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Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Strawberries will grow better in your garden if you do one simple thing
Don't lose your prize crop of these quintessentially British berries to common pests and gardening pitfalls with easy steps that even experts love Life in the garden is getting busier as plants and flowers burst into life, bees start buzzing, the dawn chorus breaks the silence each morning and common pests are flying and crawling around again. But let's not lose early crops to hungry visitors - there are plenty of tried and tested tactics to ward them off. With strawberries, for instance, when fruit starts to develop, cover the soil around the plant with black plastic or straw - this will prevent the fruits from making contact with the soil and rotting. Then use environmentally friendly methods to keep slugs away - one of the most effective can be extremely satisfying (if you're not scared of handling the critters) – is to just pluck them off after dark with the aid of a torch. And use nets to protect fruit from birds. Here are my other jobs to do in the garden this week: On sunny days, it can really heat up in the greenhouse. Use shading when necessary and keep everything watered daily. In the veg garden you can sow outdoor courgettes, runner beans, French beans, sweetcorn and marrows as well as successional sowing of radishes, lettuces and spring onions. Thin out seedlings sown earlier. Plant outdoor tomato plants and pinch out side shoots. Inspect gooseberries for sawfly, remove if found and prune current season's growth back to five leaves. This shouldn't remove any developing fruit which grows mainly on old wood. If you haven't been sowing from seed, there's a huge selection of flowering plants available in garden centres now – plug plants are good value and will leap into growth in the heat. Aphid watch – especially if you have lupins and roses. You can remove by hand or with a hose. If you like it to look manicured, lawns will need weekly mowing so make sure you have a compost bin or area to put clippings to good use. Or ditch the lawnmower and let the bees feed on the daisies and clovers. Breathtaking gardens that anyone can visit Watching the VE Day commemorations made me consider a garden, which while being rejuvenated took on a deeper meaning – for lives lost in The Great War. It's on a hillside near Mevagissey in Cornwall and for decades it was lost, overgrown and forgotten. The Lost Gardens of Heligan now span over 200 acres with productive gardens, formal layouts, subtropical valleys and woods. But its story gives it such emotional weight. The Heligan estate belonged to the Tremayne family for more than 400 years. In the 18th and 19th centuries, successive generations developed it into a showpiece of Victorian horticulture. There were pineapple pits heated by horse dung, melons, espaliered fruit trees, and glasshouses believed to have been designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. At its peak, the estate employed 22 full-time gardeners but in August 1914, everything changed. Thirteen of those gardeners enlisted to fight in the war and only four returned. Before leaving, several of them signed their names on the wall of a small lavatory behind the greenhouses – now known as the Thunderbox Room – beneath the words: 'Don't come here to sleep or slumber'. It was an informal roll call, left behind when none of them knew if they would come back. With the workforce gone and post-war society shifting, Heligan entered a long period of decline. By the 1920s, the Tremayne family had moved, and the house was let to tenants. The gardens became wild. glasshouses collapsed, borders disappeared, and structures were swallowed by vegetation. That might have been the end of the story, if not for a chance encounter in the early 90s. Tim Smit, an archaeologist turned music producer, had moved to Cornwall. He met John Willis, a Tremayne descendant who had just inherited the land, and together they began exploring what remained. What they found stunned them. Under the overgrowth were walls of espaliered fruit trees, rusting tools hanging in place, and the Thunderbox Room, with the names still faintly visible. It was clear Heligan was more than a lost garden. It was a site of memory. And so began one of the largest garden restoration projects in Europe. The team had little to go on – no complete planting plans or working drawings –but they pieced things together from zinc plant labels and estate documents. They rebuilt the pineapple pits using horse manure as heat, restored heritage apple orchards, and replanted the walled vegetable gardens. Today, Heligan includes several distinct areas. The Sundial Garden is enclosed and packed with traditional perennials and heritage varieties. The Italian Garden, with its formal layout and lily pool, brings a more structured feel. The productive area – the kitchen gardens and melon yard – now supply the on-site cafe with seasonal produce. Plant of the week: Syringa 'Little Lady' The lilacs are beginning to bloom and release their intoxicating scent. While it's true they're not much to look at most of the year, they make up for it with their fragrant flowers. If you're a lilac lover but have limited space, here's a compact variety which grows to around 4-5ft in height and can be grown