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Guides invent 72 new ‘empowering' badges that reflect their lives

Guides invent 72 new ‘empowering' badges that reflect their lives

Times20-07-2025
In September 1909 a group of young women from Peckham Rye gatecrashed a Scout rally demanding 'something for the girls' — and thus the Girl Guides was born. In the century since then, however, what that 'something' entails has shifted continually in order to reflect women's changing role in society.
No more are girls awarded badges for hosting and cleaning; now they can earn badges for interior design, environmental conservation and thrifting, which are among 72 new activities unveiled as part of the organisation's drive to remain relevant to the lives of girls growing up in the 2020s and help them to feel 'empowered'.
The new additions are all 'interest badges', which aim to develop hobbies rather than attain specific skills, and may be completed individually at home.
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Enormous 22 inch RAT found in home as councillor issues giant rodent warning for thousands of residents
Enormous 22 inch RAT found in home as councillor issues giant rodent warning for thousands of residents

Daily Mail​

time9 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Enormous 22 inch RAT found in home as councillor issues giant rodent warning for thousands of residents

Residents have been left disgusted after an enormous 22-inch rat was found in a home in Redcar and Cleveland. Hundreds expressed their shock and disgust after a picture of the supersized rodent was posted on social media by local councillors. Conservative Party councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin criticised the Labour-run council for its inaction and called for a full vermin study to be carried out across the borough. The rat, which has a potentially record-breaking size in UK terms, was discovered recently in a property in the Normanby area by a pest controller who had been called to investigate. It is unknown how it accessed the property, which it is believed to have been nesting in, but rats had been reported in back alleys nearby. In their social media post, Mr Taylor described public bins in parts of the Eston and Whale Hill area as 'overflowing', with shops, particularly takeaways, dumping items in them and providing 'easy food' for rodents. He wrote: 'It's almost the size of a small cat. And it's not a one-off. 'The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get. We need action — not just advice.' In response to their post, dozens of residents shared their concerns about the growing problem in the area In response to their post, dozens of residents shared their concerns about the growing problem in the area. Rats are known to grow to a large size when there is an ongoing abundant supply of food. The Eston ward councillors pointed out that Redcar & Cleveland Council no longer handle domestic rat infestations, instead expecting residents to foot the bill themselves. But the councillors argue that due to public land being left overgrown and overflowing bins, the problem has been made worse. As well as a full vermin study, they are calling for 'proper funding' to tackle infestations and joint action with businesses and landlords - so tackling vermin is built into tenancies and responsibilities. As with many other cash-strapped local authorities, the council no longer offers pest control to private households, but retains a full-time officer to tackle issues on council land. Not all social housing providers automatically offer such a service, or if they do, it is only on a discretionary basis, according to the Yorkshire Post. A spokeswoman for the council said: 'The council has a dedicated pest control officer who manages pest issues on council-owned land. While we no longer provide a wider pest control service, we do offer advice to residents where possible. Redcar and Cleveland residents have been left dismayed at the council's response 'The council continues to work with Beyond Housing, Northumbrian Water and other partners to address complex issues and explore potential solutions. There is also helpful guidance and preventative measures on our website to support people in dealing with pests.' It is estimated that there could be around 250 million rats in the UK. They can carry illnesses which can be passed to humans, including Weil's disease, which has flu-like symptoms initially but can lead to jaundice and kidney failure. Less frequent bin collections can see foxes tearing overflowing bins apart and spilling the contents, which encourages rats to come from the sewers to feed on the waste. Bin collections are already under threat as some councils look to cut costs, as the Local Government Association last year estimated that councils in England could face a £4 billion funding gap over the next two years. Rats are a major problem as they pose a big health hazard and they breed rapidly, so they need to be dealt with by a professional as soon as they are suspected. In April, the British Army was called in to rodent-ridden Birmingham after pest control experts labelled the city 'apocalyptic' due to the bin strikes taking place at the time. A pest control expert had been forced to patrol the streets of Birmingham armed with an air rifle as a swelling rat army, some said to be 'the size of cats', plagued the UK's second city's streets. Droves of monstrously sized rodents had been gorging on the growing pile of leftover refuse as almost 400 bin workers have intermittently been on strike in Labour-run Birmingham since January. Additionally an increase in fly-tipping and HS2 building work helped spark the invasion, with residents finding rodents tucked behind wheelie bins and nestling under car bonnets.

