Cumbria Times

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British Garden Centres’ Top Cut Flowers You Can Grow Now

Forget expensive florist bouquets. With careful planning and a little effort, you can fill your home with stunning, garden grown cut flowers that rival those from the finest florists and at a fraction of the cost. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a complete beginner, growing your own cutting garden is easier than you might think.

P.ublished 14th March 2026

Three Common Pests That Could Invade Homes In March

Photo: alexeisido-shutterstock_1514528993

Waste management company We Waste has issued advice and warnings around how to spot and prevent infestations of three common pests that often reappear in March and throughout spring.

P.ublished 21st March 2026

Vet Tips - Preparing Pets For Clock Change

Photo by Анна Кухарчук: Pexels

With clocks due to go forward by an hour on Sunday 29th March, David Martin, Group Director of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia shares his expert advice on helping owners navigate a change in routine the clock change brings. Pets thrive on routine, and even small changes can impact them.

P.ublished 21st March 2026

Biodiversity Forum: “Time For Action”

Dr Jane Smart, then from left to right: Rima Berry (Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust), Tony Serjeant (North Yorkshire Council), Matt Beadle (YDNPA), Ian Court (YDNPA), Richard Dimon (Natural England), Graham Jackson-Pitt (Cumbria Wildlife Trust), Jane Smart (independent Chair), Fran Graham (Woodland Trust), Anthony Bradley (Farming and Land Management Forum), Helen Keep (YDNPA), Jim Smith (Forestry Commission), Jono Leadley (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) , Ian Clement (National Trust) and Marie Taylor (Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust).

Some of the key players in nature recovery in the National Park have gathered for the first meeting of a reset “Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum Delivery Group”. “It’s time to turn words into action to address the biodiversity crisis,” said the new independent chair of the group, Dr Jane Smart.

P.ublished 17th March 2026

UK Set For A Summer Of Butterflies!

Wildlife charity, Butterfly Conservation, is calling on the public to prepare for a bumper summer of butterflies. This year, alongside its hugely popular Big Butterfly Count, the charity is launching something brand new - a vote to discover Britain’s Favourite Butterfly!

P.ublished 14th March 2026

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Launches Appeal To Secure Future Of Oldest Reserve

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is appealing for support to protect and safeguard Askham Bog nature reserve, described as Yorkshire’s ‘cathedral of nature conservation’ by Sir David Attenborough. Created as the founding reserve of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in 1946, Askham Bog sits nestled between the A64, the railway and the York ring road.

P.ublished 9th March 2026

No Garden? No Problem: British Garden Centres Guide On How To Grow Big In Small Spaces

Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that one in eight British households (12%) has no access to a private or shared garden. Yet the appetite for growing, whether it be flowers, herbs and vegetables, has never been stronger. Even if you have a small space, a balcony or a patio, you can make your garden your own.

P.ublished 7th March 2026

First Puffin Arrives Back In Yorkshire…in Readiness For New “Save Our Seabirds” Campaign

The first Puffin has arrived back at RSPB Bempton Cliffs on the East Yorkshire coast and the nature reserve’s conservationists will be watching closely as the seabird breeding season begins.

P.ublished 6th March 2026

Optimism On Coquet Island As Seabirds Show Resilience

Sarah Dalrymple. Photo by Rebekah Goodwill

Ahead of International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March), the first female reserve manager of Coquet Island has spoken of her pride in leading one of the UK’s most important seabird sanctuaries — as thousands of birds prepare to return for the breeding season.

P.ublished 4th March 2026

How To Give Your Houseplants A Fresh Start This Spring

Photo: BGC

As the growing season gets underway, now is a good time to take a closer look at your houseplants. After a winter spent indoors, many will have quietly outgrown their pots, and a little repotting could be all it takes to get them thriving again.

P.ublished 28th February 2026

Kick Start Your Veg Patch: What To Plant This February And March

Photo: BGC

As winter starts to fade and spring edges closer, February and March are the ideal months to get your vegetable patch up and running. Whether you've been growing your own for years or you're just starting, the next few weeks are ideal for setting yourself up with a garden that'll keep you in fresh vegetables all season long.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

Rare Winter Spectacle At Yorkshire Nature Reserve

White-fronted goose Anser albifrons (greenland race), adult Photo: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)©

Record-breaking numbers of scarce White-fronted Geese, a mix of Greenland and Russian, have arrived in Yorkshire’s Dearne Valley. More than 100 White-fronted Geese have been recorded at RSPB Old Moor’s satellite nature reserve, Adwick Washlands, this month, smashing the previous site record of just over 35 birds, set in 2016.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

How To Get Rid Of Moss In Time For Spring

After a long winter, many will find their lawns looking worse for wear, especially with moss taking over. To help restore your lawn, Yell is sharing expert tips on preparing it for spring and tackling stubborn moss growth, with the help of Simon Akeroyd, Head of Estates and Landscapes at Painshill Park Trust.

