Latest news with #flowers
The Standard
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Standard
Thousands to pay respects as Ozzy Osbourne laid to rest in UK hometown
A guitar is placed next to flowers and cards at the Black Sabbath Bridge, following the death of Ozzy Osbourne, in Birmingham, Britain, July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Families protest flower ban for graves in Haddenham cemetery
A widow said her husband would be "mortified" by a council decision to remove all flowers from graves. A parish council will make its village cemetery in Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, a "lawn only" space from September this year. Haddenham Parish Council said families would have until next Spring to remove plants and trinkets to promote a "uniform and dignified appearance for all graves".Viv Thistlethwaite, 74, said: "My husband loved flowers and doing the garden. If this move goes ahead myself and several others will continue planting flowers and just take the grass seed up." A lawn-only policy would mean graves need to be kept as flat, grass-covered plots with no personal items, flowers, or plants in the parish council said neighbouring areas like Willingham and Sutton had similar regulations to address "long-term issues" of overgrown or untended authority added the policy would prevent accidental damage to headstones, caused by the use of strimmers in tight spaces, and said contractors would be instructed to begin clearance after winter, when flowers were not in bloom. 'Heartache for families' Mrs Thistlethwaite's husband, Leslie, died in 2021. She also tends to five others at the cemetery, including her parents, aunt and uncle."I come up here every week with my lawnmower in a wheelbarrow and I cut around Leslie's plot and his mate's grave next door, who he used to go to football with," she said. Mandy Amory, 61, from Needingworth tends to three graves in the cemetery twice a week."It is a really emotional thing, just the thought of having no flowers planted on those graves is upsetting."My mum passed away in 2013 and there has always been flowers on her grave", she partner, Darren Miles, said there had been no said many of the plots were "immaculate" and "if that is taken away there is going to be a lot of heartache for families". A spokesperson from the parish council said: "Many councils across the region, and indeed nationally, have adopted similar approaches to ensure their cemeteries remain safe, uniform, accessible, and respectfully maintained.""We would like to make clear that this change was not made for cost-saving reasons. Haddenham Parish Council remains in a fixed ground maintenance contract until 2029, so no financial benefit is associated with this policy shift."The council said it wanted to ensure the cemetery was maintained in a way that "honours those laid to rest". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I saved thousands on my wedding by getting 50p flowers from Dunelm – I normally hate fake stems but I filled my boot
A SAVVY bride-to-be has revealed that rather than breaking the bank on posh flowers for her wedding, she stocked up with reduced buys from Dunelm. After being quoted 'insanely high prices' for wedding flowers, Anna Frances was on a mission to see how she could save cash without having to scrimp on style for her big day. 2 2 The bargain hunter normally 'dislikes' artificial bouquets, but desperate to pocket pounds, decided to have a browse online to see what options were available. And now, Anna has been able to save thousands for her upcoming nuptials, thanks to reduced finds in Dunelm. In total, Anna spent less than £200 on artificial flowers for her wedding day and even had an entire boot load full of bargains from just 50p. Overjoyed with her huge haul, Anna took to social media to alert others to her discounted purchases, leaving many totally stunned. Posting on Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, a private Facebook group with 2.6 million members, Anna uploaded a snap of her recent purchases alongside her chuffed fiancé and beamed: 'Thank you to whoever posted the bargains on artificial flowers in Dunelm. This is one of two orders, spent £180 in total.' Shocked with her 'steals', she continued: 'This boot is £95 worth. I think the biggest steals were the £15 stems/bunches down to 50p. 'I absolutely hate spending money, which is why I love this group! This has saved me hundreds, if not thousands. 'I always thought I'd go for real flowers but unfortunately they are just so expensive, especially decorating the whole venue as well as bouquets.' Following this, she added: 'If online says 'out of stock', I'd recommend going in. There were still so many left in the Taunton store that were reduced (probably 10x the amount I had). 'The amazing staff went out the back and got more for me to look through and were so happy to have me take them as it meant they didn't need to sort them for display!' I wasn't going to spend thousands on a wedding dress so got an Oh Polly one for £75 - no one would know it wasn't pricey Anna later confirmed that to keep within a budget for her wedding day, she and her husband-to-be are 'trying to DIY' as much as they can. And with the average cost of wedding flowers setting brides and grooms back £1,100 it's no surprise, as she confessed: 'I actually really dislike artificial flowers but the quotes we've had for real are so high.' I think the biggest steals were the £15 stems/bunches down to 50p Anna Frances While Anna acknowledged she understands you are 'paying for skill' with wedding flowers, she couldn't justify the huge cost. Not only was she able to keep the price down, but she then explained: 'I will sell [them] for less than I paid or give them away after our wedding. I like that you can do this with artificial flowers.' Keen to reassure shoppers that she didn't clear the shelves, the Dunelm fan stressed: 'There were hundreds more stems available. 