Latest news with #WestSussex
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pet artist Hercule Van Wolfwinkle raises £450,000 for charity
A pet-portrait artist who draws self-proclaimed "rubbish" pictures has raised more than £450,000 for charity after his latest fundraising challenge. Phil Heckels, from Worthing, West Sussex, began working under the alias Hercule Van Wolfwinkle in has just completed challenges and drawn portraits in 15 locations around the UK where StreetVet, one of the charities he supports, is based. Mr Heckels, who raised more than £38,000 in eight days, said: "I was completely overwhelmed, humbled and grateful to have had such amazing support." The artist and fundraiser travelled 1,800 miles (2,897km) around the his charity challenges was getting a tattoo in Brighton, abseiling the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, shaving his head using dog clippers in Cornwall, learning the bagpipes in Glasgow and running a 5K dressed as a dog in said: "The highlight for me was probably the final day when I was joined by a group of volunteers to walk 18 miles along the Thames Path and then climb over the O2."The reality is that the StreetVet volunteers who give up their time to do their work are the true heroes and it was lovely to spend time with them."Mr Heckels added: "I hated walking around in fancy dress all week."I really have a fear of heights, so my abseil was really horrible for me." Mr Heckels, who had his second book of his artwork published in April, has won awards for his fundraising and even embarked on a 24-hour charity "drawathon" began in 2020 when he drew his own dog and put it on Facebook, offering paid-for commissions as a joke, but genuine requests flooded trademark wonky legs and crooked eyes have proved really popular with pet owners. All of the pet portraits are uploaded to Hercule Van Wolkwinkle's social media pages in return for a discretionary donation to one of his two chosen charities: Turning Tides, a homelessness charity, and Heckels said: "My next big target - raising half a million pounds - suddenly feels in reach."It is such a big milestone that I never thought I would achieve."
Times
4 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Times
A garden of 21st-century delights
'I'm the fifth generation of the Stephenson Clarke family at Borde Hill and the first female to be taking over its reins — so no pressure,' Jay Goddard says with a laugh as she leads the way around the 2,300 acres of magnificent heritage-listed gardens and ancient parkland on her family's estate. At every turn across this beautiful patch of the West Sussex landscape there is a show-stopper, from magnificent magnolias and blousy camellias to a vivid riot of azaleas and rhododendrons (the last was awarded national collection status in 2022). Borde Hill dates to when Goddard's great-great-grandfather Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke bought the estate in 1893, including the impressive grade II listed Elizabethan mansion that sits at the garden's heart, which has been added to over the centuries and continues to be the family's home. He funded many of the great early 20th-century plant hunters to bring back specimens of rare and unique plants, some of which had never been seen before in the western world. Successive generations of the family have kept the gardens moving forward with the times. Godard's mother, for instance, worked with leading RHS gold medal designers such as Chris Beardshaw and Sophie Walker, and redesigned the historic rose garden with hundreds of roses in an arresting colour wheel of whites, yellows, oranges and reds. Over the past 130 years there has always been something new and exciting to see. Goddard has grand ambitions to continue to broaden Borde Hill's appeal. She took over from her parents, Andrewjohn and Eleni Stephenson Clarke, in 2023, arriving with her husband, Alex, and sons Jago, now eight, and Alfie, six, in tow. Last year the marketeer (who worked with Nike and Apple in London for almost 20 years) secured a £2.25 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to fund her dynamic Reinventing Borde Hill restoration plans (with another £1.3 million to raise themselves). This will help to open up the estate's 110 acres of heritage parkland filled with champion trees — 'that is the oldest, tallest, widest,' she explains — enabling locals and youngsters to really immerse themselves in nature and learn outdoors. To do this a new footpath will trace the 25-minute walk from Haywards Heath station to Borde Hill. There will be a Dinosaur Wood children's play area (so named after some of the earliest dinosaur bones in the country were found here) and a multigenerational community garden with beds set at different height levels to suit the elderly, those in wheelchairs and children. Eventually there will also be an eco-lodge set on the edge of the estate's lake. Designed by Erect Architecture, which is renowned for its award-winning Tumbling Bay play park and community hub in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London, the lodge will be built using timber felled from the estate. It will house a yoga wellbeing space, café, rooms for workshops and events (inviting local children and schools to use it for classes), and provide access to wild swimming via an adults-only club. 