The flight takes place the night the storm hits. It’s typically empty at this time of the year; I have a row to myself, as does the woman opposite me. On a row in front there are three small children, and opposite them their very young mother. The moment the seatbelt sign is turned off I lay across all three seats, put my headphones on, prop my iPad on my chest and start watching Netflix. It’s a three-hour flight, so you can get through quite a bit of telly. The woman opposite does the same.

The three children order food and play video games. I drink gin and tonic and Rioja. Then 35 to 40 minutes before we are due to land, the cabin crew go bananas. Tear-arsing it up and down the aisle shouting at people to get their seat belts on. There’s no turbulence, no nothing. But we all strap in. Five minutes later it hits. Like being on the rollercoaster at Alton Towers.

The smallest of the three boys starts crying, and reaches for his mother’s hand. His elder brothers are, like me, enjoying the ride. I’ve suffered worse turbulence. All those years flying across the Atlantic makes me a veteran, if not a connoisseur. Then shit gets really weird. Lights, like strobes at a 90s rave send the whole cabin black and white for fifteen minutes; the cabin crew appear to move in slow motion. I will later realise we’ve been flying above the storm.

Then, just as suddenly as it started it stops

Twenty minutes later we land. It is a gentle landing, and I am first off the plane and out of the airport. It’s warm in Alicante. I get on the bus, turn on my phone and start getting messages asking if I’m okay. Loads of them. I wonder why people are so concerned. This is not the first time I have been on a plane by myself. It’s not the first time I’ve been away without my wife Janine.

Thirty minutes later I am home. And I turn on the telly to witness the utter bloody carnage I had flown over only an hour earlier. A Spanish reporter will later describe it as a war zone without fighting.

It’s the cars that get me. Swept into one another. Piled high, in unnatural, seemingly gravity defying shapes. A BMW stands vertical, on top of it a Ford, at a 45-degree angle, and another car, so coated in orange and red mud, you can’t clock the make, crowns them all.

It’s like the entirety of Valencia is some ghastly shock-art exhibition designed by JG Ballard

This spectacle is repeated over and over in every street. The mud-covered cars piled high, held aloft and at the unlikeliest of angles by twisted metal, broken house bricks and palm trees ripped from their roots. It’s like the entirety of Valencia is some ghastly shock-art exhibition designed by JG Ballard, or Warhol at his most nihilistic.

But it’s not the entirety of Valencia. Alicante and neighbouring Benidorm have been untouched. The Sierras – the mountain range that circles this area – have saved us. Embracing us like the mother of the little boy on the plane.

In the coming days I learn a great deal about Spanish floods. They are a result of DANA – Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos – a Spanish phrase that translates to ‘depression at high levels’. Basically, a mass of warm air collides with a still and stagnant mass of cold air, at an altitude of 9,000 meters, and unleashes hell. It is an almost exclusively Spanish phenomenon, though how long that will last is probably for the climate scientists to work out.

And then the rains fall

To the north and south of me, just a few kilometres away, whole areas where there had not been a drop of rain were suddenly engulfed, as mountains turned into waterfalls and rivers overflowed. The underground carparks that serve so many Valencian apartment blocks filled with water. Or worse, mud. And once the rain stopped, roughly six hours after it had started – a whole years’ worth of rain in around a quarter of a day – the warm sun returned to harden everything. Burying people and cars alike under what is tantamount to wet cement.

The horror stories are almost unthinkable until of course you are made to think of them. After which, you can think of little else. Waist high water is the worst. People feel tempted to wade out only to have their legs chopped from beneath them by spinning manhole covers that have exploded upwards as the sewers overflow.

The horror stories are almost unthinkable until of course you are made to think of them

And that’s how people drown. You’re not going to wade out in two meters of water, but you might go out in 50, 60 centimetres of water, to try and help somebody across the road. You get your legs taken out by a manhole cover, or get dragged into a sewer moving at hundreds of kilometres per hour.

Which brings me to the smell. That is something we got a taste of here in Alicante. The toilets and sinks of my flat, bars and restaurants all bubbled up, sending the smell of human excrement wafting through our homes, streets and places of work.

After the floods

Yet there is light

Amongst the grief and the grieving, the freshly buried, the freshly unearthed horrors, there are people with courage, decency and muscle. Not just the locals. People: Spanish, English, German, Canadian, Israeli, Algerian, Iranian, and American all coming together to help. Riding bicycles, mopeds, or on foot, they arrive with spades and shovels, brooms and wellington boots. Some turn up with full scuba diving gear to dive into the sewers and subterranean carparks.

A United Colours of Benetton of mostly young people willing to do anything to help those who need it. And freeing up the first responders, who for days have been digging and sweeping, rather than mending broken bones, if not broken hearts.

Some turn up with full scuba diving gear to dive into the sewers and subterranean carparks.

They are young. A meme is doing the rounds here, in English as all memes are. It shows a picture of some smiling 20-somethings, covered in mud, post dig, post discovery and asks: ‘Generation Snowflake?’

Amongst the grief and the grieving that’s going on, and all the fear, you have people behaving with incredible selflessness.

In the days following, emotions run high. There is the desperate urge to help. But there is also fear of it happening again, and anger that it was allowed to happen at all.

In the bars, people gather together

Spaniards like talking. Now they sit silent, glued to the news. Watching the weirdness and horror reveal itself. It’s strange to be on the periphery of death, the actual edge of disaster, but have none of it touch you.

News comes through that Málaga is about to be hit really badly. Then the wealthy area of Marbella. That’s the thing about the weather. It doesn’t respect your wealth or your cultural status or anything else. It’s going to do whatever it wants.

