Devonshire ezine June 19
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SUMMER 20<strong>19</strong><br />
GREEN MAGAZINE<br />
devonshiremagazine.co.uk<br />
INCORPORATING<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Get involved with our<br />
green project and help<br />
us green-up Devon<br />
proudtobegreen.org/subscribe<br />
GREEN MAGAZINE<br />
2 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Guest Editor<br />
From the Editor<br />
HIGH SHERIFF AN ABSOLUTE HONOUR<br />
We moved to Devon 31 years ago so we<br />
are still in-comers. But I have come<br />
to adore this county and particularly<br />
my little patch, North Devon. So being<br />
High Sheriff of Devon has been, for<br />
me, a great honour and a wonderful<br />
opportunity to give something back<br />
to this special part of the world.<br />
One of my first major engagements was<br />
the Passing out Parade at Britannia<br />
Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. One<br />
of the jewels in Devon’s crown. The<br />
cadets were become so impressive, active. perfectly<br />
drilled but also full of enthusiasm for<br />
their new roles in Britain’s armed<br />
forces.<br />
I have enjoyed my contacts with all<br />
our cadets. Nigel Before Jones my Declaration<br />
I was involved in choosing the High<br />
Sheriff’s police cadet for the year.<br />
They were all impressive youngsters<br />
and I’m quite sure each one of them<br />
would have your done bit. a brilliant job. It is<br />
lovely to see police cadets working<br />
in our community. Most people will<br />
have come across them, always smartly<br />
dressed and helpful, assisting the police<br />
at major public events. They also do<br />
quite a bit of behind the scenes work<br />
with the police.<br />
YOU'RE A GREEN READER<br />
Another group of youngsters who have<br />
made a strong impression on me is<br />
the Devon Army Cadet Force. I was<br />
privileged to visit their Summer Camp<br />
I have enjoyed every Welcome minute of my to time the Summer which issue took of place <strong>Devonshire</strong> at Nescliff Army<br />
in office and Green have magazine. loved meeting and Base near Shrewsbury in Shropshire.<br />
encouraging all the<br />
As<br />
amazing<br />
a magazine,<br />
people<br />
we're<br />
More<br />
interested<br />
than 300<br />
in<br />
youngsters<br />
positive stories<br />
from Devon<br />
who give so much of themselves for were doing things they had never<br />
the good of<br />
about<br />
others.<br />
how we can all be greener,<br />
done<br />
with<br />
in their<br />
particular<br />
lives before<br />
interest<br />
- climbing<br />
in what our businesses are doing walls, to abseiling, clean up trying their act their hands<br />
across Devon. You'll notice in that the we firing now ranges, have a learning new to sail<br />
and canoe and taking part in group<br />
Proud to be Green chapter in the magazine which will be a<br />
adventures. Like all cadets, many are<br />
permanent feature, where we from can disadvantaged discuss green backgrounds events and and<br />
news as well as looking at the these wider opportunities issues in relation give them to a chance<br />
our environment. to gain in self-esteem, learn to work<br />
with others and develop leadership<br />
There's certainly a lot of doom and gloom<br />
skills. The volunteers who work<br />
out there, and as individuals with we need them to are start also taking amazing, giving<br />
responsibility for our actions their now, time the and time expertise has passed to help the<br />
youngsters.<br />
Carol service when at Mid we could Devon turn Council a blind-eye.<br />
In fact, Devon is full of impressive<br />
volunteers. 95% of cases are tried by<br />
magistrates in this country and they<br />
are all volunteers. We desperately need<br />
more young magistrates and more<br />
companies which are willing to allow<br />
employees to take time off to volunteer.<br />
Our agricultural shows are manned<br />
by volunteer stewards. Devon County<br />
Show stewards won the Queens Award<br />
for Voluntary Service demonstrating<br />
the standard of dedication of all our<br />
volunteers.<br />
There are volunteers running food<br />
banks, helping in hostels, hospices and<br />
hospitals all across the county and fund<br />
raising for all manner of good causes.<br />
I have been privileged to visit the North<br />
Devon Hospice, Hospice Care in Exeter,<br />
Little Bridge House Childrens’ Hospice,<br />
the Freedom Centre in Barnstaple and<br />
the Calvert Trust, just a few of the<br />
many brilliant organizations run by<br />
dedicated professionals but relying<br />
on the help of volunteers.<br />
It's always better to get involved and do something positive, rather than<br />
just sitting back and getting depressed about all the issues that need a speedy<br />
resolution. As usual our ministers are We too have busy so squabbling many to do anything of any<br />
use - some things never change, but wonderful it's down to people us as citizens in to get motivated and<br />
Devon<br />
PS - please go to our website and subscribe to receive our e-newsletter which<br />
contains news on green issues and events, and tips on ways in which you can do<br />
I have also enjoyed gaining an insight<br />
into the work of our emergency<br />
services and the police, the law courts<br />
and our prisons. All these services<br />
employ highly trained individuals<br />
who give 101 percent to what they do.<br />
How lucky we are to have so many<br />
wonderful people in Devon.<br />
Grania Phillips - The Sheriff of Devon<br />
letterbox@devonshiremagazine.co.uk<br />
01395 512166<br />
devonshiremagazine.co.uk<br />
@devonshiremagazine<br />
@devonshiremagazine<br />
@devonshiremag<br />
PUBLISHER - East Devon Coast & Country Ltd - company registration number 7218507.<br />
DISCLAIMER The publishers of this magazine are not responsible for any costs, loss or damage suffered<br />
by any person, persons, or company as a result of any advertisement or article in this magazine. Adverts<br />
are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All<br />
artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given by the owner for use in<br />
this publication. The opinions and comments expressed are purely those of the originators. We do<br />
not endorse any products or services advertised within this magazine. Whilst every effort is made to<br />
ensure that information is correct, the publishers take no responsibility for any errors or omissions.<br />
Any person or persons undertaking the circular walk featured within this publication does so entirely<br />
at their own risk. If you take children or dogs on the walk, they will require supervision. We strongly<br />
advise that prior to travelling to any of the events listed in our What's On sections, that you call the<br />
event organisers to check that the event is running at the times and dates specified. COPYRIGHT<br />
All material within this magazine are subject to copyright. Excepting adverts, all images within the<br />
magazine are copyright to N.Jones unless otherwise specified.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 3
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4 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
On some devices you can only see a page at a<br />
time. If you see this rotation symbol, rotate<br />
your device to see the entire two pages.<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership - Liz Bond<br />
Green stories - Nigel Jones<br />
Production - Charlotte Fergie<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
each of us must take<br />
full responsibility<br />
for our own<br />
environmental<br />
footprint<br />
Our greening-up story<br />
It's my 25th year in media, so we wanted to<br />
do something great for the environment to<br />
celebrate! Meet PROUD to be GREEN<br />
In print, <strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine was<br />
the largest circulation glossy in<br />
Devon, over 900 outlets across<br />
Devon received stocks of the magazine.<br />
In the photograph (next page) what<br />
you see is just one half of an issue’s<br />
magazines at store in East Devon, the<br />
other half being stored at our South<br />
Devon store at Newton Abbot, ready<br />
for distribution.<br />
White, shiny paper – it can’t possibly be<br />
dirty can it? Put it like this, it certainly<br />
ain’t green. You’re talking chemical<br />
processing, masses of electric, water,<br />
42 TONS OF PAPER - THE HARD FACTS:<br />
trees, China clay and transportation<br />
just to manufacture the paper. Let’s<br />
not discuss all the chemicals used in<br />
the printing plant, nor the electric<br />
requirements of the presses, drying,<br />
collating, folding and cropping plant.<br />
No, it certainly isn’t green, especially<br />
when you also consider the petrol<br />
and diesel required to drag the final<br />
printed magazine across Devon by our<br />
delivery team. But that’s not the end<br />
of it – what about all the chemicals,<br />
electric, water, diesel, etc., required to<br />
recycle this paper once the magazine<br />
had been finally read!<br />
• Water – over 76 million litres of water used<br />
• Trees – 1008 trees<br />
This excludes all the<br />
• Electric – 442,562 kWh<br />
chemicals, energy and<br />
plastic for printing,<br />
• CO2 – 386,400 lbs<br />
packaging, delivery and<br />
subsequent recycling!<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Additional to what's required to<br />
produce the paper (left) there’s then<br />
all the environmental costs of printing,<br />
drying, collating, guillotining, and<br />
then the plastic packaging to keep dry,<br />
followed by delivery of magazines and<br />
afterwards the subsequent recycling.<br />
With printed magazines, caustic<br />
chemicals are used to remove the ink<br />
from papers in the recycling process.<br />
Information on Wikipedia for paper<br />
production gives details of the environmental<br />
damage caused by paper<br />
“The environmental<br />
impact of the<br />
pollution caused<br />
by paper is very<br />
significant”<br />
(source: Environmental Law)<br />
which literally jumps off the page -<br />
unfortunately, it’s that bad!<br />
The good news<br />
We ceased print production of the<br />
magazine in January 20<strong>19</strong> and moved<br />
the magazine to being fully-digital<br />
from the March <strong>19</strong> issue onwards.<br />
Any regrets you may ask? – absolutely<br />
none at all for the following reasons.<br />
Why digital magazines are better:<br />
• Reach a larger, more diverse<br />
audience effortlessly, anywhere<br />
in the world, and at any time<br />
• Play video off the page – so<br />
sound and vision within a<br />
magazine<br />
• Digital mags are interactive,<br />
colours are infinitely richer<br />
• More genuine content because<br />
we no longer have to worry<br />
about covering the cost of print<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
– actually our genuine content<br />
has increased by over 300%<br />
• There’s no longer a requirement<br />
for a reader to have a physical<br />
magazine in order to be able to<br />
read the magazine, just a device<br />
• Digital magazines are supergreen<br />
• Our advert rates are half of<br />
what they used to be – fantastic<br />
news for businesses!<br />
We’d never go back to print because<br />
digital improves on the print offering,<br />
whilst being totally environmentally<br />
friendly. You're being green by reading<br />
this digital mag.<br />
Digital rules!<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Left - just one<br />
half of an issue<br />
of <strong>Devonshire</strong><br />
magazine when in<br />
print<br />
each bundle<br />
packaged in<br />
plastic wrapper<br />
to protect for<br />
delivery across<br />
Devon<br />
NO MORE!<br />
Please join the Proud to be Green<br />
scheme by signing up free at<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
16 CONTENTS COUNTRYSIDE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK THINGS TO DO<br />
PEOPLE HOME DESIGN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
17<br />
NAVIGATION<br />
On the bottom of each page you'll see our navigation bar. This will<br />
allow you to go directly into the sections that most interest you.<br />
We've also assigned a colour to each<br />
section of the magazine, this allows<br />
you to track which section you are<br />
currently reading. The colour appears<br />
at the top of each page and on the<br />
chapter name at the bottom. For<br />
example: on the image above you<br />
can see green is showing for the<br />
Countryside section.<br />
When browsing the magazine<br />
online, you will probably notice blue<br />
rectangles briefly appear as you turn<br />
the page. These are live links which<br />
you are able to click to navigate<br />
through the magazine. You can also<br />
use arrows and/or the slider at the<br />
bottom of the magazine display area.<br />
How to use on a desktop computer:<br />
Simply click once on the chapter of<br />
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How to use on your tablet or<br />
smartphone:<br />
Tap once on the magazine page to<br />
highlight the chapters. Then tap on<br />
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the links, just tap on the page again.<br />
KEEP UP TO DATE<br />
See overleaf for all the ways to<br />
get the latest from <strong>Devonshire</strong><br />
magazine.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 5
NECTARING FRENZY<br />
Image by Nigel Jones<br />
6 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Often mistaken for bees or wasps, hoverfly are busy<br />
at this time of the year ‘nectaring’ in the garden, ivy<br />
seeming to be particularly popular.<br />
You can’t fail to notice the buzzing sound emanating from<br />
feeding hoverflies, particularly if the sun’s out which seems<br />
to make these insects extremely frenetic in their feeding.<br />
Hopefully your garden has some part reserved as being<br />
‘nature friendly’, sadly, too many gardens today are barren<br />
wastelands supporting nothing but grass (or worse still, the<br />
current trend is nylon grass).<br />
Hoverflies, being true flies, have only one pair of wings (bees<br />
and wasps have two) and yes, they hover, with a wingbeat of<br />
120 per second and maximum flight speed measured at 3.5<br />
metres per second. Their larvae are voracious aphid eaters,<br />
so gardeners should welcome this noisy ally. Editor<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 7
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SUBSCRIBE TO E-NEWS<br />
devonshiremagazine.co.uk/newsletter<br />
8 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
What's On - HUBCAST<br />
Brought to you exclusively<br />
by <strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine<br />
A fantastic website with all of Devon's events within. Over 5,500<br />
organisations now adding their events. No fiddly APP required,<br />
use the dedicated mobile or desktop version - just pure events.<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
Follow this account for<br />
great events across<br />
Devon<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
234,200+ tweets<br />
alone over the past<br />
year - totally amazing!<br />
Hosting our 40,000 th event this summer!!!<br />
Social Media - MULTIPLE CHANNELS<br />
DIGITAL MAGAZINE<br />
Devon countryside, wildlife,<br />
historic sites, beaches,<br />
nature and beautiful scenery<br />
All things Devon...<br />
@devonshiremagazine<br />
@devonshiremagazine<br />
@devonshiremag<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
Looking for beautiful<br />
destinations and hotels?<br />
This is a great place to see<br />
some of the best Devon offers<br />
visitors, both near or far<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
FOODIE<br />
Love dining and food, why<br />
not follow devonshire<br />
foodie to keep up-to-date on<br />
eateries in Devon<br />
@devonshirefoodie<br />
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PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 9
SUMMER ISSUE:<br />
e-zine for all things Devon...<br />
Follow us:<br />
@devonshiremagazine<br />
@devonshiremagazine<br />
@devonshiremag<br />
devonshiremagazine.co.uk<br />
VISIT<br />
Keeping in touch<br />
Staycation Devon<br />
Dartmoor & South Brent<br />
A look at London<br />
Branscombe walk<br />
Lindisfarne<br />
FOOD<br />
& DRINK<br />
The Pig at Combe<br />
Bill's, Exeter<br />
Life on the Vine<br />
The Railway, Honiton<br />
How Now Dairy<br />
Oyster Shack - Happy Birthday<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
GREEN<br />
& NATURE<br />
42 tons to zero<br />
Castle Drogo<br />
Entanglement<br />
The Pig at Combe<br />
Nourish<br />
Breakwater<br />
Proud to be Green<br />
Green Meat<br />
Roe Deer<br />
Sunny with risk of ants<br />
CPRE<br />
My Cat Tigger<br />
10 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
LIFESTYLE<br />
Summer Fashions<br />
Fashion pages<br />
HOME &<br />
GARDEN<br />
Out & About - Chagford<br />
Nelson’s Column<br />
Here’s the Thing<br />
Roses at Rosemoor<br />
Cadhay Allotments<br />
HISTORY<br />
Walking the Axe<br />
A Fairly Glorious Revolution<br />
Marwood Church<br />
The Seaton Line<br />
Marie Corelli<br />
WWII bunker<br />
THINGS<br />
TO DO<br />
Activity Map<br />
What’s On<br />
Active Summer<br />
Great Night Out<br />
Art Scene<br />
PEOPLE<br />
Hospiscare's Peter Brennan<br />
Julian House<br />
The <strong>Devonshire</strong> Mum<br />
Me, Him and Dementia<br />
Talk About Devon<br />
Mindfulness<br />
The <strong>Devonshire</strong> Eccentric<br />
Managing your Money<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 11
fWilson by<br />
Richard Woodward<br />
12 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 13
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
A scheme to get<br />
everyone thinking<br />
and acting ‘Green’<br />
Now is the time to act, it’s never been more<br />
important for us all to take responsibility for<br />
our own environmental footprint. Please help<br />
us to achieve great change across Devon.<br />
Sick of the lack of action? We all CAN do something positive,<br />
but how often do you look about in frustration!<br />
Where’s Government action you may ask, legislation on<br />
food packaging for instance - it just isn’t happening. But as<br />
consumers we can all exert pressure through our combined<br />
efforts and purchasing power - through buying green.<br />
Go to the website to find out more about the PROUD to be GREEN scheme<br />
WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP<br />
If you’re passionate about the environment and would like to help us push this<br />
scheme out across Devon, we’d love to talk to you. Please call 01395 513383<br />
or email: nigel@proudtobegreen.org to speak to Nigel Jones<br />
Writers<br />
Green stories and news<br />
Do you have a passion for the<br />
environment and writing?<br />
We have a multitude of<br />
news channels to broadcast<br />
interesting stories, tips,<br />
success stories, etc.<br />
Make contact now!<br />
Community Reps<br />
Green-up your town?<br />
Can you help us spread the<br />
word about Proud to be<br />
Green in your town/village<br />
and help us bring your<br />
community on-board?<br />
We’d love to speak to you.<br />
Ambassadors<br />
Help us spread the word<br />
Do you have great links<br />
with communities in your<br />
regular activity? Being<br />
an ambassador can help<br />
greatly and also be good for<br />
you! Business, charity or<br />
otherwise, we’d like to hear<br />
from you.<br />
www.proudtobegreen.org<br />
9 GO TO CONTENTS<br />
14 CONTENTS<br />
GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO<br />
hubcast
PROUD to be GREEN<br />
NATURE<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
15<br />
What's in this section...<br />
42 tons to Zero Entanglement Nourishing Exeter Breakwater<br />
The Roe Deer Trigger Stacking Devon Wildlife Trust Don't Destroy Devon!<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 15
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
each of us must take<br />
full responsibility<br />
for our own<br />
environmental<br />
footprint<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
Our greening-up story<br />
It's my 25th year in media, so we wanted to<br />
do something great for the environment to<br />
celebrate! Meet PROUD to be GREEN<br />
In print, <strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine was<br />
the largest circulation glossy in<br />
Devon, over 900 outlets across<br />
Devon received stocks of the magazine.<br />
In the photograph (next page) what<br />
you see is just one half of an issue’s<br />
magazines at store in East Devon, the<br />
other half being stored at our South<br />
Devon store at Newton Abbot, ready<br />
for distribution.<br />
White, shiny paper – it can’t possibly be<br />
dirty can it? Put it like this, it certainly<br />
ain’t green. You’re talking chemical<br />
processing, masses of electric, water,<br />
trees, China clay and transportation<br />
just to manufacture the paper. Let’s<br />
not discuss all the chemicals used in<br />
the printing plant, nor the electric<br />
requirements of the presses, drying,<br />
collating, folding and cropping plant.<br />
No, it certainly isn’t green, especially<br />
when you also consider the petrol<br />
and diesel required to drag the final<br />
printed magazine across Devon by our<br />
delivery team. But that’s not the end<br />
of it – what about all the chemicals,<br />
electric, water, diesel, etc., required to<br />
recycle this paper once the magazine<br />
had been finally read!<br />
42 TONS OF PAPER - THE HARD FACTS:<br />
• Water – over 76 million litres of water used<br />
• Trees – 1008 trees<br />
• Electric – 442,562 kWh<br />
• CO2 – 386,400 lbs<br />
This excludes all the<br />
chemicals, energy and<br />
plastic for printing,<br />
packaging, delivery and<br />
subsequent recycling!<br />
16 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Left - just one<br />
half of an issue<br />
of <strong>Devonshire</strong><br />
magazine when in<br />
print<br />
each bundle<br />
packaged in<br />
plastic wrapper<br />
to protect for<br />
delivery across<br />
Devon<br />
NO MORE!<br />
Additional to what's required to<br />
produce the paper (left) there’s then<br />
all the environmental costs of printing,<br />
drying, collating, guillotining, and<br />
then the plastic packaging to keep dry,<br />
followed by delivery of magazines and<br />
afterwards the subsequent recycling.<br />
With printed magazines, caustic<br />
chemicals are used to remove the ink<br />
from papers in the recycling process.<br />
Information on Wikipedia for paper<br />
production gives details of the environmental<br />
damage caused by paper<br />
“The environmental<br />
impact of the<br />
pollution caused<br />
by paper is very<br />
significant”<br />
(source: Environmental Law)<br />
which literally jumps off the page -<br />
unfortunately, it’s that bad!<br />
The good news<br />
We ceased print production of the<br />
magazine in January 20<strong>19</strong> and moved<br />
the magazine to being fully-digital<br />
from the March <strong>19</strong> issue onwards.<br />
Any regrets you may ask? – absolutely<br />
none at all for the following reasons.<br />
Why digital magazines are better:<br />
• Reach a larger, more diverse<br />
audience effortlessly, anywhere<br />
in the world, and at any time<br />
