It wasn’t all bad

A 34-year-old Londoner has set a new record for the World Marathon Challenge – a feat of endurance and logistics that involves running seven marathons in seven continents in seven days. With 39 other competitors, Susannah Gill was whisked around the world in a chartered plane. The first race was in the wastes of Antarctica, the last in the heat of Miami. Despite jet lag, varying weather and little sleep, she achieved an average time of 3:28:09, a record for a female athlete.

A redundant council worker who always dreamt of becoming a florist has now launched the Flower Bank, making bouquets from unsold supermarket flowers, and selling them cut price to dementia units, care homes and mental health groups. Ursula Stone – whose project got off the ground thanks to £70,000 in crowdfunding – is assisted by volunteers and also works with young offenders. Her plan now is to restore a derelict high street shop in Barnet, north London, and turn it into a community florist and learning centre.

A wild black leopard has been caught on camera for the first time in 100 years, providing photographic proof that the near-mythical creatures still exist. Photographer Will Burrard-lucas set up a camera trap in Laikipia, Kenya, after being told there had been sightings of these rarest of big cats. Taken at night, the photos show a female prowling through undergrowth with a normal-coloured companion. Black leopards’ colouring is caused by melanism, a genetic variation that is effectively the opposite of albinism.