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Waxwing Winters
Every winter, millions of birds travel to the UK to escape the harsher weather that sets in at their breeding grounds. Families of whooper swans fly down from Iceland, thrushes and finches flee the forests of Northern Europe, and ducks from across the continent fill our wetlands. But there is one bird whose arrival is more eagerly anticipated than any other: the waxwing.
Waxwing at Flamborough Head © James Davies
DIY Christmas: How To Forage Your Festive Decorations
With the Christmas period fast approaching, it's time for us to start thinking about how we can create a fun and festive atmosphere in our homes.
12:00 AM 2nd December 2023
TODAY Is The Start Of Winter!
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by Antonio López from Pixabay
Can you believe that it is the 1st December and according to the Met Office it is the start of winter. The meteorological definition of the seasons means that the year is split into four seasons which coincide with the Gregorian calendar. Apparently this makes it easier for forecasting and monthly statistics.
12:00 AM 1st December 2023
The Garden At York Gate Has Closed For The Winter
Jack Ogg
Gardening Correspondent
Even though the garden is becoming ever more popular, and we are seeing increased visitor numbers, it is time to close for the winter, put the garden to bed and prepare for 2024. This includes jobs such as cutting all the borders down and finishing off any remaining hedges and topiary, and we can now start doing some of the major hard landscaping tasks we have planned.
4:07 PM 29th November 2023
From Tiny Acorns....
A shortage of suitable saplings, alongside a skills crisis in the forestry sector are hindering efforts to create the woodlands we need to counter climate change and nature loss. The Seed to Sapling project will help ensure the right trees are available in the Dales and we have people with the right skills to grow and plant them.
10:46 AM 28th November 2023
“Amazing” Moment A Rare Baby Rhino Is Born Is Caught On Camera At Chester Zoo
The heartwarming moment a rare baby rhino is welcomed into the world is captured by zookeepers at Chester Zoo Conservationists at Chester Zoo have shared their “joy” following the birth of one of the world’s rarest mammals, a critically endangered eastern black rhino.
1:01 AM 25th November 2023
The Frost Moon Is Also The Beaver Moon
The November full moon is called the Beaver Moon but also known as the Frost Moon as in November the weather starts to turn chilly and frosts are common at this time of year. Beavers build their winter dams in November in preparation for the cold season and so this is why they gave their name to the full moon which this year will rise on Monday 27 November.
12:00 AM 25th November 2023
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Celebrates The Birth Of One Of The World's Smallest Antelopes
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is celebrating the birth of one of the world’s smallest antelopes. The tiny Kirk’s Dik-dik calf, named Acorn, will soon be winning the hearts of visitors exploring the reserve under the watchful care of parents Davos and Crissy.
12:00 AM 25th November 2023
Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty Renamed National Landscapes
Today, (Wednesday 22 November) all designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in England and Wales are becoming National Landscapes, including the Forest of Bowland National Landscape.
12:05 AM 22nd November 2023
Flood Action Week: Households Need To Know Their Flood Risk After 2023’s Record-Breaking Weather
This Flood Action Week (20-26 November) the Environment Agency is urging people to prepare for increased weather extremes
9:21 AM 21st November 2023
One Of The Biggest Pieces Of Scientific Research Ever In English Uplands Will Tackle The Impacts Of Extreme Weather
photo credit Paul Barker
New pioneering research will for the first time monitor how the creation of England’s biggest new native woodland could help stave off the worst effects of climate change, such as flooding.
4:53 PM 19th November 2023
Choosing The Perfect Christmas Tree For Your Home
Choosing the perfect Christmas tree with your loved ones marks the start of the festive season. For families, the tree plays a central role in their festive celebrations from decorating to showcasing presents for the big day. The delightful fragrance of the freshly cut pine adds a touch of magic, and opting for a biodegradable tree is an eco-conscious decision.
