Nature
The mystery of the cheetah in London

Published
4 weeks agoon

In July 1963, a truck driver clearly saw a big cat at the top of Shooters Hill. He called the police and they arrived in large numbers, apparently there were 26 cars and over 100 policemen. They did not see any animals but only traces that could have been those of a cheetah.
A few weeks later someone heard a roar and once again dozens of policemen came and found nothing.
In the following years until 1966 there were other sightings and the press promptly took interest in the case, once again no cheetah or tiger or lion were found.
For years then no one saw anything, so even if the cheetah existed it must have died or moved elsewhere. In 2002 a huge cat was again seen in Shooters Hill. Since then no more sightings.
Worked in many sectors including recruitment and marketing. Lucky to have found a soulmate who was then taken far too soon. No intention of moving on and definitely not moving to Thailand for the foreseeable future. Might move forward. Owned by a cat.

You may like
Nature
The First Flower of Spring – The Snowdrop

Published
4 weeks agoon
February 1, 2021By
Carole Ford
Probably if you live in the British Isles, you will have had your first sight of snowdrops this year, either growing in a garden by design, or even more magically, growing wild in woodlands or in hedgerows. The Snowdrop is the first flower to bloom at the end of winter and at the beginning of Spring.
The season is between January to March and the flower is built to withstand freezing temperatures. It has three inner petals protected by three outer petals. The head will drop in freezing weather and reopen when the weather warms up.


You might not know that the London plane tree is a species in itself. They are in fact called Platanus x acerifolia and are probably a cross between the oriental plane tree and the sycamore tree.
Now about half of London’s trees are plane trees. It was planted in large numbers in the 1800s during the Industrial Revolution when, due to smog, many more trees could not survive. Now it’s a tree so widespread that we don’t even notice it.
In London these trees can reach a height of 35 meters, but if grown in the countryside they reach 45 meters.The beauty of this species of tree is that it is completely adapted to the London climate, it does not suffer from pollution or lack of space.
It has been known for at least a couple of centuries and no London plane trees are known to have died of old age, so no one can say how long they can live.




Take a look at the bark of the London plane tree for example, you can see that it is patchy, but if you get closer you will see that they are pieces of bark coming off. This is a way for the tree to eliminate smog, pollution and toxic substances that have settled there. And perhaps one of the reasons why it manages to live well in London.
A famous London Plane is in Brunswick Square
To see a great example of London’s plane tree, go to Brunswick Square in Bloomsbury / Camden. A tree probably planted at the time of Jane Austen, late 1700s or early 1800s. It is also particular because unlike other city trees it has not been continuously pruned and therefore has low branches. It has a different shape from that of other plane trees in London.
Nature
The small squirrel that terrifies people in New York City


Published
2 months agoon
January 2, 2021
This is not a Beatrix Potter’s story, this is real life in New York City. No one knows if it’s just one squirrel or a gang of them and why they have turned aggressive. It might be that they have caught rabies but that’s thought to be unlikely.
What we know is that a number of people have reported an attack by a small squirrel in the past few days. These people were simply walking and minding their own businesses when suddenly the Lone Squirrel came out of nowhere and bit them. A man actually reported that he ended up wrestling with the squirrel who wouldn’t let his finger go.
Apparently squirrels traps have been set up in the area, but so far no one has been captured.
Recent Posts
Concerts coming up!
- Clannad
- 15/03/2021
- Oxford
- The Who - Birmingham
- 17/03/2021
- Birmingham
- Mystery Jets - Oxford
- 19/04/2021
- Oxford
- The Shires -Oxford
- 26/04/2021
- Oxford
- James Gillespie
- 26/05/2021
- London
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Trending
- Skin3 months ago
Natural exfoliants that you can make at home
- Children3 months ago
Monthly subscription box for children aged 4-10yrs
- Health3 months ago
A Pulse Oximeter, an important weapon in the fight against Covid 19
- Food3 months ago
Would you pay £80 for a burger?
- Grieving2 months ago
What not to say to people who are grieving
- Architecture3 months ago
The garden of Christ Church Greyfriars Rose Garden in London
- Travel3 months ago
Witches, kings and whispering knights!
- Children3 months ago
Pollock’s Toy Museum in London, for people who love toys