Britons hit beaches and parks amid glorious 65F Easter sunshine after lockdown eased
Britons hit beaches and parks amid glorious 65F Easter sunshine after lockdown eased (but SNOW is on the way) as it’s revealed first pilot events to help nightlife reopen will focus on testing before and after entering venues and NOT vaccine passports
- A high of 64.4F (18C) is forecast for the South of England this afternoon, with 59F (15C) forecast in the north
- Temperatures across the UK are expected to plummet, with a cold snap threatening snow on Easter Monday
- Hundreds were seen gathering on beaches across the south of England today as covid restrictions eased
- Sports minister Nigel Huddleston confirmed that a wave of covid safe events will take place in April and May
- Events will use mass testing before and after to control Covid spread, and won’t require a vaccine passport
Hundreds have hit Britain’s beaches and parks for Easter Sunday amid gloriously warm temperatures in the South of England as lockdown restrictions are eased – and it is revealed that the first Covid-safe events will take place in April and May.
Family met in small groups outdoors to celebrate Easter Sunday together today, as temperatures reached 64.4F (18C) in the South of England, as northern parts saw highs of 59F (15C).
In another step towards normality, sports minister Nigel Huddleston confirmed this afternoon that a wave of pilot events, to be held in April and May, will trial testing attendees for Covid before and after large scale events rather than using a vaccine passport.
Huddleston said: ‘It is not just about certification actually, in fact the earlier programmes, the earlier pilots almost certainly won’t involve any element of certification but it will involve testing, making sure people are tested before and after the event.
‘What we will be looking at is the mitigation measures, so the ventilation, one-way systems, hygiene measures, all of those kind of things to help inform long term decision making.’
Trial events include 21,000 fans at the FA Cup Final at Wembley, spectators at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield and a mass participation run in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
Plans to force drinkers and families out for a meal to show a coronavirus vaccine passport to get into pubs and restaurants appeared to have been scrapped by Boris Johnson in the face of huge political opposition.
Family groups met to enjoy the warm weather outside today before temperatures across the UK are forecast to plummet with a cold snap threatening snow in some areas on Monday, with more cloud cover and possible rain moving in over the north from later this evening.
Easter Monday is expected to bring wet and very windy weather across much of the UK and cooler temperatures, falling to 44F (7C) by tomorrow morning and to lows of 23F (-5C) in parts of northern Scotland.
The Met Office has issued three snow and wind warnings covering most of Scotland from today until Monday night – in what is predicted to be a three-day cold snap bringing ‘heavy snow showers’. England’s east coast could also see snow showers following today’s sunshine.
Visitors on the beach looking up to the top of the limestone arch waiting for the base jumpers to leap off. This is the shocking moment two daredevils jumped off the top of the Durdle Door arch using parachutes, Lulworth in Dorset
Visitors flock to Durdle Door in Dorset on a day of warm spring sunshine and a cool breeze during Easter Sunday
Crowds are seen flowing the path to and from the beach in Durdle Door, Lulworth, Dorset on Easter Sunday
Two men are seen on the top of Durdle door with parachutes, preparing to jump towards the water
One of the base jumpers with a yellow parachute leaps off the limestone arch and into the sea while his mate waits at the top
Both base jumpers swim to the beach at Durdle Door where they are helped by a friend. The base jumpers stunned members of the public out for an Easter Sunday walk by ascending the 200ft tall landmark on the Dorset coast
The Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth proved popular today, Easter Sunday, as the Spring sun shone in Hampshire
Friends Roisin, Aislin and Gillian made the most of the warm weather on Easter Sunday as they met up for a picnic on Wimbledon Common
Temperatures across the UK are expected to plummet as we head through the Easter weekend though, with the cold snap threatening snow in some areas on Monday
Runners enjoy the sun in Sandbanks, Dorset, where hundreds have taken to the beach to soak up the Easter Sunday rays
A couple are seen walking a dog on Sandbanks beach, Dorset, in the early morning sun this Easter Sunday
People flocked to the beaches during the Bank Holiday as a sea of cars parked near the Storey Arms in the Brecon Beacons on Sunday
Brave individuals take a dip in the sea on Sandbanks beach in Dorset, despite top temperatures only reaching 64.4F (18C)
A couple relaxed together in Wimbledon Common in south London during the spring sunshine on the balmy Bank Holiday weekend
Two women are seen taking the plunge in Sandbanks on a sunny but crisp feeling Easter Sunday morning
Two people are seen going for an Easter Sunday dip in the cold water in Sandbanks, Dorset, where many have taken to the sea
People sat enjoying the sunshine in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire on Easter Sunday
A trio of friends took advantage of the relaxed coronavirus restrictions as they met outside on Wimbledon Common on Sunday
Paddle boarders make the most of the early sunshine in Southsea, Hampshire, on Easter Sunday, before temperatures are set to plummet on Monday
A group of four take a dip in the sea in Southsea, Hampshire, on Easter Sunday
With Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown now allowing for two households to meet in a group of six outdoors, families have joined together today to celebrate in an almost pre-covid fashion.
