There are few things more evocative of a British summer than the sight of sun-ripened strawberries nestled among green leaves, their ruby-red skins glowing in the soft light of June. Whether served with cream at Wimbledon, spooned over shortcake, or plucked straight from the plant with fingers still warm from the sun, strawberries hold a special place in the national imagination—and on the plate. A Berry with a Story The strawberry’s history is surprisingly complex for such a humble fruit. The modern garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is a relative newcomer, developed in 18th-century France from a cross between North and South American species. Yet strawberries have long grown wild in British hedgerows, meadows, and woodland edges. These smaller, native varieties, known as wild or alpine strawberries, still crop up today and offer an intensely sweet, if tiny, treat. By Victorian times, strawberries had become a fashionable delicacy, often grown in grand kitchen gardens and served with refined flourish. Their popularity only grew, and today they remain one of the UK’s most beloved fruits—both to eat and to grow. Growing Your Own There’s a deep satisfaction in growing strawberries at home. They’re relatively easy to cultivate, making them ideal for beginners, children, or anyone seeking the delight of harvesting their own food. Whether grown in open beds, hanging baskets, grow bags or even repurposed pallets, strawberries are adaptable and generous plants. Strawberries prefer a sunny, sheltered spot and rich, well-drained soil. While they can be grown from seed, most gardeners opt for runners—small offshoots from mature plants—which establish quickly and fruit within a year. Regular watering, mulching with straw to keep the fruit off the soil, and netting to ward off birds are key to a successful harvest. There are three main types to choose from: June-bearing, which crop in a single, heavy flush; everbearing, which produce smaller, steady harvests through summer; and alpine, which are dainty, low-maintenance, and perfect for edging or containers. A Taste Like No Other One of the great pleasures of homegrown strawberries is their flavour. Unlike their often underwhelming supermarket counterparts—bred more for shelf life than sweetness—homegrown varieties explode with taste. Cultivars such as ‘Cambridge Favourite’, ‘Hapil’ or the modern ‘Malling Centenary’ are known for their excellent balance of sugar and acidity. Strawberries are also rich in vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants, making them as good for the body as they are for the tastebuds. Fresh from the plant, still warm from the sun, they’re a sensory delight that no store-bought punnet can rival. More Than Just a Dessert While strawberries and cream may be the iconic duo, this versatile fruit lends itself to far more than pudding. Try tossing sliced berries into salads with feta and mint, muddling them into cocktails, or simmering them down to make homemade jam—a quintessential preserve that captures summer in every spoonful. They also freeze well, and when blitzed into smoothies or baked into cakes, their slightly softened texture matters not a jot. In short, strawberries are the fruit that keeps on giving. The Joy of the Season To grow strawberries is to live in rhythm with the seasons, watching green buds swell into fruit and timing harvests to beat the birds and slugs. It’s a gentle kind of gardening, full of small rituals—checking under leaves, tasting for ripeness, sharing the spoils. In a world that moves at dizzying speed, the simple act of growing and enjoying strawberries reminds us of life’s quieter pleasures. It’s no wonder the fruit has long been associated with love, festivity and indulgence. As the days stretch out and the air turns warm, there’s no better time to indulge in the joys of Britain’s favourite berry. Here’s to a summer sweetened by strawberries!

Robert Scott’s leading fragrance and air-freshening brand P-Wave® has added OurFresh 2.0 to its active air freshener range. “Say goodbye to leaks and lazy mist bursts, with our new professional 30-day battery-operated air freshener, designed to keep larger spaces invigoratingly fresh.” says P-Wave® Brand Manager Mark Wintle at Robert Scott, which is based at Greenfield, near Oldham. “With no aerosols, propellants, or solvents – just fragrance – OurFresh 2.0 delivers a consistent, sophisticated scent for 30 days straight.” Ideal for use in offices, bars, care homes, or reception/waiting rooms, the refills for OurFresh 2.0 are available in three premium fragrances – Cotton Blossom, Coconut & Vanilla and Summer Sunshine. OurFresh 2.0 packs 3-5 times more fragrance than average supermarket dispensers, offering superior freshness that spans wider areas, up to 50m². Freestanding – with no need for screws or tape, or wall-mounted – and available in sleek black or white, the battery-operated OurFresh 2.0 is designed with convenience in mind. Smart chip technology runs the fan intermittently, turning for longer progressively over the 30-day duration. “OurFresh 2.0 completes our active air-freshener range, which includes: Easy Fresh; MyFresh; and OurFresh-e,” says Mark Wintle. “In addition, OurFresh 2.0 uses the same premium dry fragrance refills as our fan-favourite OurFresh-e plug-in. The fragrance refills are made from up to 15% recycled material and are recyclable – so that’s two great dispensers, and one epic refill.”

