HOW WIMBLEDON’S TENNIS BALLS RESCUE TINY WILDLIFE A WINNING SHOT FOR WILDLIFE
In the heart of Leicestershire, a small act of compassion has grown into a heartwarming partnership between wildlife caretakers and one of the world’s most iconic sporting events. It began back in 2013, when park ranger Dale Osborne noticed that heavy rains were transforming Watermead Country Park North into a sprawling, soggy floodplain. As the land disappeared under water, so did the delicate nests of local harvest mice. Osborne recalled the moment he realized he had to step in: "I was picking mice up swimming around in the water and putting them on dry land because some had been washed out of their homes,” he told the BBC. Determined to give these tiny creatures a fighting chance, Osborne and a colleague turned to an unusual but ingenious idea gaining momentum in the UK: turning old tennis balls into mouse- sized homes. By cutting small openings into the rubber shells and placing them on short stakes, they created snug, elevated shelters safe from rising waters and hungry predators. As Osborne explained, "They will lay their young in there, and they are so small you could probably get 10 in a tennis ball.”
transformed into a warm and dry refuge for the park’s smallest residents. And the kindness didn’t stop there.
More than a decade later, the project has grown, now with a little help from Wimbledon itself. The championship goes through more than 50,000 tennis
balls every year, and many now skip the landfill entirely, heading straight to new life as tiny wildlife homes. It’s a simple act with a big impact, supporting conservation while reducing waste. For Wimbledon, it’s another meaningful step in its journey toward net-zero emissions by 2030, part of a broader effort to reuse, recycle, and rethink materials. As sustainability manager, Hattie Park shared, “What I try to demonstrate in a holistic way is that there is something that every single one of us can do to be part of the solution to help the environment.” And in the end, that’s what this story celebrates: community, creativity, and the collective joy of doing a little good.
The community loved the idea. That very summer, locals donated 550 used tennis balls, each one
SUDOKU
EATS WITH ELLIE
VODKA CREAM PASTA
A delightful dinner party entree, this flavorful Italian dish promises to warm hearts on wintry nights!
INGREDIENTS •
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
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32-oz can crushed tomatoes Coarse salt and pepper 16 oz penne rigate pasta
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1 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1/2 cup heavy cream 20 basil leaves, torn
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet over moderate heat, sauté oil, butter, garlic, and shallots for 3–5 minutes. 2. Add vodka in a steady stream and heat for 2–3 minutes to reduce by half. 3. Add chicken stock and tomatoes, bring to a light boil, then reduce to a simmer. 4. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large pot, cook pasta to al dente in salted boiling water while sauce simmers. 6. Stir cream into sauce until it bubbles and remove from heat. 7. Drain pasta, toss with sauce and basil leaves, and serve with sides of your choosing.
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