P.ublished 21st February 2026

Cumbria Farmers Feedback On Potential Reintroduction Of White‑tailed Eagles

NFU members, farmers and land managers gathered in Cumbria to discuss the potential reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to the county. More than 70 people were at Junction 36 Auction Centre on Thursday (18 February) for the event, which was led by the NFU, the National Sheep Association and the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association.

P.ublished 20th February 2026

Chester Zoo Becomes First UK Zoo To Gain International Botanic Garden Status

Chester Zoo has become the first zoo in the UK to be officially recognised as an internationally important botanic garden. The Cheshire-based conservation charity is only the second zoo in Europe to receive a prestigious accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the global organisation dedicated to plant conservation.

P.ublished 14th February 2026

The Farm Was My Childhood Happy Place - Now It’s My Career

Lizzie McLaughlin is a passionate advocate for bridging the gap between the public and the farming community. Growing up in Middlesbrough, Teesside, she proudly identifies as a townie who has carved out a remarkable career as an award-winning food and farming podcaster, despite coming from a non-farming background.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

‘Extinct’ Snail Officially Saved As Conservationists Bring Rare Species Back From The Brink

Bermuda snails saved from extinction - snails in the field Photo: Chester Zoo©

A tiny, button-sized snail once thought lost forever has been declared safe from extinction. The greater Bermuda snail was thought to have disappeared until being rediscovered in an alleyway in Bermuda a decade ago. Numbers were boosted through a pioneering breed-to-release programme led by international experts including Chester Zoo conservationists.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Rare Pennine Wading Bird Given Boost As RSPB Survey Reveals Dunlin Breeding Success

Dunlin. Photo Chris Gomersall

A pioneering survey led by the RSPB has confirmed that Dunlin – a rare and declining upland wading bird – are breeding across large areas of suitable habitat in the Cumbrian Pennines, part of the North Pennines National Landscape, offering fresh hope for the species’ future in England.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Grubsup! Project Branches Out To Strengthen Wildlife Corridors In The Heart Of The North York Moors

Grubs Up! Blue heart campaign Photo: North York Moors National Park

A successful nature recovery project is branching out into new landscapes, creating and restoring vital wildlife corridors in two of the North York Moors’ most distinctive valleys. GrubsUp! is extending its work into Bransdale and Farndale, thanks to new funding secured through the National Parks Partnerships, supported by global hospitality partner Levy.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

British Garden Centres’ Expert Guide To Growing Seed Potatoes At Home

Eve with potatoes

With the spring planting season beginning in March and the cost of living still at the forefront of people’s minds, British Garden Centres is here to help families grow their own potatoes, the nation's most consumed vegetable, and reduce household food costs.

P.ublished 7th February 2026

Fascinating Surinam Toads Breed At Chester Zoo For The First Time

Surinam toads - a species that carries its developing young beneath the skin of the female’s back - have bred at Chester Zoo for the first time. The aquatic toads, which are native to South America and rarely seen in UK zoos, are famous for their distinctive reproductive process.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Shares Its February Gardening Advice

Gardeners don’t expect much in winter but there is not much to be dissatisfied over in recent weeks. Recent rainfall has recharged the soil water levels after they hit a low point in the very hot, dry summer last year. There is still some winter left and therefore time to add more water butts to capture and store rainfall.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

Turn Your Big Garden Birdwatch Into Year Round Bird Care With British Garden Centres

As thousands across the UK complete their Big Garden Birdwatch counts, British Garden Centres is encouraging participants not to let their bird-watching efforts end with the weekend. The annual RSPB event, now in its 47th year, saw families spend an hour recording garden visitors between 23rd and 25th January.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

British Garden Centres Guide On How To Love And Support British Wildlife During The Coldest Months

As temperatures drop and natural food sources become scarce, the team at the UK’s largest family-run garden centre group, British Garden Centres, is calling on gardeners to help wildlife through winter, as native species face tough conditions during the coldest season.

P.ublished 31st January 2026

Sean Bean The New Host Of Get Birding

Sean Bean

Actor Sean Bean is the new host of Get Birding, the multi-award-winning podcast for all birders, from first-timers to experienced field observers. A passionate birder himself, Sean will host the new, always-on series of Get Birding, with the first episode earlier this week – just in time for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend.