A Surrey process filter manufacturer is set to highlight how its industrial-strength products and solutions can help maintain standards and drive improvements in the public water supply. Experts from Camberley-based Amazon Filters will focus on water companies’ need for ‘source-to-tap’ risk management and operational planning when they exhibit at the tenth annual Drinking Water Quality Conference. The two-day event, at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on 5 to 6 June, is themed on ‘securing drinking water quality now and in the future’. More than 250 attendees are expected including representatives of water companies, regulators, inspectors, contractors, research bodies and government organisations. It comes as the UK water industry begins to manage assets, deliver services and invest in infrastructure under the latest five-year regulatory cycle, AMP8, running from this year to 2030. Amazon Filters’ Head of UK Sales Lisa Astbury and Sales Engineer Gareth Davies will both be on the company’s exhibition stand. Lisa said: “We have made and supplied filters, housings and critical filtration solutions to the water industry in the UK and Europe for 40 years, helping to safeguard precious water resources right the way through from source to tap." “We support essential activities such as drought and flood management, emergency response, turbidity control, chlorine reduction and the removal of iron, manganese, cryptosporidium and other contaminants and chemicals." “The successful management and performance of all these activities over the next five years will be an essential aspect of water companies’ response to AMP8.” Among the products Amazon Filters is exhibiting is SupaSpun II, an absolute-rated depth filter that is on the approved list for use in the public water supply under DWI Regulation 31. Later this year, Amazon Filters will be a breakout sponsor of another major industry event, WWT Drinking Water Quality Europe, taking place in Amsterdam on 5 to 6 November. The conference agenda there will feature a presentation by the company’s Technical Manager, Keith Wickert, on technology enhancements and water treatment innovation. In his role, Keith is responsible for managing the regulatory approvals for filters including German DVGW certification and, in the UK, DWI Regulation 31. For further details of the DWQ event, visit here .

A huge new stabling complex has been unveiled at the All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, as part of a £2million upgrade project. Stabling experts Cheval Liberté were in charge of building the new stabling project, which includes 204 new stables housed within six barns. The other upgrades include new hard standing areas, wash down bays, as well as new shower and toilet facilities for the riders. The barns will be used as the international stabling for the two main fixtures in the Hickstead calendar, the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby Meeting (19-22 June) and the Agria Royal International Horse Show (22-27 July). In addition, the stabling will be available for competitors at Hickstead’s national shows as well as those attending the showground for external shows, camps and clinics. Showground Manager William Bunn explains: “This project has been three years in the planning, during which we took the time to find the right contractors and the right designs, and now we've delivered what we've always wanted in terms of world-class facilities." “It’s vital that Hickstead, as one of the leading showgrounds in the world, continues to compete with other venues in the sport, and this project is the latest in a series of investments we’ve made to improve the facilities including new all-weather arenas, a new grandstand, and improvements to our hospitality suites.” During the summer months, Hickstead hosts its two major international fixtures along with three national competitions – the Hurst College National Schools Jumping Championships, the Al Shira’aa British Young Horse Championships and the All England September Tour. In recent years, Hickstead has diversified to offer corporate events and parties, as well as cross-country and showjumping training courses that are open from autumn to spring each year. The new upgrades mean Hickstead can now offer more year-round camps, clinics and training sessions. “We are hoping to attract more branches of the Pony Club, Riding Clubs, plus coaches and instructors, who wish to organise camps and clinics here using our world class training facilities,” said William. Arwel Davies, head of Cheval Liberté UK, added: “It's been a wonderful project to be involved in. We've been able to manufacture and install all the stabling in a matter of six months. I’ve been running Cheval Liberté UK for 20 years, and this project has been the pinnacle of my career. I'm very proud to have been able to provide the service that Hickstead required, and to deliver such a fantastic new facility.” Grégory Rulquin, the owner and founder of Cheval Liberté, added: “As a horseman and big fan of showjumping, it has been a dream to come to Hickstead and support this project. From the beginning to the end, it's been a big team effort, and the result is just outstanding.”

