Climate change and environment

THE UK’s busiest airport has moved one step closer to opening their third runway under the Government’s mega £29billion expansion plans.

The major new upgrade is set to be operational in the next 10 years.

The Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has launched a process to fast-track the new third runway at Heathrow.

Heidi introduced the promised review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) in parliament today in order to accelerate their plans.

She explained that since 2018, new environmental and climate obligations mean an updated ANPS is necessary to permit a decision to be taken on expansion planning applications.

The new 3,500 metre runway will be in the northwest of the airport, and will eventually welcome up to 276,000 new flights a year.

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This takes the annual flights from 480,000 to 756,000, with as many as 30 new flight routes a day.

The government’s ambition is to see flights take off from a new runway by 2035.

The government will seek formal advice from the Climate Change Committee on any relevant amendments proposed to the ANPS to ensure consistency with their net zero commitments.

The announcement came after Heidi approved the expansion of both Gatwick and Luton airports near London this year. 

Heidi said: “When we say this government is one that backs the builders, not blockers we mean it.

“Today is a critical building block which will advance plans for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow, meaning people can start to experience the full benefits sooner.

“As our only hub airport, Heathrow is critical to the UK’s economy, connecting millions of people every year and exporting British businesses across the globe.

“Enabling Heathrow expansion will drive economic growth and create jobs across the country, delivering on our Plan for Change.”

The government explained that expansion at Heathrow must be financed entirely by the private sector and bring no cost to taxpayers.

It must also meet rigorous and effective cost controls to deliver the significant infrastructure project as quickly as possible.

Financing will come from promoters who submit formal expansion schemes and will include covering any related costs to improvements to transport to and from the airport.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “After decades of false starts, we are backing the builders to get Heathrow’s third runway built.

“Creating thousands of jobs, boosting growth across the UK, and making Britain the world’s best connected place to do business.

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“This government is getting Britain building to kickstart growth and deliver an economy that works for, and rewards, working people.”

Given the importance of Heathrow to trade and the economy, the government will also assess whether expansion at the airport should be designated as critical national priority infrastructure, meaning that it must meet enhanced security and resilience requirements.

ED MILIBAND is a “walking, talking cost-of-living crisis”, according to shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho.

The senior MP — who will tomorrow unveil Tory plans for cheaper utilities — vowed to get her Labour arch-rival SACKED as gas and electricity costs rose again this week on his watch.

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Experts have warned that Red Ed, who promised to cut energy bills by up to £300 a year before the 2024 General Election, will only drive prices higher with his Net Zero obsession.

Already, £1billion has been spent this year switching off wind turbines when it got too blowy for the network to cope.

Other sources, such as gas-fired plants, then had to be paid to be used as a replacement. The shutdown has pushed household bills up by £15 a year.

In an interview with the Sun on Sunday, Ms Coutinho fumed: “Ed Miliband is a disaster.

“Every decision (he) has made in government is going to send people’s bills up.

“He promised people £300 off their bills, and so far they’re already £200 up. People are rightly furious.

“I don’t know what he’s on. He is a walking, talking cost-of-living crisis.

“I’m going to make it my mission in this parliament to get him sacked.”

She continues: “I think he can’t add up because if you look at what he’s doing, gas at the moment is about £55 a megawatt-hour.

“He said he’s willing to pay up to £117 for offshore wind this year, and then he talks about cutting people’s bills. You don’t need a calculator to see that is just total madness.”

The top Tory also slated Energy Secretary Mr Miliband for “signing up to 20-year contracts” for offshore wind, adding: “We’re going to be saddled with these incredibly high prices for decades.”

Ms Coutinho is the face of the Conservative Party’s scepticism over a move to Net Zero.

At their annual conference in Manchester tomorrow, she will outline proposals to cut bills by scrapping green levies.

She said: “The most important thing the country needs — and we’re unashamed about this — is lower energy bills.

“Our priority for energy policy going forward will be simple: Make electricity cheaper.

“It will be good for growth, it’s good for cost-of-living — something we know lots of families are still struggling with — and, most importantly, it will be good for the whole of the UK to have much cheaper energy bills.”

Levies funding environmental and social projects add around £140 to annual electricity bills and £50 to gas bills, says innovation agency Nesta.

