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The town’s Christmas markets are a must-visit for anyone looking to get into the festive spirit, with a wide range of stalls selling everything from food and drink to handmade gifts

Christmas in Kent is a truly enchanting time, with charming town centres adorned with sparkling lights, festive decorations and an abundance of holiday cheer.

One of the highlights of the winter season is undoubtedly the return of the delightful Christmas markets, offering a plethora of fantastic options across Kent.

Full details for this year’s Faversham Christmas Markets, which will be taking place over one weekend in December have now been confirmed. This year, the festivities are set to occur from Friday, 12th December to Sunday, 14th December.

Over these three days, a colourful mix of stallholders will descend on Market Place and Court Street, presenting a diverse range of local food and drink, unique crafts and handmade gifts that are perfect for filling up those stockings.

On Friday, locals and visitors alike will have the opportunity to explore the Festive Food Market, showcasing the very best of Kent’s remarkable food and drink businesses, reports Kent Live.

Then, on Saturday, the town will play host to the Bumper Charter Market and Best of Faversham artisan market, ideal for discovering unique, locally-crafted gifts.

Finally, Sunday will see the arrival of the Christmas Gift Market where you can complete your holiday shopping – whether you’re searching for that perfect, unique gift or need to stock up on cards to send to all your friends and family over the holidays, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for.

There will be live Christmas carols and plenty of festive music for all to enjoy, and there is even a planned visit from the Happy Endings donkeys for guests to pet and feed.

These markets will follow the fabulous Christmas lights switch-on in Faversham town centre, which will take place on the evening of Saturday, 29 November.

Crowds will flock to the historic Market Place to see the spellbinding illuminations come to life at 5pm, bathing the town in a sea of colour. Again, there will be Christmas carols and live music to add that extra Christmas spirit.

From 4pm to 8pm on this day, the Festive Night Market will run on Preston Street, bringing plenty of opportunities to shop and tuck into delicious seasonal food. Between the numerous craft stalls and mouth-watering street food choices, this is one event you won’t want to miss.

Faversham may be rich in history, with its ancient port, maritime industry and hop-growing heritage, but it’s also brimming with contemporary attractions that today’s visitors will love.

The town offers a wealth of shopping opportunities and businesses, a theatre, thrilling events and activities, and a vibrant market, which proudly proclaims itself as “Kent’s oldest”. There are also beautiful scenic spots, such as Mount Ephraim Gardens, which will soon be ablaze with autumnal hues.

IF you’ve managed to end this summer with a lush green lawn, and no unexplained bald patches or a depressing brown sheen – then well done you.

The majority of people I’ve spoken to have been left with grass that’s definitely looking a bit under the weather (literally).

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But fear not.

One of Britain’s biggest shorts-wearing lawn lovers has got some golden rules for Sun Gardening to whip that outside space back into shape.

Jonny Hinks – AKA @gardenwithjonny on social media – describes himself as a self-taught gardener, firefighter and full time garden obsessive from Warwickshire.

And with nearly two million followers on instagram alone – it’s not just his comedy videos that have caught the attention of garden lovers everywhere.

His lawn is spectacularly well maintained – and even in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record, it still managed to look a lot better than most.

“Now is the perfect time for Autumn lawn care”, he told Sun Gardening.

“It’s nice and moist, the soil is warm from the summer. So in terms of germination for grass seed, it’s just the perfect conditions.

“And it’s also a good time because the grass is still growing and if you get it all sorted now –  the roots will be established enough to take the Winter cold that’s on its way.

“Everyone’s lawns have been suffering and turning brown from all the sun – and although it will come back if it hasn’t already, there’s a few things you can do now to help it along.”

FEEDING

“Be careful you buy the right feed. What you need now is high potassium Autumn feed, which helps the grass improve its root strength.

And low nitrogen – as you don’t want too much leaf before Winter as there’s a risk if it’s too leafy it will be prone to disease.

SCARIFY

“This is like exfoliating your face. Basically you just need to take off all the moss and thatch, which is a layer of dead grass and roots – and too much of it prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass.

It lets the lawn breathe, which is so important. I use a battery-powered scarifier, but there are manual ones, or you can use a rake.

Go diagonally in one direction and then again in the other direction. It’s a great work out

AERATE

“This is when you create air pockets within the lawn which reduces compaction, and like scarifying, allows water and nutrients to penetrate the earth.

“This makes for better root systems. I don’t like using a fork or aerating shoes for this – that just spreads the soil apart.

“Instead I have a tool a bit like a fork, but with hollow tines,  that takes plugs out the lawn.”

TOPSOIL AND SEED

“As soon as I’ve finished all these jobs – I scatter a covering of grass seed over the area – and then cover with a thin layer of topsoil.

“I have been known in the past to do a mix of both together, but I’ve found this way works well. And then water, of course.”

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

Top tips, Gardening news, competition and Plant of the Week

FOR more gardening content, tips, news and competitions, follow me @biros_and_bloom

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Nemesia Melody Morello Ice – still bringing colour to your garden now – this lovely Nemesia is totally hardy, with masses of dark green foliage, flowers from March to October, perfect for filling baskets, containers, beds and borders and has a sweet scent. Grow in moist well drained soil in sun or partial shade.

JOB OF THE WEEK! Prune climbing and rambling roses, remove any leaves covering pumpkins to get them ripe for halloween, if you’ve got rotten apples on the tree, remove them to prevent disease.

