Local News

Entries now open for the RSPCA’s Walk on the Wild Side challenge

Wildlife lovers are being invited to sign up for the RSPCA’s autumn active fundraising event ‘ Walk on the Wild Side ’.

The event invites participants across England and Wales to complete a walking challenge throughout October.

The fundraising challenge comes at a critical time for the charity as it reveals that last October (2024) was its busiest month for hedgehogs in the last five years*, and also marks the beginning of ‘seal pup season’ - when the RSPCA’s wildlife hospitals also typically see a spike in grey seals admitted as orphans, or struggling to feed and are...

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Watch winter wildlife on the Wetlands

East Devon District Council says nature lovers, bird watchers and anyone looking for a free fun day out in the fresh air at a beautiful location should flock to the Axe Estuary Wetlands on Saturday 22 February for Winter Wildlife on the Wetlands, between 8am and 3pm.

The day will start, subject to suitable conditions, with a demonstration by the Axe Estuary Ringing Group - a fantastic chance to see birds up close.

There will be Guides in the Hides all day – experienced birdwatchers who will help you polish up on your bird identification skills, whatever your level of...

Ed Miliband in Exeter: Government must 'cough up' resilience money

Labour leader Ed Miliband visited Exeter today to see the proposed site of resilience work at Cowley Bridge Junction.

The site was badly affected by floods in the winter storms of 2012/13 causing the main rail line into the South West to close for a several weeks.

Following the line closures, last year, the government promised to spend over £31 million on projects to improve the resilience of the South West’s rail network most of the money promised was never delivered and work never took place.

Earlier this week David Cameron announced that the money would finally...

Neil Parish MP Supports Charity’s Fuel Poverty Campaign

Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, has pledged his support for ‘Mind the Gap’, a campaign aiming to raise awareness of the help available for people affected by fuel poverty.

The campaign, run by the national charity Turn2us, is focusing on the growing gap between household incomes and the cost of energy bills, and is highlighting the support available to those who are struggling to pay their energy costs.

The campaign features six steps, using Turn2us’ free tools and information to help anyone experiencing these problems. The steps, available at www.turn2us.org.uk/...

Greenkeepers do their bit for National Nest Box Week

The golf course greenkeepers at Exeter Golf and Country Club are doing their bit for National Nest Box Week to protect the bird population of the golf course. With 12 of their 28 nest boxes currently active, the self-named ‘Green Soldiers’ are working hard to increase activity year-on-year and have an action plan in place for National Nest Box Week.

National Nest Box Week starts tomorrow (14 February) and is organised each year by the British Trust for Ornithology, Britain’s leading bird research charity. The BTO primarily researches populations of our common and garden birds....

Devon County Council could raise council tax

Devon county council may raise its council tax for the first time in four years in an effort to protect its services against further cuts. Despite a budget cut of £100 million in the last four years the Council has to find another £110 million by 2017 with several non-statutory services already under review. The council’s cabinet met on Wednesday and agreed to 1.99% increase to the current council tax levels forgoing a government grant for freezing the tax for another year. Council leader John Hart explained the decision “If I accept a council tax freeze grant from the Government this year...

NFU: Agricultural land needs extreme weather protection

Extreme weather events like those experienced around the world in recent months have shown the importance of ensuring everything is done to protect agricultural land and enable farmers to meet future food production challenges, NFU President Peter Kendall will tell MPs today (Wednesday).

Giving evidence at the Efra Select Committee on food security, Mr Kendall will say that British farming is well placed to meet the challenge of increasing food production but the whole of the food industry has to work together to ensure it can maximise its potential.

“Britain’s soils,...

Rogue traders found guilty for offences in Plymouth and Exeter

Partnership working between Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service, Plymouth City Council Trading Standards, and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary claimed a success today, as two doorstep rogue traders pleaded guilty to fraud and Consumer Protection offences at Taunton Crown Court.

James Doran (29) of Quedgely in Gloucester and Patrick Connors (23) of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to a variety of offences committed in the summer of 2012 in Plymouth and Exeter.

They had travelled to the area, and in August, trading as South West Drives and Patios, approached...

Devon couple nominated for best duo at Folk Awards

Devon is full of successful musical artists and the list looks set to continue with the announcement that Devon locals Hannah Martin and Phillip Henry are nominated for best duo at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The awards, which celebrate their 15th anniversary this year, will see some of the biggest names in folk music come together under one roof to celebrate the UK’s thriving folk music scene.

Hannah and Phillip, who have lived in Woodbury for the past four years, are thrilled their hard work is to be recognised at this year’s event which is taking place on...

£31.1 million for rail resilience will be found

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has today confirmed that the £31.1m promised to improve the resilience of the South West’s rail network will be found. Ten projects to improve the rail networks resilience against flooding will be funded with the money including for work in Honiton, Cowley Bridge Junction, Crewkerne and several other areas of rail vulnerable to potential flooding. The money for the series of rail resilience works was initially promised last year after the2012/13 winter storms caused flooding which saw the tracks close for several weeks but had not been received by local...

PICTURES: High street closed by falling roof tiles

Exeter High Street was closed by emergency services earlier today after debris fell from the roof of the Lakeland building. A police cordon was erected around the building to clear the pavement whilst fire crews checked the roof via an extending ladder. Debris from the guttering of the Lakeland building is thought to have been blown loose by extremely strong winds in today’s storm.

Winds are though to have reached between 50-60mph in the city and up to 80mph in more exposed areas of the Devon coast. City Centre Buses have been diverted from the high street until the building is...

Local News

Entries now open for the RSPCA’s Walk on the Wild Side challenge

Watch winter wildlife on the Wetlands

Ed Miliband in Exeter: Government must 'cough up' resilience money

Neil Parish MP Supports Charity’s Fuel Poverty Campaign

Greenkeepers do their bit for National Nest Box Week

Devon County Council could raise council tax

NFU: Agricultural land needs extreme weather protection

Rogue traders found guilty for offences in Plymouth and Exeter

Devon couple nominated for best duo at Folk Awards

£31.1 million for rail resilience will be found

PICTURES: High street closed by falling roof tiles

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