Cider should be vegan by default — it’s just fermented apple juice. But commercial brands sometimes use: Isinglass (fish bladder) Gelatin Chitin (from shellfish) Cochineal (insect‑derived colouring) Honey (as a sweetener) And some store‑bought apple juices contain preservatives like potassium sorbate, which stop fermentation entirely. When you make cider at…
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Swindon Greyhound Stadium Closes Forever
A Landmark Victory for Animal Welfare. After 73 years of greyhound racing, Swindon’s Abbey Stadium has finally closed its track for good — and for many of us who care deeply about animals, compassion, and ethical progress, this is genuinely good news. On 27 December 2025, the stadium hosted its…
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London Going Wild: Storks and Beavers Return After Centuries
London is about to experience one of the most exciting ecological transformations in its modern history. Thanks to a major rewilding initiative led by Mayor Sadiq Khan, white storks and beavers are set to return to East London for the first time in hundreds of years — a milestone moment…
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DEFRA’s Biggest Animal Welfare Reforms in a Generation
What DEFRA Has Promised According to the official announcement, the new Animal Welfare Strategy includes several headline commitments: Ending the cruel practice of puppy farming, where breeding dogs are kept in appalling conditions and overbred. Banning snares, which cause prolonged suffering to wildlife. Strengthening protections for dogs and wildlife, building…
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Labour Confirms Ban on Boiling Live Lobsters
The UK is taking a long‑overdue step forward for animal welfare. According to recent reporting, Labour’s new animal‑welfare strategy confirms that boiling live lobsters, crabs and other decapods will be banned, with the government stating clearly that “live boiling is not an acceptable killing method.” For many, this is a…
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Vegan Treats for Santa: Homemade And Shop‑Bought Favourites
very December, families across the UK set out a little plate of something special for Santa — a small gesture of gratitude for the joy he brings. But where did this tradition begin, and how can we make it fun, festive, and fully vegan for modern families? Let’s unwrap the…
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🌱 Paul McCartney & Daughters Mary & Stella, Defend “Meaty” Labels
The plant‑based world just got a major boost — and not just from Paul McCartney. This time, the spotlight is shared with his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney, long‑standing champions of sustainable eating and co‑creators of the iconic Meat Free Monday campaign. Together with eight UK MPs, they’ve stepped forward…
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Pelicans, Plastic, and Purpose: A Vegan’s Encounter with Lisbon Street Art
I wasn’t looking for street art that afternoon in Lisbon — I was simply wandering, letting the city guide me. The sun was soft, the streets were humming, and then suddenly… there it was. Two enormous pelicans rising from a wall, sculpted from scraps of metal, plastic fragments, broken bins,…
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Trail Hunting Is Being Banned — What This Really Means for Animals
For years, trail hunting has been defended as a harmless rural pastime — a neat workaround introduced after the 2004 fox‑hunting ban. But the truth has always been far messier. The UK Government has now confirmed plans to ban trail hunting entirely, citing overwhelming evidence that it has been used…
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Rediscovering Spain at Home: My New Obsession With Sugar‑Coated Nuts
I was wandering down a chilly December street in Cádiz, wrapped up against the sea breeze, when a warm, sweet smell drifted through the air and stopped me in my tracks. It was coming from a little shop called Sabores de España, its windows glowing with trays of glossy, caramel‑coated…