Medway Council surveys children and young people
The council hopes to reach a higher number in the latest survey, with details on how to take part on its website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
4 minutes ago
- BBC News
Maryport bridge sticking up 'like sore thumb' back in use
A broken footbridge which was "stuck up in the air like a sore thumb" for more than 18 months is back in use being structure at the Elizabeth Dock in Maryport, Cumbria, was designed to be raised to allow boats in and out of the harbour when water levels are it had been in an upright position since December 2023 with the town's harbour authority saying it could not meet the cost of having it financial support from Cumberland Council, contractor Forth Engineering was appointed in May and the crossing was back in use for last weekend's Taste of the Sea food festival. Council leader Mark Fryer, who previously told the BBC the crossing had been "stuck up in the air like a sore thumb", said there were "lessons to be learned about not looking after assets in a proper fashion".He revealed the repair work had a budget of £75,000 and additional funding would be needed to fix lighting around the harbour "which again has not been looked after properly". The bridge was built in 2007 and gifted to Maryport Harbour and Marina Ltd by what was then Cumbria County May this year the harbour organisation said a range of hydraulic and electrical issues had been identified but that the estimated costs were "significantly beyond" its financial the reopening, a spokesman warned "further essential maintenance work is ongoing"."This includes adjustments to the locking pin mechanism, barrier arms and the electrical control system."In relation to the area's lighting, he said: "All assets have a lifespan. Even with regular maintenance and inspection [they] still require substantial works at some point."He added harbour bosses were working with Cumberland Council's lighting department and awaiting a plan to install replacements, with the local authority "continuing to maintain all functional lights on our behalf". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
4 minutes ago
- BBC News
Sea swimmer spotted 'clinging to Lowestoft pier' is rescued
A sea swimmer was rescued by a lifeboat crew after becoming "exhausted" and clinging on to the end of a Lifeboat said the man was spotted struggling by beach lifeguards, who alerted the rescue crew at 15:20 BST on coxswain Karl Jackson said the swimmer told how he had been holding on to the South Pier at Lowestoft, Suffolk, for about 15 minutes. The swimmer was rescued using a lifeboat crane and taken safely to shore, where he was checked over by paramedics. Mr Jackson said: "As soon as we got to the pier head we could see him, so I manoeuvred the lifeboat closer, and the crew threw him a line. "They then pulled him towards the lifeboat and using the recovery davit brought him on to the deck."He was a middle-aged man who had been swimming on his own from the beach and drifted with the tide, not realising the current was taking him or how strong it was." The swimmer had suffered a "few scrapes and cuts" but "seemed alright", Mr Jackson Robbins, who works for the RNLI in Lowestoft, said conditions in the sea can be "deceiving" and the swimmer had told lifeboat staff he wasn't aware how fast the water had been moving."Where he was clinging on to the pier, it was a little bit choppy and he was having to work hard to stay holding the pier," he advised swimmers to only go in to the water at lifeguarded beaches and to stay close to the shore. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Sun
Sprinkling a 40p Asda staple will bring your wilted, brown lawn back to life this August
WITH temperatures set to soar, a 40p Asda staple will bring your wilted, brown lawn back to life. There's nothing more unsightly than enjoying time in the garden only to be faced with ugly brown patches on your grass. 2 Say goodbye to ugly patches But luckily, now you can say goodbye to that and hello to a gorgeous green lawn - and there's barely any effort involved. Not only this, but thanks to this super simple trick, you won't have to go out and break the bank on posh fertilisers or gardening products. In fact, with this expert-approved hack, it'll cost you only 40p - and you'll be able to do it multiple times. Alongside mowing your grass, lawns require fertilising to promote strong and healthy growth. Gardening experts suggest scattering used tea leaves on your lawn as a potent natural fertiliser. Your grass would love a cup of tea Tea leaves are packed with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which are critical for healthy plant growth including grass. They can also enhance the structure of your soil and its water retention capacity, creating optimal growing conditions for your grass and improving its overall appearance. Lawn Love reveals: "Compost tea isn't a warm drink to savour by the crackling fire. "But your lawn (and your garden plants) would love to glug some down. "According to the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, applying compost tea to the lawn helps spread beneficial microbes onto soil and plants. Wake up to a weed-free lawn for months thanks to Aldi's £10 gadget that pulls them out without bending or kneeling down "Compost tea also helps protect your turf from disease. "The organisms in compost tea will consume available food sources and help outcompete disease organisms. "The homemade fertiliser increases soil water retention, too." Get rid of ugly weeds too If you're dealing with unsightly brown patches on your lawn that need a bit of TLC, experts recommend covering these areas with used tea leaves and sowing grass seed within them. The nutrients from the tea will permeate the soil, ensuring that when your grass rejuvenates, it comes back healthier and more vibrant. August gardening jobs The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the 10 gardening jobs to take on during the last month of summer - and the all important ones to remember if you're going on holiday. 1. Watering plants on holiday Think about how you're going to water your plants if you're going away. Irrigation systems are stupidly expensive - so ask a friend or neighbour to pop over. 2. Remember your houseplants! For houseplants use the upside down bottle trick - where you fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot - the water should seep out slowly. For smaller plants you can use a thick piece of cord running from a glass of water, into the soil - so it slowly takes it up over time. Be sensible with your watering - vistit for some tips on how to conserve water in August. But use as much grey water - ie washing up water - as you can to save such a valuable resource. 3. Dig for potatoes Second early potatoes should be ready to dig up. 4. Carry on deadheading Use either secateurs or just pinch off the blooms with your finger and thumb. With roses, make sure you're dead heading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of more blooms. 5. Plant strawberries You can actually plant strawberries in late august - which will be ready next year. For the ones you already have - if they've got runners springing off them - try and pot them up to make more strawberries for free. 6. Prune lavenders In late August once they've finished flowering cut back your lavender - always prune them back to the woody stems - but make sure you can still see some little buds. 7. Collect seeds A lot of plants will start going to seed now - so it's the perfect time to walk around collecting them to get free plants for next year - just make sure you label the envelopes. 8. Sow hardy annuals Towards the end of the month, sow hardy annuals in order for them to flower next year. Try and choose sheltered spots for them. 9. Cut back roses Prune back rambling roses and make sure they are all tied in. And in late August give your roses their last feed. 10. Keep on top of watering hanging baskets It's really important to keep hanging baskets hydrated - they are the first and the worst for drying out. Experts suggest covering the patches with used tea leaves and planting the grass seed within this. The nutrients from the tea will seep into the soil so when your grass grows back it will be healthier and greener. But that's not all, as an added bonus, tea bags can also inhibit the growth of weeds, particularly if steeped in black tea. So if you have pesky weeds in your lawn that just simply won't shift, this could be a great natural solution to banish them. If you want to give this trick a try and have already drank all the tea in your cupboard, you can buy a pack of 40 tea bags from Asda for just 40p.
