forget

First, it was Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik. Now, Florence has joined the most overtouristed destinations in the world: its 365,000 inhabitants shared their city last year with 4.6 million visitors. The director of the city’s Accademia gallery – home to Michelangelo’s David – talked in 2024 about “hit and run” tourism, describing visitors “on a quick in-and-out mission to take selfies … trampling the city without contributing anything”. Local author Margherita Calderoni describes Via Camillo Cavour, a street leading to the Duomo, as a “rancid soup” of chain restaurants and “shops selling plastic trinkets from who knows where”.

When she ran for mayor four years ago, Karen Bass said she wanted to regrow the Los Angeles Police Department to the 9,500-officer force it was before the ranks began to shrink. Now up for reelection — and facing a budget crunch — Bass says her plan has shifted.

The aim going forward, she told The Times in a recent interview, is to simply stop the department from getting smaller.

As of this week, the department had 8,677 sworn personnel — the lowest total in nearly a quarter-century. Even after efforts under Bass to streamline hiring and boost recruitment, some officials are concerned there won’t be enough new cops to replace those projected to leave or retire in the coming years.

“My goal changed, unfortunately,” Bass said. “I do hope that one day we get to the expansion, but we are not there now.”

A Bass spokesperson said after the interview that the mayor remains committed to reaching the 9,500-officer benchmark in the long run, but did not provide a timeline for getting there.

On April 20, Bass will release her spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts on July 1. She and the City Council will spend the coming months working out how to balance the city’s books in a way that avoids deep cuts to other services and the layoffs of city employees. A projection by the city administrative officer estimates the city’s budget deficit to be “several hundred million.”

Bass said she had spent years addressing a years-old administrative bottleneck within the city’s personnel department, which runs the background process for police hires.

The efforts were targeted “at every level: at the top, as well as internal to the department,” said Bass. “At least the impediments that kept us from retaining recruits, to get them in the academy, that has changed.”

The mayor called the old hiring process “archaic,” and said similar issues exist with other city departments. At the LAPD, she said, “We expanded recruitment and had a record number of recruits, and then we couldn’t get them hired, so we had to revamp the hiring process.”

Despite attrition at the LAPD in recent years, crime has plummeted, with homicides in the city falling to levels not seen since the 1950s. Yet public safety remains an issue in the mayor’s race, where Bass faces a challenge from City Councilmember Nithya Raman.

A recent survey co-sponsored by The Times found that more than half of voters view Bass unfavorably in the race. The same poll found that 39% of Angelenos think the LAPD needs to increase in size, with 29% saying the department should stay the same size and 19% saying it should shrink.

Raman came out ahead of Bass in a recent poll that only identified candidates in the mayoral race by their platforms, but not their names, though other surveys that identified them by name showed Bass in the lead.

Raman has said that she believes the police force is the right size at around 8,700 officers. Bass’ onetime ally has argued the mayor has thrown too much money at the LAPD, an approach Raman claims has come at the expense of other basic services such as park maintenance and street paving.

Raman has accused the mayor of signing off on raises for police officers with a contract that has done little to make a dent in the department’s recruitment struggles and only made worse the city’s financial picture. She and other critics say that with the dwindling number of cops, officials need to start investing more in community-led efforts that prioritize prevention over punishment in order to further reduce crime.

Bass said she had embraced a crime-fighting strategy that balances traditional policing with a more public health-oriented approach, pointing out that she had opened an Office of Community Safety to support gang interventionists who help defuse neighborhood conflicts before they explode into violence. Her administration also spearheaded sending mental health teams or other unarmed responders to emergency calls that were once fielded by police.

It’s no accident, she said, that killings in some of the most crime-impacted neighborhoods had fallen by 27%. So far this year, police say that most crime categories are down compared to where they were at this point in 2025.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell has said that without addressing police staffing the city’s progress on crime is at risk, especially as L.A. gets set to host large-scale sporting events like the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

During his briefing to the Police Commission on Tuesday, McDonnell said roughly 8% of the department’s employees are unavailable to work because they are on sick leave or other work restrictions. McDonnell and other police officials have said staffing shortages are limiting the department’s ability to respond quickly to low-level crimes, leading to high officer burnout rates, and driving up overtime expenses.

Asked to assess McDonnell’s first year-and-half as the city’s top lawman, Bass issued a written statement that said she considered McDonnell a strong partner “lowering crime, hiring more officers, and reversing longstanding trends.”