It marks a significant step forward in M&S’s store rotation and renewal programme, focussed on having the right stores in the right place with the right space and is a key strand in the business’s transformation as it reshapes for growth. Store rotation and renewal aims to create 420 bigger, fresher Food stores and a more productive group of 180 Full Line stores, with half of the estate expected to be in the renewal format by 2027/28. Last year M&S opened six Food stores and two full line stores as well as renewing nine existing stores. The new Food stores averaged c.15k sq ft, enabling more customers to shop the full range. In a strong year, Food sales outperformed target by c.20%. Two new Full Line stores at Dundee and Washington Galleries opened with their Fashion, Home & Beauty sales trading 15% ahead of plan. Fosse Park was extended during the year, with Fashion, Home & Beauty trading up 20% versus last year. This year M&S plans to open ten Food stores and two full line stores. A number of other stores will be updated to the renewal format. This week, as part of its annual results, M&S announced that returns on new and renewed stores have been above the hurdle rates overall, trading ahead of plan for three consecutive years. The new stores will include: Abingdon 18k sq foot food hall expected to open in late 2025. Cannock 18k sq foot food hall expected to open in late 2025. Farnham 18k sq foot food hall expected to open in spring 2026. Godalming 22k sq foot food hall expected to open in summer 2026 – the largest standalone Food store to date. Northampton 16k sq foot food hall expected to open in summer 2026. All new Food stores are thoughtfully designed with customers in mind and will carry the full range of M&S Food products. They feature the latest in-store designs to bring more of the M&S Food range to customers with market-style fruit and vegetables, large bakeries with fresh coffee to go and Click & Collect counters for orders from the wider fashion, home and beauty range on M&S.com. The features of M&S renewal stores include: Larger car parks making access to the store easier. Bright and welcoming entrances with fresh Farm to Foodhall produce front and centre. Brand-new Coffee Bakery where customers can grab a coffee while they shop and at the same time pick up a freshly baked Collection Sourdough Loaf. Wider, more spacious aisles to ensure an easy and enjoyable journey as they explore the full M&S range. Expanded frozen sections that cater to every occasion from breakfast to dessert and everything in-between. All the new M&S stores will contribute to delivering on its Plan A commitments using the latest technology to run more energy efficient stores with LED lighting and natural refrigerant fridges and freezers. M&S CEO Stuart Machin said: “Investing in new and renewed stores is one of our key transformation priorities. Securing these highly desirable sites in priority locations will accelerate this strategy, drive further growth in our M&S food business and most importantly give our customers the best possible M&S shopping experience.” All store plans are subject to planning permission.

