Jul222017

Dundee Botanic Garden’s Mad Hatter’s tea party

Fraser Macpherson
Children aged 3-10 years are invited to bring your families along to the Garden for a Mad Hatter’s tea party on the afternoon of 30th July.   Arrive in time to get your picnic set out for a 3pm start.

Entertainment will be provided by the University’s JOOT theatre group, so you might want to brush up on your Alice in Wonderland characters before you come!

Bring your own picnic and some rugs to sit on for the tea party, and wear a MAD HAT.    You might want to make your own?

There is no charge for this event, but numbers will be strictly limited to 20 children so booking is essential.   Please book by e-mailing here.

Jul222017

China’s farmland slightly shrinks in 2016

East Asia

China’s total farmland area dropped slightly in 2016, while the amount of construction land went up, official data showed.

At the end of 2016, China had a total of 2.024 billion mu (about 1.349 million hectares) of farmland, down 1.153 million mu from the 2015 level, according to a survey by the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR).

Meanwhile, an extra 8.09 million mu of land was used for construction land in 2016, up 4.4 percent year on year, a large part of which has been set aside for infrastructure construction, said the ministry.

In 2016, the amount of new land opened up for highway and railway construction rose 30.7 percent and 102.8 percent from a year ago, respectively, the MLR said.

China must retain at least 1.865 billion mu of farmland in 2020, under a new target set by the MLR in 2016, which is above a government red line of 1.8 billion mu.

Jul222017

Press release: 11 caravanning hacks you don’t want to leave the house without

HM Government

With thousands of caravanners expected to head off on their travels this weekend, it’s never been a better time to remind yourself of some top hacks to make caravan holidaying easier.

1. Invest in extending towing mirrors

Go big or go home! It’s pretty much a given that no-one has ever wished they’d bought smaller extending mirrors. Invest in a decent set to see you through. They’ll be a worthwhile investment.

2. Don’t rely on man-power

Picking up a decent adaptor for a hand-drill means you avoid the hard labour (and potential back injury) that goes with using a hand lever to lower the van legs.

3. Go old-school and bring a map

Technology is great. Until you get stuck in a country lane near Aberystwyth with a 2 mile journey to reverse. Make it an adventure in the best possible way by planning your journey and packing a map – ensuring that the sat nav doesn’t ruin your plans.

4. Awning erection survival kit

No matter how many times you do it, putting up the awning can prove to be a stressful situation. Head this off by packing a survival kit to occupy the kids – a large picnic and new colouring books often buys you some quiet time to set up.

5. Porch light

Don’t let the longer summer evenings lull you into a false sense of security. Remember to pack a light for the awning so when the kids are tucked up in bed (finally) you can enjoy card games into the evening without worrying about making too much noise.

6. Trug basket

Muddy shoes + enclosed space = hours of cleaning up after yourself. Invest in a large enough basket to chuck all outdoor shoes into at the door and help maintain your high standards.

7. The ‘know before you tow’ check

Towing rules depend on when the driver passed their driving test. If you’re planning on taking a trailer or caravan on holiday this summer you can find the latest advice from DVLA on what you can tow as well as guidance on towing safely and legally.

8. Laptop with pre-loaded films

For those rainy day emergencies. Handy for the child or adult in your life who needs distracting. Don’t forget the charger and headphones!

9. Hot water bottle

Fill it with cold water and freeze it – it will turn any sealed box lined with tinfoil into a cool box.

10. A flat hot plate will cook most things

Indoor or outdoor cooking is made easier with one of these electrical essentials. Most meals can be cooked on it, it’s easy to clean and doesn’t take up much space.

11. Baby wipes

Not just for those with babies. These pocket-sized miracles will mop up spills, clean windscreens, remove oil from hands, clean shoes….a ‘must’ for life, not just for caravanning!

Ian Hewlett, Technical Manager of the Camping and Caravanning Club, said,

Fitting additional towing mirrors will help you see behind your caravan, and if you’re new to caravanning check your driving licence covers the car and caravan combination you plan to tow.

Caravanning is a perfectly safe and enjoyable pastime, and we at the Club are committed to helping ensure caravanners feel confident and relaxed on their way to their holiday destination.

More information is available at www.gov.uk/towing-with-car.

Jul222017

China releases Yangzte environmental protection plan

East Asia

The Chinese government has released an environmental protection plan covering the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the latest move to protect the country’s longest river from pollution.

The plan was jointly released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources.

It places an upper limit on the usage of water resources along the belt, said Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of environmental protection.

An ecological “red line” will be put in place to protect and restore the environment of key areas, Zhao said.

This is in line with government guidelines issued earlier this year on a nationwide ecological “red line” strategy that will place certain regions under mandatory and rigorous protection.

Water quality management will be based on a “bottom line” system to strengthen controls on pollution along the belt, especially at drinking water sources, according to Zhao.

The plan also demands improved responses to environmental emergencies and closer regional coordination, he said.

Stretching from southwest China’s Yunnan Province to Shanghai, the Yangtze River Economic Belt covers nine provinces and two municipalities in an area of 2.05 million square kilometers.

In 2014, China made developing the economic belt a national strategy. The move was expected to boost development in riverside regions and provide new growth stimuli for China’s slowing economy.

Authorities have stressed that environmental protection should be a priority in the development of the belt, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the country’s population and economic aggregate.