Luke Deal

Prolonged heat and a six-month dry spell have severely damaged Andrew King's pumpkin and maize crops at Ruffins Farm near Bury St Edmunds. He expects to sell about 1,000 pumpkins instead of his usual 10,000, lose roughly £40,000 in annual income, and cancel the maize maze attraction, while reducing the pumpkin patch's opening period. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says it is considering additional support, including easier construction of on-site irrigation reservoirs and measures to improve farmers' resilience to climate shocks.

Henham Park owner Hektor Rous reflects on two decades of hosting the Latitude Festival, praising its growth from a small event into a major cultural fixture attracting tens of thousands of visitors. The festival, founded by Melvin Benn and run by Festival Republic, is celebrated for its diverse mix of music, comedy, literature and family‑oriented activities. Rous highlights the festival’s impact on promoting Suffolk and describes the unique atmosphere and wide range of experiences it offers, expressing enthusiasm for its future.

Julia Josephs, a 100-year-old organist and choir leader in Walberswick, is marking her centenary by performing a church concert featuring a brass quintet and choir. A lifelong musician and former Royal Academy of Music scholar, she continues to play regularly despite declining eyesight, using enlarged sheet music. Josephs, who previously ran a girls’ school in Leicestershire, received a congratulatory card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla and plans to remain living independently in her Walberswick home.

A touring exhibition at The Hold archives centre in Ipswich allows visitors to handle genuine Moon rock while exploring lunar discovery, the space race and the Moon’s influence on Earth. The display features inflatable planetary models and highlights pioneering astronomer Alice Grace Cook. Organisers describe the exhibition as broader than traditional archive offerings, blending science, history and culture.

Five moon bears rescued from former bear bile farms in South Korea have been cleared for transport to Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk. The park and its charity partner, Space for the Wild, aim to raise £200,000 to fund the 5,500‑mile relocation, with more than £50,000 already collected. Staff describe decades of mistreatment the animals endured and are preparing a dedicated reserve for their arrival, though no timeline is set until funding is secured. The initiative opens a new corridor for relocating moon bears to the UK, with significant costs tied to transport, care and logistics.

Five moon bears kept for decades in South Korean bear bile farms have been cleared for transfer to Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk. The park and its charity Space for the Wild are raising funds to transport and build a new reserve for the animals, with a goal of £200,000. South Korea’s recent ban on bear breeding and bile extraction set the stage for the rescue, though around 200 bears remain in former farm cages. The new corridor being developed would mark the first relocation of moon bears from South Korea to the UK.

Latitude Festival will mark its 20th anniversary with a special choir of 100 festival-goers led by choirmaster Gareth Malone, performing 20 songs reflecting the event’s musical history. The July festival at Henham Park will feature major acts including Lewis Capaldi and Wet Leg. Founder Melvin Benn highlighted the challenges and pride in sustaining the festival over two decades. Local artists scheduled for BBC Introducing’s stage were also announced.