The National Trust is calling for people around the UK to share their letters with the conservation charity and its followers and members, about their lockdown experiences. The Trust plans to add a selection to its historic collection of letters.
In the two-week period from 11-25 March, the charity saw a 1,000% jump in visits to the notecard category of its online shop, suggesting people were anticipating that traditional handwritten notes and letters would be a key way to keep in touch during the lockdown.
The National Trust’s Head Curator, Sally-Anne Huxtable, says: “...
Scientists and clinicians in Exeter are part of a £20 million investment to unlock the secrets of COVID-19 They will use the University’s state of the art equipment to ensure samples from Devon patients help to combat the disease.
Scientists at the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) are part of a group of the country’s leading institutions who are joining together to sequence the virus from patients throughout the UK. By knowing the sequence it will be possible to know both how it is changing (or mutating) and also to map the...
Ingenious aquarists at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, have trained strange fish to help clean their tank of a naturally-occurring pest.
Filefish, or leatherjackets, have been introduced into the charity zoo’s large stingray tank to help control an invasive anemone.
Aquarist Tom Fielding: “Aiptasia is a common temperate and tropical sea anemone. It comes in through our filtration system when seawater is drawn from the Bay. It’s regarded as a pest in saltwater aquariums because it can multiply rapidly and compete for food and space and occasionally even...
Keepers at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, had to do a double-take recently when they discovered that European common lobster Homer had moulted for the first time in two years.
Aquarist Sam Worthington was particularly pleased, as it was the first time he’d moulted in her time at the charity zoo: “This exoskeleton is almost perfect - right down to the antennae and the eyes. Lobsters moult their protective outer shells in order to grow. It’s hard work – some die of exhaustion in the process. It’s made of chitin, a natural polymer related to glucose, which plays a similar role...
Keepers at Paignton Zoo saved scores of animals after recent storms damaged a key building.
High winds ripped open a 36-metre-long air vent in the roof of Reptile Tropics at around 7.30 one morning, exposing vulnerable animals, plants and electrics. Staff rushed to save lizards, snakes, turtles, iguanas, chameleons and geckos as the temperature in the building dropped. Meanwhile, maintenance staff were able to carry out running repairs and prevent further damage.
In all, 65 reptiles and amphibians were saved, along with around 200 birds. It’s thought that no individuals...
The National Geographic Database of Great Britain, maintained by Ordnance Survey (OS), is the largest of its kind in the world.
Behind the paper maps we all know, there is a single giant digital master map of Great Britain.
During the past decade it has grown to contain more than 500 million unique geographic features. Since January 1st 2010 OS has made 360 million updates to the database – that’s more than 20,000 changes every single day.
OS has a team of more than 200 surveyors on the ground, two aircraft and further aerial support from external flying companies,...
The first degree apprenticeship in the UK for diagnostic radiography has been approved and will launch this March.
The University of Exeter has created the work-based learning programme, which will help increase the number of diagnostic radiographers utilising this innovative new model. NHS partners across the South West have helped develop the BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging programme along with patient and public support.
Dr Karen Knapp, Associate Professor in Musculoskeletal Imaging at the University of Exeter, said: “We’re thrilled that this route will...
If you often find yourself drifting off and wasting time at work, you’re not alone. A new study has revealed the true extent of the UK’s procrastination problem. The survey, commissioned by musicMagpie, found that the average Brit spends 2 hours and 9 minutes each day procrastinating at work, which is costing businesses over £21 billion per year.
Unsurprisingly, phones are a major source of procrastination, with the average UK worker spending 28 minutes each day using messaging apps, 7 minutes on Instagram, 16 minutes on Facebook and 5 minutes on Twitter.
More than 11 million 2018/19 tax returns are due back with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by the end of January. Around 54% of taxpayers have already filed their returns with more than 5.6 million of those completed online (89% of the total returns filed).
Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “The Self Assessment deadline on 31 January is fast approaching so customers have just under a month left to file their tax returns online to avoid any unnecessary penalties. Any tax due is also payable by 31 January. We know that can be a worry and not only...
People in the South West are being challenged to kick start the New Year by taking steps to support Cancer Research UK.
The charity is encouraging everybody who feels they’ve had too many mince pies or helpings of Christmas pudding to sign up now to Walk All Over Cancer and get sponsored to walk 10,000 steps every day for a month.
In the South West, almost a quarter (22 per cent) of people are getting less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week.
Alison Birkett, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the South West, said: “For many of us, the start of a new year...
