Residents in Teignbridge are being encouraged to ‘starve your bin’ by reducing, reusing and recycling waste wherever possible this festive season.
To prevent a build-up of rubbish, all households are urged to visit Teignbridge District Council’s website to check out green gift ideas, how to recycle Christmas wrapping paper, cards and trees and get the revised waste and recycling collection dates.
Over three million tonnes of waste is created in the UK every Christmas and to help reduce the build-up a ‘ Christmas Waste ’ page has been put together and is packed with...
Spiders may not be the pure predators we generally believe, after a study found that some make up a quarter of their diet by eating pollen. Dr Dirk Sanders of the University of Exeter demonstrated that orb web spiders – like the common garden variety – choose to eat pollen even when insects are available. Spider webs snare insect prey, but can also trap aerial plankton like pollen and fungal spores. Dr Sanders, alongside Mr Benjamin Eggs from the University of Bern, conducted feeding experiments and a stable isotope analysis on juvenile spiders to see whether they incorporate plant...
Independent schools could be held to a higher standard of education by regulator Ofsted from next September onwards.
In new plans unveiled today ‘good’ will become the only acceptable standard for independent schools inspected by Ofsted.
Currently, the Ofsted framework for schools has the judgements, outstanding, good, adequate and inadequate. This consultation now seeks views on changing the ‘adequate’ grade to ‘requires improvement.’
This grade will signify that even though a school may be meeting all the independent school standards, this is the minimum...
House prices in the South West are set to rise again as demand continues to exceed supply, surveyors have forecasted.
According to new figures released today by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) house prices in the South West will increase by a further 7% over the next year.
Rental costs are also set to rise by a further 2% which will carry over into the cost of living.
The forecast is echoed nationally as well with the average UK house price set to rise by 8% in the next year.
London house prices again see the largest increase, jumping up by...
Dean Mumm has admitted it was an “easy decision” to extend his stay with Exeter Chiefs for a further two years.
Signed from the NSW Waratahs ahead of the 2011/12 season, the vastly experienced Australian international has proven an instant hit at Sandy Park, both on and off the field.
His eye-catching displays, together with his try-scoring abilities and on-field leadership skills were not only a key facet of his first year in Devon, but also this term where he has led from the front since being awarded the captaincy by head coach Rob Baxter.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter today told of his delight after skipper Dean Mumm put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the Aviva Premiership club.
With the Australian international's contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign, Baxter has moved swiftly to ensure the experienced forward will remain at Sandy Park for the foreseeable future.
And it's a bold statement of intent from Baxter that the Chiefs are clearly determined to ensure they keep hold of their prized assets.
Baxter said: “He’s been a fantastic signing for us since he turned up...
Devon County Council is warning people to be be prepared for icy roads in parts of the county tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
Areas of higher ground could see road surface temperatures drop below freezing during the peak travel time and gritters will be out on Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Blackdown Hills and parts of north and west Devon overnight.
There is also the chance of sleet and wintry showers tomorrow morning, and everyone travelling on the county’s highways is urged to take extra care.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway...
The number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) in Devon has risen for the first time since February 2013, with figures increasing by 66 claimants over the past month. Claimants in Devon have gone up from 6,513 in October to 6,579 in November meaning a 1% increase from last month.
The news comes the same day as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) report reveals that the overall national unemployment rate has fallen.
The ONS reports that nationally 250,000 more people are now in employment since July this year.
It was a good weekend for Exeter’s Badminton Performance Centre (EPC), with players out in full force for the Devon Bronze tournament held at the University of Exeter’s Sports Park on 14-15 December.
Under 11s girls Charlotte Freer and Learna Herkes both performed well; Freer finishing second in her group, before an ankle injury ended Herkes’ blistering form just one match short of the final.
Meanwhile Exeter’s Lloyd Skinner, Alex Moir, Callum Cheung all took their rightful place in the semi-finals of the U15 boys singles event, alongside Welsh National player Oliver...
