The Séance of Blake Manor – a gothic horror that explores the creepier side of Irish mythology

The Séance of Blake Manor – a gothic horror that explores the creepier side of Irish mythology

Developer Spooky Doorway is building a detective mystery full of Victorian spiritualism and pagan traditions, creating a lingering sense of dread that is hard to shake There are two types of horror – one that shocks you into more inventive ways to hide behind a pillow; and the other that creeps under your skin, quietly prickling the back of your neck and haunting you for weeks. The Séance Of Blake Manor falls into that second camp: an atmospheric take on an 1890s Irish murder mystery. You play Detective Ward, who has been sent to the titular Blake Manor to investigate the disappearance of Evelyn Deane two nights before a seance is due take place. Mystics from across the globe have gathered at the crumbling mansion to converse with the dead on All Hallows’ Eve, but are they really capable of doing what they say they can? And what was that shadowy figure? There’s more than one secret to unravel. Continue reading...

Down and dirty: how regenerative farming is digging into microscopic soil life

Down and dirty: how regenerative farming is digging into microscopic soil life

Nurturing everything from bacteria and fungi to worms is seen as essential to helping minimise use of chemicals and machinery Nick Padwick hunches over a microscope, examining a sample of compost he has made on his Norfolk farm. “Look at that bad boy! That’s a bacteria-feeding nematode!” he exclaims. “Stunning fungal hyphae.” Padwick, the farm manager at Wild Ken Hill since 2018, is part of a growing movement of farmers taking a deep interest in the microscopic life forms that their livelihoods depend upon. Under this approach to regenerative farming, nurturing diverse soil communities – from bacteria and fungi, to microscopic animals and worms – is seen as an essential prerequisite for growing healthy foods with minimal or no use of agrochemicals or soil-damaging machinery. Use microscopy to identify missing or imbalanced soil organisms. Create nutrient-rich compost from farm waste, such as straw and wood chips. Put this compost in mesh bags and steep them in water, like giant tea bags, to make extracts that can reintroduce beneficial microbes to depleted soils. Continue reading...

The best robot vacuums to keep your home clean and dust free, tested by our expert

The best robot vacuums to keep your home clean and dust free, tested by our expert

Our writer trialled the most powerful robot vacuums – some of which even mop your floors – and these are the ones he rates • The best window vacs for clearing condensation: seven expert picks for streak-free shine Robot vacuum cleaners take the drudge work out of cleaning your floors and carpets. No more tiresome weekly stints of vacuuming, and no more last-minute panic sessions when you have visitors on the way. Instead, your compact robot chum regularly trundles out from its dock, sucking up dust, hair and debris to leave your floors looking spick and span. Over the past few years, robot vacuums have become much more affordable, with basic units starting at about £150. They’re also doing more than they used to, mopping areas of hard flooring and charging in sophisticated cleaning stations that empty their dust collectors and clean their mop pads for you. Best robot vacuum cleaner overall: Eufy X10 Pro Omni Continue reading...