Bristol and the wider west country seeing temperatures as high as 32C (89F). The hot weather is set to continue throughout next week. Fit for a Queen: Queen Camilla took a sample of lemon curd while making cakes with Mantaj and Mia during a visit to open the Jamie's Farm's latest site at Lower Shockerwick Farm, in Bathford. The Queen is a patron of the charity which offers young people who are experiencing challenges at school different opportunities. 'Six': Cricket spectators look on during the Vitality Blast Mens South Group match between Gloucestershire and Surrey at the county ground in Bishopston. Most of them opted to cover up in the intense heat. Pirates of the Caribbean: The 17th Century Spanish tall ship Galeon Andalucia is heading to the docks, making a welcome return to the Bristol Harbour Festival. The event attracts thousands of visitors every year and is being held between 18 and 20 July. Well done lad: The colourful Gromit Unleashed 3 sculptures dotted around Bristol continue to bring joy to the city. The public art trail featuring Aardman characters will be on display until 31 August.
