Author: Andrew Rogers

An Arctic air mass has pushed south across Europe, bringing severe cold well below seasonal averages.Temperatures fell into double-digit negatives across central regions, with heavy snow in Poland, Ukraine and the Alps.The cold spell is expected to persist, with some areas up to 10C below normal.Strong winds worsened conditions, making temperatures feel significantly colder.Corsica was hit by extreme winds, with gusts near 100mph in Cap Corse.Gusts of around 60mph battered the town of L’Île-Rousse.The winds were driven by high pressure over the Atlantic and low pressure in the Gulf of Genoa.This pressure contrast funnelled cold air through the Rhône valley,…

Ring-necked parakeets have expanded rapidly across the UK, increasing 25-fold since the mid-1990s. Once centred around London, the birds are now spreading to northern cities. Their loud calls now dominate areas such as Richmond Park, where ancient trees provide ideal nesting sites. Introduced after escaped pets arrived in the 1960s, their numbers have grown with milder climates. The British Trust for Ornithology estimates more than 30,000 birds now live in the UK. Conservationists fear growing competition with native birds and bats, though UK research remains limited. Studies abroad suggest possible harm, while British findings remain inconclusive. Department for Environment, Food…

UK ecosystems continue to decline or show little improvement, according to 2025 biodiversity indicator data.The indicators, published annually since 2007, track progress toward national and international biodiversity targets.Scientists at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology contributed key species trend analyses.The report was published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.Most indicators show long term declines, though some trends have stabilised in recent years.Data from Butterfly Conservation show over half of monitored butterfly species have declined since 1976.Scientists say volunteer monitoring is essential and encourage public action to support wildlife locally.

Hundreds of plant species are blooming in winter across the UK, alarming scientists.Researchers say the phenomenon is a visible sign of climate breakdown. Data from the annual New Year Plant Hunt show warmer winters are shifting plant cycles.An analysis by the Met Office links higher temperatures to increased winter flowering. For every 1C rise in late-autumn temperatures, 2.5 more species bloom in winter.In 2025, volunteers recorded 310 native plants in flower. That figure far exceeds the usual expectation of around 10 species.Including non-native plants, 646 species were found flowering. The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland called the trend a…

Adorable grey seal pups have been photographed at Donna Nook Nature Reserve on the Lincolnshire coast.The reserve near Louth attracts hundreds of visitors during the pupping season each year. Grey seal pups are usually born between October and December.This year, 1,924 pups were recorded at the site. That total is 274 higher than last year, which saw a notable decline.According to Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, all adult seals have now returned to sea. Twelve pups were still visible from the viewing area earlier this week.

The Illinois Fighting Illini secured a thrilling 30–28 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2025 Music City Bowl. The closely contested game kept fans on edge until the final minutes, highlighting the intensity of college football postseason play. Illinois trailed early but quickly found its rhythm. The team’s offense executed precise plays, balancing passing and rushing attacks to gain momentum. Key drives in the second half helped the Fighting Illini catch up and take control. Tennessee put up a strong fight throughout the game. The Volunteers capitalized on early opportunities, building a narrow lead by halftime. Their offense, led…

Young Atlantic salmon have been recorded in three north-west England rivers for the first time since 2015.The critically endangered species was spotted in the Mersey, Bollin and Goyt rivers. The sightings confirm the fish successfully migrated from Arctic feeding grounds to spawn.Salmon return to freshwater gravel beds after two to three years at sea. The Environment Agency described the discovery as a significant environmental turnaround.Officials plan a new distribution study using eDNA sampling in early 2026. Atlantic salmon populations in Britain have fallen by 30–50% since 2006.Climate change, pollution, invasive species and river barriers remain major threats. Water quality improvements…

Rough play may look chaotic, but research shows it plays a vital evolutionary role.Across species, rough-and-tumble play helps animals learn social rules and emotional control. Ethologist Gordon Burghardt witnessed this firsthand decades ago.A lion cub and a neighbor’s dog quickly understood each other’s playful signals. Despite millions of years of separation, both animals used shared cues to avoid real conflict.This surprised researchers at a time when animal play was dismissed as unscientific. Studies now show play follows consistent rules across mammals and birds.Players restrain force, take turns winning, and stop when one signals discomfort. Neuroscientist Sergio Pellis says children follow…

Barn owls have successfully bred at a new nest box at Hengistbury Head in Dorset.The birds were first spotted in March at the reserve managed by Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council. Despite dry summer conditions, the pair raised a single chick.The council said the outcome showed habitat restoration efforts are working. A licensed expert ringed and weighed the chick in July.Cameras monitored it until it successfully fledged. The breeding forms part of a wider recovery plan led by Dorset Council and BCP.Barn owls are a priority species under the local nature recovery strategy. Earlier this year, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole…

Across the French Alps, abandoned ski resorts are becoming a new and unsettling landscape.As rising temperatures push snowfall higher up the mountains, hundreds of slopes have closed for good. The Céüze 2000 resort shut in 2018 after 85 years of operation.Staff expected a temporary closure, leaving rotas and maps behind. Six years later, the buildings remain frozen in time.Céüze is now one of at least 186 French ski resorts that have permanently closed. Unreliable snow made the resort financially impossible to run.Opening costs reached €450,000 per season, far exceeding income. Artificial snow was considered but dismissed as a short-term fix.Local…