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Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
I spent years trying to keep weeds off my drive — then I tried a new method
I have tried all kinds of methods for keeping the weeds off my drive over the years - and now I've found one that actually works Lifestyle opinion Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director Steffan is Reach PLC's Deputy Content Hub Director. He is also Reach's Head of Spare Time. He writes, edits and oversees content across Reach's large portfolio of websites, including some of the UK's largest national news websites like the Mirror and Express to its biggest regional websites like WalesOnline, the Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo. He covers everything from food, cooking and recipes to gardening, cleaning and DIY hacks to travel and places to go both inside the UK and abroad. He is particularly interested in healthy eating and ultra-processed food, as well as amazing places to go within the UK (he knows a lot about Wales). He also loves discovering and writing about pubs, restaurants, beaches and historic places to visit. He has won several awards, including Story of the Year at the Wales Media Awards for his work on a 50th anniversary tribute to the Aberfan disaster, as well as Website of the Year and Digital Initiative of the Year at the Regional Press Awards and News Website of the Year several times at the Wales Media Awards. He has been shortlisted for several more awards, including Online Editor of the Year at the Online Media Awards. He has also spoken at events, including most recently at the Welsh Crucible where he advised researchers on engaging with the media. If you think you have a story, get in touch by emailing He is a Welsh speaker who grew up in Carmarthenshire, joined Reach in 2006 and has worked in our Pontypridd, Bridgend, Carmarthen, London and Cardiff offices. He grew up supporting the Scarlets in rugby and Liverpool in football, and now cycles and runs to keep fit. The pesky weeds on my driveway have been a constant thorn in my side for years. My block paving driveway, composed of thousands of individual bricks, is often besieged by an unsightly mix of weeds, grass and moss. When it's weed-free (a rare occurrence), it's a sight to behold - I absolutely adore it. But when the weeds stage their takeover, it's a sorry sight that leaves me too embarrassed to even step outside. One kind-hearted neighbour even offered to tackle the problem, spending days weeding, only for the green invaders to return swiftly. It was a crushing blow for both of us, reports the Express. I've tried everything from laboriously scrubbing around several thousand bricks with a wire brush (which left my back crying out in agony) to filling the gaps between the blocks with setting sand and kiln-dried sand. I even gave vinegar a go after neighbours mentioned that the previous homeowner swore by it (though they did caution that it left the street reeking of a chippy for weeks). At one point, I was just a mouse click away from purchasing a fancy gadget designed to incinerate weeds. It resembled a litter-picker but with a flame or very hot element at the end. Despite the clear time commitment involved in singeing thousands of weeds individually, I was rather keen to give it a whirl. However, I decided to try one last method before resorting to this. I'm chuffed to bits that I did. This method was not only quicker than any other, but weeks later, only a smattering of weeds have dared to reappear, a stark contrast to their previous rampant regrowth. Here's a rundown of the methods I tried before stumbling upon the one that actually did the trick. Scrubbing with wire brush I gave the wire weeding brush method a go more than once. After the second or third attempt, it dawned on me that I needed to do something to stop the weeds from sprouting in the gaps between the bricks. Someone suggested trying setting sand. This is sand that you sweep into the cracks and then lightly water so it hardens like cement, preventing any weed growth. Kiln-dried and setting sand I also tried kiln-dried sand, a fine, dry sand that fills the joints and supposedly creates a strong, interlocking structure that keeps the weeds at bay. It looked much better than the setting sand I'd used, but it didn't halt the weed invasion. Weed killer It was obvious very quickly that this method would be incredibly inefficient, time-consuming and ultimately pointless. After buying a bottle of weed killer and starting to spray each individual weed by hand, I realised that I would need several bottles and hours of time to get it done. And I also knew that given it would only kill the weeds currently there, it would do nothing at all to prevent new weeds growing. The spray did kill the weeds it touched, but it was not the right solution for my problem. Bleach The thought of dousing the garden in bleach was off-putting, not to mention the sheer volume needed to tackle the weeds. Concerns also arose about rinsing away the bleach after its weed-killing spree. Plus, online gardening gurus suggest that while bleach may zap surface weeds, it doesn't get to the root of the problem, rendering the effort somewhat futile. Vinegar, lemon juice and boiling water Phoebe Cornish applied vinegar to weeds and said"the weeds looked colourless and shrivelled within a few hours of soaking them in the vinegar solution". She said: "And when I checked back the following morning, I was truly impressed with the effectiveness of this gardening hack. It's a great way to flatten and weaken weeds before pulling them out of the ground, but it doesn't replace the need to dig out the roots to prevent them from growing back." Another person tried using lemon juice only to find it ineffective, noting: "If anything, the weeds seemed to have grown 24 hours later." The logistics of securing enough lemon juice for a large area would be baffling – you'd practically need a lemon orchard. Boiling water was another tactic tested; it caused an immediate wilting of dandelion leaves and flowers, yet the pesky weed persisted a day later due to the intact root. The winning method: salt She wasn't alone in championing salt's effectiveness: "Salt really does make a great weed killer as it will kill just about anything that grows." National