Torquay

Devon’s new nature reserve… in the South Atlantic

Devon’s new nature reserve… in the South Atlantic

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Thu, 08/01/2019 - 9:53am

Living Coasts has announced a new conservation project linking Torquay with a group of islands half a world away.

Torquay’s coastal zoo’s latest project is based on the Falkland Islands – an archipelago of over 750 islands, home to roughly 3,000 people, 500,000 sheep - and one million penguins. Yes, this is a UK territory with penguins.

The islands are home to some of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, sensitive to change and to the introduction of native species. In the Falklands, historic human activities such as livestock grazing, burning (to drive out sea...

What can you find on a beach…?

What can you find on a beach…?

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Sat, 07/20/2019 - 9:26am

Swimming trunks, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust system were among the surprising items found on the latest beach clean organised by staff at Living Coasts.

The charity zoo’s Events Coordinator Hayley Gibson said: “We had 72 volunteers on the day, which was fantastic, and we collected 4 large bin bags full of litter. Goodrington is a fairly well-kept beach, but if you look beneath the surface you will find lots of rubbish!

“Some of the more peculiar item included a pair of Speedos, a fishing rod and part of a car exhaust pipe. There were as usual lots of crisp...

WITCH - a Circle of Spears Production. Is she...or isn't she?

WITCH - an original historical drama

Event Date: 
06/04/2019 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Venue: 
Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay, TQ1 1HG

Circle of Spears Productions are bring their acclaimed play WITCH to Torbay for the first time. Based on original witness evidence from a 1687 Dorset witch trial, WITCH examines the perils of being a woman alone in the early modern era. It's an emotive piece about witchcraft trials which contains neither a trial nor any witchcraft - instead it looks at the interpersonal relationships of those involved and focuses on the human story behind such accusations. The case is examined purely from a social history perspective to highlight how easily an accusation of witchcraft could arise against...

WITCH - an original historical drama

Event Date: 
06/04/2019 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Venue: 
Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay, TQ1 1HG

Circle of Spears Productions are bring their acclaimed play WITCH to Torbay for the first time. Based on original witness evidence from a 1687 Dorset witch trial, WITCH examines the perils of being a woman alone in the early modern era. It's an emotive piece about witchcraft trials which contains neither a trial nor any witchcraft - instead it looks at the interpersonal relationships of those involved and focuses on the human story behind such accusations. The case is examined purely from a social history perspective to highlight how easily an accusation of witchcraft could arise against...

"My, what big teeth you have..."

"My, what big teeth you have..."

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Sat, 03/09/2019 - 2:49pm

With teeth like that, it’s hard to believe Western lowland gorilla Kiondo is a vegetarian. The 15-year-old, who weighs in at around 186 kilos and lives at Paignton Zoo in Devon, has an impressive set of gnashers.

He was spotted displaying to keepers and to his fascinated public by photographer and Zoo regular Miriam Haas.

Kiondo enjoys a diet of vegetables, including peppers, sweetcorn, tomatoes, chicory, cabbage, kale and lettuce. The giant vegetarian sets a fine example when it comes to healthy eating – though his table manners leave a little to be desired.

...

New aquarium lighting at Living Coasts

Dim the lights, I’m feeling fishy…

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:11am

A stunning state-of-the-art lighting system has been installed at Living Coasts – for the fish.

The sophisticated new system in the aquarium of Torquay’s coastal zoo means that fish can experience natural dawns and dusks. Staff hope this will lead to more of what comes naturally…

One of the zoo’s aquarists, Sam Worthington, explained: “Now, each tank can have its own settings. We can do gradual sunrises and sunsets with different colour temperatures, going from a soft pink dawn to a bright middle of the day and back down to dusk.

“Native species can have the range...

Rock and roll flirting is a fishy first

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Thu, 11/29/2018 - 11:02am

Fish at Living Coasts in Torquay have been observed performing a mating behaviour that zookeepers think has never before been recorded. Animal experts filmed female four-eyed fish (Anableps anableps) rocking from side-to-side; this appeared to attract the male to come and mate.

Sharp-eyed aquarists Tom Fielding and Sam Worthington noted and eventually videoed the curious behaviour. Clare Rugg, curator of the Devon coastal zoo, has a theory: “One possibility is that the movement of the female fish is releasing pheromones into the water to signal that she is ready for mating. She...

Living Coasts’ global plastics pledge

Authored by Paigntonzoo
Posted: Sat, 11/10/2018 - 10:10am

Torquay’s Living Coasts is part of a new global movement to raise awareness about plastic pollution. The coalition goes under the banner of "World aquariums #ReadyToChange to #BeatPlasticPollution". The aim is to set a good example over the use of plastics and to encourage changes in behaviour. Living Coasts was the first aquarium in the UK to sign up and is one of seven in this country supporting the initiative. The coastal zoo and aquarium stopped selling single-use plastic drinks bottles in 2017. The new movement, launched at the fifth #OurOcean conference, held in Bali, has signed up...

Jane Austen’s Persuasion: A Musical Drama

Event Date: 
22/09/2018 - 7:30pm
Venue: 
The Palace Theatre, Palace Avenue, Paignton TQ3 3HF

Chamber Opera Tours presents Jane Austen’s Persuasion: A Musical Drama

One performance only on Saturday, 22 September at 7.30pm

Following performances at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, Chamber Opera Tours is thrilled to bring its original musical adaptation to the Palace Theatre in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of Persuasion.

This popular production has toured the UK and North America the past five years and features music from Jane Austen’s manuscripts and the era, fully staged with chamber orchestra, beautiful Regency costumes,...

Paintings, ceramics, sculpture and glass on show in Torquay

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 06/26/2018 - 9:56pm

Paintings, ceramics, sculpture and glass will be exhibited in Torquay this August.

From August 25 to 31 fingerpaintings by Saskia Skoric will hang alongside nautical paintings by Len Murrell and landscapes and seascapes by Lynda Kettle, former vice president of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) and chair of Sidmouth Art Society. There will be glass pictures by Sue Purser Hope (chair of the Contemporary Glass Society), sculpture by Nicola Axe and pottery by Andrew Matheson RBSA. This exciting exhibition, organised by Creative Coverage, takes place at Artizan Gallery, 7...

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