Huge python dumped at a Tesco store in Lancashire
Shoppers at Tesco in Burnley, East Lancashire, had the shock of a lifetime when they spotted a massive snake in a clear plastic tub that had been abandoned at the store’s car park. They alerted the police, who called the RSPCA, and the animal, which turned out to be a six-foot Burmese python, was safely rescued. It is now at a specialist reptile care centre.
However, says the charity, the snake could have easily become too cold, which would have endangered its life, and inspectors are asking anyone with any information to get in touch with them.
Full story (Lancashire Telegraph)
Climate warning from the town that was lost to the sea
If ever proof was needed of the damage that climate change could do to low-lying cities, we need to look no further than East Anglia. In 1286, the former Anglo-Saxon stronghold of Dunwich was hit by a storm, the local harbour started silting up and the sea began eating up the town. By 1587, most of Dunwich had been lost and only 200 people remained in what had once been a thriving hub.
With climate change making storms and floods increasingly frequent, this is a cautionary tale of what could happen to some cities, towns and villages if actions to protect them is not taken fast.
English Heritage consults on York’s Clifford's Tower
After controversial plans to revamp York’s Clifford's Tower had to be abandoned in 2018, English Heritage has opened consultations on a new proposal.
The new scheme would see the 13th-century monument acquire internal walkways and a rooftop viewing terrace, but it would no longer feature a visitor centre, which people had rejected as an eyesore. The consultation closes in December.
Hull gets funding to showcase its maritime heritage
The Yorkshire city has secured a £13.6 million grant to fund attractions that will celebrate its sea-faring history.
The scheme will see the renovation of the Hull Maritime Museum and the restoration of both the Arctic Corsair — a former deep-sea trawler — and the Spurn Lightship, which was built in 1927 and, for 48 years, lighted the way incoming ships.
On this day...the UK becomes a nuclear power
On October 3, 1952, the UK succeeded in testing its first nuclear device. Code-named Operation Hurricane, the test saw a bomb detonated inside a ship, the frigate HMS Plym, anchored off Trimouille Island in Australia’s Monte Bello archipelago.
When the weapon exploded at 07:59 am local time, the UK joined the US and the Soviet Union to become the world’s third nuclear power.
Towcester loses its racecourse
The owners of the historic Towcester racecourse have announced its permanent closure. The track, which opened in 1876 and saw AP McCoy romp to his 4000th victory in 2013, had gone into administration last year.
Although the course was sold to new owners, they didn’t manage to turn its fortunes around and racing didn’t resume. Towcester’s ten remaining fixtures have now been sold to Arena Racing Company.
And finally... it’s Crunchie time!
A private collection featuring historic Cadbury-chocolate memorabilia has gone on display at Cadbury World in Birmingham. The pieces, which include a 19th-century Cadbury Bible, Victorian adverts and vintage chocolate boxes, originally belonged to Gill Cocks, from Winchcomb in Gloucestershire.
Chocoholic Mrs Cocks began amassing her treasures in the 1970s and, over the years, gathered more than 5,000 items, which she donated to the Cadbury Archives last year. In turn, the company gave £5,000 to her chosen charity. The exhibition features about 2,000 items — and a replica of Mrs Cocks' living room, where they were first displayed. Full story (BBC News)
Country Life Today: 'Nature's most adorable assassins' released into the wilds of Gloucestershire
In today's round-up we bring you reports of a gigantic iceberg, a surge of abandoned 'designer' dogs and a goose
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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'.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
