Is the UK even closer to breaking up?

At the moment, the countries representing the UK, are still united under one flag. How long this will be so, no one knows. Even now, each of the countries which form the United Kingdom, is fighting for its own independence.

For the first time since 1707, the Scots now have their own parliament in Edinburgh, and the Welsh their own national assembly in Cardiff. It is only England, that doesn’t have its own parliament. Issues that effect England are decided by the UK government, which consists of MPs from all over the UK.

Did you know that English MPs have no say on Scots issues decided in Edinburgh, but Scottish MPs in the Commons can vote on issues that affect only England?

The Tory leader, David Cameron, is pressing ahead with a radical constitutional overhaul to end the unfairness caused by the creation of the Scottish Parliament. At the next election, he will propose a ban on Scottish MPs having a say on laws relating to English schools, hospitals and a range of policy areas. Is that fair?

Read the story behind the making of the UK Flag (Union Flag)

Find out about the UK Government

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

Petrol (gas) price goes up again

October 31st 2007
The national average price across Britain, for unleaded petrol is 98.4p a litre and for diesel £1.01p.
 
November 8th 2007
The average price of petrol has surged past the £1-a-litre barrier for the first time and is set to go even higher. The average price for unleaded petrol is now £1.08p per litre and for diesel – which broke through the £1 barrier some time ago – it is £1.03p per litre.

As the cost of oil soared towards $100 a barrel, retailers have warned that prices at the pumps will rise by a further 3p a litre before Christmas.

Nearly 70p in every £1 spent at the pumps in Britain goes to the Treasury.

Where are the British Royals buried?

Where do britain’s royalty get buried?
 
Today the royal family burial site is Windsor Castle.
 
St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle
Ten monarchs are buried in the St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle, including Edward IV, Henry VIII with his favourite wife Jane Seymour, Charles I, George V and Queen Mary. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother is also buried there, alongside her “beloved Bertie”, King George VI, and her younger daughter Princess Margaret.
 
Frogmore House, in the Home Park behind Windsor Castle.
Next to Frogmore House is the Royal Mausoleum, built by Queen Victoria, and in which she and her husband Prince Albert are buried.
 
Althorp
Princess Diana is buried on an island in a lake at her family home at Althorp, Great Brington, Northamptonshire.
 
Westminster Abbey
Royal burials at Westminster Abbey are mostly medieval royals, with some Hanoverian kings and family members.
(Many famous authors and influential English subject shuch as Chaucer, Tennyson and Dickens are also buried in Westminster Abbey, and there are memorials to many other figures such as Shakespeare, Keats, and Elliot. )
 
Timeline if kings and Queens of England and Great Britain
 
The British Royal family

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Where do the British royal family get their money?

The Royal Family cost Britons £37m each year, equivalent to 62p per taxpayer. This excludes cost of security (almost £100 million a year).

Source of security estimate

Estimated by the Times in 2004:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article482303.ece

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British Family Tradtions

“I am an American married to an Englishman and we live in the US. We are starting a family and I would like some tips as to how to keep our kids rooted in their English heritage. Could you offer some tips on some traditions that are important to observe and pass down?
Thanks Very Much!
Candice R. Cole”
 
Birthdays – bumps, pass the parcel etc

Christmas – Father Christmas

Any more suggestions?

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

British Halloween traditions

Halloween is one of the scariest dates in the Christian calendar and tradition plays an important part in the fesivities.

Many people tend to think of Halloween as a predominantly American tradition, complete with trick-or-treating, Jack O’Lanterns and the wearing of witch costumes, but the holiday has its roots in the UK.

Can you fill in the missing gaps?
Go to woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Halloween.html for the answers

1) Halloween was originally a ______________ celebration.
2) The ______________ changed the name to ‘All Hallows’.
3) The Celts believed that evil spirits came in ______________.
4) A hollow pumpkin with a candle inside is called a ______________.
5) ______________ is when children knock on doors and demand food or money.

Introduction to Halloween

History of Halloween

Halloween Traditions

Halloween Superstitions

Facts about Halloween

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

UK population ‘to hit 65m total’

The population of the UK is set to increase by 4.4 million to 65 million by 2016, according to new projections.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 2.3 million of the rise would be a natural increase and 2.1 million down to migration.

Further projections say the population would reach 71 million by 2031 and 77 million in 2051.

BBC News item October 2007

Information on population in the UK

Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.

New home

Since July 2007 we have been busily working to improve the British Culture section of our school website. One of the main improvements is a new and quick shortcut to the website, as requested by many of our visitors.

The Woodlands British culture and life website can now be accessed via projectbritain.com.

We have also moved our blog onto a new domain
http://blogs.projectbritain.com/