Local News

Farmers in East Devon are being praised for their “stellar effort” in helping the endangered Cirl Bunting to increase its population in Devon tenfold in the past 25 years.

Now, the initiative has been shortlisted for the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards in the Wildlife Success Stories category and voters are being asked to consider the Cirl Buntings alongside the River Otter beavers as their favourite wildlife project.

image004.jpgThe Cirl Bunting is a small farmland bird related to the yellowhammer, but is much rarer. Once formerly widespread across southern England and...

Growing up in tough conditions can make wild animals live longer, new research suggests.

Scientists from the University of Exeter found that male banded mongooses that experienced poor conditions in their first year had longer lives.

However, there was no difference in the number of offspring they fathered – suggesting those born into poor conditions “live slow, die old” while those with an easier first year “live fast, die young”.

Surprisingly, the males that fathered the most pups were those that grew up when conditions were highly variable. These males also lived...

Job vacancy – Assistant in Vegetable Packhouse

Shillingford Organics is a commercial organic farm, growing a wide range of vegetables, salad, fruit and herbs. We grow on 45 acres, selling through our Vegetable Box Scheme, On-line shop and Exeter Farmers Market as well as supplying local retail outlets.

To survive and flourish we have efficient systems, work well together and supply great produce.

Job description

Mainly working in our packhouse, this role will involve bagging up a range of different vegetables, fulfilling individual shop orders and packing...

Archaeologists working on the site of The Royal Clarence Hotel have this week discovered a medieval wall decoration of a peacock.

Previously hidden, and exposed only as work moved onto the medieval timber frame within the Well House, the peacock matches others examples the hotel group understands have previously been found across Exeter.

The discovery comes as the team of structural engineers from Thomasons continues to work with archaeologists on the restoration and rebuilding of The Royal Clarence Hotel.

Estimates are that a further three months of work remains to...