1:00 AM 18th November 2023
22,000 Bulbs To Be Planted In Holker Hall’s Most Ambitious Scheme Ever
Photo credit: Jonathan Becker
It is all hands on deck at Holker Hall, as the gardening team embrace one of its biggest ever planting challenges: more than 22,000 bulbs in just a few weeks. The tulip displays in the spectacular 25-acre garden have become a tourist attraction in their own right, and head gardener Matthew Murgatroyd is determined to make his mark.
1:00 AM 18th November 2023
Hazel Dormice Have Declined By 70% Since 2000
A landmark report published this week by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) reveals that Britain’s native hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) population has declined by a staggering 70% since 2000 and have been lost from 20 English counties since the Victorian times.
9:00 AM 11th November 2023
Autumn Wonders – Owls In The Half-Light
Amy Cooper from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust introduces the different types of owls one can spot at this time of year. Pick your way around fields or along a cliff top path, the ground cold and hard and the sky clear, fence posts glinting in the frozen morning.
1:02 AM 11th November 2023
Christmas Sleepover At London Zoo
London Zoo celebrates the festive season with a VIP overnight experience Monday 18 – Saturday 30 December 2023
1:01 AM 11th November 2023
Pictorial Collage Of Autumn Colours
To celebrate the magical colour of autumn leaves we asked our photographer Jessica Moses to capture the moment before winter appears. Here is a snapshot of autumn:
1:01 AM 11th November 2023
Welcoming Winter Into The Garden
Photo by Yoksel 🌿 Zok on Unsplash
As November arrives, don't let the cooler weather deter you from enjoying your garden. Embrace the opportunity to care for your garden during this season of change and enjoy the rewards as nature awakens in the coming months.
12:00 AM 11th November 2023
Half Of People In Yorkshire And The Humber Enjoy Listening To Birds, New Research Reveals
Bringing the joy of the outdoors, audio brand, Pure, has teamed up with Chris Packham, the much-loved naturalist and television presenter, to spread the love of birdsong this winter. New research has revealed the connection between Brits and their feathered friends.
4:49 PM 10th November 2023
Plenty of Robins
Jessica Moses
Photographer
Our nature photographer, Jessica Moses, has been to Askham Bog, at Copmanthorpe, York, to capture the robin. The European robin, known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in Great Britain and Ireland, is a small insectivorous passerine bird that belongs to the chat subfamily of the Old World flycatcher family.
7:59 AM 6th November 2023
The Weather Is Feeling Autumnal At York Gate
Jack Ogg
Gardening Correspondent
Euonymus alatus
The leaves are turning to wonderful hues of red, yellows and oranges throughout the garden. Some of the plants the other real showstoppers at this time of year are the Euonymus alatus and maples. One of the plants that has been a bit of a surprise to me with its wonderful autumn colours is the huge leaved Magnolia that we planted in the Dell two years ago.
1:00 AM 4th November 2023
Launch Of ‘The Ethics Of Fur’ The First Multidisciplinary Book To Address The Subject
The new book ‘The Ethics of Fur’ edited by Professor Andrew Linzey and Dr Clair Linzey, Directors of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, is the first multidisciplinary book that addresses this “urgent” issue of animal protection.
1:00 AM 4th November 2023
How To Use Leftover Pumpkin In Your Garden
Pumpkins are an iconic emblem for Halloween, but once carved last little more than a few days. Approximately 15.8 million pumpkins go to waste after being carved and are often discarded. However, gardening experts at MyJobQuote have shared that avid gardeners can show the planet a little love this Halloween by repurposing their pumpkin in the garden.
3:24 PM 1st November 2023
Spook-Tacular Fun At The Zoo
Animals at London Zoo celebrate Halloween early with pumpkin treats
7:20 AM 30th October 2023
Is The Hunter's Moon In October Or November?
The Hunter’s Moon is the full moon after the Harvest Moon and normally appears in the month of October. In the Northern Hemisphere the Hunter's Moon in 2023 rises on Saturday 28 October. Every four years it can appear in November but traditionally the Hunter's Moon refers to the full moon in October.
