86 m. ago Gardeners urged to leave one item in garden to help wildlife

As birds use lots of energy to build their nests and feed their young at this time of year, you can give them a much-needed helping hand this spring by leaving out one particular kitchen scrap

Politics

88 m. ago Best air coolers that will get you through the summer heatwave

Tackle the heat indoors affordably with an evaporative swamp cooler

Society

1 hour ago Gardeners urged to plant 5 flowers that stop weeds from taking over

These are five gorgeous flowers that do well in British gardens and which will prevent unwanted weed growth - even better they will grow back year after year so you only have to plant them once

Politics

3 h. ago 'I caught neighbour's kids in my garden – their mum's reaction floored me'

A man felt like he was branded as a 'bad guy' for telling his neighbour's children to leave his garden – as their mum had a reaction he really wasn't expecting

Events

3 h. ago Dunelm 'easy to assemble' folding bar 'perfect for the garden' this summer

If you want easy access to your beverages, or an extra side table for the barbecue, this folding garden table could be the perfect addition to your garden.

Politics

4 h. ago Monty Don says UK gardeners must cut two plants this May to guarantee beautiful blooms next year

Gardening expert Monty Don has shared an essential tip for gardeners this spring

Politics

5 h. ago BBC announce Blue Peter to move to iconic Manchester location

The flagship children's show is moving from MediaCity in Salford - although the famous Blue Peter garden will remain there

Politics

5 h. ago Best garden furniture sales: deals on rattan, outdoor furniture sets, fire pits and more

Looking to spruce up your outdoor space? See the best deals and discounts available now

Economics

5 h. ago The Underground Railroad went all the way to Canada – and a new photo exhibit preserves that legacy

For an estimated 30,000 Black people, the journey from enslavement in the US ended north of the borderBetween the late 18th century and the end of the American civil war, tens of thousands of Black Americans escaped the bondage of slavery by fleeing plantations to go north. The Underground Railroad had stops in states in which slavery was illegal, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. But for an estimated 30,000 people, the journey continued beyond those states into Canada.Early Black American settlers in Canada – people who became Black Canadians before Canada was a country – made an indelible mark on their new home. They created thriving communities across Ontario and Nova Scotia and as far west as the Manitoba border; they founded abolitionist newspapers and paved the way for waves of migration that would follow. Continue reading...

Culture

5 h. ago Why we shouldn’t turn up our noses at New Zealand sauvignon blanc

Wine snobs can be a bit sniffy about it, but New Zealand sauvignon blanc is one of the most widely drunk whites in the UKBesides Provençal rosé (a column for another day), New Zealand sauvignon blanc has to be one of the most successfully marketed wines of the past century. This grape is, of course, planted around the world, and originally French, but it has become so wrapped up in the identity of New Zealand wine, and so at the forefront of our minds, that several people I know who have heard of New Zealand’s take didn’t know that sauvignon blanc also constitutes many appellation wines from the Loire and Bordeaux.It was 1973 when the first sauvignon blanc vines were planted in Marlborough, and were initially intended to be blended with müller-thurgau, which at the time was one of the region’s more popular grape varieties. That’s almost unthinkable now, when Marlborough is by far the most famed region for sauvignon blanc, with about 25,000 hectares of vines, low rainfall and long, s...

Politics

5 h. ago Alan Titchmarsh urges gardeners to make key purchase every month to keep your garden looking healthy

If your garden could do with a lift despite the warm weather, Alan Titchmarsh has revealed a simple trick to inject life back into your green space.

Politics

5 h. ago Stop planting one 'sneaky' herb in flowerbeds – it can take over whole garden

A gardening expert has warned about a popular plant that can be grown for use in food and vegetables, describing it as 'invasive'. She shared her top tips to keep it under control.

Politics

6 h. ago South Queensferry venue named one of the UK's best beer gardens

Summer has arrived – and so has beer garden season! From historic pubs and countryside locations to vibrant city hangouts and scenic riverside settings, there’s a perfect beer garden waiting for everyone.

Politics

6 h. ago Alan Titchmarsh urges gardeners to buy these two plants every month to keep your garden looking healthy

If your garden could do with a lift despite the warm weather, Alan Titchmarsh has revealed a simple trick to inject life back into your green space.

Economics

7 h. ago ‘A ruthless agenda’: charting 100 days of Trump’s onslaught on the environment

Guardian reporters map out how Trump is eviscerating efforts to protect the natural world – from ‘drill, baby, drill’ to mass firings100 days of Trump: inside Trump’s whirlwind start to his second termDonald Trump has never been mistaken for an environmentalist, having long called the climate crisis a “giant hoax” and repeatedly lauding the supposed virtues of fossil fuels.But the US president’s onslaught upon the natural world in this administration’s first 100 days has surprised even those who closely charted his first term, in which he rolled back environmental rules and tore the US from the Paris climate agreement.Taken more than 140 actions to roll back environmental rules and push for greater use of fossil fuels.Set about rewriting regulations that limit pollution from cars, trucks and power plants.Officially reconsidering whether greenhouse gases actually cause harm to public health.Legally targeted states that have their own laws on tackling the climate crisis.Speeded up env...

Politics

7 h. ago Chiminea BBQ fire pit now £59 – and £10 cheaper than Amazon for the same one

This towering garden fire pit with grill is £10 less than the identical item on Amazon – and it’s already proving popular for spring barbecues.

Economics

8 h. ago Lazarus Lake, the ‘Leonardo da Vinci of pain’ behind the world’s cruelest race

In an extract from his new book, Jared Beasley introduces the eccentric figure behind the Barkley Marathons, where runners are terrified and tested in equal measureFor over a century, Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary was the end of the line. Built in the shape of a Greek cross, the pale limestone structure had housed the worst of the worst – murderers, madmen, monsters – its bulk hunched beneath a crown of scarred mountains the guards called the fifth wall.Now it sits empty – cracking and molding and dying. But each spring around April Fool’s, on a cold, crisp day like today, a retired accountant appears at its gate. He carries a book with an ominous title and plants it against the back wall. Then sometime between midnight and noon the next day, he lights a cigarette, and the world’s most grueling footrace begins. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Crossmichael woman left with 'disgusting' raw sewage in her garden for nearly a week

Tracy Millar believes she is suffering from sewage gas poisoning due to an issue with her drains.

Politics

8 h. ago Gardeners urged to check grass and plants for white powder coating

A white powder appearing over your garden bed can be a serious warning sign - fortunately there are some ways to help prevent this highly troublesome plant infection

Events

9 h. ago Gardeners urged to use simple trick to stop plants dying in heatwave

As a mini-heatwave sweeps the UK with temperatures reaching 30C, a gardening expert has shared her essential tips to protect your plants against the elements

Events