Garden Bureau member and Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, told Homes and Gardens, though he cautioned: "But [it's] so toxic it simply can't be recommended in most garden settings." However, salt doesn't just destroy the foliage when sprayed on - it would also eliminate the roots if watered into the soil. Across various websites, gardeners claimed salt "essentially sterilises" the ground "preventing vegetative re-growth". On another platform, someone declared: "If you salt the soil, no plant will ever grow there again." How to use salt to kill weeds This sounded amazing to me so I went for it. I bought 20kg of rock salt from Amazon (which turned out to be an awful lot of salt — you can buy it here). I already had a pressure sprayer with a large capacity of at least 10 litres ( you can see an example here). The initial approach I tried involved adding a substantial quantity of rock salt to my sprayer, followed by several litres of warm water. I mixed it with a large wooden plank to dissolve the salt as thoroughly as possible before starting to spray the weeds. Like several of the techniques mentioned earlier, I quickly realised this would be quite time-consuming (although considerably faster than targeting individual weeds with a handheld weedkiller bottle). So, I opted to remove the lid from the pressure sprayer and pour out the salt water mixture over as wide an area as possible. With just a few refills of my large pressure sprayer, I managed to cover the entire driveway in no time. I added extra clumps of rock salt to particularly weed-infested areas around the edge of the drive, where years of accumulated dirt and sand had created a haven for weeds. Within a matter of hours, the weeds were withered and appeared decidedly dead. Granted, large sections of my drive were now strewn with piles of rock salt or the white residue left by the salt water. However, I simply rinsed this off a few days later using a power washer (a garden hose would do the trick too). Most crucially, the weeds were undeniably dead. It's been several weeks since I tried this method and, while some new weeds have started to sprout, their growth rate is nowhere near as fast as before. So, it seems there's some truth to the notion that salt renders soil inhospitable to plant life. Obviously, you wouldn't want to use this method in a garden where you're aiming to kill weeds but preserve other plants and flowers, as the salt would obliterate everything. But for a patio or driveway, it could be just the solution you're after. My colleague, Angela, also found success with the same method. After using salt to tackle weeds, she reported: "Nine hours later, the weeds were completely dead, so I was easily able to dig them out. I didn't use a fancy tool for this; a regular screwdriver sufficed. Curious as to whether the weeds would reappear, I checked back in on the area over the next two weeks, and no weeds seemed to have grown back."
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Mirror publisher to put up paywall as AI hits readership
The publisher of the Mirror and Express newspapers is to start trialling paywalls as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) sparks a sharp decline in readership. Reach, which also owns regional titles including the Liverpool Echo and the Manchester Evening News, said it will roll out digital subscriptions across its outlets this year as part of a pilot. The company said it would not put all its articles behind a paywall but would experiment with different models, including tiered subscriptions that charge for some stories. Readers could also be offered the opportunity to pay to view stories without intrusive adverts. Piers North, the chief executive of Reach, said the company would remain predominantly an advertising-funded business targeting 'mass-market Britain'. But he added: 'I'm confident we have enough in our content set to offer value. That might be a value exchange in advertising or it might be a value exchange in some kind of payment ... but I think generally there's the support for us to do it.' It follows similar moves in recent years by both the Daily Mail and GB News, which have made some of their online stories, pictures and videos exclusive to paying subscribers. Google driving down readership It comes as Reach and other online news publishers are grappling with changes to Google's algorithm and the introduction of AI functions that have dented reader numbers. Recent research by Enders Analysis found publishers' visibility on Google has declined sharply over the last five years, with the trend accelerating since April, when the tech giant launched AI Overviews. This service summarises search results, leading to fewer readers clicking through to articles. Enders said the Mirror had suffered the biggest impact, with visibility dropping to just 20pc of January 2022 levels. Mr North said a further Google update earlier this month that hurt traffic had been 'on the worse side', but insisted the company was adapting to such changes. Falling traffic contributed to a 3pc fall in revenues to £256m in the first half of the year. A decline in print, which still accounts for the majority of the group's revenues, offset slight growth in digital revenue. Operating profit remained flat at just under £45m. In addition to rolling out paywalls, Reach outlined plans to boost its video and podcast output in an effort to attract larger audiences. The fresh revenue drive comes even as the publisher continues to slash jobs. The National Union of Journalists said it was 'deeply concerned' after Reach placed more than 100 roles at risk of redundancy this month. It follows sweeping cuts at the news group under previous boss Jim Mullen, who stepped down abruptly earlier this year after slashing more than 800 roles at the end of 2023. Mr North declined to provide assurances that the latest changes would not lead to further cuts. The Reach boss said: 'Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for our business, as we launch the priorities that will fuel our growth. These include initiatives to reach new audiences, increase our video content and accelerate our tech and AI capabilities. 'Crucially, we'll do more work to diversify our revenues, putting a serious focus on adding subscriptions to our revenue mix.'
