Local News

The steep hillsides in the uplands of the UK present access problems when it comes to the control of one particularly difficult to manage plant – bracken. The difficulties associated with operating on steep bracken infested land, particularly for the management of livestock, and the difficulties faced by walkers and other land users increase significantly as it spreads. Bracken spread also causes significant problems for the preservation of important archaeological sites.

Chemical control through specialist application is not always possible or viable for small farmers and steep...

A leading South West mining lawyer has issued a warning to mine owners following an incident where a group of teenagers had to be rescued from a disused mine in Wiltshire after playing Pokemon Go. Mine rescue experts and firefighters had to rescue the four teenagers after they became lost in a network of underground mine tunnels in Box, Wiltshire in July. The teenagers were playing the augmented reality game Pokemon Go and were searching for Pokemon deep underground. Simon Trahair-Davies, head of Stephens Scown LLP’s mining and minerals team said: “Thankfully none of the teenagers were...

Appliances from Middlemoor, Danes Castle and Topsham were mobilised to a report of a fire in the filtration system within an anaerobic digester in Exeter.

Upon arrival at the premisies in Oil Mill Lane, Clyst St Mary at 6.40am, crews confirmed a fire involving the carbon filter stack which they set to work extinguishing using two dry powder extinguishers.

By 7.28am the crews had extinguished the fire but there was a presence of gas. A hazardous materials officer was requested and crews donned breathing apparatus in order to open a valve within the premises to ventilate the...

Top names are heading to Bicton Arena International Horse Trials on August 19-21 including riders who are in action at the Rio Olympics.

British team riders Kitty King and William Fox-Pitt, New Zealand’s Jock Paget, Australia’s Sam Griffiths and Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy are among the riders who will be heading to the Devon venue where organisers have pulled out all the stops to attract competitors with free stabling and bedding in the international classes and a wealth of additional prizes.

Two international classes will be staged that are sponsored by Equine H and...