TOP TIP! It can be confusing as to which bulbs should be planted when – so here’s a few tips. This month – September – you can go for early spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths and crocus.
Especially daffodils – as it will help with their root establishment.
You can also get hardy summer flowering bulbs like Alliums and Lillies in now as well. None of the above mind the soil still being warm.
But wait until November for Tulips – as they much prefer the colder soil to get them going. Always plant bulbs in groups to get a better display. And they like the warmth and sun – so keep that in mind. Try and plant them three times the depth of the bulbs – this is when a sturdy bulb planter comes in handy.

TOP TIP! If you’ve noticed dead patches, loose turf and even holes appearing in your lawns, you could be under attack from Leatherjackets – the destructive larvae of crane flies, AKA daddy long legs.
They feed on grassroots and seedlings, and can also attract birds, badgers and foxes that dig up turf in search of a snack, adding to the damage. But there is help at hand.
Nowadays you can basically water in a beneficial nematode – called Steinernema feltiae – which are basically microscopic worms that naturally target and kill leatherjackets. They enter the grubs body and then release bacteria that kill the pest from within. Sounds grim, but it works. There aren’t many brands on the market – I’ve used Nemasys, which was great – but you can also find them from Dragonfli and Dobies online.

TOP TIP! Clean out old pots to make sure they don’t have old compost/bits of dead plants – that can hide pests and diseases over winter and check online to see if you’ve got local recycling – some garden centres take them. 

NEWS! Great Comp Garden’s Bulbs N Things Autumn fair has doubled in size this year. Taking place at the seven-acre Kent garden, it will have a huge range of unusual bulbs, including dwarf iris, crocus, anemone, hyacinth, erythronium, fritillary, hermodactylus, leucojum, muscari, puschkinia, scilla and more. There will also be gardenware, handmade gifts, rare and unusual plants and curated sellers at the two day event October 11 and 12. 

WIN!! Two lucky winners will receive a Westland Autumn Lawncare bundle worth £100 each – including feed, seed, a scarifying rake and aerator. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WestlandAutumn or write to Sun Westland Autumn Lawncare competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 27, 2025. T&Cs apply

WE’VE all done it.

Spotting a plant you think will look amazing in your garden – rushing out to buy it – and then realising that on its own it suddenly looks, well, a bit naff.

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But happily, a new book by Jamie Butterworth could be about to banish the embarrassment of a badly put together garden for good.

‘What Grows Together’ – which comes out next weekend – offers up over 60 ‘fail safe plant combinations for every garden’ with no confusing horticultural jargon or lecturing.

You may recognise Jamie from his RHS Show Feature Dog Garden at Chelsea Flower Show this year – which he created alongside Monty Don and DJ Jo Whiley.

He’s appeared many times on Gardeners World, and cites Monty Don as the gardener who inspired him to get into horticulture.

His nursery Form Plants also supplies plants to Windsor Castle – and when he met King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show, the King said: ‘I know Jamie — you are delivering plants to me on Wednesday. Please don’t be late.’”

But it was another famous Jamie that actually inspired his book.
“I love cooking, but I never know what ingredients to put together as to what will taste nice,” he told Sun gardening.

“But when I came across Jamie Oliver’s Five Ingredients Book – where he just goes – take these ingredients and do this and this is what you’ll get, it was just brilliant. It was exactly what I needed.

“I just thought – we need to do this for gardening. We’ve even laid it out like a recipe book – in terms of making it look really crisp and simple – it’s like no other gardening book that’s ever been written.

“There’s so much synergy between cooking and gardening – people want to garden, they want to have nice gardens but they’re time poor and they don’t know what to plant that will a. Survive and b. look good, and that was the starting premise of the book.

“We’re forever learning with plants – my particular passion is growing plants, putting them together and making nice displays – it’s how I like to make people happy.

“It’s about getting rid of the old gardening rules – the ‘you must do this, you must do that, you must plant carrots at this exact time or everything will fail.

“What I wanted to do was make growing more accessible – there is no right way – but learning even just a few combinations and what will grow well together – then that gives people confidence to have a go themselves.”

“Jamie’s an idol of mine – and I want to make gardening as accessible as he did for cooking.

“You pay garden designers hundreds of pounds to tell you where to put plants – hopefully this book will negate all of that and give people the accessibility they need to go ‘oh actually this is what I need to do’ and it’s that simple.”

JAMIES’ FAVOURITE COMBINATIONS

COMBINATION ONE
Hydrangeas Limelight and Agastache Blackadder – both plants individually are brilliant and will flower for a long long time each – Hydrangeas from June to Autumn and even once they’ve finished flowering they’ll hold their seed heads and look great in the winter. Agastache Blackadder is a perennial and has dark purple liquorice flowers and if you plant the two together the darkness of the Agastache looks brilliant against the white of the hydrangea – but will also grow up through it. If you want to add to it – just add in some yellow Cosmos.

COMBINATION 2
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’, Japanese Forest Grass, Penstemon ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’
Calycanthus has really rich ruby wine red flowers which look stunning in their own right. It flowers from late May through to September/October, leg it up by taking off lower branches – then you’ve got a specimen rather than just a shrub – and underplant with Hakonechloa Macra – AKA Japanese forest grass and the Penstemon with dark rich ruby colour flowers the same as the calycanthus. Individually they’re great plants – but put together that’s an incredible combination.