Few plants embody the spirit of the British garden quite like the hydrangea. With their cloud-like blooms and chameleon-like colour shifts, these timeless shrubs offer a spectacle from late spring well into autumn. Whether gracing a cottage garden in Devon or brightening a shaded urban courtyard in London, hydrangeas bring effortless charm, nostalgic beauty, and a surprising amount of botanical intrigue. A Touch of Old-World Romance Hydrangeas have long been beloved in British gardens. With origins in Asia and the Americas, they found favour in the UK during the 18th century, when plant hunters brought them back from Japan and China. Since then, they’ve become a staple of the horticultural world, cherished for their robust flowering habits and varied forms. There’s something irresistibly romantic about the billowing clusters of a mophead hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), with their shades of pink, blue, or lilac depending on the pH of the soil. In more acidic conditions, the blooms tend towards blue; in alkaline soil, they shift to pink. Gardeners often find themselves indulging in a little soil alchemy—adding aluminium sulphate or lime—to coax a particular hue from their plants. Diversity in Bloom Hydrangeas are far from a one-size-fits-all affair. The delicate lacecap varieties offer a more understated elegance, with a flat cluster of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by showy florets. Meanwhile, Hydrangea paniculata boasts cone-shaped blooms that start white and slowly blush to pink as the season progresses. These types tend to be hardier and more sun-tolerant, ideal for gardens with less shelter. For those looking for year-round interest, the oak-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) provides autumn colour and attractive peeling bark, while the climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) brings vertical interest and is perfect for training up walls or trellises. Care and Cultivation Despite their sophisticated appearance, hydrangeas are remarkably undemanding. Most prefer dappled shade and moist, well-drained soil, although varieties such as paniculata and arborescens will tolerate full sun. Pruning requirements vary—some flower on old wood, others on new—so it's essential to know your type before reaching for the secateurs. Hydrangeas also lend themselves well to containers, making them a superb choice for patios or smaller spaces. Regular watering, especially during dry spells, and a mulch of compost or leaf mould in spring will keep them looking their best. A Plant for Every Mood Hydrangeas have a way of capturing the mood of a garden—soft and romantic, bold and architectural, or quietly contemplative. Their ability to transform across seasons and soil types gives them a unique versatility. In bloom, they are show-stoppers; in winter, their skeletal heads add structural interest when left unpruned. In an age where instant gratification often trumps slow cultivation, hydrangeas remind us of the joys of patience and the rewards of thoughtful gardening. They are the floral equivalent of a good novel or a well-steeped cup of tea—classic, comforting, and always in style. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious novice, there’s a hydrangea to suit your space, soil, and soul. Let them bloom, and watch your garden come to life.

A farm near Wickham is causing a buzz in the countryside after introducing 25 new hives of bees to boost their soft fruit harvest. Westlands Farm, in Shedfield, has brought in the 25 hives of Honey and Bumble Bees to support pollination and maintain the health of its raspberry and strawberry crop during the current growing season. The bees and their hives have been supplied to Westlands by Strides New Forest Honey. As part of the relationship Strides collect all the honey produced by the bees and some of that is then sold in Westlands Farm Shop. Farmer Graham Collett, owner of Westlands Farm, said: “Using both Bumble Bees and Honey Bees enables us to maintain a really healthy strawberry and raspberry crop." “They manage the nectar levels in the flowers, which supports stronger fruit development and helps reduce the risk of disease and mould. The honey they produce from our raspberry nectar is processed off-site and sold in our farm shop, completing a full farm-to-jar process." “The Bumble Bees play a vital role in pollinating the raspberry flowers, the Honey Bees help manage excess nectar, which can build up as the fruit develops and increase the risk of mould.” Westlands produces raspberries and strawberries in glasshouses and polytunnels, enabling an extended harvesting period and helping to meet the local and national demand for fresh, seasonal produce. About Westlands: Westlands Farm Shop is a family-owned business dedicated to ethical and sustainable farming, aiming to reduce food miles and promote local food. The business has been nurturing local supply chains and supporting small businesses in the community since opening its first shop in Meon Valley in 2001. Westlands opened their second store on Winchester High St in 2024, bringing high-quality, British farm produce to the heart of the city. Above Photos:  The Bumble Bees play a vital role in pollinating the raspberry flowers. The bees and their hives have been supplied by Strides New Forest Honey.