in a pot. The pale lilac flowers are fragrant and do best in full sunshine The Jungle is perhaps the most striking area. A deep valley with a subtropical microclimate, it is home to tree ferns, gunnera, bamboo, and palms. A raised boardwalk and rope bridge allow visitors to walk through the canopy. Further afield, visitors can walk through woodland to find sculptures like the Mud Maiden and the Giant's Head, or explore wildflower meadows and wildlife areas now part of Heligan's ecological mission. The estate has become a model for regenerative land management and low-impact horticulture. In 1997, a Channel 4 documentary and bestselling book by Tim Smit helped bring Heligan to national attention. What made the story compelling was the sense this was also a war memorial – a tribute to those who worked there. The Thunderbox Room is now officially recognised by the Imperial War Museum as a living memorial, and on Remembrance Sunday, the estate holds a moment of silence. Heligan receives over 300,000 visitors a year, but is grounded in its purpose: to honour the people who made the garden, and to keep their legacy growing. it is a working garden, where tools are used, produce is grown, and the past is deeply felt. It's a reminder that history doesn't always need a statue. Sometimes it's enough to bring something back to life.
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Breathtaking forgotten gardens anyone can visit with unexpected bonus
The Lost Gardens of Heligan have a tragic history that makes a wander around its beautiful 200-acre plot, with its formal layouts, valleys and woods, deeply poignant Watching the VE Day commemorations made me consider a garden, which while being rejuvenated took on a deeper meaning – for lives lost in The Great War. It's on a hillside near Mevagissey in Cornwall and for decades it was lost, overgrown and forgotten. The Lost Gardens of Heligan now span over 200 acres with productive gardens, formal layouts, subtropical valleys and woods. But its story gives it such emotional weight. The Heligan estate belonged to the Tremayne family for more than 400 years. In the 18th and 19th centuries, successive generations developed it into a showpiece of Victorian horticulture. There were pineapple pits heated by horse dung, melons, espaliered fruit trees, and glasshouses believed to have been designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. At its peak, the estate employed 22 full-time gardeners but in August 1914, everything changed. Thirteen of those gardeners enlisted to fight in the war and only four returned. Before leaving, several of them signed their names on the wall of a small lavatory behind the greenhouses – now known as the Thunderbox Room – beneath the words: 'Don't come here to sleep or slumber'. It was an informal roll call, left behind when none of them knew if they would come back. With the workforce gone and post-war society shifting, Heligan entered a long period of decline. By the 1920s, the Tremayne family had moved, and the house was let to tenants. The gardens became wild. glasshouses collapsed, borders disappeared, and structures were swallowed by vegetation. That might have been the end of the story, if not for a chance encounter in the early 90s. Tim Smit, an archaeologist turned music producer, had moved to Cornwall. He met John Willis, a Tremayne descendant who had just inherited the land, and together they began exploring what remained. What they found stunned them. Under the overgrowth were walls of espaliered fruit trees, rusting tools hanging in place, and the Thunderbox Room, with the names still faintly visible. It was clear Heligan was more than a lost garden. It was a site of memory. And so began one of the largest garden restoration projects in Europe. The team had little to go on – no complete planting plans or working drawings –but they pieced things together from zinc plant labels and estate documents. They rebuilt the pineapple pits using horse manure as heat, restored heritage apple orchards, and replanted the walled vegetable gardens. Today, Heligan includes several distinct areas. The Sundial Garden is enclosed and packed with traditional perennials and heritage varieties. The Italian Garden, with its formal layout and lily pool, brings a more structured feel. The productive area – the kitchen gardens and melon yard – now supply the on-site cafe with seasonal produce. The Jungle is perhaps the most striking area. A deep valley with a subtropical microclimate, it is home to tree ferns, gunnera, bamboo, and palms. A raised boardwalk and rope bridge allow visitors to walk through the canopy. Further afield, visitors can walk through woodland to find sculptures like the Mud Maiden and the Giant's Head, or explore wildflower meadows and wildlife areas now part of Heligan's ecological mission. The estate has become a model for regenerative land management and low-impact horticulture. In 1997, a Channel 4 documentary and bestselling book by Tim Smit helped bring Heligan to national attention. What made the story compelling was the sense this was also a war memorial – a tribute to those who worked there. The Thunderbox Room is now officially recognised by the Imperial War Museum as a living memorial, and on Remembrance Sunday, the estate holds a moment of silence. Heligan receives over 300,000 visitors a year, but is grounded in