With celebrity chefs and politicians all pushing healthy eating, a B&Q internet survey has shown that the vegetable patch has had a stylish revamp. Gone are the days of rhubarb, carrots and potatoes lining our allotments. Our favourite home-grown produce for 2007 is rocket, chillies and lemon basil, according to the survey. It also indicates that there is a new breed of gardener, with over half of 18 to 25-year-olds growing their own fruit and vegetables — further evidence that cooking could be the new rock and roll.
Arachnophobes might not be the ideal buyers for a new development in Cambridgeshire. David Wilson Homes is arranging to move an extremely rare cave spider from an air-raid shelter on a site that is due for development in Papworth Everard. The spider’s new home, however, will be only 200 yards away. David Bell, of David Wilson Homes, says: “We’re committed to protecting the species and have invested considerable time, effort and money in this project.” A commendable approach, but not too comforting a prospect for those with a fear of our eight-legged friends.
Fancy having Nicolas Cage as a neighbour? A Grade II* listed property is on the market in the village of Pilton in Somerset, where the Hollywood star, whose film The Wicker Man comes out this week, bought a house after visiting the Glastonbury Festival last year. The house comes with a swimming pool, tennis court and a stream running through its 1½ acres of land, but without the ritual sacrifices and Devil worship that are the themes of his latest film. Dreweatt Neate, 01749 677667, is selling the property for £1.1 million.
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The competition between Oxford and Cambridge is extending further than the academic world. Bricks and Mortar reported earlier this year that Cambridge’s first £1 million apartment was for sale. Now Oxford has followed suit. Jericho Landing, a Berkeley Homes waterfront scheme, has a penthouse flat for sale for £1 million, although it won’t be completed until late 2007.
lorna.blackwood@thetimes.co.uk