Queen Elizabeth's beloved horse and 'gentlest giant' who served the Royal Family for 14 years retires - as Palace's heartfelt tribute to majestic steed leaves fans in tears
Queen Elizabeth's beloved horse and 'gentlest giant' who served the Royal Family for 14 years retires - as Palace's heartfelt tribute to majestic steed leaves fans in tears

Daily Mail​

time9 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Queen Elizabeth's beloved horse and 'gentlest giant' who served the Royal Family for 14 years retires - as Palace's heartfelt tribute to majestic steed leaves fans in tears

The Royal Family has bid goodbye to one of its most treasured members after 14 years of service. Irish draft horse Tyrone, who was much loved by the late Queen, last week officially retired from royal duties, after working at nearly every royal occasion over the last decade and a half. According to the Sunday Times, the 19-year-old Windsor Grey will be spending his retirement at the Horse Trust in Buckinghamshire, a sanctuary for retired horses in the Chiltern Hills. There, he was reunited with his father Storm, 26, and his sister Meg, 20, who are also both former royal carriage horse. Staff said they will miss Tyron, who was described as 'the gentlest giant' by one of the Royal Mews team, who added that he 'doesn't have a bad bone in his body', and is 'so reliable and so kind natured'. As a working animal, Tyrone was a 'wheeler' - the horses who are placed closest to the state carriages they are pulling. Always positioned as the rear horse on the right side, he was often paired with Meg while working. On top of having to do the heavy work of pulling the carriages, the animals have to be extremely well behaved, so they can carry out their duties amid roaring crowds at major events. Tyrone made his debut in 2012, where he pulled the carriage bringing the late Queen to the to the state opening of parliament. This was followed weeks later, when he pulled Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during the Diamond Jubilee. Other notable occasions Tyrone was working include the state openings in 2013 and 2014, and Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018. During the 2023 coronation, he took King Charles and Queen Camilla to Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace. He later returned them to the Palace after the service. Another major outing came during Trooping the Colour in June 2024, when the Princess of Wales made her first public appearance after announcing cancer earlier that year. Tyrone was one of the wheelers pulling her carriage. Tyrone's final official duty came last month, when he was again part of the team of horses transporting the King and Queen. Speaking to the Sunday Times, crown equerry Colonel Toby Browne, who oversees the Royal Mews, said that the late Queen look an interest in Tyrone, noting that she 'loved the fact there was a family connection with Tyrone, Storm and Meg'. He added that Tyrone is a 'very popular chap - a big fan favourite', and that everyone loves the horse, who is 'very hard-working and really deserves his retirement'. Tyrone, like many of the other carriage horses, was bred in Ireland. When he was four, he started training for a royal career at the Royal Mews stables in Windsor. The training, which takes around a year, includes exposing the animals to loud noises so they are used to the high volumes they have to endure from noisy crowds at royal events. It also includes making them wear harnesses and pull carriages. On Monday, Tyrone arrived at the sanctuary to begin his retirement. Shortly after his arrival, while examining his surrounding, he heard another horse call out to him - it was his sister Meg, with whom he was reunited (alongside his father Storm). In a statement about the sanctuary's new arrival, chief executive Jeanette Allen said that after his many years of public service, it is 'time for us to serve him and give him the best possible life here'. A post about Tyrone's retirement on the Royal Family Instagram account attracted many comments from royal watchers. One said: 'What a lovely horse. Hope he has a lovely retirement ❤️ He will be missed on the royal front.' Another wrote: '‪How lovely that he is going to live with his father and sister - thank you for your service Tyrone! Enjoy your retirement ❤️❤️❤️❤️‬.' When a post about Tyrone's retirement was shared on the Royal Family's Instagram account, many shared their thoughts on the hard-working horse And a third added: 'What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful, handsome horse. Thank you Tyrone for all your hard work - may your retirement be long, healthy and happy ❤️.' 'Wishing Tyrone a happy retirement,' said another Instagram user. 'Thank you for sharing - your heartfelt tribute shows the power of compassion and kindness on multiple levels which is particularly poignant and much needed in this pretty heartless world currently.' 'We will miss you, beautiful boy,' wrote another. A further agreed, writing: 'Well deserved I'm sure. Happy days Tyrone.'

Hundreds object to Stroud solar farm plans
Hundreds object to Stroud solar farm plans

BBC News

time39 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Hundreds object to Stroud solar farm plans

Hundreds of people have objected to plans for a solar farm next to a plans have been submitted to Stroud District Council to install photovoltaic panels on more than 117 acres of farmland next to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, just south of the village of approved, PACE Tribute Energy Limited said the panels would power around 11,000 homes. Consultants working on the scheme said the solar farm would not have a significant adverse impact on landscape character or residential properties. In total, more than 260 comments have been made on the plans via the council's objector said the area was "already inundated with solar power plants". "It is unreasonable to impose yet another on those of us who live in this area," they added. Another commenter said a nearby solar farm development was already causing traffic and construction County councillor Stephen Davies said residents recognised the need for solar farms and were not against them in general."The concern is the overdevelopment of these in the flat piece of land between the M5 and the Severn."This is overdevelopment on farming land that is equally important for food production," he plans are due to be voted on by December.

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