Latest news with #DesertRose
Leader Live
7 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Llangollen to host UK's largest women's adventure festival
The event, Camp VC, will take place from July 25 to 27 and is expected to draw hundreds of women and non-binary adventurers to the North Wales town for a weekend of adrenaline-fuelled activities. Gemma Harrison, founder of Camp VC, said: "We're thrilled to bring Camp VC to Llangollen again this year. "The Welsh landscape provides the perfect backdrop for adventure, and in pursuit of creating an environment that gives women and non-binary people freedom to explore, we've assembled our most impressive lineup of athletes, coaches, and inspirational speakers yet." The festival offers a wide range of activities including dirt biking, wild swimming, mountain biking, wellness sessions and creative workshops. Since its founding in 2015, Camp VC has helped more than 3,400 women get on motorbikes—many for the first time—and introduced more than 1,000 to skateboarding. The event aims to create a supportive environment where women and non-binary people can try new activities without judgment. BMX champion and Olympian Shanaze Reade, who has won nine world titles and holds two Guinness World Records, will headline the festival. She will lead BMX sessions and share her journey from Crewe to international success. Ms Reade said: "Camp VC promises something magical—a place where women can push their limits while feeling completely supported. "I'm excited to help women discover the thrill of BMX racing in such a beautiful environment." British motorcycling pioneer Patsy Quick, the first British woman to compete in the Dakar Rally, will also attend. At 63, she continues to inspire through her Desert Rose racing school and will lead off-road motorcycle workshops. Leah Tokelove, the UK's most successful female dirt track racer, will run track sessions and technical workshops for attendees. Wellness sessions will take place throughout the weekend (Image: Camp VC) In addition to adventure sports, the festival will include wellness sessions led by Ted Talk speaker Lu Featherstone, known to her 104,000 Instagram followers as an 'accidental middle-aged influencer' and menopause mindset expert. She will be joined by What Laura Loves, who focuses on self-worth, mindset and healing after her recovery from a pulmonary embolism. Adventure photographer Amy Shore will offer photography workshops to help attendees capture their experiences. Evening entertainment will feature comedian Kema Bob, along with live music, campfires and community events. The festival is expected to boost the local economy as visitors explore Llangollen and surrounding attractions. READ MORE: Council issue list of roads set to be reverted to 30mph in Flintshire next month Ms Harrison said: "We've seen wonderful support from the Welsh community in previous years. "Many of our attendees extend their stays to explore the beautiful surroundings, supporting local businesses and discovering what Wales has to offer." Camp VC was born out of Ms Harrison's experience teaching friends to ride motorcycles in an east London car park. It has since grown into the UK's leading women's adventure festival, with events, workshops and classes held throughout the year.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Root Awakening: Jujube may be infested with fruit fly larvae
Building or buying a fruit fly trap will also deter the pests. PHOTO: CHEW ENG GOH Bag fruit to prevent pests My jujube plant bears many fruit, but almost all rot before ripening. What is wrong? Chew Eng Goh The small brown dots seen on the fruit are likely puncture marks in which fruit flies have laid their eggs. This can damage fruit and cause them to be aborted prematurely. Bag the fruit up to prevent fruit flies from laying eggs on developing fruit. This needs to be done early, ideally once the young fruit start to form. You can also build or buy a fruit fly trap and hang it near your plants. Such traps have a pheromone lure that attracts and drowns fruit flies in a reservoir of water at each trap's base. Springtails are harmless These creatures are common in moist potting mixes that contain organic matter. PHOTO: CHRISTINE WONG There are tiny white bugs in the soil of my plants. They crawl quickly and do not jump. When I found the bugs, most of the plants were wilted, stunted and had yellowing leaves. Some plants' roots also seemed to have white mould. Are these aphids, springtails or soil mites? I have treated the soil with neem oil and pyrethrin, but the bugs come back quickly. Christine Wong The white creatures are likely springtails. They are commonly seen in moist potting media rich in organic matter. Springtails are part of the nutrient cycling process, as they feed on organic matter and break it down. They are generally harmless to large plants. Their population should reduce when the organic matter in the soil has completely broken down or when the growing mix is left to dry. The mould-like substance cannot be identified without a picture. In a growing mix made up of undecomposed organic matter, it is common to see mould, as it is a part of the nutrient cycling process. It will disappear if the media dries out or organic matter breaks down. Check if the substance contains small pests such as mealy bugs, which suck sap from roots and affect their growth. They are common in soil-less potting media and can be difficult to control. Chemical pesticide drenches are often needed to manage infestations. Remove caterpillars by hand or use Dipel Dipel can be sprayed on the leaves as a preventative measure. PHOTO: LEE CHEE CHEE My plants have been attacked by pests. How do I get rid of them? Lee Chee Chee Your Lady's Finger plants have been attacked by caterpillars. If there are only a few pests, use tongs or chopsticks to remove them. Otherwise, spray your plant with a pesticide called Dipel, which is available for sale at local nurseries. It works best on young caterpillars