 What Grows Together: Fail-safe Plant Combinations for Every Garden by Jamie Butterworth (11 September, DK)

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

News, top tips, Plant of the Week and a competition to win two hedge trimmers

NEWS! Catherine’s Rose is finally available to buy on the high street – with B&Q taking the honours as the main bricks and mortar stockist.
Named after HRH Princess Kate, and launching in store at the end of this month, funds from every sale will go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The pink ‘Catherine’s Rose’, which is scented, was developed by Harkness Roses – and in May we ran a competition for Sun Readers to become the first in the world to own a rose.
Now everyone can get one from their local B&Q..
The RHS and Harkness joined forces with Kate after she underwent a “very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection” with nature after undergoing treatment for cancer.
The princess announced in January she was in remission after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy.

WIN! WIn one of two Webb ECO 20V 15cm Cordless Mini Chainsaw/Pruning Saws with Telescopic Pole Reach PLUS battery – worth £124.99 each. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WebbPruner or write to
Sun Webb Pruner competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 20, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Heuchera Berry Timeless is evergreen and will still be sending up sprays of pale pink flowers well into September. It’s heat resistant and hardy – and doesn’t seem fussy about soil or shade or too much sun.

JOB OF THE WEEK! You can start with your onion sets now – to overwinter and get a bountiful crop next year. Red Winter is a great one to get in the ground. Potatoes and raspberries are ready to harvest and sweetpeas can be sown under cover.

TOP TIP! IF you fancy growing your own salad leaves over Winter – now is the time to start.
Lambs Lettuce is very hardy and perfect for Winter Gardens. Get the seeds in the soil now – either in pockets you know are milder – or in a cold frame.
The best thing about sowing rocket is that you’ll get your first crop with four to six weeks – and it also thrives in cooler temperatures.
If you plant Arctic Spring butterhead lettuce now – you’ll get a crop early next year. But also keep an eye out in garden centres, as they often sell a ‘Winter Mix’. Sarah Raven currently has one that includes ‘Can Can’, ‘Salad Bowl’ and ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons.’

NEWS! Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is taking place from September 19th to 21st. As well as the usual floral marquees – there’s an Incredible Edible pavilion showcasing the best fruit and vegetables – as well as the giant versions – including a National Onion Championship. Plus talks, live demonstrations, expert gardening advice and competitions. And there’s a plant creche so you don’t have to carry your purchases round all day.

Her name is ubiquitous in public spaces around Los Angeles: the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, the soon-to-debut Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills.

Then there’s the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica and Wallis Annenberg GenSpace in Koreatown.

Wallis Annenberg, a deep-pocketed philanthropist who helped transform the city through massive donations to arts, education and animal welfare causes, died Monday morning at her home in Los Angeles from complications related to lung cancer, the family said. She was 85.

The heiress to Walter Annenberg’s publishing empire served, for the last 16 years, as chairwoman of the board, president and chief executive of the influential Annenberg Foundation, which her father started in 1989 after selling TV Guide and other publications to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. A representative said the nonprofit organization has assets of about $1.2 billion.

Annenberg, who worked for TV Guide when her father owned Triangle Publications, stepped in as the foundation’s vice president after he died in 2002. When her stepmother, Leonore, died seven years later, Annenberg took the helm, broadening its philanthropic scope beyond media, arts and education to include animal welfare, environmental conservation and healthcare. Since she joined the foundation, it has given about $1.5 billion to thousands of organizations and nonprofits in Los Angeles County.

Wallis Annenberg worked with her father, Walter Annenberg, when his company published TV Guide.

(Annenberg Foundation)

Annenberg was fiercely passionate about funding the arts, with an eye toward making culture accessible to all. She founded the free Annenberg Space for Photography, which opened its Century City doors in 2009. (It closed during the pandemic in 2020, but archival material is still online.) The space showed exhibitions spanning the world of hip-hop, the global refugee crisis and war photography, among other subjects. Annenberg was also a longtime board member of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art. She gave $10 million in 2002 to endow LACMA’s director’s position.

LACMA Chief Executive Michael Govan, who came to the museum in 2006 to fill that endowed position, praised Annenberg’s philanthropy.

“Wallis Annenberg blessed the Los Angeles community not only with her philanthropy, but also with her guidance about how to improve our community,” Govan said in a statement to The Times, ”from public access to our beautiful beaches to the livelihood of local animals, and the importance of the arts to our daily lives.”

Under her leadership, the foundation made $38.5 million in low-interest loans for the construction of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The Zoltan Pali-designed center opened in 2013 in a renovated, 1933 Beverly Hills Post Office and has since become a major cultural hub in the heart of Beverly Hills, infusing the tony neighborhood with vibrant music, theater and dance. Broadway star Patti LuPone, comedian Sarah Silverman and the Martha Graham Dance Company have all graced the stage at the Wallis; the center also offers robust educational programming.

When it opened, fellow philanthropist Eli Broad called the center “a great addition” to Los Angeles and “another jewel in the region’s cultural crown.”

Annenberg cared deeply about equity in education. Walter Annenberg had founded the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in 1971, and before that the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. But Wallis Annenberg, a USC board of directors life trustee, helped to steer the school’s vision and guide it into the future. She gave $50 million in 2011 to have the Wallis Annenberg Hall built, which nearly doubled the communication and journalism school’s footprint when it opened in 2014. More recently, in March, Annenberg gave $5 million to the university for a high-tech, multimedia production studio to be built on USC’s Capital Campus in Washington, D.C. It’s scheduled to open in August.

