Latest news with #PhilipJones
BBC News
5 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Climate change could see more trees in cities to tackle heatwaves
Tree planting in city centres needs to "go harder and go faster" in order to help keep them cool ahead of future deadly heatwaves, an expert has working on the problem have said planting more trees could cut air temperatures by up to 5C (41F).Breezeways - outdoor passages with roofs that improve airflow - water features and curved buildings could also tackle the issue, but planting more trees should be the priority, said the team from Cardiff reductions from tree coverage were "significant", according to Prof Philip Jones from the Welsh School of Architecture, who led a collaboration with researchers from Hong Kong. The UK Climate Change Committee previously reported that heat-related deaths could rise from 3,000 in 2022 to more than 10,000 in an average year by team from Cardiff University previously modelled how rising temperatures could affect people in the cities of Cardiff, Newport and bodies strive to keep a core temperature of about 37C (98F) but in hot weather, the body must work harder to keep its core temperature down, which can lead to potentially fatal heat exhaustion. The team's latest research measured the success of green interventions and results suggest that planting trees could make a tangible Jones said in order to cool an area by 4-5C (39-41F) "we've got to increase the tree coverage to somewhere in the order of 30-40%".The team's computer model was designed in collaboration with researchers from the Tsinghua University Shenzhen International School and, to verify the data, the team took a specially adapted bike around Cardiff during a hot spell to measure the differences in temperature between shaded and exposed focused on Grangetown, where there has already been efforts to plant more and where the maximum tree cover has the potential to be 38%.That is "significantly higher than typical interventions", according to Prof Jones, but reaching that level could reduce average air temperatures by between 1.4C and 4C How trees could change the temperature of one residential street In 2020, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) found Cardiff had 15.1% canopy cover, Bangor had 18.6%, Wrexham had 14%, Swansea and Newport both had 18.4% There are ambitions in Newport to raise its tree cover to 25% but that requires an extra 30,000 trees and is expected to take 10 Frost, an urban green infrastructure advisor for NRW, said the planting of large tree species should start immediately. He said Wales' legislation meant "every new building that requires planning permission has to be drained naturally".Water companies were also considering this, he said, as they "can no longer fit the amount of rainwater that's going into the combined sewers".He added: "So it has to have a system where we're using natural methods to deal with the rainfall and that gives us a massive opportunity to put trees in."So they're thinking about retrofitting sustainable drainage systems into our streets. And there's a great opportunity there to put trees in. But we need to go faster and we need to go harder at this." He said if urban areas could get to the upper end of what was achievable with tree planting, then there could be significant tree canopy of 40% or above means less space between trees so pavements and walls do not heat up as much as they are in shade and it would keep cities cooler overnight too."And that's when we see most people dying of heat stress during heatwaves when they can't cool down overnight," he Frost said trees brought further advantages during winter when there was less daylight as leaves fall off deciduous trees so "that low, angled winter sun can make its way into buildings and warm you up, and then you don't have to spend quite so much on heating". Met Office modelling estimates that temperatures higher than 40C in the UK may be considered cool by the turn of the living in cities are more at risk from heatwaves than those in rural areas due to the urban heat island effect when heat is trapped by tall buildings, absorbed by tarmac and concrete and released by heating and air spaces moderate temperature through shading and by increasing the amount of water that passes into the air through a process called evapotranspiration, but there tends to be fewer shaded spaces in urban areas. Prof Jones has looked at measures to mitigate the effects of heat in places such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Miami. In Singapore, where temperatures in the city centre can be a 7C (45F) hotter than outside it, authorities are incorporating open spaces around buildings and lighter colours on walls and roofs, as well as increasing the amount of greenery in the city. Nearly half of Singapore is now green space and more than 500,000 trees have been planted since 2020 - with a target of one million by building heights and even making the corners of buildings curved are all effective ways to reduce temperatures without the need for air as trees are inexpensive and take time to reach full maturity, Prof Jones said UK cities should start planting as many as possible Welsh government said: "Trees on streets and in parks play a vital role in helping us adapt to the effects of a changing climate and in supporting wildlife in urban areas."Our Woodlands for Wales strategy explains how we want trees to be used more creatively in green infrastructure and around urban areas to provide people with better quality, easily accessible green space."
