UK population ‘to hit 65m total’

The population of the UK is set to increase by 4.4 million to 65 million by 2016, according to new projections.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 2.3 million of the rise would be a natural increase and 2.1 million down to migration. Further projections say the population would reach 71 million by 2031 and 77 million in 2051. Forecasts of fertility, life expectancy and inward migration have all increased since they were last made in 2004. Average age Estimates of the amount of migration inflow have been upped to a net 190,000 a year from 145,000 a year. Total population rises by 2016 are put at 8% for England, 7% for Northern Ireland and 5% for Wales. The figure is 3% for Scotland, where fertility and life expectancy are projected to remain lower than the rest of the UK. The average age of Britons is expected to rise from 39.6 years in 2006 to 40.6 years in 2016 and to 42.6 years by 2031.

Britain’s Biggest Storm

Do you remember October 1987?…..OK so maybe you were not around then. Britain had an enormous storm that has become legendary. Watch ITV at 9pm tonight (

16 October 2007) to find out more!

Gale force winds caused extensive damage to many properties. On this day 20 years ago it was known that at least 13 people had died and many more were injured. Here are a few links for you to read about it:

P     The Met Office 

P     BBC News 

P     BBC Weather  

Supermarket shopping bags can say a lot about who you are!

Interesting news heard on the radio this morning, that supermarket shopping bags can say a lot about who you are! 

But did you know that many people rarely shop locally for their groceries. The average trip we make (if you live outside London) for our food shopping is 5 miles long. 

Most shopping trips are made by females! (OK OK….. I am guilty!) 

And…we tend to do most of our shopping on Saturdays. 

But…trends are changing with over 50% of people now ordering goods over the phone, post or internet.

Back to nature: £12m plan to let sea flood reclaimed land and recreate lost habitats………so says an article in ‘The Guardian’ today

Conservation experts are to reverse five centuries of British history and deliberately allow rising sea levels to flood a huge stretch of reclaimed Essex coastline. In the most ambitious and expensive project of its type, the RSPB intends to puncture sea defences around Wallasea island, near Southend, and turn 728 hectares (1,800 acres) of farmland into a mosaic of saltmarsh, creeks and mudflats – making mainland Britain just a little bit smaller.

What do you think about Kylie’s bag?

Go to the sidebar ‘Kylie’s Handbag’ and click on the opinion poll to cast your vote!

Snakeskin used for fashion!

What do you think about Kylie’s handbag? This is the latest ‘must have fashion item a bag made from python, anaconda and boa constrictor skin. Year 8, might like to think about how it may endanger these species.

Should these snakes be killed for their skins, for the sake of fashion or would fake be better? 

Yemen Volcano Erupts After 100 Years

A volcano erupted on Sunday, September 30, in the Red Sea, collapsing part of a small mountainous Yemeni island and killing at least four people.

New Species Found in Vietnam

Last week I was reading that 11 new species had been found in a remote part of Vietnam. Depending on who you believe, it appears that there may be even more new species. The Times reports that 21 types have been found. The finds include a frog-eating snake, two butterflies, orchids that grow like fungi and an aspidistra with a flower that is almost black.  

   

Silent victims of the sea: rising tides threaten archaeological sites

Coastal erosion is threatening thousands of ancient and important archaeological sites around our coastline, with many already submerged.

Check out the link to ‘The Independent’.