It comes as the UK energy price cap rose again this week by two per cent, meaning the average household paying for gas and electricity by direct debit will see costs increase from £1,720 to £1,755 per year.

Ms Coutinho’s stance marks a much harder line on eco-policies as the Tories try to stave off Nigel Farage’s party.

Reform UK promised to scrap the Net Zero target and told wind and solar developers they will end green energy subsidies if they win power.

It has prompted Mr Miliband to liken the Tories to a “Reform tribute act”.

But Ms Coutinho said: “That’s absolute rubbish, If you look at Reform, they’ve got the economics of Jeremy Corbyn.”

She claimed there was a huge black hole in Reform’s spending plans, adding: “That simply isn’t going to work for a country where you’ve got interest rates high, inflation is high. We need to be bringing those things down. So we need to live within our means.”

Tories have pledged to scrap the restrictive Climate Change Act 2008 brought in by the last Labour government, and the target of Net Zero emissions by 2050 enshrined by Tory PM Theresa May in 2019.

Ms Coutinho said: “We’ve got new leadership now and both Kemi and I strongly feel that the biggest problem that this country faces is that we’ve got the highest industrial electricity prices in the world and the second highest domestic prices. Now that’s just not going to work for Britain.”

Tories would also abolish quango the Climate Change Committee, which advises the Government on Net Zero.

Ms Coutinho said: “For too long, energy policy has been in the hands of people who are unelected and unaccountable — and that’s just not right.”

And she has left the door open to fracking.

A ban was lifted by Liz Truss during her short tenure in Downing Street – but this was abandoned by her successor Rishi Sunak.

Ms Coutinho added: “We’re a small dense island and it can be very disruptive. So it shouldn’t be done to communities without their say so.”

The shadow cabinet member admitted people are frustrated the Tories have taken their time to come up with policies after their disastrous loss at last year’s General Election.

But she insisted: “At conference, you’ll see a lot more from us. This is the moment where we’ll start telling people all the results of our work, and be able to explain what our plan is.

“The difference between us and Labour and Reform is our plans are real, they’re fully funded, they can be delivered tomorrow.”

She promised the Tories will bring forward plans the public can trust, adding: “People have really lost faith in government to be able to do the things that they want it to do. So we need to rebuild that trust.”

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A VAST “mini-city” of 5,500 homes, schools and green space is set to rise on the edge of Birmingham.

Council chiefs gave given the go-ahead for the first stage of works.

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The Langley development, near Walmley in Sutton Coldfield, will eventually see around 5,500 homes.

There will also be schools, community facilities and green spaces, built across a huge swathe of land.

Described by developers as an “unparalleled opportunity to establish a new sustainable community”, the scheme promises to transform the area.

Ahead of the latest council planning meeting, permission was sought to begin “strategic infrastructure” works on the site.

These include demolishing Langley Park House, creating open space and play areas, carrying out major earthworks, and building new highway, cycle and pedestrian networks.

But concerns were raised over how future residents will travel.

Conservative councillor Gareth Moore argued that Labour’s transport policy risks being “outdated” and could turn the new neighbourhood into a “heavy car-use area.”

“Despite the best will in the world, the council is not going to change that,” he said.

“I’m really concerned that long-term this is going to build up problems because we’re going to try and discourage people from owning cars.

“We’re going to try and encourage everyone to walk, cycle and get the bus – but they’re not.

“They’re going to own cars and they’ll be parked all over the place. Yes, in 50 years’ time that might be different but the important thing is the here and now.”

A council report defended the plans, pointing to an “extensive network” of new walking and cycling routes across the site.

This is including segregated cycle paths, bus-only connections and a traffic-free bridge linking eastwards over the A38.

It said: “The intention is to not give equal priority to all modes through the road space allocation, instead encouraging sustainable travel which adheres to the objectives of the Birmingham Transport Plan.”

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Officials have previously stressed that prioritising active travel and public transport will help cut road danger, connect communities and tackle the climate emergency.

According to the scheme’s official website, the new development will also bring schools, leisure facilities and large areas of “well-connected green spaces.”

“We are committed to working with the local community to deliver a beautifully designed scheme that puts placemaking at its heart and provides long-term benefits for both new and existing residents,” it said.

