Latest news with #KewGardens
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
UK weather: Yellow warning for thunderstorms as heatwave intensifies
A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office - as a nationwide heatwave intensifies. The Met Office alert is in force from 3pm on Saturday until 4am on Sunday. Forecasters said: "The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time." The warning covers parts of the East and West Midlands, North East and North West of England, Wales and Yorkshire. Check the weather forecast where you are Travel disruption is possible - with a "small chance" of power cuts and some communities being cut off by flooded roads. It comes as high temperatures continue to dominate, with the UK potentially on track to break records for the warmest day of the year so far for the second day in a row. An amber heat health alert is currently in force across England, and highs of 32.2C (90F) were recorded in Kew Gardens, west London, on Thursday. Temperatures are forecast to widely reach the low 30s today - with 33C (91F) possible in places. Sky News weather producer Jo Wheeler said: "Temperatures will peak on Saturday with the potential for 34C (93F) somewhere in the Midlands or South East, but fresher conditions will already be moving into the West." She added that some places will miss this weekend's thunderstorms altogether - but where they hit, driving conditions will be "challenging" because of surface water. "As we go into the coming week, it'll be cooler, fresher and more unsettled." The record for the highest-ever June temperature is 35.6C (96F) and was set all the way back in 1976. Read more UK news:Chris Brown pleads not guilty to attempting to cause GBH Meanwhile, firefighters are warning that the dry and hot conditions have resulted in them responding to 564 wildfires across England and Wales so far this year - a 717% increase compared with the same period a year ago. This is also more than double the number seen in 2022, which went on to be the worst year in history for wildfires. The National Fire Chiefs Council is urging Britons to be cautious when enjoying the outdoors. Chairman Phil Garrigan said: "We are deeply concerned about the escalating threat of wildfires this summer, which have the potential to become more frequent, intense, and dangerous - particularly in areas where communities border the countryside."
Sky News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Sky News
UK weather: Britons brace for record temperatures again - as hot spell yet to peak
The hottest day of the year could be recorded for the second day in a row as temperatures are set to rise further today, the Met Office has said. After a peak of 32.2C (89.9F) was reached yesterday at Kew Gardens and Heathrow Airport in west London - making it the hottest day of the year so far - a new high of 33C (91.4F) is forecast for Friday. It comes as an amber heat alert was issued for all regions of England, with the heat health warnings by the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) remaining in place until 9am on Monday. The amber alert indicates "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services, and warns there could be "a rise in deaths" among people with pre-existing health conditions and those aged over 65. The Met Office said today's temperatures are expected to reach the low 30s and potentially 33C, while a number of areas are forecast to pass the heatwave criteria by the afternoon. A heatwave is officially declared when temperatures exceed a certain level for three days in a row. Thresholds vary from 25C to 28C (77F to 82F) across the UK. Met Office forecaster Dan Stroud said: "We're expecting the hot and dry conditions to continue, it does turn a little bit hazier in the west during the course of Friday, we're still expecting temperatures to reach the low 30s, 31C, 32C fairly widely, maybe seeing 33C." Although clouds are expected to move in from the west on Saturday, bringing the possibility of thundery showers in North Wales and northwest England, temperatures could rise further. Peak on Saturday Sky News' weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "Saturday looks to bring the peak of the heat, with large parts of England seeing above 30C. "Somewhere in eastern England could see 34C (93F). If that occurs, it would be only the 6th time the UK has reached 34C in June since 1961." She went on: "Temperatures won't be as high further north and west on Saturday, but humidity levels will be higher making it still feel hot and uncomfortable. "There'll be little relief at night, with some areas perhaps experiencing a tropical night - where temperatures don't fall below 20C. "Sunday will bring cooler and fresher conditions from the west, but south-east England will stay very warm. "Throughout there'll be a good deal of fine weather, but there'll be an increasing chance of thunderstorms this weekend."
