Dark Sky Status for Brecon Beacons

The beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park has received further protection from modern life as a result of receiving dark sky status, the first location in Wales to receive this award, and only the fifth destination in the world.  This is as a result of a joint approach from the National Park Authority and the Park Society, although the decision has been two years in the making.

Jim Wilson, Chair of Brecon Beacons Park Society, said it recognised the area as one of the best places in Europe "to truly see dark skies".  The park joins illustrious company that includes Mont Megantic in Quebec, Canada; Exmoor National Park in south west England; Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand; and NambiRand Nature Reserve in Namibia with the status.

The Brecon Beacons

What does dark sky status mean? Put very simply it means that the night-sky is protected and lighting controls are in place to prevent light pollution. This is great news as the Park already possesses some of the UK's darkest skies, which is ideal for stargazing. It has been said by officials that people can see the Milky Way, as well as numerous constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers on clear nights.

Martin Morgan-Taylor, board member of the International Dark-Sky Association, the US based organisation which awards the status, said the gradual loss of the view of the night sky was a loss of part of culture.

"Whilst no-one wants all the lights to be switched off, we can improve the lighting we use in towns and cities. However, the best views of the night sky come from places such as the Brecon Beacons, who have dedicated themselves to protecting and restoring the night sky for all to enjoy."

The chair of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Julia James, was quoted as saying that attaining the status was a massive boost for the entire area, also bringing wellbeing, tourism, economic, wildlife and environmental benefits.

To get through the application process local astronomers conducted a survey to assess the levels of light pollution, and lighting engineers audited the existing external lighting in the national park.  Information leaflets and letters were distributed to residents living in the 'core zone' to help them understand the simple measures they could take, such as tilting outdoor security lights downwards instead of up, that could make difference to how dark the night sky appears.  Local communities supported the bid, with residents in Talybont-on-Usk holding their own Star Party and organising a community light switch off.

Jim Wilson, chairman of Brecon Beacons Park Society, thanked all those who had taken part in the project, saying it recognised the park as one of the best places in Europe to see truly dark skies.

Environment Minister John Griffiths called the accreditation a "massive coup". He said: "It shows the level of commitment here in Wales to tackling climate change and improving peoples' physical, spiritual and mental well-being."

Twelfth Century Thatcham Building Saved as a Result of Grant

An august body that goes by the name of The Old Bluecoat School Trust is feeling pretty pleased with itself at the moment as the result of Thatcham Town Council in Berkshire agreeing to pay an annual grant of £1,000 to help towards the upkeep of the building that dates from 1304.

It may seem a small amount in view of the fact that estimates for essential works in itself run to the best part of £120,000. But in such difficult fiscal times any money is good money, and the only action that the Trust have to take is to offer the building for fifteen days use a year.

At the meeting of the finance and general purposes committee, Trust chairman, Clive Williams, was in attendance to outline the steps that had been taken  to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Grade I-listed building to bring it back into public use.

Old Blue Coat School in Thatcham, Berkshire

With the not unsubstantial sum of £120,000 looming in the  background, he explained that the charity has applied for various grants, and, at the end of last year, a promise of £60,000 was secured from Greenham Common Trust if match funding could be obtained.

Mr Williams said that an application was to be submitted soon to the Wolfson Foundation for £60,000, and that other bodies had been approached in order to secure a further £80,000 for ‘highly desirable’ work.

Owen Jeffrey, the local councillor for Thatcham South and Crookham felt that support was essential in view of the work that the Trust had carried out in ensuring that the building had not already been disposed of. He felt that it was a’very, very reasonable request’, and added: “It has the potential to be an extremely worthwhile investment by the town council.”

Further support was forthcoming from the leader of the town council, Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham north), who added: “The ability to have a unique venue within the town and also look to extend the use should be credited.” As a result of all this positive talk, the decision was unanimous.

Although the money being offered by the council is not large, it is felt that it should have a positive effect on other attempts to raise money as it is from the council and represents a regular income stream.

Mr Williams said that a funding stream from the council could help attract other donations, and that, in the future, the trust would like to be in the financial position to have a paid employee as everyone working to rescue the building was currently doing so on a voluntary basis.

English Heritage has described the building as “one of the most important buildings in the area and of national importance”.

http://www.oldbluecoatschool.org.uk/

Rhossili Bay Judged to be Third Best Beach in Europe

In a top ten that is smattered with the usual suspects from Spain, Italy and Greece, it may be considered a little surprising that Rhossili Beach on the Gower Peninsula close to Swansea has been voted the third best beach in Europe in a survey of worldwide tourists by the TripAdvisor website.

Not only that but it was joined in the top ten by Woolacombe Beach in Devon in fifth, with Porthminster Beach at St Ives in ninth. Even allowing for the fact that many of those expressing an opinion may be British based, it is still a fine accolade and Trip Advisor stress that opinion was received from a world wide clientele.

Rabbit Beach at Lampedusa, Sicily, and Playa de las Catedrales in Ribadeo, Galicia, Spain were the exceptional venues that beat Rhossili, but the result came as no surprise to Swansea Council leader David Phillips who was quoted as being “delighted, but not surprised”. He continued, “We hope that many more visitors continue to enjoy its outstanding natural beauty."

In complete contrast to many of the other successful participents, Rhossili which is is a three-mile (4km) stretch of white sand that is set within an area designated as the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, has only one building, perhaps explaining what sector of the market voted for it. That building is The Old Rectory, an old house dating to the 1850s which is now owned by the National Trust. Also visible at low tide is a ship wreck.

The bay has Worm's Head at one end - a small tidal island and the most westerly tip of Gower - and on the other there is the other small tidal island of Burry Holms. Trip Advisor were obviously delighted with the outcome of the poll with Emma Shaw representing the company saying "Huge congratulations to Swansea's Rhossili Bay for beating many of the most exotic beaches across the globe.”

Rhossili Bay

Travellers who visited the beaches in question had given them all “the highest levels of praise". The TripAdvisor website carries reviews of places, hotels and restaurants posted by travellers and holiday makers.

Local residents were obviously delighted, but wondered whether the success could turn out to be a two edged sword. Barbara Powell, who runs West Pilton House B&B in Rhossilli, said her guests were often astonished that an area of south Wales is so beautiful.

"I hope more people come and share it with us," she said. "I think the main appeal of Rhossili is that it's unspoilt - that's probably the most important thing. The views are stunning - Three Cliffs Bay, Worms Head, across to Llangennith... you can walk here, you can go paragliding, horse riding and fishing and surfing, of course."

