An ancient pine tree in Cambridge was lit up with 12,500 lights powered by eco-bikes during the King’s Coronation Concert celebrations.

The black pine – Pinus nigra – at Cambridge University Botanic Garden is believed to be at least 175 years old.

The bikes were ridden by students, garden staff and volunteers to create a kinetic power display.

The display was part of a live sequence called Lighting Up The Nation, and took part at 10 locations across the UK.

The Cambridge display was intended to highlight the King’s commitment to green energy and conservation, the garden said.

Its director, Beverley Glover, said being chosen as one of the locations was “a great honour”.

Bus maker Wrightbus has received a £12m cash boost to produce green buses at its County Antrim factory.

The NextGenZEBs project will develop battery-electric and fuel-cell-powered buses to replace diesel engines.

It is part of a £77m joint government and industry-backed funding to develop zero-emission vehicles.

Meanwhile, it’s been annouced two NI firms will split £3.6m in government funding to cut down on their use of fossil fuels.

FP McCann Ltd is getting £3.39m to improve the energy efficiency of crushing and concrete manufacturing at its Craigall Quarry in Kilrea.

It will put almost £300,000 towards replacing diesel-powered equipment with electric-powered equivalents.

The funding supports businesses which use high amounts of energy to clean up their manufacturing processes using low-carbon technologies.

It’s a portion of a wider pot of £24.3m funding awarded through the UK government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.

A Natural World Products spokesperson said the funding had “allowed the company to make significant further greenhouse gas emissions savings at one of its key processing facilities”.

A teenage boy has gone missing in a cave system amid widespread flooding in New Zealand’s Auckland region.

He was among 15 students and two teachers who had gone to Abbey Caves, a series of three underground caves.

The rest of the group was initially trapped but made it out safely.

Auckland, which is New Zealand’s largest city, has declared a state of emergency after heavy rainfall stranded cars, toppled trees and disrupted rail services.

Late on Tuesday, the search for the missing boy was suspended until first light on Wednesday. He was reported to be in Year 11, typically a level for students aged 15 or 16.

The Abbey Caves Reserve features limestone outcrops and sink holes. Rapidly rising water and roof falls in the caves pose significant risks for cavers, say local authorities.

It is unclear why the outdoor education class went ahead despite the bad weather, but the principal of Whangārei Boys’ High School has promised an investigation, the New Zealand Herald reported.

In a statement, police Supt Tony Hill said: “Our thoughts are with the whanau (family) of the missing child, as well as all those involved in the group outing and the school.”

The same region of New Zealand was hit by record rainfall in January, and Cyclone Gabrielle a month later.

On Tuesday, images on local media showed people rushing out of office buildings to go home early, causing traffic jams in some parts of the city.

A state of emergency was declared as a precaution and disaster response services mobilised, Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson told reporters.

She described the flooding as an “evolving emergency situation”.

From January to April, the Auckland region received 90% of its average total annual rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 35mm (1.3in) of rain in just one hour.

The New Zealand Meteorological Service noted that the region is “very saturated” after a “very rough” five months.

Authorities advised people to postpone unnecessary travel and avoid driving on flooded streets.

Cyclone Gabrielle ravaged New Zealand in mid-February, leaving 11 people dead and a trail of devastation that Finance Minister Grant Robertson likened to the damage wrought by the Christchurch earthquake from 12 years ago.

New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister James Shaw attributed the scale of the disaster to climate change.

The cyclone hit just weeks after torrential rains and flooding left four dead and parts of Auckland’s main airport submerged.

A dead whale found washed up on a beach in north Wales was an adult female, experts have said.

Abersoch Coastguard Rescue Team announced the sighting of the mammal at Porth Neigwl, also known as Hell’s Mouth, Gwynedd, on Monday morning.

It is the second whale to have washed up onto a UK beach in two days.

Experts said the whale was very poorly and underweight when it became stranded and have urged people to stay clear of the carcass as an autopsy is planned.

The rescue team said after locating it, it had directed a team from British Divers Marine Life Rescue to the cliff top who confirmed the whale was dead.

