The first water reed to be harvested in Devon in 25 years has been cut by scythe on reed beds opposite Topsham on the Exe estuary. Scythe practitioner, Chris Riley spent a labour intensive week harvesting just over an acre of water reed, which can reach up to 10ft high. “Water reed is an untapped resource, because of its inaccessibility and the manual labour involved in cutting it.”
Chris encourages the resurgence of scythe use: “It’s so important to keep rural skills alive and there aren’t many people with the skill and energy to harvest large areas of reed with a scythe.” For...
Gale force winds are forecast for the rest of this week as the relentless storms continue to batter the South West.
The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “With ongoing flooding in some places, any further rain will only add to the problems. Very gusty winds may be an added hazard in places.”
The Met Office forecast for the next five days is as follows:
Today:
A wet and windy start with some heavy downpours. The rain will clear eastwards during the morning, leaving the rest of the day bright and breezy, with a few showers, some of which will be heavy,...
People living close to the River Exe in Topsham and any other parts of Exeter that are at risk of flooding from tidal waters are being warned to protect their properties from an expected tidal surge tomorrow morning (Friday 3 January). The Environment Agency has issued severe flood warnings for coastal flooding for Friday morning. From around 6am and throughout the morning, waves are expected to reach up to 5m in height and combined with heavy rainfall and high winds, flooding may occur. For more information people are being advised to visit the Environment website www.environment-agency.gov...
A special ceremony will be held tomorrow to mark the completion of the eastern side of the Exe Estuary Trail.
The £2.6 million Clyst Bridge and connecting route through Goosemoor RSPB Nature Reserve has filled the missing link of the Trail. Together with the Ebford Link and Fishers Mill Bridge, this new section over the River Clyst completes the route between Exeter and Exmouth and connects with the local cycle network to Ebford and Clyst St George.
The new route forms part of the National Cycle Network. From Bowling Green Road in Topsham, it runs through the nature reserve...
Our students will be taking over Route 2 in Topsham on Thursday 28th November.
After the fun and success of last year’s British Sign Language (BSL) appearances at Café Lingua, which takes place on Thursdays at Route 2 in Topsham, we are set to put on another great event this November.
Students will be running the café’s kitchen and encouraging attendees and staff to communicate and order using BSL.
Whether you are new to BSL or a seasoned expert, the event is a relaxed, informal and friendly place to learn more, practice and meet others who are interested in the...
Valerie Barden was born in Buckinghamshire in 1938; she studied at Yeovil College of Art and later Art History with the Open University. She lives in Devon with her husband Robert Organ. Barden has been exhibiting professionally since 1994; Piers Feetham Gallery, London; Salisbury Playhouse; Town Mill, Lyme Regis and the Brewhouse, Taunton. Her work is held in the Bridgeman Art Library.
These paintings fit into the genre known as paintings of 'modern life' first explored at the end of the C19th and beginning of the C20th and which has engaged many artists since.
Success is clearly a highlight on the menu at Denley's Essence of India, as the popular Topsham restaurant has been shortlisted to win one of the country’s prestigious British Curry Awards for an impressive fourth year. Taking place at the vibrant Battersea Evolution, London, in two weeks time (Monday 25 November), the Awards this year attracted a record total of 270,000 public nominations and will be broadcast to over 200 countries around the world.
Having run Indian restaurants since 1996, Jamil Miah, founder of Denley's Essence of India, has prepared and served an estimated 1...
