More “intensive” beekeeping does not raise the risk of diseases that harm or kill the insects, new research suggests.

Intensive agriculture – where animals or plants are kept crowded together in very high densities – is thought to result in higher rates of disease spreading.

But researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of California, Berkeley found this is not the case for honeybees.

Their study modelled the spread of multiple honeybee diseases and found that crowding many colonies together was “unlikely to greatly increase disease prevalence...

Swimming trunks, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust system were among the surprising items found on the latest beach clean organised by staff at Living Coasts.

The charity zoo’s Events Coordinator Hayley Gibson said: “We had 72 volunteers on the day, which was fantastic, and we collected 4 large bin bags full of litter. Goodrington is a fairly well-kept beach, but if you look beneath the surface you will find lots of rubbish!

“Some of the more peculiar item included a pair of Speedos, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust pipe. There were as usual lots of crisp...

AN EXETER care provider is raising awareness of what it’s like to work in the industry and how rewarding it can be via a special week dedicated to the topic next month (August 2019).

Guardian Homecare, a domiciliary care provider that provides services in Exeter, is launching a #ChangeLives awareness week on its social media and on the ground from August 5 until 9.

Guardian Homecare’s Manager, Catherine Porter said: “We are regularly campaigning for care work to be taken more seriously as a career, which is why we have decided to host this week to help raise awareness. We’...

Winners of Britain’s prestigious National Fish and Chip Shop Awards 2019, it’s no secret that Krispies in Exmouth is a destination fish and chip shop, attracting customers well beyond a fish and chips shop’s usual radius. Run by husband and wife duo and a cherished crew, Tim and Kelly Barnes have worked frier by frier for nearly 19 years, honing down their skill in cooking the nation’s favourite takeaway dish to perfection.

Running a business with a model that specialises in serving one type of vegetable cooked in one way is a bold move and needs utter self-confidence and...

AN INSPIRATIONAL girl from Exeter who has survived cancer was surprised by an off-duty visit from Santa at an extraordinary party to celebrate the courage of children and young people diagnosed with cancer.

Nine-year-old Kacey Holland from Heavitree, was a guest of honour at the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards party, supported by TK Maxx.

The magical winter wonderland themed party was held at Santa’s ‘summer home’ in central London. It gave children and their families - some of whom have missed out on festive celebrations in the past due to cancer treatment...

Macmillan Cancer Support’s mobile support bus is coming to Exeter, Exmouth, Tiverton and the Mid Devon Show with cancer information specialists on hand to answer questions and provide information. The charity encourages anyone with worries or concerns about cancer to visit the team for advice and support.

Elaine Perry, Macmillan Information and Support Specialist said “Whether you want to know more about the symptoms to look out for, need advice about managing the side effects of your treatment, or want to find local support for carers, come along and see us. We’d be happy to help...

Ottery coffee shop Tickety-Boo has announced a total of £650 raised for Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF).

The most recent campaign held in June was free cream teas in return for a donation, which raised over £60. Around £134 came from the coin spinner in the Play Kingdom and just under £105 from the general collection box and donations from a cookie decorating event at the town’s recent food festival.

These totals were added to funds previously collected, bringing the grand total to £650.

Tickety-Boo chef Trystan Bridgman said: “We were bowled over when ELF told us how...

A key regional conservation charity has signed up to a campaign highlighting an environmental issue that has been described as the world’s most important yet least discussed – population growth.

Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, has joined the Thriving Together campaign, which recognises that family planning is critically important not only for women and girls but also for the environment.

The zoo charity joins 150 other leading environmental and reproductive health organisations pledging support for...

South West Communications Group and Exeter Chiefs are celebrating their silver anniversary with a new sponsorship deal.

The new deal was signed by swcomms' commercial director Jon Whiley in the presence of five of the club's 25-year-old players to mark the longevity of the sponsorship relationship.

swcomms began sponsoring Exeter Chiefs in the 1994/95 season when the communications and IT company agreed to pay for a new set of playing shirts for the first team. This has grown into a seven-figure deal that represents the longest running main sponsorship relationship in the...