Latest news with #environmentalcharity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New cafe and workshop planned for park's community gardens
A BRADFORD park could get a new cafe to help support community activities and boost the work of a local charity. A planning application to create a new community cafe in Wibsey Community Gardens, based in Wibsey Park, has been submitted to Bradford Council. The plans have been proposed by Bradford Organic Communities Service (BOCS), an environmental charity based at the gardens. The charity grows fruit and vegetables to sell to the local community, as well as keeping bees to create honey for sale. The charity works with schools and local community groups. An artist's impression of the planned cafe (Image: Bradford Organic Communities Service) The site already includes a kitchen where the BOCS does much of its work, but the new plans include the construction of an indoor cafe with workshop space for the charity's activities, as well as an outdoor terrace. The cafe will be linked to the existing kitchen by a new external, covered walkway. The group also runs Scrapmagic - a community service that recycles waste products to use as safe craft material. The Scrapmagic portable cabin on the site will be moved to a space next to the new cafe as part of the plans. The charity says the application will help its work on 'community growing, food education, and environmental outreach". The application says: 'The proposed cafe will complement the existing offer at Wibsey Community Garden by providing a new social space for learning, refreshment, and gathering. "It will support Bradford Organic Communities Service's ongoing charitable work is sustainable food growing, community development, and environmental education. 'The cafe will allow food prepared in the existing on-site kitchen to be served in a structured setting, with space for visitors to sit, learn, and engage. "It also offers an indoor workshop area, enabling the garden to host activities throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions. 'The proposed cafe has been designed to reflect the working, productive nature of the community garden while offering a warm and welcoming presence for visitors. 'We consider that the proposed community cafe at Wibsey Community Garden represents a modest, thoughtful, and high-quality addition to an already valuable public resource. 'We believe this proposal constitutes a high-quality, community-led development that will enhance the function, appearance, and inclusivity of Wibsey Community Garden for years to come. 'It is a project rooted in social value, shaped through good design, and ready to support a stronger, greener, and more resilient future for the local community and community garden.' A decision on the application is expected in September.
The Guardian
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Unbelievably terrible': the best (and worst) supermarket vanilla ice-cream, tested and rated
Last year, I won a grant from the environmental charity Hubbub to develop a food-waste-saving ice-cream brand. The learning curve was steep. Ice-cream is one of the most competitive and technically challenging foods to get right, because it has to be smooth, creamy and, crucially, shelf-stable. That has led some producers to be over-reliant on emulsifiers and stabilisers, some of which may be plant-derived, but they're still ultra-processed, which may be a concern for some consumers. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. My tasting revealed a very clear quality scale. At the bottom are the foamy, highly processed tubs that shouldn't even qualify as ice-cream. Others offered a slightly better texture and taste, but still have a processed edge, while others sit awkwardly in the middle, all food-dye yolk-yellow. But once the price hits 68p per 100g, things shift and we finally enter 'real' ice-cream territory, featuring true frozen custards made from creme anglaise, and with recognisable ingredients and far cleaner flavours. Across the test, it became obvious that what's sold as ice-cream spans from gorgeous churned custard to food-like industrial substances. Understanding what goes into these tubs, and how to taste the difference between them, can help us choose treats that actually nourish us (albeit in moderation), rather than just simulate satisfaction. My advice would be to invest in the most delicious you can afford and serve 50% smaller portions (eating by the scoop rather than the tub will help, too!). That way, we can enjoy the good stuff at the best possible price without overindulging. £3.60 for 480ml at Waitrose (75p/100ml)★★★★☆ Traditional firm scoop with a smooth, creamy texture. Mild and very clean vanilla flavour. A classic creme anglaise-style frozen custard, made with 28% cream. Minimally