With the application now approved, work can begin on laying the groundwork for one of the biggest housing projects Birmingham has ever seen.

This follows after reports of a huge new town with up to 25,000 homes is set to be built in the UK, as part of a government scheme.

The ambitious plans are set to ease Britain’s housing crisis, and the project is expected to create 30,000 jobs.

The Brabazon development, in South Gloucestershire, is set to become a “thriving new town, designed around people, nature and opportunity: the best place in the UK to live, work and play”, according to YTL, the group facilitating its construction.

Proposals for the project include 6,500 homes (which could rise to 25,000), and student accommodation big enough to house 2,000 people.

The new town will also have a 20,000 capacity arena, three new schools and community facilities, and is predicted to add £5 billion to the GVA.

A new train station, Metrobus links, cycle routes and walking paths will ensure the town is well connected to Bristol and over 3.6 million square feet of commercial space will house shops, businesses and offices.

Brabazon will also have an abundance of parks and green spaces, including a 15 acre park and lake, which will be the largest in the South West for 50 years.

The government has thrown its backing behind the development, as part of a £48 billion scheme to build 12 new homes across the nation.

Work has already begun on Brabazon, with 500 homes completed, and £400 million invested by YTL.

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THERE’S been a lot of talk about bedding plants recently.

Rebranded as ‘Seasonal Interest’ they’ve annoyed some folk in the gardening industry because of environmental concerns.

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You’ll know them better as those lovely flowers in garden centres and supermarkets that bring an instant burst of colour to your outside space – like petunias, marigolds, begonias, nemesia, cosmos and lobelia.

Often you’ll buy them in plugs to plant straight into the soil before the frost sets in.

Naysayers reckon that because they’re not perennial, need a lot of watering and are bred in greenhouses – which use lots of energy – they’re bad for the environment.

But there’s one man in particular who couldn’t have loved them more – holding firm in the face of all the negative comments.

Sun Gardening Editor Peter Seabrook took on Floral Fantasia at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex back in 2019 and right up until his death was championing bedding plants.

I was lucky enough to visit recently and was overwhelmed with the astonishing array of beautiful planting – showcasing swathes of stunning colours and species – which are crucially all affordable.

“‘We sell smiles’ is what Peter would have said,” Mike Smith, chair of the Floral Fantasia Working Group told me.

“His vision was to be ‘the centre of excellence for seasonal plants’ and although we’re not quite there yet – we’re definitely on our way.

“When I first came to Hyde Hall I was in awe of the gardens there, but appreciate they’re quite overwhelming to try and recreate in the average garden that is less than 15 metres square.

“We want to inspire people to have a go, show them something achievable – and this is where the Seasonal Interest comes in.

“They’re not grown in peat any more, they bring happiness to the consumer and they’re manageable.

“But also, it’s worth recognising that ornamental growers add over £1bn to the economy.

“Alan Titchmarsh agreed with Peter, and said after he died: ‘We all need to take up the baton from him to keep fighting our corner and explain what this means and how important horticulture is and it’s value to the British economy.’

“And that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re showing visitors to Hyde Hall the latest UK plants – and we’re celebrating Fleuroselect’s Year of the Begonia with over 150 varieties being trialled in beds and containers – they’re a stunning splash of colour.

“The public get to see all manner of cultivars that they’ve never seen before and everyone comes out smiling.”

Peter’s son Roger Seabrook told Sun Gardening: “‘Floral Fantasia at RHS Hyde Hall meant so much to Dad – he saw the garden as a way to show what could be achieved with seasonal planting and to inspire people to get growing, however small their space.

“He put a huge amount of energy into championing Floral Fantasia and rolled his sleeves up to spend long hours working in the garden himself.

“For this reason it’s a special place for our family and it’s just fantastic to see it looking so vibrant and colourful.

“I’m sure that Dad would have been delighted to see the progress made, a testament to all the hard work of those involved over the years.’

Tim Kerley, of Kerley Plants, Cambridge, which provides blooms for Floral Fantasia added: “They’re bright, cheery flowers that will put a smile on your face all summer long! Modern varieties are low maintenance and thrive in our varied climate.

“They’re great for your mind and pollinators -all for the price of a cup of coffee.”

Annual chrysanthemum’s are also considered bedding plants. And they’re a fantastic way of bringing colour to your garden in Autumn when everything is dying back a bit.

