Local News

Paignton Zoo bird keeper Lisa Jones freely admits that she has an interest that borders on obsession. She’s fascinated by feathers.

“During the summer months, lots of birds at Paignton Zoo start to moult… I think feathers are among the natural world’s most incredible adaptations. While I was cleaning out the Ural owls, who are moulting heavily now, I wondered if anyone else would be as interested in feathers as me!”

It turns out, yes. Feathers are the often overlooked wonders of nature. We might admire a bird, but do we stop to ask what feathers are, why they are like they...

More than 2,500 runners are preparing to pound the streets of Exeter this weekend, for the city’s 35th Great West Run and Activate events.

Amongst the participants are those running for charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, FORCE, Children’s Hospice South West and Hospiscare. Last year the event raised more than £100,000 for charities and organisers Runjoy hope to top that this year.

Event organiser Mark Cowen says the fundraising is a key part of the event. He adds: ‘We’re all really excited about this year’s event, and the knowledge that year after year, we are...

The ‘Great West’ can lead the world in efforts to tackle climate change.

That is the view of climate change researchers who say the region is now home to more expertise in this field than anywhere on the planet.

The GW4 Alliance of top universities – Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter – has pledged to work with partners to explore transformative solutions.

Professor Tim Lenton, Director of the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, said: “GW4 has already been instrumental in identifying that we’re now reaching dangerous climate change tipping points, such as...

Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs Devon and Torbay’s libraries, has plans to develop an engaging new reading initiative for the county’s youngsters, and they need your help.

Libraries Unlimited has been named as one of three finalists in the Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grant initiative, a community funding scheme that supports community groups and charities to deliver projects that have a positive impact on communities.

In celebration of Tesco’s Centenary, the supermarket has teamed up with Groundwork to deliver a special voting round which will see grants of £25,...