'I want it to help as many people as possible to be more physically active,' she explains. In the same vein Goddard is keen to promote healthy eating and access to a wider range of locally grown produce. Working with Chantelle Nicholson, the New Zealand-born, Michelin Green-starred chef who has her own regenerative restaurant, Apricity in Mayfair, they have just launched a culinary venture called the Cordia Collective (named after the Prunus avium 'Kordia' black cherry tree). 'It will celebrate our plant heritage in a modern way,' Goddard says of its 'nature-led, consciously crafted' ethos. Nicholson and her team — including the former Toklas baker Janine Edwards, who is overseeing the new micro bakery — will use as many ingredients as possible from Borde Hill's nearby biodynamic 40-acre farm and 10-acre market garden (which is also part-funded by the lottery grant). They are already 'working with refugee groups on rare and unusual global vegetables to grow there', Goddard adds, and soon they will open the reimagined Victorian walled kitchen garden. Overlooked by a new glasshouse restaurant being built on the site of the former Victorian tables, the award-winning designer Ann-Marie Powell has focused the walled garden's design around the elements of earth, water, fire and air. It will be filled with 'edimentals' — from Szechuan peppers, tulips and dahlias to an apple orchard underplanted by edible wildflowers. 'Think of all the amazing flavours this will bring to our dishes and drinks,' Goddard says. Looking at food through 'the lens of nature and bringing the garden to the plate just felt very true to Borde Hill,' Goddard says. There are already garden touches on the café menu, from cinnamon curlicues adorned with magnolia petals, to cheese scones infused with the wild garlic that grows in towering spikes along the footpaths. The project will also bring in a raft of new volunteers and the opportunity to bolster the core gardening team of five with a young apprentice, as well as helping 'to preserve the garden's venerated historical collection of plants, trees and shrubs'. But before all that, as Godard knows full well, 'people need paths, a pee and a tea,' she says with a smile. 'Without that, no one ventures out.'
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Our seaside town has been labelled the worst in Britain - but here's why all the critics calling it 'tacky' and 'run-down' are wrong
Proud seasiders in a coastal town which has been branded the worst in Britain have been hitting back against taunts about it being 'tacky' and 'run-down'. A poll by consumer group Which? has put Bognor Regis in West Sussex at the bottom of 118 UK resorts when it comes to visitors' experiences. The coastal town, first developed in the late 18th century and famed for attractions such as a Butlin's holiday camp founded in 1960, has become to some a byword for either genteel or shabby English seaside fustiness. The late George V - great-grandfather of present King Charles - is famed to have allegedly said before dying in 1936: 'Bugger Bognor.' That was supposed to be in response to aides suggested where he might go to recuperate, according to explanations on the town's Love Bognor Regis website. An alternative suggestion is that he actually uttered the words in 1928 instead, when given a petition calling on him to add the word 'Regis' to the town's official title. Bognor tends to be among England's sunniest spots, yet landed itself last in Which?'s poll of the 118 UK seaside towns - based on responses from 3,800 people. The resort earned a paltry one-star rating in most categories, including 'Food and drink', 'Value for money' and 'Scenery'. The West Sussex resort was described by one visitor as 'a run-down seaside town' and received a destination score of just 36 per cent. Just ahead of Bognor was Bangor in Gwynedd – up one spot from its own bottom place result in last year's corresponding survey. Clacton-on-Sea in Essex was also poorly received by holidaymakers - provided with only one star for its tourist attractions as well as food, drink and scenery. Many of the UK's best-known seaside towns performed poorly in the