For those of us luckily untouched by the worst of it, there is relief and guilt. In the area of Alicante called San Blas where I live, we have just a minute of rain, but even this is enough to cover two bedrooms with a layer of water. It is hard not to think of the relentless torrent Valencia experienced, and imagine what would have happened if we’d experienced the same.

As I clean, I think about the young children who live around here, the schools. The fact that in Valencia at 8 o’clock in the evening, when the warnings were received, many families would have been out enjoying an evening meal. Here, it is normal for children to be out with their families until late in the evening. For many it would have been impossible to get to safety.

Within a few days riots begin

The people throwing bottles at police may well be those who rolled up their sleeves and went to help in the first instance. Spanish police fight back with batons and tear gas; the spectacle is alarming.

People want answers. The warning sirens and notifications went off just minutes before the storm hit – but could anyone have known? I think of my plane and its passage through the storm: if the pilot and crew hadn’t known, then how could anyone on the ground have been aware?

But I understand the anger, the need to direct it somewhere: if you dig a dead family out of an underground garage, and then later see a group of people gathering outside a government building, you are probably going to want to throw a bottle.

In time, perhaps the anger will convert to positive action – the development of flood defences and prevention of future catastrophe. And if there is hope to be found, it is perhaps that Valencia’s collective anger will become a louder voice in the fight against climate change. But here and now, that is scant consolation.

The only hope to be found amongst the devastation is in the enormous human effort that rose up in response to this catastrophe. The first responders who worked tirelessly. And those individuals who downed tools and came to help – ignoring personal danger, travelling for miles on bikes and whatever transport could be found.

It reminds me that while the weather may be powerful and merciless, humans in a crisis have a power all their own.

Donate to the Spain Relief Fund

Ben Marshall

Ben Marshall is a journalist and writer whose back catalogue sits in the Melody Maker, Loaded, GQ, Golf Punk, The Guardian, The Evening Standard, Marie Claire, Red, Rolling Stone, and Men’s Health amongst others.

The post The floods in Valencia; tales of chaos and compassion appeared first on Silver Magazine.

English wine isn’t just delicious, it’s an ethical choice too. It has a low carbon footprint due to its on-site vine-to-bottle method. And many vineyards focus on small-batch, sustainable harvests. They also compost, avoid herbicides, encourage healthy biodiversity, and focus on renewable energy.

While some may think of us English folk more as wine drinkers than makers, in the last 20 years English wine production has become an exciting new force. While climate change remains a very real anxiety, the rising temperatures have meant that we’ve had many more locally produced bottles to drown our sorrows with.

Grape ripening issues have become a thing of the past and the warmer, sunnier climate has opened a door to English red wine production. The limestone-chalk soil and warm climate of the South East mirror the ideal environment for bubbly famously found in Champagne. Because the prices for land in England are much lower, English producers can excel with their consumer-friendly prices. With the number of vines planted growing each year, let me take you through our top picks.

Red

Made from the skin, seeds, and stems of black grapes to achieve its rich red-purple colour, red wine arguably accrues the highest praise. Higher in bitter tannins than any other, it is recommended served at room temperature and as we say at Silver, the older the better.

Black Ewe Pinot Noir Precoce Vintage 2018

Black Ewe Pinot Noir Precoce Vintage 2018, £45

The unpredictable climate of the South West means that each wine has a character of its own. The beautiful fields of Trevibban Mill in Cornwall have cultivated a pinot noir with aromas of cherries, figs, prunes, and vanilla. The company has been highly celebrated not just for achieving such a full palate but for their sustainable approach. With earthy hints of dark chocolate, pepper, and tobacco, this English wine pairs nicely with beef, lamb, or gruyere.

• Vegan
• On-site production
• Small batch

Giffords Hall St Edmundsbury 2021, £15.50

Giffords Hall St Edmundsbury 2021

Suffolk’s Giffords Hall has produced a Pinot Noir with a lick of Rondo resulting in a colourful fusion of peppery cherry and ripe plummy notes. With hints of blackcurrant, vanilla and cedarwood spice, the softness on the palate is extremely appealing.

• Mixed blend
• Best-selling

White

For me, there is nothing better than a crisp, cold glass of white wine. Ranging from dry to sweet with fruity and floral aromas, white wine is made from both white and black grapes fermented without the skins to achieve its signature pure, naked colour.

Oastbrook Estate Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2022, £21

Oastbrook Estate Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2022

Awarded a gold medal at the IEWA 2023 for their Pinot Blanc, Oastbrook Estate presents a mouth-watering palate of apple, pear, and honeysuckle with a hint of white peach and nectarine; the perfect partner for fish or chicken on the BBQ this summer.

• Sustainable
• Organic

JoJo’s Bacchus Seyval Blanc Blend, £20

JoJo’s Bacchus Seyval Blanc Blend

JoJo’s vineyard is situated on the chalky slopes of the Chiltern Hills, Oxfordshire. Their first wine, a Bacchus-Seyval blend, is a  vibrant and expressive white wine that was released at the end of September 2022. With elegant notes of quince, apple blossom and white peach, the light white wine is fantastic with seafood, chicken or garden veg.

• Handcrafted
• Sustainable
• Small batch

Rosé

Made with black grapes fermented for less time and perfect with light bites and nibbles, rosé is a crowd magnet. Its pink, blush colour leaves a dry taste in the mouth with notes of berries, citrus or tropical fruits.

Winbirri Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2021

Winbirri Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé 2021, £19

The team at Winbirri Vineyard in Norfolk have expertly crafted a Pinot Noir Rosé with aromas of cherries, strawberries, and cream. Perfect as an aperitif or with fresh seafood, passion is at the heart of this wine. Its quaffable nature tastes as good as it sounds.

