UK News

At just before 4am this morning, a total of 15 fire appliances from Bideford, Barnstaple, Hartland, Ilfracombe, Hatherleigh, Holsworthy, South Molton, Appledore, Torrington, and Honiton were mobilised to a thatched property on fire at Horns Cross, Bideford. Fire crews have managed to control the fire and prevent the spread to the adjoining properties.

The A39 is closed at this time.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue report "Crews arrived at the scene and confirmed one thatched property was well alight. Crews got to work using two hose reel jets, two covering jets,...

All dogs in England will need to be microchipped to help tackle the growing problem of strays roaming the streets, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announced today.

Rural campaigners and astronomers are calling on our nation’s ‘citizen scientists’ to take part in Star Count 2013 – a cosmic census which will help map light pollution across the country. Stargazers will be asked to count the number of stars they can see (with the naked eye) within the constellation of Orion. The national Star Count will take place Friday 8th February – Saturday 16th February. Everyone who joins in will have a chance to win a fantastic telescope. [1]

Emma Marrington, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Dark Skies Campaigner, said:...

One thousand keen-eyed volunteers are required to count one of the UK's most elusive birds in more than a thousand woods across the UK. The 2013 national woodcock survey is being organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

The woodcock is a beautifully camouflaged bird, with a long slender bill, that can be identified by its very distinctive flight and call. Because of their secretive nature, there has long been uncertainty about the status of the breeding population of woodcock in this country. Until 1970, breeding...