1:00 AM 28th October 2023
Autumn Lawn Care Tips To Help Prepare For Winter
Now that summer is firmly in the rear-view mirror, it's time to start preparing your lawn for the cooler, wetter weather ahead. It’s important to stay ahead of the curve and recognise in advance how your lawn’s needs change with the seasons. Summer's blend of intense weather and bustling activities can be demanding on our lawns.
1:00 AM 28th October 2023
How To Clear Halloween Creepy Crawlies From The Home
Photo by Bankim Desai on Unsplash
With bed bugs running wild across Europe, estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, reveals how homeowners can stop all sorts of creepy crawlies from getting into the home this Halloween, and how to get rid of the little blighters if they do manage to infiltrate. Bed bugs are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of sleeping humans and animals.
1:00 AM 28th October 2023
Construction Giant Jewson Pledges To Help Hedgehogs
Image by Alexa from Pixabay
Inspired by the recent Hedgehog Friendly Fencing campaign, Jewson will soon offer gravel boards with pre-installed Hedgehog Highways, giving hedgehogs vital access to gardens
11:14 AM 26th October 2023
Why Pumpkins For Halloween?
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Halloween today is synonymous with scary film binges, lavish parties, children dressing up in frightening masks and costumes, but why pumpkins?
1:10 AM 26th October 2023
National Honey Day - 21 October 2023
The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) is celebrating one of the great pleasures in life on National Honey Day, Saturday 21 October – local honey. The charity, which represents 28,000 beekeepers, urges honey-lovers to buy a jar produced as close to their homes as they can.
1:00 AM 21st October 2023
Schools’ £1k OVO Foundation Nature Prize Back For Second Year
Students with great green ideas can win £1,000 to create school nature spaces, for the second year running. The OVO Foundation Nature Prize, run in partnership with Let’s Go Zero, is giving away up to £1,000 for schools to launch a community nature project. Winners will bring to life a wild and wonderful space packed with learning opportunities.
1:00 AM 19th October 2023
Rural Voice To Influence Regional Decision Making
New devolutionary powers are evolving the focus of a rural network that gives the countryside a voice, as it seeks to ensure countryside dynamics are considered by policy makers. The Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network is a group supported by farming charity the Yorkshire Agricultural Society that has been operating for more than a decade.
5:41 AM 17th October 2023
Storm Babet Has Been Named
Storm Babet will bring impactful rain across parts of the UK.
1:00 AM 17th October 2023
If You Go Down To The Woods Today…
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust 
Wildlife Correspondents
Little Beck Woods Photo:©Amy Cooper
Our woodlands are at their best in the autumn, as tree canopies darken to russet orange and a low-lying sun casts an enchanting glow through the trees. Walks amongst the turning trees are a treat of the later months, and the perfect place to experience the changing wild world around you. Here are some of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s favourites…
1:01 AM 14th October 2023
Eight Super Simple And Low Cost Garden Care Hacks
Photo by Martin Martz on Unsplash
The allure of a well-maintained garden is undeniable. For many, it is a haven to relax, entertain, or admire. However, with the unpredictable nature of UK weather, achieving that picturesque garden can quickly become a labour-intensive chore.
1:00 AM 14th October 2023
Delivering Biodiversity Gains For UK Universities
The University of Liverpool and University of West England are among a growing number of higher education establishments choosing solutions designed by Yorkshire based BioScapes® as part of ongoing initiatives to sustainably manage grounds and support biodiversity.
1:00 AM 6th October 2023
How To Perfect Your Autumn Lawn
As the daylight hours become shorter and the growing season winds down, autumn presents an opportunity to prepare your lawn for the winter months ahead. After withstanding the unpredictable British summer and increased traffic during the holidays, now is the time to provide your lawn with the necessary nutrients and maintenance to ensure it is in optimal condition come springtime.
1:00 AM 30th September 2023
Storm Names 2023/2024
Most of the UK during this last week has experienced the strong wind and heavy rain brought on by Storm Agnes, which is the first storm of the naming season. The storm season runs from September to August each year. The Met Office, in partnership with Met Éireann and KNMI, have announced the new list of storm names for the 2023/24 season.