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
British Audio Awards will be first dedicated awards for audio storytelling in UK
The British Audio Awards - aka The Speakies - are the first dedicated awards for audio storytelling in the UK, recognising the craft of narrators, producers and writers in the audio space A prestigious new awards has launched dedicated 'to celebrating excellence in audiobooks and audio drama' in the country. The British Audio Awards - aka The Speakies - is a joint effort of The Bookseller (host of the British Book Awards) and its sister publication The Stage. Announced on June 10, 2025, The Speakies seeks to recognise the writers, narrators, producers and creative teams that bring stories to life through sound. The awards will highlight work across all genres - including crime, romance, fantasy - with the goal of elevating the status of spoken-word entertainment in the UK. This is the first dedicated awards for audio storytelling in the UK and is set to be an annual event. Nominations are now open across seventeen categories including Best Audiobook in all major genres, Best Performance, Best Audio Drama (Original and Adapted) and Audio Business of the Year. The judges have yet to be announced but will include a mix of experts, artists, celebrities and influencers. Shortlists will be announced in September and the awards ceremony will be held at the Royal Opera House on November 24, 2025. 'We are hugely invested in rewarding and amplifying the audio market, from books to drama, and elevating the incredible work of narrators and performers who bring these works to listeners,' says Philip Jones, Editor at The Bookseller. The recognition for the craft of audiobook production and voice actors and narrators feels particularly poignant given a recent push for AI-driven audiobook production and narration. Jones told The Mirror: 'While we are not anti developments in AI, particularly around translation and voice technologies that may - over time - expand the listening market, these awards are firmly behind the human creators, including those performers who work incredibly hard bringing texts to life for these growing audiences." Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you! Voice actors and even translators have been feeling the pressure after Audible announced in May 2025 that it will offer comprehensive AI production services. The company explained it will work with publishers to produce audiobooks using its new 'fully integrated, end-to-end AI production technology '. Publishers will soon be able to choose from over 100 AI-generated voices across English, Spanish, French, and Italian with multiple accent and dialect options. They can also opt in for 'voice upgrades' for their titles as the technology develops. Less than a month after the AI bombshell, the company also announced a major star-studded audiobook production to celebrate Jane Austen's 250th birthday anniversary. Harris Dickinson (Babygirl) and Marisa Abela (Industry) will take on the iconic roles of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet respectively for an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. The adaptation will remain 'faithful to the original text' while also adding a 'unique interior perspective' from Elizabeth Bennet. It is set for release in the U.S., U.K., Canada, India and Australia on September 9, 2025. Full list of 2025 British Audio Award categories Best Fiction Audiobook Bes Crime & Thriller Audiobook Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobook Best Romance Audiobook Best Business/Self-Help Audiobook Best Non-Fiction Audiobook Best Non-Fiction Memoir Audiobook Best Children's Audiobook Best Young Adult Audiobook Best New/Original Audio Drama Best Adaptated Audio Drama Best Performance Best Narrator Best Performance Ensemble Best New Voice Performance Audio Business of the Year
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Thousands still without water after burst pipe
Thousands of residents in west Kent still have no access to water as efforts continue to repair a burst water pipe. South East Water has apologised after the burst pipe caused significant flooding and damaged critical equipment at one of its water treatment stations on Saturday. The incident affected about 7,000 properties in Kings Hill, Wateringbury, Yalding, West Kingdsown, Borough Green, Hadlow and Five Oak Green. Earlier, the company said it had restarted its water treatment works on Sunday night but most of the 7,000 affected properties were unlikely to get their supplies back on Monday. Philip Jones, South East Water incident manager, said: "I am very sorry to all our customers who are still experiencing issues with their water supplies this morning. "Last night we were able to re-start our water treatment works which shut down after a burst water main caused flooding and critical damage to equipment at the site. He said that, although it was now operational, it was not yet running at full capacity but tankers were injecting water directly into water storage tanks to help with the recovery. He added: "I'm sorry that most of the 7,000 properties affected are unlikely to get their water supplies back today." The water company said bottled water was being delivered directly to care homes and customers listed on its Priority Services Register. Bottled water stations were also due to open again on Monday - at Asda in Kings Hill, and at West Kingsdown Library & Village Hall. