The Exeter Initiative for Science and Technology is launching its first conference on 4th September at the University of Exeter Forum, bringing together leading figures from business and academia to raise awareness and discuss the impact of data, science and technology on food security and production.
Inside the last 30 years, Britain’s self-sufficiency has fallen from 78% to just 60% in food production, and the conference aims at evaluating farming techniques, and addressing the challenge of securing self sufficiency for the future. Yesterday (Thursday 7th August) was when the...
It’s almost that time of year, when National Trust staff at Knightshayes Court get to hone their hair dressing skills as the topiary in the Formal Garden receives its annual hair cut
The fox and hound topiary was planted Sir John and Lady Joyce Heathcoat-Amory, the last members of the family to live at Knightshayes, who were passionate and well respected gardeners and who dedicated much of their later lives to the creation of the renowned gardens.
The topiary consists of seven hounds and a fox, along with four large heads modelled on Talbot hounds. The Talbot hound, an...
Axminster's River Cottage is once again hosting a competition to find the next young cooking talent as Rising Star returns for 2014. The competition looks to find an inspirational character amongst the best of Britain’s young cooks. It offers them the chance to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champion, Sam Lomas, and become River Cottage’s Rising Star 2014. The champion will not only become the face of the Young Chef Apprenticeship Scheme, but also gain a once-in-a-life time opportunity to secure 12 months' employment and training at River Cottage HQ. They will star in videos, cook...
It may be the middle of summer, but Children’s Hospice South West desperately needs donations of winter clothing for its shops. Jumpers, cardigans, winter coats, gloves and scarves - whatever you have will be gratefully received by them.
Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), which has shops in Fore Street and Paris Street in Exeter, has three hospices in North Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
The charity relies almost exclusively on voluntary donations. Their shops are an important part of their fundraising and they are always in need of quality donations of clothing, toys,...
A rainstorm in the Atlantic that was once Hurricane Bertha has prompted the Met Office to release a severe weather warning for Sunday.
Despite reports that the storm would ravage the South of England, Bertha has been downgrading in severity since it left the Bahamas, becoming a ‘tropical storm’, and then an ‘Atlantic storm’. By the time it reaches the South West, if indeed it does, it is likely to be just another wet and windy Sunday. However, there is a chance that the rain will be heavy and accompanied by strong winds, bringing a chance of flooding. The Met Office’s warning shows...
Exeter City chief executive, Guy Wolfenden, has resigned with immediate effect after less than a year at the club.
In a statement Wolfenden said: “I would like to thank everyone at the club for all their hard work over the previous months.
"The young, talented playing squad have great potential and I hope the supporters can get behind Paul Tisdale and his team this year. I wish the Club every success in the future.”
This announcement comes just two weeks after Chairman Edward Chorlton stood down amid financial problems at the club.
The Exeter Picturehouse cinema is screening the feature-length first episode of the new series of Doctor Who on the big screen at the same time as the BBC broadcast.
It will take place on Saturday 23 August at 7.35.
Following the screening, there will be an exclusive satellite Q&A with special guests live from Leicester Square, as well as ten minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from the episode.
Tickets for this very special event are now on sale.
Book by: calling 0871 9025730, going online at www.picturehouses.co.uk or in person at the cinema. For...
The rising cost of farmland in the South West, which has reached record highs, has been partly attributed to a rising demand for residential, ‘lifestyle’ farms.
The average price for farmland in England and Wales, which in 2012 stood at £6,783 per acre, has now risen to £8,607 an acre, according to the latest RICS/RAU Rural Land Market Survey.
This represents a rise of nearly 27 percent in two years, with land prices 8.4% higher than this time a year ago.
Farmland now costs nearly four times the amount as when RICS first began recording regional rural land market...
Devon and Cornwall Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) have been in negotiations with the three recognised trade unions in relation to a new grading and pay proposal for all police staff. This morning (Thursday 7 August), the Force and OPCC have sent a personal letter to all members of staff detailing the implications of the proposal, should it be accepted by union members. Having fully considered the offer, the trade unions (Unison, GMB and Unite) have decided to ballot their members on the proposal with the recommendation to accept. If the proposal is...
The people at Ashfords are taking up bee keeping in a bid to help the national initiative to protect bees and boost their population
As part of Ashfords' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, it is hoped the new Ashfords' bee colony will thrive, and help pollinate flowers and shrubs in the area around the Sowton Industrial Estate.
Ashfords is currently trialling the "bee initiative" at its headquarters in Exeter, with the aim of expanding this idea to its other offices across the country. .