Lidl has one on sale for £1.99 from next Saturday and it’s going to be my cheap secret weapon to bring colour to my outside space.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week

News, top tips, plant of the week and a firepit competition

For more top tips and gardening content follow me @biros_and_bloom

NEWS! THE Cuprinol Shed of the Year results are in – and the winner is engineer Mike Robinson from South East London with his spectacular shed, ‘The Tiny Workshop.
Designed to slot neatly into a garden with limited room, it wowed judges with its imaginative use of space. With off-the-shelf sheds too big for his plot, Mike built the shed using two sets of heavy-duty steel shelving, bolted together and clad with wood’
Two doors flap open at the bottom and top to provide flooring and handy rain protection, with a smart overhanging green roof to store garden tools and welcome nature to the garden.
Mike wins this year’s top prize of an overnight nature getaway, £1,000 cash and £250 of Cuprinol product.

TOP TIP! Time to start thinking about feeding the birds in your garden a little bit more. And Alex Gill, founder of Awesome Wildlife Company, has some unusual advice.
“By providing food and shelter now, we can give birds, hedgehogs, and insects the best possible chance of thriving through the winter, and in turn, we get to enjoy a garden full of life.
“Both dried and fresh fruit works. Apples and pears are very popular with garden birds. If you do choose to put any spare fruit that you might have out, make sure it’s fresh as mouldy fruit isn’t good for birds.
“Dried fruits, like Raisins, are also well loved by some bird’s species. Just remember to be careful and avoid if you have a dog, as raisins are toxic to dogs.
He added: “During the colder months, birds benefit from high-energy foods, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, and suet. These kinds of foods help them build up their fat reserves so that they can survive the colder months.”  

NEWS! THE CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship will be taking place at the Malvern Autumn Show next weekend. It showcases some unbelievably large vegetables – which often break Guinness World records. Taking place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, you’ll also get the chance to see talks by Monty Don, Adam Frost, August Bernstein, and RHS Ambassador Manoj Malde. And there will be fabulous flowers, plants, bulbs, seeds, tools and equipment to marvel at.

NEWS! BBC TV presenter, keen gardener and National Garden Scheme Ambassador, Fiona Bruce will host a very special National Garden Scheme Ask the Experts event at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Tuesday 2nd December at 7pm. Answering a range of pre-submitted audience questions and covering all aspects of gardens and gardening will be a panel including Arit Anderson, Danny Clarke, Rachel de Thame, Joe Swift.

NEWS! There’s a beautiful new book called The Essential Guide to Bulbs, by Jenny Rose Carey, coming out next month. Published on October 16th by Timber Press, its a fabulous guide to growing bulbs all year round in gardens and containers. The pictures are gorgeous and it’s really informative too, it would make a lovely present for the Gardener in your life.

WIN! As the evenings draw in – warm up with an eco-friendly, low carbon Eco Fuego fire pit worth £179.99 and a wax refill worth £26.99. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/ECOFIREPIT or write to Sun Eco Firepit competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. October 4, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! “Verbena Officinalis Bampton” Still flowering now – it’s an unusual looking bushy drought-resistant perennial with small purple flowers on the end of wiry branches. Prefers full sun, south facing borders.

TOP TIP! Raise your pots now to prevent waterlogging – you don’t have to pay for proper feet – you can use bottle caps, coasters, tiles, bricks, or even logs cut to size. There just needs to be drainage space under the pot.

MILLIONS of households are facing a £100 rise in their energy bills next year due to the Government’s net zero policies, according to new analysis.

Energy analysts Cornwall Insight said changes being made to push the country towards net zero will fuel a rise in energy bills for the average household.

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It predicted the changes will add more than £100 to the energy price cap in April 2026 compared with January.

The energy price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy and standing charge, and it’s updated every three months.

Cornwall Insight said bills will increase for households because of the cost of connecting new wind and solar farms, the construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power station, and upgrades to the gas networks.

It also suggested further rises will follow later because of the construction of pylon lines, underground cables and substations.

It means households are likely to be paying more for their energy at a time when inflation remains high and many are struggling with the cost of living.

The UK has legally committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This means the total amount of emissions produced is equal to or less than the amount removed from the atmosphere. 