Each year, on 30th May, nations across the globe unite in celebration of one of the most beloved and versatile crops in human history — the potato. World Potato Day is far more than a whimsical nod to a staple of comfort food; it is an opportunity to recognise the profound impact this modest tuber has had on agriculture, global cuisine, and even the course of history itself. Originally cultivated in the Andes Mountains of South America over 7,000 years ago, the potato’s journey from its wild beginnings to dinner plates worldwide is nothing short of remarkable. When Spanish explorers first encountered the potato in the 16th century, they could scarcely have predicted its future significance. Fast forward to today, and the potato is grown in over 150 countries, with thousands of varieties cultivated to suit every climate and palate. What makes the potato so universally adored is its astonishing adaptability. Whether mashed, roasted, boiled, or fried, the potato has the uncanny ability to transform into a hearty dish or a crispy snack. From the humble British jacket potato, filled with melting cheese and beans, to the spicy aloo dishes of India and the creamy gratins of France, this tuber has inspired culinary creativity across continents. But beyond its place at the table, the potato plays a vital role in global food security. As a crop, it yields more food per unit of land than many others and requires less water than staples like rice and wheat. In regions where climate change is threatening traditional farming practices, potatoes offer a resilient and nutritious solution, capable of thriving in diverse conditions. Rich in vitamins, fibre, and essential minerals, they are far more than just a comfort food — they are a nutritional powerhouse. World Potato Day also serves as a moment to reflect on the farmers and agricultural communities who cultivate this invaluable crop. Many smallholder farmers around the world rely on potatoes not only for their livelihood but also for their daily sustenance. Organisations such as the International Potato Centre continue to invest in research to develop more sustainable and disease-resistant varieties, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy this essential food. Festivities for the day range from potato-themed festivals and cooking competitions to educational programmes that raise awareness about sustainable farming practices. In Peru, the potato’s ancestral home, vibrant celebrations fill the streets with colourful displays of native varieties, highlighting the cultural significance of the crop to local communities. So, as World Potato Day arrives, it offers the perfect excuse to savour your favourite potato dish, try a new recipe, or simply appreciate the incredible journey of this unassuming vegetable. Whether it’s a comforting bowl of chips, a crisp rösti, or a silky mash, the potato deserves its moment in the spotlight. After all, few foods manage to bring together tradition, innovation, and global unity quite like the humble spud.

Property consultancy Vail Williams is celebrating 30 years as a property adviser in Crawley. Founded in 1988, the firm opened its Gatwick regional office in May 1995 when the Rt. Hon. Nicholas Soames, then MP for Crawley, cut the ribbon at 9 The Boulevard. The Crawley office was led by Peter Ross and the firm’s focus was on commercial property work across Sussex and along the M23 corridor, concentrating on Crawley/Gatwick, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Redhill and Reigate. At the time there were three staff and one of the first instructions after opening in Crawley in the 1990s was as joint letting agent for a 45,800 sq ft Wilson Connolly office development in Crawley High Street. Today, Vail Williams’ Crawley office at Peveril Court is home to around 20 people, with a wider family of 180 colleagues across 12 offices throughout the firm. They provide a broad range of property advisory services to occupiers, landlords, investors and developers of commercial and residential property – from planning and building consultancy expertise, to business rates advice, commercial agency and more. After Peter Ross, regional managing partners have included Peter Sudworth and Danny George, who are both still with the firm. Suzanne Holloway, who took on the mantle last year, said: “As we celebrate our 30th year here, we do so with an immense sense of pride in the role we have played in developing Crawley and promoting inward investment from businesses into the town." “I think the breadth of our advisory services has proven to be a competitive advantage as we have grown, enabling us to become involved in many major development schemes over the past three decades.” As a result, the firm has built strong relationships with a range of regional stakeholders, from local authorities and major lenders to institutional investors, developers, landlords and occupiers, enabling them to play an instrumental role in shaping the future of Crawley and the wider Gatwick Diamond region. She added: “We have worked in close partnership with the Manor Royal Business Improvement District (BID) – now home to more than 700 businesses – and the Crawley Town Deal Board, as well as local authorities including West Sussex and Surrey county councils, and Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex at borough and district level." “Our firm is founded on relationships built on trust and our people have developed some incredible, collaborative partnerships – both with our clients and our wider professional advisory family, without whom we could not do what we do.” Vail Williams also assisted Surrey County Council in acquiring land and securing planning permission for two high-quality office buildings