Wales co-ordinator of the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, Mat Westfield, said the whale was very underweight and appeared as if it had not eaten for some time.

He said: “It was very poorly when it washed up. The first reports were that it was still alive at that point but it quickly died.”

A post-mortem examination will be carried out at the scene on Wednesday.

Mr Westfield said they were working with Gwynedd Council and the coastguards to remove the carcass.

In the meantime the coastguard warned: “Please do not attempt to approach the whale as this part of the beach is fully cut off at high tide and any contact will impair the valuable results to be gained from a full autopsy.”

A blue plaque to commemorate the archaeologist who uncovered Anglo-Saxon treasures at Sutton Hoo has been unveiled.

Basil Brown spent almost his entire life in the Suffolk village of Rickinghall and largely taught himself the profession.

A plaque was unveiled on Monday at the house where he lived for more than 40 years.

It was organised by a small group of volunteers, known as Quatrefoil.

The group was formed in 2012 to research the history of the Suffolk villages of Botesdale, Redgrave and Rickinghall.

When Edith Pretty decided to excavate part of her estate at Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk in 1938, she was advised by Ipswich Museum to call upon Mr Brown.

He found a burial ship and a central chamber filled with pieces, including a warrior’s helmet, a gold belt buckle, sword and shield, believed to have belonged to East Anglia ruler King Rædwald.

The discovery of the treasures was retold in Netflix film The Dig, where Ralph Fiennes took on the role of Mr Brown.

Cambridge archaeologist Charles Phillips, who took over the excavation once it became clear it was of huge significance, called Mr Brown “a pure piece of rustic Suffolk” in his book, My Life in Archaeology.

Mr Brown’s belief that his initial finds in 1938 were of a rich ship burial was confirmed in excavations led by Prof Martin Carver.

Sarah Doig, chair of Quatrefoil, said: “We are absolutely delighted that we now have such a visible recognition of our most famous resident.

“Basil is fondly remembered in the neighbourhood by all who knew him, and we are all proud of his many archaeological achievements.

“He was always generous with his time and expertise, inspiring the younger generation’s interest in archaeology and local history.”

The plaque commemorates him as the discoverer of the Sutton Hoo treasures and an archaeologist and astronomer.

Hopetoun Falls is an amazing waterfall that is nestled within the Great Otway National Park, just a short drive from the small town of Beech Forest, in the southern part of the State of Victoria, within the southeastern part of Australia.

This natural wonder that leaves visitors in awe of its size and beauty stands at an impressive height of 30 m (98 ft), and as the waterfall cascades down a series of rocky ledges, it creates a spectacular display of nature’s power and beauty.

The formation of Hopetoun Falls can be attributed to the unique geology of the Great Otway National Park, as the park is situated on a volcanic plain, which is covered in thick layers of sedimentary rock which over millions of years, it has been slowly eroded by the elements, creating deep gorges and valleys in the landscape.

Hopetoun Falls is not only important because of its natural beauty but also because of its ecological significance.

The waterfall is located in a pristine environment, home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, within the national park several endangered species can be found, including the Rufous Bristlebird, the Southern Brown Bandicoot, and the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby.

Still, the tourist value of Hopetoun Falls cannot be overstated, since the waterfall is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, attracting visitors from all over the world.

There is a great range of activities that can be done in the Great Otway National Park, including hiking, camping, and wildlife spotting, making it an ideal location for those looking to explore the natural beauty of Australia.

As the Hopetoun Falls attracts visitors from all over the world who come to marvel at its size and power, it has been featured in several travel guides and magazines, cementing its status as one of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks.

Nonetheless, other important facts about Hopetoun Falls include its accessibility, as the waterfall is easily accessible by car, with a short walk required to reach the viewing platform. Several hiking trails lead visitors deeper into the Great Otway National Park, providing opportunities to explore the surrounding wilderness.

In conclusion, Hopetoun Falls is a natural wonder that is not to be missed, where with its sheer size and beauty, it is considered one of Australia’s most iconic waterfalls, in addition to its ecological significance and accessibility also make it an important destination for those interested in exploring Australia’s natural beauty.