Devon

Stover signs help keep park smoke and litter free

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sun, 07/03/2016 - 10:09am

Stover Country Park near Newton Abbot is taking a lead in encouraging visitors to help keep the park smoke free.

New signs have been placed throughout the park’s picnic areas and bird hide to thank visitors for helping keep Devon smoke free. Stover is the latest addition to a number of smoke free areas in the county, which now include many of its play parks, and all of its children’s centre grounds, hospital sites and the Council’s County Hall headquarters.

Stover Country Park is also a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is open 24 /7...

Physical activity boosts kids’ brain power

A consensus statement which includes a University of Exeter researcher says exercise boosts kids’ and young people’s brain power and academic prowess.

Time taken away from lessons for physical activity is time well spent and does not come at the cost of getting good grades, say the 24 signatories to the statement on physical activity in schools and during leisure time, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The Statement, which distils the best available evidence on the impact of physical activity on children and young people, was drawn up by a panel of...

Missed out on Glastonbury? Head for Glas-Denbury instead!

Music lovers who missed out on Glastonbury can still get tickets for Devon’s family friendly Glas-denbury festival , which offers two days of great entertainment from local bands and headliners from all over the country.

The event is open from 5.30pm on 15 July and from 9.30am on 16 July.

Tickets are priced from £25 per adult and teen and £1 for children under 12. The event takes place at Fairfield Farm, Newton Abbott and offers free parking.

A platform for local artists and bands, the festival also brings in headliners, this year’s line up includes: Dr & The...

Army chief reads names of dead at 19240 Shrouds of the Somme commemoration

ONE of the British Army's most senior members attended the 19240 Shrouds of the Somme exhibition in Exeter on Saturday along with thousands of visitors who queued patiently to see the project.

The 19240 Shrouds of the Somme project aims to commemorate every single one of the 19,240 allied soldiers who died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 100 years ago.

Artist Rob Heard spent three years creating the exhibition which saw him hand-stitch every single shroud in order to remember every soldier who fell. After he had made every 12 inch figurine he would symbolically...

Search is on to find top dog-friendly businesses

The search is on to find the UK’s most dog-friendly places, as the Kennel Club launches its Be Dog Friendly Awards 2016.

The competition, now in its tenth year, is part of the wider Be Dog Friendly campaign which aims to break down barriers for man’s best friend by encouraging more businesses and public spaces to welcome dogs.

With around 8.5 million dogs in the UK, and around one in four households owning a dog, the great British public are always on the lookout for places where their four-legged family members are also welcome. The Be Dog Friendly Awards recognise...

Bat Walks at The Donkey Sanctuary this summer

The Donkey Sanctuary invites you to join their Wildlife & Conservation Coordinator on evening strolls to find out about resident bats at the Sanctuary’s headquarters.

During the Bat Walk, you will be taken around the woods, fields and hedges at Slade House Farm and shown how to use a bat detector so that you can listen for different species of bat as they fly and hunt for insects.

The Sanctuary has been working with Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project to improve the habitat for bats on their UK farms. These Bat Walks provide the opportunity to learn more about bats,...

PCC to launch consultation on new police and crime plan

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sat, 07/02/2016 - 11:02am

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez is launching a summer long consultation about a new police and Crime plan for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

She discussed the details with her scrutiny body, the police and crime panel, at its meeting in Plymouth on Friday morning (1 July).

“During the election campaign I set out a clear set of priorities for the future. In particular I made 5 key pledges and these remain a core part of my thinking for the plan.” said Ms Hernandez The Five Pledges are: • To work with the Government to get the best funding deal for...

Sculpture trail puts Tiverton on a pedestal

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sat, 07/02/2016 - 10:39am

Devonshire Homes are, quite literally, giving support to a family sculpture trail highlighting the qualities of their home town of Tiverton.

Scale models of the historic Tivvy Bumper steam engine are being placed at 21 locations around the streets and parks of the town, each one standing on a concrete plinth provided by the house building company.

Devised by the Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, the All Aboard! trail opened today (2 July). An informative walking route, it is designed to encourage residents and visitors to take a closer look at the town’s heritage, as well...

£1,000 grant for Dartmoor Folk Festival

WAITROSE Okehampton has supported the 2016 Dartmoor Folk Festival with a £1,000 donation through its Music Matters award scheme.

Waitrose is part of the John Lewis Partnership, an employee-owned UK company which operates John Lewis department stores, Waitrose supermarkets, its banking and financial services and other retail-related activities.

The John Lewis Partnership's Music Matters programme supports groups which make an outstanding contribution to their local community through music.

The Partnership has a long tradition of support for music. This dates back to...

Do you have the Foodie Factor?

South West food entrepreneurs have a once in a lifetime opportunity to join the West Country’s latest culinary hub.

The Find a Foodie campaign, from the team behind Exeter’s new and exciting Queen Street dining quarter, has set out to discover the next big thing in the region’s thriving food and drink sector.

The successful enterprise will receive an impressive support package, including a 3-month free occupancy of the quarter’s new purpose built kiosk, and expert business, marketing and mentoring support.

The search has received a great response already, from...

Pages