• Play video off the page – so<br />
sound and vision within a<br />
magazine<br />
• Digital mags are interactive,<br />
colours are infinitely richer<br />
• More genuine content because<br />
we no longer have to worry<br />
about covering the cost of print<br />
– actually our genuine content<br />
has increased by over 300%<br />
• There’s no longer a requirement<br />
for a reader to have a physical<br />
magazine in order to be able to<br />
read the magazine, just a device<br />
• Digital magazines are supergreen<br />
• Our advert rates are half of<br />
what they used to be – fantastic<br />
news for businesses!<br />
We’d never go back to print because<br />
digital improves on the print offering,<br />
whilst being totally environmentally<br />
friendly. You're being green by reading<br />
this digital mag.<br />
Digital rules!<br />
Please join the Proud to be Green<br />
scheme by signing up free at<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
17
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
GREEN STORY<br />
A century of green<br />
electric at Drogo Castle<br />
Drogo Castle’s the very last<br />
castle to be built in England,<br />
built between <strong>19</strong>11 and<br />
<strong>19</strong>30. Julius Drewe certainly<br />
had taste, the positioning was<br />
superb, and he employed two of<br />
the eminent people of their day,<br />
Edwin Lutyens as the architect<br />
and Gertrude Jeckyll was also<br />
drafted in to help with the<br />
garden scheme.<br />
There’s a large element of<br />
sadness to the story of Drogo<br />
Castle however. The founder of<br />
the Home and Colonial stores<br />
had a vision for his castle, and<br />
what exists today would have<br />
been much larger and imposing.<br />
Building started in <strong>19</strong>11 and the<br />
castle was completed in <strong>19</strong>30,<br />
but was a third of the size of the<br />
construction originally designed<br />
by Lutyens. What happened<br />
was that Julius Drewe’s son<br />
died at the infamous Battle of<br />
Passchendaele, and as later<br />
mentioned by his daughter, “the joy<br />
of life went out of my father”.<br />
Myself and wife (not forgetting Alfie<br />
and Jack - our terriers) happened to be<br />
walking the glorious path along the river<br />
Teign from Fingle Bridge upstream on<br />
one of those beautiful early May days<br />
when the intensity of syrupy greens in<br />
the riverside woodland is breathtaking.<br />
About a mile upstream we came across<br />
the hydro-electric generation station<br />
that was installed for Drogo Castle<br />
The turbine house - the leat for<br />
expelled water, also couple of NT<br />
guys on duty, showing folks inside<br />
18 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
WHIDDON WOOD<br />
In the foreground the turbine station. Up<br />
on the ridge, you can just make out Drogo<br />
Castle - covered in scaffolding and white<br />
sheeting - it's being restored. Alfie right ><br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>19</strong>
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
The things in the wall are the radial valves controlling water flow.<br />
You can see the redundant original generator on the right.<br />
when it was built. And luckily it was<br />
open, so, one of the kind National Trust<br />
volunteers was on hand to show me<br />
around the interior.<br />
Incidentally, this walk is sublime if<br />
you haven’t already tried it, and if in<br />
the summer you wish to take a walk,<br />
not in direct sunlight, but in dappled<br />
shade, this is great, particularly if<br />
your dog enjoys a dip in the water also.<br />
As you approach the hydro-electric<br />
station, there’s a great view that leads<br />
your eye up from the station to Drogo<br />
Castle itself, perched up on the ridge.<br />
As an organisation, National Trust<br />
is at the forefront of preserving our<br />
heritage, currently Drogo Castle has<br />
been undergoing major work to repair<br />
rain damage and stop the water ingress<br />
- can’t wait to see it finished result to<br />
this fine building and monument to<br />
Julius Drewe.<br />
To return to the alternative energy<br />
theme of this Proud to be Green chapter,<br />
it’s fantastic to consider that from<br />
outset of the occupancy of the castle,<br />
renewable energy has been in use here.<br />
But I suppose that in the early 20th<br />
century, getting an electric supply to<br />
Drogo Castle would have been a major<br />
problem, so the river was a much easier<br />
solution. Such a pity there aren’t many<br />
more rivers in Devon that could be<br />
utilised in this way.<br />
20 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Fingle Bridge which crosses the lovely river Teign, here on a beautiful early May day when the<br />
leaves on the oaks are still emerging. Alfie taking a dip, with Jack looking on (he's afeared of water<br />
deeper than his knees and regularly pinches sticks Alfie retrieves from the water!).<br />
If you enjoy beautiful walks, and haven't done this one before, then what's stopping you? Look out<br />
for the huge wood ants, they seem to proliferate in the valley (see Devon Wildlife Trust's article<br />
on them in this issue of the mag).<br />
Once over the bridge, you can turn left to walk downstream, right for upstream or straight on,<br />
ideally you have an Ordnance Survey map to work out your route. There's the Fingle Bridge Inn<br />
behind you here for refreshment and lunch, otherwise don't forget the flask and sandwiches!<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
21
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
'Entanglement'<br />
Victoria Sewart Gallery has collaborated<br />
with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary’ through<br />
a project called ‘Entanglement’. They have<br />
created a range of retail bracelets and<br />
pendants made from the ghost nets, alongside<br />
a collection of ‘creative mixed media jewellery’<br />
created by all the staff at Victoria Sewart<br />
Contemporary Jewellery Gallery - all to raise<br />
awareness and highlight the issues of the ghost<br />
nets entangling the seals and damaging our<br />
seas and marine life. The exhibition is open<br />
at Falmouth Poly from Monday 15th -20th<br />
July. Following the exhibition the retail pieces<br />
will be on sale in the Seal Sanctuary’s gift<br />
shop - proceeds from sales go to the charity.<br />
Jewellery<br />
is meant for<br />
humans to<br />
wear and sadly<br />
you often see<br />
a seal with a<br />
fishing line<br />
entangled<br />
around its<br />
neck like a<br />
necklace…<br />
Every day animals become entangled in rubbish that gets into our<br />
seas. Unable to escape from the entanglement, this can result<br />
in serious injuries and in some cases even death. At the Cornish<br />
Seal Sanctuary, they are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation<br />
and release of grey seal pups, many of whom have suffered the<br />
effects of entanglement due to marine litter.<br />
22 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
The less<br />
litter there<br />
is in the<br />
oceans, the<br />
less chance<br />
there is of<br />
an animal<br />
suffering<br />
Animal entanglement can happen for a number of reasons. For seals, entanglement tends to happen<br />
out of curiosity. By nature, seals are inquisitive and playful and will investigate items they come<br />
across. Marine litter such as plastic beach or dogs toys, diving equipment or netting, are particularly<br />
dangerous to mammals like seals. They will investigate the item, then accidentally get stuck inside it or<br />
get it wrapped around their neck, body or appendages. The seal is then unable to get out of the item<br />
and as the seal grows, the item gets tighter and tighter, causing serious wounds or in some cases,<br />
death.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
23
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
The Pig's green strides<br />
at Gittisham's Combe House<br />
A recent visit to The Pig at Combe saw a meeting between myself and duty<br />
manager Luke Harbor. I took the opportunity to quiz Luke on The Pig's green<br />
credentials, he kindly agreed to tell us a little bit about The Pig at Combe and how<br />
they make efforts to reduce waste and plastic pollution, as well as sourcing food<br />
locally to lower their carbon footprint and support local growers. Nigel Jones<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Q - Hi Luke, I fondly remember the<br />
previous proprietors of Combe<br />
House, Ruth and Ken, I know much<br />
has changed since then, with major<br />
investment and refurbishment of<br />
the Elizabethan mansion. Tell us a<br />
little of how things have changed in<br />
the last three years?<br />
A - Ruth and Ken left us a much<br />
loved going concern and a hugely<br />
loyal guest following. This beautiful<br />
building needed restoration and<br />
refurbishment which Robin and<br />
Judy Hutson (and their teams) are<br />
truly skilled at doing. They have<br />
taken this beautiful Elizabethan<br />
country house and enhanced its<br />
period features, plus made it a very<br />
comfortable hotel to stay in, so have<br />
introduced modern day comforts<br />
that have delighted our guests. Ruth<br />
and Ken are still firm friends and<br />
I know they're delighted with how<br />
sympathetically The Pig team has<br />
refurbished their precious hotel.<br />
--------------------------------<br />
Q - Last time I visited for lunch,<br />
myself and Helen were kindly<br />
shown around The Pig’s lovely<br />
kitchen gardens. How much of your<br />
Growing their own<br />
restaurant requirement do you<br />
supply through them can I ask, also,<br />
how much of your food supplies<br />
come from within a 25 mile radius?<br />
A - Every dish served to guests has<br />
something from our kitchen garden,<br />
it's the number one backdrop to<br />
everything the chefs produce with<br />
our kitchen garden underpinning so<br />
much of what we do here at The Pig<br />
at Combe. We'll rarely source<br />
24 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Duty Manager Luke Harbor<br />
fruit or veg from another supplier<br />
but if, for some reason, we need to,<br />
that supplier will be within close<br />
proximity to The Pig at Combe. In<br />
Devon we are so lucky with the<br />
abundance of incredible produce<br />
that we don't have to go far! At<br />
least 85% of our dishes on the<br />
menu come from within a 25 mile<br />
radius of The Pig at Combe.<br />
--------------------------------<br />
Q - It’s intriguing that The Pig<br />
go to the effort of employing<br />
permanent gardeners to run<br />
the kitchen garden, a major<br />
undertaking, is this really viable<br />
on a long term basis can you tell<br />
me?<br />
A - The kitchen gardeners appear<br />
to be a bit of a luxury in a 30 room<br />
hotel, but our garden<br />
produce features so<br />
heavily on every menu<br />
that we use every morsel<br />
of produce. In addition<br />
to the actual produce, the<br />
kitchen garden sits at the<br />
beating heart of the hotel<br />
and all of what we stand<br />
for, so it's a real draw for<br />
guests and tells our story<br />
so simply to the wider<br />
world. So produce grown<br />
is one thing, but the wider<br />
message is consolidated so<br />
simply thanks to the everpresent<br />
gardeners and all<br />
of our hotel's commitment<br />
to locally sourced, home<br />
grown food.<br />
-------------------------<br />
Q - Is food grown using<br />
organic methods in<br />
the kitchen garden, or do the<br />
gardening team have to resort to<br />
chemical pesticide control can I<br />
ask?<br />
A - The team organically manages<br />
the Kitchen Gardens and<br />
polytunnels but are not certified<br />
--------------------------------<br />
Q - I think it’s fantastic that as<br />
a business, growing on site, and<br />
using hyper-local food supplies,<br />
is fully factored into the business,<br />
less food miles, more seasonality,<br />
just better altogether. Can you<br />
tell us more about The Pig's<br />
commitment to sustainability.<br />
A - The Pig's commitment to<br />
sustainability is admirable and<br />
something we've quietly been<br />
getting on with for years - we<br />
haven't just recently clambered on<br />
the sustainable bandwagon this<br />
year! As a team we are always<br />
looking for ways to reduce our<br />
footprint, care for and protect the<br />
environment and give back to the<br />
communities we are a part of.<br />
We have our kitchen garden and<br />
greenhouse for home grown<br />
produce and we use local food and<br />
beverage suppliers in line with the<br />
25 mile menu ethos – reducing food<br />
miles and packaging. At The Pig at<br />
Combe we produce around 4 tons of<br />
our own fruit and vegetables each<br />
year, which require no packaging<br />
and do not need to travel! We<br />
grow our own mushrooms that are<br />
grown on spent coffee grounds - a<br />
by-product of the restaurant waste,<br />
therefore reducing waste.<br />
We forage from both land and sea<br />
working alongside a forager who<br />
has 40 years of experience in the<br />
field, we compost all garden waste,<br />
we recycle all cooking oil and<br />
buy fish that is approved by the<br />
Marine Conservation Society. We<br />
cure our own meats and have our<br />
own beehives producing honey<br />
and pollinating the garden. We<br />
strongly support the English Wine<br />
industry, championing vineyards<br />
that are local to our hotels. We<br />
recycle glass, cardboard, paper<br />
and plastic. We have removed all<br />
plastic from our bars including<br />
stirrers, straws and picks. We are<br />
removing all plastic cotton buds<br />
and their plastic wrapping from<br />
rooms and replacing with paper.<br />
We recycle all coffee capsules from<br />
bedrooms. We recycle all menus<br />
to make coasters and napkin rings<br />
and bedroom soaps are wrapped in<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
25
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
paper. Plastic bottles for soaps are<br />
recycled. All lightbulbs have been<br />
updated to LED bulbs, reducing our<br />
overall electricity consumption. We<br />
use reclaimed and natural building<br />
materials where possible and we<br />
use many antique furnishings and<br />
upcycle furniture where possible to<br />
give the pieces a second life!<br />
photo here taken in China<br />
A apparently, which appeared on<br />
Pinterest. Someone's obviously had<br />
a dalliance here with cladding their<br />
mini bike in wood, and not a bad<br />
effort at that.<br />
--------------------------------<br />
Q - Are you aware of the new<br />
PROUD to be GREEN scheme that<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine is rolling out<br />
across Devon?<br />
A - I think it's fantastic and so good<br />
to have <strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine's green<br />
support for The Pig at Combe and<br />
other businesses like ours. Devon<br />
is a county that believes ardently in<br />
being sustainable and in protecting<br />
our green and verdant land so we<br />
are really excited to get behind the<br />
PROUD to be GREEN project.<br />
End<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Wooden motor bikes?<br />
We're so used to the many fluid forms<br />
of plastic that the wood here appears<br />
to be a little on the angular side. The<br />
fact of the matter is that plastic is a<br />
fantastic material - as humans we've<br />
corrupted something that's solved<br />
many design problems. It should<br />
be perceived as a long-life, quality<br />
solution, not a throwaway material -<br />
we've got it all wrong, especially with<br />
our single-use food packaging!<br />
26 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
GREEN NEWS<br />
Nourishing the<br />
Exeter community<br />
How the desire to change her own habits<br />
led Sarah Martin to found her zero waste<br />
retail business in Exeter<br />
open a zero waste shop in the heart<br />
of Topsham.<br />
“The concept is relatively simple.<br />
Nourish stocks a wide choice of<br />
dry foodstuffs and other products<br />
such as oil and vinegar, and these<br />
are all sold by weight. Customers<br />
bring their own containers which<br />
we weigh, they then fill their<br />
containers which we weigh again<br />
to work out the price. There’s no<br />
pre-packaging, no plastic bags and<br />
people buy as little or as much as<br />
they like.”<br />
Nourish opened in Topsham March<br />
2018, coinciding with the local<br />
community’s ‘Spring Forward’ event.<br />
“It was quite amazing, the shop was<br />
crammed with people interested to<br />
discover what it was all about,” she<br />
Founder Sarah Martin<br />
outside Nourish<br />
at Topsham<br />
Although Nourish Zero Waste<br />
isn’t the first zero waste<br />
retailer in the county (that<br />
accolade goes to The Zero Waste<br />
Shop in Totnes), it has been making<br />
serious waves in the Exeter area. By<br />
treating packaging-free shopping<br />
as a contemporary lifestyle choice,<br />
Nourish is taking the concept to a<br />
wider audience.<br />
The idea for Nourish was born after<br />
Sarah decided to change her own<br />
shopping habits to reduce the use<br />
of packaging and plastics - but<br />
discovered there was nowhere locally<br />
that answered her needs. “There<br />
was no point in sitting back and<br />
bemoaning the situation, instead I<br />
realised that the best way forward was<br />
to do it myself,” she says. Combining an<br />
academic background in Biochemistry<br />
and Environmental Science with<br />
business wisdom from an MBA gave<br />
Sarah the perfect springboard to<br />
recalls. “And the support in Topsham<br />
hasn’t faltered, we have many regular<br />
customers who seem to love what<br />
we offer.”<br />
In fact, Nourish was such a success<br />
that Sarah has now opened a second<br />
store.<br />
“When the owners<br />
of The Bran Tub<br />
wholefood shop in<br />
Magdalen Road decided<br />
to retire, taking on the<br />
premises seemed too<br />
good an opportunity to<br />
miss.”<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
27
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
It was quite a risk to take, as high<br />
street retail is taking a pounding, left,<br />
right and centre. “But I knew in my<br />
heart that it was a good move to make,<br />
and I’ve been proved right - I’ve been<br />
made to feel incredibly welcome by the<br />
community and other traders.”<br />
The Magdalen Road shop opened in<br />
mid-April this year. Sarah’s kept to the<br />
winning formula of Topsham in terms<br />
of the products sold, from basics like<br />
nuts, pulses, grains, pasta, tea and<br />
coffee, to a range of 50 herbs and spices,<br />
hemp seed, oils, dried fruit, sea salt and<br />
sugars. “Both shops have Trewithen<br />
Dairy milk on tap and a Nutramilk<br />
machine that allows customers to make<br />
their own nut, seed or oat milk. We’ve<br />
just added the Chocolate and Love range<br />
in Magdalen Road too, chocolate bars<br />
with compostable packaging.”<br />
Support for local producers is evident,<br />
such as Stallcombe House in Woodbury<br />
which makes apple cider vinegar.<br />
“We also stock coffee from Exe Coffee<br />
Roasters and Crankhouse Coffee in<br />
Exeter, tea from Tea’s Me in Dartmoor,<br />
shave kits from Naked Necessities in<br />
Topsham and beeswax food wraps – a<br />
brilliant alternative to clingfilm - from<br />
Red Sales in Exmouth.” In Topsham, the<br />
non-food range now includes shampoos,<br />
handwash and biodegradable cleaning<br />
products and although there isn’t space<br />
for these in Magdalen Road, they can<br />
be brought over if a customer asks.<br />
Sarah says it’s great to see that<br />
customers have fully embraced the<br />
zero waste concept and taken on board<br />
the point that it is often better to reuse<br />
than recycle. “No-one serving in the<br />
shop raises an eyebrow if a customer<br />
brings in a plastic container to fill.<br />
By reusing plastic, we are saving the<br />
energy used in the recycling process as<br />
well as reducing the requirement for<br />
raw materials. And it’s not just plastic<br />
– I’m always happy to see customers<br />
reusing glass containers and cardboard<br />
boxes too.”<br />
What Nourish provides is an alternative<br />
to the supermarkets that are being<br />
so slow to respond to the crisis the<br />
planet is facing. “I hope I am helping<br />
people to take small steps towards<br />
making a difference. We have a long,<br />
long way to go but if we all take those<br />
steps, then we’ve got a better chance<br />
of getting there.”<br />
28 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
GREENUP<br />
plant trees by searching<br />
fantastic commercial enterprise that<br />
uses advertising revenue gained from<br />
their search engine for the good of<br />
the planet.<br />
A brilliant search engine that gives<br />
something back - what's not to like?<br />
Perhaps this is something people<br />
call a 'no-brainer' - you use this<br />
search engine called Ecosia, and<br />
each time you do, trees are being<br />
replanted. I had to do a double-take<br />
when I came across it, surely this is<br />
a totally must-use website for any<br />
environmentally-minded person or<br />
business?<br />
According to Wikipedia, by Feb 20<strong>19</strong><br />
Ecosia had funded the planting of<br />
over 50 million trees. They work<br />
with organisations such as Eden<br />
Reforestation Projects, Hommes<br />
et Terre and various other bodies<br />
to plant trees in over 16 countries.<br />
If you go to Wikipedia and search<br />
Ecosia, you can read more about this<br />
All I can say is hurray! - businesses<br />
can make a major difference, and as<br />
consumers, we should switch over to<br />
Ecosia right now. It's entirely within<br />
your grasp to affect how the internet<br />
behaves, particularly important when<br />
some of the internet players dominate<br />
so heavily and derive such massive<br />
revenue from us (and pay so little<br />
tax - if any at all!). This gets right<br />
back to how you spend your time<br />
and money - your habits can effect<br />
change. All you have to do is search<br />
on Ecosia.com, it's that easy?<br />
The Ecosia search<br />
engine (left), very<br />
minimalist like<br />
Google, but instead<br />
of pocketing all the<br />
advertising revenue,<br />
they predominantly<br />
use revenue to fund<br />
reforestation and tree<br />
planting - fantastic!<br />
We need to see more<br />
of this sort of business<br />
model within the<br />
internet<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
29
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
GREEN NEWS<br />
'Breakwater'<br />
A new documentary, ‘Breakwater’,<br />
celebrates the South West’s efforts in<br />
leading a local-to-national scale reduction<br />
in marine litter, produced by Emma Askew<br />
I<br />
am a young environmental<br />
researcher, film-maker<br />
and South West rep for<br />
the national charity Surfers<br />
Against Sewage. My drive to<br />
produce my first documentary<br />
was cemented after I wrote<br />
to David Attenborough two<br />
years ago for career advice. He<br />
replied stating that I should<br />
create my own production<br />
company, which gave me the<br />
courage to be proactive and to selfdrive<br />
the production of ‘Breakwater’.<br />