• Vegan
• World-class

Gusbourne Estate English Rosé, £25

Gusbourne Estate English Rosé

Similarly, the Gusbourne Estate spread across Kent and West Sussex, boasts a leading collection of Burgundian grapes that thrive in the unique microclimate of the South East. They produce smaller volumes of intensely flavourful fruit that have cultivated an English rosè that is zesty and juicy. The raspberry and redcurrant notes are finished with hints of blossom and ginger for a decadent English summer.

• Hand-picked
• Sustainable

Sparkling

Dunesforde Blanc de Noir 2018, £35

Dunesforde Blanc de Noir 2018

The southeast may be the English wine hub, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look further afield for top-notch vino. The 2018 Dunesforde Blanc de Noir is a charismatic sparkler that won gold at the IEWA. With a vibrant fruit purity of red apple and cranberry, it leaves a youthful yet modern expression. Some may say the weather isn’t ideal, but as one of the most northerly vineyards, Dunesforde has bought the vineyards of Tuscany to Yorkshire proving there isn’t a shortage of homemade booze up north.

• Supports local communities
• Environmentally friendly
• Limited reserve

There is an abundance of excellent bubbly in Britain. Sussex-based Ridgeview’s Blanc de Blancs 2018 edition or Fox & Fox’s Blanc de Noirs are among the many of our award-winning wines. But it was important to me to travel a little closer to home for this next one.

Pebblebed Sparkling Rosé, £29

Pebblebed Sparkling Rosé

From what started as a local community project to 22 acres today, Pebblebed Vineyards in Devon is a thriving wine-growing region. Its unique terroir and warmer summers help the grapes to gently ripen and produce wonderfully fresh aromas. Their Pebblebed Sparkling Rosé is crafted using the Champagne method for delicate red berry and rose petal flavours. Balanced with a fresh acidity, it has the wonderful fresh aromas that make English wine so special.

• Supports local communities
• Mixed blend
• Sustainable

Dessert

Sweet in taste, dessert wines pair perfectly with cheesecakes, vanilla or chocolate puddings, crème brulee – you name it! Perfect for when you never want your meal to end…

Hattingley Valley Entice Dessert Wine 2022, £25

Hattingley Valley Entice Dessert Wine 2022

As well as boasting a range of award-winning sparkling wines, the Hampshire-based Hattingley Valley entice you with an elegant dessert wine that has intense aromas of peach and elderflower. Its crisp acidity balances perfectly with the natural sweetness to give a pure, lasting honeyed finish.

• Vegan
• Individually tested
• Sustainable

Fortified

Made with grapes using the fermentation process, fortified wines have spirits added to them to increase its alcohol content – sounds like a recipe for a party to us. They were originally developed before the days of refrigeration to preserve wine on long journeys.

Sacred English Amber Vermouth, £19.95

Sacred English Amber Vermouth

My favourite is vermouth because it is flavoured with herbs and spices. You can get either dry (white) or sweet (red) vermouth that ranges from dry and floral to sweet and spiced. While vermouth usually originates from Italy or France, the Sacred English Amber Vermouth produced in Highgate, London was crowned the world’s best vermouth in 2019. With delicate floral and sweet orange notes, it is best served on the rocks or in a classic spritz.

• Handmade
• Organic botanicals

Non-alcoholic

L.A Brewery Sparkling English Blush, £10

Ok bear with me – we all know that alcohol-free wine is generally disgusting, right? But finally, there are some great AF options

L.A Brewery Sparkling English Blush

available for those who like a tipple without the topple. L.A Brewery in Suffolk brings you a sparkling English blush that finally offers a chance for your mind and body to reset. Inspired by summer sunshine, it combines seasonal florals with a hint of rhubarb for a crisp kombucha that is delicately dry with a floral fizz for everyone to enjoy.

• Transparent list of ingredients
• No hangover – say no more

Jukes London Tasting Box, £41

Or if you are looking for something more on the still side, look no further than Jukes, London. Their organic apple cider vinegar-based drinks are made with all-natural ingredients. You can enjoy a taste of their full range with The Tasting Box. It is an ultimate

Jukes London Tasting Box

sensory experience that includes two white, two red and one rosé that take you from citrus and herbal to deep and spicy to dry and refreshing.

• Vegan
• Low calories
• Planet-friendly

Read more: 6 of the best alcohol free spirits around

Selecting great wine

At the end of the day, if you don’t really know wine but you want a great glass of something, here are three things to look out for:

Reflect on the flavours you enjoy

Turn to the back of the bottle and consider the flavours YOU enjoy – do they match?

The more details the better

Is there information on the region, valley and grapes listed on the back?

Don’t let price dictate your choice

Discounts can often be a great opportunity to find a good deal in wine. They don’t mean the wine is of a lower quality or won’t taste great. Sometimes a bottle may be on sale because it is not in season or has been sitting in the store’s inventory for a while. In that case, consider the flavours and occasion, then allow price to be a secondary consideration.

Beth Pratt

Beth is one of Silver’s interns. She loves reading and studying literature. Entering her final year of university, Beth still finds time to dance, swim, and have a pint with friends. Her favourite hobby is going to coffee shops, if you can call it a hobby!

The post English wines that should be on your radar appeared first on Silver Magazine.

How to eat more healthily? It’s a highly ranked search term, indicating that a lot of people are thinking about what they put in their bodies. But you don’t have to completely overhaul your diet. A few healthy eating tweaks and tricks can make a big difference.

Up your fibre

Are you getting your 30g of fibre every day? Did you even know that is what you were meant to be eating? According to the British Heart Foundation, this is the amount of fibre that keeps our digestive systems healthy.

Wholegrain options are a great way to switch out foods we may regularly eat, for example pasta, rice, or bread. Most supermarkets now are price-matching their products, so buying wholegrain options can be a cheap way to up your fibre.

