Zoo keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay are using a hi-tech DNA test to discover the sex of newborn chicks more quickly.
The test, using cells from inside the shell of a newly hatched egg, has been developed by a company called Avian Biotech of Truro, Cornwall.
Senior Living Coasts keeper Amy Fitzgerald explained: “You can use feathers to do the test, but you have to wait until the birds have their full plumage - for penguins this is normally about 12 weeks. All we have to do now is send off pieces of dry eggshell. DNA is extracted from the vascular material lining the...
A Devon business has come to the aid of a local wildlife charity with a donation of white goods.
Sparkworld, based at Heathfield Industrial Estate, Newton Abbot, delivered a heap of domestic appliances to Paignton Zoo, which is a registered charity. The gift included fridges, freezers, microwave ovens and kettles.
Paignton Zoo’s Jenny Paton said: “These items will help hard-working animal staff and the people who support them, like our in-house vet team and our volunteers. We are extremely grateful to Sparkworld for supporting us in this way.”
Exeter Chiefs are throwing their sizeable weight behind the forthcoming ‘Exeter Foundation Charity Walk’ which has been set up to support a minimum of 20 local charities and organisations.
The annual 10-mile sponsored walk, which will start and finish at Sandy Park, takes in a flat and scenic route around the River Exe Valley and is open to keen or social walkers, who are aged 12 years or over.
Helping to raise funds for the club’s official charity, the event will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 10.30am.
Building on the success of previous years, once the walk has...
Over the week commencing 28 April 2014, Ashfords LLP staff cycled an impressive 1,687.31 miles in order to raise donations for their chosen Charity of the Year, Children's Hospice South West (CHSW). CHSW are the only organisation in the South West to provide care for children with life-limiting conditions outside of a hospital environment.
Exercise bikes were placed in the receptions of Ashfords' Exeter, Taunton, Bristol and London offices and staff cycled in half hour stints throughout the day all week. On the final day, Ashfords moved its cyclathon challenge to...
Penguins are going to be popping up all around Torquay harbour.
Look out for the cheeky six inch characters in shops and businesses.
Over 50 mini plaster of Paris penguins have been decorated in a range of dazzling designs by Living Coasts staff and volunteers, with others created by children and friends. The penguins will be on show in shop windows around the inner harbour, forming a fun free trail to follow.
Designs include a punk with a Mohican, Harry Potter, a Wagnerian Valkyrie, several versions of Superman, a ceremonial guardsman complete with bearskin, a...
Redrow’s new West Country division, which will open on 1st July 2014 from premises on Pynes Hill in Exeter, has selected Okehampton-based ‘Get Changed’ as its local charity to support throughout 2014/2015.
Get Changed Theatre Company provides a unique service for adults with learning disabilities in mid and west Devon. Drama, dance and art are used as a medium for its members to develop confidence, make choices, develop life-skills and improve mental health. The charity was formed in 1995 and runs a programme of weekly workshops throughout the year, culminating in annual...
Join us in the stunning surroundings of Casa Maroc’s atmospheric Casablanca Lounge on Friday 11th April from 6pm onwards to raise money for local people with brain injuries.
For just £10 per person you can enjoy a delicious three course Moroccan-Italian inspired meal, with a portion of the profits from every meal being donated towards Headway Devon.
Menu
Starter
Homemade soup
Main
Chicken a la creme, sauteed new potatoes with lemon and rosemary and...
DEVON SPORTS AWARDS Friday 16th May - Sandy Park from 7pm
Once again the cream of Devon's Sport will come together for an evening of recognition & enjoyment at the 2014 Exeter Foundation Devon Sports Awards
In what has been another year of sport across the country, host Jenny Walrond of BBC Spotlight will again bring together the many faces that help to bring so much to the area through their efforts in sport
In association with Active Devon, the annual Sports Awards will this year be attended by former Olympic athlete KRISS AKABUSI , whois the guest speaker...
Paignton Zoo has turned to a local company to help with a weighty matter.
Keepers wanted to install a set of scales in the den of their Western lowland gorillas. But, as Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Matthew Webb explained, not just any scales would do:
“You can’t use normal scales with gorillas, because they will play with them - which usually means they will break them! We needed to find some really heavy duty bench scales that we could secure very well!”
They approached Torquay company Our Weigh, who donated a Salter Brecknell DSB Platform Scale that can weigh up...
UK Stroke Forum have revealed that compounds found in cannabis could be beneficial to stroke victims.
It has been suggested, after research was conducted at the University of Nottingham, that chemical comounds found in cannabis may help to reduce brain damage following a stroke.
The findings showed that the compounds could reduce the size of a stroke and improve neurological function.
Dr Dale Webb, Director of Research and Information at the Stroke Association, said:
" A stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the UK, with more than half of all...