Times
2 days ago
- Times
15 of the best gardens to visit in the UK
We've been called 'a nation of gardeners', we Brits, and whether you're green-fingered or just prefer to breathe in and smell the roses, there's no question that we have some of the most spectacular gardens in the world. Across the British Isles you'll find everything from majestic, landscaped spaces at grand stately homes — such as Capability Brown's elegant creations at Blenheim Palace — to peaceful woodland walks at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire. As befits our supposed British eccentricity, we also have more than our fair share of highly personal, whimsical gardens, from the writer Vita Sackville-West's 'rooms' of fiery red and tranquil white blooms at Sissinghurst in Kent to the pagodas and zen-inspired displays of the explorer Ella Christie's Japanese garden near Edinburgh. Alternatively, for the ultimate in photogenic vistas, look no further than the immaculately arranged neoclassical temples at Stourhead in Wiltshire, the exuberant topiary at Levens Hall in Cumbria or the contemporary sculpture park at Norfolk's Houghton Hall. And if the sun doesn't shine? Take shelter amid the exotic flora of far-flung lands in the scene-stealing greenhouses at Kew Gardens, or Norman Foster's Great Glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden in Wales, and you won't even notice the weather. Here's the pick of the best gardens to visit in the UK. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Best for literary connections Vita Sackville-West may be best known as a novelist and poet — but the spectacular garden she created in the 1930s with her husband, Harold Nicolson, at Sissinghurst Castle has become almost as great a part of her legacy. Built around a turreted, red-brick Tudor manor house, the garden features a series of outdoor 'rooms', each focusing on a different colour, with lavish displays of roses, magnolia, irises and fruit trees in flame orange, crimson and gold, as well as pinks, purples and elegant whites. Stay on site at the luxurious Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse B&B, an original Victorian farmhouse within the estate. • Best hotels in Kent• Best beaches near London Best for a dramatic coastal backdrop and its own private beach Trebah may be in Cornwall, but in this subtropical garden you could easily imagine you've arrived down under. Originally created in 1838 by the shipping scion Charles Fox, who used the family business to bring exotic plants to Cornwall, the gardens sit within a 26-acre ravine cascading down to a secluded beach on the Helford River. Wind your way past 100-year-old rhododendrons, fragrant magnolias and camellias, blue and white hydrangeas, and lush groves of Australian tree ferns and palms. Stay at the nearby Meudon Hotel, which has its own eight-acre garden, as well as a private beach and award-winning restaurant. • Cornwall vs the Cotswolds: which is better?• More of the best hotels in Cornwall Best for mountain views The Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) ranges provide a stunning backdrop to Bodnant Gardens, but even those towering peaks can't distract visitors from the beauty of this grade I listed estate. Spanning 80 acres of hillside in north Wales, the garden is best known for its luscious laburnum arch — believed to be the longest in the UK — which flowers in May and June. Other highlights include the wildflower meadows, water features and Italianate terraces. Stay nearby at Escape Boutique B&B, a Victorian villa mixing original stained glass and wood panelling with contemporary interiors. • The best beaches in Wales• More great things to do in Wales Best for impressive variety Explore the parklands designed by Capability Brown at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a Unesco world heritage site. You could easily spend a day here wandering through the water terraces, Italian garden, secret garden and rose garden, as well as the Churchill memorial garden and award-winning formal gardens. Book a stay nearby at the Thyme boutique hotel, complete with a standout spa, 17th-century cottages and refined rooms dotted throughout Southrop Manor's 150-acre estate. • Read our full review of Thyme• Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best for show-stopping architecture and endangered plants If you want to see some of the most exotic and endangered plants from Australia, Chile, California and South Africa, you don't need a round-the-world ticket — just head for Wales. Set in over 500 acres of late 18th and early 19th-century parkland with exotic flowers and foliage, waterfalls and lakes, Wales's National Botanic Garden is the UK's first specifically dedicated to conserving plant species. It's also home to Norman Foster's spectacular Great Glasshouse — the