Devon

Devon’s Free Tree Scheme about to em-bark on its fifth season

This year’s upcoming tree planting season will mark the fifth season that Devon County Council has been running its Free Tree Scheme.

As part of National Tree Week, which this year runs until Sunday 3 December, Devon will be handing out a total of 50 “free tree packs”, each containing 45 native broadleaved trees, to landowners and communities who successfully applied to the initiative.

It’s the third consecutive year that the County Council has received support for the scheme through the Emergency Tree Fund granted by The Woodland Trust.

However, Devon first...

staff who raised money for charity standing in front of a christmas tree

Bishop Fleming employees raise over £4,500 for Devon charity

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 11/26/2023 - 10:48pm

Employees at the Exeter and Torquay offices of leading audit, accountancy, tax and advisory firm Bishop Fleming have raised £4,505 for a Devon-based charity.

Earlier this year the two offices announced their partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust as their chosen charity of the year.

The firm, which delivers accounting, tax and advisory services to businesses, academies and charities and private wealth advice to individuals, held a charity quiz at Sandy Park on 23 November to support the work of the Devon-based charity.

The quiz was hosted by SpeedQuizzing and...

Gritters to head out across the county as temperatures fall below zero

Winter temperatures are forecast to arrive overnight and Devon County Council’s gritting teams are set to be called into action for the first countywide treatment this season.

Road surface temperatures are expected to drop below freezing across the county, reaching as low as -3C in some areas.

Gritters will be out on all of Devon’s main gritting routes from around 7pm tonight.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We’ve been hit by several storms as we head into winter, but we’re now set to see a change in...

Black Friday; If a deal is too good to be true it probably is...

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 11/23/2023 - 5:09pm

Trading Standards is warning consumers to be wary of scams when shopping online this Black Friday.

New research shows more than one in four (27 per cent) have been tricked by purchase scams.

A purchase scam is where a person makes a payment for goods or services online that never turn up.

Criminals often advertise technology products like phones or computers at low prices to attract buyers, persuading them to make bank transfers, then disappearing once the payment is made.

They generally do this either through fake websites or fake ads on social media...

Celebrating the culinary achievement of newbie cooks at the charity's cookery school

First newbie cooks ‘graduate’ from Westbank’s Community Cookery School

Westbank Community Health and Care is celebrating the first cohort of newbie cooks to have completed Foundation Courses in basic kitchen skills at the charity’s recently opened Community Cookery School.

The purpose-built teaching facility at Exminster, near Exeter, opened its doors to beginner cooks this autumn, offering free eight-week workshops to people of all ages who want to learn how to cook simple, nutritious, affordable meals.

A well-attended launch party allowed guests, including sponsors, to see the bespoke teaching kitchen in use. The event marked the completion...

woman wearing Santa hat and orange T-shirt with gifts standing in front of a Christmas tree

Exeter Community Initiatives and Exeter City Football Club Supporters’ Trust launch Secret Santa appeal

Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI) and Exeter City Football Club Supporters’ Trust (ECFCST), have joined forces to launch a Secret Santa appeal.

The soaring cost-of-living has cast a shadow over many households this year, leaving families and individuals grappling with financial strains this Christmas.

To become a Secret Santa, simply donate £5, £10 or even £20 and ECI will send a Christmas gift of equal value to an individual or family.

Teresa Pollard, Exeter Community Initiatives’ Fundraising Manager, said: “In the spirit of the season, ECI and our partners,...

police officers from Devon & Cornwall constabulary showing awards

Dedicated Officers and Volunteers Thanked at Exeter Awards Event

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 11/20/2023 - 12:08am

Police officers, staff and volunteers gathered in Exeter earlier this month to receive recognition and pay tribute to those who have gone above and beyond in the line of duty.

The awards ceremony at Northcott Theatre in the city was a chance for senior managers to thank the teams who keep our communities safe.

Those being honoured included colleagues showing bravery, initiative and dedication in serving the public and keeping communities safe.

The awards were presented by Superintendent Antony Hart, Local Policing Area Commander for Exeter, East & Mid Devon...

Devon residents are urged to 'use the food waste bin'

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 11/19/2023 - 8:15pm

A new campaign launched by Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee (DASWC) highlights how easy it is for residents to make the most of their food waste collection service.

Residents in areas with food waste collections are encouraged to pledge one or two simple actions they can take – and be in with a chance of winning one of five blenders.

A recent analysis of black bin waste across the county showed that many households are still putting food waste in their black bin.

Instead, residents are being encouraged to use their food waste containers to put this...

Devon charity celebrates 25 years of supporting unpaid carers

Devon Carers, a free service by Westbank Community Health and Care, is this month celebrating 25 years of supporting unpaid carers across the county and is planning several events throughout the coming year as part of its landmark anniversary.

The charity provides a wide range of support services to those who look after family members or friends because they are ill, frail, or have a disability, mental health or substance misuse problem.

Over the last two and a half decades, Westbank’s Devon Carers has grown to be one of the largest charitable organisations in the UK...

Woman with pink hair holding money in front of an Asda supermarket van

Exeter Green fleet-tech company hands out £1.3m of prizes to enhance better driving and behaviours among workers

Exeter headquartered Lightfoot, the pioneering developer of rewards for better driving, has passed the £1.3m mark of prizes handed out to date to encourage better driving and working habits among workers in the UK and mainland Europe. Now, the green fleet tech leader is on target to give away up to £1m of rewards throughout 2024, and each year after, to enhance positive behaviours in fleets, and across its customers’ wider operations.

Since combining its real-time driver feedback technology with its smartphone rewards platform, Lightfoot has handed out thousands of prizes to...

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