Fibre bars and snacks are made to look very appealing and ‘healthy’. Don’t be fooled

For breakfast, opt for wholemeal toast or high-fibre cereal such as plain Weetabix, or oats for a porridge. Adding fruit to this will make it yummier and add fibre.

For lunch it’s hard to beat a jacket potato with beans. Eat the potato skin. It’s a very high source of fibre. If you’re a potato lover, you can regularly create high fibre meals with golden roasties or spicy wedges.

You may hear about these fibre bars and snacks which are made to look very appealing and ‘healthy’. Don’t be fooled, they can be packed with sugar. Instead, have fruit.

For dinner, a warm tomato and kidney bean curry, packed with spices and veggies. Pair this with wholegrain rice and you’ve well exceeded your 30g daily fibre target.

Five a day keeps the doctors away

Going to the doctor isn’t always the most enjoyable task. Diets high in fruit and vegetables are linked with lower risk of diseases, strokes, and cancers. We all know about eating your five a day, but it’s also important to ‘eat the rainbow’.

This means having a combination of fruits and veg – all colours of the rainbow – as they offer different nutrients. It’s a simple way to eat more healthily.

(Image: Pexels)

When you’re next in the supermarket, have a look in the frozen section. It’s great value for your money buying frozen fruit and veg. It is still packed with the same nutrients and will last you way longer.

The planet will also benefit from you eating more fruit and veg. Growing and harvesting this type of food has a much lower environmental impact than others. A lot of the time we buy foods that get chucked away, especially with fruit and veg. According to The Eco Experts, households are responsible for 70 per cent of all UK food waste. This unfortunate figure should make us all want to use everything we buy.

When you’re next looking in your fridge wondering what to do with your left-over leaves, or all those berries, whip up a quick fruit salad, or smoothie for food on the go. Aim for zero waste in your fridge.

Higher protein, higher preservation

A varied protein diet is the best way to stay strong and maintain muscle as you get older. HealthHub offer lots of valuable information about the importance of protein. Swapping half of the meat on your plate for beans, lentils or sustainable fish can result in a much healthier diet.

Protein is also good for menopause symptoms. Read here for more menopause diet tips. 

Try making chickpea fajitas or a lentil dahl. Does eating a varied protein diet help the environment? Well yes, growing pulses helps in improving the soil health and reduce the number of fertilisers used. The farmers will thank you.

And if you were in any doubt about the carbon footprint of mass meat production, you should know that meat accounts for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gases from food production. So yeah, maybe aim for less meat.

(Image: Pexels)

Doesn’t always have to be fresh to be healthy

Don’t frown upon canned options. Foods such as beans, chickpeas or fish are examples of high protein sources. They are alternative way to incorporate protein into your diet, rather than buying fresh meat and fish. This may also save you some pennies. These tasty alternatives are an important way to keep a balanced diet.

If you’re a snacker, like me, nuts are such a good way to increase your protein. Specifically, almonds and walnuts. You can eat these by themselves or pair them with some apples and peanut butter.

A guide to hydration

We all know that keeping hydrated is so important, especially during the warmer months. There are so many funky and innovative ways to stay hydrated this summer. Eating water-rich foods is a good sneaky way to stay hydrated. The British Nutrition Foundation teaches us that we get around one fifth of our daily water intake from food. Whether that’s by eating the foods, creating smoothies, or making ice lollies. Foods such as cucumbers, celery, apples, or berries are great examples.

Try to limit or avoid drinking fizzy drinks and squashes.

You could even infuse your water with fruits and fresh mint to make a mocktail! There’s loads of great ideas in this feature on how to stay hydrated. Try to limit or avoid drinking fizzy drinks and squashes. There are far tastier ways to have your daily recommended sugar allowance. Which for those of you who didn’t know, is a max of 30g.

Carrying round a reusable bottle will give you constant access to water throughout your day. As well as doing your bit for the planet. Plastic bottles can be known to cause toxic chemicals transferring to your water in rising temperatures. I know I will be sticking to my reusable bottle this summer.

Drinking water may seem like such a simple thing to do. Getting in between one to two litres of water daily will make you feel so energised and refreshed. Pair this with all the other easy but effective tips and tricks we have given you, and you are set to be feeling your best. Remember, it is all about balance.

Combining healthy eating with a new fitness regime? – Find the right fitness class for you

Ellie Mongey

Having a three month break from uni, where she’s studying marketing, Ellie can normally be found in a coffee shop, on the beach or spending all her money on food. 

The post Have you been thinking about how to eat more healthily? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

I’m wary of becoming a cliché, but it happens all too easily. I didn’t think getting married was for me, and then I met the right person. I turned 40-something and suddenly I got into gardening. When I speak to children, I sound like my mother. But would I become the tiresome travel writer who pens the perky yet tired “I didn’t think I would enjoy a cruise, but then I went on a cruise and really enjoyed it!” article? 

The short answer is not quite yet, but after spending the night in Newcastle on ‘Ambition’, the second ship launched by young cruise company Ambassador, I am definitely cruise-curious. 

Read more: Sam Harrington-Lowe’s spa review The Olde Bell Retford

Sustainable, stylish cruising?

Ambassador has launched a cruise ship about as sustainably as possible by refurbishing an existing ship and giving it a new name, rather than building a new vessel from scratch. “Premium value” is Ambition’s mantra. It’s not about aggressively chasing the younger Ibiza-on-the-high-seas market, Celebrity X- or Virgin Voyages-style. But the vibe isn’t God’s Waiting Room either. For starters, the decor is subdued and elegant, rather than the extremes of bling or care home chic.  

There is not a wood-panelled wall, Queen Anne side-table, ludicrous chandelier, or floral sofa in sight.

