Latest news with #KingAlfred
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Who do we think we are, anyway? DNA testing is rewriting national histories
Family histories are notoriously prone to works of artistic falsehood. Shows like Who Do You Think You Are? work by showing people what lies behind half-remembered stories and occasional dubious paternity cases. National stories, however, are solid. We might be uncertain about our precise roots as individuals, but we know who we are as a nation. At least, that's what I thought. But just as cheap DNA testing has blown up fondly-held family tales – none of my ancestors were Huguenot, and one ancestor in Cork may have had to explain to Saint Peter how the Iberian ended up in my genome – it's also rewriting how we think about history. Some stories turn out to be true. King Alfred succeeded in fighting back the Danish Vikings, who left 'no obvious genetic signature'. Neither, for that matter, did the Romans: the white English as an ethnic group are essentially German, and the Welsh really are closer to the pre-Saxon people of Britain than everyone else. Other results are less expected. Ashkenazi Jews draw part of their ancestry from Levantine populations, but may draw even more from Italy. The people who built Stonehenge were replaced by the people of the Beaker culture almost entirely, leaving their fate an unpleasant mystery, and raising the uncomfortable thought that prehistory may have been a bloodier place than we like to think. And while black Americans can learn more about their African roots, they also learn about their European heritage; the descendants of slaves are also the descendants of slave-owners. It's fascinating, and it's a delight and a privilege to live in a time where we can lift some of the veil over our collective history to catch a distant glimpse of the people who made us. But does it have any real world impact? Perhaps not. I can't see the Balkans engaging in a festival of brotherly unity on realising Serbs and Croats are pretty much the same people. Even leaving aside methodological disputes – I could have written this piece claiming the English are actually Danes – there's a reason we forgot these population movements. The point of national myths isn't that they're true, but that they give us something to cohere around. They tell us who we are and how we relate to each other with such strength that other ties are forgotten. DNA may rewrite ancient history, but for better or worse – the present is here to stay. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Who do we think we are, anyway? DNA testing is rewriting national histories
Family histories are notoriously prone to works of artistic falsehood. Shows like Who Do You Think You Are? work by showing people what lies behind half-remembered stories and occasional dubious paternity cases. National stories, however, are solid. We might be uncertain about our precise roots as individuals, but we know who we are as a nation. At least, that's what I thought. But just as cheap DNA testing has blown up fondly-held family tales – none of my ancestors were Huguenot, and one ancestor in Cork may have had to explain to Saint Peter how the Iberian ended up in my genome – it's also rewriting how we think about history. Some stories turn out to be true. King Alfred succeeded in fighting back the Danish Vikings, who left 'no obvious genetic signature'. Neither, for that matter, did the Romans: the white English as an ethnic group are essentially German, and the Welsh really are closer to the pre-Saxon people of Britain than everyone else. Other results are less expected. Ashkenazi Jews draw part of their ancestry from Levantine populations, but may draw even more from Italy. The people who built Stonehenge were replaced by the people of the Beaker culture almost entirely, leaving their fate an unpleasant mystery, and raising the uncomfortable thought that prehistory may have been a bloodier place than we like to think. And while black Americans can learn more about their African roots, they also learn about their European heritage; the descendants of slaves are also the descendants of slave-owners. It's fascinating, and it's a delight and a privilege to live in a time where we can lift some of the veil over our collective history to catch a distant glimpse of the people who made us. But does it have any real world impact? Perhaps not. I can't see the Balkans engaging in a festival of brotherly unity on realising Serbs and Croats are pretty much the same people. Even leaving aside methodological disputes – I could have written this piece claiming the English are actually Danes – there's a reason we forgot these population movements. The point of national myths isn't that they're true, but that they give us something to cohere around. They tell us who we are and how we relate to each other with such strength that other ties are forgotten. DNA may rewrite ancient history, but for better or worse – the present is here to stay.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
English seaside town at risk of losing its beach reveals £11million restoration plans
PLANS are in place to save the Sussex coastline with some beaches at risk of disappearing. The next stages of the sea defence scheme along the Sussex coast will see a beach extended and sea defences rebuilt at a cost of £11million. 4 4 The shores of Hove and Southwick are getting new sea defences in a bid to slow erosion. But more money is needed for the works, with the budget increasing by millions. According to the BBC, councillors are being asked to approve an extra £4.5million for the ongoing project. Brighton & Hove City Council initially set aside £6.5million to rebuild sea defences on the Southwick and Hove beach fronts. At Brighton & Hove's cabinet meeting on April 24, councillors will be asked to increase funding for the next phase from £6.5 million to £11 million. A spokesperson for the council told Sussex World: "The Brighton Marina to River Adur scheme aims to protect the coastline from coastal erosion by providing new measures and replacing sea defences. "The latest project runs from Kings Esplanade in Hove to Shoreham and is the biggest to be undertaken in this area. "Work has already been done to build a protective layer of rock next to Basin Road South and a new sea wall near the Hove Deep Sea Anglers Club." The next stage involves building new groynes, replenishing shingle and extending the beach between the King Alfred Leisure Centre and Second Avenue. On Southwick beach, the sea defences will be rebuilt. The pretty UK beach named the best in the country 4 Work from the King Alfred will begin in September and is expected to be completed by May next year. And work at Southwick will start next year and finish by April 2027. These aren't the only beaches at risk either. Erosion is currently causing a beach in Blackpool to disappear, but a new £30million investment plan to protect the coastline is in its final consultation. The current plans involve the building of five new rock groynes at Anchorsholme Beach. Rock groynes are long, narrow structures built to limit coastal erosion, by controlling the movement of sand and rocks. They will stretch between 75 metres and 125 metres long, from the existing sea wall. Navigation markers will be placed at the end of the groynes to warn boats and ships that they are there. Work is expected begin later this year and be completed in 2028. Another beach in a secluded seaside town has revealed plans for a £3 million beach upgrade. Here are some incredible UK beaches being showcased in The Salt Path which will be in cinemas in May 2025.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World's biggest fundraising swim coming to Sussex