Adam Short, a born and bred local who has run the Worm’s Head Hotel in Rhossili for over ten years said, “It has that perfect arched bay and it's very natural," he said. "It can also look very dramatic. You have Worm's Head on one side and Burry Holms on the other side. Of course, it's the double edged sword. On one hand, we want to keep the beach unspoilt but on the other hand we need to attract visitors to the area as that's what drives the economy."

Was it ever thus, the conundrum whereby places that trade on rugged, unspoilt scenery can generate income that only crowds can bring?

Morecambe Bay Cable Car Plan for South Cumbria

Early days yet, but one entrepreneur has a wide ranging plan to link the Lake District to Lancashire. He believes that it could become a world class tourist attraction.

Mark Draddy has been involved in the development of the idea for some three years and believes that Trans Bay Cable Way could have a significant economic impact for Furness and the South Lakes. A landscape designer hailing from Milton Keynes, he says that he has always had a soft spot for the area and thinks that  his idea could put the area “back on the international tourist map”.

Mark said: “Of course this is a huge infrastructure project and won't come cheap. There are proposals afoot to produce a full feasibility analysis which will reveal build costs but also highlight the massive opportunities.”

The proposal document goes on to say that: “A major building project of this nature would generate employment and, thanks to the shipbuilding heritage of Barrow, the skills required can be sourced locally.”

Morecambe Bay

There will be an obvious popularity with sight-seers and tourists, but Mark also believes that a cable car across the bay could provide an alternative mode of transport for people visiting the Lake District without a car.

As it is likely that the journey would be about forty minutes in length, and would also be a more environmentally way of getting around, it is also suggested that could provide a much-needed “kick-start for the economy” across Morecambe Bay.

Mr Draddy continued to say that he was encouraged by what he had learned from having a close look at a number of similar projects worldwide, including ones in Hong Kong, Vietnam and France. He understands that there could be some who would protest against the idea,  with  emphasis on the impact on the Lake District scenery,  but that he has no intention of damaging the local area.

He added: “Many cable cars traverse stunning mountain ranges, gliding silently on very low-profile towers with very limited impact on the environment.”

Newquay Aiming to Stay a Top Resort with Local Initiatives

Newquay in Cornwall knows that you can’t stand still to stay on top, and so it is making sure that local people can play their part by being involved  in the future of the  town that they call their home.

Residents  are being called upon to attend a special meeting aimed at instilling some pride into the resort.  An open meeting called ‘Pride of Place’ is being staged by Newquay Regeneration Forum on Monday, March 11 – it has been arranged to discuss the condition of Newquay’s public areas.  Officers from Cory, Cormac, Cornwall Council and Newquay Clean will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have.

Held at the Griffin Inn on Cliff Road from 7.30pm, organisers say the meeting is an “extremely fantastic” opportunity to find out about the general budget cuts and the ongoing impact on the council’s responsibilities.  Both town and Cornwall councillors have recently thrown the spotlight onto the image of the town centre and surrounding areas. Concerns have been raised regarding peeling paint on benches, derelict buildings and broken bins, among others.

A Regeneration Forum spokesperson said: “There have been grave concerns highlighted in recent press reports regarding the detrimental impact on replacement, maintenance and repair of street furniture and fixtures and fittings. Newquay Regeneration Forum Ltd urges as many people as possible to attend the meeting on March 11.”

Anyone wanting to submit a question should do so to the Regeneration Forum by emailing Claire Evans at b4csw@bt internet.com by Thursday, February 28, including your name.  Claire said: “Each person that submits a question will be given a slot to ask their question to the panel at the meeting We look forward to seeing as many people at the meeting as possible.”


Newquay Mayor Kevin Towill is also urging residents to attend the meeting. He said: “I think this is an excellent opportunity for residents and different organisations in the town to come along and question council officials under one roof. Cornwall Council is a very large organisation. Many people find themselves directed to different departments and individuals at County Hall.  One large open meeting is a simple and effective way to communicate. I’d encourage as many people as possible to attend.”

Fistral Bay in Newquay

Meanwhile as a separate initiative, SHOPS in Newquay are being offered the chance of a shop-front facelift thanks to £8,000 of funding secured by the Town Team. The money forms a “significant” part of the £10,000 which was awarded to the Town Team in 2012.

It was awarded following an application to become one of the UK’s Twelve ‘Portas Pilot’ towns in a Government-backed initiative to regenerate retail areas and high streets through community-led projects.  The Town Team is made up of representatives from  Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) and Newquay Town Council, as well as businesses, residents and community organisations.

One of 371 applications from towns across the country, the team won the sum to assist with the projects that it felt would make a difference to Newquay’s high street, and was made Town Team Partners, with access to resources and workshops on invigorating and improving town centres. Through the ‘Newquay Shop Front Improvement Grant scheme’, the Town Team is offering up to £250 per retail business for refurbishments and visual improvements to the outside of retail properties.

This could fund a new shop front, better signage, or even a simple paint job depending on individual requirements. The grant is available to local property owners, tenants and businesses in Newquay town centre from Monday, February 18, on a first come, first served basis. The Town Team says it is essential that people register their interest as soon as possible by logging onto www.newquaybid.co.uk and downloading and completing the expression of interest application form.

BID manager Eve Wooldridge  said: “The aim of the scheme is to help regenerate the retail sector by upgrading the frontage of shops, providing a more pleasant environment for residents and visitors, as well as brightening up our town centre.  We are targeting properties with shop fronts that are in the greatest need of improvement and that will bring about a significant positive impact to the area.”

Cornwall councillor for Newquay Central, Geoff Brown, said: “I am delighted that so many of our town centre retail businesses will be able to take advantage of this funding. It not only provides much-needed grant aid to local retailers and improves the visual appearance of our town centres, but it also has an important secondary impact on the local economy. Local painters and DIY suppliers will also gain from this grant, helping to boost the economy in Newquay. I hope that as a result more people visit our town to shop and to enjoy its refreshed appearance.”

Coastal Communities Fund Money Coming Whitby’s Way

Whitby is set to benefit from over £3.4 million in funding after grants from the Coastal Communities Fund were announced this week. The grants will see £2.6 million spent at Whitby Business Park, while Whitby train station and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway are set to benefit to the tune of £800,000.

The borough council estimate that the business park development has the potential to create more than 2,700 jobs through the proposed potash mine and wind farm projects. Coun Derek Bastiman, cabinet portfolio holder for strategic planning and regeneration, said: “This grant represents a huge vote of confidence from the Department for Communities and Local Government in the work this council is doing to attract investment and jobs, and help retrain and upskill local people to ensure we deliver prosperity for the people of Whitby and the borough.

