And in other news....

Hedgehog road deaths in UK 'as high as 335,000'

Up to 335,000 hedgehogs are dying each year on UK roads, a study suggests.

The figure represents a three-fold mortality rate on 2016 data, described as "alarming" by a team at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) researchers.

A study in 2016 put the UK road death figure at 100,000 but experts suggested that was a "mid-line estimate".

Researchers said measures such as tunnels and speed bumps "could" protect the animals but ultimately relied on drivers' behaviour to change.

PhD student Lauren Moore led the review, which has been jointly funded by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and NTU.

Recent estimates put the hedgehog population in England, Wales and Scotland at about one million, compared with 30 million in the 1950s.

"Hedgehog roadkill is sadly a very familiar sight both in the UK and in Europe," Ms Moore said.

The research considered a number of measures to protect the creatures, including speed bumps, road signs and tunnels, but concluded none would be effective without help from drivers.

"Although we know some hedgehogs use road-crossing structures, we don't yet know how effective these solutions are," Ms Moore continued.

"Changing drivers' behaviour has been shown to be difficult to achieve and sustain, reducing the potential for meaningful reductions in roadkill."

She thought the solution may lie in a combination of measures constructed "in carefully chosen locations" close to hedgehog hotspots.

Nida Al-Fulaij, grants manager at PTES, said: "With thousands of hedgehogs killed on UK roads every year, the continuous development of road networks, without any mitigation, puts this already endangered species at even further risk."

Uphill continues to enjoy its popular annual scarecrow festival.

Uphill’s scarecrow festival continues to be popular with locals when hundreds recently took the scarecrow trail around the village and enjoyed its 13th annual event.

Working with this year’s theme of ‘Anything Goes’, colourful creations were seen in villagers’ gardens, windows and on rooftops.

Contributions included NHS hero and Captain Tom, created by pupils of Uphill Village Academy.

Chair of Uphill Village Society, which organises the event, Stewart Castle, said: “I love the surprised look on people’s faces when they tour the village and come across the different scarecrows all over the place, from front gardens to roof tops and windows.”

The scarecrows were only intended as a one-off event 13 years ago, as part of the Weston-super-Mare arts festival, but the practice has become a popular annual event for the area.

The two village churches were unable to offer refreshments stops, but set to return for the 2021 festival.

https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news ... -1-6894563

New plans to refurbish fire-damaged Newlyn pub approved

A pub which was almost destroyed by fire could be set to reopen after plans for a refurbishment were approved.

The Fisherman’s Arms Inn in Newlyn was gutted in February 2019 after a fire tore through the historic pub.

But it could be set to rise from the ashes after Cornwall Council approved major plans to refurbish and alter the building.

The pub is believed to date from the mid 18th Century and is located in a conservation area.

In documents supporting the planning application, it is stated that the roof and floors of the building were “beyond practical repair” following the blaze.

However, the walls were found to be in satisfactory condition and the building has undergone initial stabilisation and protection works to protect it from weather damage.

St Austell Brewery, which owns the pub, said previous tenants had found it difficult to meet the financial commitments of the business due to the constraints of the small building.

But it added it had "received large numbers of calls from the local community desperate to see the pub reinstated" and it was clear "there was a huge desire to see the Fisherman’s Arms open its doors once again as a public house”.

To address the space issues the refurbishment includes plans to extend the trade area to the first floor and have a balcony which can be used by customers.

The brewery said that these changes are “critical to making this a viable business” adding: “Without it the whole project is in question and we believed the business will not be sustainable.”

Cornwall Council granted planning permission for the refurbishment and alterations last week.

-- Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:14 pm --

World puddle jumping championships go virtual

A puddle jumping competition is still set to make a splash but with a virtual twist due to the Covid pandemic.

The World Puddle Jumping Championships are usually held at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, but in order to comply with coronavirus restrictions the 2020 event will not be held at a single location.

Entrants will instead submit videos of themselves jumping into puddles they have made or found.

They will be scored on jumping ability, enthusiasm and splashing distance.

Judges for the event, in its eighth year, will also consider "stickability", which is described as the amount of mud which clings to each competitor.

Rachel James from Wicksteed Park said the event was "a great way to encourage people, and especially children, to get out into the fresh air".

She said: "It would be impossible to run in the normal way this year. However, we are determined that Covid restrictions won't ruin the fun."

Cambridge police cell detainee donates scratchcard win for 'better coffee' in cells

A person who spent the night in police cells after being arrested has donated their scratchcard winnings in the hope the force will buy some decent coffee.

A "thank you" card and £9 were mailed anonymously to Cambridge Police Station by the former "guest" on Thursday.

The detainee was critical of the quality of both the food and coffee during their stay and suggested officers serve better quality drinks.

Officers thanked them for the review and said the money would go to charity.

"Dear Police, the coffee and food was ****," the card said, with the writer then suggesting the force should try to source better quality coffee in future, putting the £9 winnings from two scratchcards towards that.

Cambridgeshire Police responded on Facebook, writing: "Thank you to the author of this card who took the time to review their recent stay with us at Parkside and even bought us a couple of scratchcards in the hope we'd use the winnings to purchase some decent coffee."

