As we pay tribute to the courage, commitment and sacrifice of our armed forces community during Armed Forces Week, two members of RAF 78 Squadron, our military colleagues at Swanwick, tell us about their part in the King’s Birthday Flypast. Flight Lieutenant Ross Hammerton and Sergeant Jack Ford were aboard the Voyager aircraft that flew over Buckingham Palace earlier this month.

Springtime is always busy for us at the Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve. But there’s another milestone that’s marked at this time of year, the start of breeding season for our frogs and toads. However, sometimes they need a helping hand getting back to the body of water they’re trying to return to.

Jess Parsons is the Wilder Schools and Communities Officer for HIWWT at Swanwick Lakes. She has written a guest blog for NATS.

As we’ve all been avidly following in the news, Virgin Orbit has just attempted the first orbital space launch from the UK, an important milestone for the country’s space industry, despite the anomaly that occurred after the rocket had left the Earth’s atmosphere. While public attention has largely been on the development of the rocket and its payload, we have been working hard in the background for over a year, along with partners across multiple countries, to ensure that the necessary airspace was clear for the launch.