East Devon Conservation volunteers have dedicated an amazing 1800 hours to help keep the countryside looking beautiful since they were established more than two years ago.
The volunteering group was established in September 2013 and since then the group has gone from strength to strength. There are now a number of regular volunteers who give up their time to play an important role in the development and conservation of the district's fantastic wildlife and habitats.
Under the guidance of Countryside Ranger, Nathan Robinson, the volunteers help with the practical management...
THE iconic image screen on the front of Exeter Cathedral is to undergo an extensive renovation – made possible thanks to the support of The Prince of Wales who made a donation through The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation.
The three rows of statues on the West Front were added to the already constructed Cathedral between 1340 and 1470, and depict angels, kings and prophets and disciples of Jesus.
Dozens of figures also peer out from the battlements above and the whole screen is decorated with plants and animals. Originally, the statues were coloured in bright paint,...
A family-run caravan and camping park on the East Devon coast is celebrating its latest clutch of awards.
And the team at Oakdown Holiday Park is particularly proud of one of its achievements - its David Bellamy gold award.
The award recognises Oakdown’s enduring commitment to preserving the natural environment - and it is the 20th time they have won it. It was presented to Doreen and Roger Franks at a ceremony in London.
Doreen said: ‘As we continue to develop and improve the park we are very careful to preserve and enhance the natural environment. It’s very...
A TEAM of Devon builders has developed an eye for the tiniest detail after winning a contract to repair one of the south west’s most prestigious properties.
Woofenden Construction, which is based in Kentisbeare, near Cullompton, has won a contract to repair the historic ceilings of grade I listed Dorset property, Kingston Maurward House.
More than £130,000 of damage was caused when a broken pipe in the roof of the prestigious property, which is just outside Dorchester, flooded through the three storey building. Gallons of water poured through the three floors for around an...
Exhibition runs Saturday 19 March – Sunday 8 May Launch event 6 - 8pm Friday 18 March Venue: Devon Guild of Craftsmen Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF
A touring exhibition including specially commissioned work by 5 artists who explore damage and repair, disease and healing, through stitch and other media.
Curator Liz Cooper launches a new touring exhibition entitled ‘What Do I Need to Do to Make it OK?’ at Devon Guild of Craftsmen this Spring. The title is taken from a talk by participating artist Dorothy Caldwell.
No, it’s an otter! Olly the Otter, the world’s newest superhero, is one of the attractions at Living Coasts this half term. 2016 is the year of Super Sea Heroes at Torquay’s coastal zoo. Staff and visitors will be celebrating with a variety of activities that include crafts, talks and a superhero trail. Children will be able to create their own superhero mask, design their own Super Sea Hero and follow the Super Sea Heroes Trail if they pick up a trail sheet from the main entrance. Olly the Otter will be on hand from Monday to Thursday at 1.30pm. Plus, visitors of all ages who come dressed...
Now that the festive celebrations are over, why not come and shake off the winter blues with a day of conservation work at Haytor.
Dartmoor National Park Ranger Simon Lee will be working with volunteers on 10 January 2016, near the National Park Visitor Centre, to benefit the extremely rare bog hoverfly.
The day begins at 10.30 and finishes at 3.30 but you are welcome to come along for part of the day if you wish.
In recent years the bog hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) has been found only within a restricted area of Dartmoor. It is identified in the UK Biodiversity...
When beavers appeared on the River Otter, most people welcomed their return to Devon.
A similar public response was seen in response to Scottish reintroductions to the rivers Tay and Knapdale. They also sparked a debate about the potential benefits of restoring wildlife.
For example, could beaver dams be a natural way to reduce flood risks?
Could pine marten reintroductions help control unwanted grey squirrel populations? And could peat bog restoration improve drinking water quality?
All of these issues will be explored next week in a national conference in...
If you love plants and are interested in plant conservation you will be interested in the lunchtime talk on Conservation Gardening, hosted by the Dartmoor Conservation Garden Project at Princetown, on Sunday 18 October.
Come and listen to Chris Trimmer, experienced plantsman and plant conservationist, manager of the National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre, talking about his work. The Plant Conservation Centre is a specialist nursery, based in north Devon, which propagates and raises rare and historically significant plants for all the National Trust’s gardens throughout the UK....
The gorilla with wanderlust is back on home soil - for a time. PEG - Polar Explorer Gorilla - left Living Coasts in Torquay with HMS PROTECTOR, the Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Vessel, for her last deployment in October 2013.
She has since travelled to a range of South, North and Central American countries, along with the Caribbean, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, South Georgia and finally Antarctica, where the crew conducted surveying work and supported the British Antarctic Survey during the austral summer.
PEG is probably the first gorilla ever to venture to the...
