Hargatewall, Derbyshire: Cycling towards a frosty Kinder Scout, I was waylaid by a raptor so settled she wouldn’t even move for a passing tractor

North of Hargatewall, the country has an austere quality, a high limestone plateau with a tracery of walls the colour of old bones dividing oblongs of pasture. The hamlet’s name has nothing to do with gates or walls. It’s derived from Old English words meaning “herd farm by the spring”, a clue to the deep roots that farming here can draw on. Wildlife was limited to the ubiquitous crows and rooks silhouetted against the milky blue sky or else resting on those white walls.

Cycling north, my attention was fixed on the horizon, where, in contrast to the green fields around me, the broad bulk of Kinder Scout was heavily frosted. Then, off to one side, a broad-winged raptor muscled into the air. Days earlier, I’d spent a few minutes watching a red kite near here, so that was my first thought. These richly coloured birds only began breeding again in Derbyshire seven years ago, and I can count my sightings of them in the Peak District on the fingers of one hand. Yet when I turned, I saw at once that it was a buzzard, less nimble in the air and prosaically brown.

Hargatewall, Derbyshire: Cycling towards a frosty Kinder Scout, I was waylaid by a raptor so settled she wouldn’t even move for a passing tractor

North of Hargatewall, the country has an austere quality, a high limestone plateau with a tracery of walls the colour of old bones dividing oblongs of pasture. The hamlet’s name has nothing to do with gates or walls. It’s derived from Old English words meaning “herd farm by the spring”, a clue to the deep roots that farming here can draw on. Wildlife was limited to the ubiquitous crows and rooks silhouetted against the milky blue sky or else resting on those white walls.

Cycling north, my attention was fixed on the horizon, where, in contrast to the green fields around me, the broad bulk of Kinder Scout was heavily frosted. Then, off to one side, a broad-winged raptor muscled into the air. Days earlier, I’d spent a few minutes watching a red kite near here, so that was my first thought. These richly coloured birds only began breeding again in Derbyshire seven years ago, and I can count my sightings of them in the Peak District on the fingers of one hand. Yet when I turned, I saw at once that it was a buzzard, less nimble in the air and prosaically brown.

Hargatewall, Derbyshire: Cycling towards a frosty Kinder Scout, I was waylaid by a raptor so settled she wouldn’t even move for a passing tractor

North of Hargatewall, the country has an austere quality, a high limestone plateau with a tracery of walls the colour of old bones dividing oblongs of pasture. The hamlet’s name has nothing to do with gates or walls. It’s derived from Old English words meaning “herd farm by the spring”, a clue to the deep roots that farming here can draw on. Wildlife was limited to the ubiquitous crows and rooks silhouetted against the milky blue sky or else resting on those white walls.

Cycling north, my attention was fixed on the horizon, where, in contrast to the green fields around me, the broad bulk of Kinder Scout was heavily frosted. Then, off to one side, a broad-winged raptor muscled into the air. Days earlier, I’d spent a few minutes watching a red kite near here, so that was my first thought. These richly coloured birds only began breeding again in Derbyshire seven years ago, and I can count my sightings of them in the Peak District on the fingers of one hand. Yet when I turned, I saw at once that it was a buzzard, less nimble in the air and prosaically brown.

Exclusive: Charity Commission chief condemns public hostility towards staff helping women and refugees and at places of worship

A surge in death and rape threats and harassment has created a “culture of fear” at charities serving women and refugees, and at mosques, churches and synagogues, the head of the Charity Commission has warned.

Mark Simms said he feared growing hostility towards charity staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, both online and on the streets, was becoming normalised and risked eroding civilised values and norms British society once took for granted.

Exclusive: Charity Commission chief condemns public hostility towards staff helping women and refugees and at places of worship

A surge in death and rape threats and harassment has created a “culture of fear” at charities serving women and refugees, and at mosques, churches and synagogues, the head of the Charity Commission has warned.

Mark Simms said he feared growing hostility towards charity staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, both online and on the streets, was becoming normalised and risked eroding civilised values and norms British society once took for granted.

Exclusive: Charity Commission chief condemns public hostility towards staff helping women and refugees and at places of worship

A surge in death and rape threats and harassment has created a “culture of fear” at charities serving women and refugees, and at mosques, churches and synagogues, the head of the Charity Commission has warned.

Mark Simms said he feared growing hostility towards charity staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, both online and on the streets, was becoming normalised and risked eroding civilised values and norms British society once took for granted.

Bank reports 1.1% drop in card spending despite Black Friday boost for retailers

UK households cut back on spending at the fastest pace in almost five years last month as consumers put Christmas shopping on hold, according to a leading survey.

Adding to concerns that uncertainty surrounding the budget has helped dampen consumer confidence, Barclays said card spending fell 1.1% year on year in November – the largest fall since February 2021.

Experts warn of dangers as England and Wales study shows 13- to 17-year-olds consulting AI amid long waiting lists for services

It was after one friend was shot and another stabbed, both fatally, that Shan asked ChatGPT for help. She had tried conventional mental health services but “chat”, as she came to know her AI “friend”, felt safer, less intimidating and, crucially, more available when it came to handling the trauma from the deaths of her young friends.

As she started consulting the AI model, the Tottenham teenager joined about 40% of 13- to 17-year-olds in England and Wales affected by youth violence who are turning to AI chatbots for mental health support, according to research among more than 11,000 young people.

Bank reports 1.1% drop in card spending despite Black Friday boost for retailers

UK households cut back on spending at the fastest pace in almost five years last month as consumers put Christmas shopping on hold, according to a leading survey.

Adding to concerns that uncertainty surrounding the budget has helped dampen consumer confidence, Barclays said card spending fell 1.1% year on year in November – the largest fall since February 2021.