Latest news with #GrahamRoberts
BBC News
02-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Balsam bashers' clear River Lim's invasive Himalayan balsam
"We got to the field and it was just a sea of pink," said retired conservationist Graham Roberts, who is waging a war on Himalayan says he is retired but each summer he leads a team of volunteer "balsam bashers", ripping out the invasive plant that's damaging the eco system on Dorset's River it all seems like an impossible and never-ending task but he's quietly confident they will be able to clear the entire river within five years."We have done almost two seasons," he said. "It's challenging but we will carry on as long as we are fit and able to do it." About 70 people are signed up to River Lim Action - a group campaigning for clean water, fish passage, and working to save native species on the river."We often get 10 or 12 people," said Mr Roberts. "Last weekend we had 17, and we managed to clear a huge field last week."Himalayan balsam was first imported as a garden plant in the late 19th Century but just one plant produces an average of 800 seeds, which can explode when ripe up to 7m (23ft) smothers out native species and its root system fails to bind river banks, making them prone to love it, but it means they are spending less time pollinating native plants. Mr Roberts said the Environment Agency and Dorset Council did not have the resources to tackle the problem, leaving conservation groups and volunteers to step up.A decade-long clearance project on the Lymington River and its tributaries in Hampshire saw 661 volunteers pull Himalayan balsam along 53km (33 miles) of and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said areas that had once been dense with balsam had been "restored to a carpet of native bluebells, stitchwort and pink campion".Mr Roberts said: "The Lim is a small river, about 5km (3 miles) long, so I'm hoping we can get rid of it."The problem is that seeds can stay dormant for up to three years, which is why we've said five years. "We can clear the surface balsam then, three years on, they've come back a massive amount."River Lim Action is being supported by Lyme Regis Town Council, which has committed five years of funding for gloves, bins, secateurs, and tools to get into the bramble where the balsam is growing."People say it's too big a problem but someone has got to grab it and say it's really important," said Mr Roberts."If we're not careful, the whole of England will be covered in Himalayan balsam." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Herald Scotland
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Herald Scotland
Scientists developing AI tool to assess car repairs to aid insurance industry
According to the Association of British Insurers, 2.4 million insurance claims were dealt with by motor insurers in 2024, leading to a record £11.7 billion paid out in claims – 17% higher than in 2023. Professor Mohammed Bader of the University of Portsmouth's Ai and Data Science Centre, said the system would provide a 'technical benchmark' for the industry. He said: 'This project will combine machine learning and computer vision to develop AI powered systems that bring together engineers' practical expertise with cutting-edge technology.' Graham Roberts, chief commercial officer at ABL 1 Touch, said the tool would provide a standard for assessing damage across the industry, giving the company a competitive advantage. He said: 'We work in a fast-paced industry that is driven by substantially varying vehicle damage types from many sources. 'Therefore, it is paramount that we find new and innovative ways to identify, prioritise and schedule work into our sites. 'The need to generate scalable solutions that remove single-person dependencies and work on mass data learning protocols is something we embrace as a forward-thinking business.'
Glasgow Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Fans line streets as Tottenham celebrate Europa League success
Two days after Brennan Johnson's 42nd-minute winner in Bilbao fired Spurs to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, the players to end a 17-year trophy drought were back in north London. A white double-decker bus with 'Europa League winners' written across the front was stationary for a lengthy period of time before it started to move down the High Road at 5.30pm to chants of 'glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur' from supporters young and old. Let the fun begin 🏆 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 23, 2025 An estimated 150,000 fans were expected to swarm on areas around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a parade expected to last around 90 minutes and that will see the bus pass by the club's 62,850-seater venue. This is Spurs' first trophy parade since a 1991 FA Cup win and club greats were on hand to reflect on the achievements of the class of '25 before the team bus started to slowly move down the High Road. Graham Roberts scored a crucial goal the last time Tottenham claimed European success in the 1984 UEFA Cup and backed Ange Postecoglou's side to chase more silverware now. Roberts said: 'This will give them belief now. All that pressure that was there, that's gone. 'We have to strengthen our squad, but I think we have a great bunch of boys. 'They love Ange, they went round him, they cuddled him, they wanted him in the photos. The team spirit is there. 'We'll get more now, the rest will come. Wednesday was one of the greatest nights. I had tears in my eyes. 'We were in the fan park, me and Ledley (King). The fans were magnificent. They deserve it. I just hope we get a team on the pitch on Sunday.' Graham Roberts, centre, scores for Tottenham in the 1984 UEFA Cup final against Anderlecht (PA) Defender Micky van de Ven said: 'Unbelievable man. Yeah I slept a little bit (in the last 48 hours). 'Emotional, so emotional. The season we've had, it was so difficult, but we got the trophy and we're so happy. I'm so proud of the boys. 'If you experience this, you want to do it over and over again. We're going to try to do the same beautiful things next season.'