processed and organic, it's barely pricier than other premium options, yet has superior credentials and is good value. £3.25 for 480ml at Sainsbury's (68p/100ml)★★★★☆ Firm to scoop with a clean, balanced flavour and just the right level of sweetness. Less smooth than some, but satisfyingly rich with a creme anglaise-style base. Made with West Country double cream and Madagascan vanilla. Minimally processed and the best value of the lot. £4.75 for 500ml at Ocado (95p/100ml)£3.80 for 500ml at Waitrose (76p/100ml)★★★★☆ A speckled, firm, traditional scoop with a clean, well-balanced vanilla flavour. Fractionally less smooth than others, this is still a classic creme anglaise-style custard ice-cream. Minimally processed and organic, it stands out as having lower sugar and saturated fat than most. Contains 24.5% cream. £4.25 for 500ml at Ocado (85p/100ml)★★★★☆ Firm, speckled scoop with a clean, subtle vanilla flavour. Smooth and creamy classic creme anglaise-style custard, made with 34% whipping cream. Minimally processed and satisfyingly rich. A good premium pick. £5.75 for 460ml at Tesco (£1.25/100ml)£6 for 460ml at Waitrose (£1.31/100ml)★★★☆☆ A firm scoop with a custard-yellow hue. Very sweet and eggy, with an intensely bold vanilla note. Very smooth and chewy – a classic French texture that I love. High in saturated fat and sugar, it's super-rich, indulgent and made with 39.2% cream. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £4.74 for 2 litres at Asda (24p/100ml)£5.50 for 2 litres at Waitrose (28p/100ml)★★☆☆☆ Very soft, smooth and airy scoop. Contains emulsifier E471, but it's redeemed by being made with Cornish milk and 6% clotted cream. Although I can't give it a stamp of approval, this is one of the better more economical ice-creams I tried. £3.60 for 1 litre at Ocado (36p/100ml)£3.85 for 1 litre at Morrisons (39p/100ml)★★☆☆☆ Pale in colour with a soft scoop and light, smooth texture. Airy but pleasant. Contains E471 and is slightly higher in sugar than some, but not overly sweet. An OK budget-range option. £3.75 for 900ml at Tesco (42p/100ml)£4.75 for 900ml at Co-op (53p/100ml)★☆☆☆☆ Bright yellow from carotene dye and flecked with vanilla, this has a smooth yet foamy mouthfeel. Despite the name, this highly processed dessert isn't real ice-cream, because it's made with reconstituted skimmed milk, coconut fat, glucose-fructose syrup and a slew of stabilisers and emulsifiers, including E471. £2.75 for 1.8 litres at Ocado (15p/100ml)£2.75 for 1.8 litres at Tesco (15p/100ml)☆☆☆☆☆ Bright yellow, with a light, aerated texture and synthetic sweetness. Not technically ice-cream (it contains zero cream) and loaded with additives such as carrageenan and mono- and diglycerides (E471). Ultra-processed and lacking any real dairy character. So cheap, it's a parody of itself. £2.95 for 900ml at Co-op (33p/100ml)☆☆☆☆☆ Bright yellow with a synthetic vanilla flavour. Moussey, spongy texture and artificial creaminess. The main ingredient is water, bulked with sugars, emulsifiers and stabilisers. Incredibly, it actually contains ground vanilla pods, though you'd never guess. Unbelievably terrible.
The Guardian
19-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Unbelievably terrible': the best (and worst) supermarket vanilla ice-cream, tested and rated
Last year, I won a grant from the environmental charity Hubbub to develop a food-waste-saving ice-cream brand. The learning curve was steep. Ice-cream is one of the most competitive and technically challenging foods to get right, because it has to be smooth, creamy and, crucially, shelf-stable. That has led some producers to be over-reliant on emulsifiers and stabilisers, some of which may be plant-derived, but they're still ultra-processed, which may be a concern for some consumers. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. My tasting revealed a very clear quality scale. At the bottom are the foamy, highly processed tubs that shouldn't even qualify as ice-cream. Others offered a slightly better texture and taste, but still have a processed edge, while others sit awkwardly in the middle, all food-dye yolk-yellow. But once the price hits 68p per 100g, things shift and we finally enter 'real' ice-cream territory, featuring true frozen custards made from creme anglaise, and with recognisable ingredients and far cleaner flavours. Across the test, it became obvious that what's sold as ice-cream spans from gorgeous churned custard to food-like industrial substances. Understanding what goes into these tubs, and how to taste the difference between them, can help us choose treats that actually nourish us (albeit in moderation), rather than just simulate satisfaction. My advice would be to invest in the most delicious you can afford and serve 50% smaller portions (eating by the scoop rather than