new poll. Skegness and Blackpool earned 54 per cent and 48 per cent destination ratings respectively, while winning only one star apiece for their scenery. Even more 'fashionable' seaside hotspots failed to win the hearts of the British public, with artsy Margate scoring 56 per cent and upmarket Brighton 61 per cent It was better news further north of the country, however, where Bamburgh in Northumberland retained its place as the nation's favourite coastal destination - coming top for the fifth consecutive year. Bamburgh scored an overall destination score of 84 per cent and was awarded five stars for its seafront and scenery. Paul Wells, who runs haberdashery firm Knit and Sew in the town centre, has described Bognor Regis as having 'a personality of its own' One visitor declared Bamburgh a 'gem', praising its 'sandy, clean beaches'. The town was also rewarded for its good value for money - according to an average night's stay in Bamburgh costs £130. Yet the Which? thumbs-down for Bognor has come as a disappointment to loyal locals there, who have now spoken up in the South Coast seaside town's defence. They pointed to the 'genuine' sense of community and the quality of life which was high in the traditional seaside town. The resort, which has a population of about 25,000, is said to be undergoing a renaissance with inward investment and building projects aimed at making it look more up-to-date. On the seafront, the Alexandra Theatre is getting a £15million rebuild, while a Victorian shopping precinct called The Arcade is about to see an £8m revamp and a new £13m Premier Inn is being built. The town's seafront promenade has also undergone a major facelift, including a walking area alongside Bognor's pebble and sand beach. Jane Steventon, 52, a Bafta-winning TV producer, moved to Bognor after a career which has seen her work in London, Glasgow, Liverpool and Wales. But when talking about Bognor, she told MailOnline: 'I love it here. It's an exciting time to be in Bognor. There's a lot of investment and opportunity here and there's a real buzz around town and a sense of excitement about what's to come. 'There's a real sense of belonging here also, a proper community vibe. 'I really don't understand where Which? has got its figures from, because it's also popular among visitors.' Ms Steventon, now a lecturer at Portsmouth University where she teaches screen writing and film production, added: 'Traditional seaside towns have seen new money coming into them in recent years. 'Margate and Hastings are just two examples and I think we're seeing the same interest in Bognor.' The Butlin's holiday camp in the town has been praised for updating its traditional image, attracting not only families but also younger crowds for Big Weekender live music events at the seaside site. One visitor said: 'It's got so much going for it. The Big Music Weekenders are brilliant and we come down with friends for those In the new Which? survey, Bognor Regis earned a paltry one-star rating in most categories, including 'Food and drink', 'Value for money' and 'Scenery' Supporters have insisted the coastal town can boast 'a real sense of belonging here' and 'a proper community vibe' 'I also love the shops which are quirky and not mainstream.' Paul Wells, who runs haberdashery firm Knit and Sew in the town centre, said: 'We have so much to offer and the Which? report doesn't reflect the reality here. 'Bognor has a personality of its own as it has loads and loads of independent shops and visitors flock here to take advantage of those. 'We also have the highest recorded levels of sunshine levels in the UK which bring day trippers in their droves.' Mr Wells, who has run his shop for 25 years, added: 'The seafront is being massively renovated at the moment, but once it's finished it will enhance the already wonderful beach and promenade area. 'It's also very friendly here and there's a good sense of community with people looking out for each other. 'It's also in a great location for jumping off into the South Downs or other coastal destinations and a lot of people stay here if they're visiting Goodwood or Pagham Harbour.' Mr Wells described how such seaside towns had all 'suffered since Covid', while plenty of retail sales are being diverted online - but insisted: 'I think Bognor offers a unique experience.' Bognor Regis mayor Gill Yeates (pictured), who has lived there all her life, said: 'There's a huge amount of regeneration going on in Bognor at the moment' Alison Terry, a retired maths teacher who moved to Bognor from Tunbridge Wells in Kent 30 years ago, has since raised two children in the town alongside her husband Mike - and says the sense of community there is 'second to none'. She said: 'The pace of life is much slower here - people are more reflective and able to contribute more to their communities. There's also so much going on here. 