Local News

With a strong passion for storytelling and ocean conservation, Devon-based environmental journalist, author and broadcaster Anna Turns is taking on a new role as patron for Libraries Unlimited. Her new BBC radio series, Secrets of the Sea, explores how Westcountry marine scientists are tackling global issues such as overfishing, climate change and sea level rise.

Anna is currently working as senior environment editor at The Conversation UK, a charity working with academics to make evidence-based research more accessible to a mainstream audience. She has also presented episodes of...

A team from Otter Garden Centres have been busy sprucing up a pair of flowers beds at Ottery St Mary Hospital.

The makeover was in response to a plea last year from hospital nurses asking Otter to help improve the flower beds for the benefit of both staff and patients. They had become neglected due to greater concerns about the fate of the hospital which was for some time under threat of closure; as a consequence, the flower beds were full of woody shrubs and brambles with no blooms to be seen.

Initially, all the woody shrubs and brambles were removed ready for planting up...

A brand-new McDonald’s restaurant in Exeter opened on Wednesday 4th June.

Following significant investment from local Franchisee David Shawyer, the restaurant is open for dine-in, takeaway, Drive Thru, Click & Serve and McDelivery. Opening hours will be 6am – 11pm, seven days a week.

The new 104-seater restaurant has created around 132 new full and part-time jobs for the local community and features table service, self-ordering kiosks, a large outside patio area and a Drive Thru with Smart Digital Drive Thru menu boards.

The Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor...

Over 160 producers, hospitality businesses, retailers, academics and food sector professionals from across the South West united last week for the inaugural Gather summit, a landmark one-day event spearheaded by Food Drink Devon in collaboration with the University of Exeter.

Held at The Forum, University of Exeter, on Wednesday 11th June, the summit delivered a powerful day of insight and inspiration for the region’s vibrant food and drink community. An impressive line-up of keynote speakers including David Edwards from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, BBC Gardeners...