Devon

Firefighters tackle major blaze in Exeter

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 07/27/2016 - 4:52pm

Dozens of fire crews have been fighting a blaze in Exeter city centre this afternoon.

Fifteen appliances from across Devon, including one from Somerset, were called to the Richer Sounds in Sidwell Street at around 1.45, after smoke was reported to be billowing from the store.

A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: “Police were informed just after 2.05pm of a fire in the basement of Richer Sounds Music Shop on Sidwell Street.

“There are reports of a large amount of smoke and this is drifting into nearby areas including Newtown. Police are advising that...

Trekkers prepare for Great Wall Challenge

Authored by Hospiscare
Posted: Wed, 07/27/2016 - 3:57pm

October sees the start of a potentially epic adventure for Hospiscare volunteer Heatherbelle Bates and Hospiscare fundraiser Charlotte Knipe.

For on 8th October, the intrepid duo are going to China for the Great Wall Challenge, China Trek, a 9 day adventure following the Great Wall of China to help raise funds for Hospiscare.

Eager to be prepared, the trekkers brought along black Labrador Luca for a local warm up walk on Wednesday 22nd June.

The training walk, which took in part of the Exe Valley Trail, started down at the Quay in Exeter and was a 20 mile round trip...

England blind footballers challenge local businesses

WESC Foundation (WESC) in partnership with Listen2Win hosted a Visual Impairment Challenge at WESC’s 14-acre campus in Exeter.

Players from the England Blind Football team, Keryn Seal – Captain, Robin Williams – Striker and their sighted goalie, Dan James led the sports event with seven teams from Exeter’s business community taking part.

The Visual Impairment Challenge was jointly organised by WESC and Listen2Win, an Exeter-based company that specialises in training and developing businesses listening and communication skills, as well as disability awareness. The training...

A Scoop of Devon with Salcombe Dairy's Classic Flavours

It’s a well-known pastime that when the sun shines in South Devon, everyone flocks to one of Salcombe Dairy’s parlours or one of their many stockists, for their favourite ice creams, frozen yoghurts and sorbets. This summer, Salcombe Dairy’s classic flavours, including Honeycomb, Madagascan Vanilla, Peppermint Chocolate Flake and Rum and Raisin, are being scooped up as fast as ever.

A perennial favourite and known for its sweet chewy crunch, Salcombe Dairy’s most popular flavour Honeycomb is selling as well as ever. Salcombe Dairy is proud to have been the first UK producer to make...

Biomass, bats and boilers: Killerton goes green

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 07/27/2016 - 11:38am

Killerton House has moved away from oil-fired heating by installing biomass boilers powered by sustainably sourced wood pellets.

The boilers will be powered by 55 tonnes of wood pellets a year, improving energy efficiency, sustainability and reliability inside the historic property. The switch will save the charity around 24,000 litres of oil and almost £14,000 in running costs a year. The old boilers were in the basement of the 18th century house, alongside a colony of lesser horseshoe bats. As recommended by a bat survey undertaken before the work began, great care was taken to...

Have an icky sticky summer with National Trust

It’s official - the stick is this summer’s must-have item! With the power to unleash every child’s imagination, the humble stick can be transformed into a wand, a way marker, a sword or a wild animal. Sticks are also essential tools for trying many of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ activities.

Research commissioned for the National Trust revealed that over 82 per cent of parents in the South West felt that the stick is the perfect catalyst for inspiring their children’s creative urges. In this region, children today spend about half the time playing outdoors that their...

Exeter Raspberry Jam

Event Date: 
06/08/2016 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Venue: 
Exeter Library, Exeter city centre

The next Exeter Raspberry Jam will take place on Saturday 6th August in the Rougemont Room at Exeter Library between 10:00 – 12:00.

As usual there will be lots to do, plenty of help and advice and pis to play with

More Exeter areas lose overnight street lighting

Around 780 streetlights will be switched off overnight in some residential streets in Topsham and the St Loyes area of Exeter from Monday 1 August.

The streetlights have been converted to part-night lighting. Previously they would have been on all-night, but will now be switched off from about 12:30am to 5:30am, before coming on again until dawn. The change is part of Devon County Council’s on-going programme to reduce costs and carbon emissions across the county.

Lighting on the main and busiest roads and walk-home routes will remain lit all night and have not been...

Summer holiday fun at The Donkey Sanctuary

Come rain or shine, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth has plenty of fun-filled events for all the family.

With free admission, free parking, daily activities throughout the holidays and a free Hopper Bus from Sidmouth, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is a great value option this summer. Open from 9am every day, enjoy face painting and animal-themed crafts, such as making a donkey out of modelling clay, and take the whole family on a holiday hunt around the farm.

Get outdoors and meet some of the 500 donkeys who are cared for at the Sidmouth site, including giant Poitou...

'Free Tenners' for charities and community groups

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 07/26/2016 - 12:11pm

Northcott Beaton, one of Devon’s top insurance companies, has launched a new affinity scheme designed to raise funds for charities and community groups across Devon.

The Exeter Leukaemia Fund is the first charity to sign up to the Free Tenners scheme which will enable charity supporters to raise funds through the purchase of day-to-day insurance products.

The scheme, the first of its kind, will assist charities and community groups with their fundraising efforts when they sign up as a Free Tenners Partner. When supporters of the registered charities and groups purchase...

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