“The potash mine and offshore wind industry have the potential to completely transform the area and bring a new dimension to the local economy which for so long has relied heavily on tourism. Investing in the business park and its infrastructure, as well as people and their skills, will help ensure we are in the best possible position to capitalise for the benefit of our residents.”

Of the 20 successful grant applications announced by the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles MP, the £2.599,373 awarded to Scarborough Borough Council is the highest in England and represents around 10 per cent of the total money awarded.

In their 40th anniversary year the NYMR is also celebrating as £1.4 million is set to be invested in the railway, including the £800,000 from the community fund. Network Rail had already pledged £500,000 and the Coastal Communities money will also open the door to a further £100,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust. This money will be used to reopen the second platform at Whitby train station and NYMR General Manager Philip Benham said he believes the knock-on effects have the potential to bring an extra £6 million into the local economy each year.

“It’s probably the biggest single sum invested in Whitby’s railway since the Beeching report of the 1970s. This is really exciting news, not only for NYMR, but also for the whole Whitby community. This is the ideal start to our 40th anniversary year, and reflects the growing success of our steam service - now in its seventh year. It is also a hugely important boost for the Esk Valley railway line.”

The funding will allow NYMR to increase the number of trains it runs daily into Whitby from three to five. Mr Benham believes this has the potential to bring an extra 50,000 passengers to Whitby each year, raising an extra £140,000 for the railway in the first year, rising to £400,000 by year three.This will create around 15 jobs on the railway itself, with another 52 in the wider tourism sector.

With tourism suffering a slump at present due to the economic downturn, Mr Benham said he hopes this investment will arrest the decline. The sum will allow extra amenities to be added to the station, included toilet facilities. Platform One will be totally unaffected by the works and there should be no disruption to services.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum Running Out of Room

An unexpected knock on effect of an increase in the level of new house construction is that Wiltshire Heritage Museum at Devizes is running out of room to display the artefacts that developers are uncovering.

Developers are required to arrange archaeological investigations on land where they intend to build and investigators come up with boxes full of artefacts dating from prehistoric to relatively modern times. But David Dawson, of the museum in Long Street, Devizes, says neither it nor Salisbury Museum have room for more. 

He said: “We can get up to 100 boxes a year. We commissioned a new store about two years ago at our own expense and that is now full, so we have no place to put any of this new material. The companies that carry out the excavations have to store it themselves. This material is really useful for research but until we can find more room to put it, it will not be available to us.” 

The museum could only recently house finds from a Saxon cemetery in Market Lavington that was excavated in 1990 and some of these artefacts will soon go on show. But the material from more recent excavations is likely to lie gathering dust for some time. Mr Dawson and his opposite number at Salisbury Museum, Adrian Green, have jointly written to Coun Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, the Wiltshire Council cabinet member for economic development and strategic planning, highlighting the problem. 

They wrote: “It is essential that adequate financial provision for long-term storage should be provided through the infrastructure delivery plan and the community infrastructure levy. Wiltshire Council does not cover the cost of maintaining the archaeological finds and archives that are generated as a result of planning consents that have been approved by the council.” 

As a result of the letter, Wiltshire Council has included a requirement in the emerging core strategy – or local plan – to provide storage for artefacts unearthed in these excavations. 

Mr Dawson said: “If the government inspector approves the core strategy, it will be the first time a local authority has taken on this responsibility.”

Controversy Rages Over New Blackpool Promenade

Tempers are getting a little frayed over the new promenade road scheme that has been implemented in Blackpool. During the work to reduce the carriageway in front of The Tower from four lanes to two, there was anger from drivers facing long delays.

Since the scheme opened in June 2011, a 20mph speed limit has been in force but during the busiest times of the year, traffic flow has been even slower, prompting calls for a return to four lanes. There has also been criticism of the shared space concept introduced as part of the project. It means pedestrians and vehicles have equal rights and traffic is meant to stop to allow people to cross.

But disabled groups including the Blind Society have hit out at the scheme, and said it was difficult for visually impaired people to differentiate between the road and the pavement due to the lack of kerbs.

An audit of the new layout, by transport planning consultants Phil Jones Associates, recommended changes were made including the addition of a new crossing in front of The Tower, that bollards and street furniture be introduced to define the shared pavement and road areas, and 20mph signs put in place.

Work on the zebra crossing is due to start later this month, and will mean there are four on the stretch between New Bonny Street and Talbot Square. The consultants identified that “very few drivers gave priority to pedestrians starting to cross.”

Cracks first started to appear in the carriageway 12 months ago, just months after the work had been completed. On that occasion the problems were described as small scale, and repairs were carried out overnight in order to minimise disruption. But queues have formed once again in recent times due to further work having to be carried out after the appearance of the latest damage.

Now parties who have been involved in the scheme are seeking to distance themselves from the bad publicity that the works are generating. Conservative councillors who agreed to the construction of Blackpool’s multi-million pound Promenade which is now breaking up in parts, have defended their role in the controversial scheme. Former council leader Coun Peter Callow today denied it was his administration’s fault.

The Tories were in power when the decision was made, but Coun Callow said “Neither Labour nor Conservative, nor Lib Dem councillors are experts on roads. The designs were done by our highways experts and we were told shared space operates safely all over the continent. It is almost two years since we left office and the completion of the work was actually after we left power, but I would expect the road has been checked by our inspectors to see if the job was done properly. If it’s not up to scratch, we must get the contractors back to put it right.”

Coun Peter Evans, deputy leader of the Conservatives on Blackpool Council, added: “We agreed the scheme but at the end of the day we take advice from experts. If an expert puts something in front of you and says this will work and these are the specifications, you accept that is true. It has either been bad workmanship or bad materials.”

The cost of repairs is being met from the £2.5m budget originally set aside for the scheme. John Donnellon, service director for the built environment on Blackpool Council, says some of the damage has been caused by heavy delivery lorries, while utility companies have also dug up some areas but will be returning to restore the carriageway. But taxi drivers and bus operators are among those fed up with the constant repairs.

Paul Bottle, who drives for C Cabs, said: “Even if they repair it, it will be a never ending job and it will be crumbling again.”

Philip Higgs, boss of ClassicBus North West which operates heritage services in Blackpool, added: “It really is an embarrassment. What was once the Golden Mile has become a pot-holed congested roadway. It is a pity common sense never prevailed at the outset. The bricked roadway was never going to sustain the traffic volume expected of it.”

