Devon

Devon Wildlife Trust has spent this autumn conducting a very different kind of harvest.

The charity has been collecting seed from Devon’s ash, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly and other trees at some of its 49 nature reserves as part of a national project to aimed at protecting the UK’s woodlands. Devon Wildlife Trust is a partner in the UK National Tree Seed Project, which has been set up by Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, and made possible with funding generated by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Tree seeds collected as part of the project will be safely banked in the...

Police officers in Exeter are appealing for witnesses following a hit and run road traffic collision.

The incident occurred at around 11.20pm on Friday 27th November in St Davids Hill, at its junction with Howell Road.

The pedestrian casualty, a man, aged in his 40s, was crossing the road when he was in collision with a small dark hatchback type vehicle.

Following the collision the driver failed to stop and drove off down St Davids Hill in the direction of Exwick.

As a result of the collision the casualty sustained serious leg injuries requiring surgery....

New research from THINK! shows that while half the population (51%) would not consider consuming any alcoholic drinks before driving, a shocking one in ten people would consider having two or more drinks before they get behind the wheel. This increases to one in five among men aged 18-34 (19%). The government has launched a new campaign to tackle drink driving, targeting those who do not recognise that even a small number of drinks before driving can be deadly. It urges everyone to THINK! before drinking and driving. New adverts highlight how a second drink can double the chance of being...

Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink took home a Devon Tourism Award for the third year running at last night’s ceremony, held at the Holiday Inn in Plymouth.

The Festival picked up a Bronze award for its 12th event, which took place in April at Exeter Castle and Northernhay Gardens.

The multi-award winning Festival also celebrated Silver in the 2014-2015 South West England Tourism Excellence Awards last year.

Of the win Derek Phillips, Board Chairman of the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink says: “We are delighted to be recognised once again...

The first batch of winners in Teignbridge’s Recycling Together Rewards scheme has been announced.

Community groups, trusts, charities and residents have all been named as winners in the scheme aimed at reducing the amount of food waste sent for disposal and encouraging recycling.

Newton Abbot Community Transport Association and Kingsteignton Swimming Pool and Recreational Association are the top winners so far scooping £100.

Bovey Tracey Heritage Trust, Open Daw in Dawlish, Devon UK Mega, Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS) Foodbank, The Parish Church of St Peter...

The ruling Conservative Group on East Devon District Council has welcomed Government backing for a new Enterprise Zone in the Greater Exeter area as a perfect example of partnership working and a vindication of EDDC’s efforts at bolstering the local economy.

Commenting on support for a Heart Of The South West Enterprise Zone announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement last week, EDDC’s Deputy Leader said: “This is a huge vote of confidence in our region from the very centre of UK Government. It is proof that our strategy in creating the right business...

On Wednesday night (25 November), the south west’s green energy industry gathered at a glittering awards’ ceremony in Bath, sponsored by British Solar Renewables, to showcase and celebrate the companies, projects and individuals at the forefront of the region’s growing renewable energy industry. More than 100 companies entered the twelfth annual South West Green Energy Awards, organised by Regen SW. But the night was all about the finalists, as seven category winners were announced by awards’ host Matt Harvey poet and writer. The winners, which represent the very best examples of...

TOUGH new policies to combat fish fraud across Europe appear to be working, according to a new study.

The largest multi-species survey of fish labelling accuracy to date indicates a marked and sudden reduction of seafood mislabelling in supermarkets, markets and fishmongers in the EU.

Scientists in six European countries, including Dr Andrew Griffiths from the University of Exeter, tracked samples of the mostly commonly consumed fish, including cod, tuna, hake and plaice, after a series of studies going back 5 years had shown mislabelling in up to 40% of cases.

It...

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, which has a rehoming centre in Ilfracombe has teamed up with some of the nation’s most famous faces to launch their iconic campaign, ‘A Dog is For Life, Not Just For Christmas’, following a year of ludicrous excuses offered up by dog owners when giving up their pets to Dogs Trust.

Staff at Dogs Trust Ilfracombe were particularly surprised to hear a member of the public explain they no longer wanted their dog because he wasn’t housetrained.

The line-up of celebrity dog lovers includes Sky News’s Eamonn Holmes, Sherlock’s...