'My two children both learned to sail here and embraced that life and there are so many opportunities. 'It might be an old-fashioned seaside resort in many respects but it has evolved organically so new developments echo the old. 'The town centre has a unique charm that I haven't found anywhere else.' Ms Terry added: 'More than anything, the people are very genuine and loyal to the town and its fellow citizens. I love it here.' Bognor Regis mayor Gill Yeates, who has lived there all her life, said: 'There's a huge amount of regeneration going on in Bognor at the moment and that means there has been a lot of disruption. 'When that is complete, it will be a huge boost to the town. Bognor mayor Gill Yeates says town centre regeneration work will be a 'huge boost to the town' 'The seafront is the jewel in the crown for us and it really is a gem but Bognor offers all this at a very affordable price. It is much cheaper here than at many places down the coast.' Many of the projects are destined for completion by next year - and residents are hopeful the town could capitalise on existing popularity among those fans it does have, despite the Which? consumer poll backlash. Stuart Gray, who runs Sweet Flamingo ice creams on the seafront, said: 'Resorts are dependent on the weather and Bognor gets record-breaking sunshine. 'When it's busy here, it's very busy. I don't really understand what Which? is talking about.' THE LOWDOWN ON THE UK'S BEST AND WORST SEASIDE TOWNS By Jo Tweedy THE BEST Bamburgh, Northumberland Small but mighty, Bamburgh village, nudged up to a particularly beautiful stretch of the Northumberland coast only has around 400 residents - but, according to Which?'s latest poll the prettiest sands in the land. The downside? It attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year because of it, with locals swamped by tourists in the summer months - and parking spaces rare as hen's teeth. Its imposing castle is regarded as one of the world's most important Anglo-Saxon archaeological sites. Zoopla average property price: £464,500 Beer, Devon Another tiny village with a divine crescent of beach, this time shingle, Beer lies in Devon's East and is flanked by limestone cliffs. Once a smuggler's haven, this fishing village's closest town is Seaton, with the South West Coast Path accessible for walkers. Zoopla average property price: £454,000 So inspired was Noel Coward when he visited the folly village of Portmeirion that he wrote his play, Blithe Spirit, in just six days. This Italianate village sits against a rocky headland in North Wales and is so well preserved you have to pay to get in - £20.00 for adults, £13 for children. The beach? It's full of white sand, plus hidden caves and views out across the Dwyryd Estuary. Zoopla average property price: £171,969 St David's, Pembrokeshire St David's main beach, known as Whitesands Bay, is made up of fine, alabaster sand that merges into a rockier portion of coast, which reaches a crescendo at the craggy headland that is St David's Head. Walkers love it, as do surfers. St David's is famously the UK's smallest city with a population of around 1,750 people. Zoopla average property price: £326,108 Sidmouth, Devon At the mouth of the River Sid, 14 miles from Exeter, Sidmouth was a fishing village until the fashion for coastal resorts grew in the Regency period from 1811 to 1820. Edward VII checked into the Royal York Hotel in 1856, and when the Devon town was connected to a railway (no longer running) in 1874, well-heeled Victorians flocked there. The esplanade is lined with Grade II-listed hotels, with the 240-million-year-old Jurassic Coast just beyond it. Zoopla average property price: £489,333 AND THE WORST... Bognor Regis, West Sussex Bognor Regis is one of the UK's best-known bucket and spade seaside towns today - but it started life as a small fishing village. The town's popularity soared in the late 1800s after a railway station was built in 1864 that made the seaside hotspot much more accessible. In recent years, the resort has been known for cheap and cheerful UK breaks, with Butlins the beach's most famous place to stay. Zoopla average property price: £356,463 Bangor, North Wales The historic Welsh resort of Bangor took the unwanted number one spot in the Which? survey of worst seaside town in Britain back in May. Bangor has fallen since its heyday, with historic photos showing hundreds of people gathered to watch the opening of the pier during the Victorian period in 1896. Even as recently as 30 years ago, the area was still a beloved hub for tourists and holidaymakers, and even featured in a popular song by folk