The Chelsea Flower Show 2025, and more from around the world
Trainee beekeeping student Mandy Topping poses for a photograph at the Randalstown and District Beekeeper's Association apiary set in the private estate of Lord O'Neill at Shane's Castle on May 4, 2025 in Randalstown, Northern Ireland. Conservation Charity Buglife's recent report into the Bee population in Northern Ireland highlighted that many species in the country are in decline, with 21 species set to become extinct without intervention. Northern Ireland's honey bees are under threat due to the absence of a bee inspectorate since last year, according to the Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA). The bee inspector is responsible for supporting bee health, external and addresses diseases such as American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) which affect honey bees. Although beekeepers are responsible for reporting diseases within their own colonies, bee inspectors confirm notifiable diseases, contain outbreaks, inspect neighbouring hives, and advise on destroying affected colonies. Honeybees are also facing decline due to habitat loss, climate change, including the effects of extreme weather, parasites and diseases. This Tuesday, May 20th marks International World Bee Day. (Photo by). DM
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The Citizen
08-08-2025
- The Citizen
Newcastle women awarded Benemerenti medal by Pope Leo
Their decades of faithful service to the Catholic Church were unexpectedly acknowledged and appreciated when Phillippa (Joan) East (94) and June Wells, were each awarded a Benemerenti medal by Pope Leo XIV last week. Visit our official facebook page to see the photos: The women were also awarded certificates of recognition by their local parish. Phillippa and June are congregants of the St Peter and Paul church in Newcastle. While June is the 'go-to' woman when it comes to secretarial duties, finances and even maintenance, Phillippa makes her contribution to the church, and to the community, as a member of the Catholic Church Women's Network. The Benemerenti medal was initially bestowed on soldiers in the Papal army to honour those who demonstrated valour during battle. However, this changed in 1925 when the Catholic Church began awarding it to both military and lay people in recognition of outstanding service to the church. The medal is a gold Greek cross depicting Christ with his hand raised in blessing. On the left arm of the cross is the tiara and crossed keys symbol of the papacy. On the right arm is the coat of arms of the current Pope. The medal is suspended from a yellow and white ribbon, the colours of the Papacy. Phillippa explained that she and June were nominated for the award by the parish priest, Father Andrew Moyo, the nomination was then endorsed by the local Bishop, Graham Rose, and sent to Rome where Pope Leo made the final decision to award the medals. However, the women were oblivious to the fact that they had even been nominated and were in complete shock when Bishop Rose presented them with the awards during Sunday mass. 'It is the first time in my life that something like this has happened,' said Phillippa, who believes that she and June are the first Newcastle residents to ever receive the award. 'I was so shocked, I couldn't believe it.' 'My understanding is that the award is a token of gratitude for service, not only to the church, but also to the community and to humanity, and we were chosen because of the compassion we have for the less fortunate, regardless of race, religion or financial standing,' Phillippa explained. Phillipa is better known as 'Joan' in the community she serves. She was given this nickname by her late husband, John, as Phillippa's maiden surname, Bennett, was the same as that of American actress, Joan Bennett. Phillippa was born in Cape Town on June 6, 1931, but grew up in the Transvaal. She met her husband while working as a child-minder at a crèche run by the Anglican Church in Sophiatown. 'My husband was a priest in the Anglican Church under Father Trevor Huddleston (well known for his anti-apartheid activism),' said Phillippa. 'We moved to Newcastle in the 1950's when my mother-in-law fell ill. She lived in Newcastle and my husband and I came here to look after her. I've been a member of the Catholic Church Women's League since then. I saw the good work that the Women's League was doing and asked to join.' After Phillippa moved to Newcastle, she went to work as the store manager at Checkers and would later move on to manage OK Furniture. 'I needed to work in order for us to afford our children's school fees and accommodation at boarding school. At that time, there were no high schools in Newcastle where coloured children could enrol,' Phillippa explained. Over the course of her life, Phillippa was blessed with six children, 17 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. As a member of the Women's Network, Phillippa visits the sick in hospitals and in their homes to offer prayer and comfort, makes frequent donations of food, groceries, blankets and other essentials to the poor and assists at St Anthony's child and youth care centre, in Blaauwbosch, as well as at the Amakazi old age facility, near Vryheid, as often as possible. 