its purpose: to honour the people who made the garden, and to keep their legacy growing. it is a working garden, where tools are used, produce is grown, and the past is deeply felt. It's a reminder that history doesn't always need a statue. Sometimes it's enough to bring something back to life. Plant of the week: Syringa 'Little Lady' The lilacs are beginning to bloom and release their intoxicating scent. While it's true they're not much to look at most of the year, they make up for it with their fragrant flowers. If you're a lilac lover but have limited space, here's a compact variety which grows to around 4-5ft in height and can be grown in a pot. The pale lilac flowers are fragrant and do best in full sunshine Jobs to do in the garden this week... On sunny days, it can really heat up in the greenhouse. Use shading when necessary and keep everything watered daily. In the veg garden you can sow outdoor courgettes, runner beans, French beans, sweetcorn and marrows as well as successional sowing of radishes, lettuces and spring onions. Thin out seedlings sown earlier. Plant outdoor tomato plants and pinch out side shoots. Inspect gooseberries for sawfly, remove if found and prune current season's growth back to five leaves. This shouldn't remove any developing fruit which grows mainly on old wood. Growing strawberries – when fruit starts to develop, cover the soil around the plant with black plastic or straw - this will prevent the fruits from making contact with the soil and rotting. Use environmentally friendly methods to keep slugs away and nets to protect fruit from birds. If you haven't been sowing from seed, there's a huge selection of flowering plants available in garden centres now – plug plants are good value and will leap into growth in the heat. Aphid watch – especially if you have lupins and roses. You can remove by hand or with a hose. If you like it to look manicured, lawns will need weekly mowing so make sure you have a compost bin or area to put clippings to good use. Or ditch the lawnmower and let the bees feed on the daisies and clovers.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
Tiny Scottish island that is only accessible during low tide is filled with WW2 ruins
Less than six miles from Edinburgh, the island is one of 17 in Scotland that can be reached on foot at low tide Sitting less than six miles from the heart of Edinburgh, a tiny island has a remarkable history that belies its small size. And if you want to experience it first-hand, you'll have to pick your moment carefully, as it can only be reached on foot when the tide is out. Cramond Island is one of Scotland's more curious landmarks. Isolated and uninhabited today, the Firth of Forth tidal island's haunting quiet hides a past filled with amazing tales stretching from prehistory to the Second World War. The island, one of 17 that are walkable from the Scottish mainland, captured national headlines in 2011 when a man and woman became stranded after the tide came in, The Express reports. The story took a surreal twist when it emerged that the man's name was Daniel Defoe, a striking coincidence that led to comparisons with the namesake author of Robinson Crusoe, the classic adventure novel published in 1719. Though deserted for much of its history, evidence suggests Cramond Island held a special place in ancient times. Archaeological finds point to human activity dating back to the prehistoric era, and at least one burial cist has been discovered, hinting at its possible ceremonial or spiritual significance for early coastal communities. The island may also be the site of Urbs Iudeu, an early medieval fortress referenced by the Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People. If true, Cramond Island would have witnessed a siege in 655 AD during one of the era's many power struggles. Centuries later, in 1596, it became the setting for a dramatic duel. Under the sanction of King James VI of Scotland, Adam Bruntfield challenged James Carmichael to single combat, accusing him of murdering his brother. Bruntfield emerged victorious. By the late 18th century, the island took on a quieter role. The British Wool Society used it for grazing sheep in the 1790s, and farming continued until 1904 when the last farmer, Peter Hogg, passed away. A ruined farmstead still stands today. While the structure appears on a map drawn in 1853, its precise origins remain uncertain. Cramond Island was pulled into the conflict of both world wars in the 20th century. In 1914, in the early days of The Great War, an anti-submarine net was installed, stretching between Cramond Island, Inchmickery, Inchcolm and the Fife coast, aiming to deter enemy vessels from navigating up the Forth. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. 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'. When the Second World War broke out in 1939, the island was once again fortified as military planners feared a German invasion via the Firth of Forth. An anti-boat boom was laid across the estuary from the island, and gun emplacements were constructed. A spotlight tower was also installed to sweep across the tidal causeway. That invasion never materialised, and following the war, the military departed, leaving behind the skeletal remains of bunkers, fortifications and other wartime structures that still stand in silent testament to its strategic past.