group Fiddler's Dream in 1979 named Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time). Away from the beach, Bangor has the longest high street in Wales, and is also the oldest Welsh city. Zoopla average property price: £204,661 Clacton-on-Sea, Essex Another resort that's a shadow of its former self, Clacton-on-Sea was once one of Britain's thriving seaside towns - popular with Londoners who would flock to the Essex coastline for a day at the beach and fun on the pier. A decline has seen the town battling spiralling unemployment, drug use and crime - with shops on the beachfront and in the town centre closed. Zoopla average property price: £251,103 Southend-on-Sea, Essex One travel guide described this Essex coastal resort as 'Pugnacious and brash', saying 'Unless you're after tacky arcades, flash amusement rides or sleazy nightspots, there's not much to do'. There's no getting away from the fact it's still very popular though: Essex's largest town, with a population of some 175,500, hosts nearly three million visitors each year. Zoopla average property price: £339,634 Fleetwood, Lancashire Just 25 minutes from Blackpool, Fleetwood has long attracted holidaymakers with its low prices - including hotel stays that average around £73 a night - and old-school seaside charm. And while it's fared badly in Which?'s latest poll, it is in line for a £16million upgrade, including a major overhaul of the town's iconic Art Deco Marine Hall and the local leisure centre.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
‘There's probably worse places': Bognor Regis back at bottom of UK seaside rankings
Julia Smith was beaming on Bognor Regis beach, her toes wet after dipping them in the sparkling sea, when she discovered that her beloved home town had been named the UK's worst seaside destination. The 58-year-old carer had some stark words for Which?, who conducted the survey. 'I think it's a bit of snobbery,' she said. 'You need to come down and see it for yourself, don't rely on so-called reports.' The consumer group, which said it surveyed more than 3,800 people about their travel experiences in the last year, ranked the West Sussex town last in its annual list of the UK's best and worst seaside destinations. Bamburgh in Northumberland took top spot in the survey, while nearby Tynemouth ranked sixth. Beer in Devon, on the Jurassic coast, came in second. But Smith was full of praise for Bognor. Drying off on the pebbles and undeterred by the heavy winds, she said: 'There's so much here, the sea is amazing. There's loads of places to eat as well, whether you've got a tenner or 100 quid to spend.' And that was the dream from the beginning, when Sir Richard Hotham decided to use his vast wealth, obtained by managing ships for the east India company, to realise his vision of a seaside resort in the late 18th century. He died before a railway line sent demand soaring throughout the following century, bringing with it boarding houses and amusement arcades. And then, in 1960, came Butlin's, the seal of authenticity for any British leisure location. Smith, who has lived in the town for almost 20 years, was full of kind words, but she recognised some of its setbacks. 'The shopping not's great. But do you come to the seaside for the shopping or do you come for the sea?' she asked. Regardless, she is not leaving any time soon. 'We live here and we never get sick of it. I'm going on 60 but I love it.' Those nipping to the seaside for a midweek break were equally surprised by its ranking. 'Everyone's welcomed us with a smile. It's welcoming and friendly,' said Nabil Awan, 39, visiting with friends to celebrate his 40th birthday. They had just arrived but first impressions were positive. 'The beach is really clean,' he said. 'I'm sure there's probably worse places.' Ray Craddock, 85, moved to the town recently from the Midlands to be closer to his children, who live in the south-east. So far, he's impressed. 'It's alive. It's not fantastic in everything it's got, but it's a happy town. Most of the people you talk to are quite pleasant. We're enjoying it,' he said. He called on people to 'come and look' for themselves. 'It's easy for somebody to say 'oh yes, I've heard it's bad', but they've never actually been here,' he said. 'How do you judge what is good and what isn't? There's always snobbery.' He added: 'People will think we're stupid but we're sitting here with a nice breeze and enjoying the sea.' His wife, Heather Craddock, 82, was similarly dismissive of the report. 'I disagree,' she said. Despite the bad press the town sometimes gets, tourists have seemingly not been deterred. 