Autumn is a season of vibrant colours, cosy jumpers, and the delightful crunch of fallen leaves underfoot. But for many gardeners, the true magic of autumn lies in its bountiful harvest of berries.

Beekeepers are calling on people to make sure they know how to identify the invasive species, after more than 20,000 false reports of ‘yellow-legged’ Asian hornets last year. People are being encouraged to better familiarize themselves with the insects in their gardens, as efforts to increase awareness of the ‘yellow-legged’ hornet - also known as the Asian hornet - continue.

Oh is summer really nearly over! What summer I hear you reply. This year has been one of those where it started well and then deteriorated, having days when it could be any season of the year. I can't quite believe that this weekend is the first of September and according to the Meteorological Seasons Autumn is on its way.

A gardening expert is advising British homeowners to act now to start preparing their gardens for autumn and beyond. After a strange season of copious rain and not much sun, it seems that now is finally the time to enjoy our summer gardens.

Leading Cumbrian vet David Black says he is humbled after receiving one of Cumbria’s most prestigious awards. David was named Farming Champion at The Cumbria Farmer Awards on Friday (AUGUST 16), an event considered the county’s Rural Oscars.

As with all businesses, our staff are crucial to both the public facing and behind the scenes work, so I want to start with a shout out to our wonderful team here at York Gate. We have a fantastic team of paid staff – the garden, nursery and café teams, and last but not least the admin team which includes a visitor experience coordinator, office staff and volunteer coordinator.

Summer is the peak season for gardeners, a time to reap the rewards of months of care and attention. However, maintaining a thriving garden requires consistent effort and knowledge.

The month of August will see the biggest and brightest full moon of 2024. This full moon for the month of August is called the Sturgeon Moon but it is also the first supermoon of 2024 and a Blue Moon.

A transformative four-year project, titled, ‘Giving Nature a Home’, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is reaping benefits at a Yorkshire nature reserve, RSPB Old Moor, near Barnsley.

A newly completed wetland at Holden Beck, near Bolton by Bowland, is set to transform the landscape by providing vital spaces for struggling wildlife species.

With the summer months fast approaching, homeowners are gearing up to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather. However, along with the joys of summer come pesky intruders, including insects. Insects not only disrupt our peace but can also pose health risks and cause damage to our homes. But fear not!

Summer in the UK is a glorious time for gardens, bursting with vibrant flowers. But to keep that floral display going strong all season, there's a little secret weapon every gardener should know about - deadheading. Deadheading is the process of removing spent blooms from plants to encourage new growth and prolong flowering periods.

A pair of inquisitive cheetah cubs take their first steps into public view - in a moment of hope for the vulnerable species. The adorable three-month-old cubs, born to mum Darcy at the award-winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park, represent a major advance for the conservation of cheetahs whose numbers have fallen to around 7,000 in the wild.

A year on from a law change allowing English farmers to profit more easily from glamping revenues, a rural insurance expert is reminding them to check health and safety on pop-up sites. The law, which came into force on 26th July 2023, allows landowners in England to operate a temporary camping or glamping site for up to 60 days without planning permission.

Canal & River Trust, the nation’s largest canal charity, in partnership with Bradford Council, North Yorkshire Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), is inviting the public to have their say on proposals for towpath improvements along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

The Yorkshire Dales Farmer Network was formed in 2010 with a mission to support Farming Communities across the Dales “whatever the challenge, whatever the opportunity”. The Network prides itself on giving farmers up to date industry information to ensure that they can make informed business decisions going forward.

Every month of the year there is a full moon which illuminates the sky, each of which is given a different name. Full moons occur when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth to the sun and will appear for two to three nights.

A final call has been issued to nominate the north’s curlew conservation heroes. Entries for the North of England Curlew Conservation Awards close on 21 July, with the award ceremony taking place at Masham Town Hall on 18 August.

A stunning image of a prowling wolf taken at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has won a prestigious photography award. Paul Schofield captured the moment a maned wolf appeared from behind trees into a winter evening’s light at the park’s Atlantic Forest and it won him the Mammal Category of BIAZA’s annual photography competition.

St Swithin’s Day is celebrated on 15 July every year, his feast day marking the date that his body was moved to the new basilica of influential Saxon Bishop Aethelwold in 971.

The team at a Yorkshire coast brewery and Yorkshire's first whisky distillery are celebrating after being announced as finalists in the 20th annual Farmers Weekly awards. Wold Top Brewery and its sister company, Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, have reached the final of the Diversification of the Year award alongside two other Yorkshire businesses.

An insurance expert is calling on residents to protect their homes against damage caused by nesting squirrels - a risk not typically covered by standard home insurance policies. Harry Appleton-Metcalfe of insurance broker Lycetts has issued his warning during the June and July nesting season.

For homeowners with compact gardens, the dream of a flourishing, verdant outdoor space may seem a little out of reach. However, this is not always the case. Trees can introduce a touch of magic, providing shade, privacy, and year-round beauty without overwhelming your outdoor space. But with limited space, choosing the right tree is key. So, how do you choose the right trees for small gardens?

Internationally acclaimed Polar Bears International applauded the tireless efforts of the park to raise awareness and knowledge of their plight, as well as fundraising to support initiatives to save the species. YWP has been a proud member of Polar Bear International’s Arctic Ambassador Centre Network for 9 years and is the only ambassador in the UK.