Latest news with #Ayisha
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- The Guardian
‘Anything Roman, I'm fascinated': hiking Hadrian's Wall with a Muslim women's walking group
As far as walls go, they don't get much more epic than Hadrian's. Stretching 73 miles across the north of England from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend, it connects two coasts, 14 forts and huge sweeps of scenic countryside. It's still inspiring a sense of awe almost 2,000 years after its creation, as Amira, Ayisha and Najma – three of the organisers behind Muslim hiking and adventure group the Wanderlust Women – discovered. Venturing from the rocky crags of Steel Rigg to Houseteads, Britain's best-preserved Roman fort, via the Sycamore Gap memorial, they discovered some of the wall's most spectacular sites. 'You can feel the history here, just being able to see all the ruins and everything. The landscape is so vast and so beautiful. It's literally breathtaking,' Ayisha says. Experiences of this kind are something that Amira, the Wanderlust Women's founder, is determined to help her community access. Inheriting a love of the outdoors from her mother, she wanted other Muslim women to feel as at home in nature as she does. So she created the Wanderlust Women in 2020 and, in the years since, has taken scores of women on trips across the UK and abroad, bonding through faith and challenging the stereotype of the 'typical' hiker. As Amira says: 'We walk proudly outside because it is our place to be, it's everyone's place to be.' The women walked from Steel Rigg to Houseteads Roman fort via the Sycamore Gap memorial Accessibility is a major issue in the countryside – a study found that the most white-dominated areas of the UK have 144% more local paths than the most ethnically diverse ones. Amira sees opportunity in the proximity of Hadrian's Wall to cities in the north of England and Scotland. 'We have a lot of community members who are from Newcastle. There's a large percentage of ethnic minority people from that area who probably don't even know how to get here,' she says. A Wanderlust Women trip to Hadrian's Wall has the double benefit of not only making the landscape more accessible to Muslim women, but its history too. Started in AD122 on the orders of emperor Hadrian, the wall took some six years to build and protected and marked the north-western edge of the Roman empire. As well as soldiers, it was a meeting point and trading post for civilians from across Europe and north Africa. 'That sort of history has always fascinated me, the legends and the stories and the myths behind it,' says Ayisha. 'So having the opportunity to come out here with other people has been really nice.' It isn't just the wall that history fans can discover as they traverse its breadth. Other relics include a time capsule of excavated Roman treasures in the form of the Corbridge hoard, as well as ruins of castles and priories that witnessed some of the most tumultuous times in British history. Najma, who had been to Hadrian's Wall before, still finds plenty to surprise and delight. 'As a youngster, I was obsessed with Roman culture and the empire and Greek mythology. Anything Roman, I'm fascinated. So it's lovely to come here and to do it again, because it feels like the first time.' As a parent, Najma can see the wall's potential to captivate big and little kids alike. 'It's a great place to come and imagine how the Roman army lived here and what they did. I can imagine little kids who have a great imagination would love it,' she says. At Housesteads fort, the trio's destination, kid-friendly discoveries await, including interactive exhibitions and the chance to dress up as Romans. You can also check out an impressive set of communal latrines and water channels – the best preserved Roman loos in Britain. Housesteads fort's well-preserved communal latrines Hadrian's Wall certainly delivers on a sense of fantasy as well as history. It inspired the Wall in Game of Thrones – 700 sheer feet of ice patrolled by a caped band of brothers called the Night's Watch. Although Hadrian's Wall never reached the dizzy heights of 700ft, it did originally stand at a rather impressive 4.5 metres (15ft). In the centuries since, its stones have been repurposed all over the surrounding counties. Despite being shorter these days, the wall's sense of drama remains, as Ayisha says: 'I would totally recommend it for the atmosphere alone. When I go out to landscapes like this, I imagine being in Lord of the Rings. I'm on my own little adventure … trying to seek out a ring or find a sword in a stone.' The joy of the day's adventure is something Amira, Ayisha and Najma are determined to share with their community – they are already planning a return Wanderlust Women trip. Amira says: 'Hadrian's Wall is like a bucket-list moment. Now that we've been here, we've experienced it, we can do it on a scale where it's accessible to everyone.' As well as bringing more hikers herself, Amira foresees that simply sharing their visit on social media will help show Muslim women that they belong in this historic landscape. 'There's like a ripple effect. I know for a fact that when we start posting that we've been here, people will go: 'Oh! Where is that?' To help plan your own Roman adventure at Hadrian's Wall, visit here
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Interior Design Masters series 6 — meet the contestants vying for a homeware collection with John Lewis
