Grantham dog park to double up as wildflower meadow
"We know that spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. When SKDC invests in habitats and wildlife, we are investing in our wellbeing," he said."Changes to how we manage key open spaces can make space for nature."This supports biodiversity and helps our wildlife recover."The council said 71% of people who responded to a poll were in favour of the idea.As well as the wildflowers a number of native trees have also been planted.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Woman, 88, fears her clifftop home will be lost to the sea if nothing is done
A pensioner fears the clifftop home where she has lived for 25 years could be lost to the sea due to coastal erosion and said she would be heartbroken if that happened. Jean Flick, 88, remarried in 1999 after the death of her first husband from cancer and later bought the seaside property in Thorpeness, Suffolk, with her second husband for a fresh start. She said they were 'very happy' in their coastal home before her second husband also died of cancer. Ms Flick said coastal erosion has worsened in recent years, with a section of her garden wall dropping to the beach below earlier this year. Another home in her street was demolished in 2022, and Ms Flick fears she could lose her home too. She and her daughter Frances Paul, who lives nearby, are trying to secure planning permission for rock-filled cages called gabions to be placed at the foot of the cliffs to slow the erosion. This would be a self-funded project, after previous defences were washed away. Ms Flick said she has been told that if the cliff edge gets to within five metres of the house, the property will have to be demolished. 'If nothing is done, if it comes within five metres of the house it will be pulled down,' she said. 'No compensation, we have to pay for it to be pulled down and my heart will just break because it's my home. 'I know a lot of people have this problem (on) the coast and I sympathise with them because until it happens to you you don't realise the emotion that goes into the fact you're going to lose your home. 'Without any compensation, where do you buy a house with nothing? 'Your home is gone and it's just devastating really.' The house was built in 1928 and had five bedrooms, now four after one was turned into a sitting room for the sea view. 'I just absolutely love it,' said Ms Flick, who is from a farming family. 'It's my home, I know the people, it's a village, we have lots of things going on in the village.' The property is around two miles south of Sizewell, where a new nuclear power station is being built. Ms Flick said that Storm Babet in 2023 'really ravaged' the cliffs. 'It really came with full force and I think that weakened the whole system along because it is sandy and there's no way of making sand stay still,' she said. 'Sand erodes.' The policy in the Shoreline Management Plan – developed by agencies including the Environment Agency and the local authority – for the stretch of coast is of managed realignment. This means measures might be allowed that slow – but do not stop – the erosion. 'We're working with the council and all the other people who are involved in it but it's a job getting them all to meet together and agree together,' said Ms Flick. 'We would have liked to have carried on with rocks as our next door neighbour has but we're not allowed that.' She said it was a 'case now of getting paperwork signed which seems to be taking ages' before they could get permission for gabion defences. 'It's very urgent because most days you see another little bit gone,' Ms Flick said. 'It's the erosion coming underneath that brings the top down. 'My wall that was there is now on the beach.' She continued: 'You just don't know. 'When I draw the curtains in the morning it can be there, when I draw them the next morning another piece can be gone.' Her daughter Ms Paul, a retired retail worker, said: 'Even the low tides now are quite high.' She said that as they would need to fund defences themselves, if permission were granted it would then be 'a question of what's it going to cost, is it possible'. An East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: 'Our key priority is to keep people safe while managing a rapidly eroding coastline at Thorpeness. 'We are supporting affected residents to explore potential temporary, short-term interventions that could be applied within an achievable timescale while plans are explored for any possible longer-term solutions. 'We have been working closely with the community for a number of years and due to recent accelerated rates of erosion the options available are now quite limited.' Defences must accord with the Shoreline Management Plan policy of managed realignment and would only be permitted to slow erosion, the spokesperson said. 'Therefore, it is important to consider alternatives to hard defences, to adapt and become more resilient to the risks of climate change and sea level rise.' The village of Thorpeness was developed as a fantasy holiday resort by a wealthy friend of Peter Pan author JM Barrie. Scottish playwright and barrister Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie had inherited an estate there in 1908, and Thorpeness was officially opened in 1913. Thorpeness, with its large artificial boating lake and Peter Pan-inspired islands, is the earlier of two complete planned resort villages in Britain built before the advent of holiday camps such as Butlin's. The other is Portmeirion in North Wales, designed by Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Butterflies in long term decline across England and UK, official figures show
