Staff and volunteers at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park have been left shocked by the sudden death of male giraffe Yoda. The 14-year-old northern giraffe was found collapsed in the giraffe house early this morning.
Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “This has come as a huge shock. He was a noble animal, one of the best-known and best-loved characters in the Zoo. There was no warning. People are in tears.
“It’s a big blow, but when you work with animals you have to deal with the low points as well as the highs.” A post-mortem examination will be carried out by the Zoo’s...
Urban designers David Birkbeck and Stefan Kruczkowski joined Barratt Homes at Minerva in Exeter to celebrate the five star housebuilder’s 60th anniversary.
David has been CEO of Design for Homes since 2000 and he wrote the Building for Life matrix which is tool used to assess new build applications and is currently working on an updated version to support the National Planning Policy Framework.
Stefan is an urban designer specialising in design within residential developments and works to support Building for life.
On a recent visit to the Minerva development they...
REPORTS of racist incidents and hate crimes in Crediton are the inspiration behind the first Crediton Diversity Festival, which will be held at the Boniface Centre in Crediton on Saturday, November 10.
Local equalities and diversity campaigner Alan Quick said that reports that people had suffered from racism and other hate crimes locally had inspired him to “do something positive” and organise the event.
He explained: "The aim of the festival is to celebrate the diverse community we live in.
"Each individual is unique and Crediton is a welcoming place for all...
Exeter Male Voice Choir will be presenting An Evening to Remember at St Peter's School in Quarry Lane on Saturday November 10 (7:30-9:15).
It is a joint concert which also features the young musicians of Lympstone Training Band, who will be playing traditional favourites.
The choir will perform popular modern songs and some James Bond theme tunes accompanied by guest soloist, soprano Penny Smith-Wiseman. The event will be raising funds for FORCE Cancer Charity, Haemochromatosis UK and, as it is on the eve of Armistice Day, the Royal British Legion.
Network Rail’s South West Rail Resilience Programme held its first community drop-in session last week (Tuesday 30 October) to update residents and the local community on ongoing work to improve the resilience of the railway between Dawlish and Teignmouth in Devon.
The event, held at Dawlish Methodist Church, saw hundreds of people attend over the course of three hours, in which representatives from Network Rail along with world-leading engineers in coastal, tunnel, cliff and railway engineering provided an update on the detailed studies that they have been conducted, and continue...
Work is progressing on a new skate park for Exeter. The new facility at Arena Park is expected to be ready by Christmas.
The design of the park has been chosen by a group of local pro skaters working to a design brief heavily influenced by the local skating community.
The skate park will feature ramps, quarterpipes, flatbanks, ledges and rails. The plaza style design will also feature a viewing/seating area overlooking all the action.
The old skate park had to be broken up last year after it came to the end of its usable life.
Four Wetherspoon pubs in Exeter have won acclaim for the quality and standards of their toilets – in the Loo of the Year Awards 2018.
The Imperial in New North Road, George’s Meeting House in South Street, The Sawyer’s Arms in Cowick Street and The Chevalier Inn in Fore Street, have each been awarded a platinum rating by inspectors – the highest award possible.
The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of 'away from home' toilet provision across the UK.
Loo of the Year Awards inspectors make unannounced visits to thousands of toilets at sites...
HRH The Princess Royal presented staff from The Donkey Sanctuary an award in recognition of their employee training last week. It is the second time the international animal welfare charity has received the Princess Royal Training Award.
Slade House Farm manager Maxine Carter, equine assisted activities development manager Nicky French and learning and development manager Steven James collected the award on behalf of the charity at a ceremony in St James’s Palace, London on 31 October. Steven James, learning and development manager at The Donkey Sanctuary who received the award...
The West Country's leading artisan producers recently joined Darts Farm for their special Harvest Supper. The evening saw the start of the 25 years' celebrations of this nationally award-winning family business, run by the three Dart brothers - Michael, James and Paul.
There was a warm welcome in the Darts Farm teppee which was well attended by producers and suppliers, many bringing with them an addition to the mouth-watering feast. The Darts Farm butchers prepared succulent marinated lamb over a sizzling fire pit, with delicious cheeses, salads, beautiful breads and charcuterie,...
Simpkins Edwards, the Barnstaple-based chartered accountancy firm, is calling on North Devon’s brightest brains to compete in its 9th annual Really Big Quiz in aid of local charities. Taking place at the Barnstaple Hotel on Wednesday 14th November from 6.45pm, the annual Really Big Quiz brings the region’s brightest professional brains together to compete for the coveted title of Barnstaple’s and North Devon’s brainiest ‘eggheads’. The event raises vital funds for the Mayor of Barnstaple’s chosen charities, which this year include Over & Above: The North Devon Cancer and Wellbeing...
