sidmouth

Mother and daughter touching donkey

Spring into the new season at The Donkey Sanctuary

With spring just around the corner, The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is the perfect day out for all the family this half term.

The sanctuary is free to visit and is set in the heart of the East Devon countryside, overlooking the world-famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

For those looking to combine exercise and brainpower the ‘Stories of Sanctuary Spirit’ trail is a great place to start.

By following clues from their trail sheet, people will be able to uncover each spirit word and its matching donkey in the poems located around the sanctuary. Trail sheets...

Take a virtual tour of The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth before you visit 

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 04/10/2022 - 8:58pm

A brand-new virtual online tour, that allows people to discover The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth before they visit, is now available on the charity’s website.

Featuring stunning 360-degree colour images and helpful informative panels, the virtual tour means people can discover the highlights of the sanctuary and plan their visit before they arrive.

The tour guides people around the most popular areas of the sanctuary, which is set in the heart of the East Devon countryside, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The main attraction for most will be...

Overlooking Sidmouth from Connaught Gardens

Connaught@Christmas has green light to return in December – with extended run

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Mon, 04/04/2022 - 7:08pm

The magical event that set Connaught Gardens alight with illuminations last year has been confirmed for the start of festivities for Christmas 2022.

This time the event will run for longer, spanning two weekends from Friday December 9 to Sunday December 18 with the first session starting at 4.30pm and last entrance at 8pm.

Event organiser John Radford said: “We were totally overwhelmed with the feedback we received after the first Connaught@Christmas, we had so many positive comments about the event and how it was such a lovely addition to Sidmouth.”

“So many people...

Sidmouth Undercliff Walkway closed following cliff fall

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 03/29/2022 - 8:28pm

Following a small cliff fall on the undercliff walkway in Sidmouth the walkway will remain closed until East Devon District Council (EDDC) can be confident that there is no further risk to the public.

The small cliff fall took place on Sunday morning. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) were made aware of this by the police, and attended site confirming that there were no injuries and sealed off the walkway due to the risk of potential further falls.

EDDC’s Engineering Geologist, who supervises the annual rope access inspections and is familiar with this section of...

Connaught@Christmas illuminated gardens in Sidmouth

Connaught Gardens comes alive with lights - a day late!

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Thu, 12/09/2021 - 6:08am

A year in the planning, the Connaught@Christmas illuminated trail is finally ablaze with a delightful atmosphere created by thousands of colourful LED lights.

Although the first night was cancelled due to extreme high winds from Storm Barra, the lighting, structures and marquee escaped the ravages of the storm, allowing the event to go ahead on the second night. Ticket holders were refunded and most immediately rebooked for another day.

Nine creatively lit zones in the gardens have been designed to be enjoyed at a relaxed pace, with seating available for those who would...

Connaught@Christmas illuminated gardens in Sidmouth

Build underway to light up Connaught Gardens for Connaught@Christmas

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Mon, 11/29/2021 - 10:26am

With just days to go before opening night the Connaught@Christmas team has started getting everything ready for this magical illuminated experience in Connaught Gardens, Sidmouth.

There’s masses to do to make sure this sparkling new event gives visitors the perfect start to the festive season this year.

In Manor Road car park, the 800 sqm marquee is being erected. This will provide cover for visitors while they browse the 30+ food and craft stalls manned by traders from Sidmouth and Devon. The team are busy decorating the marquee with glittering Christmas decorations, as...

Go batty at The Donkey Sanctuary this summer 

The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth will host East Devon’s new travelling creative space – the Creative Cabin on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 August, offering visitors free hands-on activities and the chance to learn all about one of the UK's rarest bats - the grey long-eared-bat.

Activities at the 'Completely Batty' event include making flying bat models and bat masks, as well as putting together wildflower ‘seed bombs’, to create wildflower gardens at home.

Visitors will also be able to join a Bat Discovery trail around the sanctuary with the charity’s Ecology and Conservation...

Extra tickets released for top name evening concerts at 
A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival

More tickets have just been released for top name concerts at A Celebration of Sidmouth Folk Festival – a whole week of music and merriment that will swing into action from July 30 to August 6 in the East Devon seaside town.

The first batch of tickets sold out within days for open air evening shows by Seth Lakeman plus Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage, Eliza Carthy Trio plus Jack Rutter, Talisk plus James Delarre, Jackie Oates and John Spiers plus Granny’s Attic, Jez Lowe plus Miranda Sykes and Hannah Martin, Banter plus Tim Edey , and festival patrons Show of Hands .

Ticket...

Jurassic Fibre to extend full fibre network to Sidmouth

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 06/20/2021 - 10:09pm

Michael Maltby, CEO and Founder, Jurassic Fibre; Matthew Galley, Head of Partnerships, Jurassic Fibre; and, Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon

Broadband provider and winner of the ISPA New ISP 2020 award, Jurassic Fibre, has reached a significant milestone in delivering gigabit connectivity to overlooked communities across the South West with the announcement that it is extending its network to Sidmouth and its surrounding villages.

Construction is due to commence shortly. Once complete, the network will deliver ultrafast internet speeds of up to 950Mbps for residents and...

Charity shop volunteers come to the rescue - by searching through bins!

Charity shop volunteers come to the rescue - by searching through bins!

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 06/08/2021 - 11:42pm

Items donated by accident to a charity shop by a generous visitor to Devon were retrieved four days later - thanks to volunteers searching through dustbins.

Tania Stewart-Davies, an optometrist from east London, was in Devon clearing a property after her mother sadly died last month.

Tania donated much of the contents to the Samaritans charity shop in Sidmouth, giving items ranging from everyday household objects to an original painting. The donations were handed over rapidly at the shop, with Tania having to sort some items on the pavement in bad weather.

One...

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