Happy Hogs Rescue

An artist has made ink from a clone of Newton’s apple tree that was blown down by Storm Eunice in Cambridge last year. The fallen tree was a scion of the original apple tree which was said to have inspired Sir Isaac Newton to formulate his theory of gravity by watching an apple fall from it in the 1660s. The clone was planted at Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden in 1954 and fell in high winds in February 2022. The original tree, grown in the garden of Newton’s childhood home of Woolsthorpe Manor near Grantham in Lincolnshire, was said to have fallen in a gale in the early half of the 19th century. The Cambridge tree was stored away ready for creative ideas on what to do with the timber after it fell. A year later, the botanic garden’s artist-in-residence Nabil Ali has extracted ink from its bark, and used the resulting ink to create an artwork of 68 apples – to mark the age of the tree before it fell. To make the ink, he peeled away some of the bark and soaked it for a day-and-a-half in his workshop before grinding it, boiling it to release the tannin and adding the chemical compound alum. “To our knowledge, this is the first time anyone has discovered the colours hidden with a descendent of Newton’s inspiring tree,” he said. “I thought I’d end up with black pigment but it’s a dark golden yellow. “I’m calling it ‘Newton’s Gold’.” Dr Samuel Brockington, curator of Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden, said the genome of the Cambridge tree was sequenced by the Darwin Tree of Life project. “From this analysis, our tree seems identical to other descendants, and so we can say with confidence that ours is a direct clone of the original tree in Grantham, which also fell in a gale in the 19th century,” he said. In anticipation of the demise of the tree, the team at the botanic garden had been grafting the tree over the past three years and now have relatives of Newton’s apple tree in their reserves. These will be planted in a different part of the garden to avoid the honey fungus, that probably was responsible for the tree weakening and dying before falling in the storm. Dr Brockington added: “The tree was held in great affection by staff and visitors to the garden and we’ve been hoping for innovative and creative uses of the timber. “We’re so pleased that Nabil has managed to sample its colour in this way. “His work is an inspiring way of engaging people in the natural world through art and performance and we look forward to seeing how Newton’s Gold will be used!” The installation of 68 apples, which are replicas of a cast made from an apple taken from the tree in 2016, will go on display for the first time at Apple Day at Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden on October 22. Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

A holiday company has reported a surge in bookings for autumn breaks after the UK’s “washout” summer. On The Beach said bookings for holidays in October and November are up 26% compared with a year ago. Some 58% of UK adults are considering or definitely going on holiday in that period, a survey commissioned by the travel retailer suggested. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On The Beach, said: “We all know that this summer has been a complete washout and according to our booking data it looks as though holidaymakers are searching for the last bit of sun. “The Canary Islands, Turkey and Egypt have all been hotspots for those looking for an autumn holidays. “With great value all-inclusive prices and great temperatures for this time of year, it’s clearly a no-brainer for Brits that are fed up of the British weather.” The Met Office said conditions in the UK in July were “often cool, dull, windy and with a lot of rainfall”, while August was “a rather mixed and unsettled month” with “only one really hot day”. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, told the PA news agency: “After a washout summer, we are seeing more Brits wanting to take advantage of the unseasonal warm weather across the Med. “In particular, we are seeing what is typically the shoulder season extended in some traditional summer destinations such as mainland Spain and Greece. “Some 32% of all bookings through our travel agent members are due to depart in October and November, and average booking values are up 10% compared to the same time last year.” Former TV weatherman John Kettley has provided guidance to On The Beach customers about which popular destinations will have the highest temperatures over the coming weeks. He said Las Vegas, Dubai and Thailand will reach temperatures of up to 39C. Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura – all part of the Canary Islands – are forecast to have highs of 27C and up to eight hours of daily sunshine. Mr Kettley said: “This summer has been a complete and utter washout. “The unpredictable British weather has rained on everyone’s parade – even the ducks look like they need a break. “There are plenty of hotspots to visit in October and November, proving every cloud does have a silver lining, and Brits can still enjoy some sun before the year is out.” – The survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by research company One Poll on October 1. Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