But the Government is having to balance this with extra costs to households up and down the country.

Ahead of the election, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had pledged to cut household energy bills by £300 by 2030.

He repeated that promise again last month.

Cornwall Insight’s Dr Craig Lowrey said investing in renewables would eventually reduce bills and it was necessary in the long run.

But he said: “Rising energy bills are never welcome, and this latest view of transmission charges – although only indicative – will add yet another cost to the long list of pressures on household finances.”

The average energy bill for a dual-fuel home is currently £1,720 per year.

However the energy price cap is set to rise at the beginning of October, bringing it to £1,755.

Yet another rise is expected in January because of seasonal increases in wholesale costs.

The £100 bill increase predicted by Cornwall Insight is unrelated to the wholesale cost of gas.

The experts say it’s due to the cost of maintaining and expanding the UK’s power grid.

It said electricity network costs alone would add £30 a year, and this will rise to £50 a year by 2028.

Meanwhile green levies will add another £18, including £12 of advance payments for building Sizewell C.

Upgrading the gas network, which is partly needed to accommodate the introduction of green hydrogen, will add another £53.

Cornwall Insight said the bill increases were “not totally unexpected but highlight potential further financial pressures than households will face”.

It’s expected households will end up paying higher standing charges.

A standing charge is a fixed daily fee added to your energy bill, charged by your supplier regardless of how much energy you use.

Increasing standing charges is controversial as households aren’t able to avoid paying them.

While you could bring down your energy bills by cutting down on how much energy you use, there isn’t a way of reducing the cost of a standing charge.

This can leave struggling households forced to pay extra.

Ofgem has said households will later feel the benefit of an expanded electricity network through their bills, but this will take time.

Dr Lowrey said: “These costs are not just another item to tag onto the bill, they are essential to the long-term security and affordability of Great Britain’s energy system.

“For years, households have been at the mercy of global energy markets, with prices soaring and crashing in response to events happening thousands of miles away. It’s unpredictable, and it’s ultimately unsustainable.

“Investing in Britain’s transmission network means building a cleaner, more resilient energy system – one powered by renewables grown right here at home. Yes, it will take time. Yes, it will cost money. But every pound we invest today is a step toward a future where our energy is not only greener, but also more secure and, in time, more affordable.

“People rightly expect renewables to bring bills down, and they will. But first, we need to lay the foundations. There are a lot of costs involved in the transition, but the costs of doing nothing will be far greater.”

Help with energy bills

If you are struggling with your energy bill then there is plenty of support on offer.

For example, the Winter Fuel Allowance offers £300 to pensioners to help cover the cost of their heating during colder months.

Around 75% of pensioners are expected to receive the support this year, after Labour U-turned on the tighter eligibility criteria it announced last winter.

Struggling families can also get access to money through the Household Support Fund (HSF).

Each council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can distribute it to residents in need.

Exactly how much you can get and how the money will be paid depends on your council and situation.

Plus, thousands of households will receive the Warm Home Discount, which is worth £150.

The discount is given to households on a low-income or claiming certain benefits, such as Universal Credit.

It is not paid as cash and is instead applied as credit to your energy bill.

If you are falling behind on your energy bill then you can also get help through your energy supplier.

British Gas has announced a £140million support package to help customers facing financial hardship.

This includes free energy grants, tailored support for households and small business customers and funding for advice centres and charities.

It has also launched You Pay: We Pay, which gives households the opportunity to have their payments matched by British Gas for a period of six months.

Octopus Energy’s £30million Octo Assist fund is designed to help customers keep on top of their energy bills.

It includes free electric blankets, Winter Fuel Payments and standing charge waivers.

EDF’s Customer Support Fund gives grants and help to vulnerable customers who are struggling with energy debt.

It can support customers with electricity or gas bill debts, and provide essential white goods such as a fridge or cooker.

SIR Keir Starmer tried and failed to boot Ed Miliband from his Net Zero brief, it was claimed today.

The PM is understood to have asked the Energy Secretary to swap jobs and take over disgraced Angela Rayner’s housing department during Friday’s cabinet reshuffle.

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But the former Labour leader dug in, insisting he wanted to keep control over the green agenda.

Sir Keir has vowed to put growth centre stage as he battles to steady Labour amid grim polling.