She added: “I will always keep pushing every City leader to do better by the people of Los Angeles.”

Bass said she would continue working with the chief to “identify measures” to reduce the number of police shootings, particularly those involving people in crisis.

Such changes would go hand in hand with an overhaul of the department’s much-maligned disciplinary system, which has faced criticism from some corners for not meting out harsh enough punishments when officers shoot unarmed people. The union that represents the department’s rank-and-file members has long complained of a double standard that lets well-connected officers and senior leaders off the hook.

Bass said that based on her conversations with officers, “the internal part of the disciplinary system has gotten a little better.”

Broader reforms have also been under discussion, with the council weighing new limits on so-called police pretextual stops, in which officers use a minor violation as justification to pull someone over and then investigate whether a more serious crime has occurred. Bass said she is in favor of further changes to tighten LAPD policies.

A recently published report by Catalyst California, a group that advocates for racial justice, found that such stops have continued to disproportionately affect Black and Latino drivers, even as the LAPD has scaled back their use over the past decade.

“Certainly, when I was younger, I experienced pretextual stops, and they are terrifying,” Bass said, adding that she believed the department’s culture was already changing. “I will tell you that as many roll calls as I’ve been to, a lot of officers already feel like they can’t do pretextual [stops] anymore — so I think there’s been progress there, but clearly more, more to go.”

Times staff writers David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg contributed to this report.

IT MIGHT feel like we have been waiting forever for spring and now you can enjoy it by seeing lots of different sights in bloom.

National Trust sites and properties across the UK are home to an abundance of plants and trees.

And with that, there’s a lot of blossom to see.

Whether it be an apple or cherry tree, here are some of the top National Trust sites to see blossom this spring.

Acorn Bank, Cumbria

Acorn Bank is known for having an extensive herb collection as well as sprawling orchards and a working watermill.

And tucked behind its 17th-century walls, visitors will find the orchard with over 175 apple varieties.

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From early May, many of the trees bloom with a soft pink-white blossom.

It costs £11 per adult and £5.50 per child to visit.

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire

Less than six miles outside of Cambridge, Anglesey Abbey features a country house that was built on the remains of a priory.

The house is surrounded by gardens, which is where you will find the blossom.

Back in 2021, Olympian Way was planted with cherry blossoms that bloom pink in March and April.

Visitors will also be able to find cherry blossom in the woodland and Rose Garden.

It costs from £19 per adult and £9.50 per child to visit.

Ardress House, County Armagh

Found in the ‘Orchard County’ of County Armagh, Ardress House features a 17th-century house with 18th-century interiors, as well as a traditional farmyard.

Each May, the property’s apple blossom appears and visitors can also head on a walk which encircles the farmhouse to see more blossom.

Attingham Park, Shropshire

Attingham Park is an 18th-century estate with a mansion and around 200 acres of parkland.

Blossom appears on the apricot trees each year in the Walled Garden from around mid-March, and then other trees follow, such as peach, pear and apple.

Admission to the house and gardens costs from £18 per adult and £9 per child.

Bateman’s, Sussex

Bateman’s in Sussex is the family home of the writer of The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling, and was built in 1634.

Each year the orchard becomes alive with blossom from April to mid-May including apple trees and pear trees.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit the estate.

Beningbrough, Yorkshire

At Beningbrough, visitors can explore a hall and gallery, eight-acre garden and even a wilderness play area.

And during the spring, the blossom emerges in the walled garden.

The blossom comes from many traditional and newly planted fruit trees.

It costs £16 per adult and £8 per child to visit Beningbrough.

Blickling Estate, Norfolk

At Blickling Estate, visitors can see a Jacobean mansion which boasts a large collection of books as well as a 55-acre garden.

In the West Garden is where visitors will find magnolias blooming from March in shades of white and pink.

The orchard also features fruit trees which blossom.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Brockhampton, Herefordshire

Brockhampton estate features a medieval manor house and is home to the largest orchard in the National Trust, spanning more than 145 acres.

In the orchard, visitors will find prune damsons as well as apple varieties, all of which bloom between March and May.

There are also five interlocking ‘orchard rooms’ which have been designed to reflect the structure of an apple.

Admission to the entire estate costs £12 per adult and £6 per child.

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

At Calke Abbey, visitors can see a Baroque-style mansion that has peeling paintwork and abandoned rooms, as well as the physic garden and a sprawling estate.