After I organised a small production<br />
team, I decided that I wanted the<br />
documentary to explore a topic that<br />
I have vastly researched and have a<br />
strong personal connection with, that<br />
of ocean conservation.<br />
After working with Surfers Against<br />
Sewage, I was utterly inspired by the<br />
way the charity operates and places<br />
responsibility within society to lead<br />
action against marine litter. I decided<br />
that I wanted to create a production<br />
that celebrates the hard work of society,<br />
including the team and volunteers of<br />
Surfers Against Sewage. Importantly,<br />
it was brought to my attention that we<br />
are faced with many overwhelming<br />
and devastating facts concerning<br />
marine litter, so I have been extremely<br />
determined for this documentary to<br />
capture the optimistic and successful<br />
side of ocean conservation. I aim for<br />
it to fill people with a powerful sense<br />
of responsibility.<br />
The documentary will be premièred on<br />
the 17th August at the Exeter Phoenix<br />
30 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Surfers Against Sewage - Branscombe beach<br />
clean - join up to get involved, it's great to<br />
meet like-minded people and do<br />
something really positive<br />
in association with Surfers Against<br />
Sewage, Plastic Free Exeter and<br />
Thorfest Festival. The event itself<br />
will raise awareness on what we can<br />
do as individuals to reduce marine<br />
litter, including stories and advice<br />
from local environmentally-conscious<br />
businesses. I wanted to structure the<br />
event to ensure it is both eye-opening<br />
and educational, so it will involve<br />
‘Question and Answer’ interactions<br />
after the documentary to encourage<br />
discussion across the topic.<br />
For the documentary, I have worked<br />
closely alongside an extremely<br />
talented cinematographer, Matt Bell,<br />
to capture local action in a cinematic<br />
and uplifting way. Matt has not only<br />
captured the natural beauty of the<br />
south Devon coast, but has captured<br />
the pure charm and dedication within<br />
community action. Together Matt<br />
and I have worked with many school<br />
students and professional experts<br />
to ensure the importance of local<br />
action is addressed, which is the<br />
single most vital step to reduce<br />
ocean pollution at a global scale. It<br />
explores this topical environmental<br />
After working with<br />
Surfers Against<br />
Sewage, I was utterly<br />
inspired by the way the<br />
charity operates<br />
issue through different human case<br />
studies, including experiences<br />
from a Professor of Zoology, two<br />
environmentally empowered school<br />
students and a driven Geography<br />
postgraduate. With this, the aim<br />
is to make marine litter a relatable<br />
issue for all different age groups of<br />
society. The documentary title itself<br />
is a term that I have invented to<br />
encourage social engagement, with<br />
‘Breakwater’ describing a modern<br />
movement where local, societal<br />
efforts can act as a barrier between<br />
marine litter and the ocean.<br />
The documentary acknowledges<br />
that the marine litter issue has been<br />
largely researched, documented and<br />
broadcasted globally, in which there<br />
has been many changes made across<br />
schools, businesses and society that<br />
need to be celebrated. I have largely<br />
focussed on the efforts made across<br />
the South West (from beach cleans<br />
to evolving plastic-free communities,<br />
such as Exeter) because I wanted it<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
31
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
Just so much<br />
plastic everywhere!<br />
to capture an accurate representation<br />
of my experience of local action in my<br />
area. However, further to these efforts,<br />
I aim to motivate future action by<br />
addressing the long-term individual<br />
changes that society needs to make<br />
to prevent damage to human health/<br />
well-being, as well as the environment<br />
and economy in the most effective way.<br />
With this, I strongly believe that it is<br />
crucial to address the problem from<br />
a new perspective by humanising<br />
the marine litter issue. By focussing<br />
on human impact and action, I hope<br />
to enhance the appreciation of how<br />
marine litter will impact us as humans,<br />
ensuring it will really hit home for the<br />
individuals watching.<br />
www.emma-askew.com<br />
www.sas.org.uk/rep/emma-askew<br />
Editor - what a brilliant initiative<br />
by Emma and her associates, more<br />
power to their elbow we say!<br />
32 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud to be Green<br />
making a difference<br />
If you're a member of the public<br />
reading this, your eyes are probably<br />
glazing over now, but NO, this is<br />
exactly where you as a consumer can<br />
bring about change for the better, so<br />
please read on.<br />
This new green scheme focusses on<br />
matchmaking green-minded consumers<br />
with green businesses - ultimately to the<br />
benefit of our environment<br />
Consumers are leading the charge<br />
for businesses to be greener in their<br />
operation. This is how it should be,<br />
consumer pressure and selective<br />
spending is meaning that greenminded<br />
businesses catering for this<br />
trend are benefiting directly, and<br />
the reality is that this trend will just<br />
get stronger.<br />
Many businesses<br />
already working green<br />
are finding their efforts<br />
going unrewarded<br />
Businesses are our major source of<br />
waste and pollution, so if you run a<br />
business, one of your operational<br />
considerations must now be to<br />
green-up your company if you haven't<br />
already.<br />
Many businesses already working<br />
green are finding their efforts going<br />
unrewarded because they lack a<br />
simple, powerful mechanism to<br />
demonstrate their green efforts,<br />
planning and commitment to the<br />
consumer.<br />
As a business owner/manager, you<br />
may have considered going down<br />
the ISO route to gain environmental<br />
accreditation, perhaps with the ISO<br />
14001 framework.<br />
ISO standards are great for businesses,<br />
particularly if you supply local council<br />
or bigger businesses that demand<br />
you attain these quality standards<br />
as a minimum requirement, but for<br />
many businesses it's something like<br />
cracking a nut with a sledgehammer.<br />
The public will most likely not<br />
understand what 14001 implies -<br />
it's an environmental standards<br />
framework that your business can<br />
adopt, but as a business, if you do<br />
decide to go down this route, then<br />
there's no getting away from the<br />
significant time cost requirement<br />
as well as all the other associated<br />
charges in order to be compliant.<br />
Many businesses across Devon<br />
are incredibly green-minded and<br />
where possible are making the right<br />
decisions within their business. The<br />
fact of the matter is that being green<br />
in your business can also mean you<br />
reduce waste, focus on streamlining,<br />
with a subsequent increase in<br />
profitability.<br />
ISO 14001 for many<br />
small to medium<br />
businesses is very much<br />
like cracking a nut with<br />
a sledgehammer!<br />
As a consumer, you have direct<br />
influence over the business<br />
community. If you are intent on<br />
using green-minded and acting<br />
businesses, then you're being green<br />
in your spending and contributing in<br />
a very green way - it's that simple.<br />
It's easy to identify businesses that<br />
are green-minded by looking for the<br />
Proud to be Green logo.<br />
The PROUD to be GREEN scheme<br />
was devised to enable businesses to<br />
easily tell the consumer exactly what<br />
they're doing within their business<br />
to be greener. Within the next few<br />
months our green directory will<br />
be available for consumers on the<br />
website.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
33
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
How green is your meat<br />
If you're a meat-eater,<br />
you need to consider<br />
carefully the source<br />
of the meat you buy<br />
It’s an emotive subject and there’s no<br />
doubt that the demand for meat is<br />
in decline. We’re regularly being told<br />
that gasses given off by our cattle<br />
herds are contributing to global<br />
warming, and that it’s environmentally<br />
unfriendly eating meat, although a<br />
recent programme on BBC Radio 4<br />
had an expert talking on this issue, he<br />
stated that in terms of the traditional<br />
rearing of cattle which grazed off the<br />
land, there wasn’t really much wrong<br />
with this environmentally. He said<br />
the real issue was that we corrupt this<br />
natural process by feeding livestock<br />
with all sorts of supplementary food<br />
stuffs, such as soya, corn, etc., primarily<br />
to boost growth. Without wishing to<br />
appear indelicate, the analogy is that<br />
it’s akin to feeding someone a meal of<br />
baked-beans!<br />
The past few years have seen a decline<br />
in the sales of meat for many reasons -<br />
vegetarianism and veganism has been<br />
on the increase, primarily in the 18<br />
to 35 age group. Many of these cite<br />
environmental issues, as well as animal<br />
welfare and health reasons as other<br />
concerns. But it’s probably true to say<br />
that we’re all concerned about what<br />
we eat today, and we know that eating<br />
meat can carry baggage.<br />
Food miles<br />
As with many food stuffs, one of the<br />
most salient environmental factors is<br />
that of ‘food miles’. I was on a Brittany<br />
Ferries trip over to France last year<br />
and in the on-board restaurant they’d<br />
provided information about the source<br />
of beef used within their meals - France<br />
and Argentina! What you may ask, is<br />
wrong with British beef? Don’t we have<br />
trade agreements with Europe? The<br />
additional worry is how do we police<br />
foodstuffs imported from far-flung<br />
countries such as Argentina, where<br />
we have little or no control over how<br />
food is grown. This is an area where we<br />
very much rely on our supermarkets<br />
to ensure what is brought in is fit for<br />
our consumption. Undoubtedly the<br />
pursuit of locally grown foodstuffs<br />
will really come to the fore in the<br />
future, although many farmers say<br />
that supermarkets make production<br />
difficult or unviable because of their<br />
iron control of the market and pricing.<br />
34 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Supermarkets not<br />
engaging at local<br />
food production<br />
level<br />
Talking of supermarkets, the great<br />
pity is that in their endless pursuit<br />
of profits and market share, they<br />
have failed to truly engage at local<br />
food production level. Take my<br />
local Waitrose store for instance<br />
in Sidmouth. Yes, beef is available<br />
from their meat counter, but you’ll<br />
be hard-pressed to find any locally<br />
grown beef - a crying shame because<br />
several miles up the road on East<br />
Hill, you can source some of the<br />
greenest beef in Devon, having the<br />
best provenance you could ask for,<br />
and virtually zero food miles (you<br />
can read our East Hill Pride’s story<br />
in our Food & Drink chapter).<br />
Consumers - a call<br />
to arms, to effect<br />
radical change<br />
The supermarkets only exist because<br />
we patronise them with our combined<br />
spending, through which means we’ve<br />
given them immense power. We’re all<br />
guilty, life today is busy, supermarkets<br />
are convenient and have a wide<br />
range of products that mean we<br />
can find everything we need in one<br />
place - we all use them. Perhaps<br />
we the consumer could redress the<br />
balance by getting together and<br />
telling those supermarkets that they<br />
have to reform - the key is for us<br />
consumers to combine our might in<br />
order to influence their operation at<br />
local food production level. For the<br />
supermarkets playing ball, I’m sure<br />
Will this sight become<br />
something of a rarity<br />
in the future?<br />
they would feel immense benefit<br />
because they’d truly be working at<br />
local level, supporting our farming<br />
communities, and not just vacuuming<br />
money out of our local economy as<br />
they do currently.<br />
Also, there are major contradictions<br />
when it comes to local meat<br />
production and sale, how often do<br />
we hear farmers telling us how little<br />
they make from livestock farming.<br />
There’s obviously somewhere in the<br />
chain where the price takes a massive<br />
hike! Food produced locally is always<br />
going to be greener than imported,<br />
it’s that simple - this is an area that<br />
needs resolution as there is currently<br />
a major disconnect which prevents us<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
35
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our own environmental footprint<br />
as consumers from exercising choice<br />
in the convenient facility of a local<br />
supermarket.<br />
Fields devoid of<br />
livestock, breed<br />
extinction?<br />
There’s an argument to say that if we<br />
all cease eating meat, then there will<br />
be no requirement for farmers to rear<br />
and grow animals on their farms. I can<br />
hear vegans shouting their approval, but<br />
ultimately, if we cease to consume meat,<br />
it would result in many of our breeds<br />
dying out out, fields would no longer<br />
contain livestock, the landscape would<br />
change permanently, which could be a<br />
very sad state of affair. Would this mean<br />
more arable crops on the land where<br />
livestock previously grazed - a worrying<br />
state of affairs because arable farming,<br />
with the associated monoculture and<br />
pesticide control, will not help our<br />
natural environment and wildlife,<br />
although the many arguments could<br />
equally be levelled at meat production<br />
with its associated downsides. The<br />
question you must ask yourself is do<br />
you really want your countryside to be<br />
devoid of sheep, pigs, cattle - do we<br />
wipe them out because we all wish to<br />
be vegan/vegetarian - there's a huge<br />
dilemma. Unfortunately this comes<br />
right back to commercial interest and<br />
drivers, but if the money’s not there,<br />
our farm animals will cease to exist<br />
apart from in zoos.<br />
plastic token which you can then drop<br />
into the box of the charity you’d like<br />
to benefit. It’s a good idea, obviously<br />
devised by the Waitrose’s marketing<br />
team, somehow though, you can’t<br />
help but feel you’re being cleverly<br />
manipulated each time you deposit<br />
a token. It’s your money they take,<br />
make no mistake, supermarkets are<br />
money making enterprises. If they<br />
really were so benevolent, couldn’t<br />
they adopt charitable or cooperative<br />
status? - probably not!<br />
A recent quote by Waitrose’s MD<br />
Rob Collins was “Being mindful of<br />
how we live and eat has become a<br />
priority in today’s world. As we become<br />
increasingly mindful of our own health,<br />
the well-being of our family and that<br />
of the planet, we’re reshaping how we<br />
shop, cook and eat.” The question to<br />
ask is if there’s genuine desire from<br />
our supermarkets to change, or are<br />
they just surfing the wave of consumer<br />
trends to optimise their profits?<br />
Waitrose appear to be at the front<br />
in terms of their becoming greener,<br />
they've committed to having packaging<br />
that's widely recyclable, reusable or<br />
home compostable within two years<br />
- a great initiative that we need to see<br />
taken up by the other supermarket<br />
brands. They also have a range of<br />
other changes to enable them to<br />
cut energy wastage, which again is<br />
laudable, but the reality is that the<br />
UK government and the EU should<br />
have pushed regulation for all of this<br />
years ago!<br />
Tokenism<br />
If you’re a Waitrose shopper, you’ll be<br />
aware of their token scheme - spend<br />
a certain amount and you get a green<br />
Join the Proud to be Green scheme,<br />
together we stand tall and can effect<br />
positive change.<br />
www.PROUDtobeGREEN.org<br />
36 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Tivvy app<br />
Tiverton, mid Devon<br />
becomes first UK<br />
town to launch its<br />
own social media<br />
style network<br />
■■<br />
Local community to take<br />
on the might of Facebook,<br />
Instagram and Twitter with<br />
its own social media style<br />
network; a new service for and<br />
driven by the local community.<br />
■■<br />
Smartphone app aims to bring<br />
together news from residents,<br />
local interest and leisure<br />
groups, schools, retailers and<br />
businesses all under a unified<br />
digital umbrella and all at the<br />
touch of a single button.<br />
■■<br />
Aim is to create a smartphonefirst<br />
way for locals to stay<br />
connected, communicate,<br />
collaborate, campaign and<br />
celebrate all that Tiverton<br />
has to offer without having to<br />
juggle multiple platforms or<br />
negotiate manipulative social<br />
media algorithms.<br />
1 <strong>June</strong>, 20<strong>19</strong> - Tiverton, a market town<br />
in Mid Devon is set to make history<br />
and become the first town in the UK to<br />
launch its own social media style app.<br />
The Tivvy Community app is a totally<br />
immersive space for sharing common<br />
local passions with other like-minded<br />
people. A dedicated digital hang-out<br />
where Tiverton residents, visitors,<br />
business & social groups receive<br />
a unique, joined up community<br />
experience. The smartphone app<br />
creates opportunities for the<br />
community to comment and share<br />
as-it-happens news updates, post<br />
their own knowledge and information<br />
on the Talking Wall - the community<br />
newsfeed, and communicate with<br />
each other via a simple to use, friend<br />
to friend message facility.<br />
While Tiverton has a number of<br />
stand alone business and community<br />
websites, open Facebook groups<br />
and a myriad of other social media<br />
accounts - it has, until now, lacked<br />
a single focal point for community<br />
interaction and people engagement.<br />
As Facebook’s ‘organic reach’ declines<br />
(unpaid group posts are typically<br />
seen by just 2-10% of people) and its<br />
overall usage declines, the community<br />
has taken the unusual approach of<br />
bringing all these groups together<br />
in a single interactive community<br />
smartphone app.<br />
Fraser Park-Jones, Tiverton resident<br />
and the creator and host of the Tivvy<br />
Community app said:<br />
“Whether you are an individual,<br />
local interest, leisure group or<br />
business, reaching people on the<br />
existing social media platforms<br />
is becoming harder. A whole new<br />
industry dedicated to social media<br />
marketing has been born simply to<br />
get user’s posts visible and reach<br />
their core local and loyal followers,<br />
fans and customers. Facebook<br />
and it’s ever changing algorithms,<br />
for example, is designed for<br />
advertisers, not communities.<br />
You’re competing with the rest of<br />
the internet, fake news stories<br />
and celebrity gossip in your<br />
newsfeed and miss the things that<br />
matter. The Tivvy Community app<br />
doesn’t rely on clever computer<br />
algorithms and users need not<br />
worry about their posts reaching<br />
their target audience as all user<br />
posts are published directly to<br />
the Talking Wall, the community<br />
newsfeed ensuring member’s posts<br />
reach 100% of Tivvy Community<br />
audience.”<br />
The app is free-to-download, and<br />
membership is open to all town<br />
residents, groups, clubs and<br />
associations. Retailers and other<br />
profit making businesses are also<br />
encouraged to become members and<br />
take advantage of the three month<br />
free membership period. Simply<br />
search for “Tivvy Community” in<br />
Apple’s App store or the Google Play<br />
store to download an iOS or Android<br />
smartphone app.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
37
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
each of us must take full responsibility<br />
for our each own of environmental us must take footprint<br />
full responsibility<br />
for our own<br />
environmental<br />
footprint<br />
YOU'RE READING<br />
A TOTALLY GREEN<br />
magazine<br />
OUR STANCE<br />
We're here to effect<br />
positive change<br />
in both Devon's<br />
businesses and<br />
consumers<br />
PEOPLE POWER<br />
Please lend your<br />
weight to this project<br />
by joining the scheme.<br />
You'll receive our<br />
e-newsletters on<br />
what's happening with<br />
green development<br />
and improvements<br />
in Devon<br />
HURRAY!<br />
Please become<br />
a member now<br />
by joining up on<br />
our website<br />
proudtobegreen.org/join<br />
CONTACT DETAILS:<br />
Membership -<br />
Green stories -<br />
Production -<br />
Liz Bond<br />
Nigel Jones<br />
Charlotte Fergie<br />
Read<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong><br />
magazine's<br />
greening-up<br />
story (p16 & 17)<br />
Readers can<br />
enjoy a rich,<br />
multi-media<br />
experience<br />
without the<br />
pollution<br />
footprint of a<br />
print magazine<br />
INCORPORATING<br />
SUMMER 20<strong>19</strong><br />
GREEN MAGAZINE<br />
devonshiremagazine.co.uk<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
38 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
proudtobegreen.org<br />
LET'S ALL THINK GREENER - ANd ACT GREENER<br />
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Pulp and paper<br />
manufacturing<br />
requires large<br />
amounts of energy,<br />
chemicals, water<br />
and trees.<br />
Subsequent<br />
printing, packaging<br />
and distribution of<br />
magazines, followed<br />
by subsequent<br />
recycling also<br />
requires masses of<br />
energy, chemicals,<br />
water and plastic.<br />
Print magazines are<br />
surprisingly dirty.<br />
Pulp and paper mill - Alex Vye - 2003<br />
Printed magazines are NOT green<br />
There is no escaping the fact that print magazines<br />
carry a very hefty environmental cost<br />
Clearcutting of forests destroys natural habitats<br />
and contributes to climate change<br />
Clearcutting also results in<br />
loss of topsoil<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
39
APPLEDORE<br />
Image by Nigel Jones<br />
40 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
41
Wild Devon<br />
42 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Andy’s had a great interest in wildlife<br />
and nature and in recent years has<br />
developed a passion for wildlife and<br />
landscape photography, specialising<br />
in photographing the wonderful<br />
wildlife and varied landscapes of<br />
the West Country.<br />
Photos ©AStuthridge<br />
THE ROE DEER<br />
Andy Stuthridge<br />
andystuthridgenatureimages.co.uk<br />
“The wild deer,<br />
wandering here and<br />
there keeps the human<br />
soul from care”<br />
- William Blake<br />
Roe deer are native to Britain<br />
and it is our commonest deer.<br />
It is a beautiful and elegant animal<br />
and it is always a pleasure and<br />