1:00 AM 30th September 2023
Great British Bake Off Contestant Karen Wright Hosting Two Events At Local Writers Retreat
Great British Bake Off contestant Karen Wright is teaming up with family-run business Writers Retreat in Beal, North Yorkshire, to host two informal afternoon workshops with lunch. Baker, cook and Yorkshire lass Karen has recently published her first book, the beautifully illustrated Meals on the Move: A Campsite Cooking Journey.
12:00 AM 30th September 2023
Will The Harvest Moon Be Orange?
We have been fortunate this year in having four supermoons and also a Blue Moon. The last supermoon of 2023 will rise on Friday 29 September. This will be the Harvest Moon. The moon will also be joined in the sky by Jupiter and Saturn, two of our largest planets and with the smallest which is Mercury. The full moon appears orange when it is nearer the horizon.
1:00 AM 29th September 2023
New State Of Nature Report Uses Local Data To Highlight The Devastating Loss Of UK Nature
While Starlings or Hedgehogs may still be a familiar sight in some gardens, the new State of Nature 2023 report, published today (Wednesday 27 September), reveals the devastating scale of nature loss across England. The 2023 report, which has been compiled by leading professionals from over 60 research and conservation organisations contains the best available data on the UK’s biodiversity.
6:30 PM 27th September 2023
The Blue Tit Birds Of Askham Bog
Jessica Moses
Photographer
Our nature photographer Jessica Moses has been capturing photographs of the blue tits at Askham Bog Nature Reserve in York, North Yorkshire.
3:59 AM 23rd September 2023
The End Of Summer!
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
Image by Giani Pralea from Pixabay
A couple of weeks ago we experienced what is known as an 'Indian Summer' and now the weather is becoming more realistic of autumn, with the nights drawing in and the evenings getting cooler.
1:15 AM 23rd September 2023
Autumn Is On Its Way…
Jack Ogg
Gardening Correspondent
Volunteers
…the air definitely has a chill to it and the nights are drawing in and I now don’t have to convince my four-year-old that it is time for bed when the time comes! As the leaves start turning colour in the garden and plants start to think about closing down for the winter rest, now is a perfect time to start collecting the seeds of all the flowers you have enjoyed through the summer.
1:02 AM 23rd September 2023
Blackberries Until November
Image by Gábor Adonyi from Pixabay
British shop-bought blackberries are larger and sweeter than hedgerow varieties; Grower techniques ensure that British blackberries are available from April until November, enjoying a 36-week season; The berry industry is now worth £1.7 billion in retail sales year-round and is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the UK economy in the next five years.
1:00 AM 23rd September 2023
Net Zero: How Gut Health Can Cut Emissions
The Climate Crisis For decades, we have known the detrimental consequences of burning fossil fuels. Despite being the largest contributor to climate change, they continue to supply approximately 80% of the world's energy.
1:00 AM 23rd September 2023
The Great Rural Revival: Virgin Media O2 Trials Connected Farm Of The Future
Virgin Media O2 has created the 'Connected Farm of the Future' in a trial with Cannon Hall Farm in Barnsley, designed to showcase how enhanced mobile connectivity could transform rural agriculture.
1:00 AM 21st September 2023
Record High For Hen Harrier Population In England
Figures recently released by Natural England show another rise in the population of Hen Harriers in England, with 141 chicks fledging successfully this year. This increase is nearly a further fifth from last year’s 119 chicks which was the highest number for a century. The data marks a decade of population growth for this very rare bird.
1:00 AM 18th September 2023
The Southern Ground Hornbill
Our nature photographer Jessica Moses has been capturing photographs of the southern ground hornbill at Lotherton Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
1:00 AM 16th September 2023
When Should You Stop Mowing The Lawn In The UK?
As the weather starts getting colder and the days get shorter, homeowners across the UK are spending less and less time in their gardens. The leaves are starting to fall from the trees, and the grass is starting to slow down in growth. But when is the right time to stop mowing the lawn in the UK?
1:00 AM 16th September 2023
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