Devon volcano hits the market
If you are looking for an unusual slice of British countryside to call your own, nothing beats a volcano. It might be extinct and saddled with the unflattering nickname of Posbury Clump, but this former fire-breathing hill is some 250-million years old — and could be yours for just £50,000. That's about what you'd pay for a Land Rover Discovery.
Situated three miles from Crediton and ten from Exeter, the outcrop — most of which is a Site of Special Scientific — is now topped by broadleaf woodland, including oak, holly and ash, and, at 500 ft high, enjoys magnificent views across the surrounding countryside.
Although its fiery days are firmly in the very distant past, Posbury Clump has a more recent history as a former quarry, whose basalt was prized by local architects and went into the construction of Crediton Church and Medland Manor.
The site, which was once part of the former convent of Posbury st Francis, is now for sale through Jackson-Stops estate agents.
Full story (Jackson-Stops listing)
How wild potatoes could stop a future potato blight causing chaos
Scientists believe that genes from wild potatoes could help protect regular crops from potato late blight, the disease that caused the Irish potato famine.
According to research by plant scientists at the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute, the disease spreads easily among British and American potato crops because the genetic differences in their lineage are very limited.
The simple ideas are the best ideas...
Waitrose to ban game shot with lead
The supermarket, which is the largest retailer of game in the UK, will no longer sell venison and birds shot with lead ammunition from 2020.
The decision, which also sees the supermarket phasing out led-shot game from this winter, follows recommendations by experts who maintain that lead ammunition poses a health risk to both people and wildlife.
Full story (www.guardian.co.uk)
On This Day... England beat West Germany 4-2 in the World Cup final
Given how close England's footballers — men and women — have come in the last two summers, and how our cricketers have shown the way, we have a bit of faith that those who weren't alive to witness this 53 years ago might one day see its like again.
Maybe.
Loan opportunity for eco-friendly farmers
Farmers looking to reduce their ecological footprint can now apply for funding through a new £2-billion scheme. The Clean Growth Financing Initiative for Agriculture, launched by Lloyds Bank, offers farming businesses loans to help pay for sustainable investment projects. A wider funding initiative for businesses looking to become more environmentally friendly is also in place.
Full story (www.farmingUK.com)
And finally... It's a stinger! Contestant downs more than 50ft of nettles to win World Stinging Nettle Eating Championships
The World Stinging Nettle Eating Championships has crowned a new winner. Tony Jeyes endured swollen lips, black tongue and burning hands to conquer the title in the male category by eating a massive 58 ft of the plant. The winner of the ladies' title, Linda Rogers, managed to down 46ft.
The Championships has been held at the Bottle Inn pub in Marshwood, Dorset, since the 1980s.
Full story (www.thetimes.co.uk)
Country Life Today: The town-dwelling sheepdogs that end up needing counselling
Country Life Today: The lion cubs living in an English country garden
Our daily look at what's in the news focuses on a pair of lions living in an English village, Queen
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Country Life Today: Why the search is on for Britain's shiniest grass
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If the future of Ferrari is electric vehicles, then it is our future tooIt's widely believed that Ferrari will unveil its first electric car this year. It's the signal that the internal combustion era is coming to an end.
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Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
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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.