The furniture and colour palette are contemporary and fresh, starting with the purple and green accents on the white hull and continuing inside with calming neutrals. The occasional pop of colour and photography where terrible paintings might once have hung. There is not a wood-panelled wall, Queen Anne side-table, ludicrous chandelier, or floral sofa in sight. 

Capacity is a maximum of 1,200 passengers, which is surprisingly intimate for a cruise ship. As a bonus, boarding a cruise ship is far less of a palaver than dealing with airport idiocy.

Ambition suite (Image: Ambassador Cruiseline)

I went to see the new Ambassador

Newcastle turned on a bright, sunny day for the Ambition launch, which made pre-lunch drinks on a deck very pleasant. Over lunch, we go our first real taste of the cuisine with a creative three-course set menu, complete with imaginative meat-free options. Despite being a committed carnivore, my main course of stuffed aubergine was fantastic, reminding me of meals in my beloved Greece. And did not leave me with food envy for the fleshy alternatives.

On-board restaurant

My cabin for the night was a junior suite with a generous balcony, more wardrobe space than I have at home, velvety bathrobes, and comfy twin beds with cloud-like pillows. The bathroom was perhaps a little basic – I would have liked hand soap by the sink, the shower fittings and bath were not new, and the toilet brush handle was on double duty as the loo roll holder ‒ but you’re not going to get a palatial bathroom in a reasonably priced cabin. And who would spend an entire cruise in the bathroom anyway? 

Ambition is not the biggest cruise ship out there, but it still has three pools, a fitness centre, jogging and walking track, shops that actually sell the kind of things you might need on board, six bars, five restaurants, a chilled-out spa, a charming library named after the Brontë sisters and long corridors. It’s easy to forget you’re on a ship (not a boat, I was berated for calling Ambition a boat…) because it feels like a good hotel, the occasional buzz or vibration notwithstanding. It is reminiscent of modern hotels in which I’ve had very pleasant stays in Menorca, Mallorca, Seville, Abu Dhabi, and Crete.  

Ambassador’s realistic eco goals

Cruising is a travel industry sector that is not often associated with eco-friendly credentials, Ambassador has been very careful to avoid a greenwashing approach to its sustainability strategies. Instead of making grand promises of zero emissions by some far-off date, by which time the world will have changed and changed again, or claiming to have planted a copse of trees somewhere, Ambition is focused on the real steps it is taking right now. 

The staff show us around (Image: Georgia Lewis)

Making big declarations is good PR, but CEO Christian Verhounig told us over pre-lunch drinks (you will never go thirsty on board Ambition…), that it is important to do practical things. Such as using cleaner-burning LNG instead of heavy fuel oil; researching alternative maritime fuels, such as hydrogen and biofuels; installing emission-reduction technologies, including scrubbers and catalytic reduction systems; recycling waste water; and optimising routes to use less fuel and reduce emissions. Ambassador’s other ship, Ambience, has already reduced NOx emissions by 95% since April 2022, with 70% reduction being the latest requirement.  

It was good to know that Orca helps guests see the amazing wildlife, without sailing roughshod through natural habitats.

At lunch and the gala dinner, I got talking to Steve Jones and Kate Weston from Orca, the marine conservation charity. Orca has formed a partnership with Ambassador to provide leaders for cruise activities, such as responsible whale-watching and marine conservation talks and workshops. I didn’t realise that if you see a whale flapping its fins, it’s not the cetacean equivalent of an excited round of applause. It’s agitated and would kindly prefer it if you left it in peace. It was good to know that Orca helps guests see the amazing wildlife, without sailing roughshod through natural habitats. During these conversations, I had my cruising epiphany. 

Good grief, am I a cruise convert?

Captain Lewis (Image: Georgia Lewis)

While I can see the appeal of cruising around the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, wiling away days on a poolside sun-lounger with a good book in one hand and a G&T in the other, the prospect of going on a cruise to check out wildlife in places I’ve never seen piqued my interest. 

I suspect I might get a bit frustrated while cruising around my favourite European holiday spots, because I would want to stay on shore, hire a car and go on a quest for a hidden gem taverna or ancient ruins. But sailing around Norwegian fjords and Icelandic spectacles, spotting wildlife and getting to know that part of the world better is something worth spending my hard-earned on. Especially if I could combine the bucket list natural wonders with a spa afternoon, an indoor swim on a chilly day, good food, and fun entertainment. If you are not seeking obscure no-wave jazz improv or death metal for your holiday soundtrack, you, like me, can happily lean into the cheese.  

Ambition cruise rooftop (Image: Georgia Lewis)

And yes, there was entertainment

On my night in Newcastle, we were treated to a sample of the entertainment team’s Night in Nashville show, followed by an Abba tribute at the Cavern bar and a DJ with an Absolute Radio 80s and 90s playlist until the early hours. That’s a win, as far as I’m concerned. 

As a country and western music geek, I had no hesitation in clapping along to Cotton Eye Joe, getting a lump in my throat at Jolene, and demonstrating my knowledge of all the lyrics to Take Me Home, Country Roads. There was a moment in the show where I spotted the opportunity for a seamless segue into Shania Twain’s classic Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? – I’ll let the entertainment team have that tip for free. 

Despite accidentally serving myself a disturbingly vegan sausage at the breakfast buffet, I disembarked from the ship with a hankering for a longer stay onboard Ambition. If the only culinary low point was a debacle entirely of my own creation, that is a big tick for the food on offer. With room service available, as well as a good choice of restaurants, Ambition caters well to buffet sceptics.  

Getting on board

One of the big selling points – with additional sustainability brownie points – is the seven regional ports of departure for Ambition’s sailings. Southampton is not one of them, which is fair enough. Unless you live in Southampton, it can be a pain to get to. Instead, you can board from Belfast, Bristol, Falmouth, Dundee, Liverpool, London Tilbury and Newcastle.  