at Manor Royal, helping major occupiers and investors to come to Crawley, including one of the top aviation academies in the UK, Acron Aviation Academy, and the South East Coast Ambulance Service headquarters. The firm also provided planning, acquisition and development advice to radiotherapy solutions specialist Elekta for their 110,000 sq ft flagship home at Manor Royal, following a four-year design and build project. Suzanne added: “We will now be monitoring the impact of the decision on the northern runway at Gatwick Airport, due in October, which will further shape the region, and other new developments carefully for our clients. “We really feel that we are part of the fabric of Crawley and I hope that this will continue to be the case for many years to come. We look forward to making the most of the opportunities that lie ahead – both for us as a firm, as well as for the area.” Partner Andrew Osborne, who has been with Vail Williams for 29 of its 30 years in Crawley and retires this year, added: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in the work we do here, and in the surrounding region. Not only does it underpin the development of Crawley, but it also ensures we build on and develop skills for the future too.” The latter is of great importance to Vail Williams and has seen them play a notable role in the delivery of educational facilities in the area, securing planning permission for new educational facilities for Chichester College Group’s STEM building as well as a brand new facility at Crawley College – the Surrey and Sussex Institute of Technology (SSIoT) which is currently under construction. Vail Williams is based across 12 offices in the Midlands and south of England in Crawley, Brighton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Birmingham, Woking, Heathrow, Leeds, London, Reading and Oxford. The firm was awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) Gold accreditation and continues to publish its annual carbon emissions report on a journey towards net zero by 2030. Top Photo: GATWICK TEAM: Vail Williams’ Gatwick region team members celebrating 30 years of business in Crawley, including regional managing partner Suzanne Holloway, centre left, are pictured outside Crawley Town Hall. Second Photo: OPENING DAY: The Rt. Hon. Nicholas Soames MP cuts the ribbon to open Vail Williams’ first office in Crawley 30 years ago, flanked by the firm’s founders Ken Williams, left, and John Vail, and the firm’s first Gatwick regional managing partner Peter Ross, right

Teams of runners have the chance to race through Scotland’s most historic battlefields and stunning landscapes during an exciting new event - the William Wallace Running Festival. Organisers of the Festival, which takes place in Stirling this October, are seeking relay teams of bravehearted friends and work colleagues to take on the epic 70K and 50K ultra runs which make up part of the competition. They are keen to see teams from businesses across the Central belt join the challenge and reap the health and wellbeing benefits which develop through physical activity, teamwork and a shared goal. Graham Coull, William Wallace Running Festival co-founder, said: “Relay teams are a relatively unique choice at running events and offer a fantastic opportunity for workplace teams to get together, share some camaraderie and have fun." “The ultra events are a chance for teams of three or six runners to sign up and train together before taking part in an unforgettable experience as they race through Scotland’s spectacular countryside." “There are so many benefits to embarking on a challenge like this as a workplace team including healthier minds and bodies and the team spirit and camaraderie which develops when people come together for a common purpose." “Not everyone will be able to, or want to, run a full 50K or 70K but running a shorter distance as part of a team is an achievable aim. And those who don’t want to run can be part of the day by cheering on their workmates or helping as an event volunteer.” Teams can also raise funds for a charity close to their heart or for MND Scotland - the Festival’s official charity partner. The William Wallace Running Festival is off-road and features a 10K as well as a flat one-mile run aimed at younger athletes and people who use wheelchairs or have accessibility needs. It takes place on Saturday October 11 with all four races starting and finishing at Stirling Sports Village. The event is the vision of Peter Ness, an experienced race director and owner of Edinburgh-based Scurry Events, and Graham Coull plus his sons Gregg and Craig who run leading event announcing and endurance sports coaching business You Can Sport in Stirling. Graham, who is chair of Stirling Triathlon Club said: “I’ve always wanted to organise a race in Stirling as there are no large events available to the area’s athletes just now. I live in Stirling and am involved in coaching runners with the triathlon club so it made sense to host an event which showcases the highlights of the city including Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument." “There are no road closures and we’ve created a route which takes in the major aspects of the area and captures every historical and visual landmark. The aim is for it to become an annual destination event where people come from across the UK and further afield to compete.” Peter says: “Our vision was to feature multiple race distances which trace routes with deep historical significance to Scotland’s national hero William Wallace. There is something for everyone whether you are an endurance runner who wants the challenge of a 70K or 50K ultra, an athlete or fun runner who enjoys a 10K or a young person ready to compete in a