'Everything we got, there were more of, and I didn't 'take the last one'.' Bargain hunters beam Anna's post has clearly impressed many, as it was shared just 13 hours ago, but has quickly racked up 663 likes and 120 comments. Bargain hunters were stunned by Anna's huge haul of purse-friendly flowers and many eagerly raced to the comments to praise her finds. One person said: 'Amazing. Please show us what you did with them on your wedding day. And congratulations.' Having seen the cost of weddings these days I say good on you and great bargain hunting Facebook user Another added: 'Love a bargain and a bit of DIY on a budget! ' A third commented: 'Fantastic, I'm chuffed for you.' Meanwhile, someone else simply beamed: 'Great bargains!!' At the same time, another chimed in and wrote: 'Having seen the cost of weddings these days I say good on you and great bargain hunting. Enjoy your married life together.' However, not everyone was as complimentary, as one frustrated user slammed: 'And this is why nobody else could get them.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Major garden retailer slashes cost of gorgeous blue hydrangeas that ‘bloom 30 flowers in first season' from £40 to £20
A HUGE garden retailer has slashed the price of stunning blue hydrangeas by half. Hydrangeas make a gorgeous edition to any garden, and are loved by gardeners thanks to their huge, luscious blooms. 2 Their vibrant colours and large size mean they instantly elevate any garden, and the monstrous plants can grow up to 30 flower heads during their first flowering season. If you're looking to transform your garden into a haven this summer, and make your outdoor space the envy of your neighbours, hydrangeas are undoubtedly a great choice. And if you're a garden lover on a budget, Gardening Express is currently selling huge blooms for just £19.99, down from £40. The plants come in 10-litre pots, and are perfect for beds, borders or planters. The XXXL Mophead plant has giant blue blooms, which can grow to the size of footballs when fully grown. The flowers will last for the entire summer, before fading to a purple colour during autumn. If your garden soil is heavy in alkaline, the blooms turn from blue to pink, and can even turn a lavender colours, depending on the soil's PH. Each winter, you should cut the plant near ground level, and watch new stems pop up in the new year. Gardening Express said: "Wow! These plants are monsters, and can be expected to throw out up to 30 strong flower heads during their first flowering season in your garden. "A wonderful Hydrangea variety with huge flowers, often found in high class florist bouquets, it has really massive blooms." I'm a gardening pro – my simple tip will revive 'dead' hydrangeas in seconds How to get hydrangeas to bloom until October A TikTok flower expert has revealed her top three tips for gardeners to know to keep their hydrangeas blooming through to October. By doing these things, it will help stop the flowers turning " brown and crispy", as temperatures heat up. One sister from the popular TikTok duo, Miller Flowers, shared the advice online which attracted a number of comments, likes and shares from garden enthusiasts. The first tip is around watering, as "hydrangeas are plants that love water". The 5 best flowers to help bees to thrive Nature experts at Faith In Nature have shared the 5 best flowers Brits can plant in their gardens to help bees thrive. Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor and keen gardener explains why "bees are brilliant". "They are vital. They pollinate our food and play a crucial role in our ecosystem. But climate change, the increasing use of pesticides and loss of habitat means bees are endangered. No matter how big your garden or outside space is, you can plant a flower or two to help bees." Lavender Lavender can thrive in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It's fragrant and flowers all-summer-long meaning it's a big hit with bees - especially bumble bees. Sunflowers This cheery flower giant are bee-magnets. And if you look closely at a sunflower head, the big 'flowers' are actually a cluster of small flowers, called an inflorescence which attract pollinators. Ideally, grow sunflowers in groups to provide nectar and pollen for as many bees as possible. At the end of summer, collect the dried seeds from the sunflower heads to feed the birds or plant next year. Heather These abundant, bell-shaped blooms are brimming with nectar and pollen – which is good news for bees. Cornflowers A vivid blue wildflower, cornflowers are often planted alongside other meadow blooms, like ox-eye daisies and poppies. They grow on tall stems and are packed with nectar, making them particularly attractive to bees. Cornflowers bloom for a long time and are simple to grow, so they're perfect for first-time gardeners and experienced alike. Crocuses (and snowdrops) Later this summer, when you're starting to plan for your Spring displays, consider crocuses and snowdrops. They provide bees, such as the queen buff-tailed bumblebee and male hairy-footed flower bees, with vital early pollen as they emerge from their winter hibernation. It is recommended to water them three times a week, for ten minutes. Where the hydrangeas are positioned in the garden is also a valuable component to consider for their optimal flowering. Hydrangeas need both sun and shade. A little fertilisation can be particularly useful for hydrangeas in climates where it is continually warm. It can encourage more blooms, and help them deal with heat. However, it is not always necessary, also depending on the soil used, and time of the year.