Time Running Out to Learn About the Code Breaker

Although it is running until June this year, there is really no time like the present to get yourself along to the Science Museum in London to learn about the life of Alan Turing, one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, and a pivotal member of the code breakers working at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

But Alan Turing was not just a codebreaker. This British mathematician was also a philosopher and computing pioneer who grappled with the fundamental problems of life itself. His ideas have helped shape the modern world, including early computer programming and even the seeds of artificial intelligence. This exhibition tells the story of Turing and his most important ideas.

At the heart of the exhibition is the Pilot ACE computer, built to Turing’s ground-breaking design. It is the most significant surviving Turing artefact in existence.

After the war, Turing turned his thoughts to the development of a machine that would logically process information. He worked first for the National Physical Laboratory (1945-1948). His plans were dismissed by his colleagues and the lab lost out on being the first to design a digital computer. It is thought that Turing's blueprint would have secured them the honour, as his machine was capable of computation speeds higher than the others. In 1949, he went to Manchester University where he directed the computing laboratory and developed a body of work that helped to form the basis for the field of artificial intelligence. In 1951 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.

There is a sequence of exhibits showcasing Turing’s breadth of talent. Together with interactive exhibits, personal recollections and a wealth of historic imagery, the exhibition offers an absorbing retrospective view of one of Britain’s greatest twentieth-century thinkers.

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/galleries/turing.aspx

Bronte Parsonage Upgrading Works Complete, is a Movie Next?

It's more than 150 years since the Brontë sisters were alive, but their legacy continues to inspire.

The American writer and political commentator Bonnie Greer is the Brontë Society’s president, while Patti Smith, who will perform a sell out gig in Haworth in April, is another unlikely fan. Then there’s the hit TV series Twilight which owes a nod of gratitude to Wuthering Heights -– the favourite book of its heroine Bella Swan – and that has, in turn, helped bring the stories of Charlotte, Emily and Anne to a whole new generation.

Another big fan, albeit a less well known one, is Ann Sumner the new executive director of the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth. “I’m a lifelong Brontë fan. I first came here in my teens and have been back regularly over the years, I came here with my daughters when they were studying the Brontës,” she says.

Although she originally comes from Bath, Sumner is no stranger to Yorkshire having lived in Leeds and Harrogate and worked as senior curator at Harewood House. “ I've seen the Parsonage develop and I've seen the Brontë Society go from strength to strength and with the bicentenary celebrations of Charlotte Brontë coming up in 2016, I thought what a wonderful opportunity it would be for somebody to lead at this exciting time.”

So when the chance arose to take the helm at the parsonage she jumped at the chance. “I was very keen to be involved with what was going on here and I was also excited by the prospect of returning to Yorkshire because there is such an incredibly vibrant arts and cultural scene here.” Sumner has only been in her new job one day following the parsonage’s reopening at the weekend but is already looking forward to what she calls “exciting” times for the museum. “ We've just had a major redecoration – the first in 25 years – and our new website has just gone live which is a huge opportunity for us to reach a wider audience because the Brontës are very much a worldwide brand.”

It’s a brand that goes beyond the books they left behind. “The legacy inspires music, contemporary art and literature, obviously, and the breadth of academic study that’s going on at the moment with the Brontës and how immersed they are in our culture is quite remarkable.”

Sitting in an upstairs office at the parsonage with impressive views stretching out across this most iconic of landscapes Sumner explains that as well as increasing the number of visitors to the museum she wants to forge closer links with universities, galleries and arts organisations both at home and abroad.

“We’re working at the moment with Leeds University on placements here and we want to get more followers on our Facebook page and look at our worldwide activities and our links abroad. We want to look at travelling exhibitions which we would like to do in Charlotte’s anniversary year,” she says. “Building on the success of the contemporary arts project is another of the key areas I would like to concentrate on and broadening our audience so that we bring as many people as possible to the parsonage, although there’s a challenge with a small institution like this as to how many people one can actually engage with.”

“Clearly we need more space and that’s something I will be looking at. It would be great to improve our learning facilities in the future to reach as many schools as we possibly can with this fantastic legacy and story that still inspires people today.”

First of all she needs to help boost visitor numbers, for although the museum welcomed 73,408 people through its doors last year this was down three per cent on 2011. “We rely very much on our visitors coming to the parsonage and we’re very fortunate that we have steady numbers. But clearly we’d like to raise the number who visit and I’m sure that the redecoration of the parsonage will encourage more people to come here including those who perhaps haven’t been for a while.”

The parsonage attracts visitors from as far away as Japan and Australia, but Sumner wants to make sure that people in Yorkshire don’t feel excluded. “We’re very keen to have visitors from all over the world but also to have local and regional support for the parsonage, because the Brontë Parsonage and Brontë country together are a major tourism attraction in this region.”

The parsonage closes every January to allow maintenance work to take place although on a building that’s been standing since the 18th-century this doesn't come cheap. The issue of funding is also a crucial one in these tight economic times. The museum has been given funding from Arts Council England and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation for its contemporary arts project, and it also receives donations and bequests from Brontë supporters.

“We’re fortunate at the parsonage to have a very well run society which manages the museum and in these difficult economic times all of us in the arts sector are looking at working together more on projects. For us, bequests are also an incredibly important part of our ability to fundraise and we hope to launch a patrons programme which will allow people to give us a little bit more if they want to.”

Despite the financial pressures that arts organisations are under Sumner is excited about the future. “I was delighted when I was driving up to Yorkshire to hear the news on the radio that the Tour de France was coming to Haworth. “It’s going to be another wonderful factor in the build-up to the 2016 celebrations for Charlotte Brontë and we want to make sure we’re well positioned to be able to cope with the major increase in visitors we hope these events will generate.”

She also believes that the parsonage is still one of Yorkshire’s flagship tourist attractions. “It’s been described as a shrine to me in the past but I think it’s very much a living memorial to the Brontës and it is incredibly important to the village along with the other great attractions we have here like the church and the railway. It’s also very important on the Yorkshire tourism map and it’s important for me, personally. We all know about the economic situation and museums and galleries in this climate are in a unique position to assist with the recovery.

“We are a huge part of the tourism economy throughout the country and we can provide jobs and volunteering, so I think it’s really important that we are seen to be thriving and vibrant during difficult economic times.”

Looking further ahead, there is talk of a possible movie about the lives of the Bronte family. It seems that it will be filmed in the Yorkshire area to take advantage of the beautiful, almost unique, landscape that the family knew so well, but it is felt unlikely that the parsonage itself would be suitable to cope with the demands of a modern film crew.

