Latest news with #GraceJohnson
South Wales Argus
19-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
New campaign asks people to let gardens grow for hedgehogs
The new Go WILD for Hedgehogs campaign, launched by wildlife charities People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), encourages people to leave an undisturbed patch of garden to support the declining hedgehog population. Grace Johnson, hedgehog officer for Hedgehog Street, said: "Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, and best of all, they're minimal effort and cost. "By simply allowing an area to grow a little wild and undisturbed, you can help to create a diverse habitat that's perfect for hedgehogs and other garden wildlife in the heart of our villages, towns and cities. "Instead of weeding and mowing, sit back, relax and watch nature thrive in your garden." Hedgehogs have seen steep declines in rural areas, with populations falling by 30 to 75 per cent since 2000, according to the State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report. However, there are signs of recovery in urban areas, believed to be thanks to public efforts and the work of more than 130,000 volunteer hedgehog champions. To take part, supporters are asked to register their wild patch on the Hedgehog Street website.
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
‘Go WILD for Hedgehogs': new campaign urges gardeners to create wild patches for hedgehogs
This July, gardeners, families and individuals are being urged to create wild patches as part of a new campaign to make more spaces with natural insect food and nesting materials for native hedgehogs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The new 'Go WILD for Hedgehogs' campaign from Hedgehog Street – run by wildlife charities People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) – simply involves leaving a wild, undisturbed patch in a garden and recording its location online. Not only does this create much-needed food and shelter for hedgehogs, but also tells conservationists at PTES and BHPS where hedgehog havens are, and where more are needed. The campaign begins this summer when people in all corners of the UK are asked to choose a patch, strip or corner of their garden to leave undisturbed, untrimmed, and simply let it grow. Once selected, you will then just need to upload photos and record the location online. To go the extra mile, Hedgehog Street suggests planting wildflower seeds in autumn to further attract pollinators and other insects the following year. Throughout the year Hedgehog Street will share updates and top tips such as how to maximise wild patches, what to look out for and other ways to help hedgehogs as the seasons change. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Grace Johnson, Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street said: 'Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, and best of all, they're minimal effort and cost! By simply allowing an area to grow a little wild and undisturbed, you can help to create a diverse habitat that's perfect for hedgehogs and other garden wildlife in the heart of our villages, towns and cities. Instead of weeding and mowing, sit back, relax and watch nature thrive in your garden.' A wild patch for hedgehogs and wildlife. Hedgehogs face many threats and are in widespread decline. According to the State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report published by BHPS and PTES, rural populations have plummeted by between 30-75% since 2000. Yet encouragingly, the report also showed that populations in urban areas may be starting to recover, likely thanks to Hedgehog Street's 130,000 volunteer Hedgehog Champions and the wider public who continue to make their gardens and local green spaces more hedgehog friendly. The new 'Go WILD for Hedgehogs' campaign builds on this as gardens, and especially wild patches, can offer important refuges for hedgehogs and can help reverse the decline that this much-loved nocturnal species is facing. Extra ways to turn any garden into a hedgehog haven include providing compost heaps and log and leaf piles to further encourage natural insect prey and offer places to nest, leaving out shallow dishes of water, and/or creating a wildlife pond with sloping sides or an escape ramp. Then, connect this amazing new habitat by popping 13cm x 13cm square holes (known as 'Hedgehog Highways') in or under garden fences to allow hedgehogs to move between green spaces in search of food, shelter and mates. Special 'Hedgehog Highway' signs can be bought from BHPS or PTES to tell neighbours and any future homeowners why the Highway is there, and why it needs to remain open. Those without a garden can still help hedgehogs too; contact local councils and developers to highlight the importance of managing parks and public green spaces for hedgehogs, call for new-build sites to be hedgehog friendly, and raise awareness of the urgent need to help hedgehogs by sharing PTES and BHPS' social media posts and talking with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about ways they can help hedgehogs. Becoming a volunteer 'spotter' for PTES and BHPS' National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, which can be done from your own home, is a great way to help too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To find out more and to register your wild patch, visit And, if you're on social media, BHPS and PTES would love to see your wild patch pictures using #GoWildForHedgehogs