world's largest single-span greenhouse. Stay at Mansion House, an elegant Georgian mansion with an award-winning restaurant, amid five acres of hilltop gardens in nearby Llansteffan. • The best things to do in Wales• The best beaches in Wales Best for art lovers With contemporary sculptures, a Mediterranean garden and a formal rose parterre, not to mention an exceptional double-sided herbaceous border, Houghton Hall's award-winning, five-acre Walled Garden is a feast for garden and art lovers alike. Amble your way past fountains, statues, a Mediterranean garden and avenues of cherry trees, and look out for sculptures like Richard Long's Houghton Cross and Jeppe Hein's Water Flame. Be sure to allow time too for Houghton Hall's equally impressive sculpture park and deer park. Stay at Congham Hall Hotel — a converted Georgian manor house complete with spa, set in 30 acres of parkland and herb gardens. • Best hotels in Norfolk• Norfolk vs Suffolk: which is better? Best for meditation and a taste of Japan In 1908 the pioneering Scottish explorer and author Ella Christie decided to create a Japanese garden at Cowden, around an hour's drive north of Edinburgh, inspired by her foreign travels. She hired a Japanese garden designer and the result was a remarkable mix of east meets west, where Japanese pagodas and zen-inspired gardens sit amid Scotland's indigenous landscape and plants. Recently restored, the exceptional garden now welcomes 40,000 visitors per year, although visits are staggered to preserve the gardens' tranquillity. We recommend staying at Garvock House Hotel, a beautifully restored Victorian villa set in lush gardens overlooking Dunfermline. • Best hotels in Edinburgh• Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best for garden inspiration The second-most visited garden in Britain was established in 1878 by the Victorian businessman George Ferguson Wisley, who had a penchant for hard-to-grow plants. This passion inspired the green-fingered entrepreneur to establish Oakwood Experimental Garden on a 60-acre site in Surrey, which has subsequently blossomed into a 240-acre oasis named in honour of Wisley. Visitors are encouraged to seek inspiration in the Model Gardens, which show what can be achieved in small spaces. Heckfield Place, an impressively renovated building that dates back to before 1790 and offers an excellent spa and restaurant, is an ideal place to stay — it's 45 minutes away from RHS Risley by car, but worth it. • Read our full review of Heckfield Place• Best hotels in Surrey Best for a spectacular glasshouse The beautiful Botanic Gardens in Belfast are a popular lunchtime spot for the city's office workers. Spread over 28 acres, its most noteworthy feature is the Palm House conservatory, which is one of the earliest examples of curvilinear cast-iron glasshouses. The Tropical Ravine and the extensive rose gardens are some of the other highlights. Opt for a night at the Harrison Chambers of Distinction, located in the Queen's Quarter of Belfast — it's a cool boutique hotel that's only half a mile from the Botanic Gardens. • Best hotels in Belfast• Read our Northern Ireland travel guide• More great things to do in Belfast Best for giant redwoods As well as offering views of the city skyline, the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh shares with visitors some 300 years of horticultural expertise. A particular highlight is wandering through its ten glasshouses, each of which replicates a different climate: the tropical glasshouse is particularly welcome on a wet and windy day. That said, it's worth getting rained on to peer up at the giant redwoods in the Woodland Garden. The gorgeous Roseat Edinburgh — two huge Victorian villas that bring touches of Orkney to the Scottish capital — nearby is the place to book. • Read our Scotland travel guide• Best things to do in Edinburgh Best for impressive topiary This Elizabethan mansion in Cumbria is the oldest and most extensive topiary garden in the world. Established by Guillaume Beaumont, King James II's gardener, the estate contains more than 100 examples of topiary — including what look like giant chess pieces — and is said to be haunted by a black dog. Be warned: the pooch purportedly chases visitors around the mansion, which is festooned with Jacobean furniture and many fine paintings. Stay close by at Linthwaite House — it's tucked away in manicured gardens and peers out across Windermere. • More of the best hotels in the Lake District• Lake District v Scottish Highlands: which is better? Best for historic gardens Occupying 92 acres of bucolic Bedfordshire, Wrest Park takes visitors on a journey through three centuries of landscape design and chronicles the evolution of the English garden. French, Dutch and Italian styles are also showcased, but venture beyond the pretty