A controversial planning application at Newton Poppleford has been taken off the agenda of an East Devon District Council planning meeting today (Tuesday) at the eleventh hour due to an intervention by Natural England.
The Government’s official adviser on wildlife and conservation is one of several “statutory consultees” who were asked to comment on Clinton Devon estates’ proposal for up to 40 homes plus doctors’ surgery off King Alfred Way, Newton Poppleford.
Their comments had not been received when the formal deadline passed several weeks ago, but finally arrived today (...
The summer holidays got off to a ‘flying’ start for local youngsters when EDDC’s Countryside Team joined other local organisations with a rural theme at the annual Natural Seaton Festival.
The event was organised by the Seaton Visitor Centre Trust to celebrate the geological and ecological wealth of the town.
The first EDDC Countryside event of the weekend was Meet the Bats led by Fiona Mathews, Senior Lecturer in Mammalian Biology at Exeter University. Eleven of our 15 native species of bat have been recorded on the Axe Estuary Wetlands in Seaton, and electronic bat...
For the first time a study of divers and anglers has revealed that the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in UK seas will not only benefit habitats and wildlife, but will also bring considerable economic benefits and have a positive effect on the well-being of sea and coastal users. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) welcomes the report and says it shines a light on some of the wider benefits that a proposed network of Marine Conservation Zones around England will bring to the public purse and which Defra has so far turned a blind eye to.
One top Devon company is helping an animal charity with the little things that make a big difference.
Sparkworld has donated a selection of domestic appliances and kitchen tools to Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium.
“These things may not be sexy, but they are vital!” says Jenny Paton from Living Coasts. “The hand blender is used for preparing fish for feeding birds. And sometimes we make fish soup to syringe feed the rays, especially if youngsters need feeding up. The dishwasher is used to clean animal feed bowls.
Devon County Council has today (Wednesday, 3 July) won an award for excellence for a pilot project to tackle smoking and protect children from harm.
The award from the CLeaR Partnership, which works with local authorities across England to assess progress in reducing smoking, was given for Devon’s pioneering work with children’s centres.
At the seven pilot sites across the county, the Council has installed specially designed signage to advise people not to smoke on site and provided bespoke training for staff to raise the issue with parents and offer support to parents who...
A new seaside pad with a million pound price tag has been snapped up - by a family of otters. The prime site at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, overlooks Beacon Cove and Tor Bay.
Bradley’s Estate Agents Area Manager Darren Hole commented: “This is a prime location with stunning panoramic views, convenient for the harbour and for town centre shops. The grounds are perfect for al fresco dining - and there’s lots of local wildlife!”
The single-storey accommodation includes a bedroom and lounge area with a porch. The grounds feature two swimming pools, lawns...
Join Devon Wildlife Trust and the University of Exeter on the Streatham Campus on Saturday 22 June for a fun family day out to discover a wealth of wildlife.
The event is being run in partnership between Devon Wildlife Trust and the University of Exeter as part of the Festival of Ecology which forms part of the British Ecological Society’s centenary celebrations.
The Race to Discover the Local Biodiversity will take the form of a Bioblitz. A Bioblitz is where you find, indentify and record as many plants and animals in one area as possible.
The Woodland Trust is concerned almost 84,000 ancient, veteran or notable trees are in danger from a multitude of pests and diseases, including 7,000 treasured ash trees which could be at risk from ash dieback. More than 115,000 trees, some of which have survived for more than 1,000 years, are registered on the charity’s Ancient Tree Hunt website and the majority of these could face direct threats from pests and diseases.
Ancient trees are the natural equivalent of listed buildings; they’ve stood for hundreds of years and witnessed historic events while watching silently in the...
The number of seabirds recorded washed up on beaches in two incidents along the English Channel covered in polyisobutene (PIB) has passed 4,000.
Now, leading wildlife conservation and animal welfare charities and the UK Chamber of Shipping, supported by the wider industry body MaritimeUK, have come together as a single voice to call for an urgent review of the hazard classification status of PIB.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is currently investigating the cause and culprit of these incidents. If it is confirmed that this disaster was the result of illegal...
The Newtown Community Association cafe on Sunday 12 May will be partnered by the Devon Wildlife Trust.
The event, open from 2pm-4pm, will include DWT Terrestrial Conservation Officer Emily Stallworthy, who will have a stand with information on wildlife gardening, the bumblebee campaign and what they hope to do in Newtown.
There will also be an opportunity to make seed bombs! It's a great activity to do with children, they can get a bit messy (and adults as well!) and then take the seed bomb home to plant in the garden.
