Dog owners are being warned to keep their pets under control in the countryside as the cost of insurance claims from livestock worrying has reached a record level.
New figures show the cost of dog attacks on livestock reported to leading rural insurer NFU Mutual rose by nearly 50 per cent across the UK in 2016.
Between January and April, when pregnant ewes and lambs are often grazing on low-lying pasture in areas more accessible to walkers, the cost of claims more than doubled.
With many families expected to visit the countryside during half-term and the Easter...
LWC Drinks and Old J Spiced Rum have recently hosted six of Devon and Cornwall’s top bartenders in a cocktail-making competition at the 2017 Source Trade Show.
The six finalists battled it out in front of an audience with Andy Bell from The Brigg in Falmouth taking first place, closely followed by Justine Bock of the Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter and Josh Stewart of the Treasury in Plymouth.
The competition closed the first day of the show, following a lively demo carried out by London Signature Brand Activation Manager, Rui c. Teixeira. The six finalists took it in turns to...
National Trust garden teams have conducted their annual flower count for Valentine’s Day and although this year spring seems to be on the way, just as we would normally expect, but what is noticeable is how many scented plants are out in flower at this early time of year. National Trust gardeners reported 1,737 plants blooming in this year’s 12th annual Valentine’s Flower count, 34% down on last year’s figure of 2,644. Although numbers are down on 2016, they are still higher than the previous three years.. For the second year running, Saltram had the highest number of flowers recorded with...
Devon and Cornwall Police has collaborated with the Solomon Drama Group and schools across the region to provide education around child sexual exploitation.
The Solomon Group recently presented a short play and workshop to Year 9 and 10 pupils in 20 Devon and Cornwall schools.
‘Skin Deep’ tells the powerful and moving story of two teenage girls who are attracted to boys from rival gangs. As events unfold, their relationships become increasingly affected by misunderstandings, jealousy, possessiveness and eventually hatred and intimidation. Betrayal and fear lead to a...
This isn’t a typical prison story: instead it’s an amazing achievement by 10 people in HMP Exeter who in just one day rowed the English Channel, ran up Ben Nevis and rode a stage of the Tour de France, raising hundreds of pounds for a local charity.
Two teams of five - a total of eight prisoners and two prison officers - did not leave the city centre jail while doing this task, of course, but instead undertook the gruelling challenges in the gymnasium.
Each of the prisoners who undertook the challenge is a Samaritans volunteer Listener, specially trained to offer emotional...
Hospiscare Events Fundraiser, Tom Gilbert, is holding an information evening at Searle House in February for anyone who would like a real challenge while raising valuable funds for Hospiscare.
Tom says the Icelandic Trek is the perfect opportunity to have a life changing experience among the snow and lava fields, support your local hospice, and meet some amazing people on the way.
If you are wondering whether a charity challenge is for you, here is what one participant of Hospiscare’s 2016 China Trek said: "I met such a wonderful bunch of trekkers, we supported each other...
Devon’s road network is to benefit from an extra £2.5 million of funding.
Devon County Council’s Cabinet announced on Friday (10 February) plans to invest an additional £2 million in rural roads, and an extra £500,000 for highway drainage in 2017/18.
Devon has continued to maintain 97% of A and B roads in good condition, and the additional investment will be used to improve road surfaces on lower category roads across the county.
The additional funding will be used for patching and longer term repairs to add life and resilience to roads.
Voting for the 2017 milk&more Milkman of the Year competition is now open.
Organised by Great Britain's largest milkman delivery service, milk&more , the competition will recognise and reward the very best milk&more milkmen and women from across the country. Delivering milk before most of us are even out of bed, the valuable work of milkmen and women is so often not seen or appreciated. This competition will shine a light on the support milkmen provide to their local communities and grateful customers and celebrate the special place milkmen have held for generations in...
People looking to enjoy a romantic meal on Valentine’s Day are being urged to check the food hygiene ratings before making a booking.
“Planning the perfect Valentine’s date is stressful enough,” said Cllr Rob Hannaford, Exeter’s City Council’s Lead Councillor responsible for environmental health.
“The last thing you want on your mind before that special date is whether the place you choose is hygienic or not. After all, there’s nothing romantic about food poisoning!”
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards, based on...
The MS Trust’s Survival Skills Weekend will be taking place in Ashclyst Forest in Devon from 23-25 June to raise funds to help people with multiple sclerosis. The charity is looking for 10 budding Bear Grylls to take part in this outdoor adventure where participants will be sponsored to live in shelters they have built and eat food they have foraged from the forest. This wilderness survival challenge will be raising funds to help the MS Trust ensure no one has to manage MS alone. Jon Makin, who work as Lead Trade Manager for Tesco in Cullompton, explains why he will be taking part: “It's...
