I used to have one of these in my sitting room. The scent was overwhelming and sadly in the centre of the city there were no suitable pollinators around.

Coverted to imagery originally by Jim Blinn??

Posting on my allotment group says Angela Rayner is targeting allotments for building on. Allotments are lifesavers for so many people, especially for urban flat-dwellers. Health-giving in many ways and provide good quality fresh food. A Tory govt a few years ago defined them as Brownfield sites.

Isn't it an African crow? Or am I missing something.

It is based on national figures, not the local ones.

Good news. With ReformUK and the Greens now having the same number of MPs, I look forward to both parties getting equal coverage on BBC News and Question Time...

Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham Large parts of Dartmoor have been denuded of wildlife, harmed by farming and a mess of government schemes that are costly in every way, says naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham

Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill to the tune of millions in a climate and biodiversity emergency - it’s bad and bonkers ! ⁦Me for The Guardian . . . @wildjustice.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

How human eggs stay fresh for decades In human beings, egg cells need to survive for about five decades, much longer than most other cell types – and they may achieve this unusually long lifespan by slowing down their natural cell processes

In human beings, egg cells need to survive for about five decades, much longer than most other cell types – and they may achieve this unusually long lifespan by slowing down their natural cell processes.

Fauja Singh smiles at the camera in an Age UK t-shirt

We're so saddened by the news of Fauja Singh's passing. He remains an inspiration to us all, having run his first marathon at 89, and became the first man over 100 to run one.

We are grateful for all the support Fauja gave Age UK over many years, and our thoughts are with his family 💜

This is economic warfare by the rich against the rest. The point and purpose of the Labour Party was to resist such attacks. Starmer and Reeves have turned their party into the opposite of what it once was.

Reeves says rules and red tape are ‘boot on the neck’ of business At the Mansion House dinner she calls for regulators to allow more risk to clear the way for economic growth

Cutting "red tape" (aka public protections), as Reeves is doing, does not save money. Instead, it transfers costs from the rich to the poor. Other people pay for financial recklessness, filthy rivers, air pollution, lax building standards and consumer rip-offs.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Dismay after Southampton airport gets permission to cut down cemetery trees Campaigners attack council for backing plan to fell trees in burial site near runway to allow for increase in passengers A Labour-led city council has been criticised for backing an airport’s scheme to cut down “majestic” trees in a historic, wildlife-rich cemetery close to a runway. Environmental campaigners, people whose loved ones were laid to rest in the cemetery and opposition politicians have expressed dismay that the trees in South Stoneham Cemetery in Southampton are to be lost. Continue reading...

Dismay after Southampton airport gets permission to cut down cemetery trees

But it is not free?

Barratt - large developer ahead of Labour govt. on this. Passivhaus standards should have been made mandatory before now. Now do the same all over the UK, AND only build higher density multiplex homes, everywhere.

How does this law affect all the professionals whose communications with clients/patients are confidential except if relating to possible terrorism?

Pedicab PSPO Have you say on the Council's proposal to introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict specific behaviours associated with the use of pedicabs, that have a detrimental impact on the qu...

City of Westminster, London UK - council consultation on Public Spaces Protection Order for problem pedicabs behaviour eg noise, overcharging, blocked pavements. As is long wait for TfL licensing. Please support residents (20 years of 80 dB), make PSPO is effective.
pedicabpspo.commonplace.is

@simon_brooke
"The Greater London Authority (GLA) has already had to impose a temporary ban on new housing developments in West London because a cluster of existing data centres was using the available grid supply.
"Because AI's energy demands are outpacing the development of bigger electricity […]

The media reports on this say 'restrictions' on noise. This would be a major mistake. All amplified noise has to be totally banned at all times. Restricted noise, by volume or temporally, cannot be enforced. There's no money for the staff it would take. Police won't do it either. Workers need quiet

Babies, Bunkum and the Breeder Panic Why the World Doesn’t Need More Humans (Even If Elon Musk Says So)

WHY PRONATALISM IS WRONG open.substack.com/pub/rupephot...

I will vote for whichever (if any) political party will prioritise two things: 1. Proportional representation, preceded by an informed 'national debate' on what form to use.
2. Cleaning up politics. No more mendacity, lying, deceit by politicians, ministers, spinners, spads. Thus restoring democracy

Barratt - large developer ahead of Labour govt. on this. Passivhaus standards should have been made mandatory before now. Now do the same all over the UK, AND only build higher density multiplex homes, everywhere.

Roses Offer Mechanical Clues for Shape-Shifting Materials Understanding the mechanical mechanisms that alter the shape of rose petals as they grow could inspire new types of self-morphing materials and structures.

Young rose petals are almost entirely round but as they grow, small and distinct points appear along their outer edges. Researchers have now uncovered the mechanical mechanisms responsible, offering new insights for designing structures can change shape on demand.

How Brexit frictions affect the art trade, despite today's 'reset'. Importing (say) a decent Gainsborough from EU to the UK requires: EU export licence; UK customs checks; UK 5% import Vat; extra procedures if it's going to Northern Ireland. None of this applied pre-Brexit.
1/2

Britain needs an alfresco dining revolution to bring life into its cold city centres | Dan Hancox London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, is aiming to get diners back on to the streets. If it’s good enough our fellow Europeans, why not Britons, asks freelance writer Dan Hancox

Very one-sided perspective on pedestrianising in mixed residential areas. No mention of how residents suffer, or their rights. @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What I heard was that it was tried, and the results were catastrophic.

Westminster Council backs Prince Charles Cinema in lease battle The campaign to save central London’s cult Prince Charles cinema from closure has been boosted by a decision by Westminster Council to list it as an Asset of Community Value.

Westminster Council backs Prince Charles Cinema in lease battle

www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/wes...

The campaign to save central London’s cult Prince Charles cinema from closure has been boosted by a decision by Westminster Council to list it as an Asset of Community Value.

NOTE how Westminster Cycling Campaign failed to mention the horrendous impacts pedestrianisation would have on the residents on and by Oxford Street. Keep the traffic on the main road where it belongs, and pedestrianise the residential side streets.

Bow Street Society Trivia of the Day
The shop "James Smith & Sons Umbrellas" on New Oxford Street, London, was founded in 1830 and is still in operation today: www.james-smith.co.uk

Image: Interior of the shop.

Oxford Street is a main through-route, and a vital route for deliveries etc in the area. And the right location for buses & taxis for shoppers, commuters, tourists & residents. To dump on that traffic on the residential communities just off Oxford Street would be a mean, wicked thing to do.

".. unlock Oxford Street's true potential." Such nonsense. IKEA is there, so what? There are loads of retailers of various goods on Oxford Street - and there always have been. Nothing new there.