Devon

Community support builds for wild beavers

As community support builds for Devon’s wild beavers, an oil painting of a Devon beaver has raised £700 for Devon Wildlife Trust’s work to keep the animals on the River Otter. The canvas, by renowned east Devon wildlife artist Emma Bowring, was donated to the charity’s Devon’s Wild Beavers fundraising appeal. Support has also been forthcoming from Ottery St Mary schools, Exeter businesses – and even TV presenter Chris Packham. The aim of the appeal is to keep the wild beaver population on the River Otter by securing a licence from the government for a five- year monitoring project to...

Crediton pupils’ WW1 work goes on display

Pupils at a Devon primary school have created their own ‘pop-up’ World War One museum which will be open to the community all next week.

The museum will feature period artefacts such as gas masks and shell casings which have been discovered in relatives’ attics as well as websites and projects featuring the children’s own research into family members who were involved in the war.

The extended project, at Landscore Primary School at Crediton, has been funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which has enabled Years 5 and 6 to work with a professional ancestry...

River Cottage celebrates chef graduation

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 12:27pm

The graduation extravaganza held at River Cottage HQ was marked with a banquet cooked by Chef Tutors, speeches given by Steve Lamb followed by a certification ceremony presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The graduates then danced the night away as they celebrated their achievements. The event attracted visitors from across the world, as families flew in from Malta and Australia to see their sons and daughters graduating. The 48 ecstatic graduates were the first to complete our Young Chef Apprentice Scheme – a professional and personal journey that aims to equip young learners with...

Pilot community project launches with 12 libraries

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 12:06pm

Twelve communities across Devon have been chosen to take part in a pioneering new partnership project to test how they can support their local libraries and expand the services they provide.

Devon County Council will work with the dedicated community groups to help shape the new organisation and try out new ways of involving local people so they can have more say on how their library is run.

Those chosen include Colyton, Bampton, Moretonhampstead and Ottery St Mary.

Topsham Library has been working with the Estuary League of Friends and will also form part of the...

Shock at plans to cut hearing aids

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 11:08am

The decision announced by the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to only provide one hearing aid for people who have hearing loss in both ears has caused concern at the National Deaf Children’s Society.

As the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people, the National Deaf Children’s Society is raising concerns today around the lack of consultation and evidence base being used before the CCG made their decision.

Speaking on behalf of the National Deaf Children’s Society, Sarah Collinson...

Appeal for witnesses following fatal crash

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 10:51am

A teenager who was involved in a collision with a car in Paignton has died.

The 16-year-old male pedestrian, a foreign student, suffered serious head injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital.

He died in hospital in the early hours of Sunday 7 December. His family have been informed.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision that happened at 12.15pm on Saturday 6 December on Great Western Road, on the one-way system outside Paignton train station.

The driver of the silver Vauxhall Vectra, a 42-year-old local man, was uninjured...

South West registers stronger rise in output in November

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/08/2014 - 10:49am

The South West private sector economy registered a pick-up in growth in November from October’s recent low, according to PMI survey data.

The rates of expansion in total activity and new business both accelerated for the first time since June, but remained weaker than the respective UK averages. Job creation continued at a solid pace and outstanding business increased further, while inflationary pressures remained historically muted.

The seasonally adjusted Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking South West Business Activity Index signalled growth of private sector output in...

Stay on track with Reebok's Christmas Survival Guide

As Christmas is fast approaching and the abundance of food near, Reebok’s Master Trainers have created a Christmas Survival Guide to help you stay on track of your fitness goals whilst still enjoying the fruits of the festive period.

Incorporate little exercises on a daily basis – they will add up!

Start the day balanced. When brushing your teeth stand on one leg to activate the core and work on your balance and stabilisation. You can try this with your eyes closed if you are brave… as this will affect the effort required to stand still and tall

Get up 10 minutes...

Police firearms amnesty hailed a success

The firearms amnesty held by Devon and Cornwall Police last month (3 – 17 November 2014) has been hailed as a success.

Final results show that hundreds of guns and literally bins full of ammunition were handed in to police at participating stations throughout Devon and Cornwall.

In total 446 weapons were taken in, and 15,721 items of ammunition were collected to be passed on to the army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

Chief Inspector Daniel Evans said: “The response from the public with regards to the amnesty has been excellent. We have been successful in...

Crimebeat grants available to Devon residents

Applications are now open for people in Devon to apply for grants from Crimebeat funds, sponsored by the High Sheriff of Devon. Awarded to individuals or groups, grants of up to £1,000 are available to people whose project will have a positive impact on the local community and will help cut crime.

Of particular relevance are initiatives which can positively influence young people who are at risk of offending, engage in anti social behaviour, are subject to drug or alcohol abuse, or who regularly skip school. Successful projects can vary from helping elderly people make their homes...

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