Devon

Fabulous response to Wildlife at Home photography competition

Organisers or a wildlife at home photography competition have been bowled over by the high standard of entries.

Exeter City Council and Devon Wildlife Trust received 93 entries for the competition, with dozens of stunning images.

In the end it was David Flint’s close-up of a garden dragonfly that impressed judges the most. David will receive a book on Wildlife Gardening, kindly donated by Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) for his efforts.

Eleven-year-old Oliver Marsh won the junior category with his shot of a robin on a bench. Oliver will also receive a book of...

Measures introduced to support walking and cycling

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 02/05/2021 - 5:05pm

A number of measures to support walking and cycling have been introduced or proposed as part of the second phase of Emergency Active Travel Funding projects.

Devon was awarded almost £1.3 million from the Department for Transport to provide safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists following the reduction of public transport capacity due to social distancing requirements during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

A new pedestrian and cycle crossing has been installed at Countess Wear roundabout, and a new crossing has also been completed at Russell Way to extend the E9...

MIDI TV

Music In Devon Initiative Presents... MIDI TV

Presented by local artist Abbe Martin from the Sound of the Sirens, MIDI TV promises a fun, modern and highly entertaining series of shows to be released each month, starting with the first episode launching on Saturday 20th February at 8pm.

Viewers can head to MIDI TV socials and YouTube to tune in, and can subscribe and comment to let the team know what they’ve enjoyed and want to see more of – giving a real community input to what audiences want to see and hear. Coupled with this is some real ‘90’s fun, with their own MIDI TV PacMan challenge which will see artists go head-to-...

Director of Public Health Devon appeals to car sharers and people in the work place to take extra precautions

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/04/2021 - 12:59am

Devon’s Director of Public Health, Steve Brown, is concerned about the number of cases still arising in work places.

He said: “We’re still seeing cases spreading between work colleagues. It’s often not because of the work place practices themselves, it’s more a consequence of social interaction between colleagues while at work. And too often, it’s the virus spreading between colleagues who are car sharing.”

So here’s a reminder:

Firstly, while in national lockdown, we should not be leaving our homes to travel unless for work or for other permitted essential...

Bott Ltd, Kia, Mash Kia

Bott Ltd chooses Kia to go electric

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 02/02/2021 - 5:13pm

Vehicle conversions and workplace outfitting firm bott has chosen to go electric with the order of a new Kia e-Niro electric car.

The firm, which already runs a fleet of plug-in hybrids from another brand, looked at the market and settled on the e-Niro, citing its range, practicality, reliability and seven-year/100,000 mile standard warranty each as principle reasons when making its decision.

The car is used by the company to visit clients and ensure bott’s presence on the road is seen to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious, as the company makes great...

The search begins for Devon's Best Churchyard of 2021

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 02/02/2021 - 1:15am

During the pandemic, Devon’s residents have appreciated the green spaces around their churches like never before and now Devon CPRE is inviting churches of all denominations to enter this year’s competition to find the ‘Best Churchyard’ in the whole of the county.

Following a year with little to celebrate, Devon CPRE applauds the volunteers helping to maintain and ‘green up’ Devon’s churchyards. During the challenging months of lockdown, many churchyards have become real sanctuaries for the local community - not just for churchgoers. In some places, they are the only public space...

Manager for Guardian Homecare, Catherine Porter.

200k+ retail job losses predicted in 2021 but Devon’s jobseekers can transfer skills to care   

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Sat, 01/30/2021 - 1:39pm

SHOPWORKERS are being encouraged to transfer their skills to care by one of Exeter’s providers as analysts predict there will be more than 200,000 retail job losses nationwide in 2021 (January 2021).  

Guardian Homecare, which provides home care in and around Exeter, says experts report high street retailers are facing a terrible year ahead with more than 15,700 store closures anticipated.

Catherine Porter, Manager for Guardian Homecare says: “According to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), in 2020, as many as 177,000 jobs were lost from UK retail, that’s up by a quarter...

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trialled in South West 89.3% effective

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trialled in Exeter 89.3% effective

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 01/29/2021 - 6:11pm

The NIHR-supported Novavax COVID-19 vaccine – which was trialled in Exeter and Cornwall – has demonstrated that the vaccine is 89.3% effective at preventing COVID-19.This data was identified from interim analysis of the Phase III study and included effectiveness against the new variants.

The Novavax study is the largest ever double blind, placebo-controlled trial to be undertaken in the UK. It recruited over 15,000 participants in just over 2 months from 35 UK research sites, including the NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre based at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust...

Local dad raising funds for Chron's and Colitis on behalf of son

Authored by Erin
Posted: Fri, 01/29/2021 - 3:57pm

Steven Humphreys is an electrical maintenance technician in the South West, working for NHS Property Services. In September, Steven will be running 10 Ultra Marathons in 10 days – a whopping 30-50 miles each day to raise funds for Crohn’s and Colitis.

The reason Steven is taking on such a difficult challenge is in honour of his son who suffers from severe Crohn’s disease. By taking on this incredible feat, Steven hopes to raise awareness for those who feel the pain and discomfort of Crohn’s every single day. He is determined to push through the pain, much like his son continues...

Malaika Kegode

Pubs, poems, positivity: Publicans help to spread cheer across the region with heartwarming poem by SW poet

Despite their pubs being currently closed, many publicans across the South West are spreading some cheer to people in their local communities, during these challenging times, by sharing a heartwarming poem about pubs written and performed by a poet from Bristol.

The poem, which has been specially commissioned for pubs in the South West by arts project INN CROWD, is called ‘The Best Ones’, which has been written and performed by poet Malaika Kegode, who grew up in Devon. Her poem is part of a national campaign called ‘Winter Warmers’ that aims to help bring some cheer and hope to...

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