Axios
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Colorado city elects Hazel the cat as pet mayor
The votes are in, and Louisville has elected Hazel the cat the city's second-ever pet mayor. The latest: Hazel, a shorthair tabby, beat out nine other finalists in mid-April for pet mayor, running on a platform of knocking things off of platforms. Hazel was adopted from the Longmont Humane Society, demonstrating her deep ties to the Boulder County community. Context: Louisville spokesperson Grace Johnson told Axios Boulder the idea of a pet mayor was first pitched to the Youth Advisory Board in 2023 to bring the community together for something "joyful and fun post-COVID and post-Marshall Fire." "The mission of this project is to spread a sense of community and 'pawsivity' by holding a fun election among the citizens of Louisville while educating youth on the power of voting and how their voice impacts issues that affect them and their communities," the city said in a press release. What's next: Hazel will serve a two-year term, plenty of time to enact her plan to institute "mandatory daily nap time" under her purr-view. Despite priding itself on being a pet-friendly city, Boulder's human mayor, Aaron Brocket, said he is unaware of any past pet mayors or any future plans to have one.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Connecticut officials push for safe driving as travel season begins
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — This weekend will mark the start of the 100 deadliest days for drivers. State police are reminding everyone to take it slow as you hit the road. So normally at the start of the Memorial Day weekend people are talking about gas prices and how high it is and how expensive it is to travel on the holidays. This time around State Police along with the Connecticut Department of Transportation held a news conference with AAA on Thursday to remind people how dangerous it is out on the roads Especially lately, the numbers of fatalities are going up and up and up. 'It's gotten crazier, people are cutting each other off,' Dawn Williams of Plainville said. 'It's bananas!' Williams' sister was just in an accident on Interstate 84. As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, the state reminding drivers to stay safe, with an emphasis on the newer, younger driver. 'Having fun isn't worth your life or others,' said Grace Johnson, a student. Grace Johnson spoke at the news conference, she was in an accident coming home from a football game last September. 'My friend wasn't paying attention,' Johnson said. 'She had a few too many drinks and she was driving recklessly. The music was blasting, and we came down a really sharp turn, unfortunately, she hit a rock wall and ended up hitting a tree which knocked down power lines.' Everyone was OK, but she's telling her story hoping others will hear it and learn. 'Once I got in the ambulance, and my mom was there, it just all hit me, that I seriously could've died,' Johnson said. 'I dread reading reports learning that someone has died in an accident,' Connecticut State Police Commissioner Ronnell Higgins added. Higgins, speaking as a father of young drivers, is teaming up with DOT encouraging all drivers to take it slow. 'This isn't just a teen problem, DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said. 'It's really a public safety and a public health crisis. Distracted and reckless and driving impaired and driving while drowsy doesn't discriminate by age or experience.' Last year accidents killed 314 people on Connecticut highways. AAA is reminding drivers that it's not just the empty chair at the dinner table or in the classroom, it takes a toll on family and friends and coworkers. 'We want them to have fun, but we just want them to be safe and make smart decisions behind the wheel because one bad decision can be life altering,' AAA spokeswoman Lauren Fabrizi said. The numbers show that traveling early between 6-8 a.m. is the safest time to drive on the road to get from point A to B with the least amount of traffic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lancashire Thunder dump Glamorgan out of cup
T20 County Cup, BreconLancashire Thunder 167-4 (20 overs): E Jones 60, Lamb 52Glamorgan 86 (17.1 overs): Burke 49*; Johnson 3-2Lancashire Thunder won by 81 runs Lancashire Thunder ended Glamorgan's progress in the T20 County Cup with a convincing 81-run victory in Brecon, as the Tier One visitors showed the difference between the fully professional level and Tier chose to bat first with Emma Lamb hitting 52 off 36 balls and Eve Jones 60 off 46, the pair opening up with a stand of batter Seren Smale was 23 not out as England's Sophie Ecclestone chipped in with a cameo of 17 off nine in their early wickets for Grace Johnson (3-2) stifled Glamorgan's chances, with Surrey loanee Emily Burke (49 not out) top-scoring in the modest home total of hit four fours and two sixes, facing just 45 balls, but her last two partners were run out to leave her stranded one short of the Jeanes' brief early flurry earned her 17 from seven balls as the only other player to reach double figures, while Ecclestone also showed her international class with one for 13 in four Jackson, 17, was among the Glamorgan wicket-takers on her own school's ground at Christ College.