His reshaped top team points to a shift rightwards, as he braces for a looming challenge from Nigel Farage and Reform.

Mr Farage and his Deputy Richard Tice have made scrapping Net Zero a central pledge of the party.

Reform has vowed to repurpose billions in green funding to tackling illegal migration and restoring law and order.

No10 this morning insisted the PM is “delighted” Mr Miliband will stay on at the Department of Energy and Net Zero, but did not deny Sir Keir initially tried to move him.

The PM’s spokesman said: “The PM has set out his new Cabinet and ministerial team — a team that is going to be focused on delivery, with growth as a relentless focus.

“The Energy Secretary has been central to that growth agenda. Investing in clean energy goes hand in hand with cutting peoples’ bills and boosting growth across the country.

“You can see that with the investments being made into CCUS all across the country, into solar, into wind farms.

“The PM is delighted he’ll continue to do that.”

Labour sources admit the Net Zero push has been stalling activity, while firms quietly hope workers’ rights reforms could be softened or delayed.

New Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden is preparing a fresh assault on the ballooning benefits bill, after Labour MPs scuppered the last attempt.

But Mr Miliband is seen as the head cheerleader for the “soft left” in Sir Keir’s cabinet.

His popularity with party members gives him the power make demands of the PM to ensure he cannot make trouble from the sidelines.

IT’s been HOT this summer – it’s no surprise if some of your usual garden favourites are wilting somewhat.

But as the climate changes it’s worth thinking about new varieties that can cope a bit better going forward.

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There’s a whole host of wildflowers out there that can handle the heat and still put on a beautiful show.

Dr Emily Attlee, conservation scientist and co-founder of Seedball has shared her top picks with Sun Gardening.

CONEFLOWERS

“Not just a feast for the eyes, these are tough and reliable perennials that come back year after year. Easy to grow and adored by pollinators, coneflowers bring long-lasting colour and drought resilience to any garden.

OXEYE DAISY

“Spotted on roadside verges, the oxeye daisy is a fuss-free flower that thrives on neglect. It handles poor soil well and requires very little watering once settled in.

These cheerful self-seeders return annually and spread with ease – bringing with them rustic charm and a welcome haven for pollinators.

MEADOWHALL CRANESBILL

Although young plants may need a little more water to begin with, meadow cranesbill is a fantastic choice for dry, well-drained soil once matured.

With rich violet blooms and a place in the geranium family, this plant supports pollinators while adding definition and charm to beds and borders.

MUSK MALLOW

With soft pink flowers and a classic cottage garden appeal, musk mallow is both beautiful and hardy. Low maintenance and drought tolerant, it dies back in Autumn but reliably reappears in spring. Its vintage look and wildlife-friendly nature make it a garden favourite.

CORNFLOWER

These eye-catching blue blooms feature open faces, frilled petals, and curly stamens. Loved by bees and other beneficial insects, cornflowers are easy going once established and thrive with minimal watering. Ideal for adding colour and texture to a dry garden.“

She added: “These are just a small selection, as most native wildflowers are naturally suited to withstand drought once they’ve taken root.

“Many have evolved over time to adapt to the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns, including long dry periods. Some even store seeds beneath the soil, ready to regenerate when conditions improve.

“So, if you’re planning for the future of your patch, wildflowers are a smart, sustainable choice.”

For more tips from Emily and the Seedball team, visit  www.seedball.co.uk.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week

Top tips, news, Plant of the Week and a competition to win a Spring Bulb Bundle with 183 bulbs!!

NEWS! Multi award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, from BBC 2’s Your Garden Made Perfect, is designing the headline feature garden at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, taking place at Audley End House and Gardens in Saffron Walden, Essex next weekend.
 As reported previously in Sun Gardening – the  ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign encourages gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space for the good of the planet. More than 13,500 eco-friendly metres have been pledged at gardenersworld.com to date, and Pip’s feature garden is brimming with meaningful metres to inspire Autumn Fair visitors to get involved. For tickets, visit  www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.

TOP TIP! If you’re thinking about attracting birds to your garden and keeping them happy in Autumn – then Honeysuckle is a win-win plant for your outside space.
It will provide you with a gorgeous scent and lovely trumpet-shaped flowers, as well as being a great climber for trellis and walls.
But in September it also provides lush red berries – a favourite food source for birds and other wildlife.
Or consider Cotoneaster shrubs – blackbirds and thrushes absolutely love them – just check the size of the one you’re buying as you don’t want it to take over.