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Peter Andre's wife Emily shares sweet snaps with singer and their daughter Arabella, one, in matching white ensembles during family day out to purple flower field
Peter Andre 's wife Emily has shared sweet family snaps with the Mysterious Girl singer and their daughter Arabella. The family headed to a stunning purple flower field over the weekend to soak up the sun and Emily shared snaps from the day on Instagram on Sunday. 'We made the most of the sunshine while it lasted, turns out Belle's favourite part wasn't the flowers… it was the bees,' Emily captioned the snaps. The family wore matching white outfits to contrast the purple of the flowers, with the doctor looked radiant in the white linen off-the-shoulder summer dress with frilly sleeves. Emily paired the summer dress with cream fabric sandals and sported a huge pair of sunglasses, as she strolled through the fields. Peter was seen embracing his wife while she held their youngest child, with the family kitted out in their white ensembles. It comes after Peter offered his thoughts about navigating drama with exes after Katie Price raised eyebrows with recent comments about him. Last month, Katie revealed what she really thinks about Peter's wife Emily - noting the fact that she and Peter always used to step out with the whole family, while Emily 'doesn't do all that' for him. Although Peter did not address the comments, he opened up on his thoughts about navigating exes during his latest New! magazine column. Addressing Zara McDermott 's ex and new boyfriend coming face to face recently, he shared: ' Sam Thompson and Louis Tomlinson were both at Soccer Aid together for an incredible cause. The fact they've both been involved with Zara McDermott at some point is secondary for me. 'I think people will always try to make a fuss about dramas with exes, but we don't know what happened, and having been part of Soccer Aid in the past, I know people just focus on the game and the cause, everything else is left off the pitch. That's how it should be.' Peter and Katie split in 2009 after meeting and falling in love on I'm A Celebrity five years prior. Katie addressed her thoughts on Peter's new wife during an appearance on comedian Katherine Ryan's What's My Age Again? Podcast, admitting their daughter Princess was left baffled by his new relationship. The mother-of-five recalled: '[Princess] says, "You're just so nuts mum. When I see you and Emily, you're just so different. I can't imagine you and dad." 'I said, "I was with your dad six years. Trust me, we had a laugh and bantered together, we did." 'She said, "I just can't imagine dad being like that." I said "But he was, he was like that. We had a laugh." 'And you know, she can't believe that whenever he went anywhere or me, we were together with the kids. And we'd go as a family. 'Emily doesn't do all that for Pete. Me and Pete just did it all together as a family. If we'd got you kids, you would come with us.' Yet she did have kind words for Emily, with Katie adding: 'I'm glad he's with Emily. She seems like a proper lady. I think it'd be weird if he went for someone like me.' Katie - who has revealed she and Peter don't talk at all anymore - recently opened up about the real reason for their divorce. It had long been rumoured that the glamour model and her ex split over her close relationship with her dressage rider Andrew Gould. During an appearance on Paul C Brunson's podcast We Need To Talk, she said: 'We broke up because he thought I was having an affair with my dressage rider, and I've never slept with him. I just kept my horse there, and I was happy keeping my horse there, and he was married. 'But when me and Pete split, because he used to keep saying, "That's it. I've had enough. I've had enough". It got to a point where I went, "Well f***ing divorce me". And I remember the day, because then I flew to the Maldives with the kids. 'That day, I'm at the airport, it's all on Sky News, it wasn't mutual at all. And then I released a statement saying I don't want to split with Pete, it's Pete that's splitting with me. Until this day, me and Pete have never sat down and spoken about it. 'It's all through lawyers. I've never sat down with him, we probably would've sorted it out but we were kept apart.' After they announced their split, Peter said he was 'gutted' that Katie had taken their children to the Maldives villa where they had honeymooned in 2005. He told the Daily Star: 'Being apart from my kids is just breaking my heart. It's destroying me - I'm absolutely gutted.' Katie added that it is 'the most difficult thing' to co-parent, saying: 'But I realised you get to know what people are really like, and I've had it tough. But yeah, it is sad.'