Exposition Park got a boost in 2004, when the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center opened, a project made possible with a $25-million challenge grant from Annenberg. The former armory, redesigned by Pritzker-winning architect Thom Mayne, now has classrooms and laboratories for Science Center educational programming. Annenberg has also funded exhibitions there, including the 2019 interactive exhibit “Dogs! A Science Tail,” which explores the deep bond between humans and canines. It went back on view in May.

In 2004, she also stepped in to help underwrite the Annenberg Community Beach House, located on the grounds of the former Marion Davies estate, after hearing the city of Santa Monica might engage private developers to restore the site, which had been operated as a private club for 30 years. The seaside public space is free and features a playground, gallery and volleyball courts, among other amenities.

Construction crews began the process of placing the first layers of soil over the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing on March 31.

(Al Seib / For The Times)

Annenberg was a ferocious animal lover. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing — the world’s largest urban wildlife crossing, which stretches across 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains in Agoura Hills — was made possible with a $1-million challenge grant from Annenberg in 2016 followed by $25 million in 2021. When it’s completed, the crossing will help animals such as mountain lions, deer and bobcats pass safely over the freeway. The first layers of soil were laid on the overpass in March. Plans call for its completion in 2026.

“I imagine a future for all the wildlife in our area,” Annenberg said in a statement published by The Times in March, “where it’s possible to survive and thrive and the placement of this first soil on the bridge means another step closer to reality.”

Annenberg also created a Silicon Beach-based animal shelter, the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, which opened in 2017 and helps to rehabilitate so-called “unadoptable” animals before finding them new homes. PetSpace has a medical facility and offers animal adoptions as well as classes to teach people to how to better care for their pets.

In recent years, Annenberg had been thinking about quality of life for older adults.

In 2022, Annenberg opened the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, a senior center in Koreatown offering visitors a place to pursue new interests and find community through classes that include belly dancing, horticultural therapy and financial literacy. It also hosts concerts, dances and game nights.

After the Palisades and Eaton wildfires earlier this year, the Annenberg Foundation funded short-term and long-term recovery efforts, gifting nonprofits and organizations that included the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Team Rubicon Response Fund.

Wallis Huberta Annenberg was born in the affluent Main Line area of Philadelphia and grew up, from age 10, in Washington, D.C. Her mother was Bernice Veronica Dunkelman, who went by Ronny. Annenberg had a younger brother, Roger, who died in 1962 when he was 22. She graduated from Pine Manor Junior College in Wellesley, Mass., and attended one year of college at Columbia University before dropping out to get married to neurosurgeon Seth Weingarten. The couple divorced in 1975.

Prior to their divorce, Annenberg had moved to Los Angeles with Weingarten and her children in the early ‘70s. Annenberg was drawn to the city’s energy, creativity and diversity.

Despite her public profile, Annenberg was known to be press shy. The billionaire philanthropist was particularly family-oriented and enjoyed evenings at home with her children and grandchildren. She was also an avid sports fan and loved watching football on TV, martini in hand.

Wallis Annenberg, center seated, with three of her children: Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, Lauren Bon and Charles Annenberg Weingarten. Each is involved in the Annenberg Foundation.

(Hamish Robertson)

The breadth of Annenberg’s philanthropy was global; but it was most keenly focused on Los Angeles.

Annenberg received the 2022 National Humanities Medal from President Biden for her life in philanthropy.

As outlined in the family trust, control of the foundation passes onto the next generation: Three of Annenberg’s four children who are on the board of directors: Lauren Bon, Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Charles Annenberg Weingarten. Roger Annenberg Weingarten lives in the L.A. area.

Bon is an artist and founding director of L.A.-based Metabolic Studio, a not-for-profit interdisciplinary art and research hub that explores environmental issues. Gregory Annenberg Weingarten is a former journalist with the Times of London and now is an artist, exhibiting in Europe and the U.S. Charles Annenberg Weingarten is a philanthropist and filmmaker who created Explore, which documents, through films and photographs, selfless acts globally (and has a network of live-cams trained on wildlife).

Besides her four children, Annenberg is survived by five grandchildren.

A new patio in the UK typically costs between £80-£150 per square meter, but it depends on the materials and layout.

So a typical homeowner could end up paying a few hundred, to thousands to get a new one.

Amy on Facebook didn’t have that kind of money to sort her patio out.

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Instead, she came up with a genius idea to transform her wonky slabs, into an area she would love.

Posting in the Facebook group Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget, she said: “On a very tight budget, I couldn’t stretch to funding a new patio.

“So, last year, I bought some ground covering seeds and planted them between some of my wonky pavers.

“I’m thrilled with how they now look but, the amount of bees that have been collecting the nectar from them is incredible. I’m so pleased.”

She added a photograph of the results, showing her wonky patio slabs covered with gorgeous purple, white and blue flowers.

As for what flowers she sowed, replying to a comment, Amy said: “Mixed ground cover,” and said it “will bring new life to your garden/patio”.

She “added a little sand to the compost” which she was advised to do so by her local garden centre because “the sand stabilises the wonky pavers”.

Her post has received 11,000 likes so far and hundreds of comments.

One replied: “I absolutely love this idea! I have a horrible concrete area that I cover with benches and pots! Also have an old paved area all sunken forever taking out the weeds in between! Thank you for the great idea x.”

