Latest news with #HannahMartin
BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Weather creates harvest challenge for farmers across Norfolk
Farmers in a county have been sharing their experiences of this year's harvest for BBC Farmwatch. Norfolk has had three heatwaves in 2025, which has affected yields of crops such as wheat and and dry weather in July has meant many farmers have been ahead of schedule in bringing the crops in, but some have been frustrated by frequent rain. Kit Papworth, a farmer from Norfolk and National Farmers' Union Sugar board chair, said: "Harvest is earlier but yields have been depressed, we just haven't got the crop that we normally would have." Mr Papworth grows cereals, potatoes and sugar beet on land between Norwich and said the very dry growing season means many farmers have been irrigating to make sure plants get enough water. "In a year where we have had three heat waves you can really see the difference between the crops that we have irrigated and those we have not. "It's an enormous difference up to two tonnes per hectare difference in yield." This equated to a 20% reduction in the amount of wheat and barley being harvested this year, he said. He added that his farm has new rain water harvesting systems and technology to monitor dry crops to ensure water was used efficiently. Unpredictable weather Hannah and Tom Martin farm 300 sheep and grow wheat in west Norfolk. It is their first harvest with their daughter Fenella who is seven months old. Mr Martin described the weather for harvest so far as "catchy"."The weather is very unpredictable. One minute its glorious sunshine the next minute we're getting rained off with a shower. Then before you know it we're out combining again in the evening," he said. Mr Martin added he can work up to 17 hours a day to make sure the harvest comes in on schedule. Mrs Martin said she was focused on keeping the livestock and her family looked after. "I'm just trying to keep Tom fed, the baby fed and everything else going on the farm," she added. The Martin's farm in Outwell is owned by Norfolk County Council and leased to them on a rolling 10-year contract. The Council Farm Estate covers 16,795 acres (6,796 hectares) which is split into 95 farms, many of which offer young farmers without land an opportunity to work in agriculture. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
This bronze eye pencil is the perfect holiday make-up
Bronze is the colour of summer for me. Maybe a little bit of gold in the evening, but bronze is subtler, more flattering, unless you're very dark, and a great deal easier to wear in the daytime. And here comes a really excellent bronze eye pencil. Now, regular readers will know that I am devoted to the Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal eye pencils, which I consider best in class by quite a long way. They are unimprovable. However, they are also £32 each, meaning that if you don't already have a bronzey one of those (my favourite is Cinnamon), you won't necessarily feel like coughing up for a new one. This is where Hildun Beauty's collaboration with the make-up artist Hannah Martin comes in. The Silk to Set Kajal Liner in Spiced Pecan costs £16 ( and is really lovely.
Fashion United
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion United
Hannah Martin unveils video game jewellery collection
British jewellery designer Hannah Martin has teamed up with French independent video game developer Sandfall Interactive and video game publisher Kepler Interactive to create conceptual digital jewellery pieces inspired by the character of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 role-playing video game. Martin has designed five digital jewellery creations inspired by the in-game characters of Gustave, Lune, Sciel, Maelle, and Verso, which fuse classic metal craftsmanship and delicate fine art. Hannah Martin creates digital jewellery in collaboration with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Credits: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Each of the pieces has been envisioned to be crafted with 18-carat gold and jet-black obsidian to reflect Martin's interpretation of the rich aesthetic of Expedition 33, merging the fantasy game setting and characters with real-life contemporary art and high-fashion elegance. The developers at Sandfall Interactive then took the digital jewellery designs and intricately modelled them in Unreal Engine 5 to create a series of in-engine images that fully blend the digital and physical worlds. Hannah Martin creates digital jewellery in collaboration with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Credits: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Commenting on the collaboration, Martin said in a statement: 'It is totally new territory for me, and I have loved being able to explore and push the boundaries between reality and unreality. It has been a constant dance between real world and fantasy.' Additionally, Martin has created 33 real-life necklaces inspired by the design representing Verso, meticulously hand-crafting each piece in sterling silver. These pieces are not for sale and were created as a celebration of the game's beauty in an extremely limited quantity as a 'thank you' to community members and artists who have supported the game and its creation. Hannah Martin creates digital jewellery in collaboration with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Credits: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Hannah Martin creates digital jewellery in collaboration with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Credits: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First workforce reduction in four years
Staffing levels in Northern Ireland's private sector fell last month for the first time in four years, according to a survey. Every month, Ulster Bank asks firms from across the economy about things like their employment levels, order books and exports in what is considered a reliable indicator of economic performance. Firms scaled back their workforce numbers for the first time in four years, which the survey suggested, was in part due to efforts to limit overheads. NatWest chief economist Sebastian Burnside said Northern Ireland's private sector was going through a challenging period. "Firms acted to lower staffing levels amid further declines in output and new orders, but also to try and limit overheads before the impending increase in employer National Insurance contributions," he said. "In fact, both input costs and output prices rose at the sharpest rates in almost two years, with costs up more quickly in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK." There was a dip in business activity in Northern Ireland in February. Those who took part in the survey linked lower output to falling new orders amid a "subdued demand environment". The sharpest contractions were in the construction and retail sectors. The news came as a survey by Danske Bank suggested consumer confidence improved at the end of last year with more people planning to spend on things like furniture and holidays. It suggested people were feeling more optimistic about their current and future finances, which the bank suggested was linked to optimism in relation to Northern Ireland's political stability and the lower rate of inflation. Some 1,000 people took part in the survey in December 2024. Danske Bank economist Hannah Martin said: "Most survey respondents reported that they expected to spend the same amount, or more, on higher value-items such as furniture or holidays over the coming year. "Several factors may be influencing this more optimistic outlook, including the lower rate of inflation relative to that experienced over the last few years, and rising wages, both of which support spending power. "How the rate of inflation moves during 2025, and any impacts that could have on the current pace of interest rate reductions, are likely to be key determinants of consumer confidence and household spending growth this year." Business activity in NI private sector fell in December Sign in to access your portfolio
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
NI private sector staffing falls for first time in four years
Staffing levels in Northern Ireland's private sector fell last month for the first time in four years, according to a month, Ulster Bank asks firms from across the economy about things like their employment levels, order books and exports in what is considered a reliable indicator of economic scaled back their workforce numbers for the first time in four years, which the survey suggested, was in part due to efforts to limit chief economist Sebastian Burnside said Northern Ireland's private sector was going through a challenging period. "Firms acted to lower staffing levels amid further declines in output and new orders, but also to try and limit overheads before the impending increase in employer National Insurance contributions," he said."In fact, both input costs and output prices rose at the sharpest rates in almost two years, with costs up more quickly in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK."There was a dip in business activity in Northern Ireland in who took part in the survey linked lower output to falling new orders amid a "subdued demand environment".The sharpest contractions were in the construction and retail sectors. Optimism about future? The news came as a survey by Danske Bank suggested consumer confidence improved at the end of last year with more people planning to spend on things like furniture and suggested people were feeling more optimistic about their current and future finances, which the bank suggested was linked to optimism in relation to Northern Ireland's political stability and the lower rate of 1,000 people took part in the survey in December Bank economist Hannah Martin said: "Most survey respondents reported that they expected to spend the same amount, or more, on higher value-items such as furniture or holidays over the coming year."Several factors may be influencing this more optimistic outlook, including the lower rate of inflation relative to that experienced over the last few years, and rising wages, both of which support spending power."How the rate of inflation moves during 2025, and any impacts that could have on the current pace of interest rate reductions, are likely to be key determinants of consumer confidence and household spending growth this year."