P.ublished 24th January 2026

Chester Zoo Announces New Spring Date For Its 10k Running Event That Will Help UK Wildlife

A one-mile ‘Zoom’ race, open to children aged 4-15, will take place entirely within the zoo’s 130-acre grounds All Photos: Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo has announced a new spring 2026 date for its 10K, 5K and one-mile running event. The return of the national zoo’s much-loved Run For Nature will take place on a new springtime date, Sunday 29 March 2025, with funds supporting the zoo’s wildlife conservation efforts in the UK.

P.ublished 24th January 2026

Study Captures Rare Glimpse Into Urban Hedgehog Life – And Reveals The Impact Of Feeding On Garden Visits

Chester Zoo & Nottingham Trent University Hedgehog Watch

A camera study has captured amazing images of hedgehogs interacting with UK species in urban settings. Food was found to be the biggest driver of hedgehog visits – but wildlife feeding needs more study. Data supports the theory that gardens are increasingly important habitats for hedgehogs More than four hundred households took part in the survey, perhaps the biggest single-species camera study to take place in the UK.

P.ublished 21st January 2026

Nidderdale Grasslands Confirmed As Internationally Important For Rare Fungi

Waxcaps in Nidderdale

Expert surveys have confirmed that grasslands in Nidderdale are of international and national importance for rare grassland fungi, including waxcaps, highlighting the value of long-established grassland management in the area. Grassland fungi specialist Steve Hindle surveyed three sites in Nidderdale, recording 62 species of grassland fungi, including 32 waxcap species.

P.ublished 20th January 2026

Six More Rare Hen Harriers Vanish On Or Near Grouse Moors With Another Confirmed Poisoned

In 2025, it is suspected that a total of seven RSPB satellite-tagged Hen Harriers were illegally killed on or near grouse moors in northern England, with one Hen Harrier confirmed poisoned and six more disappearing in suspicious circumstances – all sending their final transmission on or near land managed for grouse shooting.

P.ublished 20th January 2026

Challenging The Perception That Farming Is Only For Those Born Into It

Damian Barson is a first-generation farmer who began his journey in September 2021, at the age of 50. He had a clear aim: to prove that farming is accessible at any stage of life.

P.ublished 17th January 2026

Can spending time with animals make you happier?

Chester Zoo has launched a major new programme designed to help visitors improve their wellbeing by immersing themselves in nature. Experts at the Cheshire-based conservation charity will run a series of activities from January 17 until the end of March.

P.ublished 17th January 2026

Walk Off The Winter Blues: Six Dog-Friendly Walks In Cumbria For January

January can feel like the longest month of the year - it’s still dark by 4 o’clock and pay day is an age away. But as it’s also National Walk Your Dog Month, there’s no better excuse to pull on your boots and beat the winter blues with some fresh air, open skies and a scenic walk with your four-legged companion.

P.ublished 17th January 2026

British Garden Centres' Guide To Beat The January Blues With The power Of Gardening

Photo: British Garden Centres

The third Monday in January (January 19th), dubbed Blue Monday as the year’s most depressing day, brings dark skies, post-Christmas slumps, and endless cold temperatures. But the team at British Garden Centres has a greener antidote to beat the blues: immerse yourself in gardening.

P.ublished 17th January 2026

Garden Birds Are Counting On You! Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 Together, Let’s Make It Count

Jackdaw Corvus monedula, adult sat on fence Photo: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)

The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns this month, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to watch and count the UK’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Nearly 600, 000 people took part in 2025, counting more than nine million birds. This year’s event takes place on 23, 24 and 25 January 2026.

P.ublished 15th January 2026

Rare Tree Kangaroo Joey Emerges From Pouch At Chester Zoo

It's a boy! Chester Zoo tree kangaroo joey emerges from his pouch for the first time

A rare Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo joey has emerged from his mother’s pouch at Chester Zoo - marking a major conservation milestone for one of the world’s most threatened marsupials. The newborn joey, a male, arrived to parents Kitawa (mum) and Kayjo (dad) as part of an international conservation breeding programme that’s ensuring the continued survival of the species.

P.ublished 14th January 2026

The Fight To Save Cumbria’s Wildflower Meadows

Fibrus planting

A project led by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and funded by broadband provider Fibrus has helped to turn around the decline in our wildflower meadows, with people across the county planting thousands of insect-friendly wildflowers.

