1 . Given the extremely unpleasant heatwaves of this summer, being green and good to the planet feels more urgent than ever. The actions of our governments and cities, who have the power to make a great dent in the climate crisis, are important.

Now, there are plenty of cities that are still failing to effectively take action in the climate emergency. But others are becoming successful quickly—like, for instance, the winners of two of the European Union’s most famous green cities awards: European Green Capital and European Green Leaf.

Both of the awards recognize not just what the green—stuffed cities have already achieved, but also what they’ve got planned for the future. There’s only one European Green Capital winner per year, while the yearly European Green Leaf recognizes the environmental achievements of two smaller EU cities.

And now the winners of those two awards have finally been announced. European Green Capital in 2024 will be Valencia in southern Spain, which defeated the Sardinian city of Cagliari in the final.

Valencia says proudly Turia park—the largest urban（城市的）park in Europe—has obviously increased its green infrastructure（基础设施）polices in recent years. As well as being Green Capital 2024, Valencia will take home £350,000 to put towards green policies. (2023’s winner is Tallinn, Estonia)

The Green Leaf award, meanwhile, has been won by the Danish city of Elsinore and Velenje, the fifth—largest city in Slovenia. The two winners of the Green Leaf will get £75,000 to fund local green efforts.

For the separate awards, each city had to present their ideas to a judging group. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Grenoble (this year’s European Green Capital) last week.

So even if you don’t care about EU medals. it’s very much worth visiting all these cities to find out all the cool stuff they’re doing to save the world, hit by hit.

3 . If you’re not into a roller coaster, but you still want the thrill of an amusement park ride, perhaps a sky wheel is more your speed. Here’s a look the four tallest examples standing in the world today.

Aln Dubal, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Located in the Dubai Marina, the Ain Dubai, opened in 2021, is the tallest sky wheel in the world with a height of 820 feet. It’s capable of carrying 1,750 passengers on a single rotation(旋转). One rotation of Ain Dubai takes 38 minutes, and you can even have a birthday party or a wedding in one of the capsules!

High Roller, Las Vegas, Nevada

At 550 feet tall, it opened in 2014 as the tallest sky wheel in the world and held the record for seven years until it was replaced by the Ain Dubai. The High Roller has a total carrying capacity of 1, 120. And in case you get bored of the view, each capsule is equipped with eight flat screen televisions.

Singapore Flyer, Singapore

The Singapore Flyer opened in downtown Singapore on April 15, 2008. The giant wheel stands at 541 feet tall. Each of its 28 air-conditioned capsules can hold 28 passengers. A few months after opening in 2008, the Singapore Flyer changed directions to bring good fortune.

Star of Nanchang, Nanchang, China

The Star of Nanchang, built in 2006, stands at 525 feet tall and is located in Nanchang, China, the capital of Jiangxi Province. Its 60 capsules can carry eight passengers each, and it’s rather slow for its size. It takes 30 minutes to make a full rotation, allowing the passengers at the bottom of the wheel to exit the ride without stopping the entire wheel each time.

5 . The UK is blessed with some 1,000 ancient woods, which are free to visit today. Here are just four of the most appealing.

Quick Fact

1. Duncliffe Wood, Dorset       Age: 900+years old

This splendid ancient woodland sits on Duncliffe Hill and can be seen for miles around. Lots of butterflies, birds and wildflowers are dotted among the huge tree trunks.

2. Martinshaw Wood, Leicestershire   Age: 900+years old

The vast, picturesque Martinshaw Wood is steeped in history and packed with wildlife. You could see a host of rare and interesting insects. Birds are also plentiful here, including woodcock and mistle thrushes. This wood can be traced back to at least the 13th century, when it was part of a large deer park. Historical features include banks, earthen dams and a wide sunken track that appears to lead to ancient places where large quantities of stones are dug out of the ground.

3. Aversley Wood, Cambridgeshire     Age: 10,000 years old

This Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has breathtaking views, plentiful birdlife and wild flowers. Wildlife species include the silver-washed fritillary butterfly, treecreeper and great crested newt. Much of Aversley Wood is ancient, which has been wooded since before the Middle Ages-some areas even since the Last Ice Age.