Swimmers across Sussex have been encouraged to make a splash for good causes. The world's biggest annual fundraising swim Swimathon 2025 will return to pools across East and West Sussex from March 28 to 30. The event will take place at various locations including the Prince Regent, King Alfred, Sea Lanes and Brighton Swimming School in Brighton and Hove, as well as Arundel Lido, Arun Leisure Centre in Bognor and many more. Swimmers of all ages and abilities have been invited to participate and raise money for Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and the Swimathon Foundation. There are a variety of individual challenges to choose from, ranging from 400m to a supercharged triple 5k. Teams of two to five people can also take part in a 1.5k or 5k relay. For those unable to attend the organised sessions, there is the option to sign up for MySwimathon and complete their swim at a time and venue that suits them between March 21 and April 6. Swimathon president and Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew MBE said: "Every year at Swimathon I meet incredible people with incredible stories; those who are swimming for the first time, those that are swimming in memory of a loved one, those that are swimming unimaginable distances, those that are recovering from cancer, or those that are facing a terminal illness and I know this year will be no different. "Everyone has their own story and everyone can set their own Swimathon challenge. "You just have to be you; whatever your ability, whatever your age, whatever your drive. "To me, everyone is a Swimathon star." Since its inception in 1986, Swimathon has seen more than 750,000 swimmers take part, raising over £55 million for a variety of nominated charities.
The Independent
12-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
5 unusual daffodil types and how to grow them
As the RHS launches Daffodil Diaries, a campaign asking people to help it map the UK's daffodils and locate three rare or historically significant varieties, it's worth considering growing some unusual varieties of your own. The charity is asking people to log where daffodils are blooming in their area alongside basic information such as colour, type and height, to identify what is growing where and over time track flowering as our climate changes. For those looking to grow something a bit different, Kálmán Könyves, principal scientist in the cultivated plant diversity team at the RHS, suggests five daffodils worthy of any garden: Narcissus 'Rip van Winkle' This was introduced commercially in 1884 but is probably even older. They are relatively short at 17cm but their starry double flowers with many pointed bright yellow petals mix well with other small spring bulbs such as anemones and grape hyacinths. Narcissus 'Fairy Chimes' This fragrant variety has four to six scented flowers with reflexed petals per stalk and is best enjoyed in pots although robust enough for beds and borders. Although 'Fairy Chimes' is not as popular as it was, both N. jonquilla and N. triandrus cultivars remain highly popular and many good garden plants are available. Narcissus poeticus The pheasant's eye or poet's daffodil is among the last to flower, opening in early May. Strikingly tall at 50-60cm, it is elegant, scented and adds delicate charm to grassy areas and to the rear of borders. It is grown commercially in France and Holland for the perfume industry. It's a bit tall for pots, so if you're looking for a container daffodil, go for the similar but slightly shorter Narcissus 'Actaea', which at 40cm is preferable. Narcissus papyraceus Also known as paperwhites, these need no cold period before they flower. Most narcissi measure winter chill (2-12C) and are only able to flower once a threshold has been passed, typically six to 12 weeks of winter weather. Because Narcissus papyraceus can flower with no chilling, they are often sold to be planted in the autumn to flower at Christmas, typically taking about a month to flower. Their powerful scent is not to everyone's taste. Narcissus 'King Alfred' This was one of the original yellow trumpet daffodils as we now know it. Introduced in 1899 by John Kendall and recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society by a 'First-class Certificate', it was widely grown until the 1950s when it was superseded by other varieties. The original 'King Alfred' now is hardly found, but the big yellow trumpet daffodils that dominate the cut flower trade are its natural followers. Good widely sold alternatives include 'Brabazon', 'Mando' and 'Standard Value'. Plant in lawns for high impact or in cut flower beds for display inside. How to grow Daffodils, or narcissus to give them their Latin name, are simple to grow, with bulbs planted in late summer and autumn or bought in bud from garden centres in spring. Any reasonable garden soil in full sun or light shade will suit them. If the soil is compacted, loosen it with a fork. For pots, plant at one third of the pot depth deep using a peat-free potting compost in pots with drainage holes. Don't let pots dry out or your flowers will fail. Garden daffodils usually need no feeding or watering when grown in the soil. Container grown ones appreciate fortnightly liquid feed until the foliage dies down. Plants need their leaves after flowering to make flower buds for the following year so let them die down naturally or allow at least six weeks after flowering before they are severed or mown. Rake over bare soil areas where daffodils are grown to fill in holes left by falling foliage, to prevent bulb flies accessing the bulbs to lay eggs. Alternatively apply a thick layer of organic matter. Some daffodil plantings die out over a few years and replacement bulbs are bought. Others multiply and, if congested, dig up in summer, once the foliage turns like straw, and replant with more space between the bulbs. The RHS notes that although daffodils have rarely caused any harm, they are potentially harmful if eaten and are a skin irritant. Wear gloves when handling the bulbs and cut flowers.