Interior Design Masters with is back for a sixth series, returning to our screens on 10th April 2025 on BBC One. Described as the ultimate interior design crash course, IDM – judged by interiors guru and famous guest judges — follows 10 novice designers looking for their big break in the world of commercial . Working individually and in teams, the aspiring designers are given free rein to redesign spaces in line with the client's brief, and each week an unlucky designer is sent home. But there's even more on the line this year, as the winner will land a hugely coveted homeware collection with leading department store John Lewis & Partners. Series five was won by Roisin Quinn, a former travel advisor from The Wirral, whose colourful, maximalist style impressed the judges week in, week out. Her win on the show also secured her a homeware collection with La Redoute, marking the first time a brand collaboration has been the show's prize. With series five of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr averaging 3.4 million viewers, it's perhaps not surprising that the show has been recommisioned for two more series. 'I feel the show goes from strength to strength and whether Interior Design Masters makes you giggle on the settee or propels you up a stepladder with a drill in hand to give your room some much-needed TLC, we hope we put a smile on your face,' says host Alan. Casting is now open for series seven: Producers are on the hunt for 10 more designers to take part in IDM 2026, with filming starting this summer. If you're ready to showcase your interior design talent or if you know someone who has the skills, applications are open now until 13 April 2025 – apply here. Scroll for a first look at the series six contestants and check back here weekly to read our exclusive exit interviews... • Interior Design Masters with returns on Thursday 10th April at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayerAge: 33 Occupation: Interior design student and model Lives: Originally from Bournemouth, Ayisha now lives in Brighton with her husband and two children Style: Fresh romantic • Ayisha's had a very successful modelling career, featuring in editorials and commercials, as well as walking the London, Milanand New York 25 Occupation: Social media executive Lives: Liverpool Style: Colourful playful • The youngest in the competition, Bradley uses his parents' house as his interior design canvas, documenting his creations on social 36 Occupation: Homewares retailer Lives: Surrey Style: Earthy organic • Originally from Croydon, Briony met her partner at the Brit School before they decided to start an interiors and lifestyle brand — they opened a few brick-and-mortar stores before moving the business 58 Occupation: Giftware designer Lives: Craig lives in Hastings with his husband in a 1920s mock Tudor house Style: Retro vintage • Craig started out as a chef in London before being accepted into art college where he studied Fine Art. He also used to run his own kitsch homeware shop in 53 Occupation: Art and textiles teacher Lives: North Wales Style: Bougie boho • Mum of three teenage children, Emma was raised in a large family surrounded by the North Wales countryside, where making and designing was the norm – her family home even had a dark room and kiln. Emma was born with a limb difference and growing up she was encouraged by her father to believe she could do 27 Occupation: Development manager at a sexual health charity Lives: Born and raised in Nigeria, Esme now lives in Glasgow since moving to the UK Style: Nature & organic-inspired • Having initally studied anatomy, Esme always had a keen interest in fashion design and he ran a clothing business on the side in Nigeria. Since moving to the UK, he now has a Diploma in Interior Design and has enrolled at university to study for an Interior Design 26 Occupation: Fabric designer Lives: Holly lives in Salford with her boyfriend in their fixer-upper house Style: 70s beach house • Holly is the proud owner of a 1969 Sprite Alpine C caravan which she's named Flea, after the Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist. She has a love for retro design, vintage finds and surfing and 46 Occupation: Design & Technology teacher Lives: Stockport Style: Graphic bohemian • John had a creative upbringing in Yorkshire and was encouraged to draw, paint and make things by hand by his mum, who is also an artist. He studied model making at art school and worked as a prop and costume maker for theatre, TV and film before becoming an architectural model maker. His 3D models were exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Venice 42 Occupation: Merchandising consultant Lives: Rita lives on a farm outside Lancaster surrounded by nature and sheep. Style: Rustic textural • Rita is of Lebanese heritage and spent her childhood moving between Iraq, Cyprus and Lebanon before finally coming to the UK in 2006. As an artist and ilustrator, she comes from a creative family – her father is an architect and her mother runs her own fashion 31 Occupation: Project director Lives: Glasgow Style: Contemporary luxe • Victoria grew up on a working dairy farm surrounded by animals and driving tractors, and spent her summer holidays milking cows. Her interest in interiors was sparked by her mother, who designed their family farmhouse using budget-friendly hacks and secondhand furniture. Victoria competed nationally in YoungFarmers handicraft competitions and studied jewellery design and silversmithing.£11.84 at You Might Also Like 7 hallway mirrors to create the illusion of space 13 bedroom wallpaper ideas to transform plain walls 12 garden furniture sets perfect for outdoor entertaining