This means most UK passengers won’t have to fly anywhere, which generally works out cheaper and shrinks your holiday carbon footprint. London Tilbury would suit me well, although Newcastle, with my in-laws living here, would be another possibility. The inter-generational cruises on offer would be less hassle with multiple regional port options, as well as two disability-friendly suites, so wheelchair users and people with mobility issues can set sail too. 

Ambition cruise ship (Image: Ambassador Cruiseline)

Contemporary cruises that allow flexible dining options, autonomy when it comes to how you spend your time onboard and onshore, and offer more than bingo and a buffet will be the ones that do well post-pandemic. At the time of writing, my aunt and uncle were cruising Iceland and the Norwegian fjords – their brief but happy Facebook messages from the ship, along with my little taste of the cruise experience on Ambition, have given me a new perspective. 

With a cruise, you are paying for comfort and convenience, as well as the opportunity to balance the fine art of doing nothing with trying out new activities, learning about wildlife, getting a taste of new places or revisiting old favourites. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. 

For further information check out the Ambassador Cruiseline website 

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post Losing my cruise virginity (well, sort of…) with a big Ambition appeared first on Silver Magazine.

When you hear about ‘protect the tree’ campaigns, or tree occupations, you might think of a stereotyped ‘tree hugger’. When in reality many of the people fighting for protection of their trees are simply community locals who value the benefits and beauty trees bring to our towns and cities.

The trees we have in urban areas are not just lovely to look at through. They’re important for a variety of reasons. For shade, carbon absorption, and wind control. As well as preventing towns and cities from looking grey, sterile, and passionless. 

So why are they being chopped down?

The felling of mature trees can be linked to two things. The cost of upkeep, and the implementation of new infrastructure. New homes, new offices, new shops – often this means goodbye mature trees.

Recently, Plymouth Council felled 117 trees under the cover of nightfall from Armada Way, an urban park in the town centre, as part of plans for a £12.7 million regeneration project. 

The regeneration of Armada Way is said to address years of under-investment in the city, and create an attractive welcome to the city centre.

The council’s plans include felling a total 129 trees from Armada way. Incorporating just 24 of the  existing trees into the new Armada Way project. Campaign group STRAW (Save the Trees of Armada Way) served an injunction at 1am on the night of the felling, saving just 16 trees scheduled for the chop. 

The group have been protesting against the council plans since they were announced in August of last year. Arguing that the felling is unnecessary, and the council is greenwashing in their presentation of the plans for Armada Way.

By 22 March, the whole situation had become so fraught it resulted in Conservative council leader, Richard Bingley, resigning after signing off on the felling of the trees. STRAW have insisted that the council drop any plan to lift the injunction, following Bingley’s resignation. 

Following the original injunction served on the night of the felling, STRAW’s injunction has been upheld in court. Preventing the council from chopping the remaining 19 trees on Armada Way.

Shoreham Poplar Front

Shoreham Poplar Front is one campaign that will be celebrating. The group has been seeking to protect the last beautiful grey poplar in an area on a main road stretch between Worthing and Brighton. The mature poplar was, until very recently, facing the chop to make way for the development of new homes.

The tree in question is around 45 years old, and following an assessment, PhD specialist James Butler suggested the poplar should remain a town feature until at least 2050 and possibly beyond. 

Darcy Harrison, spokesperson for the Shoreham Poplar Front, shared how strongly he felt that the felling of the tree was unjustified, which motivated him to set up the website and Facebook group. A call to arms has been successful and the tree has been occupied since August, preventing it from being chopped down – with someone even sleeping in the tree itself, every night since occupation started. They have someone on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the tree is still standing.

The group released a press statement in August last year, announcing that the Shoreham Poplar Front were taking action to protect the tree, and called the council to honour their statements on protecting natural habitats, and air quality in a time of climate emergency. 

“[We] pleaded with the council and the developers to start talking to us and start considering a change to the plan. That didn’t happen” Harrison recounts. 

The site at the Shoreham Poplar Front. Photo: Sam Harrington-Lowe

Community passion

Taking photos down at the Poplar Front site some weeks ago, we ran into Solstice, who is one of the lead organisers. She was upbeat but cautious. “I don’t want to give people false hope,” she said, “but it does seem like we might finally be having a more positive dialogue with the council. I don’t know what they [the developers] want to build on this part for anyway – you couldn’t build that close to the pub [the Duke of Wellington, next to the tree] anyway.”

She notices us looking up at the dwelling in the tree, and cackles with delight. “The pod!” she said. “Someone has been sleeping in that EVERY night since we set up. It’s 185 days today and someone has been sleeping in there even in all the wind and the gales.”

‘The pod’ Shoreham Poplar Front members have been using to occupy the tree. Photo Sam Harrington-Lowe

Positive news aside, the Shoreham Poplar Front is still open for volunteers – if not to sleep in the slightly terrifying-looking tree pod, then to just sit at the site and keep it occupied at all times.

Darcy Harrison described the tree as having become a “community focal point” since the local community has engaged in events alongside tree sitting, throughout the campaign. 

“We’ve had over 100 people involved in tree sitting, so sharing part of the rota. The area around the tree has become like a community focal point, so we’ve had quite a few events around the tree as well, people of all ages, lots of local people in particular have been involved.” 

“So we’ve always made sure that we’ve had a presence, and that’s continuing to happen right now. There’s a lot of people still attending the tree on a daily basis, and there are more events planned and we continue to run events, to keep ourselves in the public eye to make sure council knows we aren’t going way. It hasn’t withered, if anything it’s gotten stronger.”