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Save almost £40 on a family day out to Chessington World of Adventures this summer holiday
If you're looking for things to do with the kids during the summer holidays, a family day out to Chessington World of Adventures is always a hit – and you can now save £40 As the kids get ready to break up for their summer holiday, it can suddenly feel like you've got an endless amount of time to fill to keep them busy. Booking family days out can end up being expensive, especially if you have more than one child, which is why we've tracked down a great way to save yourself almost £40 on one fun-filled family day out. When you book via Virgin Experience Days, you can nab yourself a visit to Chessington World of Adventures for a family of four with 24% slashed off the usual price. Whilst the experience would usually cost £152, for a limited time you can snap it up for £116 thanks to Virgin Experience Days' summer sale, saving you £36. By booking the experience, you'll get access for a group of four people to the whole theme park – it doesn't matter how many kids or adults make up the four people (although children obviously must be accompanied by a grown up!). Plus, anyone under 90cm will also get free admittance alongside your group, which makes it great if you have younger kids tagging along too. As well as granting you access to all 40 rides and attractions in 10 different themed lands, the Chessington World of Adventures experience will also give you admission into the zoo and the sea life centre with more than 1000 exotic animals, so you can make a whole day of it. The voucher will also be valid until October 2025, although be sure to double check this when you book! An experience day is always a great way to save some money on a family trip, not to mention handy for giving you some ideas on how to keep the kids entertained while they're off school. Other sites worth checking out for ideas include Red Letter Days and Visit Britain, which are both full of great day out ideas in locations across the country. There are also plenty of nationwide activities and experiences to book through Virgin Experience Days, so if you don't fancy making the journey to Surrey for Chessington World of Adventures, you can always find other things to do that are more local to your area. From theme parks and zoos to activities and even historical sites, there's no shortage of ideas on how to spend the six weeks holiday. For more details and ideas, you can visit the Virgin Experience Days website. Join our Shopping & Deals WhatsApp for the best bargains and fashion news WHATSAPP: Get the best deals and exclusive discount codes straight to your phone via our WhatsApp group. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Some of these articles will contain affiliate links where we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from them. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Associated Press
17-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Kyruus Health Expands Reach to Integrate with Bing and Other AI Experiences Consumers Use to Find Care
BOSTON, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the successful launch of Reach in October 2024, Kyruus Health, the leading care access platform, today announced a significant expansion of the digital channels where it connects patients with care. With Reach, listings managed by Kyruus Health will display across Bing Places for Business, Google Business Profiles, and 100 health plan brand websites, enabling organizations to more effectively attract patients in today's evolving AI-powered search environment. The search landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation. With Kyruus Health's Reach now covering over 90% of U.S. search engine traffic through strategic integrations, provider organizations can effectively meet people where they are. This comprehensive coverage, built on trusted provider data management and directly integrated into AI-powered tools like Google's AI Overviews and consumer platforms that incorporate Bing technology, Reach now addresses the main ways consumers search for care including ChatGPT and Launched to address the growing complexities of digital presence management for health systems, Reach has quickly proven its impact in ensuring accurate and consistent provider and location information is available wherever patients are searching for care. By leveraging the robust provider data management capabilities of Kyruus Connect, Reach streamlines the management and updates of digital listings, enabling accuracy and consistency across critical search and discovery platforms. As patients increasingly use diverse platforms and conversational AI interfaces, Reach ensures that accurate provider and location data is seamlessly fed to these major search engines and platforms. The data powers patient acquisition and caters to evolving search habits, ensuring healthcare organizations remain visible and accessible. Early adopters like Intermountain Health are already experiencing tangible results using Reach, reporting a 42% increase in appointments booked via Reach's integration with Google Reserve within the first two months of implementation. Health systems partnered with Kyruus Health on Reach saw clicks from Google driving over 20% conversion, compared to the average click rate on healthcare email marketing of 2.8%. 'Healthcare is unique, and ensuring that people find the care that they are searching for requires a nuanced approach. As GenAI transforms the digital landscape, our customers need to be everywhere patients are seeking information,' said Peter Boumenot, Chief Product Officer at Kyruus Health. 