'Nobody says you must do this. It must come from the heart,' says Phillippa. 'To me, charity work feels like a calling from God. It gives me so much satisfaction to know I am helping someone. I try to be a role model to others and urge all residents to join a charity organisation and contribute to the welfare of our community. There are lots of people who need help. We need to do what we can.' In her free time, Phillippa enjoys knitting socks. '…so people can keep their feet warm in winter,' she laughs. She also enjoys pottering around in the garden. June declined an interview with the Northern Natal News. Phillippa described June as a private person who has quietly served as the backbone of the church for many years. 'Everyone at St Peter and Paul's knows …If you need something, ask Aunty June!' says Phillippa. June is a retired nurse, who worked at the Newcastle Provincial Hospital. 'We were neighbours for many years and our children played together every day till sunset. They are still friends today,' said Phillippa. Phillippa thanked the community for its support and her congregation for its prayers. She also thanked Father Moyo and Bishop Rose for deeming her worthy of such high honour. ALSO READ: Future Coal spreads hope through Mandela Day projects The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).
TimesLIVE
07-08-2025
- TimesLIVE
Would you donate your pet? Danish zoo slammed for requesting animal donations to feed its carnivores
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has ignited fierce debate after it appealed to the public on social media to donate their healthy but unwanted pets to feed the zoo's carnivores. Some of the animals allowed for donation include chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and even horses. The zoo defended the practice as part of its mission to maintain the natural behaviours and dietary needs of its predators such as tigers, lions, polar bears and lynx. 'Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators - especially the European lynx which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild,' said Aalborg Zoo. 'In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity.' The post explained that donated animals are 'gently euthanised by trained staff' before being used as food. 'That way, nothing goes to waste and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and wellbeing of our predators,' said the zoo. On its website the zoo said their policy also accepts live horses as donations. The zoo said animals must meet strict health and transport conditions including having a horse passport and being off any medical treatments for at least 30 days and that there may be a waiting list for such donations. The zoo said it does not pay for the animals but allows donors to claim a tax deduction of DKK 5 (about R13) per kilogram of the horse's weight if they provide their personal tax number. 'If you do not wish to provide your CPR number to obtain a tax deduction, we are still happy to accept the horse,' said the zoo. For smaller animals like chickens and guinea pigs, the zoo said it accepts up to four at a time on weekdays between 10am and 1pm and that bulk donations require appointments. While some praised the zoo's initiative as a pragmatic and ethical approach to waste and wildlife care, others were horrified by the idea of pets ending up as predator meals. Facebook user Sandy Hsiao said: 'How is putting a dead pet on a plate for a caged animal anything close to re-enactment of the nature.' Another Facebook user Eva Høgh defended the idea as a humane solution. 'Good initiative rather than being thrown in the trash when they are not cute any more, or the neighbour is tired of your hens suddenly getting roosters that are noisy and illegal within the city limits,' said Høgh. This isn't the first time zoos have turned to the public for help with feeding carnivores. The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico for example accepts donations of dead livestock or animals that need to be humanely euthanised, noting it's better than 'having to dispose of the deceased in a landfill'. The Alaska Zoo recently put out a call for frozen meat and fish donations.
IOL News
05-08-2025
- IOL News
Fur real? Denmark zoo asks pet owners to donate healthy animals to feed its predators
Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has sparked fierce debate after publicly encouraging the donation of pet animals, such as chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs, to be killed and used as food for its predators, including the European lynx. "If you have an animal that, for various reasons, needs to be rehomed, you are welcome to donate it to us. The animals are euthanised humanely by trained personnel and then used as feed. In this way, nothing goes to waste, and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition, and well-being for our predators," the zoo said on social media. Its officials argued that imitating the natural food chain is part of their ethical responsibility. "In zoos, we have a responsibility to mimic the animals' natural food chain, for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity."