A holiday company has reported a surge in bookings for autumn breaks after the UK’s “washout” summer. On The Beach said bookings for holidays in October and November are up 26% compared with a year ago. Some 58% of UK adults are considering or definitely going on holiday in that period, a survey commissioned by the travel retailer suggested. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On The Beach, said: “We all know that this summer has been a complete washout and according to our booking data it looks as though holidaymakers are searching for the last bit of sun. “The Canary Islands, Turkey and Egypt have all been hotspots for those looking for an autumn holidays. “With great value all-inclusive prices and great temperatures for this time of year, it’s clearly a no-brainer for Brits that are fed up of the British weather.” The Met Office said conditions in the UK in July were “often cool, dull, windy and with a lot of rainfall”, while August was “a rather mixed and unsettled month” with “only one really hot day”. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, told the PA news agency: “After a washout summer, we are seeing more Brits wanting to take advantage of the unseasonal warm weather across the Med. “In particular, we are seeing what is typically the shoulder season extended in some traditional summer destinations such as mainland Spain and Greece. “Some 32% of all bookings through our travel agent members are due to depart in October and November, and average booking values are up 10% compared to the same time last year.” Former TV weatherman John Kettley has provided guidance to On The Beach customers about which popular destinations will have the highest temperatures over the coming weeks. He said Las Vegas, Dubai and Thailand will reach temperatures of up to 39C. Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura – all part of the Canary Islands – are forecast to have highs of 27C and up to eight hours of daily sunshine. Mr Kettley said: “This summer has been a complete and utter washout. “The unpredictable British weather has rained on everyone’s parade – even the ducks look like they need a break. “There are plenty of hotspots to visit in October and November, proving every cloud does have a silver lining, and Brits can still enjoy some sun before the year is out.” – The survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by research company One Poll on October 1. Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

Owen Farrell steered England into the semi-finals of the World Cup after Steve Borthwick’s side faced down a Fiji fightback in a dramatic 30-24 victory in Marseille. England appeared to be cruising into the next round when they led 24-10 heading into the final quarter thanks to tries by Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant and Farrell’s pinpoint kicking at Stade Velodrome. But their foundations shook when Peni Ravai went over in the 65th minute and a nerve-jangling finish beckoned as Vilimoni Botitu crossed to level the score soon after. Farrell landed a drop-goal to usher in the unbearably tense closing minutes and with Fiji throwing the kitchen sink at them, they picked off a loose pass and sped downfield through Ben Earl. Farrell landed his fifth penalty and despite one final assault from the Islanders, the white wall held firm to secure a semi-final spot, where they will face holders South Africa in a repeat of the 2019 final. England are the only home union side to reach the last four following the demise of Wales and Ireland in this weekend’s quarter-finals but they rode their luck at times during a frenzied second half having played smart rugby before the interval. The result avenged their first ever loss to Fiji in August and by reaching the penultimate stage of the World Cup they have surpassed expectations given they entered the tournament on the back of five defeats in six Tests. There was no sign of the fireworks to come as England surged ahead, capitalising on their opponents’ indiscipline to score three points through Farrell before a second penalty produced a line-out drive that ended with Tuilagi diving over in the left corner. Roared on by fans, Marcus Smith ran from deep but was swallowed up by the Islanders and the drama continued with Maro Itoje intercepting and racing into space before Tom Curry made a dangerously low tackle on Josua Tuisova. Curry’s offence allowed Frank Lomani to kick three points but England replied with waves of attacks and their tempo stretched Fiji’s defence, allowing Marchant to jink over. Fiji wing Vinaya Habosi was sent to the sin-bin for a high hit on Smith, who departed for an HIA, but his side were the next over in a breathless first half when Viliame Mata scooped up a loose ball, dummied and strolled over. Itoje and Courtney Lawes were battered as the Islanders made their presence felt in defence but England continued to force penalties that allowed Farrell to land six more points. Fiji infringed freely as their opponents racked up time in possession, but two wayward Farrell kicks after he had fired a smart chip into space provided a route out of difficulty and they started moving the ball with menace until Lawes turned them over. The second half was more ragged and England’s play was frantic at times, lacking the control evident earlier, but the scoreboard kept ticking over as Farrell extended their lead to14 points. Fiji lost the ball time and again, preventing them from building any momentum, but they faced a muscular defence. Finally they broke through, Ravai concluding a sustained assault and when the conversion was added, the deficit was down to a converted try. The tide had turned and when a Simione Kuruvoli penalty struck the upright, it fell to Fiji and they pounded away at the favourites until Isoa Nasilasila forced a gap and Botitu touched down. Farrell replied with his drop-goal and when Earl broke clear to relieve the pressure of a Fiji attack, sprinting 60 metres downfield, a penalty was forced that Farrell rifled over. The Islanders fell short with one final attack and when the full-time whistle sounded they collapsed to the floor in disappointment. Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