one-mile run." “We’re also pleased to welcome relay teams for the long distance races and there is something extra special about watching running teams take on the last victory lap and cross the finish line together. “We’re looking forward to seeing teams forming with groups of work colleagues or friends who join forces to share a memorable journey and an amazing achievement.” The organisers are also delighted to partner with Scotland’s national MND charity which provides practical, financial and emotional support to anyone affected by MND whilst also funding essential research into finding effective treatments and a cure. Jonathan Mitchell, Head of Fundraising at MND Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the new William Wallace Running Festival. The partnership will allow us to raise important awareness of motor neuron disease whilst generating vital funds to support those affected by this devastating condition across Scotland. The festival’s spirit of determination and resilience perfectly mirrors the bravery shown by those living with MND every day.” The William Wallace Running Festival offers participants four race routes: • Ultra 70km: A spectacular 70km loop of the Ochil Hills, Bannockburn, Campsie Fells, Lewis Hill, Stirling Castle, Bridge of Allan, Cockburn Reservoir, Jerah Forest, Blairlogie, Wallace Monument, and Cambuskenneth Abbey. This challenge is open to solo runners or relay teams of three or six and includes five aid stations along the course. • Ultra 50km: This race takes runners on a journey past the Ochil Hills, Bannockburn, Kings Park and Stirling Castle before continuing through the Keir Estate and Bridge of Allan to reach Cockburn Reservoir. Athletes return to Stirling Sports Village via the Wallace Monument, Cambuskenneth Abbey and the riverside path. It caters for solo runners or relay teams of three or six runners and includes five aid stations. • Braveheart 10km: A flat riverside route by the Wallace Monument and Ochil Hills which crosses the historic Stirling Old Bridge—site of William Wallace’s 1297 victory. Runners can follow in the footsteps of legends and create their own moment in history. • Wallace Warriors: A one-mile, traffic-free, flat route designed for young runners, those with accessibility needs or those who use wheelchairs. Athletes can find out more about the events and enter via the Festival website here . The organisers are also seeking a Title sponsor and Premium sponsors who will have the chance to see their branding/logo on race materials. Volunteers who would like to help on the day are also welcomed and community groups who volunteer will receive a small donation in return. Graham said: “We’re keen to involve the business community and local people who want to join in with the event through sponsorship or volunteering. We can offer sponsors the chance to be part of a high-profile event and have a range of packages on offer. Premium sponsors will see their names on race T-shirts and could also sponsor a key section of the route.”

Loughborough Lightning can confirm the departures of Lucy Weaver, Katherine Baverstock, Amelie Anstead and Grace Deane ahead of the 2025/26 season. Scrum-half Weaver, made 17 Lighting appearances and prop Baverstock made 11 appearances over three seasons with the African Violets, while also playing prominent roles for the Loughborough University side. Winger Deane joined from Championship club Cheltenham Tigers last summer and made one Premiership Women’s Rugby appearance against Bristol Bears, while back three player Anstead featured as a replacement against Leicester Tigers as a replacement in the PWR Up Series in September 2024. Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith said: “I would like to thank Lucy, Katherine, Amelie and Grace for their contribution to Loughborough Lightning and wish them all the best in their rugby careers moving forward.” Lightning have previously announced the departures of Rachel Malcolm, Hallie Taufoou and Emma Wassell, meanwhile, the likes of Krissy Scurfield, Sadia Kabeya and Lilli Ives Campion have all signed new deals ahead of the 2025/26 season. Further re-signings and new additions to the squad have been made and will be announced soon.

Leicester City has confirmed that three senior professionals – Jamie Vardy, Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen - will leave the Club following the expiration of their contracts at the end of next month. Vardy’s storied career with us was celebrated during our final home game of the Premier League season against Ipswich Town, which saw his 13-year stay with the Club end on an incredible 500 games with 200 goals – the 200th arriving in that final game. During his time, he won two Sky Bet Championship titles, a Community Shield, the FA Cup, and of course the famous Premier League title victory in 2015/16 – making him our greatest-ever player along the way. Also departing is goalkeeper Ward, who joined from Liverpool in the summer of 2018 and has gone on to appear 52 times in a Leicester City shirt – including four penalty shootout victories in cup competitions. Fellow goalkeeper Iversen will bring his stay with us to an end, having joined as a youngster in 2016. Between several impressive loan spells, the Dane appeared 15 times for us in all competitions. In addition to Jamie, Danny and Daniel, eight of our junior pros - Oliver Ewing, Harvey Godsmark-Ford, Ben Grist, Deniche Hill, Liam McAlinney, Arjan Raikhy, Joe Wormleighton and Brad Young – will be leaving the Club at the end of June. All leave with the heartfelt thanks of everybody at Leicester City for their contributions during their time at King Power Stadium, as well as our best wishes for the next chapters in their careers.