While more Germans are now leaving cities than moving to them, not everybody is ready to exchange urban bustle for country life. For city-dwellers seeking a compromise, an allotment offers the perfect balance. But who are these green-fingered folk and why do they want their own patch of soil?

Social activism around the world is big business. But in Australia, demonstrators are distilling worthy causes at large down to a local level. Why? Because people are engaged more if they can see the direct impact of their actions, especially in a hyperconnected world thanks to social media.

Social media is influencing people in Australia eat healthier, with 82% taking a more health-conscious approach to their diet. While this shift in behaviour has positive health effects, it comes at a financial cost, with families spending $4,500 per year on average eating healthily.

The small town of Braidwood in New South Wales was once so quiet that it earned the derisive nickname 'Deadwood'. But now, the town's most entrepreneurial residents are transforming it into a hipster hotspot, drawing on the strength of the community to rebrand the area.