Counting butterflies to calm the anxious mind
A new study suggests that taking the time to watch and count butterflies can reduce anxiety, as well as providing vital information in the fight for nature.
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Curious Questions: Why do we eat hot cross buns at Easter?
Annunciata Elwes traces the curious history of the hot cross bun in Britain.
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From smashed glass to smashing teas: The restoration of a 300-year-old glass-roofed teahouse full of historic camellias
The Georgian teahouse at Wentworth Woodhouse has undergone a multi-million pound restoration which has saved the centuries-old camellias which grow within.
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The inaugural topiary awards are open now
Britain's best topiary artists, both professional and amateur, are being sought out in a new topiary award.
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The RNLI's 200-year journey from being set up in a pub to saving tens of thousands of lives
The brave men and women of the RNLI have been working for two centuries to save the lives of those whose vessels have run in to trouble in the seas around Britain. In 2024 this national institution is celebrating its 200th anniversary in style.
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St Patrick’s Chapel ruins, Heysham: The mythical Lancashire ruins with a heavenly view
Annunciata Elwes takes a look at St Patrick’s Chapel ruins, a Morecambe Bay landmark.
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The art and life of Pattie Boyd, the woman in the centre of the love triangle between Eric Clapton and a Beatle, has come up for auction
Pattie Boyd was the girlfriend of two of the great figures in rock music in the 1960s and 1970s — and Christie's are holding a sale of her memorabilia.
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The buzz is back, says British Beekeepers Association, which celebrates its 150th anniversary
The number of beekeepers and hives has increased since the lows of the early 2000s, but there is still more to be done to protect our pollinators.
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Trafalgar Square celebrates 25 years of Fourth Plinth art — but is it time for a permanent piece?
Seven shortlisted ideas for the next stint on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square are currently on display — but some say it is now time for a more permanent fixture.
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Handbags, Ferraris and priceless paintings — these are a few of our favourite things (to invest in)
Knight Frank's Luxury Investment Index for 2023 reveals what the rich and famous have been buying and selling, and whether their investments are going up or down.
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The heart-stopping work of removing a 150-year-old stained glass masterpiece from one of Britain's greatest cathedrals
One of Salisbury Cathedral's most famous stained glass windows is being restored — and that means it must be removed in a painstaking process.
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North Yorkshire village is the latest to turn down the lights and become 'dark-skies friendly'
Hawnby is the first 'dark sky friendly' village in the North York Moors and residents are already starting to see positive results from dimming the lights
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'Stonehenge of the North' saved for the nation
The future of the Neolithic site at Thornborough Henges — which has been dubbed 'The Stonehenge of the North' — has been secured, and the site saved for the nation. Annunciata Elwes reports.
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Power to the people — community-owned businesses a proving to be a nationwide success
Pubs, cafés and shops that are run for the community, by the community, are becoming increasingly popular.
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Scottish farmers and stakeholders sceptical over new plans for National Parks
A recent summit hosted by NFU Scotland is questioning the evidence on the benefits of national parks, with worries that they may negatively impact local farmers and communities.
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'Disconnected from our heritage' — conservation charity warns that more must be done to tackle light pollution
According to CPRE, The Countryside Charity, most of us can't see the stars correctly, and is calling on government to help fight back.
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Meet the dry-stone wallers who restored a 300-year-old sheep pen in Cumbria
Craftsmen Steven Allen and Trevor Stamper hope restored this historic sheepfold as part of a wider campaign to help support and promote common-land grazing
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Fit for a (very small) queen — a dolls' house with running water, electricity and working lifts
Queen Mary's Dolls' House celebrates its 100th anniversary with a brand new exhibition and a reimagined display at Windsor Castle.
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Plan to save historic church buildings is 'urgently needed', warns National Churches Trust
In the past 10 years, some 3,500 churches have closed their doors, prompting a call to action to rescue those under threat.
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Is your pony 'nice and fluffy' — or carrying too much weight? How warm winters are making for heavy horses
The arrival of an overweight pony on The Archers highlights a growing problem with heavy horses, says equine charity World Horse Welfare