In the garden, there are around 50 varieties of rare and local apple trees which means by May the garden is full of pink and white flowers.

At the beginning and end of the season, visitors can also enjoy Calke’s Festival of Blossom with a number of activities.

To visit the house, it costs £15 per adult and £7.50 per child and to visit the park and gardens it costs £8.50 and £4.25 per child.

Coleton Fishacre, Devon

Coleton Fishacre is a 1920s country retreat which also has a tropical garden.

In the garden, visitors can see apple and cherry blossom on a number of self-led trails.

As part of the Festival of Blossom, visitors can also write haiku or tanka poems using blossom poetry cards.

And there are guided mindful walks on March 31, April 13 and 29.

Coleton Fishacre costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Cotehele, Cornwall

Cotehele in Cornwall is a Tudor house with a mill, garden and estate.

On the estate, the orchard is the earliest to bloom with apple, cherry, plum and pear trees.

Across spring the estate also hosts a number of events including walks, music, creative workshops and community activities.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

In the north of England, you can head to Crook Hall Gardens.

Here you will find a medieval hall with pretty gardens, just outside of Durham city.

In the orchard all the apple varieties bloom and as the season goes on, more species in the orchard flower.

It costs £10 per adult and £5 per child to visit the gardens.

Dunham Massey, Manchester

Dunham Massey boasts a Georgian house, garden and deer park.

In the spring, cherry blossom blooms and is often noted as one of the best places in Northern England to see blossom.

There is also the Orangery, with small waterways and seasonal flowers to explore.

It costs £20 per adult to visit and £10 per child.

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Somerset

Dunster Castle doesn’t just feature a castle, but also a country home and subtropical gardens.

Throughout spring, blossom inspired decorations welcome visitors as well as there being a blossom themed display at the Stables Shop.

Families can also head on the ‘Bees and Blossoms Spotter Trail’ and toward the end of April, there will be a new willow sculpture by artist Woody Fox.

Outdoors, blossom will also appear in the subtropical and riverside gardens.

It costs £19 per adult and £9.50 per child to visit.

Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan

At Dyffryn Gardens, visitors can see a number of small themed gardens that reflect different countries and styles, as well as a kitchen garden, arboretum, glasshouse and natural play areas.

During the spring, visitors can expect Dyffryn Gardens has a self-led Blossom Watch Walk through the estate and Edwardian garden rooms.

Visitors can grab a dedicated map which helps to show the highlights of the gardens.

It costs £14 per adult and £7 per child to visit.

Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham

Erddig Hall is a late 17th-century country house with an 18th-century Grade I listed walled garden.

Across the 1,200 acre estate there are meadows, lakes, ponds and rivers, to explore.

During the spring, Erddig has blossom across its walled garden, orchards and lime tree avenues.

Visitors can also see cherry, plum, pear and apple blossom appearing in stages across the garden’s fruit trees.

It costs £19 per adult and £9.50 per child to visit.

Felbrigg Estate, Norfolk

Felbrigg Estate is home to a 17th-century Hall with one of the largest collections in the National Trust.

In the Walled Garden visitors can see blossom across fruit trees as well as historic varieties.

It costs £16 per adult and £8 per child to visit.

Gibside, Tyne and Wear

At Gibside – a Georgian landscape garden – visitors can explore pear, apple and apricot trees all blooming from March to May.

The Walled Garden is also colourful, with lots of pink blossom.

There are a number of events too including blossom bathing sessions, beekeeping demonstrations, pollinator counts, and creative workshops.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Greenway, Devon

Agatha Christie’s home in Devon is a great spot to explore the life of the crime writer as well as see blossom in spring.

Between March 21 and April 30, Greenway has its Festival of Blossom, with large magnolias blooming overhead, lots of fruit trees in bloom and wild hedgerow flowers appearing.

Admission to the whole property costs £18 per adult and £9 per child.

Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens, Lincolnshire

Gunby Estate features an 18th-century country house with Victorian walled gardens near the Lincolnshire Wolds.

During the spring, visitors can expect to see the fruit trees in the walled gardens spring into bloom with different pastel pinks.

There is also a cherry walk which is great to visit in late April and pear blossom appears in the kitchen garden, alongside apple blossom in May.

Between March 29 and April 23, visitors can also catch some blossom indoors as the ‘Springtime Wonderland’ exhibition by Laura Andrew will be on.

And from April 13 to May 31, there is the Blossom Wellbeing Trail – a self-guided route to appreciate the sights, scents, and sounds of the season.