Owen Farrell steered England into the semi-finals of the World Cup after Steve Borthwick’s side faced down a Fiji fightback in a dramatic 30-24 victory in Marseille. England appeared to be cruising into the next round when they led 24-10 heading into the final quarter thanks to tries by Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant and Farrell’s pinpoint kicking at Stade Velodrome. But their foundations shook when Peni Ravai went over in the 65th minute and a nerve-jangling finish beckoned as Vilimoni Botitu crossed to level the score soon after. Farrell landed a drop-goal to usher in the unbearably tense closing minutes and with Fiji throwing the kitchen sink at them, they picked off a loose pass and sped downfield through Ben Earl. Farrell landed his fifth penalty and despite one final assault from the Islanders, the white wall held firm to secure a semi-final spot, where they will face holders South Africa in a repeat of the 2019 final. England are the only home union side to reach the last four following the demise of Wales and Ireland in this weekend’s quarter-finals but they rode their luck at times during a frenzied second half having played smart rugby before the interval. The result avenged their first ever loss to Fiji in August and by reaching the penultimate stage of the World Cup they have surpassed expectations given they entered the tournament on the back of five defeats in six Tests. There was no sign of the fireworks to come as England surged ahead, capitalising on their opponents’ indiscipline to score three points through Farrell before a second penalty produced a line-out drive that ended with Tuilagi diving over in the left corner. Roared on by fans, Marcus Smith ran from deep but was swallowed up by the Islanders and the drama continued with Maro Itoje intercepting and racing into space before Tom Curry made a dangerously low tackle on Josua Tuisova. Curry’s offence allowed Frank Lomani to kick three points but England replied with waves of attacks and their tempo stretched Fiji’s defence, allowing Marchant to jink over. Fiji wing Vinaya Habosi was sent to the sin-bin for a high hit on Smith, who departed for an HIA, but his side were the next over in a breathless first half when Viliame Mata scooped up a loose ball, dummied and strolled over. Itoje and Courtney Lawes were battered as the Islanders made their presence felt in defence but England continued to force penalties that allowed Farrell to land six more points. Fiji infringed freely as their opponents racked up time in possession, but two wayward Farrell kicks after he had fired a smart chip into space provided a route out of difficulty and they started moving the ball with menace until Lawes turned them over. The second half was more ragged and England’s play was frantic at times, lacking the control evident earlier, but the scoreboard kept ticking over as Farrell extended their lead to14 points. Fiji lost the ball time and again, preventing them from building any momentum, but they faced a muscular defence. Finally they broke through, Ravai concluding a sustained assault and when the conversion was added, the deficit was down to a converted try. The tide had turned and when a Simione Kuruvoli penalty struck the upright, it fell to Fiji and they pounded away at the favourites until Isoa Nasilasila forced a gap and Botitu touched down. Farrell replied with his drop-goal and when Earl broke clear to relieve the pressure of a Fiji attack, sprinting 60 metres downfield, a penalty was forced that Farrell rifled over. The Islanders fell short with one final attack and when the full-time whistle sounded they collapsed to the floor in disappointment. Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

Scotland have qualified for Euro 2024 after Norway were beaten 1-0 by Spain in Oslo. The result meant Steve Clarke’s men were guaranteed a top-two finish in Group A with two games to spare. A Norway victory would have meant Scotland needed a point from their remaining matches, in Georgia and at home to Norway, next month. But a second-half goal from Spain’s Gavi ensured the Scots were mathematically certain to be at next year’s championships in Germany. It is only the fourth time Scotland have qualified in their history, and the second in a row. “I would like to congratulate the players for their efforts in qualifying for back-to-back tournaments,” head coach Clarke told the SFA website. “I’m not sure they will fully realise the significance of their achievement yet but to qualify for successive Euros after more than 20 years is phenomenal and testament to their hard work. “I would also like to thank my backroom team for their support and, of course, the fans who have packed Hampden Park to capacity and made it a place to be feared once again. “They have played a key part in our success, both home and away, and they can now look forward to making their plans for Germany – although I suspect many had done so before tonight. “I said after Euro 2020 that we wanted to be serial qualifiers again and reaching successive finals shows the progress we’ve made. We will raise a glass tonight to celebrate but then it’s back to work tomorrow in preparation for our friendly against France. “Then we turn our attention to Georgia and Norway next month and finishing with as many points as we can.” Skipper Andy Robertson added: “It’s a great achievement for this squad to have qualified for Euro 2024 with two games remaining. When we qualified via the play-offs last time, we set ourselves a target of doing it automatically next time – so that’s the first mission accomplished. “Euro 2020 was a great experience and the objective for us next summer is to build on that previous experience and improve on our last overall tournament performance. “Our fans have been immense. We thank them for playing a huge part in our success and we look forward to seeing them in Germany in their tens of thousands.” Spain, who beat Scotland 2-0 in Seville on Thursday to avenge their defeat by the same scoreline at Hampden Park in March, also made sure of their qualification as they moved top of the group on goal difference. They have two matches remaining, against Cyprus and Georgia. Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