Someone else wrote: “I think that looks lovely & far nicer than a new boring patio, it looks how nature would have intended it to look with plants tumbling out if cracks & crevices.”

One comment read: “It looks so pretty! Love your solution and how nice that it’s attracted pollinators too.”

Another said they make a great replacement for pesky weeds: “Oh I love this. I’m going to pulled out those weeds and put in seeds.”

Someone else was keen to know if any weeds grew amongst her flowers. They asked: “That looks lovely. Do you have any problems with weeds pushing through too?”

Amy replied: “I have had a couple yes, but by and large, the flowers are winning the ‘cosy’ and limited space.”

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How to grow flowers between your patio slabs

1. Clean the area

Remove any weeds or debris from the cracks between your patio slabs. A weeding tool or a stiff brush can help with this. 

Make sure the holes are at least six inches deep to help roots develop.

2. Fill with soil and compost

Use a mix of soil and compost to fill the cracks.

3. Choose your plants

Opt for low-growing, spreading plants that can tolerate foot traffic. 

Some good choices are: thyme, chamomile, creeping speedwell, dwarf mondo grass, daisies.

4. Plant

If using seeds, mix them with a little compost and sand and push them into the cracks. 

For plug plants, carefully remove and gently plant them into the cracks. Fill any surrounding gaps with compost.

5. Water

Water the seeds thoroughly and continue to water regularly, especially during dry spells, until the plants are established. 

June gardening jobs

The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you should take this month.

Stake out leggy perennials

With all the dramatic weather we’ve been having, it’s definitely time to stake out your leggy perennials (the ones that come back every year). Heavy rain and growth spurts, can make them collapse and flop.

Picking out the slugs and snails

Hopefully as we move into summer they  will do less damage as the plants get bigger.  The best way is still to go out at night with a head torch to find them. 

Pick elderflower heads

You can use them to make your own cordial, or add to cakes, champagne or even fry them in batter. 

Get on top of weeds

It’s around now that weeds really ramp up in the garden, so keep on top of them with hoe-ing – or just the traditional ‘on your knees with a hand fork’. Try and avoid chemicals – remember weeds are just plants in the wrong place. 

Up the mowing

You’ll need to mow your lawn weekly now – if you’ve got time, weed it beforehand as once you mow you chop off the leaves and its harder to see them. 

Check on your tomatoes

Your tomato plants will need attention – water, feed and regularly and pinch out the sideshoots. 

Chelsea Chop

There’s still time for the Chelsea Chop – plants like Rudbeckia’s, Asters, Penstemons, Sedums and other perennials can be cut back by a third to help them get a bit more bushy, and prolong the flowering period.

Sort out your tulips

If you can be bothered and have space – lift and story your tulip  bulbs to ensure colour next Spring. 

Deadheading your roses

Take them down to the first set of healthy leaves – which will ensure more flowers for longer. 

Enjoy your space

Take some time to sit and enjoy your garden or outside space – it’s great for your mental health. Even just a few minutes a day can make a big difference. 

GREECE’S biggest island is getting a huge new £422million airport.

Heraklion, on the island of Crete, is currently preparing for a new airport in Kastelli which is scheduled to open in February 2027.

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According to the New Heraklion International Airport, the new airport will serve 10million passengers each year, after opening.

This number will then rise to 18million after some time.

There will be 19 boarding gates, eight of which will be of combined use for Schengen and Non-Schengen flights.

There will be space for 27 aircraft and also a terminal building with five levels of retail space and permanent exhibition areas.

A masterplan map also shows an area shaded in purple that suggest future retail space.

In addition, the airport is due to be one of the biggest in the country and when it opens it will replace the existing Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport in Heraklion.

Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport opened back in 1937, however, it can only accommodate eight million passengers a year.

Kastelli International Airport is being built to handle the growing number of tourists heading to Greece each year.

The airport will be located a 25-minute drive away from Heraklion, which is the largest city on the island.

In total, the airport is expected to cost €500million (£422million) to build and generate a total of 7,500 jobs in the area as well as a further 37,000 indirect jobs.

In addition, the new airport is expected to give new life to Crete’s tourism.

According to Tornos News, the new airport will create a number of new roads and contain one runway which stretches 3,200 metres long with one parallel aircraft movement taxiway,

A trial launch of of the airport will take place next summer, before a full opening in 2027.

Currently, airlines including easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways fly to Crete.

These are likely to move to the new airport when it opens.

And there are a number of other new exciting airports opening around the world.

A new £25billion mega airport is also opening in Europe to ‘take on Heathrow and Dubai’ with 65milllion passengers.

Plus, one of the world’s busiest airports reveals plans for new £7billion mega terminal with 50million more passengers.

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The news comes as the airport’s massive £1.3billion project to revamp T2 reaches another key milestone, with work to build a new road starting and the first trials of new taxiways on the airfield completed successfully.

Manchester Airport has opened a new security screening area that should speed up the boarding process.

Bosses at the northern travel hub have invested heavily in extending and refurbishing Terminal 2, which was first opened in 1993. Now the airport has officially opened its new Security East screening area, which is fitted with 10 high-tech scanners, meaning passengers will no longer need to remove their liquids from their luggage during the screening process.

“T2 check-in area just got even better with the opening of Zone C and a new WHSmith unit in Zone D. Zone C provides 12 new hybrid check-in desks and an entrance route through to the new T2 Security East,” the airport’s Facebook page announced today.

