Devon

An innovative approach to delivering social enterprise projects through micro-granting (where people invest small amounts of money) is due to be launched in Exeter next month.

ExeterSOUP is an event aimed at promoting community-based development through crowd-funding, creativity, collaboration and fun, and will take place at St Sidwells Community Centre, Exeter, on Wednesday, 17 June, from 6pm-8.30.

Creator and event organiser Gemma Hobson explains: “The idea of the event is for everyone to pay a donation of around £5, which also buys them a soup supper and a drink....

Hearing a real cow moo or a sheep baa for the first time is a special moment but a new survey of primary school children has revealed that this experience is becoming increasingly rare.

The results show that more than 1 in 3 children have never heard a sheep baa (37 per cent) or a cow moo (34%) up close, with thousands only experiencing it through their TV or computer screens. The survey, which was released ahead of this weekend’s Open Farm Sunday, revealed the disconnect many children have with farming and where their food comes from. One in four children (24 per cent) surveyed...

Tractor Ted is making his debut at Toddler Time at the Exeter Picturehouse with its hit film All About Tractors.

“Young children love watching real life farm action,” says Alexandra Heard, the creator of Tractor Ted.

“It really has to be seen to be believed – and All About Tractors is one of our favourite films packed full of what we like best – Tractors!

This screening will be a fantastic outing for young children and their parents, that is educational and entertaining, and a great introduction to the cinema.”

All About Tractors is a thoroughly addictive...

Two parks in Devon have received a top visitor attraction accolade.

The Grand Western Canal Country Park and Local Nature Reserve, and Stover Country Park, which are both managed by Devon County Council, have been awarded the prestigious Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for 2015.

Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great reviews from Trip Advisor travellers.

Winners include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually...

The Love Revolution Tour', Will's first tour in four years, starts in York on 29th October and runs across the UK & Ireland finishing in London at the Hammersmith Apollo on 29th November.

The tour announcement comes as Will's brilliant brand new album '85% Proof' goes straight into Number One on the Official UK Album Chart.

'85% Proof' is the sixth album from the multi-million selling Brit Award winning singer-songwriter and represents his most accomplished work to date. The record is an eclectic, hugely confident and startlingly human record which Clash described as '...

Innovative local digital startup Krowdthink and the Plymouth and Devon Chamber are partnering to make the networking opportunity at the Plymouth Business Show on Wednesday 17 June at Plymouth Pavilions, a fantastically enhanced digital experience for exhibitors and visitors.

The Krowd app is a new form of social network service for connecting people in places.

It helps users discover more people with shared interests in a crowd and connect with them. In addition it provides a location-based instant-on chat forum, so exhibitors and delegates can engage in a digital...

Exeter’s SunGift Energy has installed the UK’s first ‘Shadow Solar’ carport at its Marsh Barton HQ. The system, which takes just one day to erect, is a 100% waterproof modern carport with the added benefit of having solar panels for its roof. “It’s an exceptional piece of kit that not only provides a full solar PV system, but also delivers excellent shading and protection,” said SunGift Scott Oldfield. “Devon Homeowners are increasingly looking for new solutions that meet their needs and the Shadow Solar is one of the industry’s latest innovations.” “As more people buy electric cars, the...

Detectives are appealing to the public for information after a woman was robbed on the street in Newton Abbot.

The woman was approached at the bus stop outside the railway station by two men who asked her for a light for a cigarette.

She was then kicked by one of the men and fell to the floor where the second man grabbed her handbag.

The woman was further assaulted during the struggle before the offenders grabbed her purse from the bag and made off. The purse contained around £100.

The woman, in her 40s and from Torquay, sustained bruising to her chest and...

A new booklet aimed at encouraging great scenic train journeys along the Riviera Line between Exeter to Paignton and promoting Dawlish & Teignmouth has been published.

The free booklet has been produced by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and brings together ideas for great days out in Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and along the English Riviera. Walks from stations are also featured including the Exe Estuary Trail and Agatha Christie Mile in Torquay.

The booklet also promotes South Devon events along the Riviera Line in 2015 including the Dawlish Arts...

A section of the Exe Estuary Trail cycleway between Turf Locks and Church Road, Powderham is planned to close between Monday 08 June and Monday 15 June in order to complete the final surfacing of the cycle path.

Due to the maintenance, both the cycle path and public footpaths will be closed for most of the period. Because there is no suitable diversion route available, pedestrians and cyclists are asked to avoid this section of cycleway for the duration of the closure.

Notices alerting the public to the closure will be positioned at several points along the Exe Estuary...