TOP TIP! IF you’re coming to the end of your tomato journey for this year and you’ve still got some on the vine that look like they’ve got no chance of turning red – don’t despair.
Some experts suggest putting them in a bowl with a banana! The bendy yellow fruit emit ethylene – a compound that helps fruit ripen. Or you can just make green tomato chutney. Remember to chop up your vines and chuck them on the compost.

JOB OF THE WEEK! If you’re lucky to have wisteria – cut back this year’s current green shoots to five/six leaves. It will prevent it from growing too large and unwieldy.

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Spider Lillies are blooming now – and are named after the stamens resemble spider legs. Great for tropical borders, they look really exotic, best in full sun, in well drained soil and are full hardy to -5ºC

TOP TIP If your kitchen ginger has started sprouting, plant in a shallow tray with the shoot poking out – as it grows, keep topping up the soil. Keep on a sunny windowsill and you can grow year round as long as it doesn’t get too cold.

WIN! Win one of FOUR Spring Saver Bulb Bundle – 183 Bulbs WORTH £64.94 from Suttons Seeds. 
Featuring a variety of beloved spring-flowering bulbs to bring colour from February all the way through May, they’re ideal for beds or rockeries and can be layered in patio pots. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/SPRINGBULBS or write to Sun Spring Bulbs competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 6, 2025. T&Cs apply

For more gardening content follow me @Biros_and_Bloom

EUROPE’S car industry is “heading at full speed against a wall” and risks collapsing if the EU doesn’t rethink its ban on new petrol and diesel cars, the boss of a huge car firm has warned.

In a stark intervention, he said a “reality check” was needed before the 2035 ban on combustion-engine sales is locked in.

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Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Källenius told German business paper Handelsblatt: “We need a reality check. Otherwise, we are heading at full speed against a wall.

“Of course, we have to decarbonise, but it has to be done in a technology-neutral way. We must not lose sight of our economy.”

The luxury brand — once gung-ho about going fully electric in Europe — has already dropped its ambitious 2021 pledge to stop selling combustion cars “where market conditions allow” by the decade’s end.

Källenius, who also heads the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), now warns the EU’s policy could trigger a last-minute rush for petrol and diesel cars before the cut-off, which “doesn’t help the climate at all.”

Electric cars remain far from dominating the market.

In the first half of this year, EVs made up just 17.5 per cent of sales across the EU, UK, and EFTA countries, while plug-in hybrids took 8.7 per cent.

Traditional hybrids accounted for 35 per cent, but that figure includes mild-hybrids, which critics say aren’t “true” hybrids.

Mercedes’ own figures show EV sales slipping — just 8.4 per cent of its global deliveries in the first six months of 2025, down from 9.7 per cent last year.

Even with plug-ins included, electrified models made up just 20.1 per cent of shipments.

The EU’s 2035 ban is due for review in the coming months, but Brussels has so far signalled no U-turn, reiterating in March its commitment to zero-emission new cars by the mid-2030s.

It comes as the boss of Stellantis — the giant behind 14 brands including Fiat, Peugeot, and Maserati — warned that unreachable EU CO2 targets could force plant closures.

Europe chief Jean-Philippe Imparato said the Franco-Italian group faces fines of up to €2.5 billion within “two-three years” if it fails to meet emissions rules.

Without a regulatory rethink by year-end, “we will have to make tough decisions,” he told a conference in Rome.

“I have two solutions: either I push like hell (on electric)… or I close down ICE (internal combustion engine vehicles).

And therefore I close down factories,” he said, pointing to the risk for sites such as Stellantis’ van plant in Atessa, Italy.

The warning comes amid fresh turmoil for Stellantis, with its new CEO Antonio Filosa inheriting the fallout from Donald Trump’s 25 per cent US import tariffs and a crisis at Maserati, which has seen sales plunge from 26,600 in 2023 to 11,300 last year.

With EV targets biting, petrol and diesel models under threat, and luxury brands cancelling investments — including Maserati’s £1.3bn electric MC20 Folgore — Europe’s car bosses are sending a clear signal to Brussels: ease off, or risk slamming the brakes on the continent’s auto industry.