the tub will help, too!). That way, we can enjoy the good stuff at the best possible price without overindulging. £3.60 for 480ml at Waitrose (75p/100ml)★★★★☆ Traditional firm scoop with a smooth, creamy texture. Mild and very clean vanilla flavour. A classic creme anglaise-style frozen custard, made with 28% cream. Minimally processed and organic, it's barely pricier than other premium options, yet has superior credentials and is good value. £3.25 for 480ml at Sainsbury's (68p/100ml)★★★★☆ Firm to scoop with a clean, balanced flavour and just the right level of sweetness. Less smooth than some, but satisfyingly rich with a creme anglaise-style base. Made with West Country double cream and Madagascan vanilla. Minimally processed and the best value of the lot. £4.75 for 500ml at Ocado (95p/100ml)£3.80 for 500ml at Waitrose (76p/100ml)★★★★☆ A speckled, firm, traditional scoop with a clean, well-balanced vanilla flavour. Fractionally less smooth than others, this is still a classic creme anglaise-style custard ice-cream. Minimally processed and organic, it stands out as having lower sugar and saturated fat than most. Contains 24.5% cream. £4.25 for 500ml at Ocado (85p/100ml)★★★★☆ Firm, speckled scoop with a clean, subtle vanilla flavour. Smooth and creamy classic creme anglaise-style custard, made with 34% whipping cream. Minimally processed and satisfyingly rich. A good premium pick. £5.75 for 460ml at Tesco (£1.25/100ml)£6 for 460ml at Waitrose (£1.31/100ml)★★★☆☆ A firm scoop with a custard-yellow hue. Very sweet and eggy, with an intensely bold vanilla note. Very smooth and chewy – a classic French texture that I love. High in saturated fat and sugar, it's super-rich, indulgent and made with 39.2% cream. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £4.74 for 2 litres at Asda (24p/100ml)£5.50 for 2 litres at Waitrose (28p/100ml)★★☆☆☆ Very soft, smooth and airy scoop. Contains emulsifier E471, but it's redeemed by being made with Cornish milk and 6% clotted cream. Although I can't give it a stamp of approval, this is one of the better more economical ice-creams I tried. £3.60 for 1 litre at Ocado (36p/100ml)£3.85 for 1 litre at Morrisons (39p/100ml)★★☆☆☆ Pale in colour with a soft scoop and light, smooth texture. Airy but pleasant. Contains E471 and is slightly higher in sugar than some, but not overly sweet. An OK budget-range option. £3.75 for 900ml at Tesco (42p/100ml)£4.75 for 900ml at Co-op (53p/100ml)★☆☆☆☆ Bright yellow from carotene dye and flecked with vanilla, this has a smooth yet foamy mouthfeel. Despite the name, this highly processed dessert isn't real ice-cream, because it's made with reconstituted skimmed milk, coconut fat, glucose-fructose syrup and a slew of stabilisers and emulsifiers, including E471. £2.75 for 1.8 litres at Ocado (15p/100ml)£2.75 for 1.8 litres at Tesco (15p/100ml)☆☆☆☆☆ Bright yellow, with a light, aerated texture and synthetic sweetness. Not technically ice-cream (it contains zero cream) and loaded with additives such as carrageenan and mono- and diglycerides (E471). Ultra-processed and lacking any real dairy character. So cheap, it's a parody of itself. £2.95 for 900ml at Co-op (33p/100ml)☆☆☆☆☆ Bright yellow with a synthetic vanilla flavour. Moussey, spongy texture and artificial creaminess. The main ingredient is water, bulked with sugars, emulsifiers and stabilisers. Incredibly, it actually contains ground vanilla pods, though you'd never guess. Unbelievably terrible.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Guernsey group reports rise in pollinators this year
Warmer weather has led to an increase in pollinators across the island, with numbers generally up on last year, according to an environmental Pollinator Project, which created a wildflower area adjacent to Fort Road earlier this year, aims to protect insects such as bees, butterflies, beetles and flies that visit flowering Gordon Steele said anecdotally there been a 20% increase in pollinators this year."As the flowers have come out and as things have developed, we can see more butterflies, more bumblebees, more beetles, more of the good stuff in this field than we ever have had before, which is really, really encouraging," he said. Mr Steele added: "It's been a good year for insects, the warm weather has really helped them." The group said they had only just begun collecting data which they can use to compare pollinator numbers in the years to Steele believed "the real test will be what's it like in a years' time or two years' time"."Fort Field project is an example where some relatively simple and inexpensive changes can create a pollinator friendly environment that benefits both biodiversity and humans," he said."We aim to demonstrate best practice in verge and perennial wildflower meadow management that can be adopted by any landowner."
