Latest news with #BBCHereford&Worcester
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cyclist's mission to measure city air quality
A cyclist has taken on a mission to help tackle pollution by using his bike to measure air quality across Worcester. Al Pagan, a Bike Worcester volunteer, has fitted a SmogOff device to his bicycle that measures nitrogen oxides and particulate matter - a mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. Alongside Bike Buses across the city, he has been gathering readings on some of Worcester's busiest streets during rush-hour traffic. The data collected will be used to complement the city council's air quality management projects. The monitor is designed as a stationary device but the sensors take readings often enough that useful data has been collected, Mr Pagan said. He added: "They say you breathe in just as much pollution if you're sat in the car and most of us at Bike Worcester are car drivers too, so this is something that affects us all." Worcester MP Tom Collins, said: "Air quality is a huge issue in Worcester, especially for our young people, who tell me that they see it damaging the environment and their own health. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Two city areas over nitrogen dioxide legal limits New air quality plan for city discussed Charity's playground air pollution warning Bike Worcester Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Birth of park's cub trio 'keeps lion story alive'
A safari park has revealed the birth of three lion cubs. The furry trio - two boys and a girl - arrived to mum Amber at West Midlands Safari Park and have been named Nero, Nox and Nancy. The park said their birth was significant as lions are classed as vulnerable in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Research and Conservation Office Katie McDonald said having lions at the park "allows us to keep their story very much alive". "It is believed lions exist in only about 6% of their historic range, demonstrating severe declines," she added. "This is due to lions losing habitat and prey to humans as the human population in lion range areas increases, conflict is becoming more of a problem." Following their second round of injections and another health check, the cubs will soon be allowed to venture into the outdoors to meet guests and explore their habitat. Shauna Jenkins, senior carnivore keeper, said it had been "exciting to watch them reach crucial milestones" since their birth on 13 April. "As they've grown bigger and more active, the cubs have become increasingly playful, often seen using Amber as their climbing frame or her tail like a toy. "Their unique personalities are beginning to emerge and we're all eager to watch them to continue to grow and develop." The latest arrival continues a recent baby boom at the park, which has welcomed three Sumatran tiger cubs, an Indian rhino calf, two blesbok calves and a barasingha fawn. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. 'Adorable' wolverines born at zoo Endangered Indian rhino calf born at safari park West Midlands Safari Park
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Birth of park's cub trio 'keeps lion story alive'
A safari park has revealed the birth of three lion cubs. The furry trio - two boys and a girl - arrived to mum Amber at West Midlands Safari Park and have been named Nero, Nox and Nancy. The park said their birth was significant as lions are classed as vulnerable in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Research and Conservation Office Katie McDonald said having lions at the park "allows us to keep their story very much alive". "It is believed lions exist in only about 6% of their historic range, demonstrating severe declines," she added. "This is due to lions losing habitat and prey to humans as the human population in lion range areas increases, conflict is becoming more of a problem." Following their second round of injections and another health check, the cubs will soon be allowed to venture into the outdoors to meet guests and explore their habitat. Shauna Jenkins, senior carnivore keeper, said it had been "exciting to watch them reach crucial milestones" since their birth on 13 April. "As they've grown bigger and more active, the cubs have become increasingly playful, often seen using Amber as their climbing frame or her tail like a toy. "Their unique personalities are beginning to emerge and we're all eager to watch them to continue to grow and develop." The latest arrival continues a recent baby boom at the park, which has welcomed three Sumatran tiger cubs, an Indian rhino calf, two blesbok calves and a barasingha fawn. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. 'Adorable' wolverines born at zoo Endangered Indian rhino calf born at safari park West Midlands Safari Park
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers compete in the 'Monaco of hill climbing'
Motorsports fans have gathered in Worcestershire to watch races described by organisers as like "Formula 1 up a country lane". The 120th British Hill Climb Championships at Shelsley Walsh, held on Saturday and Sunday, is billed as Europe's "fastest and most spectacular" speed hill climb. The track, near Stourport-on-Severn, claims to be the oldest motorsports venue in the world still staging events on its original course. Encompassing a steep hill with a 329ft (99m) rise, generations of racers have taken on the course since it opened in 1905. More than 200 cars took to the hill over the weekend to compete, some racing at speeds of about 150mph (241km/h) around the 1,000 yd (914m) track. Alex Summers, from Tenbury Wells, the fourth generation of his family to race the course, described it as "hallowed ground". "Some people refer to it as the Monaco of hill climbing," he said. "It's the sensation of speed and it's the fact that Shelsley's a natural amphitheatre, so you've got the ability to see almost the entire hill, pretty much wherever you are." Supporting from the paddocks, his mum Lindsay, who started racing 15 years ago, hit speeds of 143mph (230km/h) on her practice round. She said: "You just get to an age I think, as a woman, where you stop caring what people think and you just [say] 'I'm going to do it, I'm going to have some fun'." After lugging wheels up the track, she described the sport as "definitely not glamorous but a lot of fun". Porsche also put a prototype electric SUV, brought over from Germany and named Cayenne, through its paces on the track and a spokesperson said it was "very fast". Events started at 09:00 BST, with the fastest cars competing in the top 12 run offs. Course record holder Sean Gould was attempting to better his fastest time of 22.37 seconds in a 410kg single-seater, smaller-scale Formula 1-style car . He said hitting the high speed had been "frightening" in hindsight. "You kind of get carried away in the moment," he added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. The race that is 'like F1 up a country lane' Shelsley Walsh
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Damaged door leads police to find cannabis haul
Hundreds of cannabis plants have been found at a property in Kidderminster and will be destroyed, police have said. Officers went to a property in Lower Mill Street on Thursday night after reports of damage, and found a door had been smashed and there were lights on in the building, the force said. Police found about 200 cannabis plants and a further 100 that were being cultivated. The National Grid was called to make the property safe. A spokesman for the West Mercia force said no-one was inside the building and no-one was arrested, but an investigation was ongoing. "The plants and cultivated products have been removed and are set to be destroyed," he said. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. West Mercia Police