'Kyruus Health's Reach provides that comprehensive presence, ensuring accurate provider and location data fuels patient acquisition across channels like Google, Gemini, Bing, and ChatGPT, ultimately making it easier for people to connect with the right care.' Collectively, these Reach capabilities optimize patient acquisition and the overall digital journey. By ensuring that structured, accurate data fuels AI-driven search, enabling seamless online scheduling and boosting provider visibility, Reach delivers an enhanced and user-friendly patient experience right from their initial online interaction. Looking ahead, Kyruus Health will continue to build on its Reach solution with the fall launch of Reputation Management. Initial capabilities will include review monitoring, review response with a managed service option, bulk actions, and performance insights. This launch will set the stage for a subsequent release that will incorporate more advanced features, including AI-powered sentiment analysis and review generation. ABOUT KYRUUS HEALTH Kyruus Health is the leading care access platform on a mission to connect people to the right care. The company connects 425,000 providers across more than 1,000 hospitals and 500 medical groups, and more than 150 million health plan members across 100 health plan brands, so every stakeholder can access and harness the most accurate, comprehensive, and contextually relevant information. By enabling informed decisions and confident action, the care access platform supports healthier outcomes, reduces friction in healthcare, and grants more time back in everyone's day. To learn more, visit or follow us on LinkedIn. MEDIA CONTACT Ashley Dauwer Corporate Marketing and PR Manager, Kyruus Health [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kyruus Health
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix's chilling new documentary just shattered my love of cruising
I love cruise holidays, but a disturbing documentary has made me reconsider going on one again TV opinion Samantha King Content Editor Samantha King is a Content Editor for Screen Time. She covers film, TV and streaming news across Reach's titles including The Express, Mirror, Manchester Evening News and Daily Star with a focus on what under-35s are watching. She is particularly interested in writing about the horror genre. Samantha previously worked as a Creative Lead at Curiously bringing social-first celebrity and showbiz news to young audiences online. Prior to this, she headed up regional news sites Oxfordshire Live and Buckinghamshire Live, led on digital innovation at the Oxford Mail and oversaw national radio station Talk Radio's website as its Assistant Digital Editor. My first ever cruise was at the tender age of 9, and I celebrated my 10th birthday on board while sailing around the Caribbean. It was the most magical holiday I'd ever experienced, and it ignited my lifelong passion for the open sea. This holiday took place just a few years after the mysterious disappearance of Amy Bradley in 1998, something I was completely unaware of at the time. The 23-year-old vanished without a trace while on a family holiday aboard Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas, and she has never been found. A new Netflix documentary released today (July 16), titled Amy Bradley Is Missing, delves into the events leading up to her disappearance and the ongoing frantic search for her. There are numerous theories about what happened to her, with TikTok also flooded with speculation. The two main theories suggest that she either fell overboard after a heavy night of drinking and never washed up to shore, or that she was a victim of sex trafficking and was smuggled off the ship. Both theories have compelling evidence and glaring flaws, as detailed in the Netflix documentary, reports the Mirror US. The official synopsis reads: "On March 23, 1998, 23-year-old Amy Bradley disappears without a trace from the cruise ship she and her family were vacationing on. Despite thorough searches of the ship, Amy is nowhere to be found and the cruise has already docked in their next port, Curaçao, opening the door for 2,400 passengers to explore the island and allowing Amy to potentially disappear into the crowd. "As the years pass by, possible sightings of Amy pop up in various locations from multiple people. Is it really her? Was this a tragic accident or a crime? - anything is possible. But for Amy's family - only one thing matters: bringing their daughter home alive." Now aged 30 and with four cruise holidays under my belt, I've always been taken by the sense that a cruise ship is a world entirely unto itself, blissfully free from life's pressures that await on dry land. But never did I weigh up its perils, notably how a floating metropolis in international waters is somewhat of an unregulated zone until docking. As starkly put by someone in a documentary: "If you ever want to kill somebody, take them on a cruise." The eye-opening docuseries about Amy Bradley's vanishing act made me confront my own naivety. To me, cruises had been havens, bustling with fellow holiday-goers; as a child, my parents were of the same mind, confident enough to let me roam the vessel solo. But what if my paths had crossed with someone nefarious? Or could adult me simply overindulge and topple overboard never to be seen again? While Amy Bradley's fate remains shrouded in mystery - a resolution we may never get - the swirl of hypothesises cast light on the dangers cruisegoers unwittingly face. Will I ever step foot on another cruise? The more I dwell on it, the less likely it seems.
