For a long time, scientists thought water simply rose up through the trunk. But researchers have discovered something astonishing: trees contract and expand, pumping water like a slow-beating heart—except that this pulse beats roughly every two hours.

The Tories left behind a mess that I've spent the last two years clearing up. In that time, they've come up with one policy: to cut state school budgets to reinstate private school tax breaks. Two years, one policy, no clue.

I had to cross central Sheffield at five o’clock yesterday afternoon. Barely a tree on my route, just hard surfacing. It was brutal. We need to transform our cities fast, yet where is the vision? By contrast, Paris is planting trees and growing creepers like there’s no tomorrow.

www.change.org/p/urge-al-ca... Please look if you think it would be good to have a competition rather than a coronation.

Keir Starmer was hounded out by a hostile media who've wanted him gone since the day he became party leader. Be in no doubt, the same media will now be agitating for a GE, they've tasted blood and they won't give up.

“Real scientists are delighted when they find out they're wrong... There are too many people in this world who want to be right. And too few who just want to know.” — Brian Cox

Happy Summer solstice from Glastonbury Tor where cheering was heard as the sun came up. It was very busy, very vibrant and a fabulous way to welcome the longest day. I took lots and lots of photos but here is the first one. More to follow later. #summersolstice #summersolstice2026 #glastonburytor

Hilarious comments on this🤣

In Istanbul, Turkey, a statue was erected in honour of Tombili, a beloved stray cat known for his unique habit of sitting in a relaxed posture, watching the movement of the street.

Major changes to home buying announced along with support for supply chains and more trade deals. It’s been a good few days for our Labour Gov under a Keir Starmer. #DoingTheMediasJob #FixingBritain #LabourAchievements

Worth a listen

FT has obtained documents showing that Farage used €1.8m of EU (ie taxpayers') money to fund his Brexit campaign Farage is as bent as a nine-bob note

We've finally got a competent government delivering its manifesto, we've got a PM who's rebuilt our reputation on the world stage and repaired our relationship with the EU. We do not need a change of PM, we don't need bloody Burnham, we do need the media to stop treating our lives like a game show.

So very true

One might come to the conclusion that Starmer and Reeves’ plan is working.

Such good news. Human beings are capable of magical and wonderful things. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Nightmare for a friend of mine in London. Please share.

Joyful stuff 😀

🌳🌳🌳 #trees #woodland #treeclub

Man in the pub, Leeds, 1954, photo by Marc Riboud.

Scarborough, yesterday. *credit Fred Brown.

One of the most influential artists in my own personal art/art history journey - from Mr and Mrs Smith And Percy which intrigued me on a calendar as a child, to his digital brilliance - an inspiration to all to keep exploring and innovating and not let age be a barrier!

RIP David

Incredible - dramatic improvements in air quality in London are linked to a measurable impact on Londoners' health: 9.3% drop in heart-related emergency admissions 5.1% drop in hospital admissions of all illnesses and health conditions Cleaning up our air protects our future.

I'm convinced Adam is going to blackmail Brian into keeping him by threatening to dob him and Ruairi in about clobbergate. Delicious!🤪

Convictions for far right terrorism and incidents, are far higher than convictions for any other terror incidents in this country, but if we only ever listen to politicians, mainstream media and right wing pundits, we would never know.

The latest asylum figures show a 58% decrease in the number of asylum cases waiting for an initial decision since Labour took office. Our updated explainer looks at the government’s progress with the asylum backlog.

Listening to a news reporter on CNN report the rise in measles cases in the US after its virtual eradication is one of the most maddening experiences as a medical historian.

Thanks to the 93% Club for popping by the Department for Education last week. State school proud.

Level 3 Teaching Assistant looking for a role September in North London (Camden/Brent). See their highlights below. Bita has interesting experience as a children's yoga teacher and has play work knowledge and practice. Call 0203 807 1979 #SchoolJobs #TeachingAssistant #TA #LondonJobs #NorthLondon

Nigel Farage Listens to the News

Life goal: Get a plaque this good

A reminder that JD Vance is deeply unpopular in Britain

Papua New Guinea Sets Up Protected Ocean the Size of UK–Over 77,000 Square Miles www.goodnewsnetwork.org/papua-new-gu...

Spot on they are sticking to their manifesto, 70+ out of 95 manifesto pledges have been delivered or are in progress in under 2 years. Cheap soundbites are very silly when they're just not factually correct.

Cllr Tanisha Bramwell In Finland school meals are free for all children until the age of 16 In Japan, only qualified nutritionists are allowed to prepare and serve school meals. Meanwhile in the UK, we’re arguing about whether kids deserve to be fed at all. FREE school meals for all children!

meme via Mark Keeping

Real change from Labour: 📉NHS waiting lists DOWN - biggest fall in 17 years 📈UK growth revised UP - fastest growing G7 economy 💷Inflation falling again - easing pressure on family budgets ⬇️6 interest rate cuts 🇬🇧UK stock market outperforming US for first time in 13 years

Starmer delivering: “.. 2024-25, council housebuilding in England .. highest level in almost 40 years .. 10,000 new council homes built. … almost 65,000 affordable homes delivered in England, including .. 12,000 for social rent – the most in over a decade.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Had to share - MSM seems to be ignoring it.

Solar and farming don’t have to compete. France is raising solar panels above farmland so crops can still grow underneath. Some vineyards saw grape yields rise by 60% while water use fell by 40%.

You know what we don't talk enough about? Queen & Annie Lennox/David Bowie rehearsing 'Under Pressure' in 1992. So much going on! Everyone's clothes, Bowie with a lit cig throughout, where Annie PROPER GOES FOR IT, George Michael singing along in the background. The amazing vocals. Yes, please!

Spot the cool cat! Happy Caturday 🐈‍⬛

A sentence l never thought I'd write but #Starmer needs more football 👇. Never seen his genuine smile before.

keirstarmer.substack.com/p/tony-blair... THIS. Starmer speaks for me. If that makes me a cultist, so be it. There are far worse things to be.

I love commentators who say Labour's comms are poor who then get arsy when some of us post lists of Labour's achievements, like this one for example. Get called Starmerites or bizzarly Starmer supporters as an insult. There's no rhyme nor reason to most of the criticism.

Nothing to see here, just the son of the President marrying the daughter of the accountant of a notorious child sex trafficker who was best friends with the groom's father. Oh, wait, you didn't know Junior's current new wife is the daughter of Jeffrey Epstein's accountant?