Devon

A new campaign encouraging people who live in Devon to put their county first as it begins its recovery from the Corovirus pandemics has been launched by the charity Love Devon.

As Devon navigates its slow and cautious route out of lockdown, it is encouraging people to put #DevonFirst.

Love Devon is the trading and fundraising arm of Devon Communities Together which works with a very broad range of people, from rural and coastal communities to more urban centres, people like you, or people you might know.

The charity supports them to tackle a wide variety of...

Friday 5 June will be the last day that National Bus Pass holders in Devon can use their passes before 9:30am.

Pass holders in the county have been able to use their pass at any time of day following the temporary relaxation of restrictions in the county in March to help people during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, as more people return to work and social distancing needs to be maintained on bus services, early morning bus capacity is needed for commuters.

Travel with the National Bus Pass will revert to the standard operating times from Saturday 6 June -...

A well known Westcountry journalist and writer has used the power of his pen during the lockdown to raise money for a health charity. In doing so, newspaper columnist Martin Hesp believes he is the first person to write a book filled with stories which focus solely on the coronavirus lockdown and to publish the work while the pandemic continues. “I wrote Tales From The Lockdown in the first 30 days after the nation was told to stay at home,” says Martin, who is Editorial Director of RAW Food and Drink PR. “It is subtitled Six Short Stories of Rural Life Written During the Coronavirus -...

Rob Baxter insists players across Premiership Rugby, including his own at Exeter Chiefs, will be given the best medical provisions as they look to return to training next month.

Director of Rugby Baxter believes restarting training for a return to top-flight action during the current coronavirus outbreak can be done safely - and that implementing the guidelines laid out in the government’s white papers are not as hard as some people think.

Speaking on BBC Radio Devon, Baxter said: “There are challenges currently, but I think the big thing from me - and it’s something I’m...

Last year Healthy Homes for Wellbeing, run by Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) launched a Winter Warmth campaign highlighting the issues of fuel poverty and hard to heat homes faced by local residents each and every winter. The campaign generated almost £5000 for the Healthy Homes Hardship Fund, thanks to the generosity of local residents. This money has been used over the past 6 months to support low income and vulnerable households with purchases such as electric heaters, fridges, washing machines, cookers, fuel vouchers and basic repairs.

“With winter now gone, we are starting to...

Dartmoor National Park and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have issued a warning for people not to light barbecues and campfires after an increase in wildfire incidents. Soaring temperatures and hot weather, which is set to continue in coming days, means the fire severity risk on Dartmoor is forecast as ‘high’. Anyone planning a trip to Dartmoor for some fresh air, a picnic or a family day out is asked to be vigilant against wildfire by not lighting a barbecue or campfire. Andrew Watson, Head of Recreation, Access and Estates said: “We want people to come and enjoy Dartmoor,...

A group of local musicians and medics have joined together to produce a charity video.

The eighteen talented performers have recorded a version of Help! by The Beatles.

And they all played their part from the safety of their own homes.

The video is raising money for FORCE Cancer Charity, which has continued to support local people throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

The project was co-ordinated by Shelley and Ian Poole from the multi award-winning wedding and function band Quite Brazen.

Ian plays guitar and piano and is a sound engineer and music...

People are being encouraged to support local businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.

A new campaign – Stronger Together – has been launched encouraging people, including businesses to buy local and support local businesses. To get the campaign running, people are being encouraged to create and share a short ten-second video clip about a local business they love.

Exeter City Council is backing the campaign and has linked up with a number of organisations and businesses to form the Stronger Exeter taskforce. The campaign comes as the government announced that shops and...

Dental practices may be operating differently at the moment, as non-essential routine check-ups are postponed due to coronoavirus (COVID-19).

So parents of younger children are being asked to pay particular attention to their child’s teeth, to ensure that they continue to have good oral health hygiene.

National Smile Month runs from 18 May until 18 June and Devon Public Health, Libraries Unlimited, Devon’s Childrens’ Centres and Action for Children are raising awareness of oral health hygiene in children and families, in conjunction with the Oral Health Foundation....

The organisers of the Tour of Britain have announced that this year’s race has been postponed.

Devon County Council had been due to host Stage Two of this year’s race in September with a route that was planned to start in Sherford and finish in Exeter.

However, the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted Sweetspot Group, which runs the Tour, to confirm that the event will now be re-scheduled to September 2021.

The Tour had consulted with British Cycling, sponsors and partners of the race to help reach its decision. All agreed that the pandemic...