The Government will pledge to send more foreign prisoners home, with ministers under pressure to act amid serious pressure on prison capacity. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has already signalled plans to send fewer “low-level offenders” to prison, as he prepares to set out a range of reforms covering England and Wales later on Monday. The announcement will also see plans to bring forward legislation that would allow prisoners to be held overseas, a move that the Government said follows steps taken by Belgium and Norway. It comes amid serious concerns about overcrowding in British prisons, with 88,225 people currently incarcerated in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice said that over 3,1000 foreign criminals have already been removed in the year to March, but 10,500 remain locked up in England and Wales. Under new plans, foreign offenders will be removed sooner into their sentences with more caseworkers deployed to speed up removals. Currently, foreign criminals can be removed up to a year before the end of their sentence. Ministers want to now bring that forward six months, in a move is hoped will save £70,000 per prisoner. Officials are also looking at what more can be done to remove foreign offenders convicted of less serious offences more quickly, with plans as well to introduce new conditions to ban those convicted from returning to the UK. “It’s right that foreign criminals are punished but it cannot be right that some are sat in prison costing taxpayers £47,000 a year when they could be deported,” Mr Chalk said. “Instead of letting foreign nationals take up space in our prisons at vast expense to the law-abiding public we will take action to get them out of the country and stop them from ever returning.” Ahead of MPs hearing the plans, the Justice Secretary used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to say that sending less serious offenders into prison was the “wrong use” of the system. He suggested prisoners could instead clean up neighbourhoods, scrub graffiti off walls or plant forests. The Lord Chancellor also confirmed plans that would see rapists forced to serve their full sentence in prison. Mr Chalk pitched his planned sentencing reforms for less serious offenders as Texan-style justice, but Labour mocked that suggestion. Shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The only thing Texan about this government is that they are running the country like cowboys. “Thirteen years of reckless mismanagement of the criminal justice system has led to a crisis of epic proportions where they are now coming up with policy on the hoof, which does nothing to deal with the immediate overcrowding crisis.” Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has announced its veterinary hospital will be named after the charity’s late ambassador Paul O’Grady. The TV and radio presenter, who died in March aged 67, became an ambassador for Battersea in 2012 after the success of ITV’s award-winning For The Love Of Dogs, 11 series of which were filmed at the home. After O’Grady’s death, the animal charity set up a “tribute fund” in his honour which has raised £480,000 to date. On what would have marked O’Grady’s 11th anniversary as an ambassador for the charity, it announced that the funds will be spent on “life-saving and transformative medical procedures” for dogs and cats who need specialist care and treatment. Some £100,000 of the fund will be distributed to five other animal charities that were close to the entertainer’s heart, with each getting £20,000. Charities near O’Grady’s home city of Liverpool are among those who will be supported including Freshfields Animal Rescue, Carla Lane Animals In Need and The Oldies Club. StreetVet, a charity providing veterinary care to pets of people experiencing homelessness, of which O’Grady was also an ambassador, and the RSPCA Ashford Garden Cattery, where he was the president, will also receive a portion of the funds. Paul’s husband Andre Portasio said: “Seeing how loved Paul was by so many has been truly touching. “Paul was so passionate in his support of rescue animals, and it gives me some comfort to know that through the hard work and commitment of Battersea and other charities Paul’s legacy will live on. “I know that Paul would have been pleased to know that the most disadvantaged animals he was so fond of championing are getting the love and support they deserve.” O’Grady was given a special recognition award at the 2018 National Television Awards for the impact For The Love Of Dogs had on helping find homes for rescue animals nationwide. The presenter also posthumously won the factual entertainment award for the TV show at the 2023 award show. His contribution to animal welfare was also recognised with an RSPCA animal hero award. The chief executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Peter Laurie, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the generous donations from thousands of people following the death of our beloved ambassador, Paul O’Grady. “It really is a testament to how loved Paul was, and we shall always be forever grateful for everything he did for us. “As an ambassador for Battersea, especially during his 11 years filming For The Love Of Dogs, Paul helped animals in their recuperation from surgery, and at times, watched as they headed off site for specialist surgery; naming our veterinary hospital after Paul, therefore, feels fitting. “We are pleased to also be able to share donations with other charities who support rescue animals. “Paul was always a champion of the underdog, and we’ll be carrying on his legacy, by ensuring we use the funding to go the extra mile for animals that need costly surgery, medication or rehabilitation.” Published: 16/10/2023 by Radio NewsHub