Professional practicing arborists and lecturers Nobby Clarke and Luke Blaber have joined forces with Focus Training (SW) Limited to create The Arb Academy, a high quality tree and forestry training academy based in the heart of Devon.

Nobby Clarke, a well-known arborist in the South West who boasts over 30 years’ experience, had a vision of creating a high standard, enjoyable training academy led by industry professionals that focuses on delivering high quality traineeships, apprenticeships and vocational courses under realistic forestry and arboricultural working conditions....

'Board' has unveiled a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a new permanent location in Exeter.

The independent Board Game Café, run by siblings Luke and Beth Mildenhall-Ward, opened as a pop-up shop earlier this year in South Street.

After a successful four month run, the café is now looking to set down roots in the city at a new, larger location.

During its pop-up period, 'Board' worked exactly like a normal café but with a twist – there were shelves upon shelves of board games for customers to play.

From old favourites like Scrabble...

Firefighters were called a gorse fire in Exmouth yesterday.

Fire control received numerous calls to gorse on fire near the cliff edge at Orcombe Point, at around 6.30pm.

One appliance was initially mobilised, but a second was also sent, both from Exmouth, along with the 4x4 appliance from Budleigh Salterton.

Crews tackled the blaze with beaters, and latterly, one hose reel jet and one 45mm jet.

Safety at heights equipment was also used due to the proximity of the fire to the cliff edge.

Visitors to Devon’s official tourist information site, Visit Devon, are on the up and predictions expect record breaking visits to the county this summer from both UK tourists and those from overseas.

Visits to www.visitdevon.co.uk for the past month of July are up 45% on last year’s website hits, and for the first week of the summer holidays (week commencing 20th July) website views were up 60%.

Chair of Visit Devon, Victoria Hatfield, says of the increased web views: “We are delighted that traffic to the Visit Devon website is on the increase - it really shows that...

Enjoy a starry night (or two) with the Countryside team at Seaton Wetlands in August

Seaton Wetlands are at their spectacular best at dusk and during the early hours of the morning, so don’t miss the chance to sleep under the stars and rise and shine with East Devon District Council’s Countryside team on Friday 7 August, starting at 5pm, for a unique camping experience.

Bring your camping kit, go on a night walk, cook over a campfire, discover the moths that live at the Wetlands, listen to stories and wake up to the dawn chorus and a sunrise breakfast.

To book a...

One of the hottest events to hit the UK is coming to the streets of Exeter this summer.

For one day only, on Sunday 6th September, Exeter Deaf Academy will transform Fore Street hill into a giant water slide for Exeter Street Slide - so you can see the summer out with a splash!

Exeter Street Slide, sponsored by Firewatch, is the first event of its kind to take place in Exeter and it’s sure to make a big splash at the end of the summer!

The event is being run by and in aid of one of Exeter's oldest charities, Exeter Deaf Academy.

Exeter Street Slide was...

Do you know that barbcues give off poisonous carbon monoxide hours after use? Bringing them into a tent or awning to keep warm is a recipe for disaster.

You cannot smell, taste or see Carbon Monoxide. So, if you suddenly get flu symptoms, or have headaches, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness or weakness you may have Carbon Monoxide poisoning. People often don’t realise that they are being overcome by fumes until it is too late.

Modern tents are designed as an integral structure with built-in groundsheets and carbon monoxide gases can rise to fatal levels in a matter...

Rail Minister Claire Perry has officially opened Newcourt Station today (Thursday 30 July).

The first train services stopped at the new £2.2 million station last month and it is now being served by a half-hourly local service on the Exmouth branch line.

The Minister visited the station today after announcing major rail improvements between Devon and London, with a £360 million investment in a new fleet of trains increasing capacity and cutting journey times.

Devon County Council has worked closely with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and First Great...

A new study published in the European Heart Journal has found that spending more time standing and walking in place of sitting could have numerous health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol and body mass index.

Julie Ward, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We know that people who spend long periods of time sitting down have been found to have higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“According to national guidelines state we should reduce the time we spend sitting and this study adds to the increasing amount of evidence to...