Everything you need to know about electric cars

A MAJOR high street bank has become the latest British lender to quit the Net Zero Banking Alliance, the bank said on Friday.

Barclays argued that the departure of several global lenders has left it no longer fit to support the bank’s green transition.

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Barclays’ decision to quit the foremost banking alliance focused on tackling climate change follows on from HSBC and several major US banks.

It also raises questions about the ability of the group to influence change in the sector going forward.

The bank said in a statement on its website: “After consideration, we have decided to withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.”

It added that its commitment to be net zero by 2050 remained unchanged and that it still saw a commercial opportunity for itself and its clients in the energy transition.

Earlier this week Barclays published the first update on its sustainability strategy in several years.

It said the bank made £500 million in revenue from sustainable and low-carbon transition finance in 2024.

Jeanne Martin, co-director of corporate engagement at responsible investment NGO ShareAction called the decision to leave the Net Zero Banking Alliance “incredibly disappointing and a step in the wrong direction at a time when the dangers of climate change are rapidly mounting.”

Barclays said the alliance was no longer fit for its purpose: “With the departure of most of the global banks, the organisation no longer has the membership to support our transition.”

The Net Zero Banking Alliance, a global initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, lists more than 100 members on its website – including leading international financial institutions.

A spokesperson for the alliance said it remains focused on “supporting its members to lead on climate by addressing the barriers preventing their clients from investing in the net-zero transition.”

It comes after it was announced that Barclays is slashing interest rates on its popular Rainy Day for the third time in less than seven months.

From August 4, the interest rate for balances up to £5,000 will fall from 4.61% to 4.36%.

The Rainy Day Saver account, which offers easy access to funds, has been a favourite among Barclays‘ 20 million customers.

It is designed for balances up to £5,000, with savers earning the higher rate on the first £5,000 – currently 4.61%.

Savings above this threshold earn just 1% interest, but customers benefit from instant access to their money at any time.

At the current rate, holding £5,000 in the account would earn you £230.50 in interest over 12 months.

However, when the rate drops to 4.36%, this will fall to £218 – a loss of £12.50 per year.

Once boasting a competitive 5.12% interest rate earlier this year, Barclays has steadily chipped away at its appeal.

In February, the rate dropped to 4.87%, followed by another cut in April to 4.61%.

In February, the bank reduced the rate to 4.87%, followed by another cut in April to 4.61%.

Now, just months later, rates are set to drop again, leaving savers questioning whether to stick with the account or explore better options elsewhere.

How Barclay Card Changes Could Affect You

ANALYSIS by Consumer Reporter, James Flanders:

Barclaycard’s change to its credit card repayment structure sounds great if you don’t dig into the details.

After all, Barclaycard says it’s “making the changes to give you greater flexibility each month”.

In practice, it means that if you can’t afford to pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period, you can repay much less under the minimum repayment option than you have done previously.

If you only pay the minimum amounts on occasion, this is super useful.

But if you rely on this type of repayment plan in the long term, it could will cost you hundreds of pounds extra in interest.

It could also negatively affect your credit file as it’ll take you much longer to clear your debt.

More interest will be applied to your outstanding balance, too, as less is paid down each month.

For example, if you have a balance of £5,000 on a Barclaycard at 24% interest, where you only make the minimum payments and don’t spend on the card.

Under the old “2.5% of the balance plus the interest charged” rule, it would take around 14 years to clear the balance.

In total, you’d expect to pay about £3,500 in interest.

But with the new “1% of the balance plus the interest charged” calculation, it will take over 30 years to clear the same balance.

You’d then end up paying a whopping £8,500 in interest.

Before taking out a new credit card or increasing the amount you borrow, it’s vital to consider the consequences.

You should only borrow money if you can afford to pay it back.

It’s always vital to ask yourself if you actually need to borrow before committing to a new credit card, personal loan or overdraft.

If you use a credit card, I’d recommend that you always pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period.

Lenders have a responsibility to help customers who are in debt.

If you’re in a debt crisis, your first point of call should be your lender.

They might help you out by offering you a reduced interest rate or a temporary payment holiday – so check in with your lender if you’re struggling.