privilege to come across them<br />
when I am out and about in the<br />
countryside.<br />
I most often see them early in the<br />
morning or at dusk on the edge of<br />
woodland as they feed and graze<br />
in fields and more open areas.<br />
During the day they tend to stay<br />
more hidden in undergrowth<br />
and woods, but on occasions will<br />
venture out into more open areas.<br />
leaves from trees and shrubs, as<br />
well as ferns, grasses and heathers.<br />
They are very wary of all things<br />
human and this is because<br />
historically they have always<br />
been hunted by man and over<br />
the centuries forest clearance<br />
and over-hunting led to their<br />
extinction in England by 1800.<br />
Since Victorian times they have<br />
been reintroduced and have<br />
naturally spread throughout<br />
the UK and thankfully are now<br />
abundant.<br />
To photograph them can be a real<br />
challenge, due to their shyness,<br />
and they will often bound away at<br />
the first opportunity when they<br />
spot or sense a human nearby.<br />
Two Roe Deer Kids<br />
Roe Deer live in areas of mixed<br />
countryside that includes<br />
woodland, farmland, grassland<br />
and heathland. They eat buds and<br />
To capture Roe deer images,<br />
normally I'll pick a spot where I<br />
know the deer frequent and then<br />
conceal myself in undergrowth<br />
or in a hide, downwind of where<br />
they will be feeding. I will then<br />
wait for the deer to come close to<br />
me and in this way I can minimise<br />
any chances of disturbing them<br />
in their habitat and hopefully get<br />
the shots I want.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
43
THE ROE DEER ...continued<br />
Roe Deer buck<br />
on alert<br />
44 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
ROE DEER FACTS<br />
• A Roe Deer's coat is<br />
mostly brown, turning<br />
reddish in the summer<br />
and a darker grey in<br />
winter.<br />
• A male Roe Deer is<br />
called a 'buck' and the<br />
female a 'doe'.<br />
Sometimes I have had them come<br />
to within a few feet of me and not<br />
realise I was there.<br />
The Roe Deer tends to be a solitary<br />
animal in summer, but forms small,<br />
loose groups in winter. It is a slender,<br />
medium-sized deer and has short<br />
antlers with three points and no tail.<br />
The Roe Deer is mostly brown<br />
in colour, turning reddish in the<br />
summer and darker grey in the<br />
winter. They have a black nose,<br />
white chin and white rump patch<br />
with a short tush in females. Roe<br />
deer exhibit a bounding gait when<br />
alarmed.<br />
A male Roe Deer is called a 'buck' and<br />
the female is a 'doe'. Mating occurs<br />
in July and August, but remarkably,<br />
females delay implantation of the<br />
fertilised egg until January of the<br />
following year, so that the young are<br />
not born during the harsh winter<br />
months. Two or three white-spotted<br />
kids are born in May or <strong>June</strong>.<br />
They begin to grow their antlers in<br />
November, shedding the velvet from<br />
them in the spring. By summer they<br />
are ready for the rutting season.<br />
After mating, they shed their antlers<br />
in October and begin to grow a<br />
new set.<br />
Two Roe Deer Kids<br />
with Doe<br />
I have also witnessed a buck, during<br />
courtship, chasing a doe around and<br />
around a field for several minutes<br />
until both were utterly exhausted.<br />
This secretive little deer is always<br />
a joy to see and the line at the head<br />
of this narrative from William<br />
Blake’s poem “Auguries of Innocence”<br />
encapsulates how the effect of seeing<br />
deer in the wild can have a positive<br />
effect on our emotions and wellbeing.<br />
He's on the move<br />
The rut, or breeding season occurs<br />
between mid-July to mid-August.<br />
Bucks become aggressive and<br />
maintain exclusive territories around<br />
one or more does prior to the rut.<br />
I have witnessed bucks fighting<br />
and chasing each other on several<br />
occasions and the winner will take<br />
over the loser's territory and of<br />
course the loser's doe!<br />
Andy Stuthridge<br />
Follow me:<br />
@andy_stuthridge_nature_images<br />
@landlifephotography<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
45
higher in the Himalayas, through<br />
forests, gorges, rivers and ice falls.<br />
The high altitude of Everest Base<br />
Camp is likely to have a huge effect<br />
on the trekkers and coupled with<br />
sub-zero temperatures the challenge<br />
will be extremely tough.<br />
RSPCA inspector takes on biggest<br />
challenge yet<br />
An RSPCA inspector is set to trek<br />
to Everest Base Camp to raise funds<br />
for animals in need.<br />
Marije Zwager, an inspector based<br />
in Exeter, will be taking part in the<br />
trek this September with a group of<br />
like-minded animal lovers to raise<br />
much-needed funds for the RSPCA.<br />
Everyday Marije experiences at firsthand<br />
the cruelty that is inflicted on<br />
innocent animals and the work the<br />
RSPCA does to prevent this. She says<br />
this is why she is pushing herself to<br />
the limit to raise funds to help even<br />
more animals.<br />
“I really enjoy the buzz I get from physical<br />
exercise and being in nature, so I am<br />
very excited about this amazing trek.”<br />
Marije said.<br />
“Never knowing what tomorrow will bring,<br />
I wish to live my life without regrets and<br />
grab the chance to undertake this challenge<br />
while I am fit and well in body and mind.”<br />
Dutch born Inspector Marije, together<br />
with her British partner Wes whom<br />
she met while backpacking around<br />
Australia and New Zealand aged 18,<br />
will join the team hoping to reach<br />
Everest Base Camp at 5,380 meters<br />
following two challenging weeks<br />
of hiking.<br />
This won’t be her first challenging<br />
trek as in February 2013 Marije, who<br />
has worked as an RSPCA inspector<br />
for 15 years, reached the summit<br />
of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania<br />
with 12 fellow inspectors and was<br />
lucky enough not to suffer from the<br />
serious effects of altitude sickness<br />
along the way.<br />
She said: “I cannot even begin to describe<br />
the renewed perspective on life this<br />
incredible achievement brought about<br />
in me, especially in the wake of losing my<br />
only sister to suicide mere months before.<br />
“Pushing to the summit after midnight,<br />
under a vast canopy of stars in below zero<br />
temperatures, I felt a real connection with<br />
the universe around me and my place in<br />
it, and the early morning sun rising on<br />
the horizon to warm our cold and tired<br />
bodies was a sight I will never forget.”<br />
Starting in the Nepalese town of<br />
Lukla, Marije and the team will take<br />
on a trek which winds higher and<br />
She added: “As an inspector, most of<br />
our working days consist of driving<br />
to households to check on pets and,<br />
where appropriate, offering advice and<br />
assistance to the owners. We investigate<br />
complaints of animal cruelty and help<br />
sick and injured wildlife. People are often<br />
surprised when I turn up alone and find<br />
out how far I have had to drive and the<br />
size of the areas we have to cover with<br />
limited resources. If only I had been given a<br />
penny for every time someone had told me<br />
they could not possibly do my job, I would<br />
have reached my £2,000 target by now!”<br />
The RSPCA relies on kind donations<br />
from members of the public to<br />
continue its vital work rescuing,<br />
rehabilitating and rehoming animals<br />
in desperate need of care.<br />
Marije has worked as an<br />
RSPCA inspector for<br />
15 years<br />
To support Marije’s challenge visit<br />
her fundraising page. Altogether, it<br />
is hoped the RSPCA Expedition will<br />
raise £25,000 to help animals.<br />
For more information about getting<br />
involved, visit: rspca.org.uk/everest<br />
46 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Natalie has lectured in Equine Science to degree level as well<br />
as researching for the GB’s Olympic equestrian team. Natalie<br />
provides consultations in horse management, training and<br />
problem solving using a force-free, science based approach.<br />
TRIGGER STACKING<br />
Natalie Bucklar - BSc (Hons), MSc (Equine Science)<br />
Most people can recognise the experience<br />
of bursting into tears over something small<br />
after a bad day at work.<br />
It is exactly the same for your horse,<br />
they have stress thresholds too<br />
and at times, although they might<br />
not burst into tears, they do express<br />
they’re overloaded.<br />
Horses are constantly exposed to<br />
things that create worry or fear -<br />
everything from crisp packets to<br />
traffic, barking dogs to flapping<br />
foliage, travelling, changes of<br />
environment and being left alone.<br />
The list is endless as to what could<br />
invoke negative feelings; stress is<br />
anything that your horse decides it<br />
is and is personal to the individual.<br />
It doesn’t matter that we think it’s<br />
ridiculous that a horse is concerned<br />
over a pole on the ground, they don’t<br />
think the same.<br />
refusing to move, leaping, bolting,<br />
bucking and rearing. Once the bucket<br />
overflows, our relationship with the<br />
horse is weakened, their learning is<br />
inhibited and even damaged, we are<br />
creating the unwanted behaviours<br />
ourselves.<br />
Humans need to learn<br />
what makes a horse<br />
stressed and teach<br />
them to accept those<br />
situations and objects<br />
learn what makes them stressed<br />
and train them to understand and<br />
accept novel and difficult situations<br />
and objects. We need to build trust<br />
through patience and understanding<br />
rather than bullying and dominating<br />
with force. We need to learn how<br />
Another common stressor is pain,<br />
which is easily caused by tack, the<br />
rider or handler, injury or disease. In<br />
many cases, more than one stressor<br />
can be present at once and this is<br />
where the potential for overload<br />
begins. Any one stressor on its own<br />
can be enough to make the horse<br />
demonstrate unwanted behaviour but<br />
stack worries on top of each other and<br />
the horse won’t be able to cope. Think<br />
of it like a bucket, if you keep topping<br />
it up without emptying it, the bucket<br />
soon overflows. An overflowing<br />
bucket in the horse can be shown<br />
in various ways, including neighing,<br />
head shaking, pawing the ground,<br />
It is safer for us and much better for<br />
the horse if we can avoid overfilling<br />
the bucket as much as possible. There<br />
will always be occasions when the<br />
bucket fills up quickly out of our<br />
control- a squawking pheasant flying<br />
out of the hedge at the yard gate, just<br />
as a companion neighs ‘Where are<br />
you?’ and whoosh- instant overload<br />
for many horses! However in general,<br />
we need to know how to stop filling<br />
the bucket and how to empty it.<br />
So how do we avoid overloading<br />
the bucket? We need to start with<br />
a pain free horse. Then we must<br />
to turn an ‘I’m not sure’ from the<br />
horse into ‘I can do this’ and no’s<br />
into yes’s. It takes skill to do this<br />
without inflicting more stress or<br />
pain or by giving the horse rubbish<br />
choices, so eventually they choose<br />
the lesser of two evils. It also takes<br />
time, lots of time. The investment<br />
is worth it though because one day<br />
we’ll need that horse to help us out<br />
and if we’ve supported the horse<br />
fairly through their worries, they’ll<br />
always be there for us.<br />
Natalie Bucklar<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
47
WILDFLOWER MEADOW<br />
Image by Nigel Jones<br />
48 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
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An insect's delight - Clover, hawkbit, orchids,<br />
numerous grasses, a natural cornucopia of wildflowers.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
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49
Ken is long retired, having ceased work work at the at age the of age 65 of in 65 <strong>19</strong>92. in<br />
<strong>19</strong>92. He has He been has a been contributor a contributor for a number for a number of years of now, years sharing now<br />
and colourful sharing writings colourful about writings his experiences about his experiences as a vet working as a vet in<br />
the working industry the from industry the early from <strong>19</strong>50s the early onwards. <strong>19</strong>50s onwards.<br />
MY CAT TIGGER<br />
Ken Watson<br />
We decided that at our age it was not fair to<br />
have another dog or even a cat... but our<br />
daughter had other ideas.<br />
One day she arrived with the<br />
most beautifully marked ginger<br />
kitten, one of a litter of feral cats<br />
she rescued from a local farm in<br />
Shropshire. “Take them now or<br />
they will go back to the wild”, she<br />
was told. Far too young to leave her<br />
mother she, and her siblings, were<br />
then bottle fed by various carers, a<br />
great disadvantage as we shall see.<br />
But what a cat she became. Everything<br />
about her is different. You notice I say<br />
“her” and that was the first difference,<br />
because most ginger cats are male;<br />
and having come in from the wild<br />
she decided to embrace domesticity<br />
to the feline full. Although she will<br />
go out and enjoy her territory, she<br />
makes it clear that unless the weather<br />
is perfect, she would rather stay in<br />
with us. She is the most intelligent<br />
of the three and has developed many<br />
quirks of habit.<br />
she does the next best which is to<br />
go to her food in the corner when<br />
we eat, although she could eat at any<br />
time. I who have mastered animals<br />
from wild bullocks down to vicious<br />
parrots, never thought I would be<br />
outwitted by a cat.<br />
brain, thus warning her hind feet of<br />
obstacles to come; and if she should<br />
pause midstride the memory of where<br />
to put her hind feet will hold until she<br />
moves on. All that and ears which<br />
can hear a mouse brush a blade of<br />
grass yards away and what a living<br />
miracle you have.<br />
I, who have<br />
mastered animals<br />
from wild bullocks<br />
down to vicious<br />
parrots, never<br />
thought I would be<br />
outwitted by a cat.<br />
Most kittens will hide under the<br />
furniture for 24-48 hours; not Tigger.<br />
Having come in from the wild she,<br />
like many converts, went to the other<br />
extreme and decided she would<br />
play her full part in family life. This<br />
meant she would join us on tables<br />
and kitchen counters as an equal,<br />
and although she would obey the<br />
command, “Get down”, she would<br />
soon be up again. I think her ideal<br />
would be to have a plate laid for her<br />
at meals. This doesn’t happen but<br />
Cats have less taste buds than we<br />
do and judge their food by smell, at<br />
which they surpass us many times<br />
over. Also their sight at closer than 3<br />
inches is poor whereupon their tactile<br />
whiskers take over. So she smells<br />
every thing closely as she passes. To<br />
see her negotiate a crowded table top<br />
is a wonder, aided by her sensitive<br />
feet whiskers. In this she is well<br />
served by nerves which run from<br />
her front feet directly to her hind<br />
feet without connecting with the<br />
Just as Cranes dance so do cars purr;<br />
but not Tigger. It seems that all feline<br />
habits come to her with difficulty. If<br />
she is chastised for clawing the carpet<br />
she will stop when shouted at but<br />
repeat the crime two minutes later.<br />
In that vital gap in her life, from 2-7<br />
weeks, when many lifetime habits<br />
were set, one of many carers must<br />
have played mock fights with her, for<br />
she has learnt that human hands and<br />
feet are playthings and will launch<br />
attacks upon them and will neither<br />
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e picked up or sit upon your lap.<br />
Her feral ancestry means that she<br />
never backs down and will stand up<br />
to any attack and always has the last<br />
word even if her counter attack is<br />
launched ten minutes later. All this<br />
combined with a sharp reaction to<br />
any sound as though she is still living<br />
on the wild side.<br />
Yet having been brought up into this<br />
life with humankind she has taken her<br />
lifestyle to extremes and shares our<br />
life completely. She does go out and<br />
averages a mouse a day but makes it<br />
clear that she would rather be with us.<br />
She follows my wife everywhere and<br />
joins in with every household task,<br />
such as bedmaking, and is fascinated<br />
by hair washing or brushing and will<br />
steal hair clips to play with, even<br />
taking them out of her hair. Once,<br />
when family visited, plus dog, and<br />
there was much hugging, she stepped<br />
out of the ruck and made her own<br />
greeting to the incomers as if to say,<br />
“I am here too you know”.<br />
Although her food is down all the<br />
time; and drink! Well get this. She<br />
seems to have an affinity with water.<br />
When we sit down for a meal or a<br />
coffee at the kitchen table she must<br />
have a drink as well, but not from her<br />
water bowl on the floor which she<br />
never touches. She sits by the kitchen<br />
tap until we turn it on for her at a<br />
trickle. She loves water in any form<br />
and likes nothing better than to join<br />
in at bath time by walking around the<br />
edge of the bath and then when the<br />
emptying bath reaches about one<br />
inch she will jump in to paddle. In<br />
the days of her kittenhood when her<br />
balance was not so sure she would<br />
often fall in and the occupant would<br />
fish her out by the scruff give her a<br />
shake, and toss her back over the<br />
side. She loved it!<br />
Just as Cranes dance so do cars purr;<br />
but not Tigger. It seems that all feline<br />
habits come to her with difficulty<br />
At night she sleeps in the kitchen<br />
for she would otherwise give us no<br />
overnight peace. I have to announce<br />
a friendly, family practice<br />
“It’s time for Bed” and she appears for her<br />
nightly head scratch before making<br />
her way to the kitchen. She loves<br />
routine and her favourite foods are<br />
mayonnaise and mashed potato.<br />
She is full of life, but I would be less<br />
than honest if I said she was an angel.<br />
Some time in those early few weeks<br />
of life when she was like a sponge<br />
soaking up habits, good and bad,<br />
someone taught her a game which<br />
involved attacking hands or ankles.<br />
Nothing we have tried has cured<br />
her. As she can also open doors, it<br />
can get tedious.<br />
Yet of all Tigger’s habits, one is the<br />
most charming. It is my old fashioned<br />
way, after a meal, to get up and give<br />
my wife a kiss. Wherever she may<br />
be in the house this cat miraculously<br />
appears on the table and as I bend<br />
down I feel a wet kiss on my cheek<br />
as she joins in the general love-in.<br />
Ken Watson<br />
...Providing the highest standards<br />
of professional veterinary care<br />
OPENING TIMES<br />
Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 6.30pm<br />
Saturday: 8.30am - 12.30pm<br />
Consultations by Appointment<br />
EMERGENCY SERVICE<br />
For out of hours veterinary attention<br />
or advice please ring 01752 700600<br />
PLYMOUTH<br />
01752 700600<br />
Burnett Road, Manadon,<br />
Plymouth PL6 5BH<br />
IVYBRIDGE<br />
01752 690999<br />
Cornwood Road, Woodlands,<br />
Ivybridge PL21 9JJ<br />
Part Time Clinic at Yealmpton<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
51
devonwildlifetrust.org<br />
Stephen has spent the last 16 years writing about and<br />
working for local nature for the charity Devon Wildlife Trust<br />
SUNNY WITH A RISK OF ANTS<br />
Stephen Hussey<br />
This summer millions of ants will erupt from holes<br />
in the ground and take to the air. But what’s their<br />
mission? Are these just flights of fancy?<br />
This summer look out on warm, still,<br />
humid days, for clouds of flying<br />
ants as they rise from the ground<br />
to take to the skies. The ants in<br />
question are usually black ants, and<br />
as they emerge from holes in lawns<br />
and cracks in pavements, they have<br />
one thing in mind: to mate.<br />
Flying ants can be seen<br />
virtually anywhere<br />
during summer<br />
The clouds of ants are made up of<br />
males whose only purpose is to meet<br />
and mate with a queen ant. The<br />
female ants that take to the air are<br />
newly born queens. Look carefully<br />
at an ‘ant cloud’ this summer using<br />
binoculars and you may spot that<br />
among the millions a few ants which<br />
are much bigger than their airborne<br />
compatriots. These are the queens.<br />
Ant eruptions are often accompanied<br />
by feverish excitement from swifts,<br />
house martins and gulls, all hoping<br />
to grab a meal. Separate ant colonies<br />
synchronise their emergences,<br />
triggered by the optimum weather<br />
conditions. This not only gives queens<br />
the best chance of meeting males from<br />
other nests, but it also overwhelms<br />
predators, giving individual ants a<br />
higher chance of survival.<br />
What happens next?<br />
After their nuptial flight, males usually<br />
survive no longer than a day or two.<br />
For the queens, however, their flight<br />
is the beginning of a much longer life,<br />
sometimes up to 15 years or more.<br />
On landing, females lose their wings<br />
and begin the search for a suitable<br />
nest site. They do this by excavating<br />
an underground chamber in which<br />
to lay eggs.<br />
This is the start of a new ant colony<br />
which may grow to between 10,000<br />
workers and their queen. Her eggs<br />
hatch into larva, which then pupate<br />
to become adults. Most of these<br />
will be female worker ants and<br />
it is these which you see in your<br />
garden searching for food to sustain<br />
their colony. In time the queen will<br />
also produce male ants and a few<br />
queens, and it is these which will<br />
take to the air to begin the process<br />
of reproduction once more.<br />
Where to see<br />
flying ants<br />
The spectacle of flying ants can<br />
be seen virtually anywhere during<br />
summer. Black ants are very adaptable<br />
and can be found in a huge range of<br />
urban and rural locations – if you<br />
have a garden you are likely to have<br />
black ants.<br />
Often the first thing to spot will be<br />
the activity of gulls or swifts circling<br />
as they begin to pick off the ants<br />
as they rise into the air. The whole<br />
spectacle can last an hour or more.<br />
Hot summer days with little wind<br />
and no rain seem to act as a trigger<br />
to ants taking to the wing.<br />
Stephen Hussey<br />
Follow DWT:<br />
@Devonwildlife<br />
@Devonwildlife<br />
@devonwildlifetrust<br />
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wood ant<br />
This large ant can be seen nest building in<br />
open woodland. Photo taken below Fingle<br />
Bridge on the slopes of the Teign valley<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
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53