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport described the installation as a “major milestone”, while also announcing a change to how passenger drop-off will work. “We also completed the final element of our new T2 dual-forecourt operation, meaning that passengers can drop off at the lower forecourt as well as the existing upper forecourt, outside of T2,” the page continues.

READ MORE: ‘I’m a Brit living in Benidorm and tourists should avoid these three areas’

It is all change at Manchester Airport, where work is ongoing to expand Terminal 2 and 3. Last month it released computer-generated images of Terminal 3 which showed the anticipated look of the new terminal once the redevelopment is completed next year.

This announcement coincides with another significant progress in the airport’s colossal £1.3 billion project to overhaul Terminal 2. LEGO has signed up to the new-look terminal, as well as other retailers including Pandora, World Duty Free, Rituals and Wetherspoon.

The existing entrance to Terminal 1 will be transformed into the new Terminal 3 entrance. The revamped terminal will feature shops, stores, a 500-seat bar area offering views of the airfield, and a new dining hall. More space and seating are also part of the plan.

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Once the refurbished Terminal 2 is fully operational, which is expected later this year, Terminal 1 will be permanently closed. The renovation plans for Terminal 3, primarily serving domestic routes and originally opened in 1989, will incorporate part of the Terminal 1 building, given their adjacent locations and interconnected structure.

Even the emblem of Manchester – the worker bee – is acknowledged in the design, with honeycomb lights reflecting the style of the new Terminal 2, as shown in the images. The airport has outlined the key aspects of the investment in Terminal 3.

Airport chiefs have kicked off the initial phase of a major project, with the grand unveiling set for next year.The airport has announced that the scheme aims to declutter and enhance the traveller’s journey.

A spokesperson for the airport told MEN: “The project will remodel the entrance to the terminal, the security hall and the departure lounge – creating extra space for passengers and for new retailers, as well as updating the look and feel of the building.

“The Northern hub launched its ambitious transformation programme in 2015. It involves doubling the size of Terminal 2 and closing Terminal 1 – but now we have set out how we plan to use some of the space in Terminal 1 after it closes to expand the adjoining Terminal 3.”

The transformative journey began with the first phase, which saw Terminal 2 swell to twice its original footprint. The expanded terminal, operational since 2021, has already welcomed over 30 million passengers and snagged an esteemed international architecture and design accolade.

The project’s second act is slated for completion later this year, promising to elevate the existing structure to match the new extension’s calibre, complete with over 20 fresh retail, dining, and drinking spots.

Upon the project’s culmination, the revamped T2 is poised to accommodate over 70 per cent of the airport’s footfall. Following T1’s shutdown, parts of it will be repurposed to bolster T3, as revealed in today’s announcement.

DONALD Trump’s luxury “sky Palace” gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline.

The US government now faces a “Herculean task” to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark.

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President Trump, 78, sparked concerns earlier this month with his willingness to accept the plush flying mansion from the Qatari royal family.

The giant gift, worth an estimated $400m (£300m), has raised several ethical questions about if the US leader should be allowed to accept such expensive goods from other states.

But despite the controversy, Trump gladly took the 13-year-old mega jet back to Washington with him.

He now plans to make it part of his Air Force One fleet alongside two other Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets.

They have been operational since 1990 but are now said to be not up to scratch compared to modern planes such as Qatar‘s 747-8.

In order for it to become a fully fledged member of the president’s aviation arsenal however, it will need to go through some serious work.

It would have to be kitted out with top-tier communications and security tech before ever ferrying around Trump.

And significant retrofitting and clearance from security officials would be required.

Sir Tim, president of Emirates, told Piers Morgan Uncensored that President Trump’s flashy plans may cost a “couple of billion dollars”.

He explained to Piers: “I think you’re talking a couple of billion dollars to start with.

“Just roll back a little bit and look at what it takes for us to convert our 777s – from the old to the new – because we haven’t got the Boeing’s coming in at the pace we want them so we’re having to reconfigure all of them.”

The top aviation boss said trying to fix up all the jets as an airline has been an extremely tough task.

Tim admitted to “pulling his hair out” over the regulators and the tiny tweaks that have to be made to modernise a plane of that size and stature.

And he believes the US government will face an even trickier – and much more expensive – battle to get the gifted plane ready for presidential trips.

He said: “It’s a Herculean task, make no mistake about it.

“Whether President Trump will adapt fully, this present from Qatar, to an Air Force One I doubt it, but he’ll certainly get a lot of it done.”

Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable.

Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features.

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These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system.

Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions.

This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft.

But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.

Instead, the lavish aeroplane boasts a luxurious interior, featuring spacious suites and rooms with ornate interior decoration.

It also has glittering gold-coloured furnishings and hallways that echo Trump’s well-know interior design preferences.

The president is believed to have spent an hour inspecting the plan when when it was parked at West Palm Beach International Airport back in February.

The luxury Boeing was once even listed for a whopping $400 million, according to the Business Jet Traveler.

During his first stint in office, Trump had ordered two new Air Force One jumbo jets from Boeing to replace the pair that have been in service since George H. W. Bush’s presidency.

But the Boeing contract has faced delays, and reports suggest the new plans would not be ready until after Trump leaves the Oval Office.

Fears Trump’s new Air Force One replacement is vulnerable to devastating HACKS – or worse

By Chief Foreign Reporter, Katie Davis

A LAVISH jumbo jet Donald Trump plans to receive from Qatar will be vulnerable to hacking, an expert has warned.

