Community News

Further to new research from Bristol University suggesting just under one-third (31%) of dogs were found to be carrying a tick, Andrew  Bucher, Chief Veterinary Officer at MedicAnimal has provided his thoughts to why the numbers are so high and what dog owners can do to treat ticks. A lack of adjustment to warmer winters prolonging the lives of ticks leaves pet owners and their animals at risk of contracting a range of illnesses.

Animal welfare charities are concerned the number of primates being kept as pets in ‘backyard Britain’ is on the rise as welfare complaints have increased three-fold in five years. An estimated 5,000 primates are being kept as pets up and down the UK - but new data suggests that many are suffering and not having vital social, dietary and environmental needs met.

Dads! You may be at fault if your children lack imagination and creativity and find it hard to express themselves at playtime. Only 10% of UK dads really get down with the kids it seems. A survey conducted by Novotel hotels makes it clear that Dads across the UK need to up the ante at playtime and overcome that famous British reserve. Just one in ten get involved in imaginative play. In contrast one in three mums claim to have super powers including eyes in the back of their heads and the ability to see through walls with their x ray vision.

Keeping up with the chores, the bedtime routine – and the dreaded school run are among the most stressful things about parenthood, a study has found. A poll of 2,000 parents found the average mum and dad spend almost two hours a day feeling stressed, with mornings in particular proving a minefield for parents.  5 of the 10 top parent stresses start the moment we wake up, with 28% agreeing that getting the children out of the door for the school run and settling back into the flow of the morning routine post-holiday, are key parenthood stress triggers.

The Ramblers is reminding people in the West Midlands to step out for Walk About this September - its biggest ever free nationwide walking event, offering a walk to suit everyone. The festival takes place from Saturday 3 September until Sunday 11 September. With over a thousand walks all over Britain, there’s something for everyone to enjoy – from a short stroll in the park to a challenging hike up a mountain.

Training is being offered to organisations and individuals who may come into contact with someone at risk of suicide as part of a range of activities taking place in Wolverhampton around World Suicide Prevention Day. Delivered by PAPYRUS, a charity which aims to prevent suicide among young people, the 90-minute sessions will be held on Tuesday (6 September, 2016) at 10.30am and 2pm and will explore beliefs and ideas relating to suicide.

MedicAnimal’s Chief Veterinary Officer Andrew Bucher is reiterating calls for owners to clean up after their dogs. Launching today, ‘The Big Scoop’ led by The Dogs Trust and Keep Britain Tidy is urging Britain’s dog owners to ‘bag it, bin it’. Research shows Britain’s eight-million strong dog population, produce 1,000 tonnes of poo each day, costing councils in England and Wales £22 million per year to clean up.

Maple Leaf Adventures is offering a trip in the Great Bear Rainforest this fall with a twist. It's a 'bear hunt' operated by Raincoast Conservation Foundation that's aim is to view and protect bears, not kill them. On three 9-day trips Sep 9-17, Sep 19-28 and Sep 30-Oct 8, 2016, guests will travel aboard Raincoast's research vessel Achiever to explore the wonder of British Columbia's central coast. Destinations include the bear havens where Raincoast, in an innovative conservation move, bought up the exclusive, commercial right to hunt.

Long revered for changing great swathes of the English landscape during the eighteenth century, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s skills also extended to architecture. Appropriately, a rare example of his ecclesiastical buildings opens its doors again last weekend. Following major investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and years of painstaking work, Compton Verney’s Grade I-listed chapel is set to give visitors to the Warwickshire art gallery and park fresh insights into Brown’s considerable gifts.

A campaign to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE) is going big and bold on a key West Midlands motorway route to spread the word about this hidden crime. Motorists travelling through the M6/M5 junction this bank holiday weekend will see the message ‘Could this be your child?’ on a large digital motorway sign. Aimed at parents, the digital display, which can be seen both north and southbound, highlights warning signs they need to be aware of to help them identify concerns.

Sophia aged three has been appointed the Little Boss of Big Fun by leading holiday specialist, Eurocamp, following a one month recruitment process for the newly created role. She will take the specialist role for 12 months, which will see her and her family visit one of the brand's 180 parcs, giving her the insight she needs to advise the company on how to make its offering more fun for children and toddlers.

Birmingham residents are urged to be on the lookout for emails and letters from the council’s elections office over the next few weeks. As well as the usual forms that many people will be familiar with, some people will receive an email instead as part of a trial to reduce costs. Head of Electoral Services, Robert Connelly, said: “To ensure you get a vote in the next election please look out for correspondence from the Elections Office." 

More than four in 10 British motorists are either too lazy or too busy to wash their own cars, and get someone else to do it, according to a survey carried out by AA Cars. That figure rises to nearly six in ten  for time-poor Londoners. In Scotland, the weekend tradition still appears to be in fashion with more than two-thirds stating they wash their own cars, followed by Wales, the North East and South West.

When it comes to dogs, the West Midlands seems to be ‘barking mad’ for man’s best friend, with two thirds of dog owners in the West Midlands opting to spend an evening with their dogs rather than without, and a half have left a pub that claimed to be dog-friendly but wasn’t. Research by DogBuddy.com; Europe’s leading online dog-sitting and home dog boarding community, also revealed Paul O’Grady (31%) as the area’s favourite dog-owning celebrity.

Hangzhou is poised to welcome top political leaders from around the world as it hosts the first ever G20 Summit in China from 4th - 5th September 2016. Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to express her anticipation of attending the G20 Summit this September and her support for China in hosting a successful event. 

It may be difficult to get your child into a top state school but affording the school uniform isn’t, reveals a new survey by the Schoolwear Association, whose members together help to clothe three-quarters of Britain’s children. All of the top 20 state schools in England insist on a uniform, and the majority also stipulate a blazer and tie. The study carried out by the Schoolwear Association reveals the average cost of a complete outfit in these schools is less than £107 - just 54p a day per school year, and even better value when you consider that items such as blazers and ties will last for more than one school year.