Lewis always wanted to be a farmer, however, not coming from<br />
a farming background this proved a challenge. The journey<br />
began when he was given three Greyface Dartmoor sheep by<br />
his parents, as a reward for doing well in his GCSEs.<br />
THE DARTMOOR SHEPHERD<br />
Lewis Steer<br />
I’m very excited to think that my words are<br />
now live and (hopefully) being enjoyed by the<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine readers!<br />
am sat writing this article after<br />
I driving out to our nearest block of<br />
rented land to check on the last of<br />
our in lamb ewes. We have to keep<br />
a careful eye on them at this time of<br />
year to ensure each lambing goes to<br />
plan! Whilst typing away my partner,<br />
Flora, has taken over the dining room<br />
table and is working away painting<br />
a sign for our stand at Badminton<br />
Horse Trials. Evenings like this really<br />
do demonstrate the unique nature<br />
of our unorthodox approach to the<br />
agricultural industry on Dartmoor.<br />
Flora and I are first generation<br />
shepherds farming within the<br />
Dartmoor National Park and we<br />
believe we are now the only shepherds<br />
in the world to commercially farm<br />
Flora and I are first<br />
generation shepherds<br />
farming within the<br />
Dartmoor National Park<br />
all three of Dartmoor’s native breed<br />
longwools (the Greyface Dartmoor,<br />
the Whiteface Dartmoor and the Devon<br />
and Cornwall Longwool). Our flock<br />
currently comprises approximately<br />
600 sheep that graze 300 acres<br />
spread around the ancient stannary<br />
town of Chagford on Dartmoor.<br />
We produce both slow grown<br />
hogget as well as amazing longwool<br />
sheepskins from our flocks. We<br />
retail our sheepskins and a range of<br />
sheepskin products - interior items<br />
and accessories, at events throughout<br />
the South of England. We are also<br />
working with an increasing number<br />
of stockists who sell our products in<br />
their outlets. All of our hogget up to<br />
now has been sold to local restaurants,<br />
however as our flocks are expanding<br />
we are very excited to also be joining<br />
the Dartmoor Farmers’ Co-operative<br />
through which our hogget will be<br />
sold into additional restaurants and<br />
establishments further afield and<br />
even into Morrison’s supermarkets<br />
through a new contract gained by<br />
Dartmoor Farmers.<br />
We have come a long way since we<br />
started out with just three sheep<br />
and a rented field next door to my<br />
family home, and to now farm full<br />
time really is a dream come true. I<br />
hope that through writing for the<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine I will be able<br />
to give you a snapshot of our lives<br />
as we build our brand, our flock and<br />
our farming enterprise.<br />
My journey into agriculture has made<br />
me see just how disconnected the<br />
public have become from the land<br />
and how their food is produced.<br />
Sadly, it seems that those within the<br />
walls of Westminster are suffering<br />
from a similar disconnection and there<br />
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The Whiteface<br />
Dartmoor, pictured<br />
above and below<br />
is a worrying lack of understanding<br />
informing the decisions of our<br />
agricultural policy makers.<br />
Agriculture and the Countryside<br />
as a whole is at a pivotal point and<br />
the coming months and years will<br />
bring both sorrow and excitement.<br />
However I am optimistic Brexit<br />
will give this nation’s outdated<br />
agricultural industry the revival it<br />
needs to rejuvenate and re-brand<br />
itself. Through my quarterly piece I<br />
hope that I will be able to share with<br />
you our lives as start-up Dartmoor<br />
shepherds and the excitement,<br />
challenges and diverse events that<br />
our unique way of life brings.<br />
The Greyface<br />
Dartmoor<br />
Originally developed to take the best<br />
attributes of the Whiteface Dartmoor<br />
and enhance them through cross<br />
breeding with local longwools, the<br />
breed was first recognised in <strong>19</strong>07<br />
through the founding of the Dartmoor<br />
Sheep Breeders association. In their<br />
hay day at the height of the<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
55
THE DARTMOOR SHEPHERD ...continued<br />
The Whiteface<br />
Dartmoor<br />
Dartmoor's most ancient breed of<br />
sheep (far right) that has been part<br />
of this landscape for generations.<br />
The Whiteface Dartmoor's meat is<br />
commonly known locally as angel<br />
meat due to its superb flavour, an<br />
attribute passed on to the closely<br />
related Greyface Dartmoor.<br />
woollen industry Greyface Dartmoors<br />
dominated the valleys and peripheries<br />
of Dartmoor. It was famously said<br />
that a farmer could pay his rent each<br />
year through selling the wool from<br />
a small flock.<br />
However, today sadly the Greyface<br />
is a rare breed and we have one of<br />
the largest flocks in Devon. Our<br />
Greyfaces produce beautifully shaggy<br />
We have come a long<br />
way since we started<br />
out with just 3 sheep<br />
sheepskins with a more open curl as<br />
they are built to withstand the cold<br />
Dartmoor weather. The Greyfaces<br />
were our first ever flock!<br />
Despite appearing far more slight<br />
than its Greyface and Devon and<br />
Cornwall Longwool counterparts<br />
the Whiteface Dartmoor is a rugged<br />
animal built to survive the highest<br />
parts of Dartmoor and all the<br />
elements that the area can throw at<br />
it. The Whiteface Dartmoor's fleece<br />
boasts a thick lustre and a far tighter<br />
curl than most breeds as a result of<br />
needing to repel the driving rain<br />
of the high moor. Sadly now a rare<br />
breed they are seen less and less on<br />
the open moor.<br />
Our Whiteface Dartmoor's live on<br />
the highest parts of the farm living<br />
off the steep slopes of the Dartmoor<br />
hills and the Teign Valley.<br />
The Devon and<br />
Cornwall Longwool<br />
This breed have been in existence<br />
for over 100 years, however up until<br />
<strong>19</strong>77 there were two different<br />
The Greyfaces are built<br />
to withstand the cold<br />
Dartmoor weather<br />
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My journey has made<br />
me see just how<br />
disconnected the<br />
public have become<br />
from the land and how<br />
their food is produced<br />
types - the large south Devon strain<br />
and the smaller North Devon and<br />
Cornish strain. Since <strong>19</strong>77, due to<br />
the dwindling numbers and a very<br />
small gene pool, the two strains<br />
have been amalgamated to ensure<br />
the survival of the breed. The Devon<br />
and Cornwall Longwool is a docile<br />
breed that produces large lambs that<br />
finish far quicker than the Greyface<br />
and Whiteface Dartmoors.<br />
The breed has a superb long and<br />
heavy fleece that produces our most<br />
sumptuous sheepskins. It is the rarest<br />
of three Dartmoor breeds, with fewer<br />
than 1,000 registered breeding ewes<br />
remaining in the UK. However we love<br />
these remarkable sheep and are on<br />
a mission to revive their dwindling<br />
numbers. Interestingly this breed of<br />
sheep is now statistically more rare<br />
than the Bengal tiger!<br />
Lewis Steer<br />
Follow me:<br />
@thedartmoorshepherd<br />
@dartmoorshep<br />
@dartmoorshepherd<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
57
cpredevon.org.uk<br />
Penny Mills is the Devon Director for the Campaign<br />
to Protect Rural England which is a registered charity<br />
GETTING DEVON’S YOUNGSTERS FIRED<br />
UP ABOUT THE COUNTRYSIDE<br />
Penny Mills, CPRE Devon<br />
CPRE Devon is buoyed up about the impending<br />
launch of an initiative at Wembury to get Devon’s<br />
youngsters fired up about the countryside<br />
There are encouraging<br />
signs that young people<br />
have recently woken up to<br />
the urgent need to protect<br />
the environment. In recent<br />
months, there’s been nothing<br />
short of a sea-change in global<br />
awareness of environmental<br />
issues.<br />
Here in Devon, the county<br />
branch of the Campaign<br />
to Protect Rural England<br />
(otherwise known as CPRE<br />
Devon) is set to increase<br />
engagement with Devon’s<br />
schoolchildren about what they can<br />
do at a local level, to protect Devon’s<br />
precious countryside and unique<br />
landscapes.<br />
CPRE Devon is teaching<br />
schoolchildren how they<br />
can protect Devon’s<br />
precious countryside<br />
From early this summer, we’ll be<br />
working in partnership with Devon<br />
Wildlife Trust, contributing to the<br />
running of its excellent marine<br />
centre in the small coastal village<br />
of Wembury near Plymouth. For<br />
years, young people have been<br />
visiting the Centre to learn about<br />
the importance of marine life and<br />
local wildlife and the need to protect<br />
them. Now, through our involvement,<br />
it will also become a place to learn<br />
about the surrounding countryside<br />
and the wildlife habitats it provides.<br />
CPRE Devon is excited about<br />
this opportunity to connect with<br />
schoolchildren in a practical way. It<br />
seems to us a natural progression<br />
for two organisations with similar<br />
goals to collaborate to educate young<br />
people about the wonders of the<br />
world around them and the part<br />
they can play in safeguarding it for<br />
future generations.<br />
Our involvement at Wembury<br />
is part of a joined-up plan<br />
by CPRE Devon to engage<br />
with young people. As a<br />
campaigning organisation, we<br />
understand how important<br />
it is to communicate our<br />
message to youngsters.<br />
In fact, a legacy by the<br />
late Wendy Lawrenson is<br />
specifically for projects to<br />
educate children about the<br />
natural environment. That’s<br />
why we launched our Devon<br />
Countryside Ambassador<br />
badges last year and our new mascot<br />
Barney the Bull, who sends Bulletins<br />
about our work to schools.<br />
We also run annual competitions<br />
to encourage schoolchildren to<br />
connect with the countryside. Our<br />
children’s painting competition<br />
continues to grow, attracting an<br />
array of imaginative artworks, and<br />
last year was joined by a writing<br />
competition.<br />
So, keep an eye on our website for all<br />
the latest developments at Wembury<br />
and across the county. Devon is a very<br />
special place and with your help, we<br />
can keep it that way!<br />
Penny Mills<br />
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INSPIRED<br />
TO VISIT<br />
59<br />
What's in this section...<br />
Booking Portals Out & About Pink Granite Coast<br />
A Look at Bath<br />
The <strong>Devonshire</strong> Walk<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 59
Booking portals!<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
The hotel booking<br />
portals take a<br />
large slice of<br />
hotel revenues,<br />
but provide the<br />
consumer with<br />
great convenience.<br />
However, it's<br />
debatable how<br />
accurately they<br />
portray their<br />
accommodation<br />
I can remember the days when<br />
booking a hotel was pretty much<br />
about phoning and asking if they<br />
had any rooms available. Fairly basic,<br />
and not much idea of the room you<br />
were booking.<br />
Today things couldn't be more<br />
different, helped largely by the<br />
success of the hotel booking portals.<br />
The likes of Booking.com and<br />
Expedia to name a few, have really<br />
changed the landscape, bringing a<br />
level of transparency not previously<br />
available.<br />
However, the consumer watchdog,<br />
the Competitions and Markets<br />
Authority (CMA) are concerned<br />
about the clarity and accuracy<br />
of the information presented by<br />
these sites. According to the CMA,<br />
about 70% of people shopping for<br />
accommodation use the hotel<br />
portals. The CMA's concerns are<br />
that misleading information and<br />
pressure selling techniques utilised<br />
by many of the portals are hampering<br />
and misleading consumers, rather<br />
than helping them.<br />
From my own experience of using<br />
booking portals, I've found they're<br />
pretty good at giving a reasonable<br />
impression, but you're awere there's<br />
an element of misrepresentation in<br />
order to make certain rooms appear<br />
more attractive than they really are.<br />
The CMA's concerns are laudable,<br />
but the likes of Google and Facebook<br />
seem to have totally escaped the<br />
CMA's attention in terms of market<br />
dominance. Perhaps the CMA could<br />
wake up and do something of merit<br />
to address the massive imbalance?<br />
Nigel Jones.<br />
60 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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Interested in all things <strong>Devonshire</strong>?<br />
Just follow @devonshiremagazine, @inspiredtovisit and @devonshirefoodie<br />
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#christow<br />
#brixham<br />
#sevenstarkennford<br />
#ydfordgorge<br />
#helebay<br />
#dartingtonstar<br />
#avetongifford<br />
#hartlandbay<br />
#salcombe<br />
#terriertakeaway<br />
See of walks, stays, dining, people, animals, books, and stunning photos of <strong>Devonshire</strong> countryside<br />
DIGITAL MAGAZINE<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 61
OUT & About<br />
Surfboards at the ready, much fun<br />
to be had at Woolacombe beach<br />
62 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Don't miss these<br />
great local events<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
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@hubcastevents<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 63
Á travers la Manche<br />
Northern Brittany's<br />
Pink Granite Coast<br />
Many Brits are in the habit of nipping across the channel, and why not, France is a vast<br />
country with stunning landscapes. Here <strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine takes a look at the<br />
aptly named Pink Granite Coast, otherwise known as Côte de Granit Rose.<br />
I have to confess that the Pink Granite<br />
Coast in France was somewhere I<br />
hadn't heard of previously, I happened<br />
across it on the internet purely<br />
by chance whilst searching for hotels<br />
in northern France. Actually, photos<br />
on the internet gave no idea as to<br />
the sheer splendour of this other<br />
worldly landscape and whilst you're<br />
walking through it, the boulders<br />
tower over you in places. It's hard<br />
from the photos here to get an idea<br />
of the scale of the aforementioned<br />
boulders and as you walk the coastal<br />
path, with the elevation and glimpses<br />
out to sea, you're in for a treat, Atlantic<br />
coast weather allowing.<br />
The coastal path is highly recommended,<br />
actually you can walk in<br />
both directions from the beach (see<br />
map right), equally stunning and<br />
you'll also enjoy a rich mix of coastal<br />
flora and fauna with historic buildings<br />
dotted along the way. In the<br />
sunshine the boulders seem to glow<br />
with warmth and in mid-evening as<br />
64 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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Cherbourg<br />
Plage<br />
Saint-<br />
Guirec<br />
Ploumanach<br />
Port<br />
Guernsey<br />
Jersey<br />
Coutances<br />
Ploumanach<br />
Perros-Guirec<br />
Granville<br />
R o s c o ff<br />
Lannion<br />
St-Malo<br />
Avranches<br />
Brest<br />
Morlaix<br />
Saint-Brieuc<br />
Dinan<br />
<br />
An ideal place to stay to visit this stunning coastline is at<br />
main beach (Plage Saint-Guirec) which has several hotels<br />
directly next to the beach (see map above). You can pick<br />
up the coastal path directly outside both. Seafood features<br />
heavily on the menus and food generally is good. If you're<br />
considering taking the dog along, Hotel Saint Guirec Et De<br />
La Plage was very dog friendly (see above). (Left - ile flottante,<br />
right - langostines, many of which come from Scotland).<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 65
A derelict gunpowder store minus roof<br />
Northern Brittany's<br />
Pink Granite Coast<br />
Ploumanach lighthouse - the coastal scenery is stunning and unforgettable<br />
Beautiful fl ora and fauna along<br />
the coastal path<br />
66 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
Á travers la Manche<br />
All manner of shapes abound<br />
Pink granite - close-up<br />
It's a rugged coastline, what's amazing is how the boulders appear almost fake because of the weathered granite,<br />
there being no sharp edges anywhere - all a bit Disneyesque and estremely dramatic!<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
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CONTENTS 67
Top - Cerise coloured leptospermum is an exotic eye grabber.<br />
Above - The use of tidal energy is by no means new technology, this<br />
is one of a couple of fourteenth century tidal mills built by the lord<br />
of Lannion to harness the tidal fl ow, which allowed incoming sea<br />
water to fill retaining pools behind the dam. Once the tide was out,<br />
the mills were able to be run by opening the sluice gates.<br />
68 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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Á travers la Manche<br />
The scale of boulders along the coastline is impressive to say the least, the landscape being full of surprises. Note the beautiful chateaux<br />
on the island, replete with cylindrical towers and conical roofs.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 69
Á travers la Manche<br />
Northern Brittany's<br />
Pink Granite Coast<br />
70 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
The scenery on the Pink Granite Coast is truly beautiful with visual feasts round each and every corner.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 71
The bar area's a perfect place to relax, or for a quick bite<br />
Mrs G likes to test out the bed as soon as we arrive!<br />
Aztec's spa won the World Luxury<br />
Spa award in 2018<br />
STAYCATION<br />
Aztec Hotel & Spa<br />
Almondsbury<br />
Bristol<br />
BS32 4TS<br />
01454 201090<br />
aztechotelbristol.co.uk<br />
The world seems to be getting more stressful<br />
and crazy with each year that passes. There are<br />
plenty of books that tell you how to meditate,<br />
how to disconnect from the world and the<br />
madness within. But sometimes you just need<br />
some good old fashioned pampering.<br />
A quick boost up the M5 will take you<br />
to the elegantly refurbished, awardwinning<br />
Aztec Hotel & Spa, just off<br />
Junction 17 in North Bristol. All<br />
the staff we met during our stay<br />
were incredibly friendly and helpful,<br />
particularly the reception team who<br />
took care of all our strange little<br />
requests; myself and Mrs G found<br />
a small welcome present (someone<br />
knew we were coming) in our room,<br />
consisting of complimentary G&Ts!<br />
Perfect after the drive up. Our room<br />
was large and full of little luxury<br />
touches. Initially, I was concerned<br />
as there was no evidence of tea<br />
making facilities! But we opened<br />
a big draw to find two good sized<br />
mugs for tea and coffee with actual<br />
milk in the fridge and because our<br />
host is a luxury spa and they know<br />
a good nightʼs sleep is great for<br />
relaxation, we found the super<br />
comfy beds came with a choice of<br />
pillow firmness, even one made of<br />
memory foam which was available<br />
from reception. After developing<br />
a feeling of superior snugness in<br />
our room, we headed over to the<br />
Spa for a bit of pampering. We<br />
had a relaxing 25-minute taster<br />
treatment to give us an idea what<br />
guests could expect. There are a<br />
range of times available including<br />
short sessions and hour-long<br />
sessions; the spa has an exclusive<br />
partnership with French skincare<br />
brand Caudalie which is used<br />
throughout the Spa and hotel<br />
with some nice little samples for<br />
And of course, I go to a luxury hotel and have to have fish<br />
and chips… but the skill in the battering is a good indicator<br />
as to a restaurant’s attention to detail.<br />
Bavette of Steak was on the Meat Specials<br />
board. Evening dining is an important part of<br />
the experience<br />
Breakfast is served buffet style with lots<br />
of options for the health conscious and<br />
those who like a of fat on their bacon!<br />
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Our room was incredibly comfortable, no sound from either guests or the<br />
outside world, a blissful night's sleep was had!<br />
There are a range of Spa Day options as well as overnight packages<br />
our hotel room too. Some of the<br />
treatments available including the<br />
Divine Body Massage, Wine Makers<br />
Massage, and the D-Vine Back Face<br />
& Scalp Treatment all of which sound<br />
amazing. I went for the Cranial<br />
Massage which was incredibly<br />
relaxing. It was easy to see how this<br />
Spa won World Luxury Spa Award<br />
2018 as part of the House of Daniel<br />
Thwaites group. This was followed<br />
by a dip in the pool and a visit to<br />
the Sauna and Steam Room. By the<br />
time we cleansed our pores, and<br />
invigorated ourselves after a cold<br />
shower or two, it was time for us to<br />
get back to our room to get ready<br />
for our evening meal. Food plays<br />
an important part of the visitor's<br />
experience. The food offering<br />
reflects the four-star standard, with<br />
a balanced menu for a range of<br />
tastes and lots of options for dietary<br />
requirements. Guests can dine in the<br />
bar area during the day or the restaurant which<br />
becomes centre stage in the evening. The<br />
restaurant gives diners the option to dine from<br />
the Chefʼs Table (meat, cheese and salad options)<br />
as well as the Specials of the Day. Enter stage left,<br />
our three-course meal was kicked off with Soup Of<br />
The Day (Carrot and Ginger) for myself and Scallops<br />
for Mrs G. Yours truly had Beer Battered Cod and<br />
Chips which were cooked perfectly. Mrs G tucked<br />
Their on-site 150 cover restaurant provides an elegant backdropfor breakfast, lunch or evening meals<br />
into a flavourful Bavette of Steak which was on the<br />
meat special that evening. We finished the meal<br />
with Petit Fours and a Dark Chocolate & Black<br />
Cherry dessert. Despite having a late night coffee,<br />
we were both totally zonked after pampering and<br />
food, and our nightʼs sleep was one of the best<br />
weʼd had in a hotel for a long while.. Guests are<br />
allowed to use the facilities even after checking<br />
out; our hearty breakfast was just the thing we<br />
needed after a blissful nightʼs sleep so after our<br />
check out we just had to have another visit to the<br />
Spa and a relaxing dip in the Jacuzzi before saying<br />
farewell to our very relaxing and reviving visit to<br />
Aztec Hotel & Spa.<br />
Chris Gower<br />
Scallops were on the menu for our starter,<br />
beautifully presented<br />
As B.C Forbes once said, “Work is the meat<br />
of life, pleasure the dessert” and this dessert<br />
was a total pleasure<br />
Aztec Hotel and Spa have partnership with a<br />
luxury French skincare brand Caudalie<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 73
