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What’s the problem?My prickly pear (Opuntia) cactus is developing raised brown patches on both sides of the stem that are spreading, though the plant is still growing. Should I be worried? DiagnosisThose circular brown patches are a classic sign of corking. This is a natural process in many cacti, which causes the lower stem to … Read more

Nearly half of the UK’s garden space is paved over, a new study has found. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has conducted the largest ever audit of the UK’s gardens, and found that they are an untapped – and until now, mostly unmeasured – potential resource for nature. Researchers from the RHS and AI mapping … Read more

As a kid, Diwali was five days of sensory overload: flickering lamps, friends and relatives you hadn’t seen since last Diwali, and mithai served on repeat until joy curdled into sugar-induced despair. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Growing up in Wales … Read more

Every 20 minutes or so an ageing diesel train pulls into a graffiti-covered station. Nearby, a police siren pierces the near-constant traffic drone. Commuters hurry past collapsing, ivy-draped fencing panels as rain clouds gather. This is perhaps the last place you expect to find a perfectly formed vineyard. But James Bayliss-Smith has managed to cultivate … Read more

Pave by Kate Stone, Emily Mundzic, Lyndal Fleming, Wendy San, Brendan Reed, Chris Ellis, Aaron Styles, Liam Fiddler, Chris Bear and Mike Whitburn (gold award for apps and software). Incorporating behaviour change theory into the design, Pave ‘empowers’ young Australians to quit vaping. The jury described the ‘press and hold’ function of the app as … Read more