Alistair Binney

A community archaeology project in Dorstone, Herefordshire, has received £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and opened nine excavation sites, including locations in residents' gardens. Archaeologists have found artefacts ranging from Victorian and Georgian material to 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century objects and possibly prehistoric flint. The project aims to reconstruct the village's development across 6,000 years of habitation and may offer new insights into how early communities formed in Britain.

A Worcestershire farm has planted 30 hectares of licensed hemp, drawing curiosity from locals due to the crop’s resemblance to drug cannabis. Farm manager Jake Freestone says the low-THC variety is being cultivated for industrial uses such as fibre, paper, and construction materials. He highlights the crop’s ability to withstand heat and drought, reduce the farm’s carbon footprint, and require minimal fertiliser or pesticides. Freestone sees hemp as an important climate‑resilient crop as traditional plantings become less suitable for changing weather patterns.

A Herefordshire rescue centre and the charity Born Free argue that the UK's 50‑year‑old Dangerous Wild Animals Act is outdated, citing issues such as inadequate enclosure size requirements and a lack of legislative updates. Lindsay McKenna of Wildside Exotic Rescue says exotic animals should not be kept as pets and highlights the scale of the problem through the number of rescues her centre has undertaken. Born Free calls for a formal review of the law, noting thousands of active licences allowing dangerous animals to be kept in private homes across the UK.

Repair work is underway on the 180‑year‑old Diglis Small Lock in Worcester as part of a £355,000 improvement scheme. The Canal & River Trust has drained the lock to replace and refurbish its heavy oak gates and to carry out conservation on the Victorian brick chamber, including installing new safety ladders. Construction manager Mark Abraham highlighted the scale and historical significance of the project, noting the age and craftsmanship of the structure.