4. Dering Wood, Kent        Age: 1,400+years old

Dering Wood is an impressive showcase for wildlife and history. You’ll discover distinctive features including well-preserved woodbanks and agricultural drainage(排水)systems.

Protecting Together

There’s no better way to ensure ancient woods can benefit future generations of both wildlife and people than by becoming a member of our organization. You’ll help keep living history safe, plant more trees to keep our planet healthy, and make sure more than 1,000 of our woods-like the ones mentioned here-remain open for everyone to enjoy. Visit woodlandtrust.org.uk to join us today.

6 . With the Easter Holidays just around the corner, here are four different ideas to inspire you to make the most of the break.

Located in Cheshire, Dunham Massey Deer Park is the ideal spot for a walk on the wild side.

Keep an eye out for the grazing herd off allow deer as you stroll (漫步) under the branches and leaves of numerous ancient trees planted hundreds of years ago. Deer isn’t the only animal attraction here though as the park is full of wildlife.

If you’re adventurous, climb the rocks at Keswick or perhaps take a gentler stroll round one of the lakes, like Buttermere. It wouldn’t be a trip to the Lake District without getting on the water though. Explore the waterways of this beautiful location with and see a different view from a kayak on Derwent Water. If you pass through Grasmere, be sure to stop at the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop for authentic gingerbread, rum butter, and other treats.

Bursting with museums, attractions, and events for everyone, York is the perfect Easter Holiday destination. Marvel at the majesty of York Minister and the medieval city walls. Or learn about the diverse history of this amazing city at one of the museums, from its start as a Roman settlement, through the Viking ages as Jorvik, to its current day.

Head to North Wales if you’re after some wild adventures. There’s plenty of hills, lakes, rivers, and forests to explore, but if your kids have a lot of energy to burn, then Mount Snowdon, should be your objective. Standing 1,085metrest all, it’s sure to provide an exciting adventure for the whole family.

8 . MUST SEE BRAZILIAN LANDMARKS

A country is often defined by its memorable and impressive landmarks. Brazil is no exception. Here are the must-see natural, and man-made landmarks that make Brazil unique.

Cristo Redentor

This is the large statue of an outstretched Jesus Christ that sits upon Corcovado Mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro. The statue, over the years, has became an icon for the city. It can be easily accessed via the city bus that starts off in the Santa’ Teresa neighborhood.

Patio do Colegio

This small Jesuit College may not look too grand, but it is the founding site of Sao Paulo itself. Based on history and folktale, if this building was not built by Jesuit monks, the city of Sao Paulo would not be around today.

Amazon Rainforest and River

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest and most biodiverse area of tropical rainforest in the world. Contained within it is its life force, the Amazon River, which is the lar gest river in terms of volume and discharge (排水量) in the world. Together, these two giants create the most spectacular natural wilderness that one should visit.

Iguacu Falls

This churning (漩涡的) white water with thundering sound is a sight to behold. The name of the falls comes from the Guarani word meaning ‘water’ and ‘big’。 The falls themselves are separated into numerous smaller falls, and one large impressive drop, called the Devil’s Throat.

10 . Independence Hall

Independence Hall in Philadelphia is one of the most important sites in US history, being the site where the nation declared (宣布) independence from Great Britain on 4 July 1776. The hall is now part of Independence National Historical Park, which also includes many important sites such as Congress Hall and Liberty Bell Center.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is a Native American site, including 600 well-protected houses dating back to 600 AD. Mesa Verde National Park was once the home of the Pueblos, a Native American people who lived there for over 700 years before moving to New Mexico and Arizona.

Historic Jamestowne

It was in Historic Jamestowne in 1607 that the English set up their first successful colony (殖民地) in America. Today, Jamestowne forms part of Colonial National Historical Park, a historic site which includes YorkTown Battlefield, Colonial Parkway and the Cape Henry Memorial. Among its many attractions, it is worth seeing the Jamestown Glasshouse, which is the creation of the first industrial building of the Virginia Company, the London-based company that founded the colony.

The Bunker Hill Monument

The Bunker Hill Monument is to remind people of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place on 17 June 1775 between the British army and the armies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island early in the American Revolution.