A look at<br />
BATH<br />
@inspiredtovisit<br />
The Roman baths<br />
There's no need to travel to the<br />
Mediterranean to see amazing<br />
Roman baths, we have the best<br />
from the Roman world<br />
If you have an interest in Roman sites, then you'll<br />
know that the Roman baths at Bath are pretty special.<br />
I can't think of anywhere as impressive in terms of<br />
Roman baths, it's no wonder that they attract people<br />
from all over the world.<br />
The hot spring that formed the basis for the baths<br />
continues to reliably supply hot water some 2,000<br />
years later, a great facility that those Romans utilised<br />
to the full at this impressive historic site.<br />
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Don't miss<br />
having high<br />
tea in the<br />
lovely tea<br />
rooms next<br />
to the baths<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 75
Aveton Gifford walk<br />
with<br />
magazine<br />
Aveton Gifford takes part<br />
of its name from the<br />
Giffard family, who held the<br />
manor here, after having<br />
made the cross Channel trip<br />
with William the Conqueror<br />
and doing their bit to help<br />
with the Conquest.<br />
Aveton Gifford’s an<br />
interesting place, it’s where<br />
the lovely river Avon finally<br />
meets the salt water of the<br />
estuary which meanders<br />
3¾ miles down to the<br />
coast at Bigbury-on-Sea.<br />
This walk takes you down<br />
along a tidal road, then<br />
up a creek and through a<br />
delightful tree-lined path<br />
besides a stream. Then you<br />
take the path up Drunkards<br />
Hill onto the top of the<br />
summit which affords fine<br />
views before dropping down<br />
again to Aveton Gifford.<br />
If you have a kayak or canoe,<br />
the trip down the estuary<br />
would be a great way to<br />
spend time, there’s ample<br />
parking and easy access<br />
to the water for getting in<br />
and out of your vessel.<br />
For walkers, the trip is about<br />
2½ miles in total, much<br />
of it easy going although<br />
Drunkards Hill is fairly steep<br />
for a short way. The walk’s a<br />
peaceful one, with unspoilt<br />
views out in all directions.<br />
We didn’t encounter any<br />
other walkers along the<br />
way, so it’s great if you wish<br />
to enjoy the countryside<br />
without interruption.<br />
With regard to the route<br />
we show on the map, these<br />
are approximations only<br />
and I would strongly advise<br />
plotting this route on an<br />
Ordnance Survey map so<br />
you don’t miss any important<br />
turns along the way. The<br />
OS maps really do open up<br />
the countryside for you and<br />
are a good investment in<br />
terms of helping you discover<br />
your local countryside.<br />
Hope you enjoy the walk!<br />
Nigel Jones - Editor<br />
76 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
Waterhead<br />
Bridge<br />
Drunkards Hill<br />
Were Down<br />
Avon Estuary Walk<br />
Aveton<br />
Gifford<br />
Start<br />
North Efford<br />
Pond Farm<br />
Tidal road<br />
South Efford House<br />
Hingston<br />
Milburn Orchard<br />
ford<br />
Bridge<br />
End<br />
Walk information<br />
1. Parking - the walk can be<br />
started from where ‘Start’ is<br />
shown on the map above.<br />
2. Footwear - assuming dry conditions,<br />
trainers or boots advised.<br />
3. Dogs - lead necessary as<br />
livestock may be present although<br />
there are plenty of places to<br />
let the dog/s off the lead.<br />
4. Distance - a gentle walk with<br />
one steep incline, it’s two and a<br />
half miles in total (circular).<br />
Once you reach the<br />
road up from the<br />
estuary, follow along<br />
for about 50 yards and<br />
turn off to the right up<br />
Drunkards Hill (you<br />
can’t miss the sign).<br />
Higher up Drunkards<br />
Hill, you take the<br />
turning right across the<br />
meadow where, once<br />
you cross the summit,<br />
you can see across to<br />
St. Andrew’s Church<br />
at Aveton Gifford.<br />
St. Andrew’s<br />
Church in the<br />
distance, further<br />
down the hill you<br />
bear to your right<br />
to pick up the lane<br />
which you follow<br />
before turning off.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 77
Aveton Gifford church (St. Andrew’s) in the distance - you walk towards<br />
the church, then you need to veer to the right to pick up the lane<br />
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Looking back upstream, the bridge is round to the right. Jack’s taking a refreshing dip<br />
Below - at the top of Drunkards Hill - looking north<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 79
OUT & About<br />
Messing about at Exmoor's<br />
Tarr Steps, which straddles<br />
the river Barle<br />
80 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Don't miss these<br />
great local events<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 81
Lovely villa in sunny<br />
South of France<br />
Le Mimosa nestles in a tranquil sun soaked valley<br />
in Languedoc, a gorgeous area with traditional<br />
markets, vineyards and wonderful nature.<br />
We have availability this summer so please email<br />
me, susan.gebbie@hotmail.co.uk for discounts<br />
on 20<strong>19</strong> rentals.<br />
A perfect holiday with family or friends.<br />
Private pool • Bikes supplied • Our guide<br />
to all the local hidden gems<br />
More information and photos of the house interior<br />
and surroundings can be found on the website:<br />
www.languedocholidayvillas.co.uk<br />
82 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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DRINK&<br />
FOOD<br />
83<br />
What's in this section...<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> Foodie<br />
The Pig at Combe<br />
Life on the Vine<br />
How Now Dairy<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> Foodie<br />
Bill's, Exeter<br />
52 Classic Pubs<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> Foodie<br />
The Railway, Honiton<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
83
FOOD REVIEW<br />
devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
The Pig at Combe<br />
English wines can really shine,<br />
Hambledon sparkling, Hampshire<br />
There's an honesty<br />
in their food offering<br />
that's inescapable<br />
Eating out's much more that just<br />
about the food. An analogy is you<br />
could be sat down at a table, eating<br />
fantastic food, looking out over a<br />
concrete car park. I'm sure the food<br />
wouldn't taste as good as it should,<br />
and your enjoyment levels would be<br />
greatly diminished. The environment<br />
where you dine is really important<br />
to your enjoyment and experience.<br />
There's no such problem at The<br />
Pig, which is situated at the very<br />
lovely Combe House, Gittisham.<br />
There's no need for me to harp<br />
on if you've already visited, but<br />
for those that haven't, Combe's an<br />
Elizabethan mansion set in parkland,<br />
surrounded by mature trees - it's a<br />
lovely destination, and as you amble<br />
up along the drive to the house you're<br />
transported to another world.<br />
Much effort has recently gone into a<br />
major renovation of the site and it's all<br />
worked out very well. I particularly<br />
liked the interior which manages to<br />
combine country house grandeur<br />
with a hint of shabby chic - much<br />
'Scorpio' Monkfish wrapped in Pancetta<br />
84 84 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
Church House Inn<br />
Churchstow<br />
A 13th Century village pub steeped in history& bursting<br />
with orginal charm & character, serving up award food.<br />
Why not head to us for Sunday lunch and be serenaded<br />
by our talented pianist whilst you dine?<br />
Or join us for Chef ’s curry club night on the second<br />
Thursday of the month. Three deliciously different<br />
curries, rice & poppadoms all for £14.<br />
Next Curry club night 13 <strong>June</strong>.<br />
Check out our website for latest offers & events:<br />
www.churchhouse-churchstow.com 01548 852237<br />
hello@churchhouse-churchstow.com #churchhouseinnchurchstow<br />
bare wood in evidence, which is no<br />
bad thing. Hopefully from the pics,<br />
you'll get a good feel for the interior.<br />
The Food<br />
What I really liked about The Pig was<br />
their efforts to both grow their own<br />
for the kitchen, then to source within<br />
25 miles, which works on many levels.<br />
Firstly, supporting local farmers and<br />
producers is really important, how<br />
sick are we of supermarkets flying in<br />
food from all over the world, burning<br />
up the planet, when we have a great<br />
climate and conditions for producing<br />
food here in Devon. Also, don't we<br />
want the money we spend, to support<br />
us locally, so that our friends, people<br />
living here, all benefit (don't get me<br />
started on Google/Facebook/Amazon -<br />
please find alternatives - see our piece<br />
on Ecosia.com by the way!).<br />
As you can see from the pics, food was<br />
un-messed-with, quality ingredients,<br />
served up respectfully, and all of a<br />
high quality. Much comes from their<br />
own kitchen garden which you can<br />
walk around at leisure.<br />
Don't miss reading our piece in the<br />
Proud to be Green chapter at the front<br />
of this magazine - Duty Manager/<br />
Sommelier Luke Harbour talks about<br />
The Pig's work to reduce waste and<br />
to work sustainably.<br />
Editor<br />
Garden Herb infused gin jelly<br />
Piggy Bits - bostin mate!<br />
Tobacco Onions<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 85 85
FOOD REVIEW<br />
devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
The Pig at Combe<br />
'Northern Lights' Leek risotto<br />
86 86 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
Lemon Meringue pie<br />
“Cookery is become an art,<br />
a noble science; cooks are<br />
gentlemen”<br />
Robert Burton (1577-1640) English cleric and writer<br />
Garden Herb infused gin jelly<br />
Free Range Weston Rose Veal Ragu & Gnocchi<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 87 87
Susan Gebbie writes for both <strong>Devonshire</strong> magazine and The<br />
Budleigh Diary, living in the town of Budleigh Salterton<br />
LIFE ON THE VINE<br />
Susan Gebbie<br />
My visit to Hedger Valley of Harpford to meet<br />
Richard Hedger in early April is a real treat. The<br />
vineyard is bathed in warm sunlight and bud burst is<br />
beginning on the Rondo vines.<br />
With pruning complete<br />
everything is looking good<br />
for the season ahead. We chat about<br />
the fascinating history of winemaking<br />
in this country. Richard tells me,<br />
"around 45 AD, vines were brought over<br />
by the Romans along with the expertise<br />
to make wine, but as they retreated, many<br />
of the skills they had brought were lost."<br />
Richard Hedger in his<br />
Harpford vineyard<br />
Moving on through the Dark Ages<br />
to 1066, William the Conqueror was<br />
a great lover of wine and vineyards<br />
began to spring up again, with<br />
every monastery having its own<br />
vineyard. Sadly, Henry VIII was<br />
not just responsible for the ignoble<br />
gesture of chopping several of his<br />
wives heads off, he was also the<br />
instigator of the dissolution of the<br />
monasteries which lead to the loss<br />
of many of these vineyards, although<br />
Henry did in fact retain some for<br />
himself!<br />
Prior to WW1 there were still many<br />
vineyards, but following the war<br />
most were given over to agriculture.<br />
In <strong>19</strong>18 a small number of vineyards<br />
were planted but of a lower quality<br />
and were, as Richard recounts with a<br />
smile, 'lambasted by the French'. WW2<br />
placed pressure on the land again<br />
and this effectively ended the English<br />
wine industry for some time.<br />
A couple of days later when I visit<br />
Pebblebed, temperatures have<br />
dropped and Alex Mills, vineyard<br />
manager, is nervous. Temperatures in<br />
early spring warmed<br />
the ground so the<br />
sap in the vines<br />
has started to flow<br />
and bud burst is<br />
imminent. In fact,<br />
the vines have<br />
started to come on<br />
early by about two<br />
weeks, leaving them<br />
vulnerable to a late<br />
air frost. This is a<br />
grower’s nightmare.<br />
But as Alex explains, there are things<br />
that can be done to mitigate against<br />
this.<br />
"You can do things to minimise any damage<br />
such as spraying water over the vines. You<br />
need to coat the vines in the night when<br />
you get the lowest temperatures. The fan<br />
on the sprayer disturbs the colder air<br />
close to the ground and the energy taken<br />
to freeze the water stops it from freezing<br />
the tissue of the buds." It may take all<br />
night to get round all the vines!<br />
Sadly, by early May, Alex’s worst<br />
fears are being realised. Many of<br />
the vines at the Cyst St George site<br />
have suffered some frost damage,<br />
and as we go to press another frost<br />
is forecast over the bank holiday<br />
weekend. Alex is doing all he can to<br />
The vines are all pruned and<br />
bud burst is starting<br />
88 88 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
HOTEL<br />
& RESTAURANT<br />
HOPE COVE SOUTH DEVON<br />
protect the vines. He comments ruefully "We thought<br />
the late frost of 2017 was a once in 20 years anomaly. That<br />
was the first time we had ever been affected by frost."<br />
Fortunately for Richard Hedger over in Harpford, his<br />
vines have been unaffected, probably as a result of<br />
a slightly higher and less exposed position.<br />
A vine at Pebbled showing how some<br />
frost damaged buds have shrivelled<br />
THE<br />
COTTAGE<br />
HOTEL<br />
& RESTAURANT<br />
HOPE COVE SOUTH DEVON<br />
THE<br />
COTTAGE HOTEL<br />
& RESTAURANT<br />
HOPE COVE SOUTH DEVON<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE<br />
COTTAGE HOTEL<br />
<br />
<br />
& RESTAURANT<br />
<br />
<br />
HOPE COVE<br />
SOUTH DEVON<br />
<br />
<br />
I ask what else has been happening since I was last<br />
at the vineyard?<br />
WINTER BREAK DEALS<br />
Visit our website<br />
"We have sorted out a lot of the blends, that’s always a nice<br />
job. We taste all the tanks individually and create the<br />
overall blends... then replicate them on a larger scale. We<br />
produce 5 wines so have 5 individual blends."<br />
A place for eating, drinking & meeting<br />
• WITH A VIEW OF LYME BAY •<br />
So, are the blends for the sparkling and still wines<br />
similar?<br />
"Grapes are harvested at different times as you want more<br />
acidity in sparkling, which are pressed according to the<br />
champagne method. It’s a more gentle pressing and these<br />
grapes have been picked a bit earlier.<br />
"The blended wine will go through a couple of different<br />
processes. We will move it from one tank to another after<br />
the sediment has fallen down to the bottom so it clarifies.<br />
Some of the wines will have a light filtration as well, which<br />
takes out the bigger particles so the wine looks bright and<br />
clear in the glass for the customer.<br />
"We age some of our red in barrels for 12 months, constantly<br />
topping it up as the wine evaporates. We call this 'the<br />
angels' share."<br />
Do you think the personality of the grower influences<br />
a wine?<br />
Pyne's Sidmouth Devon | 01395 513047<br />
www.bedfordhotelsidmouth.co.uk<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 89<br />
89
LIFE ON THE VINE ...continued<br />
By Richard & Jayne Eley<br />
A great pub for every week of the year!<br />
Bud burst on the Rondo vine at Harpford<br />
THE GROVE INN,<br />
KING'S NYMPTON<br />
hundred years ago, 90% of the population<br />
A would have been engaged in the<br />
agricultural industry. So the population is<br />
dispersed: there are few towns, and they are<br />
small. Settlements are typically villages of<br />
perhaps 500 residents gathered round a small<br />
square with a church, and a single pub. A good<br />
example is the picturesque community of<br />
King’s Nympton, almost untouched by modern<br />
development, and wonderfully peaceful.<br />
They even built their railway station twoand-a-half<br />
miles away.<br />
In prime location at the heart of this delightful<br />
village is The Grove, thatched of course, and<br />
17th century. The interior is as one would<br />
hope and expect, and the pub has a good<br />
reputation for food, having won many awards.<br />
One of the pleasures of this sometimes<br />
forgotten part of Devon is the excellent range<br />
of traditional pubs offering high quality dining.<br />
It is, presumably, the only way to survive<br />
and prosper, but<br />
they do put some<br />
of our seaside<br />
establishments to<br />
shame.<br />
"Yes. The wines we make here are a reflection of our philosophies,<br />
it’s a very personal thing... it’s partly down to the natural<br />
flavour of the grapes from this particular soil and… then how<br />
I make the wine and the blending also has an influence. It's<br />
an art and a science!"<br />
The vines are not reliant on declining bee and insect<br />
populations as they self pollinate, helped by a gentle<br />
breeze. Cross pollination also takes place as certain<br />
varieties are better pollinators, but crucially, regardless<br />
of what pollinates it, the fruit from, for example, a Rondo,<br />
will always be a Rondo. New vines are cultivated only<br />
from cuttings and will be direct clones.<br />
The vineyard will be busy over the summer with the<br />
team bottling wine from the vats, removing unwanted<br />
buds on the trunks by hand, training the shoots through<br />
the wires and later in the season removing leaves<br />
from around the grapes. These climbers can put on a<br />
centimetre a day if the conditions are right and require<br />
trimming every two weeks, which diverts the vine from<br />
vegetative growth into the fruit.<br />
On a final note, dare I raise the Brexit question?<br />
Alex admits that fluctuating exchange rates are an issue<br />
as all the bottles and equipment used in the wine making<br />
process come from the continent, so as with many<br />
local businesses, the uncertainty is having an impact.<br />
But for now there is wine to be bottled and vines to<br />
be tended. The Pebblebed tours run from May to<br />
September and information can be found<br />
on their website. I urge you to try their<br />
wines which are indeed delicious.<br />
Susan Gebbie<br />
90 90 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
We regularly review Devon eateries,<br />
see: @devonshirefoodie<br />
#glazebrook<br />
Restaurants, to showcase your food, just tag your images with #devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
DIGITAL MAGAZINE<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 91<br />
91
Oliver turned a dream into an idea and an idea into a business. The<br />
next challenge is to make the business a success and to grow...<br />
HOW ABOUT NOW?<br />
Oliver Lee, How Now Dairy<br />
After a successful start in December 2017<br />
How Now Dairy had to pause its milk deliveries<br />
because its founder, Oliver Lee, had to get<br />
to grips with a medical problem<br />
But now, Oliver and How Now<br />
Dairy are back, better than<br />
ever, with the same great<br />
enthusiasm for his fields, his cows<br />
and their milk. This little start-up (or<br />
is that up-start?) has brought together<br />
the old world of farming and the<br />
new age of the internet. Its nostalgia<br />
mixed with modern tech.<br />
How Now Dairy’s mission is to deliver<br />
great tasting milk to your doorstep,<br />
hassle free. The milk they deliver is<br />
produced on their farm from only<br />
24 cows; a herd size that was more<br />
common in the <strong>19</strong>30’s.<br />
Back to the Present<br />
The cows live at Ladywell, where How<br />
Now Dairy’s home farm is situated.<br />
The cows are out now in the lush<br />
fields of the South Hams; fields rich in<br />
grasses, clover, herbs and flowers. It is<br />
from these herbal leys that the cows<br />
produce their milk. It’s a traditional<br />
recipe for grazing and we believe<br />
this is part of the secret of why How<br />
Now’s milk tastes so authentic.<br />
These plant mixes have many different<br />
uses. For example, plants like clovers<br />
put nitrogen into the soil while plants<br />
like chicory and plantain break the<br />
soil apart with their large roots,<br />
letting air and water back into the<br />
ground. The cows also enjoy grazing<br />
these different plants, just like us,<br />
they appreciate variety and benefit<br />
from a balanced diet. Oliver’s mantra<br />
at How Now Dairy is "look after the<br />
land and the land will look after your<br />
cows. Look after your cows and they will<br />
look after you".<br />
On its way from the cow to you, the<br />
milk is simply chilled, pasteurised and<br />
then chilled again before setting off<br />
on its journey to your door. This is<br />
done every two days so that the milk<br />
delivered is still in the fields the day<br />
before it arrives at your doorstep.<br />
Every effort is made to care for the<br />
milk, cooling quickly, pumping gently<br />
- and it isn’t homogenised – How Now<br />
believes that makes a big difference,<br />
92 92 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
helping give their milk that signature<br />
creamy texture. In other words,<br />
the milk on your doorstep is just as<br />
nature intended – simply amazing!<br />
In July 2018 the farm converted to<br />
organic, that is another guarantee<br />
this is a completely natural food.<br />
Ladywell Farm is a small island of<br />
green in between Dartmoor and the<br />
sea, where the cows are part of a<br />
living, diverse and organic farm that<br />
remains very much part of nature.<br />
As How Now Dairy grows it will<br />
always keep to the ethics and ideals<br />
of a local producer that wants to<br />
stay closely connected with its allimportant<br />
customers!<br />
Oliver quotes:<br />
"When you drink the milk from How Now<br />
Dairy you can taste the rich grasses, see<br />
the sunrises and hear the breeze rustling<br />
through the hedges".<br />
Once the spring arrives and the cows<br />
are out, How Now Dairy will open its<br />
farm gates to it customers so they<br />
can see how it’s all done - complete<br />
with an introduction to Oliver’s lady<br />
friends!<br />
Oliver Lee<br />
Contact me:<br />
oli.lee@hownowdairy.co.uk<br />
07746 542420<br />
hownowdairy.co.uk<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 93 93
FOOD REVIEW<br />
devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
Bill's, Exeter<br />
Bill's is a cheerful<br />
place to dine,<br />
especially if you fancy<br />
a trip into Exeter<br />
It's great to nip into town to watch a<br />
new film release, and it's also great<br />
to make an occasion of your visit<br />
by dining in town. Bill's is situated<br />
at the junction between Gandy<br />
Street, running from the Royal<br />
Albert Museum, and Little Queen<br />
Street. It's a convenient place to dine,<br />
and also a fun dining destination,<br />
the interior being styled out in an<br />
industrial / warehouse / utilitarian<br />
style that's become popular of late.<br />
Air conditioning ducts are no longer<br />
hidden, but displayed in all their<br />
metallic, galvanized glory!<br />
I've dined at quite a few Bill's<br />
restaurants, the food's generally<br />
good, and the menu has much to<br />