The Boeing 747 – dubbed a “palace in the sky” – could even be blasted out the sky, aviation specialist Jeff Wise believes.

He fears Trump may bypass necessary measures to save time and money – which could therefore invite hacking or a devastating assassination attempt.

Wise told The Sun: “This Air Force One would be a major intelligence target for any adversary nation or even our allies, because allies love to spy on each other.

“The United States is being given this albatross that they are going to have to spend billions of dollars on to fix up for the personal use of Trump.

“If your job is to protect the President of the United States or if your job is to protect the secrets of the United States, then this is a massive headache for you.

“This is a plane that does not have secure communications and the anti-missiles defence systems that a normal Air Force One has. It’s just wide open.

“This is an administration that is completely irresponsible in the way they use their personal devices. They’re using these off-brand apps to communicate. It’s just a hacker’s dream.”

Wise continued: “I would say an increasing number of people would like to target Air Force One. 

“America’s list of enemies is growing longer and longer as we become an increasingly horrible nation, from the Houthis to the Iranians to the Russians.”

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LICK is currently the biggest club event in London for WLW, hosting nights “for women, by women”. With regular events in the capital, they have decided to take their sapphic army global for the second consecutive year.

The LICK Weekender brought partygoers to the Greek island of Crete for a weekend of new friendships, blossoming relationships and unforgettable memories. With 500 attendees from around the world – from the UK to Japan, Kenya to Australia – guests brought some (much-needed) POC queer joy to the island.

As hosts of the event tell Gay Times, “LICK is for all queer women, but running a truly diverse event requires intention.” With a focus on de-centring whiteness in queer culture, LICK is committed to putting diversity at the forefront.

Below, founder Teddy Edwardes reflects on the landmark event and shares her thoughts on the importance of intentional diversity in the queer nightlife space.

Firstly, how was the event? Tell us about any standout moments or highlights from the weekend?

The entire weekend was a 10/10 from start to finish. Everyone was glowing with joy! So many new friendships, relationships and lifelong memories were made. It felt really special.

Do you know how many people were in attendance?

500 people attended! And there were women from all over the world. The top ten list of countries included the United Kingdom, United States, Tunisia, Kenya and Australia, but there were also women from The Caribbean, Egypt, Canada and Japan!

As part of an epic 10-year programme to transform its hub, one major UK airport has revealed its latest multi-million pound investment plan to turn around a controversial terminal

One of the UK’s busiest airports has finally revealed plans to transform its terminal which Brits have branded ‘truly abysmal’. Handling around 30 million passengers every year, Manchester Airport is the largest of its kind in the north of England – with around 261 flights leaving the hub daily.

However, last year the airport came bottom in Which?’s league tables, after the consumer brand analysed responses from almost 7,000 members. Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3 received a measly 37 per cent approval rate – with travellers giving it just two stars for queues at the checkin-desk, bag drop, and passport control.

The tiny terminal, which mainly deals with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, only managed to scrape one star for queues at security, level of seating available, staff, and prices in shops, bars and restaurants. On social media, it’s clear the terminal’s reputation isn’t much better.

“Manchester Airport Terminal 3 is the depths of hell,” one person moaned on X (formerly Twitter). Another agreed, scathing: “Manchester Terminal 3, you are awful.” A third added: “Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport is truly abysmal,” while a fourth dubbed it the ‘worst’ terminal in the UK.

However, last week (May 13, 2025) Manchester Airport revealed a huge multi-million pound investment to revamp Terminal 3, as part of its £1.3 billion transformation programme. The mega face-lift, which aims to free-up space and improve the passenger experience, will see a new entrance with ‘more space, easier access and better facilities’.

The terminal will also welcome brand new security equipment and 40 per cent more seating capacity in the departure lounge, along with new shops and food and drink outlets, located both airside and landside. Grabbing a pint or meal pre-flight will also get a whole lot easier, as the terminal revamp will include a new 500-seat bar area with airfield views, as well as a dining area expansion that will see 200 extra seats.

Terminal 3’s expansion will see Terminal 1 (as it currently is) close for good as it merges together. Terminal 2, which has already had a major revamp, will also double its size as part of the 10-year investment plan.

“The work we’ve done in Terminal 2 is there for all to see – and we’ve already won the prestigious Prix Versailles award for its architecture and design. But until now we haven’t talked about our plans for Terminal 3,” said Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe.

“Moving to a two-terminal airport is giving us a great opportunity to use some of the existing Terminal 1 space to increase the footprint of Terminal 3. We’re doing that as well as making some all round improvements to Terminal 3 – so passengers will enjoy new security technology, more space, more seats, new retail and food and drink, and more. It’s another exciting step towards delivering an even better experience for our passengers and I can’t wait to see it progress.”

External work on the new pier on Terminal 2 – the second pier – has also taken a significant step closer to completion. The piers on the terminal are structures that extend from the main building and are home to the gates where passengers embark and disembark.

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IF you’re setting your patio up ahead of the summer, B&M may have just the thing to level up your space.

This decor buy will help turn your garden into a paradise without breaking the budget.

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From hosting barbecues to enjoying relaxing evenings in the setting sun, who doesn’t plan to make the most of the good weather this summer?

And adding an extra touch to your outdoor set up can help create a cosy atmosphere into the night.

B&M is currently selling outdoor candles for just £2, reduced from £4.

