east devon

£1.2m for rural economy in Mid and East Devon

The rural economy in Mid and East Devon will be bolstered with £1.2 million of funding support, Devon County Council has announced.

The County Council is overseeing the EU funded LEADER grants programme, which aims to create jobs and help to develop rural businesses. It is working with key partners, including Mid and East Devon District Councils, to ensure applicants receive the necessary support to access the funding.

Devon County Council is the accountable body for two of the five Local Action Groups across Devon – Making it Local and REAL Devon.

The REAL Devon...

Trailerful of mutton raises funds for Carnival Committee

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Mon, 11/16/2015 - 8:07am

The Rusty Pig once again provided a takeaway for revellers at Tar Barrels to fundraise for the Carnival Committee. The outside catering in a converted cattle trailer on Mill Street was manned by chef Joe Draper from Ashburton. Joe and his helpers served up wood fired spicy mutton flat bread accompanied by Rusty Pig’s homemade feta cheese, garlic and herb sauce and pickled red onions. Fittingly, the mutton was supplied by Lewis Strawbridge, one of the Barrel Rollers. And to add a bit of extra heat to the evening, an almost unbearably hot chilli sauce was created by ‘Big’ Fran Lee. Over 200...

East Devon’s bathing waters cleaner than ever

The bathing waters at East Devon’s eight beaches have all passed the new stringent testing standards set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The announcement of the 2015 bathing water quality results, which was made by Defra earlier today, revealed that four of the district’s beaches received an Excellent classification – which is the highest and cleanest class, while three received a Good water quality rating and one, Ladram Bay (which is privately owned and managed) a Sufficient rating.

Overall, the 2015 results for East Devon bathing waters...

Ottery St Mary Tea Dance for Poppy Appeal

Event Date: 
04/11/2015 - 4:30pm to 7:00pm
Venue: 
Otter Nurseries, Gosford Lane, Ottery St Mary EX11 1LZ

Dance to the sounds of wartime classics at Otter Nurseries tradtional tea dance.

The ‘wartime remembrance’ tea dance will be held in the restaurant on Wednesday, November 4 from 4.30 to 7pm.

Music is being provided by Bett Parker, and the ticket price of £4.50 includes homemade refreshments for all.

All proceeds from the dance are being donated to the Poppy Appeal.

Tickets are available from the main tills at the garden centre, or you can call Otter Nurseries on 01404 815815 to book.

Views sought on extended recycling trials

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 10/27/2015 - 10:20am

Households taking part in East Devon District Council’s recycling trials in new Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) will soon be receiving a questionnaire to find out how the new service is working for them.

From mid-September, residents in these two areas have been using an improved service and have been able to collect cardboard and mixed plastics for the first time. These items, along with their usual extensive number of other recyclables including glass, metals, paper, plastic bottles, textiles and food waste, are collected from the kerbside every week.

As households in...

Devon beavers spark national conference

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 10/22/2015 - 11:37am

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...

Bare heads for charity

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Wed, 10/21/2015 - 6:45am

Nine brave souls had their heads shaved at the Volunteer Inn in Ottery St Mary, raising over £2,000 for charity CLIC Sargent.

Michelle Broadhurst, Roger Strike, Ed Winson, Jason Osborne, Andy Broadhurst, Carl Creek, Andy Russell, Mark Oke and Fran Lea all offered up their locks to hairdresser Sandi Scott and her team. The fundraising was supplemented by a raffle and cake sale.

CLIC Sargent is the UK's leading charity for children and young people with cancer, and is one of the main charity's supported by the Volunteer Inn.

Pictured is Roger Strike with his...

RHS awards for Cranbrook community group

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Tue, 10/20/2015 - 10:05am

Three projects to make Cranbrook a greener town were given awards of achievement by the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ campaign.

The projects ‒ a roadside verge, an area outside St Martin’s Primary School and another at the Younghayes Centre ‒ were judged ‘outstanding’, ‘improving’ and ‘thriving’ by the RHS assessor.

Cranbrook Town Councillor, Karen Jennings who was instrumental in getting the initiative off the ground, said: “In a new town like this which will take time to mature, it is important to make time for improving the green areas.

“Everyone worked hard, so...

Rusty Pig up for environmental award

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Fri, 10/16/2015 - 10:59am

The Rusty Pig in Ottery St Mary has been shortlisted in the Devon Environmental Business Initiative Awards 2015.

The awards celebrate the achievement of environmental best practice in business and education throughout Devon. Rusty Pig is a finalist in the ‘Made in Devon’ category.

Owner Robin Rea said: “Being shortlisted in these awards means a great deal to the Rusty Pig team. DEBI reflects our own ethos of helping Devon to be a greener county which pays attention to the environment and the provenance of its food.

“Both as a butcher and restauranteur, I am totally...

Park opens swimming complex year round

A Devon holiday park is set to open its doors all year round, launching a new pool membership as a thank you to local residents.

For the first time in its 73-year history, Ladram Bay Holiday Park, on the Jurassic Coast between Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, will open its swimming pool complex from November to March.

The redeveloped complex, including a main pool, children’s zone, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, gym and poolside café, will open at the family run park, which first saw campers pitch up in 1943.

Ladram Bay enjoyed its most successful summer this year,...

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