Wiltshire in pictures: Sun, wonky roads and pigeons
We're almost a week into April and it's been a particularly bright start to the month with temperatures reaching 22C (71F) on Friday afternoon.
With the warmer weather, gardens and outdoor attractions are opening to the public for the first time this year - or, in the case of the walled garden at Bowood, for the first time ever.
Also this week we have had the news the B4069 Lyneham Banks has reopened three years after a devastating landslip, a charity marathon runner is raising money for the air ambulance and a pet pigeon has been getting some attention in Devizes.
270 year wait: Bowood House and Gardens, near Chippenham, has opened its walled garden to the public.
The estate opened for the year on Tuesday, but for the first time is allowing access to its usually private garden.
Reach for the skies: Charity marathon runner Gary MacAlister is looking to break a Guinness World Record when doing Bristol Half Marathon dressed as a helicopter next month.
The Trowbridge native will be running to raise money for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance while dressed in an outfit which has been dubbed the Garycopter.
Hope for the future: A mural created by young people in Swindon has been unveiled across two sites in the town.
The artwork, which appears on both a new youth centre and on a children's hospital ward, features a drawing of a whale guided by butterflies towards a light bulb to show hope for a brighter future for all youngsters in Swindon.
Centre stage: Abbie Smith from Chippenham got a selfie with a 5,000-strong crowd at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday.
The 24-year-old, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2023, was at a fundraising concert featuring rock band The Who. The event raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
It's a bird's life: Pam Welfare has been speaking to the BBC about her pet pigeon Pepper, who accompanies her everywhere she goes.
Pepper travels with Pam, often on her shoulder and for journeys further afield, she even has her own car seat.
Back in business: Lyneham Banks road has opened this week after a three year closure.
Dubbed Britain's wonkiest road after a landslip during Storm Eunice, the reopening of the B4069 reconnects Chippenham and Lyneham, saving commuters a lengthy diversion to the south.
Railway pioneer: A blue plaque has been unveiled in Swindon, celebrating the life of James Hurst, the first locomotive shunter for the Great Western Railway.
The plaque has been placed above the front door of Hurst's final residence on Taunton Street.
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Wiltshire in Pictures: Let the music play
Wiltshire in pictures: Sunshine and Shrove Tuesday
Wiltshire in pics: Spring equinox and indoor moon
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise Sets Guinness World Record For Death-Defying 'Mission: Impossible' Stunt
Tom Cruise's quest to become America's most death-defying stuntman continues to pay off. The Oscar-nominated actor has spent the last couple of decades primarily focused on his action-packed 'Mission: Impossible' films — and just set a Guinness World Record for one of the most daring stunts in the series. The British institution announced Thursday that Cruise now holds the title for 'most burning parachute jumps by an individual' for leaping out of a helicopter 16 times before lighting his chute on fire in the latest franchise installment, 'The Final Reckoning.' 'Tom doesn't just play action heroes — he is an action hero!' wrote Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief at Guinness World Records. 'A large part of his success can be chalked up to his absolute focus on authenticity and pushing the boundaries of what a leading man can do.' Cruise and Paramount Pictures both posted behind-the-scenes footage of the stunt on social media. Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie can be seen plotting out logistics with the stunt coordinators and acknowledging the danger before Cruise attempts his jump. The stunt was filmed in the Drakensberg, South Africa. 'What I'm going to do is, I'm going to be deploying,' says Cruise in the footage, shot during a production meeting on location. 'If this is twisted while it's burning, I'm going to be spinning and burning. I have to kick out of the twist and then ignite within 10 seconds.' The result onscreen shows Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt, forced to cut the burning nylon tatters free to deploy a reserve chute at the last second. The stunt was shot with a chute that was soaked in fuel to light on fire. Over the course of his films, Cruise has run along the exterior of the 163-floor Burj Khalifa in Dubai ('Ghost Protocol'), harnessed himself to an airplane during takeoff ('Rogue Nation') and base-jumped into a canyon after riding off of a cliff ('Dead Reckoning'). 'Tom is no stranger to record breaking,' Glenday wrote Thursday. Cruise does indeed hold another Guinness title for 'most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies' for an actor, for the 11 films between 'Jack Reacher' (2012) and 'Final Reckoning.' The latter hit theaters in late May and has grossed nearly $400 million worldwide. Amy Poehler Credits Tom Cruise For Helping Her Discover 1 Of Her Biggest Turnoffs This 1 Moment Saves The New 'Mission: Impossible' From Being A Total Letdown Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt's Daughter Shiloh Reintroduces Herself Under A New Name
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise's burning parachute stunt earns Guinness World Record
June 6 (UPI) -- Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning star Tom Cruise earned a Guinness World Record during filming when he completed six jumps out of a helicopter with his parachute on fire. The record-keeping organization said Cruise, who plays Ethan Hunt in the espionage film series, earned the title for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual. In each of his 16 jumps, Cruise was strapped to a parachute that had been soaked in fuel and lit it on fire, before cutting himself free of the burning chute and deploying a backup. "Tom doesn't just play action heroes -- he is an action hero," Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said in a news release. "A large part of his success can be chalked up to his absolute focus on authenticity and pushing the boundaries of what a leading man can do. It's an honor to be able to recognize his utter fearlessness with this new Guinness World Records title," Glenday said. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning opened in theaters May 23 and is expected to be Cruise's last Mission: Impossible movie.
UPI
17 hours ago
- UPI
Tom Cruise's burning parachute stunt earns Guinness World Record
1 of 4 | Tom Cruise broke a Guinness World Record during filming for "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" when he completed 16 skydiving jumps out of a helicopter while wearing a parachute that was on fire. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 6 (UPI) -- Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning star Tom Cruise earned a Guinness World Record during filming when he completed six jumps out of a helicopter with his parachute on fire. The record-keeping organization said Cruise, who plays Ethan Hunt in the espionage film series, earned the title for the most burning parachute jumps by an individual. In each of his 16 jumps, Cruise was strapped to a parachute that had been soaked in fuel and lit it on fire, before cutting himself free of the burning chute and deploying a backup. "Tom doesn't just play action heroes -- he is an action hero," Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said in a news release. "A large part of his success can be chalked up to his absolute focus on authenticity and pushing the boundaries of what a leading man can do. It's an honor to be able to recognize his utter fearlessness with this new Guinness World Records title," Glenday said. Most burning parachute jumps by an individual - 16 Congratulations @TomCruise Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 5, 2025 Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning opened in theaters May 23 and is expected to be Cruise's last Mission: Impossible movie. Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell attend 'Mission: Impossible' NYC premiere Tom Cruise arrives on the red carpet at the "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" premiere in New York City on May 18, 2025. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
