Almost two thirds of species in the UK have declined in the past 50 years, including some of the country’s most charismatic mammals. The Royal Society of Biology has launched a poll to discover the Favourite UK Mammal.

A total of 101 mammal species can be found in and around the UK. Some of these species have suffered serious declines and require increased conservation effort.

Professor David Macdonald CBE CBiol FRSB, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at The University of Oxford said: “Mammals are special! Not only are we one of them, but their appeal and...

Three men in their early 20s have been issued with conditional cautions as part of a Police and Council operation to crackdown on a growing problem of unsightly graffiti tags in Exeter.

Exeter Neighbourhood Policing Team are working closely with Exeter City Council to tackle the problem after an upsurge in tags being sprayed around the city.

As part of a formal conditional caution, the men were required to write letters of apology and pay £5,865 compensation for the costs associated with their graffiti tags. The money will be used by the Community Safety Partnership to...

Exeter’s SunGift Energy has proven that – when it comes to sustainable energy expertise – the city is leading the way, bringing home the coveted UK Clean Energy Contractor of the Year Award.

Founder Gabriel Wondrausch, who picked up the award at a dazzling ceremony at the Hilton Metropole NEC hotel, Birmingham, was ‘surprised but absolutely thrilled’ at receiving the top gong.

“It was great to be recognised in such a way by other industry experts,” said Gabriel, who founded SunGift in the spare room of his house in 2005 and has since built it up to be one of the most...

A popular hospital which just 18 months ago was threatened with closure, has turned its situation around to such an extent that it is developing a third operating theatre and an endoscopy suite.

Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre opened in Plymouth in April 2005 and treats NHS patients only – it is part of the choice offered to local NHS patients by their GPs when treatment is needed. It was one of the first independent sector treatment centres in the country and started out providing orthopaedic surgery and treatment to NHS patients across Devon and Cornwall. Since then it has...

The young entrepreneurs who won the 2016 Global Enterprise Challenge (GEC) run by Broadclyst Community Primary School (BCPS) picked up their awards from Sir Hugo Swire MP (pictured with one of the winning teams) and from Microsoft’s Vice-President of Worldwide Education, Anthony Salcito at the new Microsoft offices in London on 12 October. The awards presentation was the culmination of the 2015-16 GEC, in which 700 students aged between 9 and 12, in 200 teams across 20 countries, participated.

The annual GEC was developed by BCPS in 2014, when it won a ‘pitch’ competition run by...

Leading local advice charity, Citizens Advice Exeter, is expressing its concern at an increase in the number of repossession cases listed at Exeter County Court in the six month period ending 30th September 2016. This is in comparison with the same period last year.

Across all housing sectors, there was an overall increase of 6% in the total number of cases listed. Where a Citizens Advice adviser has assisted those facing repossession, they have avoided repossession in over 95% of cases. Exeter City Council, in partnership with East Devon District Council, has provided financial...

The Samaritans motto, It’s Good To Talk, became It’s Good To Squawk during Exeter’s Great West Run - all thanks to a supporter who ran dressed as a parrot.

Electrician Colin Bickerstaff raised £350 for the Exeter Mid and East Devon branch of the charity by completing the 13.1 mile course around the city centre on Sunday.

Exeter-based Colin was inspired by his wife Donna who is a volunteer with the charity, which is based in Richmond Road close to the route of the run.

“We’re really grateful to Colin, who risked getting the bird for running like that - but he’s done...

An East Devon based rounders club has claimed silver at Sport England’s Sportivate Project of the Year Awards. Bicton College Rounders took the prize in recognition of its work to help more young people with impairments play rounders. The award was presented in London this week by Minister for Sport, Tracey Crouch MP and Paralympic superstar Dame Sarah Storey.

Delivered in conjunction with Active Devon and LED Lesiure, Bicton College Rounders works with students from FE Colleges in the area. Combining fun with learning, young people are taught the basics of the game while also...

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) South West has recognised the exceptional performance and dedication of trainee civil engineers, apprentices and lifetime achievers at a special ceremony in Torquay. South West Highways Commercial Director, Glynn Bramwell, originally from Birtley near Newcastle, won the Outstanding Contribution to Industry award for over 50 years of civil engineering excellence, while five young people received accolades for their performance in the early years of their careers. Glynn said: “Over the years I have worked with some excellent people at SWH...

Celebrate Halloween this October half-term at Exeter’s spooky Underground Passages.

Between 22–30 October there will be special ‘Witches & Wizards Tours’ where children are invited to explore under the city’s streets on special guided tours and discover ingredients for magic spells. Using the ingredients found, the young adventurers are challenged to concoct their own magic spell and enter it into a competition with the opportunity to win one of many fantastic prizes!

This year adults and children aged 14 years and over will have the opportunity to experience one of our...