These outdoor candles come in two seaside-themed shapes: shell and starfish.

“This shaped candle will make a beautiful addition to your garden,” the product description reads.

Manufacturers added that this item is “perfect for some ambient outdoor lighting”.

It can help turn your outdoor space into a “coastal paradise” this summer.

After transforming her own patio, one woman shared her top tips on Maison de Cinq.

She recommended placing “candles on the table for added ambience”.

Certain outdoor candles also have a practical purpose in your garden during the summer.

You can pick up a £3 citronella candle for repelling pests from Home Bargains.

And one Home Bargains buy is said to add a touch of glamour to your garden.

Another item from the bargain retailer is perfect for attracting birds to your space.

You can also pick up a B&Q buy that creates a “tranquil atmosphere” in your garden.

A £3 garden decoration from Aldi that turns your outdoor space into a “lush oasis”.

And the Aldi outdoor patio furniture, including a rattan effect corner sofa.

Home Bargains also has a £5 decor buy that turns your patio into an “outdoor living room”.

Plus, a 79p Home Bargains item that will instantly level up your outdoor space.

A £10 B&M product adds inches to your fence, elevating your garden’s privacy.

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New train lines running between European cities including Copenhagen and Hamburg, Tallinn and Vilnius, and Budapest and Belgrade will transform how passengers get around the Continent

A series of massive rail projects is currently underway, with train travel in Europe likely to look very different in less than ten years from how it does today.

In the UK we are a little too used to rail projects dragging on and on, facing as many delays as a standard Sunday afternoon service. Phase one of the HS2 high-speed railway project, connecting London to Birmingham, is currently expected to open between 2029 and 2033. That will be up to 13 years after building work began.

While continental European rail projects are also liable to be hit by delays, there are a few big projects that are currently well underway that should be completed within the next few years.

Hamburg to Copenhagen

The vast undersea tunnel is being built and will carry two rail lines and a pair of two-lane highways under the Baltic Sea. Construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel has started on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in the south of Denmark. Once finished it will link the country and Germany. The project will be the world’s longest road and rail tunnel, and the world’s longest immersed tunnel, stretching 11.2 miles.

‌The tunnel will enable both freight and commuter traffic, reducing carbon emissions, freeing up capacity on the roads and railways, and moving freight from lorries to more environmentally friendly electric trains.

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Currently, travellers heading between Hamburg in Germany, and Copenhagen in Denmark, have to take a five-hour train journey. However, when the tunnel opens, the journey time will be cut in half, with the tunnel stretching from the Danish island of Lolland to the German island of Fehmarn. In total, the project will cost €7.4 billion (£6.2 billion) and is set to be completed in 2029.

Budapest to Belgrade

It is currently possible to travel between these two great cities on the Danube, but it takes a while and three changes. Next year that will change when a high-speed line built with Chinese backing gets going. The difference in effort required as well as the length of journey will be significant. Passengers will be whisked between the two cities in just two hours and 40 minutes instead of seven.

Tallinn to Vilnius

By 2030, the two Baltic capitals will be connected by a high-speed line that will cover a huge distance. Right now it takes close to ten hours to get between Estonia’s Tallinn in the far north to Lithuania’s Vilnius in the south. It will also go through Latvia’s Riga on the way.

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The travel time from Tallinn to Vilnius will be cut down to three hours and 38 minutes and cost €38. Trains will run every two hours, with two night trains each night.

Not only will the train line provide a fast and affordable way to get across the Baltic states, it will introduce a completely different gauge into the country. The three former Soviet republics will swap their 1,520mm tracks for 1,435mm, meaning integration with other European railways will be possible, the Telegraph reports.

Turin to Lyon

This one will take a little longer to complete, with the launch date slated for 2033. While the destinations at either end may sound a little less hefty than other projects, this scheme is a big one.

It will see the construction of the longest rail tunnel in the world at 57.5km. The Mont d’Ambin Base Tunnel will cut through the Alps from the Susa Valley in Piedmont and Maurienne in Savoie, reducing the journey time between Paris and Milan to four and a half hours, a reduction of more than two hours.

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Spain to Morocco

A vast £6bn tunnel connecting Spain to Africa has been on the cards for years, but in the last few months it has seemed that it will become a reality. Studies are being conducted into the feasiblity of an underwater railway crossing linking Europe and Africa. And deadline for the completion of the project will be 2030 according to reports.

The £6billion tunnel will allow a high-speed railway service to run under one of the most famous cargo routes in the world, the Strait of Gibraltar, Moroccan National Company for Strait Studies is reportedly trying to source funding for the project.

It is estimated to span 28km with its lowest point 475m below sea level. The underwater crossing is tipped to connect Punta Paloma in southern Spain and Malabata, near Tangier, Morocco. Both nations want the tunnel built in time for the 2030 football World Cup which is expected to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The football competition would be the first to be held in three countries and would cover two continents with Africa holding its first competition since 2010.

Just this week the Spanish government committed €1.63 million to a feasibility study on the scheme.

Can skateboarding change lives? One organisation believes it can. Bangladesh Street Kids Aid supports children living on the streets by providing essentials, education, and skateboarding lessons. With over 3 million street children in Bangladesh – many facing poverty, addiction, or exploitation – this initiative offers a lifeline, especially for young girls.

Now You Know speaks with founder Susie Halsell to learn what inspired her to start this initiative and how it’s making a difference, especially in the lives of vulnerable young girls.