It's Not A Horror Movie, Just Pembrokeshire's Coastline Giving Up Its Secrets

People pay good money to see horror films where villages mysteriously appear out of sand dunes, and skeletons are found sticking out of the cliff side. Why spend all that money, when you get it all for free in Pembrokeshire.

They are just a few of the sights seen by archaeologists excavating Wales’ coastline as Dyfed Archeological Trust examines spots around the nation as part of the Cadw-funded Arfordir project. In St Ishmael, Pembrokeshire, a 16th century village was found buried under sand dunes.

“Sand was being deposited on their land and erosion was occurring,” said James Meek, the trust’s field services head. Over time, because so much sand was building up it became more and more unliveable and people slowly started to move out. They have not left a lot behind so they have obviously not left in a rush. What has happened is that people moved further up, to Llansaint, which is a nearby settlement.”

The buildings may still have been used as fishing huts. But in a couple of hundred years the dunes had built up,” James said. In the 1890s a storm exposed part of the village near Milford Haven. The stone was plundered. Local farmers were using it to get stone so it turned into a quarry,” James said. “Now more and more of these buildings are showing up. We are trying to piece it all together to try and get an idea of how big this settlement was.”

At Angle an old church site has been studied. “On the south side of West Angle Bay we know there is the site of a little chapel. It is probably an early medieval foundation from the 8th or 9th century.”
Cliff erosion has led to graves being exposed. Bones have been discovered poking from cliffs. The burial sites are quite hard to get to,” James said. “You have either to lean over the cliffs to reach them, which I do not recommend, or climb up a number of rocks – where there was a skull precariously balanced on the edge of a grave.”

The coastal path runs over the site. “At the moment they are not under threat,” James said. “We don’t want to dig them up if we do not need to. There must be at least a hundred [bodies] there, but I couldn’t really say. But this is not unusual. Chapels were located on cliffs and over bays and probably painted white so they would act as a beacon to sailors.”

At St Brides there is a Norman parish church. At Whitesands, near St David’s, there is an ancient Celtic chapel. “The chapel site is under threat,” James said. “It is a scheduled ancient monument. People use it for walking over or having barbecues.” Also at Whitesands is a site known as the Ram’s Nose.

“This guy noticed these stones sticking out of a sand dune there and alerted us,” James said. “We went out and did an excavation with a group of volunteers. It’s bronze age from about from about 2,300BC to 700BC. It’s a good few thousand years old.” Sea water and erosion meant nothing was left in a grave that was there. “There was nothing surviving. No sign of bones or organic matter.” It was “almost pure sand” where they hoped to find bones.

In Goodwick a shipwreck was discovered by a walker. “The amount of ship wrecks around the coast is amazing” James said. This sloop can only be found when the sea is at its lowest tide and the sand has washed away from it. “By the time our volunteer had started recording it he was ankle deep in water.”

At Abermawr, between Fishguard and St David’s, the remnants of a Mesolithic hunter-gatherer were discovered. “It could be that they were there for a couple of days sharpening a few tools and off they went,” James said. “You just see these tiny slices of time.”

All around Wales are the remnants of ancient submerged forests. Near Cardigan is Cantre’r Gwaelod, a legendary sunken kingdom. It is said to have occupied land lying between Ramsey and Bardsey islands, it has been dubbed the Welsh Atlantis. “Now all we have got are these little tree stumps,” James said.

Trump That! Not Another Golf Course?!

Having already established a championship golf course at his £750 million Aberdeenshire golf course, tycoon Donald Trump has formally submitted a planning application for a second championship course at the same venue. If successful, he plans to name the course in honour of his Scottish mother.

The second course at the Menie Estate will be named the Mary MacLeod course as a tribute to his late mother, Mary Anne, the seventh child of Lewis fisherman and crofter Malcolm MacLeod and his wife Mary Smith.

The new course has been designed by acclaimed golf architect Dr Martin Hawtree who also designed the main championship course at the golf resort. Mr Trump, who will be visiting the North east of Scotland in April to open the second season of his championship links course, said: “Once again Martin Hawtree’s design is genius - we have the greatest piece of links land in the world and the unprecedented demand to play our championship course has accelerated our plans to build the second course.”

Sarah Malone, executive vice president for Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said the first stage of the detailed application process with Aberdeenshire Council had now begun with the submission of indicative plans for the new course to be laid out to the south of the existing championship links.

She said: “Our plans for the second golf course are moving forward rapidly and we’re delighted to reveal the indicative layout. We are more committed than ever to creating the greatest golf destination in the world. Following the launch of our championship course last year, Aberdeenshire is now considered a must visit destination for golf. The addition of a second course will further strengthen this.“

Dr Hawtree said: “I am excited at the opportunity of developing a second course for Mr Trump. At the centre there will be an outstanding Par 72 golf course, ranging between 7,500 and 5,500 yards, and situated on land with an extraordinary richness of landscape and topography; but every inch a seaside links course. The special and subtle challenge for me is to ensure that it sits comfortably beside its majestic neighbour, neither outshone by the existing course nor making any attempt to mimic or rival those Leviathan qualities.”

The new course will be a par 72 course measuring over 7.500 yards and will be laid out on 350 acres of land to the south of the main “championship” course at Menie. The site is outside the designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which was at the centre of the controversy over the development of the first 18 holes.

Mr Trump said his decision to name it the Mary MacLeod Course, as a lasting legacy to his mother, had been a “very easy decision to make.” He continued: “I thought in terms colours and I thought in terms of east-west and north-south but in the end I decided the first one should be named the championship course and I always felt the MacLeod Course would be great name for the second - there is such a great history with MacLeods and Scotland and my mother was a Macleod.

“She was a proud Scot. She loved this country so much and I think she would be very proud to have the course named after her. My mother would go to back to Scotland religiously and she loved everything about it.” The tycoon explained that he had originally believed it would be between five to ten years before he began planning second course at the Menie estate. But 10,000 rounds had already been played at the championship course since it opened last July.

Said Mr Trump: “We have over 11,000 bookings already this year - double what we had last year at this time. People are coming from all over the world. It has been incredible for Scotland and Aberdeen in particular and every hotel owner in Aberdeen loves me. The hotels are packed.

“We have had such a tremendous demand to get on the course and such an amazing second site that a second course is now being planned.” And he continued: “The course is magnificent. We are going to do our best to make this course as good as the championship course - I don’t know if that’s possible but we are going to do our best. It is very,very hard to compete with what we did. The beautiful thing is that it is not in the SSSI so we don’t have to go through that long process again.”