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Tesco shoppers learn mind blowing meaning behind supermarket giant's name
Tesco is a staple of the British high street with its red and white logo a familiar sight for millions of people. But few know the true meaning behind the supermarket's name. Tesco has long been one of Britain's biggest retailers and is a common sight for the millions who visit its stores for their weekly grocery haul. The iconic logo, with its striking red lettering, is a fixture on our high streets, but not many have considered how the brand name came to be. Shoppers are now becoming curious about the history behind Tesco's name. The supermarket traces its roots back to its founder, Jack Cohen, who set up shop in 1919. Cohen, whose parents were Polish Jewish immigrants, started his business selling various goods from a stall in Hackney, London. He invested his demobilisation money from the Royal Flying Corp, where he served during The Great War, into his market stall on its opening day. The name 'TESCO' was conceived in 1923 when Cohen purchased a shipment of tea from a man named Thomas Edward Stockwell. He ingeniously combined the initials of the supplier with the first two letters of his own surname, reports the Express. Cohen opened his first physical store in Edgware, North London, in 1929. From these modest beginnings, the Tesco empire grew, and by 1939, Cohen had 100 shops under his control. The very first Tesco supermarket opened its doors in Essex in 1958. Tesco's official website recounts the evolution of the brand from small-scale stores to the large supermarkets we know today, saying: "The new format store included a counter service selling cheese, butter and meats weighed by sales assistants." Since 1973, Tesco has also brough options for motorists, introducing petrol station at some of its major locations. Since the founder's passing in 1979, his influence lives on, with Tesco's omnipresence across the UK, boasting over 4,000 outlets. Following Mr Cohen's death, the retail firm's brand name continued to grow, with Sir Dudley Moore appearing in TV adverts in the late 1980s. The Tesco Value range was then introduced in 1993 and later that same year Tesco introduced its iconic 'Every Little Helps' tagline. In 2000, Tesco launched its own website. In addition to it's UK stores, today Tesco has outlets in Czechia, Ireland, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Today in Chicago History: Locals drink up as Prohibition ends
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on April 6, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 84 degrees (1929) Low temperature: 15 degrees (1982) Precipitation: 1.13 inches (1938) Snowfall: 9 inches (1938) 1915: Oscar Stanton De Priest was elected Chicago's first Black alderman. Vintage Chicago Tribune: 24 incredible Black Chicagoans Born in Alabama to former slaves, De Priest then became the first Black person from a Northern state to sit in Congress — as its sole Black member for three terms. 1917: The United States entered World War I. Vintage: 'The Great War' through the lens of the Chicago Tribune A full-page appeal in the Tribune asked volunteers to apply for the Illinois cavalry and artillery. 1933: Chicagoans drank up as 3.2% beer became legal after 13 years of Prohibition. 1972: Two cars of a four-car CTA 'L' train plunged from the elevated structure at 40th Street and Wabash Avenue on the South Side, injuring 46 people. A mangled section of track rose perpendicularly into the air after the track and parts of the train's undercarriage were strewn along 40th Street. 2014: Sears closed its State Street store. Sears timeline: Rise, fall and restructuring of a Chicago icon over 130 years Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
