What's On 11 August

Ellie Smith
August 11, 2024

Dear Reader,

Where Have All the Flowers Gone is one of my favourite songs, but now we’re asking where have all the wasps gone, which isn’t something I thought would concern us. Could those summer days when they’d buzz around your sticky lemonade glass or you’d have to flick them off your ice cream be disappearing? We all get bees, we understand that they’re critical in our food cycle for pollination, but I’m not sure many of us can answer what the point of wasps is. Well, far from being just the pesky blighters we think they are, they are also – albeit accidental – pollinators and help save our plants from being eaten by insect larvae. Everything’s a balance, of course, and a lot of experts are putting it down to the ‘wet weather’. But given what we know about the climate crisis, we should be worrying about our wasps.

Have a great week.

WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK

Olympic Villages: What Happens When The Athletes Leave?

Two weeks of glory, and then they’re gone, but what’s left of the Olympic village? Today, host cities are encouraged to use new and temporary sporting venues rather than erecting entirely new sites, and to integrate the legacy and afterlife of any newly built structures into the bid. Find out Paris’s plans here.

Why Are Billionaires Building Bunkers?

It must have crossed your mind to squirrel away some spare batteries, some water purification tablets, matches and such like (or is that just me?), for when something really bad goes down. But this is nothing compared to what billionaires are doing…

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What The Ruck?

Out for your daily constitutional? You could up your wellbeing and fitness points – and become a rucker – by adding a little extra weight, like a weighted vest, ankle weights or maybe just a backpack to make you work that little bit harder. You’re welcome.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Mansur Gavriel Shoulder Bag From Harvey Nichols

Mansur Gavriel’s Gaia bag features a chic shoulder strap, a designer stamp and a luxurious inner lining. We love the hand-finished leather and this stunning claret shade. harveynichols.com

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS

Tickets are on sale for Cornbury House Horse Trials, a celebration of world-class eventing and the Cotswolds’ finest food and drink. 11 – 15 September

Make the most of the good weather with an al fresco yoga class atop Ham Yard’s private rooftop, followed by brunch at the Orangery. Saturdays and Sundays until 15 September

Looking for child-friendly activities for the summer holidays? This London hotel has just launched a Roald Dahl-themed afternoon tea. From 15 August

A gooey chocolate muffin from the Olympic village has gone viral – here’s how to make your own version at home.

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Sharpen your art skills with a workshop hosted by artist Angela Murray, the first artist in residence at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour.

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Win A Two-Night Stay At The Tempus For Their Rural Recharge Retreat

Looking for an opportunity to reset and refresh after summer? We’ve teamed up with The Tempus, Northumberland, to offer you the chance to win a two-night stay for you and a guest as part of their Rural Recharge Retreat powered by Lululemon.