Your photos from across West Midlands: Sunshine and flowers
We love to feature your photographs showing the beauty of the West Midlands and here are some of the best from the past week.Upload your images via BBC Weather Watchers or email us at midlandstoday@bbc.co.uk.For inspiration, view some top tips from three of England's Big Picture photographers.
When emailing pictures, please make sure you include the following information:The full name of the person who took the pictures (as this person owns the copyright)Confirmation that the copyright holder gives permission for the BBC to use their pictures across all its outputsThe location, date and time the pictures were takenYour telephone number so we can get back to you if we have any further questions.Any other details about the pictures that may be useful for us to know
Follow for more pictures on Instagram from BBC Birmingham, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Shropshire, BBC Stoke & Staffordshire and BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country.
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The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Looking for a lush lawn this summer? Expert reveals top ten tips
The summer months can be particularly harsh on lawns, often leaving homeowners wondering if their grass will survive the season. Children, pets, and outdoor play equipment can wreak havoc, with items like toys and paddling pools suffocating the grass. However, according to Kate Turner, a horticulturist for Evergreen Garden Care with experience on BBC 's Gardeners' World, Love Your Garden, and Garden Rescue, there are steps you can take to minimise the damage and keep your lawn healthy throughout the summer. 'The biggest obstacles are kids with trampolines and paddling pools. All the toys come out and they stay on the lawn. You might go on to websites which say 'Move your trampoline every day' but that's just not realistic. 'So we have to accept that during the summer just enjoy your lawn, don't get too upset about it.' However, there are things you can do to minimise the damage, she suggests. 1. Be waterwise 'If there isn't a hosepipe ban and you want to water the lawn, give it a deep soak one evening a week, or early morning if you're an early riser,' she advises. 'But the lawn is the most hard-wearing plant in your garden. So even if the dry weather continues, once the autumn rain comes, usually the lawn will bounce back.' 2. Let your grass grow longer Over the summer, don't mow your grass as frequently and if it goes brown stop mowing it completely, she advises. 'If you're not mowing the lawn, get the edges done because that makes the garden look so much smarter,' she suggests. 3. Sink your trampoline 'If you have young kids and you are going to have that trampoline for a few years, think about getting a sunken trampoline, because it's much safer,' she suggests. 'Dig a hole and line it with a weed membrane. You can get specialist companies that do it.' Once the hole has been dug, overseed the perimeter with a really hard-wearing shade-tolerant lawn seed, she advises. 'Now is a really good time to do it because the soil is warm. Rake over the area a bit, then throw some good hard-wearing drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant seed. You have to be prepared to water for the first few weeks.' Obviously you're not going to be able to move the trampoline once it is in, but at least when the children leave home you have a ready-made space for a wildlife pond, she adds. 4. Put up with the paddling pool 'There's not a lot you can do until after (summer), but get a ground sheet down first and put the pool on top of that,' she advises. 'If there's any stones or pebbles underneath the soil level it will stop it puncturing.' You could also make a feature of it, creating a path that leads to the paddling pool, which can reduce the mess around it, she adds. Once the season is over, use the pool water to water your lawn. Rake the area a little and then overseed some more to refresh the grass. If you have enough space and a small-enough paddling pool, move it once a week to give each area of lawn a break, she suggests. 5. Guard against football damage If you have a family of keen budding footballers, overseed the goal area now with hard-wearing seed – and you will need to water it until it starts to germinate – to help minimise damage later on in the summer, she advises. 'If you're not going to overseed because you already have a decent lawn, give it a slow-release feed to toughen it up.' However, like Wimbledon courts at the end of the tennis tournament, if that goal is in constant use over the summer you'll have to accept that it may be trashed during those months. 6. Feed regularly 'You can give the lawn a really good feed every six weeks and once we are into the summer proper, use something like a fast-acting green, which you can attach to your hose, spray it on and it greens the grass up and makes it stronger really quickly.' If there's a drought, don't use feeding granules, she advises, but go for a liquid feed because granules will need a lot more watering to dissolve and do the work. 7. Make a path Well-worn areas can soon appear on your lawn if you don't have a path, so create a simple pathway using, for instance, log edging and bark chip, she suggests. 'If you have kids, you could do a hopscotch effect with different pavers and put some plants in between them such as low-growing thyme and chamomile. Something temporary for the summer is a really good idea.' 8. Reduce pet damage 'Female dogs' wee is really acidic and what you'll find is that you'll get lots of little bare patches throughout your garden. 'Break it up with a fork and then add some special dog spot repair which incorporates seed, feed and calcium that neutralises the acid in the urine. 'It's either that, or when you see your dog peeing, you get a watering can and water it away straight away.' 9. Put toys away 'Always put the toys away every evening because just leaving that plastic tractor out will damage the lawn.' 'If you have a shady lawn that's full of moss, don't worry about it for the summer. It will be quite hard-wearing.'