It costs £12 per adult and £6 per child to visit Gunby Estate.

Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire

At Hanbury Hall, there is an 18th-century house featuring original wall paintings by Sir James Thornhill as well as formal gardens.

The site is home to several species of blossom trees, including pear, apple, and cherry blossom, which all flower anytime from March to May.

Later in April and May, visitors can try out blossom bathing in the walled orchard, which has 56 varieties of heritage apple trees.

It costs £19 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Ham House, London

Ham House is a Stuart house situated on the banks of the River Thames and boasts a unique collection of antiques and furniture.

The house even has its own cherry garden, with lavender and a 17th-century statue of Bacchus.

In the Outer Courtyard, lots of new blossom trees have been planted and even though they are young, more and more sprigs of colour are appearing each spring.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

Following a fire in 1960, Hinton Ampner was rebuilt and today features a large house with a pretty garden.

During the spring blossom can be found across the orchard and wild garden.

And don’t miss the sweeping views of the Hampshire Downs.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Killerton, Devon

Killerton is home to a Georgian house as well a chapel and historic garden and the gardens are one of the first to awaken in Devon according to the National Trust.

Visitors can head on a waymarked blossom route, which is around one-mile.

Along the way, they can read gardener’s notes that highlight the different blossoms.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Lyme, Manchester

Lyme in Manchester features a 600-year-old house with 1,400-acre grounds.

Visitors can explore ornamental cherry trees with soft pinks as well as creamy white blossoms.

In the Vicary Gibbs area of the garden, there’s a mindful walk where visitors can bathe beneath the Japanese Mt. Fuji cherry tree.

It costs £19 per adult to visit and £9.50 per child.

Nostell, Yorkshire

Nostell in Yorkshire boasts a large Georgian house, landscaped gardens, parkland and stables courtyard.

Visitors can see blossom across the Kitchen Garden, orchard and pleasure grounds with the season beginning in March.

There’s also a nice walk from the rose garden and orangery to the orchard’s heritage pear espalier.

In the pleasure grounds, make sure to look out for the magnolia with large flowers budding overhead.

It costs £14 per adult and £7 per child to visit.

Paycockes House and Garden, Essex

Paycockes House and Garden is a Tudor merchant’s house and in the gardens this spring, visitors can see blossom across the entire garden,

It costs £12 per adult and £6 per child to visit.

Sissinghurst, Kent

Sissinghurst is a castle with a world-renowned garden, where you will find 1,100 fruit trees blooming each spring.

The garden also has a particularly large blossom tree, known for its fluffy white flowers.

It costs from £20 per adult and £10 per child.

Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style château, built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, and it boasts Victorian-style gardens with statues and a wooded playground.

Between March 25 and April 12, visitors can head to Waddesdon’s Festival of Blossom which has fresh floral displays and a blossom trail inside the house.

In the gardens, visitors can see horse chestnut trees which have creamy-white or pink blossom in May.

It costs £27.50 per adult and £13 per child to visit.

Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire

Wimpole Estate is home to a 17th-century mansion with Georgian interiors, a walled kitchen garden, and parkland.

Visitors heading to Wimpole’s orchard will see over 300 fruit trees which blossom between April and May.

Also in the Walled Garden are a number of cherry trees which have soft pink blossom.

It costs £21 per adult and £10.50 per child to visit.

For more blossom spots across the UK, here are 10 of the best places to see cherry blossom across the UK for free this spring.

Plus, a medieval English town has the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world.

While the Europa League will continue to offer respite from an otherwise difficult season for Forest, the additional games present challenges.

Forest will take on Porto in the quarter-final on 9 and 16 April, welcome Aston Villa to the City Ground in between the two legs and then host Burnley the following weekend.

Winning games means positive momentum and that can only be a help when it comes to fighting to stay in the league.

But it also means more games and Pereira, who is set to take charge in his first European quarter-final, must find the balance between keeping his side in the top flight and managing the demands of competing in Europe.

“When we win it’s different,” Pereira said.

“The spirit is different, the energy is different and the boys deserve it because they are a fantastic group, very good players and with team spirit, character – we showed everything today.

“I don’t have any doubt that we have the quality and we will compete to achieve our targets.”

Yates added: “That winning feeling is special, you want to keep that momentum going.

“Momentum at this stage of the season is huge. We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. Recover now, focus on Tottenham now and keep building, keep getting those wins.

“It’s not over yet, we’re still dreaming.”