Officers added that they "take all feedback seriously and that includes the food and drink served in our cells", however, they hoped the complainant would not pay another visit to them anytime soon.
A spokeswoman for the force said they did not know who had sent the card and donation, as, "like all good restaurant critics, they have chosen to remain anonymous".

Asked about the brand of coffee served to detainees in the city centre cells, she said it would be "the best value for the taxpayer".

Tributes paid to beloved Winklebury lollipop lady

PARENTS, pupils and members of the community lined the street outside Castle Hill Schools on Friday afternoon to pay tribute to a beloved lollipop lady.

Belinda Mott, who lived on Dudley Close, was a lollipop lady for the schools on Winklebury Way for nearly 20 years, and was a friendly face to many people in Winklebury.

Belinda's former neighbour, Frank Mudd, said: "I have known Belinda since 1998 when I moved to Winklebury and became her neighbour. Belinda was one of the first to welcome us, and became a great friend.

"She will be greatly missed by so many. There was lots of children, parents and friends lining Winklebury way. It was extremely emotional to be stood there."

Belinda passed away earlier this month, and her family arranged for the hearse to drive past the school at 3:50pm on the day of her funeral, Friday October 23, to allow those who knew her to pay their respects and say goodbye.

Children waved miniature lollipop sticks in her memory, while others laid yellow flowers and hung balloons by the school.

In 2013, Belinda, then 52, was named the best lollipop person in Hampshire, after being nominated by pupil Jack Freeman, then 10.

She was up against 10 other lollipop men and women from each of the boroughs and districts in the county, in a competition to mark 60 years of the school crossing patrol service nationally.

Chickens abandoned on village green

Around 30 chickens have been found abandoned on a village green in Kent.

RSPCA officers managed to rescue 14 of the birds, and have appealed to people to look out for the rest, which were last seen on The Green in Offham on October 21.

“There were a mixture of hens and cockerels, and the cockerels had coloured cable ties around their legs,” said RSPCA inspector Kirsten Ormerod.

This is one of a number of recent incidents where birds have been found abandoned, RSPCA officers said.

Three cockerels were found in a cardboard box in Hertford on October 13, and two chicks were found abandoned in a box in a park in Gosport on October 22.

“We understand that circumstances can change and people may find themselves in a difficult situation where they may no longer be able to care for their pets,” added Ms Ormerod.

“If you’re struggling then we’d urge you to ask for help. Speak to friends or family, contact your vet, or ask a local charity if they can help.”

The birds rescued from Offham are now being looked after at a local rescue centre and will be cared for until they are well enough to be rehomed.

Baby hedgehog's 'lucky' rescue from drain in Preston

A baby hedgehog was "lucky to survive" after being plucked from a drain with water up to its mouth, said the RSPCA.

The animal charity were called to an address in Grimsargh, Preston by a woman who found the hoglet but initially thought it had drowned.

After noticing bubbles coming from the animal's nose, she drained the water until help arrived.

An RSPCA inspector then rescued the five-week-old hedgehog - who has been named Mr Prickles - with a pole.

"He was really lucky to survive as the water was up to his mouth so it is fortunate he was spotted or he would have drowned," Emma Dingley from the RSPCA said.

"I think he must have been out with his mother and the rest of her litter at night when he fell down the drain as he was too young to be out on his own."

"The vet said he was in good health just very cold.

"He was sneezing and shivering so I wrapped him in a blanket with a hot water bottle inside and about half an hour later he stopped shaking."

After spending the night with the inspector on Thursday, the hoglet was taken to the Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich where it will be cared for it until it is old enough to be released back into the wild.

Cowes Floating Bridge: Further fault found on troubled island ferry

The Isle of Wight's troubled floating bridge will remain out of service after another fault was found.

The chain ferry returned to service on 20 October after a three-month stoppage to fix a hydraulic fault. It has broken down again twice since.

It had been due to resume on Monday but a sheared inner piston end and a fatigue crack have now been found.

The council said the vessel was being checked and would not return to service until Saturday at the earliest.

The latest issue, affecting the loading ramps, was not connected to the hydraulic problem which was picked up during routine maintenance in July.

Speaking at a council committee meeting on Tuesday, Isle of Wight council leader, Dave Stewart, said: "It is very disappointing that the service was taken out in the first two weeks it was back."

But councillor Karl Love said believing the problems could be fixed no matter what was "institutional blindness", according to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

He said: "My residents just want this fixed like everybody else and fixed sooner rather than later."

The ferry, which crosses the River Medina between Cowes and East Cowes, has faced a catalogue of glitches since entering service in May 2017.

The council has been in legal discussions about the issues and Mr Stewart asked committee members for a list of questions regarding the latest problems.

When the ferry is out of service, a launch boat ferries foot passengers, while vehicles face a 11-mile (18km) detour via Newport.

A push-boat is also being used to keep the vessel at the right level during fast-flowing spring tides, costing £97,000 a year.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ds-3035453

According to the Dewsbury Reporter these are the UKs of op ten kindest cities.

A @@@@@@@ pub awarded Grade II listed status as one of the best preserved buildings of its kind
The Queen Bess is among five pubs across the country given listed status on the advice of Historic England


https://www.@@@@@@@.co.uk/n ... ii-1583971