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was receiving regular updates from South East Water. A spokesperson said: "The company must take urgent steps to support residents and resolve the issue as soon as possible." It said the government was committed to protecting water customers "which is why we are forcing companies to double the compensation for supply issues". It said it was also "unlocking more than £104bn in private sector investment to build infrastructure, including reservoirs and new water pipes across the country". Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Water firm publishes plan for next half century Watchdog probes water firm over possible failures South East Water
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thousands of homes still without water after burst pipe
Thousands of residents in west Kent still have no access to water as efforts continue to repair a burst water East Water has apologised after the burst pipe caused significant flooding and damaged critical equipment at one of its water treatment stations on incident affected about 7,000 properties in Kings Hill, Wateringbury, Yalding, West Kingdsown, Borough Green, Hadlow and Five Oak the company said it had restarted its water treatment works on Sunday night but most of the 7,000 affected properties were unlikely to get their supplies back on Monday. Philip Jones, South East Water incident manager, said: "I am very sorry to all our customers who are still experiencing issues with their water supplies this morning."Last night we were able to re-start our water treatment works which shut down after a burst water main caused flooding and critical damage to equipment at the said that, although it was now operational, it was not yet running at full capacity but tankers were injecting water directly into water storage tanks to help with the added: "I'm sorry that most of the 7,000 properties affected are unlikely to get their water supplies back today."The water company said bottled water was being delivered directly to care homes and customers listed on its Priority Services water stations were also due to open again on Monday - at Asda in Kings Hill, and at West Kingsdown Library & Village Hall. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was receiving regular updates from South East Water. A spokesperson said: "The company must take urgent steps to support residents and resolve the issue as soon as possible."It said the government was committed to protecting water customers "which is why we are forcing companies to double the compensation for supply issues". It said it was also "unlocking more than £104bn in private sector investment to build infrastructure, including reservoirs and new water pipes across the country".
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Exeter Library on shortlist to be crowned South West's best
Exeter Library has been shortlisted as the Best Library in the South West in the final of the British Book Awards 2025. The library will be up against Bideford Library and Braunton Library for the award. The regional and country winners of the Library of the Year award will be announced on Wednesday March 12, whilst the overall winner will be revealed during The British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House London on Monday May 12. The National Book Awards aim to recognise libraries for their ingenuity in the face of increasing pressures. The British Book Awards 2025 Library of the Year Award, sponsored by publisher DK and run in association with the Reading Agency, celebrates libraries that serve their readers and implement initiatives which reach deep into communities, improving the lives of individuals through storytelling and literature. Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges for The British Book Awards, said: 'I am absolutely delighted by the number, strength and depth of the entries in the first year we have taken a regional approach to The Library of the Year award. "These are libraries busting a gut to put reading at the heart of what they do, and, as a consequence, improve the lives of their patrons. Focused on local people in everyday locations, highlighting the innovative work done in 2024 is vital and a real pleasure.' Karen Napier MBE, and CEO The Reading Agency said: 'The exceptional entries to this year's Library of the Year award demonstrate the vital role that public libraries play in our communities. "What particularly stands out is how these libraries have become true community hubs by working so collaboratively with local partners. "These finalists represent the very best of what modern libraries can achieve, proving that libraries remain essential, dynamic spaces of learning, creativity, and community engagement, with reading at their heart.'