The Shoreham Poplar Front have played a blinder

The dialogue between the group and the council that Solstice was referring to was made possible by a new proposal made by Shoreham Poplar Front.

The group had previously been ignored by the council and developers on incorporating the tree into the housing plans.

…we actually proposed a new plan, using the same site, to deliver slightly more homes on the site, whilst saving the tree

“One of our volunteers who is involved in the building business, architecturally. I asked if he wouldn’t mind putting together a sort of alternative design, so that’s what we did, towards the end of last year, is we actually proposed a new plan, using the same site, to deliver slightly more homes on the site, within the same sort of height profile, whilst saving the tree,” explained Darcy. 

“Basically, what the developers had been saying for the last year, is that if we keep the tree, we’ll have to reduce the numbers of houses, which we proved to be incorrect.

“They [the council members] came and gave us a visit just before Christmas and said they were willing to start to work with us, to promote that idea within the council, within the planning team, and with the developer, Hyde Homes.”

Campaigner Solstice occupying the tree site in Shoreham. Photo: Sam Harrington-Lowe

Success for the Shoreham Poplar Front!

The alternative plans submitted by the campaign team has been accepted, which means the tree has been saved. “This compromise design saves the Poplar tree from being felled whilst delivering the same number of dwellings on the site,” he said.

“This is a win-win outcome for the housing association, the council and our local community who will continue to benefit from cleaner air, better drainage and biodiversity on the Brighton Road with this mature tree left standing.

“We hope this serves as a good example to other councils and planning authorities of what can be achieved through positive engagement with tree-saving activist groups.”

The success of Shoreham Poplar Front is one to be celebrated and hopefully inspire communities. Unfortunately, not all campaigns have such a positive fate. 

Holt Farm Tree, Essex

In Rochford, Essex, Holt Farm Tree was lost in February 2023 after a campaign last over nine months. Locals and members of the Save the Holt Farm Oak Tree community have been left feeling disgusted by the felling of this 150 year old tree. 

We are in a climate crisis, and the benefits of our trees are more needed than ever

Developers Bloor Homes won their high court battle to remove the protesters at the tree. The removal of the tree is to allow Bloor Homes to carry out the development of 662 homes.

We are in a climate crisis, and the benefits of our trees are more needed than ever. When asked about the action against trees, Shoreham’s Harrison said “I think the value that developers and planning departments show towards trees does not match the public mood… we need trees. We need those attitudes to change and that’s partly why our campaign managed to gather so much support. The public opinion is with us”

The positive outcome for the Shoreham Poplar Front shows that it is possible to avoid sacrificing our mature trees for the sake of development. This group was able to take the action themselves by re-designing the developers plans to prove their point. 

Public support is the backbone of these types of campaigns, but as seen from the Holt Farm Tree campaign, often more than local support is needed to push council and planning companies into valuing and including the environment in the future of our towns and cities.

Why felling trees isn’t the way

The plans for Armada Way, as an example, included planting 150 semi-mature trees in the town centre in a bid to mitigate the loss of the mature trees. However, councils often use this as a way to escape criticism of felling mature trees. But it’s not the fix it might appear.

young, semi-mature trees certainly can’t provide the same environmental impact as one mature tree, until they reach maturity themselves.

Mature trees require an adequate root care system, pruning, and pest management to prolong their life and continue providing environmental benefits. And young, semi-mature trees certainly can’t provide the same environmental impact as one mature tree, until they reach maturity themselves.

A mature tree is able to produce enough oxygen for ten people over a year. Therefore, replacing one mature tree with several smaller species still causes an overall net loss of ecosystem services.

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Stop the chop. Why it’s vital we prevent the felling of mature trees appeared first on Silver Magazine.

It’s hot – too hot for some. Unfortunately, wild animals, birds, fish, or insects can’t sit by a fan like we can. And natural watering holes are drying up, leading to dehydration and heat exhaustion. So how can we help wild animals during the drought? 

Maintain cover from the sun

Shade is invaluable to wildlife at this time of year. Your garden can be a haven for it. 

Leave long grass, piles of logs and rocks intact. Any and all shade will be greatly appreciated by your garden visitors. Stick up a canopy if you’ve got one, and consider building shady areas with other materials. 

Food sources

(Image: pixabay)

The flowers and plants that wildlife would typically feed from can wilt and dry in the drought. Keep any flowers and plants with berries in your garden well-watered. And yes, we know there’s a load of hosepipe bans coming in this week – read some great ideas for saving water here. 

Make sure bird feeders are well stocked with nuts and seeds. Cashews, pistachios, almonds, and walnuts are all great sources of protein. Avoid putting salted or roasted nuts in your feeders as these are toxic to birds. 

Bowls of meaty pet food are also great to leave out for hedgehogs. The hard, dry ground makes their typical food sources difficult to come by.

Hedgehog tucking in to pet food (Image: pixabay)

Leaving watery fruit and vegetables out is also a good idea – both a food source and a way to rehydrate. Think melons, tomatoes etc

Reduce the heat

Concrete and stone surfaces can become 20ºC hotter than grass. Far too hot for us to stand barefoot on, let alone wildlife. Replace these surfaces with grass or mats to create cooler spaces.

Shade from trees also significantly reduces heat. Plant a native tree in your garden to decrease surface temperatures by 10ºC. If planting isn’t an option, look at screens, shades, free-standing parasols etc 

Water sources

Water sources are harder to come by in the hot weather. This is the by far the best way to help wild animals during a drought. Ponds, pools, lakes and so on are often overcrowded by wildlife, or dried up. 

Dishes of water
Putting shallow dishes of water out will be appreciated by birds and insects. Try putting some stones in any water sources you leave out. These provide a ledge for insects to climb onto if they fall in.

