The UK is starved of outdoor swimming opportunities, but it's looking like a huge new swimming spot might be coming to West Yorkshire.
Plans are in place to turn a disused reservoir just outside Bingley into a natural swimming pool, right in the heart of St.Ives regional park.
If it all goes ahead - and we're praying that it will - the ambitious project will transform the Kettlewell Reservoir.
Yorkshire Swim Works will feature a large lake area for swimming, splashing, dipping and more as well as a six lane 50m pool for more serious swimming and classes.
The body of water used to supply water to Bingley residents, but several years after it was built in 1909 it developed leaks and was abandoned.
Now nature has taken over and a lot of people don't even know it exists.
Yorkshire Swim Works are hoping to put the spot back on the map by turning it into a massive natural swimming pool.
The water-neutral development will allow nature to flourish in what is already a wildlife-rich location.
The natural pool will be just a 30 minute walk from Bingley, which itself is a short train ride from Leeds.
Plans to turn a disused reservoir into a natural swimming pool have been revealed. Credit: Yorkshire Swim Works
Speaking of the impact the plans could have on the local area, director of Yorkshire Swim Works Russell Bowman said: "It’s huge isn’t it. Ambitious is the word that I’ve heard a lot!
"The benefits of swimming and in particular outdoor swimming are now well proven. The boost it gives to mental and physical health and its ability to create social cohesion are documented and building something of this scale that sits so naturally in the environment is a project that deserves support.
"With a young family myself, seeing investment in the area, new opportunities for them and the potential economic boost of tourists coming to the area fills me with excitement.
"I believe that YSW can be (we’re all using this word sorry!) a catalyst for the next stage in Bingley’s evolution and an incredible boost to the St Ives Estate that has struggled in recent times."
You can take part in a survey about the plans for Kettlewell Reservoir here.
There's just no stopping these sisters, as The Matcha Spot announces second site.
Yes, it's another matcha story but we've got to say, we're very excited about this one.
Let's back track to last year when The Matcha Spot popped up in The Moor and made a name for themselves for selling the most wonderful green creations in the city.
Fast forward to February, they opened up their first permanent spot in the city centre on Campo Lane which was a resounding success.
Images: The Sheff
Their focus is serving good quality matcha in all shapes and sizes, our personal favourite being the blondie matcha that is the perfect afternoon pick me up.
It's become such a success, that The Matcha Spot sisters are now opening a second site in Sheffield just months after opening their first.
The Matcha Spot 2.0 will be located on Ecclesall Road and will be opening next month, so we really don't have long to wait.
Image: The Sheff
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, The Matcha Spot said: "Our second home is here! Thank you SO much for all your support!! We’re so excited to be opening our second location for you to get your matcha fix…..
"281 Ecclesall Road. Coming soon."
We couldn't be happier for the girls, and we couldn't think of anyone more deserving of the success. We'll see you on the opening date ready and raring to get our hands on a white chocolate and raspberry matcha.
Sheffield has been crowned the best city in the UK for students
Clementine Hall
It's good news for students in Sheffield, as the city has been crowned the very best in the UK for university life.
I mean, we can't say we're exactly surprised.
The news comes from a new report by Edumentors that reveals which UK cities offer new students cheap rent, safety, and quality teaching.
The research examined 40 UK cities to find which offer the best university life, tracking monthly rent rates from SpareRoom's data, crime rates from government records, and entertainment costs.
It also looked at how easy it is to get around and what students think of their teaching based on the National Student Survey. Each city received scores from 0 to 100 across all categories, with higher scores indicating a better student experience.
Sheffield got the coveted top spot, undergrads here can find dorm rooms and shared flats for around £500, about £300 less than what students pay in Oxford or Cambridge.
Teaching quality also came up trumps, with nearly 9 out of 10 students saying they're happy with their courses at the University of Sheffield.
Coming in second place was Sunderland followed by Lancaster, Coventry and Aberdeen.
The higher education expert from Edumentors commented on the study: "It's not just Oxford and Cambridge ranking low; London and Edinburgh finish at the bottom too, despite having some of the world's most famous universities.
"But UK universities in general offer quality teaching across the board, so opting for budget cities is actually smarter for most students. You get a similar education while having money left over for a proper flat, going out with friends, and enjoying actual student life."
Daisy Jackson -
24th May 2024 