Butterfly numbers have fallen by nearly a fifth since the 1970s, with species that need specific habitats faring even worse, official figures show. Conservationists warn falls in butterfly numbers are a signal of problems in the wider state of the environment, and reveal what is happening to many other insects that are a key part of ecosystems. The latest annual update on butterfly monitoring published by the Environment Department (Defra) reveal abundance across all species has declined 18% in the UK and 19% in England over the long term. Specialists which need specific habitats such as flower-rich grassland, heathland and woodland clearings to thrive have seen numbers decline by more than a third (39%) across the UK, and 25% in England. And nearly half (46%) of individual species that are restricted to certain habitats have seen declines in the UK, while 50% have seen numbers fall in England. Across the UK heath fritillary has seen the most severe declines since 1976 with an 89% drop in abundance, while other habitat specialists including wood white, small-bordered fritillary, grayling and pearl-bordered fritillary have seen declines of 70% to 80%. Experts said the main causes for the declines in habitat specialist butterflies are the loss, fragmentation and degradation of those landscapes, with more intensive agriculture also contributing to the drop in numbers. Many have not recovered from declines experienced in the late 1970s, which were partly as a result of the knock-on effects of the drought conditions in 1976, but a lack of suitable habitat after that is the main driver for persistent declines and lack of recovery since. Butterflies found on farmland have declined by around a third in both the UK and England, with those that require the specific habitat to thrive seeing falls in abundance of 42% in the UK and 47% in England. Woodland butterflies have fared even worse with declines of more than half (54%) since the 1970s when monitoring began, with woodland specialist species declining by 55% in the UK and 57% in England. Butterflies have also seen short term declines on farmland, with numbers falling 12% across the UK and 11% in England over the past decade, the figures show, while woodland butterflies have shown no significant change over the same period. But the findings also show some specialist species are on the increase, including black hairstreak, silver-spotted skippers, large heath, dark green fritillary, silver-washed fritillary and purple emperor. Officials said some recent increases could be attributed to targeted conservation action, while some species are benefiting from climate change which is allowing them to expand their range. Across more 'generalist' species, which are not restricted to specific habitats, there has been no change over the long or short term, but the fortunes of individual species have differed wildly. Small tortoiseshell butterflies have seen falls of 86% between 1976 and 2024, while wall and white-letter hairstreak butterflies have seen almost as severe declines. But ringlet butterflies have increased by 273%, and holly blue and comma butterflies have also seen some of the largest increases in abundance over five decades, the figures show. Across the 50 species monitored across the UK, 44% have suffered declines since 1976, while 47% of the 49 species assessed in England have seen drops since then. Some 28% of individual species have increased across the UK and 24% have increased in England, the statistics show.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
COPY OF Leo weekly horoscope: What your star sign has in store for August 17
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died last March but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. Sign up for the Mystic Meg newsletter. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy LEO JULY 23 - AUG 23 1 Face value of people and objects is not enough for you right now; your chart says you should, you must, go deeper. This is how you can feel richer on every level of life and love. So try not to be too dazzled by shiny surfaces or expensive habits. Your personal pathway is clear and calm as Mercury takes charge, but you still need to do your homework, especially at work. DESTINY DAYS Any day that includes letter 'N' can be a stand-out winner. You cope well with time changes on Thursday. Saturday, invite an out-of-touch friend along. What is your star sign's element? In astrology, the elements — Air, Water, Earth, and Fire signs — serve as foundational principles that influence the characteristics and behaviours associated with the twelve star signs. Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn The Earth signs are grounded in the tangible and practical aspects of life, embodying the stable and nurturing qualities of their element. These signs are known for their pragmatism, reliability, and strong connection to the physical world, often excelling in matters that require patience and persistence. Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius The Air signs are characterised by their intellectual, communicative, and social nature. This reflects the light and dynamic essence of their elemental influence. Overall, these signs tend to excel in the realms of ideas, relationships, and innovation, bringing a breath of fresh air to their interactions and thought processes. Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces The Water element signs are profoundly impacted by their element. With each astrological sign, water gives way to emotional depth, strong intuition, and a capacity for deep empathy and connection. Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius Fuelled by the element of Fire, these fire signs in astrology are known for their passion, boldness, energy, enthusiasm, courage, and a zest for life that often leads them to adventurous and creative endeavours. LUCKY LINKS A book with a diagram on the cover. Contests where strangers compete together. A relative who's a gifted artist. NEW MOON NEW START On one level, the new moon brings Leo a simple message: it's not too late to turn back time and restart a set of cash calculations. But this must happen when you're ready. This is also a moon of knowing your own values and being prepared to stand up for them, and for people who represent them. You may need to get firmer with family or people close to you. A debt you may have forgotten is ready to be paid back in full. Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what's in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions. hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it's like to .