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Exactly where thunderstorms will strike UK as Met Office issues rainfall warning
Parts of the UK could see half a month's rainfall in just this week when thunderstorms sweep in bringing torrential showers while temperatures could become "uncomfortably" hot Brits are set for stormy weather amid high temperatures and weather maps have revealed the areas set to be worst affected by torrential rain. After a couple of weeks of milder weather due to low pressure systems moving in from the Atlantic, the UK is seeing the mercury rise again and it could reach 25C in central and northwest England on Wednesday. But forecasters are also warning of thunderstorms bringing with them around half a typical month's rainfall this week. Much of the UK can expect sunshine and blue skies on Wednesday afternoon and it will be into the evening when the storms hit with up to 40mm of rain battering south Wales and southwest England. And the showers are set to linger into Thursday. BBC weather forecaster Elizabeth Rizzini said: 'There will be a lot of blue skies and sunshine, more patchy cloud developing through the afternoon. Watch out towards the southwest by the end of the day, there could be thunderstorms breaking out but we are drawing in a southeasterly wind, that pushes the warmer air our way, temperatures in the mid-20Cs for many of us. 'Wednesday night into Thursday watch out for some thunderstorms in the west, and those thunderstorms will gradually track their way further northwards and eastwards throughout the day on Thursday.' While Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, has also warned of thundery showers. "After largely benign weather early in the week, some intense, thundery showers will move in on Wednesday evening. These thunderstorms are being triggered by some warm, humid air that is moving into the UK from the south," he said. "The intense rainfall could see 20-40mm accumulating over just a few hours, which could cause some disruption. While there are no severe weather warnings issued at the moment, it is possible thunderstorm warnings may be issued this week." Weather maps issued by forecasters at Metdesk show these cities, especially Cardiff, are likely to see the worst of the weather this week. Cardiff has an average of 74mm of rain in a typical June, Bristol sees around 65mm and Plymouth has 64mm. But with between 35mm and 40mm of rain expected across south Wales, Cardiff could see around half of its standard June precipitation already by the end of the week. It is similar case for Bristol, Plymouth, Exeter and even further north for Hereford, which typically sees 48mm of rain across June. Mr Silverstone also highlighted that temperatures with humidity making it possibly uncomfortable. "As temperatures rise this week, it is possible heatwave thresholds could be reached in some parts of the UK, particularly the northwest Midlands, north-west England and northeast Wales, however it is very dependent on cloud cover later this week, so it is not a certainty, " he said. "This warm spell will feel different to the fine weather we experienced in May as the humidity will be much higher, making it feel more uncomfortable. Additionally, while in May the nights were still fairly cool, overnight temperatures this week are forecast to remain fairly warm, which can disrupt people's sleep."
Wales Online
21 hours ago
- Wales Online
Met Office weather map shows exact time 25C temperatures are set to arrive in Wales
Met Office weather map shows exact time 25C temperatures are set to arrive in Wales The country has been hit by unsettled conditions in recent days BBC weatherman Derek Brockway has warned that while we may be experiencing dry and sunny weather, there could be patches of rain this week (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Summer is still stretching out ahead of us with more warm weather now on the way. Forecasts are showing that temperatures could reach 25C in Wales this week as things heat up again, according to the Met Office. In its latest forecast, the Met Office notes that the beginning of the upcoming week will be a mix of sunshine and showers, mainly affecting the north of the UK while the south is expected to see plenty of dry weather. But when exactly will we see temperatures reaching their highest point around Wales? For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Looking ahead to Tuesday, June 10 the Met Office has said there is a possibility of "a new low-pressure system" currently located far out in the Atlantic. This system may push a new weather front over the UK, though exact details remain uncertain at this time. This low-pressure system may also help to develop a more southerly flow, bringing warmer air from Wednesday onwards. Article continues below According to the Met Office's weather maps, Wednesday, June 11 is set to be the warmest day for Wales this week, with most places reaching temperatures between 21C- 24C by the afternoon, with lots of sunshine also expected. Met Office's weather map for Thursday, June 12 at 4pm (Image: Met Office ) It will feel particularly warm for some northern areas - with Chester, Wrexham and Welshpool all expected to see highs of 25C. But by Thursday, June 13 - things will take a turn with temperatures dropping slightly with patches of rain in the morning, although it should feel more settled by the afternoon. The warmer air also brings a risk of thunderstorms, potentially leading to an unsettled end to the week across the UK. Welsh meteorologist for the BBC Derek Brockway described the outlook for the week starting Monday, June 9 in a post on X. He said: 'No two days the same this week! Some rain and drizzle tonight. Improving from the north tomorrow. 'Some sunny spells. Wednesday the warmest day and turning humid. On Thursday showers and heavy rain will spread northwards with a risk of thunderstorms! Thundery showers Friday PM.' Content cannot be displayed without consent According to the long range forecast, the Met Office states: "Over the weekend (June 14-15) and into the start of the following week, most parts will become drier. However, there may be another brief spell of rain with a risk of some thunderstorms, before high pressure more firmly builds in from the west. Article continues below "The rest of the following week looks like being mainly dry with variable cloud and some sunshine and often warm or very warm. The far north may be largely cloudy with a threat of some more rain at times though."