The dire forecast came as people flocked to parks and public spaces, including Liverpool’s Sefton Park and Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, to enjoy the sunshine on Easter Sunday.
Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: ‘We will see this plunge of much colder conditions coming in. It’s Arctic maritime air, which does mean it’s coming from the Arctic.
‘So it’s going to be cold for everybody, but also windy too. The wind chill is going to be significant.’
Southern England can expect to see some sunshine and highs of 7C later in the day, but gusts of up to 30mph will make the temperature ‘feel like’ -1C, Ms Kent said.
She added: ‘Today is a lovely day for an Easter egg hunt in the back garden, whereas tomorrow if you were doing one you’d probably want to wear three jumpers.’
Overnight in Sandbanks, Dorset, police were forced to disperse crowds for the second night in a row after groups that had been drinking on the beach throughout Saturday refused to go home after a day in the sun.
Several males and one female was taken away by the police during the evening, which also saw boy racers zoom up and down the exclusive stretch of coast line.
Sandbanks’ local Tesco has been so busy selling alcohol to the groups that it had one very large delivery of beer during the evening to maintain stock levels during the easter weekend.
Sandbanks locals have made many complaints to the police in the past few days and many stayed indoors whilst the trouble ensued, Sandbanks has some of the most expensive real estate in the uk and police have a real battle to contain the partying during the hot weather as Covid-19 rules relax.
Elsewhere in the UK this morning, paddle boarders were seen making the most of the early sunshine in Southsea, Hampshire.
Meanwhile brave souls in Sandbanks were seen stripping down to their swimming cosies to take a dip in the sea, with many opening up their beach huts to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.
In Cambridgeshire Police were seen patrolling the banks of the River Great Ouse near Ely to stop crowds gathering ahead of the Men’s Boat Race.
People enjoy the sunny weather in Sefton Park in Liverpool on Easter Sunday
Families gather together in Sefton Park in Liverpool on Easter Sunday, as the rule of six permits two households to meet outdoors
Hundreds made their way to parks for an Easter Sunday walk as the sun shone today, on the first weekend since covid restrictions were eased
An easter bunny is seen among the daffodils in Sefton Park in Liverpool, as families make the most of the sunshine
A stunning orange glow is pictured over Edinburgh Castle at sunrise on Easter Sunday
The waning gibbous moon is visible at daybreak on a cold Easter Sunday morning in, Dunsden, Oxfordshire
Groups of people out in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, on sunny Easter Sunday
Groups of people out in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire as Easter Sunday brings warm weather across the South of England
Groups of people out in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire – making the most of the warm weather before lows of 23F (-5C) are expected tomorrow as part of a cold snap
A family feed swans and ducks in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, Easter Sunday
A man rows along the river Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. Easter Sunday
A couple take a selfie underneath a blooming tree in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire
With a cold snap expected to bring a drop of around 50F (10C) tomorrow farmers have shared their fears for tiny newborn Easter lambs, who are at risk of shivering to death from hypothermia as temperatures plunge to Arctic-like sub-zero levels with the threat of snow this week.
Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said: ‘Sheep and livestock farmers, especially in the UK’s uplands, are acutely aware of the potential for a spring cold snap which can bring devastation and soul-destroying losses during lambing time.