But he again warned that he will not go ahead with plans to build a luxury hotel and homes on the Menie estate if plans for a controversial offshore windfarm in Aberdeen bay , in sight of the resort, are given the go-ahead. Scottish Government Ministers have still to announce their decision on the proposals for the £230 million European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre off the Aberdeenshire coast.

Mr Trump declared “We have the designs for the hotel and I am confident that it will be one of the best in Europe, if not the world. Scotland has seen nothing like it. It is worth more than the windmills, and will create more jobs than the windmills. But I will not build it if the view is ruined by the monstrosities, which are going to ruin Scotland.”

Warnings About the State of the West Country Tourism Industry

When a £4 billion a year leisure industry that directly supports the best part of 90,000 people in Devon and Cornwall alone starts issuing warnings using phrases like “close to tipping point” and “not gaining market share”, we know that the recession is still biting hard.

This is the salutory news that is coming out of England's West Country, an area that relies heavily on holidaymakers. Cornwall's Eden Project hosted the South West Tourism for Excellence Awards, when the star performers of the regional tourism industry were rewarded for their efforts.

Despite the upbeat awards evening – at which Devon and Cornwall attractions, restaurants and accommodation providers stole the limelight, there are concerns about the season ahead. Statistics for the Atlantic regions of Europe showed Cornwall propping up the table having lost 5% of trade in 2002-11, while Devon lost 2%. That worrying downward trend continued in 2012 with visitors numbers down an estimated 6.5% in Cornwall and 10% in Devon.

"We are at a tipping point at the moment," Laura Holt, chairman of the Devon Tourism Partnership, said. "It's at rock bottom with regard to the weather, the recession and other factors affecting the UK holiday market. The weather is one thing we can't do anything about but we can add value around our offering to make Devon an attractive proposition."

Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, added: "We are in danger of becoming like Marks & Spencer was a few years ago in that we have very loyal customers but we are not gaining market share very much."

While Cornwall and Devon remain the leading destinations for holidaymakers in the UK, the regional industry has been hit by a number of long-term factors including the emergence of the "city break" and cheap, short haul flights abroad. Last year, the industry suffered what has been described as "Holy Trinity" of the London Olympics, continuing economic gloom and one of the wettest year's on record.

The figures from the Atlantic Forum, a European body looking to produce an action plan to boost west coast regions, showed Cornwall at the bottom of the table for growth, while other competitors such as West Wales had enjoyed double-digit growth.

Mr Bell said: "It shows that our growth, and that of Devon, has been negative and that is partly due to the fact that places like Torquay, Newquay and to a lesser extent Falm
outh have lost bed stock over that period. In essence we have been flatlining, or slightly declining, since 2002 when Cornwall was having 5.2 million visitors a year. In 2011 it was 4.5 million and last year it was 4.2 million."

Fewer visitors, he said, and a squeeze on people's incomes had resulted in a poor year, particularly for attractions. But Mr Bell said "top end restaurants", one of the success stories of recent years, had been "struggling" to hold their numbers. With feedback that visitors were looking to cut spending on food and drink and with local incomes also under pressure because of the prolonged economic downturn, Mr Bell said the sector faced a "double whammy".

Other long-term worries include the fact that just 9% of the visitors to Cornwall in 2012 had never been to the county, compared to 22% a decade ago.

"People have set 2012 as a benchmark for what business can be like," Mr Bell added. "They are putting strategies in place to cope with additional visitors but no-one is suggesting it is suddenly going to bounce back because we are in very uncertain economic times.”

Mrs Holt said last year's fall in visitor numbers had affected destinations across the UK. Visit Scotland has reported a 12% fall in its figures despite its £21 million marketing fund last year. "The real growth market is in the top end," she said. "Four-star self catering and high end properties are doing really well but it is the smaller B&Bs who are reliant on repeat visitors who are struggling. Those businesses which are adapting to change in the way their customers are interacting with them are thriving."

Mrs Holt stressed businesses had to embrace the web and social media such as Facebook and Twitter to meet customers expectations. "It is not just about creating a website and waiting for the bookings to come in. We are in an age of dialogue with consumers where people need a reason to make their purchase."

They're Hoping That Bownessie Could be a Monster of a Success

Something monstrous is happening in the Lake District, but no-one seems to have any objection to what is going on. And two people in particular are hoping that it will lead to fame and fortune.

A business woman is aiming to lure young visitors to the Lake District with the launch of a Bownessie brand based on the famous Windermere ‘monster’. Naz Craig has created a whole range of products associated with the creature – depicted as a friendly green character – including a children’s colouring book, post card, soft toy, posters and a 6.5ft wooden Bownessie.

The former legal secretary has self-funded the project, which has involved her gaining property rights to the ‘Bownessie’ brand. “When children go to Disneyland they get a Mickey Mouse, and I hope when they come to Windermere and Bowness they will pick up a Bownessie,” she said. “I want to put some more fun into tourism for kids as I think that’s so important. Long-term I’d like to open a cafe and have a Bownessie trail – I just want to keep developing the idea.”

Miss Craig, the managing director of the Bownessie Trading Company, said she had always wanted to do something to attract tourists, but it was a spell of illness that gave her the inspiration. “When I was in hospital last year my friend Robin, who is an artist, drew me a card with a fun Bownessie image on it and I loved it,” she said.

That friend was Robin Evans, of Kendal, who has helped ‘massively’ by designing all the Bownessie products. “He’s been brilliant,” said Naz. “He understands what I say and has been magical in the way he has created everything.”

Bownessie has been made amphibious, complete with cap and rucksack to make him unique to the Lakes. “It was important he had a personality,” said Naz. The giant green creature will feature outside the Windermere Tourist Information Centre, where managing director Mark Prada said: “I think it is great to see someone developing a quirky brand for Bownessie with a range of stunning products that should appeal to the family market. “With the passion and drive that Naz has devoted to the concept, we couldn’t help but give our support.”

The first sighting of Bownessie was made in 2006 by university lecturer Steve Burnip and was reported in The Westmorland Gazette. Bownessie has been ‘sighted’ several times but efforts to track him down by Crypto-Zoologists have so far proved fruitless. The story has been covered globally and has brought TV crews and underwater scientists to the lake.

Merchandise and the website will be available from February 15th.

London Set to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

London's Chinese New Year celebrations are the largest outside Asia. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people descend on the West End to wish each other "Kung Hei Fat Choi" (or Happy New Year). Chinese New Year 2013, the Year of the Snake, falls on 10 February.

