999 calls for stupid reasons could be blocking real emergencies from getting through during the Coronavirus Pandemic. West Mercia police said that since the lockdown, they have had calls because of cancelled hair appointments and because a dog walker hasn’t turned up.
The National Trust wants to kick off a new tradition: #BlossomWatch. They want people to enjoy trees in bloom and post pictures to social media. The idea is similar to Japanese hanami parties, where people gather to enjoy the cherry blossom as spring arrives.
Since last year, 100,000 more UK children are living in poverty, bringing the total to 4.2 million. Imran Hussain, from UK charity Action for Children, said: “Some families have already become so desperate that our frontline staff are feeding them from their own cupboards.” There is a worry that numbers will only increase during the COVID-19 crisis.
New figures show there are five times more chickens being kept in UK homes than hamsters. The number of households with chickens has increased by 200,000 since 2018. Jane Howorth MBE, founder of the British Hen Welfare Trust, said: “You can interact with chickens exactly as you interact with cats and dogs. They’re a lot of fun and will also pop out a delicious breakfast for you.”
In other bird news, the world’s highest-flying bird, the Ruppell’s griffon vulture, is making a comeback. The rare species of vulture was thought to have been wiped out in parts of Turkey but conservation efforts have seen them return. Last year, four were spotted and this year, seven birds were seen. The Ruppell’s griffon flies up to 11,300m high – around the height of passenger aeroplanes.