When identifying trees in spring and summer, the first thing we usually look at is the leaves. Many have familiar shapes and characteristics that can tell us that a tree is an oak, or a beech, or a sweet chestnut, for example.
But how can we identify deciduous trees in the winter, after they have lost their foliage? Help is at hand.
To celebrate the start of National Tree Week, the East Devon District Council Countryside team are organising a Winter Tree Identification walk. It will take place in the Holyford Woods Local Nature Reserve near Colyford on Saturday 23 November...
A DCH housing scheme in Exeter has been recognised with a Royal Horticultural Society South West in Bloom 'It's Your Neighbourhood Award’, a grassroots community gardening campaign helping people to make lasting improvements to their local areas.
Arena Park, Exeter was recognised at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 23rd October held at Exeter Community Centre where they were presented with a ‘thriving community ’ award which recognised the neighbourhoods work on transforming the play park and adopting good environmental practice on their estate, by The Deputy Lord Mayor,...
Traders, businesses and community organisations who want to make the most of social media are invited to the Teignmouth and Dawlish Social Media Cafe on Monday 11 November being held at Ugly Duckling Cafe, 2 The Lawn, Dawlish from 5pm until 7pm.
The Social Media Cafe is the brainchild of Mandy Pearse, Director of local firm Seashell Communications and Emma Kay, Teignmouth and Dawlish Town Centre Development Manager. It provides a free drop-in event where people can pick up tips and hints on using social media, ask questions, meet other like-minded people over a cup of coffee....
People in the West Country are being targeted by a hard hitting film from Cancer Research UK which highlights how tobacco marketing encourages young people to smoke
The film is being launched online ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on legislation which could pave the way for the introduction of plain, standardised packaging of tobacco.
Every year 16,498 children, aged 11-15, start smoking in the South West according to estimates by the Smokefree Action Coalition.
Cancer Research UK’s Setting the Standard campaign is designed to highlight the ongoing scale of...
Two extra late evening bus journeys will between Okehampton and Exeter 6 days a week.
Funding from Devon County Council will service to run two extra journeys on the X9 service from Exeter each evening, Monday to Saturday at 7:50pm and 9:45pm.
There are also return journeys from Fore Street Arcade in Okehampton to Exeter at 9pm and 11pm.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Councillor for Highways, said: “These additional services provide even more convenience and flexibility for passengers. I'm sure the journey times will be welcomed by those who have maybe had a...
Christmas gifts, festive food and Father Christmas can all be found at a Fayre being held for Hospiscare in November.
The fayre takes place on Saturday November 23 at Pine Lodge, Tiverton, EX16 4ND.
Running from 10am to 2pm the event is the perfect place to go for those looking to get into the festive spirit and pick up some early gifts.
Tiverton Support Group Chairman Pam Smith said: “A selection of unique craft gifts, cakes, books, toys and greeting cards will be available, along with a raffle.
“Turkey and Cranberry baps and mince pies will also be served...
Three Devon students have recorded a unique piece of music to accompany a new film about Dartmoor National Park.
The collaboration for this original work was between National Park Authority member of staff Sarah Oxton, South Dartmoor Community College students and Head of Music at South Dartmoor, Rachel Lewis.
The composition, conducted by Rachel Lewis, features Howard Ellacott (17) from Buckfastleigh, on flute, Stan Carrodus (17) from Ashburton, on piano and Esther Beyer (16) from Liverton, on the harp.
The piece was recorded at The Music Mill in Newton Abbot....
This morning the RSPB sent a formal letter of complaint to the bosses Devon NHS concerning the willful destruction of land near Exminster.
Hillcrest is home to a population of Cirl Buntings, a bird so nationally important and rare to find. The RSPB, a charity in support of finding nature a home, believe this is a deliberate opportunity to reduce the nature conservation value of the land which in turn will gain planning permission for new development.
Restricted to the South Devon coastal land, the species of the Cirl Bunting became almost extinct in the late 1980’s in the...
A Paignton Zoo gorilla has joined the Royal Navy on a voyage to the Antarctic.
The adventurous ape, named PEG – Polar Explorer Gorilla - has sailed on board HMS Protector, the Royal Navy’s ice patrol ship. And fittingly, this plastic Paignton Zoo gorilla will be painted with an image of a Living Coasts' macaroni penguin, alongside a number of other penguin species.
The curious arrangement came about after the Executive Director of Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts, Simon Tonge, was invited to lunch on board ship with other dignitaries. Simon: “During conversation the...
The Arctic 30 who were arrested after a Greenpeace protest off the Russian coast are going to be moved.
Lawyers for the 28 activists and two journalists were only informed when visiting them on Monday.
Six Britons including three people with ties to Devon are among those facing charges of hooliganism for their part in the oil drilling demonstration in September. They were previously held in Murmansk but it is suspected they will be moved to another jail in St. Petersburg. There are concerns that moving to the jail the conditions the activists and journalists are under...
