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The UK in bloom
BLOSSOM Week is inspired by the Japanese tradition of Hanami, the popular custom where people of all ages get together to enjoy the transient beauty of cherry blossom.
Blossom Week has been designed as a natural peak to the campaign when the majority of the country will have some sort of blossom in bloom ‐ from blackthorn and cher‐ry, to apple and pear.
The National Trust hopes to encourage people across the UK to get outside to enjoy the fleeting beauty of this spring phenomenon either in their own gardens or local parks.
Andy Jasper, Head of Gardens and Parklands at the Na‐tional Trust said: “We are at the epicentre of a truly magnifi‐cent show of blossom.”
To encourage the public to visit their local parks and gar‐dens and share their best blossom moments, the conserva‐tion charity is further hosting a blossom picture competi‐tion.
Social media users can share their favourite nature shots using the hashtag #BlossomWatchComp for a chance to win a year’s worth of holidays with the National Trust (worth £6,000). The competition will run until May 12.
ON Tuesday April 25 the pro‐ducers of Loose Women an‐nounced a new panellist for the ITV programme.
The Strictly Come Dancing winner, Rose Ayling‐Ellis was a panellist in a special which marked Deaf Awareness Week on Wednesday May 3.
The appearance was a one‐off and Rose appeared with fellow Loose Women, Nadia Sawalha, Jane Moore, and Kaye Adams, who also had hearing difficulties and wears a hear‐ing aid.
Those watching the show were able to read subtitles and there was to be a fully ac‐ cessible recording of the pro‐gramme available on ITVX with subtitles and an ‘in vi‐sion signer.’
The special programme is collaborating with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, Sign Health and the Deaf Collective. The show’s audience was made up of members of the deaf commu‐nity.
Rose Ayling‐Ellis has always spoken out about her experiences as a deaf person, and she has campaigned to have British Sign Lan‐guage (BSL) become legally recognised in Eng‐land, Scotland and Wales.