interest diners. I'd say that Bill's has<br />
Industro-utilitarian chic?<br />
Character and charm<br />
Chicken<br />
Green Curry<br />
94 94 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
had quite an influence on the British dining scene, both<br />
in terms of the food offering, but also for their interior<br />
styling. There are branches all over the show, in total<br />
76 across the nation, and yes, there is a Bill behind the<br />
enterprise, a Mr Bill Collison, who started the business<br />
after his greengrocers shop in Lewes was flooded out. It's<br />
interesting also, that the restaurants also serve a second<br />
function as food shops, with a range of products available<br />
to purchase off shelves.<br />
A tip if you're considering dining, try and get a window<br />
seat as it's great whilst dining to people watch through<br />
the window, it just adds to the experience.<br />
I think the photos give you a good idea about the food on<br />
offer, and yes, it is a chain, so do expect a certain amount<br />
of uniformity. And the general standard is high, the oaksmoked<br />
ribs were lovely, much meat to be picked off the ribs.<br />
Also, the Mojo Marinated Chicken Skewers were pretty<br />
tasty, but the winner of the evening was undoubtedly the<br />
Chicken Green Curry which was particularly delicious.<br />
One area of disappointment was the puddings - it's an<br />
area where many restaurants struggle and in many ways<br />
I find is the Achilles heel of any eatery. Basically, there<br />
was nothing wrong with their puddings, just way, way to<br />
sweet and cloying, but this tends to be a problem shared<br />
by many eateries. I cannot understand whether it's<br />
Jolly<br />
Jacks<br />
Kick Back & Relax<br />
waterfront bar bistro<br />
Kick Back & Relax<br />
Great<br />
Jolly<br />
Jacks<br />
waterfront bar bistro bistro<br />
Great<br />
Great<br />
Jolly<br />
Jacks<br />
Summer is here!<br />
Food, Company<br />
& Location !<br />
Food, Company<br />
& Location !<br />
Food, Company<br />
& Location !<br />
Great food, great company, friendly ambiance, brilliant events,<br />
fresh Devon tel: and 01752 Cornish 500 008 produce, www.jollyjacks.co.uk<br />
creative and passionate chefs,<br />
great Mayflower wines, local Marina ales, • Richmond coffee, fabulous Walk • clientele, Plymouth family, • PL1 children 4LS<br />
and dogs welcome (dogs in bar or on terrace), free Marina<br />
tel: 01752 500 008 www.jollyjacks.co.uk<br />
parking... Jolly Jacks, where great things happen.<br />
Mayflower Marina • Richmond Walk • Plymouth • PL1 4LS<br />
ALL DAY EVERY DAY<br />
tel: 01752 500 008 www.jollyjacks.co.uk<br />
Mayflower Marina • Richmond Walk • Plymouth • PL1 4LS<br />
because restaurants doesn't understand<br />
puddings, perhaps they think it doesn't<br />
warrant additional effort or whether they're<br />
catering for a new class of diner which<br />
feel they need to get their sugar/fat hit in<br />
order to satisfy their voracious desire for<br />
such things?<br />
All in all an enjoyable dining experience, it's<br />
hard to go wrong, puddings aside.<br />
Editor<br />
Mojo Marinated Chicken Skewers<br />
Pecan Pie with ice cream<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 95 95
FOOD REVIEW<br />
devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
Bill's, Exeter<br />
Oak Smoked Spiced Ribs<br />
96 96 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Crispy Calamari - a crowd-pleaser<br />
Above - calamari always a welcome starter,<br />
relatively light and tasty.<br />
Right - eating this pudding, you definitely know<br />
you're in Bill's, a clever advertising message on<br />
a wafer!<br />
Left - the oak smoked spiced ribs are very good<br />
and unusually, have quite a bit of meat on them,<br />
you know how it is with ribs, sometimes there's<br />
nothing to pick off.<br />
Bill's Chocolate & Hazelnut Praline Sphere<br />
T O C E L E B R A T E O U R 3 0 T H B I R T H D A Y T H I S Y E A R<br />
WE'RE INTRODUCING: THE SHACK TASTER MENU<br />
An 18 COURSE EXTRAVAGANZA,<br />
CELEBRATING EVERYTHING THE<br />
OYSTER SHACK AND THE BIG<br />
BLUE SEA HAS TO OFFER<br />
www.oystershack.co.uk Milburn Orchard Farm, Stakes Hill, Bigbury, TQ7 4BE 01548 810 876<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 97 97
Happy Birthday, Oyster Shack!<br />
The Oyster Shack in Bigbury,<br />
has this year reached the grand<br />
old age of 30 years!<br />
It originally started as an Oyster farm<br />
with row after row of purification<br />
tanks, farming oysters from the<br />
River Avon below The Shack. Oyster<br />
lovers would pitch up with their own<br />
deckchairs and shuck their own<br />
Oysters and mull away the afternoon<br />
eating them with crusty bread and a<br />
bottle or two of wine! The restaurant<br />
started organically and it is still<br />
known today, as when it first started,<br />
as the quirky restaurant under the<br />
bright orange sail on Stakes Hill.<br />
Food should be a savoured indulgence<br />
- time spent enjoying the occasion.<br />
The Shack's team are welcoming,<br />
attentive and yet seamlessly create<br />
an air of calm and blissful happiness<br />
- yes the relaxed atmosphere from<br />
yesteryear is still around today.<br />
goes for the meat and vegetables.<br />
The Shack's team is passionate about<br />
sourcing produce close to home - it's<br />
better for all of us and better for the<br />
environment too. The ingredients that<br />
30 years ago the food was made with<br />
local produce and made with love.<br />
This is still the same ethos now. The<br />
Oyster Shack is all about providing the<br />
best hearty food our seas and rivers<br />
can deliver - all local and sustainable.<br />
That's not just the seafood, this also<br />
98 98 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
go into The Oyster Shack's very own<br />
Gin which has been created for this<br />
30th Birthday year by their Chefs, in<br />
collaboration with a local gin distiller,<br />
were locally foraged too!<br />
A big year needs to be commemorated<br />
and the team have introduced a brand<br />
new Taster Menu which recreates<br />
the journey throughout the 30 years<br />
of The Shack. It's not just a lunch or<br />
dinner, it is a foodie experience full<br />
of lavish decadence. An 18 course<br />
extravaganza of both classic and<br />
modern cuisine inspired by the food<br />
The restaurant started<br />
organically and it is still<br />
known as the quirky<br />
restaurant under the<br />
bright orange sail<br />
that has been on the menu throughout<br />
The Shack's years and that celebrates<br />
the very special relationship The<br />
Oyster Shack and the big blue sea<br />
has to offer.<br />
The menu is split into three parts, as<br />
is normally the way - starter, main<br />
and dessert and as with any Oyster<br />
Shack menu it's hand crafted on the<br />
day, being very dependent on the<br />
produce received that day. It means<br />
that not everything is set in stone<br />
and there may be some surprises! Of<br />
course there are Oysters - it would<br />
be churlish not to have this culinary<br />
gem. In fact there is an Oyster dish in<br />
every course - well it is The Oyster<br />
Shack after all! Indeed the Oyster<br />
dessert has been quoted by one<br />
customer as being "A revelation - like<br />
nothing I've had before! Delicate, beautiful<br />
and so tasty!! Wow!!".<br />
If the food is not alluring enough,<br />
the other inspiration of this Taster<br />
Menu is the experience itself - the<br />
dishes are presented by the chefs<br />
with little snippets of history to<br />
explain how the dishes came about!<br />
The Taster Menu is designed for all at<br />
the table to share - with a minimum<br />
of two people and being a foodie<br />
experience with grand gestures,<br />
it needs to be pre-ordered when<br />
booking a table.<br />
The best way to explain the experience<br />
is to quote from a Shack's customer<br />
review from Trip Advisor this April,<br />
"I have always had fantastic meals at the<br />
oyster shack, chef Andy and his team never<br />
disappoint. My wife booked us a table at<br />
the oyster shack for my birthday... and I<br />
didn’t expect this.. The 18 course tasting<br />
menu! One word - WOW!!!! Chef Andy,<br />
you’ve done it again. You and you’re entire<br />
team both front of house and in the kitchen<br />
have put us in awe of what you guys do as<br />
a profession. Every course came with a<br />
story, one close and personal to the oyster<br />
shack itself and every course was a new<br />
and different flavour sensation. It really<br />
was absolutely fantastic and neither of<br />
us wanted the evening to end. The oyster<br />
shack - you guys just deliver time and<br />
time again. We will see you again soon".<br />
What a fabulous review to show<br />
that The Oyster Shack has created<br />
a fitting celebration of its 30 years.<br />
Food should be a<br />
savoured indulgence<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 99 99
FOOD REVIEW<br />
devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
Il Maestro - Paul the chef/owner at work<br />
The Railway<br />
HONITON<br />
The Railway's back<br />
with a bang and it's<br />
gloriously Italian!<br />
I was sad when I heard the news<br />
a while ago that The Railway had<br />
closed, a bit of a body blow really,<br />
because it was on of my favourite<br />
eateries in East Devon, affordable,<br />
lovely food, there was nothing not to<br />
like! So imagine my interest when<br />
on the grapevine, it transpired that<br />
The Railway was back up and running<br />
again, brilliant news, however, the<br />
big worry was the food quality.<br />
After speaking to the new owner/<br />
chef, I was invited over to sample<br />
their offering. Paul told me that<br />
their menu was now all Italian.<br />
The nicest lager I've ever<br />
had, extremely light, thirst<br />
quenching and palate<br />
cleansing - a great choice.<br />
By the way, what's this silly<br />
fad with lagers being all<br />
yeasty and cloudy? - yuk!<br />
Lamb and aubergine Ragu - delicious<br />
100 100 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
An Italian staple, rocket,<br />
Parmesan shavings and<br />
balsamic vinegar dressing<br />
Linguine Alla Granchio - with fresh local crabmeat, chilli, and a lemon and parsley crumb<br />
- rich, beautifully balanced in flavour - if you enjoy crab, this is the one to go for!<br />
The Food<br />
Sometimes when I hear the word Italian in relation<br />
to food, I wince. Some food outlets treat Italian<br />
as the easy option in providing food to punters<br />
in order to make their profits. What you end<br />
up with can be so distantly removed from what<br />
constitutes good Italian food, that you're better<br />
off staying in!<br />
Not so here, if you look at the photos, you can<br />
see the attention to detail, but what you can't see<br />
are the flavours, the balance, aromas, textures<br />
and quality of ingredients. I'm very happy to say<br />
that Paul really understands Italian food, and<br />
personally oversees the cooking, ensuring you're<br />
not going to be disappointed.<br />
It's a major undertaking by Paul, but it seems<br />
to be what makes him tick. If you're a Railway<br />
client of old, it's safe to say that the food now is<br />
at such an elevated level, it'd be hard not to be<br />
delighted with your meal - I would describe it as<br />
artisan Italian cooking - superb!<br />
Editor<br />
A work of art on a plate - 'Pollo' - rosemary and<br />
seasalt grilled chicken breast with grilled polenta,<br />
sautéed wild mushrooms and a creamy white wine<br />
chicken sauce. It was even better eaten!<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 101 101
FOOD REVIEW<br />
devonshirefoodie<br />
FOODIE<br />
Gnocchi with lemon pesto and green vegetables<br />
The Railway<br />
HONITON<br />
102 102 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
New<br />
Season<br />
Asparagus,<br />
grilled with<br />
Proscuito<br />
ham and<br />
shaved<br />
Parmesan<br />
Spring time ‘Local to Lyme’ menu<br />
celebrating the area’s wonderful produce<br />
£20 for 2 courses inc. a glass of wine<br />
Available Lunch & Dinner Mon to Thurs (see website for further details)<br />
“A veritable cornucopia of<br />
Italian loveliness was had<br />
at The Railway<br />
Godimento!”<br />
For more information or to book please contact us on<br />
01297 442010 / hotelalexandra.co.uk<br />
Nigel Jones (<strong>19</strong>62-20??) Editor and interloper<br />
Vanilla panna cotta<br />
with orange roasted<br />
figs and honey - could<br />
one want more?<br />
Torta de Formaggio - Italian<br />
baked cheesecake with almond,<br />
raisin and brandy syrup<br />
If you like a 'proper' artisan<br />
cheesecake, this is it, absolutely<br />
lovely and home-made of<br />
course.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 103 103
Hotel on the East Devon / Dorset border has exciting new opening<br />
LAURA ASHLEY TEA ROOM OPENS<br />
AT THE FAIRWATER HEAD HOTEL<br />
Jo Reynolds, Justelle Marketing and Media Ltd<br />
20<strong>19</strong> is a landmark year at Fairwater Head Hotel in<br />
Hawkchurch, with not only a new Head Chef, David<br />
Brown in their Greenfields Restaurant, but also the<br />
much-anticipated arrival of Laura Ashley The Tea Room<br />
Their wealth of experience and<br />
high standards as well as the<br />
enviable location, are just some of<br />
the reasons that the prestigious<br />
Laura Ashley Tea Rooms were keen to<br />
partner with them to become the 6th<br />
LATR in the UK. Laura Ashley have<br />
helped redesign and redecorate the<br />
Edwardian drawing room, capturing<br />
its history and provenance and adding<br />
a style synonymous with Laura<br />
Ashley, including bespoke lighting<br />
and wall panels, as well as designer<br />
furniture and tableware from their<br />
own collections.<br />
When asked about this partnership<br />
Carrie said, ‘We feel this is the right<br />
match for us and our guests, the<br />
Laura Ashley style is perfectly suited<br />
for our building and the renovations<br />
have made a beautiful room into an<br />
outstanding one.’ Adam spoke about<br />
the benefits to the business stating<br />
‘We are thrilled to be able to offer<br />
something else to our guests that is<br />
truly unique in the area…. interest<br />
is high and we never knew we had<br />
so many friends!’<br />
The new Laura Ashley Tea Rooms<br />
will be launched with a series of<br />
exclusive events throughout May<br />
which will culminate in the grand<br />
opening to the public on 15th May.<br />
fairwaterheadhotel.co.uk<br />
104 104 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
THINGS TO DO<br />
IN DEVON<br />
105<br />
What's in this section...<br />
Events Places to Visit Live Music <strong>Devonshire</strong> Art<br />
Art Matters Lyme Regis Sir Francis Drake<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 105
HELLO<br />
SEEKER<br />
at Haldon Forest Park, near Exeter<br />
Book at goape.co.uk<br />
Participation and supervision ratios apply - please see our website.<br />
106 106 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
events@hubcast.co.uk<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
FAMILY EVENTS<br />
delicious pasty and a pint! Sailing on<br />
the calm assured waters of the River<br />
Eve, you can choose from sitting on<br />
our outdoor upper deck or our covered<br />
and heated lower deck so you can enjoy<br />
the day whatever the weather with our<br />
delicious award-winning Chunk of Devon<br />
pasties and a nice cold pint!, Stuart<br />
Line Cruises, Exmouth Marina, Exmouth,<br />
12.30am to 2.00pm, Adults £15 Children<br />
£10.<br />
16 Jun<br />
FATHERS CLASSIC<br />
CAR DAY<br />
Treat your Father to a day out at<br />
Morwellham and admire all the classic<br />
cars on display, plus craft stalls. Or bring<br />
your own Classic car and receive free<br />
entry for the driver and one passenger -<br />
just arrive on the day between 9am and<br />
12pm. Join the Morwellham costumed<br />
guides as they show you how life was<br />
as a Victorian. Become Victorian school<br />
children, help make a piece of rope,<br />
smash rocks to find copper, make your<br />
own bread roll and chocolate lolly. Take<br />
the optional copper mine train ride,<br />
Morwellham Quay, Morwellham Quay,<br />
Tavistock, 10.00am to 5.00pm, Please<br />
see the event tickets on our website.<br />
16 Jun<br />
FATHER'S DAY<br />
Join us for our family friendly summer<br />
BBQ, outside, weather permitting.<br />
Featuring entertainment; craft ales and<br />
farmhouse ciders. £17.50 per child (under<br />
12 - entry and BBQ), Lewtrenchard Manor,<br />
Lewdown, 12.00am to 3.00pm, £35.00 per<br />
adult (entry and BBQ).<br />
16 Jun<br />
FATHER'S DAY CRUISE<br />
This year Father’s Day will fall on Sunday<br />
16 <strong>June</strong> and what better way to show your<br />
Dad how much he means to you than<br />
spending time out on the water with a<br />
16 Jun<br />
FATHER'S DAY WELLY<br />
WANGING<br />
Calling all dads! It's the annual<br />
competition every father out there wants<br />
to win. This year the focus is on accuracy<br />
- wang your wellies at the targets and<br />
the highest score on the day bags the<br />
big bubbly prize! There will be plenty<br />
of time before lunch to get your eye in<br />
on the practice targets before the main<br />
event in the afternoon. And all the usual<br />
daily activities are on - like goat walking,<br />
ferret racing, deer train, animal handling,<br />
bottle feeding and the bird of prey flying<br />
display, World of Country Life, Exmouth,<br />
10.00am to 5.00pm, See website.<br />
06 Jul to 07 Jul<br />
IN THE NIGHT<br />
GARDEN LIVE<br />
Take a spectacular journey into the<br />
magical world of In the Night Garden<br />
and experience the UK’s favourite family<br />
show with all the enchanting characters<br />
magically brought to life on stage, Bright<br />
Media UK, Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth,<br />
see website.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
107
.co.uk<br />
sail - kite - kayak - surf - sup<br />
inflatable sups<br />
in stOCk nOw<br />
from<br />
£425<br />
Model<br />
featured<br />
Jobe Yarra<br />
Inflatable<br />
SUP RRP<br />
£759<br />
sail - kayak - surf - sup - bOat<br />
* Discount Off rrp - Cannot be used in conjuntion with any other deal or offer. Does not apply kayaks or electronics<br />
unit 14, weycroft avenue, axminster ex13 5hu. 01297 533633<br />
FAMILY EVENTS<br />
27 Jul<br />
MISTER MAGNOLIA<br />
Mister Magnolia has many things, such as an old trumpet<br />
that goes rooty-toot, some very fat owls learning to hoot,<br />
a big purple dinosaur who's a magnificent brute, two<br />
sisters who play the flute, and even a swimming pool.<br />
But he still only has one boot! Join Mister Magnolia on<br />
his wacky adventures, filled with Folksy Theatre's bold<br />
characters, live music, puppetry and audience interaction,<br />
it's a day out not to be missed! Based on the book by<br />
the wonderful Quentin Blake, Folksy Theatre, Marwood<br />
Hill Gardens, Barnstaple, 6.00pm to 7.10pm, £8-£15.<br />
06 Aug<br />
VICTORIAN LAUNDRY<br />
Put on your apron and mob cap and find out about the<br />
tough weekly wash that Victorian women had to tackle<br />
every Monday - an opportunity to use the mangle. Free<br />
with admission, drop-in, no need to book. Children must<br />
be accompanied. Free - normal admission applies,<br />
Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, Becks Square,<br />
Tiverton, 11.00am to 3.30pm, Normal admission applies..<br />
13 Aug<br />
SEWING DAY.<br />
Pre-book for this hands-on workshop for children aged<br />
8-16. An opportunity to create a drawstring bag, hair bow,<br />
phone case, felt badge or PE bag using hand stitching,<br />
embroidery and our vintage hand-crank sewing machine.<br />
Suitable for girls and boys. Parents do not have to stay<br />
for the duration of the workshop. Can pre-book via<br />
Eventbrite, Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, Becks<br />
Square, Tiverton, 10.00am to 3.30pm, £10.<br />
01803 840387<br />
www.totnesrarebreeds.co.uk<br />
20 Aug<br />
STONE PAINTING.<br />
We provide the paints, the stones and some inspiration,<br />
and you can paint a stone to take part in the stone<br />
painting, hiding and finding craze that has been delighting<br />
children and adults over the past few years. Prebook<br />
or just turn up on the day (places are limited).<br />
Normal admission applies plus £3 (£2.50 members) per<br />
participant. Children must be accompanied. Can prebook<br />
via Eventbrite, Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life,<br />
Becks Square, Tiverton, 11.00am to 3.00pm, See website.<br />
108 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
No need to download an app! Our dedicated<br />
mobile site has everything in one place.<br />
No fuss. Quick. Simple.<br />
Easy to use on the go<br />
Try it now: hubcast.co.uk/devon<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
109
Active Summer<br />
With summer and Father's Day approaching,<br />
why not try something new this summer?<br />
Aquamarina<br />
BEAST<br />
Inflatable Paddle<br />
Board SUP Package:<br />
£399.95<br />
ALLROUND SUPS<br />
Jobe Yarra 10.6 Inflatable<br />
Paddle Board Package: £599<br />
All round paddle boards are suitable for all the family from<br />
kids to Dads. They will be around 10’6 long and between 5<br />
and 6” thick. The thicker the better to get the stiffness.<br />
110 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Summer<br />
WINDSURF SUP<br />
Want to have even more fun?<br />
With this inflatable SUP you<br />
can add a windsurf rig!<br />
Jobe Venta 9.6 Inflatable Paddle<br />
Board Package: £749.99 with<br />
Jobe Venta Sail 3.5m2 Package:<br />
£399.99<br />
Typhoon<br />
Inflatable SUP<br />
Paddleboard<br />
Package 20<strong>19</strong> -<br />
10'2 x 5":<br />
£449<br />
OBrien Hilo<br />
Inflatable SUP<br />
Package 10'6 x 5":<br />
£550<br />
Gul Cross Inflatable<br />
SUP - 10'7 x 6" Paddle<br />
Board Package:<br />
£394.95<br />
Feeling<br />
adventurous?<br />
If you want to travel further<br />
and easier then a longer,<br />
thinner board travels through<br />
the water much quicker.<br />
It's less manoeuvrable and<br />
narrower than an all round<br />
board, but it will travel further<br />
for each paddle stroke.<br />
Jobe Neva 12.6 Inflatable<br />
Paddle Board Package: £799.99<br />
Speak to Coast Watersports on<br />
01297 533633 for more info!<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
111
FAIRS & Fetes<br />
refunded if you buy drinks/food from the<br />
venue., Discovery, Belgrave Beefeater,<br />
Torquay, 1.00pm to 6.00pm, free.<br />
11 Jun to 12 Jun<br />
TAUNTON FEEL GOOD<br />
FESTIVAL 20<strong>19</strong><br />
Set in the beautiful grounds of Woodlands<br />
Castle on the edge of Taunton in<br />
Somerset. A weekend of wellbeing,<br />
happiness and inspiration; delicious food,<br />
live music & entertainment, talks, classes<br />
& workshops and lots of exciting stalls,<br />
treatments & activities. The number one<br />
aim of the festival is to make you smile.<br />
We strongly believe in ‘Feel Good Therapy’<br />
to wash away your worries for a day or<br />
two. Treat the whole family to a weekend<br />
of feel good fun, Charley Elizabeth Events,<br />
Woodlands Castle, Taunton, 11.00am to<br />
5.00pm, £5.<br />
29 Jun to 30 Jun<br />
DARTMOUTH ART &<br />
CRAFT WEEKEND IN<br />