The Chinese New Year festivities begin in the morning with a parade through the West End to Trafalgar Square where there's an opening celebration with stage performances and special guests. A second stage on Shaftesbury Avenue hosts performances from local community groups and schools. Over the years the stage has seen fashion shows, plays and even Chinese hip-hop artists.
Chinatown is at the centre of the New Year party. Food and craft stalls line the streets and a lion dance snakes through the crowds, stopping at restaurants to wish the owners good luck for the coming year.

Chinese New Year Schedule

10am: The parade will begin in Trafalgar Square and the colourful floats and beating of drums can be followed through Chinatown ending in Rupert Street at 11am

12pm: On the main stage in Trafalgar Square, the Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture, Munira Mirza, His Excellence Liu Xiao Ming and Stanley Tse, President of Chinatown, will commence the Dotting of the Eye ceremony, which will bring the dragons and lions to life

1pm-5.30pm: Live entertainment on stage including performances by Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter Emmy the Great, the world-renowned Chen Brothers Flying Lion Dance, Paul Potts and performers from Guangdong and Sichuan Provinces

5.55pm: A stunning fireworks display will mark the end of the day's celebrations

Chinese New Year is a huge festival among Chinese communities in London and across the world.Based on the lunar and solar calendars, the actual date of Chinese New Year varies, but always falls between late January and mid February. Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

http://www.chinatownlondon.org

Leicester Determined to Keep Itself in the Tourism Spotlight

It looks as though Leicester is reveling in its nearly acquired fame due to the confirmation of the discovery of the remains of Richard III in the city centre car park. So much so that the local press and tourism groups are seeking to highlight the delights that will attract you to Britain's tenth largest city.

They have come up with the following and although there may be a little tongue-in-cheek with some of the advice, it nevertheless goes to prove that many British cities have something to commend them.

A hunchback

The city has certainly got itself in good shape to seize every single Richard III PR opportunity. The city's Guildhall hosts a special exhibition about Richard, which opens on 8 February. There is also a forty five minute walking tour , and even a Richard III minibreak. King Richard III short breaks were launched today, featuring entry to two new exhibitions, guided walks, afternoon tea and hotel b&b for £79 for couples and £99 for families. Plus not forgetting a Facebook page of course. Is the old boy tweeting yet? Get that account set up Leicester!

A field

The exact location of the defining battle of the Wars of the Roses is a little imprecise but the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre was built in 1974 on a site 13 miles west of Leicester. Here, you can find a new exhibition on Richard III and children can dress up and re-enact Richard III's fatal final charge on Henry Tudor – or, at least, Tudor propagandist Shakespeare's version – by crying out: "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse."

An old wall

Leicester is one of the oldest cities in the country, but lost its city status for the best part of 800 years, only regaining it in 1919. Its first recorded name was as the Roman town, Ratae Corieltauvorum, and remains of the Roman baths can still be seen at the Jewry Wall, an impressive, 2.5m-thick piece of Roman walling.

Pork pies and stilton

Lovers of traditional British fare can still find rich pickings in Leicester: pork pies from nearby Melton Mowbray and stilton cheese both have EU protected status. Leicester hosts the East Midlands food festival every October. "We're very proud of our food and drink heritage ," says Simon Gribbon of Leicester Shire Promotions.

Infinity and beyond

Handily placed midway between Leicester's inner and outer ring roads (every proper city needs two) is the National Space Centre , Britain's largest attraction dedicated to space. Don't let the fact that the website is still boasting that "the Olympic torch visited us" put you off. Leicester has long been a hub for space research and the centre is offering a science-fiction special this half-term, a Robin Ince comedy evening and a "Cosmic Valentine" special coming up. Shame they can't teleport visitors back to 1485, yet but I'm sure they are working on it.

http://www.goleicestershire.com

http://www.spacecentre.co.uk

Experts Toast French-Scottish Wine Maker

William Jonqueres d'Oriola's family tree includes a happy mix of nations, with a French father, and a mother who hails from Scotland. His looks are undoubtedly Scottish, all Celtic complexion and flaming red locks, but thanks to his French heritage, he has an undeniable skill as a wine maker,

He is a member of one of the most well-known aristocratic families in the south of France who have been making wine for 27 generations – since 1485. But he considers himself half- Scottish thanks to his Fort William-born mum, Ruth McWilliam. The 30-year-old is fast becoming the toast of the French winemaking industry, with experts hailing the new techniques he has introduced.

William, middle son of Earl Philippe Jonqueres d’Oriola, supplies his fine wine from a vineyard in south-west France to Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. His home is a 12th-century castle in Corneilla del Vercol, Roussillon, 20 miles from the Spanish border. The family consider themselves Catalan as the Spanish region historically stretched over the border.

William, who is at the helm of the business, Chateau de Corneilla, said: “My mother is a proud Scot and my dad is Catalan, it’s a very strange mix. I am very proud of my two identities. I have inherited my red hair from my mum and, as you can imagine, it’s very unusual where I live. I’m known as Will Barberousse – Will with the red beard – or the Catalan Highlander. I have family in Stirling and come back to Scotland at least twice a year.”

William’s parents met in London in the 70s and set up home in France. While his two brothers – Christophe, 33, and Thomas, 27 – are based in Paris, William is head of operations at the family business, who produce around half a million bottles of red, rose, white and sweet wines a year. The family’s 150-acre estate at the foot of the Pyrenees makes 22 different wines and has an olive grove.

He said: “I took over three years ago after travelling round the world and working in different vineyards. We’ve introduced new technology and new ways of doing things, like harvesting grapes at night because of the difference temperature can make to the taste.

“Our wines are served at events such as the French Open and Cannes Film Festival but I’d love our wines to be sold in Scotland. Our wine is not expensive – at our chateau shop, a bottle of our Heritage wine costs just £5.”

William’s great-granddad built a big well at the castle, which now houses the family’s private wine collection. He said: “We hold private tastings by candlelight in there, which are pretty special.”

The Jonqueres are also famous for their sporting prowess and boast several world champions in fencing and the equestrian world. William’s great-uncle Pierre, who died in 2011 aged 91, won Olympic gold medals in showjumping in 1952 and 1964.

Sir Paul McCartney is Still to Visit Childhood Home

National Trust members who now have the chance to visit the childhood homes of both John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney may be interested to hear the admission from the musical knight that he has yet to pay a return visit to the house in Forthlin Road and indeed was a little worried as to what memories may come back when he eventually goes there.