‘The sector has endured several cold weather events during recent springs and these have wrought considerable hardship to both stock and hill farmers.
‘However, being aware of the approaching change in weather type will allow farmers to buffer the impacts by taking action to avoid the worst losses.’
Sandbanks beach seen on Easter Sunday morning as small groups gather to meet with family as permitted under the rule of six as covid restrictions are eased
Brave swimmers make their way back to a beach hut after taking a dip in the sea in Sandbanks, Easter Sunday
Runners burn off their easter chocolate on a jog along the seafront in Sandbanks, Dorset, Easter Sunday
A young family get ready to go paddle boarding in Sandbanks this morning, with the whole family involved
Family’s gather in beach front huts on Sandbanks, as the weather and covid restrictions finally allow the meetings
A man uses a metal detector on Sandbanks in Dorset in the hopes of finding lockdown treasure on Easter Sunday
A man is seen pulling his rubber dingy from the water in Sandbanks, Dorset. Swimmers can be seen braving the water behind
A family wrap up warm for a stroll on the breezy but sunny Sandbanks beach this morning, as the weather remains warm for Easter Sunday before temperatures are due to plummet
A couple are seen in their swimming gear after taking the plunge on Sandbanks beach for morning exercise
Groups drank on the beach and pavements ignoring social distancing and the police’s repeated requests to disperse and go home after a day in the sun in Sandbanks, Dorset, in the early hours of this morning
Large groups are seen gathering outside Tescos in Sandbanks, Dorset, where crowds have gathered for the second night after good weather brought them to the beach
Sandbanks has some of the most expensive real estate in the uk and police have a real battle to contain the partying during the hot weather as covid-19 rules relax
The local Tesco has been so busy selling alcohol to the groups that it had one very large delivery of beer during the evening to maintain stock levels during the easter weekend in Sandbanks, Dorset
Guy Barter, chief horticulturalist at the Royal Horticultural Society, warned gardeners not to be in a rush to plant seeds and flowers: ‘Overnight frosts in April are dreaded by gardeners.
‘Magnolia and camellia flowers are ruined, fruit blossom and young fruitlets including pears and apples are spoiled and the tender tips of potatoes will be burnt off if they appear above ground.
‘Gardener’s hearts are in their mouths through April as they anxiously scan the weather forecasts for frost warnings ready to rush out and cover vulnerable plants to ward off damage.’
A pair of rowers travel along the River Thames at Maidenhead, Berkshire, on Easter Sunday
A man is questioned by police as he tries to go down the footpath by the River Great Ouse where the Boat Race will be held, between Ely and Littleport in Cambridgeshire
George Peacock from Ely (left) was reportedly questioned by police for 45 minutes before being released after agreeing to leave the area. No fine was issued. Spectators could be fined up to £200 if they try to watch the world-famous Boat Race
Police patrol the river banks ahead of the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
Police patrol the river banks before the Men’s Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire, Easter Sunday
Crowds gathered to watch the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire, but were moved on by police
Police patrol the river bank before the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
People walk along the river bank by the start line before the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
Police vans arrive in Ely before the Men’s Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire. Picture date: Sunday April 4
Police near the start line of the Boat Race on the River Great Ouse near Ely in Cambridgeshire
Another warning from Prickles and Paws, based in Cubert near Newquay, Cornwall, urged gardeners to be cautious when using their strimmers in the warm weather.
The vet has taken in more strimmer-injured hedgehogs in the past fortnight than in the whole of 2020.
In just a few days they treated five and tragically, four had to be put to sleep because of the severity of their injuries.
Spokeswoman Katy South said it is the same grim picture across Britain as people rush out to spring clean their lawns and sort out their shrubberies.
They’re also appealing to people with allotments to check for hedgehogs first before firing up the strimmer.
She said: ‘Carefully inspecting all areas of long grass and undergrowth before mowing or strimming can save hedgehogs and other wildlife, as they hibernate, nest and forage within this environment’
Council workers begin the task of clearing up the litter left on Southsea Common in Hampshire today, following nice weather over the Easter weekend
Temperatures are expected to drop, but the Spring-like conditions over the last few days have brought many lockdown-weary Brits back outdoors