Keep garden sources topped up
Make sure to keep your pond or bird bath topped up in the summer months. Birds need to bathe themselves regularly to keep their feathers in good condition.

(Image: pixabay)

Follow these tips to save water and reuse it in your garden to top up your pond. Be sure to leave the water out in places where it can’t get hot – and definitely no tin containers!

7 ways you can help to save the oceans

Spotting when wildlife is vulnerable

Animals that you see behaving abnormally might require help. Look out for things like:

• Birds sitting on the ground
• Nocturnal animals out in the day
• Foxes and other mammals lying still
• Bees lying on the ground

These are all signs that those animals could be experiencing heatstroke or extreme dehydration. Tempting to help – and we wouldn’t want to stop you trying the sugar water for bees trick, but be careful. Remember not to handle any animals without expert advice.

Leave some water close by and contact your local wildlife protection organisation. 

You can find your nearest wildlife expert via the Wildlife Trust website.

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post How to help wild animals in the drought appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Have you ever wondered how you can help to save the oceans?

It is easy to feel inadequate and useless next to a problem so large. But this is far from the truth; the ‘average’ person can make a big difference to the environment. And yes, that means you.

The smallest of differences to your lifestyle and daily tasks can make a huge impact on the world we live in. So how can we help save the oceans?

Here are five easy changes you can make:

1. Shopping for sustainable seafood options

Start by making sure the fish you are purchasing has been harvested using safe methods.

Overfishing means that there are not enough of a fish species left to sustain a healthy population, and this can take decades to rectify. In some cases, where a fish species is removed from an environment, the whole ecosystem can collapse.

Buying fish sustainably reduces overfishing, maintains marine biodiversity and often contains more vitamins and minerals, which means it helps us too.

Do these things…

– Check for an MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) label, this blue tick means that the fish is considered to have been fished at a sustainable level.

– Ask your fishmonger – They are required to tell you everything they know about the fish they are selling.

– The Marine Conservation Society uses scientific research to provide consumers with information about marine life. Every year they create a Fish Guide to help you make sustainable choices about your fish.

2. Plastic free alternatives

Single use plastics such as plastic bottles can last up to 500 years in the ocean. These are some easy adjustments you can make to reduce this damage and save marine life…

– Carry a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles on a day or night out.

– Avoid plastic cutlery and straws, invest in metal straws.

– Take a cloth bag with you when you leave to do your food shop

– It may be a shock to find out that chewing gum actually contains plastic. This means you can recycle it!

3. Making easy and yummy seafood swaps

Through this website you can choose the fish or seafood you’d like to eat, and you will be provided with the best alternatives in terms of taste, sustainability, nutrition and price. Making small changes such as sources and variety of seafood can reduce the over-farming and production of specific species.

Here are some quick examples:

– Buying cod produced in the UK is currently an extremely unsustainable option. So if you do fancy cod for dinner, look for cod that has been caught in the waters surrounding Iceland, as the stocks are still healthy.

– Scallops and mussels farmed in the UK are great because they have a low environmental impact. So are an amazing alternative to prawns imported from other countries.

– Popular fish such as salmon and tuna are often farmed intensively. So go for healthier and eco-friendly options like trout or herring.

4. Protect the beaches

By 2050 there could be more plastic in the sea than fish and leaving waste on the beach means that it’s likely to end up in the ocean and destroy marine life. When you leave the beach after a lovely sunny day, make sure that you’re only leaving your footprints.

By 2050 there could be more plastic in the sea than fish

– Use sea-safe sun-cream! Two of the most frequently used ingredients in sun cream, oxybenzone and octinoxate, are deadly to corals and causes them to bleach, which can be fatal. However, you can use reef-safe sun cream that doesn’t include these ingredients which is especially important in tropical areas.

– There are green alternatives to most products out there – did you know that you can buy eco-friendly surf boards? Even greener picnic blankets and sandals, so watch out for eco-friendly substitutes before heading to the beach this summer.

– Clean up your local beaches, helping to clear small and easily forgotten debris will prevent it from flying into the ocean.

Have an eco-friendly barbecue

5. Conserve water

Conserving water saves energy, which is needed to filter, heat and pump water into homes, so reducing the amount of water you use daily will reduce your carbon footprint. Maintaining water in our ecosystems helps to keep aquatic habitats full of fish species and other animals like otters.

There are lots of ways to easily save little bits of water here and there, it all adds up.

– Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth. A running tap can waste more than six litres of water per minute

– Use a bowl in the sink when washing fruit, vegetables, or dishes. You can then use the waste water to water your plants.

– Check your property regularly for leaks on your internal plumbing.

6. Donate and volunteer

There are hundreds of different charities dedicated to bettering the state of the ocean, who do amazing work but run on funds donated by kind people around the world. It is easier than ever to click a few buttons and donate as little as £1 to ocean conservation. Alternatively, get stuck in and volunteer for beach clean-ups, lectures and campaigns.

Some links you may find useful:

Donate – Coast Magazine has a good roundup of organisations where your money would be most welcome

Volunteering opportunities – check this link on the Marine Conservation Soc site

Volunteering – get involved with beach cleans. Find your nearest clean-up gang on the Beach Cleans site

Fancy diving a bit deeper into longer term plans for the oceans? Read the MCS strategy booklet

7. Educate yourself!

Immerse yourself in media and literature to expand your knowledge of the ocean. The more you know about the sea and how your carbon footprint affects the life inside it, the easier it will be to take small steps towards the rejuvenation of ocean life. Some further reading…

World Ocean Day

WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

GVI

Blue Marine Foundation

Ocean Conservation Trust

Millie Owens

www.titlemedia.co.uk

The post 7 ways you can help to save the oceans appeared first on Silver Magazine.