Talking to Radio 4's The Food Programme, he was asked why he has not been back. "I don't know why - I don't know whether I will be a little worried that it'll be too nostalgic or whether there will be a sadness about it that I don't associate with it at the moment. But I think I will one of these days."

The home was bought by the National Trust and fans can make a pilgrimage to the terraced house along with the Mendips home of John Lennon. In the interview, Sir Paul discussed his memories of food while growing up in the house, which was acquired for the nation in 1995. His appearance on the programme ties in with his connection with vegetarianism since the 1970's.

He remembered being horrified when his mother prepared tongue for the family. "I remember vividly tongue arriving and she was trying to vary our diet and it was 'no way am I going to touch that' - because it was a tongue," Sir Paul told presenter Sheila Dillon. He pointed out there had been no effort to disguise the dish. His mother Mary died when he was 14 and he said the food was less memorable when he, his father Jim and brother Mike were living in the house without her.

Sir Paul said the food was "only good when my aunties came round and they would cook a proper meal".

Showing the very best of marketing skills, the National Trust arranges combined visits by minibus tour to Mendips, the childhood home of John Lennon and 20 Forthlin Road, the former home of the McCartney family.

https://kiosk.iristickets.co.uk/k?ntbeatles

Ladies Who Did More Than Just Lunch – Nell Gwynn

Nell Gwynn, a perfect example of the type of subject that I am seeking to highlight in this series of blogs about women who fought their way up the social ladder often from very poor and deprived origins. So often referred to in music-hall type terms, Nell Gwynn was certainly a lot more than the comic figure that she is perceived to be, all oranges and busty figure.

'Pretty, witty Nell' was perhaps the best known and remembered mistress of King Charles II. She was one of many (there were 13 in all during his lifetime), but she was the least 'greedy' of them all. When the King lay dying he begged his heir, the Duke of York, "not to let poor Nellie starve".

Whereas we are pretty certain that Nell grew up in unsavoury surroundings, there are a considerable number of “maybes” “possiblys” and “unlikelys” about all aspects of her birth and early life. It is thought that her mother's name was Ellen (or similar), and Nell is variously described as being born about 1650 in either Oxford, Hereford and London, the latter perhaps being the favourite as this is where Ellen raised her children.

There is no suggestion of a father being present at any time in her life, and it is thought that Nell's mother kept a brothel in order to make ends meet.

When King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 after the protectorate rule of the Cromwells, he quickly reinstated the theatre. One of his early acts as king was to license the formation of two acting companies and to legalize acting as a profession for women. Mary Meggs, a former prostitute nicknamed "Orange Moll" and a friend of Nell's mother, had been granted the licence to "vend, utter and sell oranges, lemons, fruit, sweetmeats and all manner of fruiterers and confectioners wares" within the theatre and hired Nell and her older sister Rose as scantily clad "orange-girls", selling the small, sweet "china" oranges to the audience inside the theatre.

It was here that Nell made her first tentative steps on the stage, although as she appears to have been illiterate all her life, she must have had great difficulty in learning her lines. Theatres were closed during the Great Plaque during 1665-6 and Nell and her mother followed the King's Court.

It is likely that Nell appeared in front of the King as part of the King's Company playing parts that were especially written for her to exploit her talents as a comic actress.

She became the mistress of Charles Hart, a fellow thespian, and called him Charles the First. She was then passed to Charles Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, whom she dubbed Charles the Second, and later the King, calling him her Charles the Third. Lady Castlemaine (Barbara Palmer) had been King Charles' mistress for many years when he became enamoured of Nell.

The rivalry between Nell, Lady Castlemaine, Frances Stuart, Louise de Keroualle, Lucy Walters, Moll Davis and sundry others made the King's life difficult at times. Nell was not greedy and grasping like her rivals, but did receive a house near Pall Mall and when she first knew the King, she asked for just £500 a year, although he gave her a pension of £4000 a year from rents in Ireland and later another £5000 a year out of the Secret Service Fund.

As 1669 drew to a close, Nell withdrew from the stage because she was pregnant. The child was a boy: however her other son, born two years later, died, aged nine. Although Nell herself took no title, she ensured that her eldest son was granted a title, being known as the Earl of Burford later the Duke of St. Albans.

Despite being a royal mistress and the mother of the King's child, Nell briefly returned to the stage in the latter part of 1670, although it was a short lived episode and in February 1671 she moved into the house in Pall Mall, initially as a tenant, and eventually after much complaining as the owner. The second son was born in the same year, and after being sent to Paris at the age of six, appears to have sadly died in 1681.

Nell had other residences in London including Burford House on the edge of Windsor Great Park and a summer residence in Kings Cross Road where she continued to entertain the King.

Upon the death of King Charles in 1685, his brother,James II paid off some of her many debts as well as giving her a pension of £1500 per annum. Nell survived for only another two years after the King and died at the early age of 37. Although still in considerable debt she left a legacy to the Newgate prisoners in London.

As with so many women who fought their way up the social ladder from impecunious beginnings, Nell never forgot her roots. On one memorable occasion her coachman was fighting with another man who had called her a whore. She broke up the fight, saying, "I am a whore. Find something else to fight about."

June Date Set for Enquiry into National Park Expansions Plans

A decision to examine controversial plans to expand two national parks before a public inquiry has been welcomed. Minister for the natural environment Richard Benyon said Natural England’s proposals to extend the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District would be examined at a four-week public inquiry in June.

The hearing into the plan, which would increase the park’s combined area by 193 square
miles, was triggered after five councils lodged objections. Mr Benyon told MPs: “Over 3,000 objections, representations or expressions of support were received in response to the proposals, including objections from five local authorities.

“It is a statutory requirement that a public inquiry is held if at least one local authority with land in a proposed extension raises an objection to a relevant variation order. No venue has yet been announced for a pre-inquiry meeting, which will take place in March.

Following the inquiry the inspector will make recommendations to Environment Secretary Owen Paterson who will decide whether to modify, approve or reject the plans.

A Natural England spokeswoman said it welcomed the public inquiry. She said: “This is a significant decision and it is important that it is fully and carefully considered.”

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority member Stuart Parsons said the hearing would enable a national debate. He said: “A public inquiry will give everyone the chance to have their say whether they are rich or poor, farmers or non farmers, whoever wants to put their views forward, this is the proper forum.”

The Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales were two of the first seven National Parks created in England and Wales in 1951 and 1954 respectively. Between them, it is estimated that they have over 23 million visitors a year.

http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk