A Touch of England

Somerset cannibals: Early Britons ate each other's remains and turned their skulls into cups. New research offers the best evidence yet that cannibalism took place in Somerset's Cheddar Gorge 15,000 years ago.

A pair of hawfinches were recorded in woodland by a local ornithologist.

The hen harrier southern reintroduction aims to establish a wild, farmland nesting population of hen harriers in the south of England. Supported by a conservation breeding programme, the project plans to introduce up to 100 juvenile hen harriers to a protected farmland site in Wiltshire over a five-year period. The southern reintroduction project represents one of six points in DEFRA’s joint action plan to increase the English hen harrier population, running in parallel with other activities including long-term monitoring of the species in northern England.

Visit Hereford Cathedral this October and step out into Space, the cathedral’s first sound and light installation, produced by Luxmuralis.

Bonnie Schwarz and Pete Shaw are a couple who choose to focus on the bright things in life! Together they are the Folk fusion duo Good Habits and they are touring Somerset playing a combination of original songs along with some covers of songs we all know.

After removing non-local trees and planting natives, the creators of our reserves were quickly pleased to see the return of species that had long since disappeared from our beautiful region. A Scottish wildcat that gave birth to beautiful kittens, hedgehogs for which a hospital was created, squirrels, etc. Lochs were developed and stocked with fish. Educational activities to discover the life of bees were designed and offered to local schools. Pretty sows were adopted as well as calves. Foxes gradually re-inhabited our beautiful reserves under the protection and love of Stewart and his teams. What a pleasure to be able to follow this evolution every day, even from afar. Thank you to all those who work every day on our beautiful Scottish lands.

Henrietta, Charles III's new hen. She is red-haired, bright-eyed, and has just moved into the gardens of Highgrove, the British sovereign's beloved residence in Gloucestershire. For her, as for twenty-nine of her friends, a new life is beginning.The king insisted on choosing her first name himself. He opted for that of Charles I Stuart's wife: Henrietta in English, born Princess Henriette-Marie of France, daughter of Henry IV and younger sister of the future Louis XIII. Or perhaps also - and more likely - because the first syllable of the name is "hen".

Play as Marmaduke the Scrope, Lord of Curry Malet? War of the Barons is designed to transport participants to the time of one of the most crucial power struggles in history. 20 barons - loyalists, rebels, and neutrals - will battle in a fictional version of Medieval England. Drawing inspiration from cinematic masterpieces like Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood (2010), and Outlaw King, we aim to recreate the aesthetic and atmosphere of early 13th century England. War of the Barons delves deep into the life of a soldier in a medieval army, focusing on rigorous training, camaraderie, and the thrill of battle. 

Nine churches on the 60-mile Golden Valley Pilgrim Way have opened their chancels, crypts and cloisters to pilgrims of all faiths – or none. (from BBC.com)

Listen to the fascinating sound of Bagpipes as you venture into the beautiful Scottish Highlands as well as the view of the classic rocky Scotland Coast.