east devon

Seaton Wetlands marks Disabled Access Day

To mark Disabled Access Day, Seaton Wetlands and the East Devon District Council Countryside team are inviting members of the public to use the off-road mobility tramper to explore the Seaton Wetlands nature reserve site.

Disabled Access Day is on Saturday (March 12) and is a nationwide event encouraging disabled people to visit somewhere with friends and family that they have never been to before.

Seaton Wetlands are made up of three Local Nature Reserves - Seaton Marshes, Black Hole Marsh and Colyford Common. There is also an area known as Stafford Marsh, where you will...

New contractor for East Devon recycling and waste service

East Devon residents will be at the forefront of one of the most innovative recycling and waste services in the country following the district council’s decision to award its new collection contract to current operators SUEZ (formerly SITA UK).

Starting from next year, all 68,000 households in the district will be able to recycle more of their waste than ever before – including cardboard, mixed plastics and Tetrapaks – and these items will be collected from the kerbside every week.

The new contract, which will run for seven years, with the option to extend up to three...

Excellent results for Trust in NHS survey

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 02/24/2016 - 11:57am

The NHS Trust that runs community hospitals and community health and social care services across Exeter, Mid and East Devon ranks better than similar Trusts in nearly three quarters of all indicators, according to a national survey of staff published yesterday (23 February).

When compared to other Trusts that run acute and community services, the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust was rated better than average in 23 of the 32 key findings that make up the NHS Staff Survey for 2015.

The Trust was ranked average in nine areas and was not below average in any.

It also...

Minister officially opens Cranbrook station

Cranbrook Rail Station has been officially opened today (Monday 22 February).

Andrew Jones MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, attended the ceremonial opening where he unveiled a plaque.

Hourly services on the existing Waterloo Line, operated by South West Trains, started calling at the station last December. The single platform station was funded by Devon County Council and the Cranbrook New Community Partners, and was delivered on their behalf by Network Rail.

The Minister visited the Station after officially opening the South Devon Highway...

Coast path prepared for a Grizzly race!

East Devon District Council’s Countryside team is preparing for infamous endurance race, The Grizzly, by checking out areas of the South West Coast Path which the route will cover.

Around 2,000 runners are expected to take part in the 20-mile event which takes place this year on Sunday March 13.

The Grizzly crosses challenging terrain including muddy bogs, steep hills and pebbled beaches and attracts runners from across the world.

EDDC’s Countryside team is checking a number of sites along the path, including the testing steps which take runners away from Branscombe...

Samaritans answer 42,000 cries for help

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 02/18/2016 - 11:04am

There were a remarkable 42,142 contacts between members of the public and the local Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch of Samaritans during 2015.

Within that total there were 33,661 telephone calls from the public to volunteers at the branch, which operates every day of the year.

There were also 3,058 emails sent to the public who had contacted the branch, plus 4,478 SMS texts - both categories showing sharp increases on the 2014 figures.

In addition there were 166 face-to-face contacts - one-to-one discussions with volunteers at the charity’s premises in central...

Are you registered to vote?

East Devon District Council wants to encourage anyone not yet registered to vote, to take advantage of National Voter Registration Drive this week and go online now to register.

On Thursday 5 May 2016 voters in East Devon will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall. Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part and have their say.

The deadline to register to vote in these elections is Monday 18 April 2016. While there is still time, it’s running out quickly. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to...

Half term with East Devon’s Countryside team

Join East Devon’s education rangers for an action-packed week of activities from 16 to 20 February 2016

East Devon District Council’s Countryside team is preparing for a fun-filled half term of activities for children and parents at a number of popular nature sites in East Devon from 16 to 20 February 2016.

The planned activities start on Tuesday February 16 with Wildlife Gardening on the Wetlands. At this free event, which runs from 10am to 2pm, children and grown-ups alike will have the chance to develop the wildlife garden at Seaton Wetlands, creating bird boxes, bug...

Future of East Devon nature reserve secured

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 02/09/2016 - 12:10pm

Bystock Pools, one of Devon’s most loved wildlife sites, has been secured for the future by Devon Wildlife Trust. The popular East Devon nature reserve has been saved thanks to a record-breaking fundraising appeal. Generous donations were received from local residents, Devon Wildlife Trust members, the nature reserve’s own team of DWT volunteers and people from far and wide who love Bystock Pools. The well-visited wildlife haven and beauty spot, between Exmouth and East Budleigh, was put up for sale by the landowner in spring 2015, having been leased to Devon Wildlife Trust as a nature...

Devon law firm puts emphasis on best management practice with new staff appointment

Law firm Beviss & Beckingsale is starting 2016 with a highly­ experienced new Practice Manager at its helm, overseeing its four offices in East Devon and Somerset.

Mark Noble worked for a barristers’ chambers in the City and a number of international law firms before relocating to the West Country, where he’s just taken up his new role. Mark is no stranger to the South West; he went to school in Dorset.

Afterwards, he joined the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE) on Portland, where he was involved in the design of sonar and torpedoes, before moving to...

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