P.ublished 12th January 2026

Colour, Calm And Conscious Choices: British Garden Centres' 2026 Gardening Trends

Gardens across the UK are set to be more popular than ever in 2026, as people look for outdoor spaces that are beautiful, low-maintenance, and good for their wellbeing.

P.ublished 10th January 2026

Search Is On For Unsung Heroes Of The British Countryside

Nominations have officially opened for this year’s Schöffel Countryside Awards which return following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

P.ublished 10th January 2026

Chester Zoo Hits New All-Time Visitor Record In Landmark Year For Conservation Charity

Chester Zoo has set a new all-time visitor record – welcoming more than 2.1million people through its gates in 2025.

P.ublished 7th January 2026

Chester Zoo Provides Retirement Home To Mother-And-Son Jaguar Pair

Chester Zoo has welcomed two senior jaguars - a mother-and-son duo - to a specially designed “retirement” habitat for big cats. Bonita, a 16-year-old female, and her 11-year-old son Remi have arrived at the zoo, where they will be cared for by its specialist carnivore team.

P.ublished 20th December 2025

British Garden Centres’ Guide To Making Christmas Wreaths And Garlands With Natural Finds From Your Garden

Image by Renette Haramis from Pixabay

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’re looking to bring a bit of the outdoors inside, British Garden Centres has some simple ideas for making your own wreaths and garlands using natural materials from your garden, local store or walks. From holly and ivy to pine cones and berries, these everyday finds create festive decorations that look great and smell wonderful.

P.ublished 13th December 2025

Caring For Animals Involves Hard Choices

I hold a licence from Natural England, to keep grey squirrels in captivity “for welfare purposes”. These licences came into effect in December 2019, after the previous licences enabling holders to release them back into the wild were revoked for conservation reasons.

P.ublished 6th December 2025

Celebrate Poinsettia Day And Bring The Magic Of Christmas Indoors With Festive Houseplants

Image by Mollyroselee from Pixabay

As the festive season starts to fill homes with sparkle and cheer, one day in December stands out for plant lovers and décor enthusiasts alike: Poinsettia Day on December 12th.

P.ublished 6th December 2025

How To Protect And Prepare Your Garden For The Cold Season With Winter Gardening

Image by Julie Jensen from Pixabay

As the days grow shorter and the temperature dips, gardeners across the UK are turning their attention to protecting their plants and preparing their gardens for the cold months ahead. Winter might seem like a time for gardens to rest, but the work you do now can make all the difference to how well your plants bounce back in spring.

P.ublished 29th November 2025

Lancashire Volunteers Protecting Rivers Through National Water Monitoring Project

Communities across Lancashire are playing a vital role in protecting their local rivers thanks to Ribble Rivers Trust’s work as part of the national Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) project.

P.ublished 25th November 2025

Nest-Building On A Grand Scale As Work Begins On Kynren’s Iconic New Lost Feather Arena

Work is now well under way on one of the most ambitious features of Kynren – The Storied Lands, as construction begins on the vast new Lost Feather Arena, a signature experience set to open in summer 2026. Shaped like an enormous bird nest, the 3,600 seat arena is already taking form, with the first structural elements now rising across the landscaped site.

P.ublished 24th November 2025

Engines Of Growth: New Report Reveals Bright Future For The UK’s Rural Communities

From robot farm hands to laser weeders and artificial lakes, to 3D tour guides, Futurist predicts what the future holds for the UK’s rural communities UK Altnet brand, Fibrus, has released a report which challenges long-held assumptions about rural decline and highlights the extraordinary potential of the UK’s rural communities as engines of growth.

P.ublished 22nd November 2025

Transform Your Garden This National Tree Week With British Garden Centres

As National Tree Week approaches (November 22nd – 30th), gardeners across the UK are being encouraged to plant trees that will transform their gardens and make a positive contribution to the environment.

P.ublished 22nd November 2025

Over 7,000 ‘Glow-In-the-dark' Snails Return To Island Homes

Thousands of rare snails have been reintroduced to French Polynesia with small dots of UV-reflective paint to help conservationists monitor their progress Photo: ©ZSL

Thousands Of ‘Glow-in-the-Dark’ snails have been reintroduced to French Polynesia as part of global conservation programme to save the snails from the brink of extinction.

P.ublished 15th November 2025

Rivers Trust Harnesses The Power Of Nature To Reduce Ribble Valley Flood Risk

An aerial view of the newly created secondary channel at Little Mearley photo credits TM Lindsay Ltd

A series of innovative river restoration projects in the Clitheroe area are helping to protect local communities from flooding while creating new wildlife habitats and improving river health.

P.ublished 11th November 2025

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