parterres and perfumed borders to discover woodland walks, sculptures and ornate buildings such as Bowling Green House and the Archer Pavilion. Check in to Flitwick Manor, a classical Georgian house amid the tranquillity of acres of rolling gardens and parkland. Best for botanical wonders Tracing its roots back to 1759, Unesco-listed Kew pulls in around two million visitors annually, making it one of Britain's most popular attractions. Spread over 330 glorious acres of southwest London, the gardens lay claim to the world's largest botanical and mycological collections — a vast trove (more than 30,000 plant species at last count) that is closely guarded by Kew's very own police force, one of the smallest constabularies in the world. Stay at Bingham Riverhouse, which has views over the Thames and an acclaimed restaurant. • Read our full review of Bingham Riverhouse• Best luxury hotels in London Best for scientific history The former home of Charles Darwin, Down House was where the English naturalist worked on his theories of evolution and natural selection. Visitors can nose around the study where he penned his magnum opus, On the Origin of Species, but it's outdoors where his work really comes to life. The garden doubled as Darwin's laboratory and several of his experiments have been recreated in the historic landscape by English Heritage. The George & Dragon, a 16th-century former coaching inn with stylish rooms, 15 minutes' drive away in Westerham, is a perfect place to book. Best for fascinating landscaping 'A living work of art,' cooed one commentator when Stourhead was unveiled in the 18th century. Fast forward a few hundred years and the 2,650-acre estate continues to woo visitors; they come in their droves to marvel at the magnificent neoclassical gardens, which were laid out around a vast man-made lake and contain grottoes, temples and a Palladian house. Stourhead is renowned for its rare trees and is the source of the River Stour (also known as the Dorset Stour). A night nearby at the Newt — where you can expect freestanding bathtubs, four-poster beds and a heated indoor/outdoor infinity pool — comes highly recommended. • Read our full review of the Newt• Best luxury hotels in Somerset
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Check your change for 'rarest' 50p piece that's the 'Holy Grail of coin collecting'
An expert has spoken about the 'ultra rare' 50p coin that collectors all want to get their hands on. While we move more and more towards a cashless - or at least mostly-cashless - society, notes and coins are becoming less common in daily life. It used to be the case that everyone would have a mixture of fivers, tenners, and coins of all descriptions in their wallets, purses, and pockets. But with card transactions dominating in-person payments, many of us have no cash on us day to day. If you do have a stash of loose change somewhere, whether at the bottom of your purse or in jar at home, it might be worth looking closely at the coins, as you may unknowingly have a rare piece among them. These sought-after coins can be worth far more than their face value, and this is especially true for 50p pieces, which can be bought for hundreds of pounds by keen collectors. Factors such as their mintage and condition will impact how much you could get for certain items. When coins are released by the Royal Mint, certain limited edition pieces have a much higher value than others. As reported by The Mirror, one expert has identified what he believes to be the "rarest" 50p piece - the Kew Gardens 50p. There are just 210,000 in circulation and, as they can be difficult to spot for the untrained eye, you may have inadvertantly had one in your possession.. There are a few things to look out for to check if you have a Kew Gardens 50p. In a video released on TikTok last June, @CoinCollectingWizard spoke about the rare design. In the clip, the TikToker - who boasts almost 250,000 followers - said: "The Kew Gardens 50p hit the headlines in February 2014 when it was revealed as the most scarce 50p in circulation. "At the peak of the hype surrounding its value, some coins were exchanging hands for hundreds of pounds. This coin was reissued in 2019 as part of the 50th anniversary of the 50p celebrations, the 2019 version of this coin was a commemorative issue and did not enter general circulation. "A circulated version of the 2009 Kew Gardens 50p can easily sell for £150 today, a graded uncirculated version can sell for double this." First launched in 2009 as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, it features a Chinese pagoda building. This served as a chamber for Princess Augusta, the founder of the park, with the late Queen Elizabeth II's profile on the other side. It is one of the most sought-after pieces in coin-collecting circles in the UK, with one being sold for £205 in 2023 - more than 400 times its face value. @CoinCollectingWizard continued: "Just 210,000 Kew Gardens were minted for circulation in 2009 and has become the Holy Grail of UK coin hunting. So next time you are at the shop, make sure you ask for 50p coins in your change as you just never know when this ultra rare 50p might crop up." Since the video was shared, the post racked up over 23,000 views, with hundreds of likes and dozens of comments. One user said: "Got this one!" While another added: "I have 2x 2009, took me 20 years to find them!" Speaking exclusively our sister title with Mirror, @CoinCollectingWizard added: "Spotting a fake/copy version of a Kew Gardens is normally quite obvious. "If you look under the Queen's neck there are letters IRB which is the designer's initials. If it says IRB copy then it's fake. The other way is always on the Queen's side. No detail in the Queen's hair and crown." Where to find Kew Gardens 50p coin @CoinCollectingWizard said: "Best place to find Kew Gardens is trying to get bags of 50ps from your Post Office or bank as you have a higher chance of finding one if you are looking through lots." Speaking about the most expensive version of the commemorative coin, he continued: "It's the gold proof version that originally sold for around £700 and recently £6,000 at auction." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Brace for 2025's first heatwave: Met Office confirms temperatures of up to 32C are on the way for Britain this week
Britain will enjoy its first heatwave of the year this week with temperatures set to soar to 32C (90F) as some places will be hotter than parts of southern Europe. Forecasters are expecting the heat to build gradually over the coming days - and most areas will reach levels above the heatwave threshold by the weekend. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different parts. In London - which has a 28C threshold - the mercury will hit 27C (81F) today and tomorrow, 29C (84F) on Thursday, 31C (88F) on Friday and 32C (90F) on Saturday. The heat will also spread north towards the end of this week, with Manchester and Newcastle enjoying temperatures into the late 20Cs (low 80Fs) by the weekend. The Met Office said several places were expected to exceed 30C (86F) on Saturday, making them the highest temperatures of the year so far. The current warmest day of 2025 so far was last Friday when temperatures reached 29.4C (84.9F) at Santon Downham in Suffolk. That broke the previous record for the year which stood at 29.3C (84.7F), recorded on May 1 at Kew Gardens in London. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tony Wisson said: 'Over the next few days, settled weather and warm sunshine will allow temperatures to rise day on day. 'Temperatures will then rise further towards the end of the week as winds turn more southerly and even warmer air over continental Europe will be drawn across the UK. 'While the warmest temperatures are likely across London and the east of England, by Saturday heatwave thresholds could be reached across much of the Midlands, low-lying areas bordering the Peak District and even parts of east Wales.' The heatwave means some parts of the country will surpass temperatures in holiday hotspots such as Lisbon in Portugal and Barcelona in Spain, which are predicted to reach 29C (84F) on Saturday, and Nice, France, where it will be 30C (86F). Forecasters have warned some rain is still possible in parts by the end of the week, with localised, heavy showers forecast depending on how humid it gets. The burst of heat is expected to peak this weekend before easing early next week, with high pressure expected to move away from the UK resulting in falling temperatures. Mr Wisson added: 'Some forecast models even allow temperatures to rise into the mid-30Cs by Monday. While this is feasible, it is considered a lower-likelihood scenario.' Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has issued a warning over wildfires before the prolonged spell of hot weather and following one of the driest springs on record. Charlie Pugsley, deputy commissioner for operational policy, prevention and protection, said: 'Extended periods of hot and dry weather can greatly increase the risk of a grass fire, and particularly when that grass is tinder dry the spread of fire can be rapid. 'We have seen examples of this in London as well as more recently worldwide, such as in California and South Korea. 'Last month, I wrote to the chief executives of each London local authority, outlining some key measures they can take, such as to create fire breaks, and to welcome the work that councils are already undertaking.' A drought was declared by the Environment Agency across Yorkshire last week while the North West of England entered drought status last month.