Rhyl Journal
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Fans line streets as Tottenham celebrate Europa League success
Two days after Brennan Johnson's 42nd-minute winner in Bilbao fired Spurs to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, the players to end a 17-year trophy drought were back in north London. A white double-decker bus with 'Europa League winners' written across the front was stationary for a lengthy period of time before it started to move down the High Road at 5.30pm to chants of 'glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur' from supporters young and old. Let the fun begin 🏆 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 23, 2025 An estimated 150,000 fans were expected to swarm on areas around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a parade expected to last around 90 minutes and that will see the bus pass by the club's 62,850-seater venue. This is Spurs' first trophy parade since a 1991 FA Cup win and club greats were on hand to reflect on the achievements of the class of '25 before the team bus started to slowly move down the High Road. Graham Roberts scored a crucial goal the last time Tottenham claimed European success in the 1984 UEFA Cup and backed Ange Postecoglou's side to chase more silverware now. Roberts said: 'This will give them belief now. All that pressure that was there, that's gone. 'We have to strengthen our squad, but I think we have a great bunch of boys. 'They love Ange, they went round him, they cuddled him, they wanted him in the photos. The team spirit is there. 'We'll get more now, the rest will come. Wednesday was one of the greatest nights. I had tears in my eyes. 'We were in the fan park, me and Ledley (King). The fans were magnificent. They deserve it. I just hope we get a team on the pitch on Sunday.' Defender Micky van de Ven said: 'Unbelievable man. Yeah I slept a little bit (in the last 48 hours). 'Emotional, so emotional. The season we've had, it was so difficult, but we got the trophy and we're so happy. I'm so proud of the boys. 'If you experience this, you want to do it over and over again. We're going to try to do the same beautiful things next season.'
Leader Live
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Fans line streets as Tottenham celebrate Europa League success
Two days after Brennan Johnson's 42nd-minute winner in Bilbao fired Spurs to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, the players to end a 17-year trophy drought were back in north London. A white double-decker bus with 'Europa League winners' written across the front was stationary for a lengthy period of time before it started to move down the High Road at 5.30pm to chants of 'glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur' from supporters young and old. Let the fun begin 🏆 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 23, 2025 An estimated 150,000 fans were expected to swarm on areas around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a parade expected to last around 90 minutes and that will see the bus pass by the club's 62,850-seater venue. This is Spurs' first trophy parade since a 1991 FA Cup win and club greats were on hand to reflect on the achievements of the class of '25 before the team bus started to slowly move down the High Road. Graham Roberts scored a crucial goal the last time Tottenham claimed European success in the 1984 UEFA Cup and backed Ange Postecoglou's side to chase more silverware now. Roberts said: 'This will give them belief now. All that pressure that was there, that's gone. 'We have to strengthen our squad, but I think we have a great bunch of boys. 'They love Ange, they went round him, they cuddled him, they wanted him in the photos. The team spirit is there. 'We'll get more now, the rest will come. Wednesday was one of the greatest nights. I had tears in my eyes. 'We were in the fan park, me and Ledley (King). The fans were magnificent. They deserve it. I just hope we get a team on the pitch on Sunday.' Defender Micky van de Ven said: 'Unbelievable man. Yeah I slept a little bit (in the last 48 hours). 'Emotional, so emotional. The season we've had, it was so difficult, but we got the trophy and we're so happy. I'm so proud of the boys. 'If you experience this, you want to do it over and over again. We're going to try to do the same beautiful things next season.'
