The Know Daily - Thursday 3 April 2025

_{Read in 4m 43s ∙ Listening to Ethan Hodges ∙}

NHS hospital trusts are partnering with the Royal Horticultural Society to create wellbeing gardens 🌱 They’re providing staff and patients with “hopeful” places to rest and stimulate the senses.

🎥 Financing films

Film and high-end TV production is on the rise in the UK, according to a recent study.

What’s the story?

A British Film Institute report found that film production spending rose by 24% last year, and high-end TV shot up by 17%. Overall, film and TV production spending reached £5.6bn in 2024 – up 31% from 2023. Major projects such as Deadpool & Wolverine and Gladiator II helped to build investment – but it’s not just major blockbusters boosting the UK’s entertainment industry, as independent films have also enjoyed a resurgence.

Tell me more.

UK independent cinema in particular is on the rise. In 2024, independent movies achieved a total box office revenue of £69 million, an 84% increase from 2023. Plus, those produced in the UK received a 1.7% share of the global box office – nearly double from 2023. The growth seen in 2024 indicates a promising rebound for independent productions in the UK, supported by "audience enthusiasm for homegrown stories” like Back to Black and One Life.

Anything else I should know?

Numbers are still under pre-pandemic levels, meaning this “upward trend” requires continued government support and more opportunities for smaller-budget films. UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy vowed to put “film and the creative industries at the heart of our growth plan”. In an effort to bolster homegrown talent and stories, the government has also introduced The Independent Film Tax Credit. This scheme gives first-time productions with budgets up to £15m tax relief to help smaller studios and filmmakers with rising costs. And recently, the BBC announced a new programme to provide financial support to 50 independent creative companies.

🏬 Conserving heritage: Local heritage sites and historic buildings across England are to be protected, thanks to £20m of new government funding.

• The bigger story: Neglected buildings like disused theatres and department stores will be restored or repurposed to “transform them into vibrant spaces that meet local needs”.

👶 Baby names: Italy’s parliament will consider a law change that means babies will automatically take their mother’s surname when registered at birth.

🥼 Health innovation: A new blood test has been developed, which not only detects the presence of Alzheimer's disease, but also how far it's progressed, meaning patients are able to receive the most appropriate treatment.

💅  Eco mani: Researchers have designed biodegradable press-on nails - would you try them?

👗 Clothes library: A local library in Shropshire lets you borrow clothes just like books, with plans to expand the network of shared wardrobes across England in the future.

🇪🇬 History hit: Archaeologists have unearthed a 3,200-year-old tomb thought to belong to “the last great pharaoh of ancient Egypt”.

📚 Brilliant books: The 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist is out – which will you be adding to your bookshelf?

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Trivia answer: A) The French capital is banning cars from 500 more streets.

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