Latest news with #TomBellamy
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New flora and fauna at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
A variety of flora and fauna are thriving in east London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where more species of bee, bird, wasp and lichen have been the 2012 Olympic Games, the Stratford site was mostly industrial wasteland with contaminated soil, polluted waterways and extensive fly-tipped latest discoveries were made in a recent "bio-blitz", an intensive biological survey with experts from the London Natural History Society, UCL and Hackney Tom Bellamy said: "I have been really surprised at the biodiversity that's been achieved here in such a short time – especially considering how polluted a lot of the ground here was before the London 2012 Games." The survey identified three species of bee now in the park: the coastal leafcutter, sickle-jawed blood bee and the large sharp-tailed bee. It also recorded a species of hyper-parasitic wasp and a species of cuckoo wasp, 23 species of butterfly, 42 bird species, as well as 23 species of eels, kestrels, house martins, sand martins, the nationally scarce black mining bee and large scabious mining bee, and the soft-winged flower beetle - a threatened species across Europe - were all found in East Village, the site of the Athletes' Village during the 2012 Games. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ecologist Mr Bellamy said: "We have kingfishers, otters, eels and it's incredible that nationally scarce species of bees have been found here."Part of my job is to establish breeding populations for a wide variety of select species that we want to breed on the park. "I'm proud of what's been achieved so far but there is always more we can do."
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Animal rights group criticises ‘cowardly' ITV coverage after Broadway Boy horror fall
Broadway Boy and his jockey Tom Bellamy go down at the 25th fence while leading the National A heavy fall denied Broadway Boy a shot at glory as he led the Grand National but initial fears for his life eased later as he got to his feet and was returned to the stables. Viewers immediately expressed horror at the fall, with animal rights campaigners later criticising ITV for failing to give the incident enough coverage. Advertisement Ben Newman, of Animal Rising, attacked ITV coverage in a press release, accusing the broadcaster of a 'cowardly refusal to replay the 25th fence where Broadway Boy fell, while commentators gushed over racing's welfare standards'. After the coverage had finished, ITV confirmed via their X account that both Broadway Boy and another faller Celebre d'Allen had returned to the stables for further assessment. Broadway Boy had been among several fallers despite a host of welfare-led improvements at the course in recent years. He fell at the 25th fence having led the race throughout. Concern was also immediately raised for jockey Tom Bellamy, who also initially failed to move after the awkward fall. But following extensive attention on site, officials later confirmed Bellamy had 'been taken to Aintree University Hospital for further assessment' while Broadway Boy had 'walked on to the horse ambulance and will return to the stables for further assessment'. Advertisement As a result, all 34 horses had returned to the stables. More will be known on Broadway Boy's conditions as he undergoes further tests and observations overnight. Celebre D'Allen had also required immediate medical attention before walking on to the horse ambulance to go back to the stables. Safety measures to limit fatalities and injuries have never been greater at Aintree, which have contributed to an overall fall in deaths. But radical animal rights campaign groups seized upon Broadway Boy's fall to express fresh dismay. Two years ago, the steeplechase was delayed by 15 minutes when animal rights protesters gained access to the course, leading to more than 100 arrests. There were no delays on Saturday and the horses set off at 4pm – an earlier start time introduced as part of the new safety measures. The race was won by Nick Rockett, ridden by jockey Patrick Mullins and trained by his father Willie. This year, the entire festival has seen one horse death, when Willy De Houelle, ridden by former Grand National winner Rachel Blackmore, fell in the second race of on Thursday.
The Guardian
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Animal rights groups hit out at Grand National after Broadway Boy's ‘horrific' fall
Animal rights organisations have criticised the Grand National after a horse that was leading the race suffered a grim fall, while a second collapsed shortly after the competition. Broadway Boy, a seven-year-old horse ridden by Tom Bellamy, took what was described by spectators as a 'sickening fall' at the 25th jump, appearing to land on his head and not moving immediately afterwards. The horse, owned by David Proos, was assessed on the course and later walked on to a veterinary ambulance to be assessed at his stable. Bellamy appeared to fall clear of his horse and was later taken to hospital for assessment. Celebre D'Allen, a 100-1 runner aged 13, collapsed during the race and was later walked on to a veterinary ambulance to be taken for assessment. His rider, Micheál Nolan, faced a stewards' inquiry for not pulling the horse, one of the older competitors, from the race at an earlier stage. With final odds of 66-1, Broadway Boy was one of the youngest competitors in the race and had been described as a contender when on good form. Kandoo Kid and Perceval Legallois also fell, while Duffle Coat unseated his rider. The race winner, Nick Rockett, was cooled down with water after finishing the race two and a half lengths ahead of I Am Maximus, the favourite. Last year, after a number of new measures to improve safety for the horses and their riders – including reducing the field from 40 to 34 competitors and softening the fences – there were no Grand National fatalities. On the opening day of the 2025 festival, racer Willy De Houelle suffered a fatal fall in the second race, with the jockey Rachael Blackmore taken away from Aintree in an ambulance. Ben Newman of the animal rights charity, Animal Rising, said: 'On Thursday, Willy de Houelle became the Grand National's 66th victim since 2000 – a staggering toll that exposes the industry's values of profit over welfare. Today, numerous falls and clashes have resulted in two lives hanging in the balance. These horses deserve better. 'ITV's cowardly refusal to replay the 25th fence where Broadway Boy fell, while commentators gushed over racing's welfare standards, shows the depths to which the industry will sink to save itself. When the public sees the grim reality and suffering within horse racing, they rightfully recoil.' The organisation Animal Aid said it was 'disgusted and appalled that Broadway Boy suffered a horrific fall in the Grand National race, and that the racing industry – rather than give the public an update on his wellbeing – had the gall to spout empty rhetoric about the 'welfare' of race horses.' The statement added: 'The lack of information provided about the welfare of these horses is despicable and demonstrates the sheer lack of care the industry has towards these horses. This is 'welfare-washing' at its most insidious.' Spectators posted on social media criticising the event as 'shameful' and 'disgusting'. They also hit out at the official broadcaster, ITV, for how slow it was to provide information in the aftermath of what appeared to be the death of a horse on live television, though the picture cut away immediately after the fall. One person described it as 'one of the most unsettling things I've ever seen', while another said they were 'sat breaking my heart over that fall from Broadway Boy'. Viewers were updated half an hour after the race's finish, with ITV racing presenter Ed Chamberlin revealing that both horses were being assessed by vets.
