23 October 2026

10 stories

Lifestyle

Spring flowers: pink on the branches, poppies in the meadows

From cherry blossom to wild poppies, the first colours of the season.

Callum Reid23 Oct

Technology

Solar-and-battery phone masts keep marsh and island villages connected in storms

New masts with their own solar panels and batteries kept mobile coverage running in the Saltings during last winter's longest power cut, and more are now being installed around Greyling Bay.

Jonah Becker23 Oct

Health

Dietitians urge a more colourful plate as seasonal produce fills market stalls

With squash, apples, beetroot and leafy greens piled high at Old Quay, local dietitians say a little variety in colour is a simple, affordable way to eat a wider range of nutrients.

Ana Sousa23 Oct

World

Forest corridor of 40 km reconnects fragmented rainforest in Southeast Asia

A conservation trust has completed a 40 km wildlife corridor linking two isolated areas of rainforest in Southeast Asia, and camera traps are already recording animals crossing between them.

Lucas Moreau23 Oct

Health

Gentle swimming programme for back pain shows promising early results

Most people who completed a twelve-week pool course at the Bayside Leisure Centre said their pain had eased, though organisers caution that a proper trial is still needed.

Diego Fernández23 Oct

Health

Keep drinking water as the weather cools, health experts remind residents

Thirst can be easier to miss in colder weather, especially for older people, and local health professionals are encouraging regular drinks through the day rather than waiting until feeling parched.

Viktor Lind23 Oct

World

City lights at night: the world's cities after dark

From Hong Kong to Toronto, Frankfurt to Bangkok, a light map of cities that come alive at night.

Ruth Abernathy23 Oct

Business

Greyling Hills sawmill switches to engineered timber for apartment blocks

Hartshorn Timber has invested in a press that glues layers of local spruce into large structural panels, and has won its first order for a six-storey housing scheme.

Marcus Feld23 Oct

World

Mediterranean old towns of Calvara and San Telmo close their historic centres to cars

The two hill towns are restricting access to residents, deliveries and emergency vehicles, and visitors will park outside the walls and walk or take an electric shuttle.

Chloé Martin23 Oct

Culture

Independent bookshop opens in a former bank on Ropewalk Lane, vault and all

Two former librarians have turned a 1920s bank into a bookshop, with children's books in the old strongroom and a reading table where the counter used to be.

Ana Sousa23 Oct