and can be sprayed on the leaves as a preventative measure. Plant needs healthy roots before leaves can grow Water with care, as a wet root zone can cause the plant to rot. PHOTO: LEE SOOK CHENG I cut off the branches of my Desert Rose after it was infested with spider mites, and let it dry out before repotting about two months ago. How can I get it to regrow its leaves? Lee Sook Cheng Your plant needs to produce new roots and establish itself before it puts forth new growth. At this time, manage your plant's watering regimen carefully. A wet root zone can cause the plant to rot, as the lack of leaves will limit water intake. In the meantime, place your plant in a bright spot with good air circulation. Move it to a sunnier location once you see new leaves being produced. Plant with fern-like leaves is likely Dogfennel The Dogfennel is inedible and is commonly mistaken for the herb dill. PHOTO: MUI SIM CHAN What are these plants and are they edible? Mui Sim Chan The taller plant with fine, fern-like leaves is likely the Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium). The leaves emit an odour when crushed. It is often mistaken for the dill herb (Anethum graveolens). It should not be consumed as it contains compounds that can affect the liver. The shorter plant with broad leaves cannot be reliably identified without a clear photo of additional features such as its flowers. It could be a plant belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, an NParks-certified practising horticulturist and parks manager. He is the founder of Green Culture Singapore and an adjunct assistant professor (Food Science & Technology) at the National University of Singapore. Have a gardening query? E-mail it with clear, high-resolution pictures of at least 1MB, if any, and your full name to stlife@ We reserve the right to edit and reject questions. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The National
08-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Sotheby's exhibition brings $100 million worth of the world's rarest diamonds to Abu Dhabi
It's not every day a jewellery expert uses the word 'mind-blowing,' but that's exactly how Paul Redmayne, Sotheby's senior jewellery specialist for the Middle East, describes the auction house's new exhibition: Beyond: The World's Rarest Diamonds. The show on Wednesday April 9 and Thursday 10 at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island offers a rare chance to view $100 million worth of extraordinary diamonds. That this exhibition is being held in Abu Dhabi is no coincidence, Redmayne explains. 'GCC clients have been keeping the luxury industry alive for the last 10 generations. We've seen waves of other nationalities coming and going, but the perennial buyer has always been the Middle East buyer.' Visitors can register for guided tours with Sotheby's experts, who will walk them through the significance of each gem on display. Comprising eight stones, including one valued at $20 million, the entire $100 million collection could, in theory, fit in the palm of a hand. 'To have this number of carats in one room is mind-boggling,' says Redmayne. 'These diamonds have never all been in the same room before. You've got the century stones, 100-carat-plus white diamonds, the 100-carat-plus brown-orange, the 40-carat light pink, the 31-carat vivid orangey pink, the 303-carat Golden Canary and of course, the second-largest red [diamond] in the world. It's just mind-blowing.' Among the highlights is that red diamond – officially the second largest yet discovered. 'The largest red diamond in the world is 5.11 carats, and this is 5.05 carats,' says Redmayne. Red diamonds are so rare, he adds, that legendary jeweller Harry Winston never saw one in his lifetime. Seeing this square emerald-cut fancy brown-red diamond is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Also on show is the Mediterranean Blue diamond, a fancy vivid blue stone weighing 10.03 carats with VS2 clarity, considered one of the most important blue diamonds discovered. When it goes to auction in Geneva on May 13, Sotheby's expects it to fetch around $20 million. What makes this stone exceptional is how it 'ticks all the boxes', Redmayne says. Mined in 2023 from the famed Cullinan mine in South Africa, known for producing two diamonds in the British Crown Jewel diamonds, the rough stone was studied for a full year before cutting, to maximise its colour. This exhibition marks the stone's public debut. Only one in 10,000 diamonds qualifies as coloured, and blue is among the rarest. Colour grades range from fancy to intense to fancy vivid, the latter reserved for the most saturated stones. As a fancy vivid blue, the Mediterranean Blue is 'one of the most sought-after and rarest', Redmayne says. 'The clarity, the provenance, the size, and the fact it's a cushion [cut] makes it super desirable.' Cushion cuts, he adds, are always in demand: 'They're harmonious and gentle, with a lovely shape.' Other extraordinary stones in the exhibition include the Desert Rose, a 31.68-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid orange Pink diamond of VVS1 clarity; the Golden Canary necklace, set with a 303.10-carat pear-shaped fancy deep brownish yellow diamond that is internally flawless, and the Ultimate Emerald Cut, a 100.20-carat emerald-cut diamond ring of D colour and Internally Flawless clarity. There is also a 102.60-carat round diamond, D colour and VVS1 clarity; a 40.29-carat radiant-cut fancy light pink diamond and diamond ring of VS2 clarity; and a Cartier necklace in 18k white gold, featuring a 100.26-carat pear-shaped fancy deep brown-orange diamond of I1 clarity. The chance to see such stones assembled is unprecedented, even for experts. 'This is a once-in-a-career moment,' says Redmayne. 'I don't think anyone in the industry has seen all of these stones – this level, this number of century stones – in one exhibition. I can't think of a show where so many 100-plus-carat diamonds have been brought together.'
