Latest news with #Retford
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Quick' results for West Nile virus mosquito tests
An expert has said there will be a "quick-turnaround" in finding out whether mosquitoes in Nottinghamshire have West Nile UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) previously said fragments of the virus - which can sometimes make people seriously ill - had been found in wetland in Retford, summer, Gamston near Retford will be among a number of locations to undergo mosquito surveillance as part of a national project to understand mosquito activity across UKHSA said to date there had been no cases of people catching West Nile virus in the UK. The UKHSA is working with Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to increase surveillance on land along the River Idle, where nuisance biting from mosquitoes has taken place in previous agency added the risk to the public is "low". 'Detect the virus' Jolyon Medlock, head of medical entomology at UKHSA, told the BBC that the agency had set up traps for the Medlock said "As the number of mosquitoes start to pick up, we start to detect them in our traps, we'll then identify them."We'll separate out the ones that we are more concerned about and then they will go to the animal and plant health agency for testing."So within a quite quick turnaround, we'll have some results on whether we can detect the virus or not." Work has been undertaken in Gamston since 2018 to reshape the wetland and reduce the flood has minimised habitats for the mosquitoes and has curbed the issue of biting, said Nottinghamshire County Robbins, the county's director of public health and communities, said: "This type of mosquito is native to the UK."Mosquitoes in the UK are also commonly found in wet woodland areas, ponds, ditches, marshes, and even garden water butts."To avoid being bitten by a mosquito, wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers to cover your arms and legs, use insect repellent on your arms and legs, or use blinds or screens to help keep mosquitoes out of homes."
The Independent
19-05-2025
- The Independent
Drugs and dilapidated, dirty accommodation concerns at HMP Ranby, probe finds
An inspection has identified drugs as a major concern at Ranby prison, with the report also highlighting that many inmates led a 'pretty bleak existence' in 'dilapidated and dirty' accommodation. HMP Ranby – a men's category C training and resettlement prison in Retford, Nottinghamshire – underwent an unannounced inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons between February 10 and 20. The report, published on Monday, revealed the inspection found outcomes for the 1,087 prisoners were 'not sufficiently good' in relation to four 'healthy prison tests' – safety, respect, purposeful activity and preparation for release. The facility had been rated good for safety and reasonably good for respect at its last inspection in April 2022, and the most recent probe found that five out of 12 of its previous recommendations about areas of key concern had been fully achieved. The top area of concern which the 2025 report made clear required 'immediate attention' was that there were 'too many drugs' in the prison. 'The influx of drones bringing large amounts of contraband into this East Midlands, category C prison was affecting outcomes for prisoners in many areas,' Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, said. 'Illicit drugs were the cause of poor attendance to activities and levels of violence that were now higher than most similar prisons. 'This led to a fall in our healthy prison assessment for 'safety' from good to not sufficiently good. 'With the random drug test results showing a positive rate of 23% and staggeringly, nearly a quarter of prisoners in our survey saying they had developed a drug or alcohol problem since they had been at the jail, there will need to be concerted action by the leadership and the prison service to make Ranby as safe as it was when we last inspected in 2022.' The survey also showed 61% of inmates said it was easy to get hold of illicit drugs. Leaders were praised for working hard to stop drugs from getting into the prison, with the report acknowledging there had been some arrests and convictions, but that drugs remained 'easily available' and drones delivering parcels 'persisted'. Another major concern was that many of the buildings were 'dilapidated and dirty', with prisoners struggling to access basic items such as bedding, cleaning materials and clothing. These conditions varied according to which blocks inmates were housed in. 'The 700 living on houseblocks one to three and five had a pretty bleak existence, living in accommodation that was now badly dilapidated, and with many cells lacking basic furniture and almost no self-cook facilities,' Mr Taylor said. 'By every measure things were worse for these men, the regime was much more limited, cell bells took longer to be answered and there were more drugs available.' These houseblocks were found to be dirty, with rubbish and food scattered in communal areas, according to the report. Also, many showers on these houseblocks needed fixing, the heating in several areas of the prison, including the chapel, was not working effectively and some of the flooring needed replacing. Many cells were discovered to be in poor condition containing damaged sockets, sinks and toilets, with many suffering from mould. The report also found that too many prisoners living in houseblocks one to three were not engaged in meaningful activity. Mr Taylor said: 'When inspectors ran a roll check, they found that only 10% of the men were in activity off the wing on houseblocks one, two and three while 35% were locked in their cells. 'Astonishingly, 300 men at Ranby were not in purposeful activity at all and were lucky if they got out of their cells for two hours as day.' But he said outcomes elsewhere were 'reasonable', explaining conditions in houseblocks four, six, seven and eight were better and cleaner, and that there was more for prisoners to do. 'For around a third of prisoners at Ranby outcomes were reasonable; they were housed in decent conditions and most had access to purposeful activity and some good time out of cell, but the rest lead a pretty diminished and depressing existence,' the chief inspector said. HMP Ranby was originally a Second World War army camp before it was converted to a prison in the early 1970s.
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years
Elk could be reintroduced to Britain for the first time in 3,000 years. After securing funding from Rewilding Britain, a conservation group is hoping elk will follow in the footsteps of beavers, bison and white-tailed eagles in making a celebrated return to the British countryside. The reintroduction of woodland foragers and wetlands grazers such as elk is seen as 'absolutely crucial' by Wilder Landscapes and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to help repair ecosystems. Their grazing and trampling could begin within three years inside fenced beaver enclosures at two nature reserves – Wellington Wetlands near Derby and Idle Valley near Retford. The success of which could then open the door to their introduction in the wild. Rachel Bennett, the deputy director of the trust, said: 'This exciting project could demonstrate how this crucial ecosystem engineer can thrive in floodplain landscapes, shaping diverse habitats that benefit communities and support biodiversity recovery. 'It may also serve as a catalyst for engaging people in the long-term benefits of returning elk to the wild.' Elk a 'keystone species' Elk, which is the same species as moose in North America, were wiped out in Britain around 3,000 years ago as a result of overhunting and the draining of the wetlands they inhabited. Elk are one of three deer species that are native to the UK, alongside red and roe deer. In plans boosted by funding this week, several other projects have benefited from up to £15,000 from Rewilding Britain to help support innovative rewilding efforts. Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'Keystone species like elk, bison and beaver play a vital role in bringing nature back to life. 'They help repair ecosystems and shape wild places in ways that benefit wildlife, people and the climate. Successfully reintroducing missing species like these is absolutely crucial. 'It's a complex process involving multiple stages of research and development, feasibility studies, impact assessments, and community consultations. 'By taking the time and effort to get it right, we can create a more hopeful future for everyone.'
