In today’s news round-up find out how the Isle of Skye is tackling overzealous fossil hunters, watch rush hour on the farm and endevour to rescue the beloved chocomobile.
Dinosaur relics given legal protection
Precious Jurassic heritage sites on the Isle of Skye have been given legal protection thanks to a new order.
The Nature Conservation Order was passed today, in response to fossil hunters repeatedly digging up and damaging the bones, which date back 165 million years.
The order will try to prevent removal of rare fossils from the Scottish island and protect this important heritage site.
‘It is crucial that the footprints and actual skeletal remains of dinosaurs and other vertebrates, that are being revealed by nature are protected,’ said
‘These fabulous fossil finds can help answer crucial questions about ancient ecosystems and pave the way for exciting advances in our understanding of vertebrate evolution,’ said Scottish Natural Heritage geologist, Colin MacFadyen.
The Duchess of Sussex’s new initiative to help women gain employment
The Duchess is royal patron of Smart Works. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
The Duchess of Sussex has collaborated on a clothing collection to support a charity which helps women gain employment.
She announced on Wednesday (31 July) that she was supporting the Smart Works initiative alongside John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Jigsaw and designer Misha Nonoo.
Each time an item of clothing is bought from the workwear collection, a ‘like for like’ item will be donated to the individuals using the charity’s services.
Smart Works provides interview clothes and training to women in need. Women are referred to the charity from organisations such as job centres, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities.
Hello Cuthbert!
Farmer Chris Franklin’s cheery animal Facebook videos from Caen Hill Countryside Centre in Wiltshire have gone viral. We’ll take this rush hour over the M25 any day…
Greetings and good morning it’s Thursday rush hour time #farmrushhour #rushhour
Posted by Caenhill Countryside Centre on Wednesday, July 31, 2019
To see more Caenhill Countyside Centre videos on Facebook, click here to visit their page
A pocket shark that glows in the dark
The newly identified American pocket shark. Credit: Michael Doosey
Less ‘Argh!’ and more ‘Ahhh!’, the American pocket shark, or Mollisquama mississippiensis, has been discovered in the Gulf of Mexico.
The shark is just five and a half inches long, secretes fluorescent liquid from pouches near its front fins and can glow in the dark. It is only the third of more than 500 known shark species believed to secrete fluorescent liquid.
The only other pocket shark to have been captured was found in the eastern Pacific Ocean in 1979.
RNLI carries out 100th inflatable rescue
Margate and @RamsgateRNLI lifeboats were involved in a big search earlier this week, along with @MCA_Media colleagues, when 12-year-old twin girls were swept out to sea on their inflatable unicorn. pic.twitter.com/l1nHCVosnD
— RNLI (@RNLI) August 1, 2019
The lifesaving charity is issuing renewed safety advice after 12-year-old twin girls were rescued earlier this week, marking the 100th inflatable-related incident.
RNLI lifeboat crews at Margate and Ramsgate were called out after the girls were blown out to sea on an inflatable unicorn.
On this day…
Jack Warner (1892 – 1978) was born. The Canadian-American was the president of Warner Bros alongside his three brothers, Harry, Albert and Sam.
Supermarkets tackle plastic waste
While supermarkets report a 90% decrease in the sale of single-use carrier bags, two major retailers are taking steps to further reduce the amount of plastic they stock.
Following the success of its pilot ‘Unpacked’ scheme in Oxford, Waitrose will be rolling out the initiative in three more shops by the end of the year, following an ‘overwhelmingly positive response’.
Meanwhile Marks and Spencer is offering a new reusable container incentive for customers purchasing fresh food at its Market Place Counters.
And finally… a chocoholic on the run
Sad news, overnight our beloved Chocmobile has gone missing from HQ. Can you help us to track it down? DM us if you've spotted it and you could help with our enquiries. pic.twitter.com/PPpLXe2yoo
— Hotel Chocolat (@HotelChocolat) July 31, 2019
Hotel Chocolat has sent out a desperate plea to trace its missing van, the Chocmobile. It was stolen from the firm’s headquarters in Royston, Hertfordshire overnight on Tuesday.
Hotel Chocolat has started a #Findthechocmobile hashtag and is asking the public for help. Information leading to its recovery will be rewarded with a visit to its the Hotel Chocolat factory and a five-year subscription to its chocolate tasting club. Yum.
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