Parliament of primates goes under the hammer
Banksy's Devolved Parliament, which portrays a dystopian House of Commons filled with chimpanzees, will go on public display from September 28 to October 3, when it will be sold at auction with an estimate of £1.5million to £2 million.
Well, we say 'dystopian'. Given the current shambles on all sides of the political spectrum, perhaps 'utopian' is a better word; it's hard to imagine how the chimps would have done any worse than the current lot.
Although Banksy's political parody can feel current, the 13-ft canvas was painted a decade ago. Full story (Sotheby's)
Nature's melodies are most relaxing
Woodland sounds will leave you feeling more relaxed than listening to a meditative app or silence, according to Natural Trust research.
Respondents involved in the study reported feeling the most relaxed, an increase of 30%, after listening to woodland noises, but felt no change after listening to the app or silence.
Amateur snaps one-in-a-million bird picture
Amateur photographer Paul Gregory has taken the shot of a lifetime: his picture of a kingfisher hovering above the water with its wings outstretched has been called 'one in a million' by wildlife experts.
Mr Gregory spotted the bird at the Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire. Full story (BBC)
On this day in 1975... Fawlty Towers was born
On 19 September, 1975, legendary British comedy Fawlty Towers premiered on BBC2. The 12th and final episode was first shown on 25 October, 1979.
Scotland's coast 'a match for anywhere in the world'
Blue Planet cameraman Doug Allan has heaped praise on north Scotland's stunning north coast.
‘The seas around Scotland, when they’re in the mood to co-operate, […] are the match for anywhere in the world,’ he said.
Is there charm in grime?
Work to clean and renovate Lincoln's 14th-century Exchequergate Arch has not gone down very well with local residents, with some saying that the building, deprived of its layers of gunge, looks 'bland', 'too new' and too much 'like a new-build'.
However, officials from Lincoln Cathedral said that the cleaning had removed 'a corrosive crust of pollutants' that was harming the arch's stonework.
Is that eely you, Nessie?
Footage from the Ness Fishery Board has added weight to theories that the Loch Ness monster is in fact a giant eel.
The clip appears to show a long creature sliding through the water, and although it has been met with some cynicism, others say it backs up the belief that Nessie is a slippery fish.
And finally... An unusual friendship
A touching video has captured miniature pinscher, Boris, and his rather unusual long-eared companion.
Fife-based owner Mark Henderson said a rabbit regularly joins Boris on walks, proving that friendship knows no bounds.
Credit: Strutt & Parker
An estate with glorious views and a library tower on the shores of Loch Ness
This spectacularly-located estate on the banks of Loch Ness offers grand accommodation, miles of land and a castellated tower with
Country Life Today: Your favourite tree needs your vote
In today's news round-up, we bring you Britain's most remarkable trees, reveal why Norfolk has three miles of new beaches
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The brilliant tractor tribute to the NHS from a group of Warwickshire farmersPeople around Britain have been paying tribute to the efforts of our NHS workers at the time of the coronavirus pandemic — but few have been as creative and clever as this one.
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London's iconic red bus at risk and 6,000 year old chewing gum gives clues into our DNA historyCuts to industry subsidies and an increase in fares has left bus use at its lowest point ever, while DNA extracted from ancient 'chewing gum' allows scientists to decipher the genetic code of a Stone Age woman.
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90-million-year-old 'swimming dinosaur' skeleton found by dogs out walking in Somerset, and the nonchalant moths who don't bother fleeing enemiesA superbly intact dinosaur skeleton — described as being 'museum quality' — has been discovered on a beach in Somerset.
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Battle to ban 4x4s from the idyllic Lake District spot bequeathed by Beatrix Potter, eagle fights octopus and the 'snail's pace' climate talksThis morning we look at Little Langdale's fight for peace, reflect on the climate change talks in Madrid and discover the soundtrack for Brexit.
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Country Life Today: How Greta Thunberg shifted the dial on climate change — and the backlash shows just how muchThis morning we ponder whether Greta Thunberg is the Joan of Arc for the environmental movement, look at a key election — one from 19 years ago — and ponder the marvel of 'dad tidying'.
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Country Life Today: Great news for those who love our great country pubs — the years of decline are overThere is a great sign of health in the pub industry, we look back at Edward VIII's abdication message and fret about Greenland's melting ice.
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Country Life Today: Spain accused of being 'a deplorable choice' for UN climate conferenceA no-holds-barred assault on the Spanish fishing industry, Banksy raising awareness of the homeless and the woes of the Christmas jumper are in today's news round-up.
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Country Life Today: 'This is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call from the uncontrolled experiment humanity is unleashing on the world’s oceans'In today's round up, we examine why oxygen loss is putting oceans at risk, discover that action to cut air pollution brings almost immediate benefits to human health and find out which bird's arrival marks the start of winter in Gloucestershire.