'There's loads of people down here,' she added. As part of the survey, each location was graded one to five in 11 categories, which was converted into a 'destination score'. Bognor Regis received the lowest score, of 36%. In second-to-last place was Bangor, with a score of 38%. Bognor Regis was given one star for food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery, shopping, parking, peace and quiet, value for money and its seafront and pier. It is not the first time the town has been given the dubious honour, having been ranked last in the same survey in 2019 and 2022. Bognor is due to get a makeover. West Sussex county council has announced £40m in funding to regenerate the town's seafront with improvements to the esplanade being completed last month. Historically, it was the temporary abode of an ill King George V, and the place where James Joyce began writing Finnegans Wake. Jane Austen's unfinished novel Sanditon is thought to be set in the town. It has also been crowned by the Met Office as the sunniest place in Britain, with more than 1,900 hours of sunshine a year. Standing beside the historic pier, which was opened in 1865, Awan and his friends were in unanimous agreement that they would give it at least three stars. 'There are better piers in the UK but it's not a one star,' he said.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Britain's best and worst seaside towns
Known for its coastal promenade, quaint beach huts and traditional arcade games, Bognor Regis has been a favourite among families and beachgoers since its establishment in 1784. But the West Sussex resort has been named the worst seaside town in the UK in an annual poll. Bognor, one of the sunniest spots in England, finished in last place in Which?'s poll of the UK's best and worst seaside towns. The survey asked 3,800 participants about their experience of 118 British coastal spots. The resort earned a paltry one-star rating in most categories, including 'Food and drink', 'Value for money' and 'Scenery'. It was described by one visitor as being simply: 'a run-down seaside town' and received a destination score of just 36 per cent. Just ahead of Bognor was Bangor in Gwynedd – up one spot from its bottom place result in 2024's survey. Perhaps on account of its lack of proper beach, Bangor earned a destination score of only 38 per cent and was described as 'shabby' by one visitor. Clacton-on-Sea in Essex was also poorly received by holidaymakers in the past year. Despite being home to the largest pleasure pier in Europe, measuring 6.5 acres, the seaside resort was awarded only one star for its tourist attractions as well as food and drink and scenery. Indeed, many of the UK's better-known seaside towns performed poorly in this year's survey; Skegness and Blackpool earned 54 per cent and 48 per cent destination ratings respectively, both winning only one-star for their scenery. Even more 'fashionable' seaside hotspots failed to win the hearts of the British public, with artsy Margate scoring 56 per cent, and upmarket Brighton 61. It was better news further north of the country, however, where Bamburgh in Northumberland retained its place as the nation's favourite coastal destination for the fifth year in a row. Bamburgh scored an overall destination score of 84 per cent and was awarded five stars for its seafront and scenery. One visitor declared Bamburgh a 'gem', praising its 'sandy, clean beaches'. The town was also rewarded for its good value for money; according to an average night's stay in Bamburgh costs £130. While Bamburgh has once again maintained its top spot, second place saw a massive jump in rankings. Despite finishing 18th last year, Beer on the Jurassic coast was given this year's silver medal. Visitors were impressed by its five-star scenery, as well as its 'peace and quiet' and 'value for money', for which it earned four stars in both categories. Several towns in Wales also proved popular with visitors. Known for its Italian-inspired architecture, Portmeirion in Gwynedd, north Wales, came in third and was pronounced by one seaside-goer as 'superb in every way'. It scored five stars for its scenery and seafront, and 79 per cent overall. St David's in Pembrokeshire came in fourth place and was similarly praised for its 'excellent facilities, lovely seafront, nice walks and excellent hotels'. The UK's smallest city also earned a 79 per cent destination score. Reflecting on the results of this year's survey, Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel said: 'From beautiful coastlines to peaceful walks and charming traditional bucket and spade resorts, the UK seaside offers something for everyone – whatever the weather. 'While you may have your own favourite destination, as well as the top spots in Devon and Wales, our survey shows there are still plenty of beautiful hidden gems across the UK to explore.'