AID OF CHSW<br />
The 16th annual Dartmouth Art & Craft<br />
Weekend in aid of Children’s Hospice<br />
South West. An interesting and fun<br />
weekend to watch, talk to and buy from<br />
many artists and craft workers displaying<br />
their talents. Children’s activities, music,<br />
teas, homemade cakes & snacks. Pitches<br />
available for artists and craft workers<br />
to display/sell their work at £50 for<br />
the 2 days; a gazebo is required. For<br />
further information, contact Sue Tweed<br />
at tweed833@btinternet.com or 01803<br />
770730., Children's Hospice South West,<br />
Dartmouth, Royal Avenue Gardens,<br />
Dartmouth, 10.00am to 4.00pm, Free<br />
to attend. Stalls £50 for the weekend.<br />
20 Jul<br />
PSYCHIC AND<br />
WELLBEING FAIR<br />
Come and join us for an afternoon of<br />
relaxing therapies, readings with one of<br />
our tarot and psychic readers, and treat<br />
yourself to the beautiful gifts, crafts and<br />
art work from our lovely traders, at this<br />
scenic location on the seafront. What's<br />
not to enjoy! FREE ENTRY Parking fee<br />
11 Aug<br />
TAVISTOCK SUMMER<br />
FETE<br />
The Tavistock Summer Fete will be jam<br />
packed full of fun for all ages, with<br />
over 30 Gift and Artisan traders selling<br />
their unique products, such as: gifts,<br />
accessories, jewellery, clothes and<br />
hand-made products. There will be<br />
live music as well as a Gin bar and<br />
selection of Street Food. There will<br />
also be a variety of workshops taking<br />
place. Children’s entertainment will<br />
be provided, with local company Circus<br />
Direct who will be offering workshops<br />
and doing performances throughout the<br />
day, th, Miss Ivy Events, Butchers Hall,<br />
Tavistock, 10.30am to 4.00pm, FREE.<br />
25 Aug<br />
SUMMER FETE<br />
This fabulous family-friendly day out<br />
is brought to you by Miss Ivy Events<br />
and will provide a whole host of fun<br />
and entertainment for everyone. Crafts<br />
will be on display at the many artisan<br />
stalls, providing opportunities to purchase<br />
unique gifts - you can try your hand<br />
yourself at one of the workshops taking<br />
place during the day. There will be<br />
live entertainment,bouncy castle, circus<br />
workshops and games, and a charity dog<br />
show too. Food and drink served all day,<br />
including Pimms Bar, Miss Ivy Events,<br />
Mount Edgcumbe, Torpoint, 10.30am to<br />
4.00pm, Entry to the fete costs just £3,<br />
under 16s free. Parking charges appl.<br />
112 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
HUBCAST will be hosting<br />
its 40,000 th event this Spring!<br />
Take a look at What's On<br />
in your area: hubcast.co.uk<br />
Join 5,500+ organisations, it’s Free!<br />
hubcast.co.uk/register-organisation<br />
hubcast<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
113
CLASSICAL MUSIC<br />
Celebrating 30 years of Music<br />
Humperdinck and Elgar – including<br />
Elgar’s most celebrated masterpiece,<br />
the Cello Concerto.<br />
Shaldon’s festival of classical music<br />
began as a memorial concert to<br />
celebrate the life of David Parkhouse<br />
who was born in Teignmouth and<br />
lived latterly in Shaldon.<br />
David was professor of Piano at the<br />
Royal College of Music. He and his<br />
cellist wife, Eileen Croxford Parkhouse,<br />
were founder members of the Music<br />
Group of London, performing both<br />
in the UK and internationally over a<br />
period spanning four decades. The<br />
original concert proved so successful<br />
that it was decided to make it an<br />
annual event based at Shaldon Parish<br />
Church. Over the last thirty years,<br />
it has grown into a four-day festival<br />
drawing audiences from all over<br />
Devon and from further afield.<br />
Founded in 2015 at the Paris<br />
Conservatoire, and named after Sora,<br />
the American bird that sings whilst<br />
spreading its wings, Trio Sōra, 2017<br />
Parkhouse Award winners, will create<br />
a soaring performance with their<br />
sensitive interpretation of Haydn,<br />
Ravel and Beethoven on Friday 21st.<br />
On Saturday 22nd the Choral<br />
Workshop offers a wonderful<br />
opportunity to join the unauditioned<br />
Since its inception the Festival has<br />
attracted musicians of international<br />
renown as well as rising stars of the<br />
future, and this year is no exception,<br />
Another varied and exciting series of<br />
concerts will be coming to St Peter’s<br />
Church in the lovely village of Shaldon<br />
from 20 – 23 <strong>June</strong>.<br />
Eileen and David<br />
Parkhouse<br />
CLICK HERE TO<br />
PLAY VIDEO<br />
Opening this special season on<br />
Thursday 20th <strong>June</strong> is the Bath<br />
Philharmonia Orchestra, under the<br />
direction of Jason Thornton. Over the<br />
last 20 years the Bath Philharmonia<br />
has become one of the largest<br />
and most respected professional<br />
orchestras in the South West. They<br />
will be performing well known<br />
and popular pieces by Saint-Saëns,<br />
Trio Sora<br />
114 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Jason Thornton<br />
Music Director of Bath<br />
Philharmonia<br />
Shaldon Festival Choir to rehearse and<br />
give an informal evening performance<br />
of Mozart Requiem and George Dyson<br />
Three Songs of Praise. The choir<br />
will be conducted by Brian Kay, and<br />
joined by four outstanding soloists.<br />
For a truly memorable final concert<br />
on Sunday 23rd Onyx Brass will make<br />
their Festival debut. Described by<br />
BBC Music Magazine as “easily the<br />
classiest brass ensemble in Britain”,<br />
this quintet will perform an American<br />
themed programme which will<br />
include Ives, Copland, John Adams,<br />
Gershwin A Broadway Selection and<br />
Bernstein Suite from West Side Story.<br />
A key part of the Festival’s mission is<br />
to encourage young people to create<br />
and enjoy music. And for this year,<br />
a very special educational event is<br />
also planned. As well as opening<br />
the Festival, the BathPhil will be<br />
running an outreach programme for<br />
pupils of Orchard Manor School in<br />
Dawlish and Teignmouth Community<br />
School to create a new piece of<br />
music. Over five days the team<br />
will work with the students to<br />
‘Create a Concerto’, resulting in a<br />
final showcase performance in St<br />
Peter’s Church. A truly exciting<br />
and fantastic opportunity for the<br />
children.<br />
Visit www.shaldonfestival.co.uk for<br />
full programme details and ticket<br />
information.<br />
Brian Kay<br />
Music Director of<br />
Festival Choir<br />
Onyx Brass<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
115
CLASSICAL MUSIC<br />
07 Jun<br />
MUSIC IN THE CASTLE<br />
- ORGAN & PIANO<br />
DUO<br />
It is a huge pleasure to welcome back<br />
these two former Exeter Cathedral<br />
organists. Andrew & David will present<br />
a sparkling feast of solo and duet<br />
repertoire for organ and piano, featuring<br />
the restored 1769 Bryce Seede organ.<br />
Among the works performed will be<br />
Samuel Wesley’s Duet for Organ, written<br />
in 1812, together with works covering a<br />
wide range of periods and styles, Music<br />
in the Castle, Powderham Castle, Kenton,<br />
7.30pm to 9.30pm, Adult £16: Student £8.<br />
$|07 Jun<br />
CONCERT WITH<br />
DANTE<br />
Popular Dante Quartet return to<br />
Lympstone to play concert of music<br />
by Haydn, Debussy and Szmanowsk.<br />
Tickets £15. Thanks to sponsorship<br />
from the Cavatina Trust, we are able<br />
to offer 50 free tickets to anybody<br />
between the ages of 8 and 25. First<br />
come, first served.Tickets: boxoffice@<br />
events@hubcast.co.uk<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
@hubcastevents<br />
lympstone-entertainments.net, Lympstone<br />
Entertainments, Lympstone Parish Church,<br />
Lympstone, 7.00pm to 10.00pm, £15.<br />
08 Jun<br />
MOZART/<br />
TCHAIKOVSKY<br />
CONCERT WITH LUKA<br />
OKROS<br />
Another fantastic orchestral programme<br />
packed with popular classics. The globally<br />
acclaimed young pianist LUKA OKROS<br />
plays a Mozart Piano Concerto with the<br />
Isca Ensemble. Beethoven's 'Coriolan'<br />
overture and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No<br />
4 feature. The orchestra will be led by the<br />
Tatarstan Symphony Orchestra's (Russia)<br />
Concertmeister SERGEI EMELYANOV.<br />
Tickets available online at www.ticket<br />
source.co.uk, www.iscensemble.org.uk<br />
or from Paragon Books, Sidmouth EX10<br />
8EJ ( 01395 514516), ISCA Ensemble,<br />
Sidmouth Parish Church, Sidmouth,<br />
7.30pm to 9.45pm, £12 - £15.<br />
09 Jun<br />
SPECIAL RECITAL<br />
BY LUKA OKROS -<br />
PIANO<br />
Haydn : Piano Sonata Hob.XVI:34 in E<br />
minor Chopin : Sonata no.2 Op.35 B flat<br />
minor Liszt : Sonata in B minor. This<br />
globally acclaimed young pianist presents<br />
a special recital by invitation of Roger<br />
Hendy and the Isca Ensemble. There<br />
are about 30 complimentary tickets still<br />
available. Write to roghendy@gmail.<br />
com to apply. There are no other ticket<br />
outlets for this recital. Enquiries tel.<br />
01404 823150, ISCA Ensemble, Sidmouth<br />
Parish Church, Sidmouth, 3.00pm to<br />
5.15pm, FREE.<br />
20 Jun to 23 Jun<br />
SHALDON FESTIVAL<br />
20<strong>19</strong><br />
Shaldon is a small coastal village in South<br />
Devon between Teignmouth and Torquay<br />
and will celebrate its 30th Classical Music<br />
Festival from 20th to 23rd <strong>June</strong> 20<strong>19</strong>, in<br />
St Peter's Church. Our 4 day summer<br />
Festival aims to provide local people<br />
and visitors with access to first rate,<br />
professionally-performed classical music<br />
at affordable prices, plus an all day choral<br />
workshop on Saturday 22nd <strong>June</strong>. 20<strong>19</strong><br />
PROGRAMME: 20/06 Bath Philharmonia,<br />
21/06 Trio Sora, 22/06 Festival Choir,<br />
23/06 Onyx Brass, Shaldon Festival, St<br />
Peter's Church, Teignmouth, 7.30pm to<br />
9.30pm, See website www.shaldonfestival.<br />
co.uk for ticket prices.<br />
116 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
23 Jun<br />
PUPIL CONCERT 'CREATIVE<br />
LLAMA LTD'<br />
Performance of vocalists and instrumentalists from<br />
'Creative Llama' musical department. Enjoy performance<br />
of learners of all ages organised by classical pianist<br />
Ekaterina Shetliffe and the team of inspirational teachers<br />
of the newly created studio in Devon 'Creative Llama',<br />
Violin & Piano Duo 'Elegance', St Mary's Church, Totnes,<br />
2.00pm to 4.00pm, free.<br />
29 Jun<br />
MOZART AND ROSSINI<br />
RECITAL<br />
Instrumental and VocaL masterpieces by Mozart and<br />
Rossini's well known and fovourite works. Programme<br />
will include famous arias from 'Le Nozze de Figaro', 'Cosi<br />
Fan Tutte', 'Li Barbiere di Siviglia, Otello, as well as<br />
piano masterpieces. Performed by graduates of Russia<br />
and Italy's Music Colleges and Academies Iryna Ilnytska<br />
and Ekaterina Shetliffe, Violin & Piano Duo 'Elegance',<br />
St Stephens Church, Exeter, 6.30pm to 8.00pm, 10.00.<br />
BUDLEIGH<br />
MUSIC<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
July 12th to 20th 20<strong>19</strong><br />
With performances by Soloists of the 12 Ensemble,<br />
Sansara, Pleyel Ensemble, Festival Orchestra, Trio<br />
Sitkovetsky, Martin James Bartlett, Elias Quartet and<br />
Devon Opera.<br />
20 to 23 <strong>June</strong> 2018<br />
St Peter’s Church, Shaldon TQ14 0DB<br />
All concerts commence at 7.30pm<br />
Bath Philharmonia<br />
Conducted by Jason Thornton<br />
Trio Sōra<br />
Piano Trio<br />
Shaldon Festival Choir<br />
Conducted by Brian Kay<br />
Onyx Brass<br />
American themed programme<br />
Plus, enjoy free lunchtime performances showcasing<br />
the talents of local and upcoming artists.<br />
All Evening<br />
Concerts £18<br />
each<br />
CLASSICAL<br />
MUSIC ON<br />
THE JURASSIC<br />
COAST<br />
Full programme details<br />
and ticket information at<br />
www.shaldonfestival.co.uk<br />
Registered Charity No. 1118828<br />
Box Office: 01395 445275<br />
Discover more at: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk<br />
where you can also book online from Monday 13th May<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
117
CLASSICAL MUSIC<br />
of the 2018 BBC Young Musician<br />
competition, Eliza will be performing<br />
an eclectic programme which reflects<br />
her varied interests from mediaeval to<br />
contemporary music, Budleigh Salterton<br />
Music Festival, Temple Methodist Church,<br />
Budleigh Salterton, 12.00am to 1.00pm.<br />
29 Jun<br />
BRITISH CHORAL<br />
CLASSICS<br />
Music by: Taverner, Byrd, Stainer,<br />
Vaughan Williams, Purcell, Wesley and<br />
others, West Devon Chorale, Minster<br />
Church of St Andrew, Plymouth, 7.30pm<br />
to 9.30pm, £10 in advance, £12 at the<br />
door (Students £3).<br />
06 Jul<br />
THE DREAM OF<br />
GERONTIUS - ELGAR<br />
Exeter Symphony Orchestra accompany<br />
Exeter Philharmonic Choir, St. David's<br />
Singers & Exeter Chapel Choir in a<br />
performance of Elgar's The Dream of<br />
Gerontius. Soloists: Thomas Hobbs -<br />
Tenor. Madeleine Shaw - Mezzo Soprano.<br />
Tim Mirfin - Bass. Conductor - Brian<br />
Northcott, Exeter Symphony Orchestra,<br />
Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, 7.30pm to<br />
9.30pm, Tickets: £12; £20; £26.<br />
06 Jul<br />
THE DREAM OF<br />
GERONTIUS<br />
Brian Northcott, Exeter Symphony<br />
Orchestra’s Director, will be conducting<br />
a performance of Elgar’s powerful work,<br />
The Dream of Gerontius, bringing together<br />
the city’s musical talent, including<br />
choirs, orchestra and two soloists of<br />
international repute. Gerontius will<br />
be sung by Exeter's Thomas Hobbs,<br />
who is a soloist of international repute.<br />
Madeleine Shaw, who will sing the<br />
Angel, is well known internationally as<br />
a fine mezzo soprano. Local soloist Tim<br />
Murfin will take the baritone role, Exeter<br />
Philharmonic Choir, Exeter Cathedral,<br />
Exeter, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, £12-£26.<br />
12 Jul<br />
BUDLEIGH<br />
MUSIC FESTIVAL -<br />
LUNCHTIME CONCERT<br />
A finalist in the woodwind category<br />
12 Jul to 20 Jul<br />
BUDLEIGH MUSIC<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
Now in our fifteenth year, the Budleigh<br />
Music Festival offers a weeklong<br />
programme of classical music in Budleigh<br />
Salterton, East Devon, with evening<br />
concerts by leading international soloists<br />
and ensembles, plus free lunchtime<br />
concerts with an emphasis on earlycareer<br />
artists from around the South<br />
West region. Online booking available<br />
from 13th May, Budleigh Salterton Music<br />
Festival, Budleigh TIC, Budleigh Salterton,<br />
11.00am to 10.00pm, Evening concerts<br />
£18 each; lunchtime concerts free..<br />
13 Jul<br />
BUDLEIGH<br />
MUSIC FESTIVAL -<br />
LUNCHTIME CONCERT<br />
The Isca Ensemble, directed by Roger<br />
Hendy, was formed over a decade ago and<br />
comprises over 70 experienced amateur<br />
and former professional players drawn<br />
from all over the South West. For this<br />
special lunchtime concert, a number of<br />
leading Isca string players will be joined<br />
by oboist Joe Sharp from Exmouth to<br />
present a popular programme to include<br />
music by Elgar, Ireland, Mozart, Ennio<br />
Morricone and others, Budleigh Salterton<br />
Music Festival, Budleigh TIC, Budleigh<br />
Salterton, 12.00am to 1.00pm.<br />
118 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
FESTIVALS<br />
06 Jul<br />
DALWOOD MUSIC<br />
DAY<br />
200 Musicians & Singers in 4 venues in<br />
the centre of the Village, The Tucker's<br />
Jazz Club, The Tucker's Arms, Axminster,<br />
12.00am to 10.00pm.<br />
12 Jul to 13 Jul<br />
THE BAREFOOT BALL -<br />
FESTIVAL FIRE<br />
Set against the mesmerising backdrop<br />
of Croyde Bay with the rolling waves of<br />
the Atlantic Ocean on the doorstep… and<br />
partnering with some the South West’s<br />
finest and most fabulous & finest Food,<br />
Drink & Entertainment Creatives, Blue<br />
Fizz Events is proud to present this totally<br />
cool, uber stylish and bohemian inspired<br />
Party by the Sea!, Blue Fizz Events, Down<br />
End, Croyde, 6.30pm to 12.00am, £32.50.<br />
<strong>19</strong> Jul to 20 Jul<br />
CHAGSTOCK MUSIC<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
Chagstock Music Festival is held on about<br />
70 acres of North Dartmoor Farmland.<br />
There are 3 stages of live music, caterers<br />
and traders, bar tent, kids entertainment,<br />
camping and Glamping. The theme for<br />
this year is "Under the Sea". Headliners<br />
are Fun Lovin' Criminals, From The Jam<br />
and supports from Mad Dog Mcrea, Noble<br />
Jacks and many others. This will be<br />
the 13th year for the popular festival,<br />
Chagstock Festival, Widdon Down,<br />
Whiddon Down, 12.00am to 12.00am,<br />
£89 adult with concessions.<br />
20 Jul<br />
14 HOUR MUSIC FEST<br />
FOR MACMILLAN<br />
14 Hours of Music in aid of Macmillan<br />
Cancer Support acts include Alex<br />
Dobson, Sadie Horler, The Revision<br />
Party, Telstar, Melody and The Jones,<br />
The Shantymen, and many more. BBQ,<br />
refreshments, raffle and stalls, SARAH<br />
WILKINSON, Dog and Donkey, Budleigh<br />
Salterton, 10.00am to 11.55pm, free entry.<br />
20 Jul<br />
RUM & REGGAE<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
Come and enjoy the summer vibes at the<br />
Exeter Phoenix with the Best of Devons<br />
Rum & Reggae Festival! Showcasing<br />
some of the best Rums and Reggae<br />
music the Southwest has to offer! The<br />
stars of this show will be the traders<br />
and we have hand-picked some of the<br />
best producers to come and showcase<br />
their delicious Caribbean style food and<br />
smooth spiced, white, and dark rums,<br />
Best of Devon, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter,<br />
6.00pm to 11.00pm, 5.<br />
02 to 09 Aug<br />
Sidmouth Folk<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
There has been a folk festival in<br />
Sidmouth in the first week of August<br />
every year since <strong>19</strong>55, now attracting<br />
tens of thousands of visitors to over 700<br />
diverse events with broad ‘something<br />
for everyone’ appeal, Various Locations,<br />
Sidmouth, free and paid events.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
1<strong>19</strong>
PLACES TO VISIT<br />
Just so much to see & do in Devon!<br />
Over 180 attractions listed here:<br />
14<br />
ATTRACTIONS<br />
1. Becky Falls Woodland Park<br />
2. Beer Quarry Caves<br />
3. Bicton Arena<br />
4. Buckfast Abbey<br />
5. Burgh Island<br />
6. Bygones Torquay<br />
7. Canonteign Falls<br />
8. Cockington Court<br />
9. Devon Railway Centre<br />
10. Exeter’s Underground Passages<br />
11. Hannah’s at Seale Hayne<br />
12. House of Marbles<br />
13. Kents Cavern Torquay<br />
14. Lundy Island<br />
15. Lydford Gorge<br />
16. Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway<br />
17. Otterton Mill<br />
18. Pecorama<br />
<strong>19</strong>. Seaton Jurassic<br />
20. Seaton Tramway<br />
21. South Devon Railway<br />
22. Stover Country Park<br />
Adventure stuff<br />
23. Ashcombe Adventure Centre<br />
24. Atlantis Adventure Park<br />
25. Babbabcombe Model Village<br />
26. Clip ’n Climb Plymouth<br />
27. Crealy Adventure Park<br />
28. Diggerland Devon<br />
29. Dingles Fairground<br />
30. Go Ape Haldon<br />
31. Go Segway<br />
32. Haldon Forest Park<br />
33. Keypitts Quads<br />
34. Pirates Bay Adventure Golf<br />
35. Raceworld<br />
36. River Dart Country Park<br />
37. Rock and Rapid Adventure Centre<br />
38. Southdown Adventure Centre<br />
39. Splashdown Quaywest<br />
40. The Bear Trail<br />
41. The Big Sheep<br />
42. The Milky Way Adventure Park<br />
43. The Quay Climbing Centre<br />
44. Torquay’s Dinosaur World<br />
45. Woodlands Family Theme Park<br />
wildlife/animals<br />
46. A Touch of Wild<br />
47. Axe Valley Wildlife Park<br />
48. Buckfast Butterflies & Otter Sanctuary<br />
49. Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park<br />
50. Dartmoor Hawking Falconry Experience<br />
51. Dartmoor Zoological Park<br />
52. Dawlish Warren Wildlife Reserve<br />
53. Devon Bird of Prey Centre<br />
54. Exmoor Zoo<br />
55. Ilfracombe Aquarium<br />
56. Living Coasts Torquay<br />
57. Miniature Pony Centre<br />
58. National Marine Aquarium (Plymouth)<br />
59. Paignton Zoo<br />
60. Pennywell Farm<br />
61. Shaldon Wildlife Trust<br />
62. The Donkey Sanctuary<br />
63. The Mare & Foal Sanctuary<br />
64. Totnes Rare Breeds Farm<br />
65. Wildwood Escot<br />
66. World of Country Life<br />
67. Yarak Birds of Prey<br />
MUSEUMS<br />
Hartland<br />
Bradworthy<br />
42<br />
132<br />
Holsworthy<br />
68. Allhallows Museum<br />
69. Ashburton Museum<br />
L<br />
70. Axe Valley Heritage Museum<br />
71. Axminster Heritage Centre<br />
72. Ball Clay Heritage Society<br />
73. Bampton Heritage Centre<br />
74. Bill Douglas Centre<br />
75. Bishopsteignton Museum of Rural Life<br />
76. Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre<br />
77. Braunton and District Museum<br />
78. Britannia Museum<br />
79. Brixham Heritage Museum<br />
80. Buckland Abbey<br />
81. Burton Art Gallery and Museum<br />
82. Coldharbour Mill Working Wool<br />
83. Combe Martin Museum<br />
84. Crediton Area History And Museum<br />
85. Dartmoor Prison Museum<br />
86. Dartmouth Museum<br />
152<br />
continued overleaf<br />
95<br />
120 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
96<br />
Ilfracombe<br />
Woolacombe<br />
100<br />
77<br />
Braunton<br />
102<br />
55<br />
Combe Martin<br />
136 143<br />
83<br />
183<br />
49<br />
33<br />
54<br />
104<br />
Bratton Fleming<br />
99<br />
16<br />
Lynton<br />
167<br />
41<br />
24<br />
106<br />
139<br />
BARNSTAPLE<br />
38<br />
101<br />
145<br />
37<br />
115<br />
South Molton<br />
Molland<br />
73<br />
Bampton<br />
81<br />
94<br />
Great<br />
Torrington<br />
137<br />
High Bickington<br />
Chulmleigh<br />
Lapford<br />
Winkeligh<br />
156<br />
121<br />
Tiverton<br />
181<br />
9<br />
133<br />
28 82<br />
Cullompton<br />
90<br />
Dunkeswell<br />
126<br />
Yarcombe<br />
ifton<br />
29<br />
89<br />
15<br />
Tavistock<br />
148<br />
117<br />
109<br />
Hatherleigh<br />
Lydford<br />
141<br />
26<br />
172<br />
88<br />
159<br />
113<br />
108<br />
58 140<br />
107<br />
PLYMOUTH<br />
Wembury<br />
Okehampton<br />
179<br />
103<br />
178<br />
Princetown<br />
153<br />
85<br />
51<br />
164<br />
93<br />
North Tawton<br />
DARTMOOR<br />
NATIONAL PARK<br />
135<br />
Ivybridge<br />
Hope Cove<br />
Chagford<br />
Moretonhampstead<br />
Widecombe<br />
in the Moor<br />
Buckfastleigh<br />
Kingsbridge<br />
Bantham 97<br />
5<br />
171<br />
57<br />
138<br />
50<br />
161<br />
36<br />
Salcombe<br />
1<br />
Ashburton<br />
4<br />
128<br />
1<strong>19</strong> 80<br />
158<br />
111<br />
21<br />
48<br />
114<br />
60<br />
69<br />
162<br />
Crediton<br />
Bovey Tracey<br />
125<br />
182<br />
45<br />
Totnes<br />
7<br />
76<br />
Beesands<br />
84<br />
12 166<br />
63 75<br />
144<br />
11<br />
22<br />
53 105 72<br />
173<br />
169<br />
64<br />
124<br />
Dartmouth<br />
110 175<br />
EXETER<br />
8<br />
44<br />
165<br />
123<br />
Dawlish<br />
61<br />
134<br />
25<br />
6<br />
13<br />
Torquay<br />
Paignton<br />
Brixham<br />
40<br />
Broadclyst<br />
116 74 10<br />
27 35<br />
43<br />
112<br />
32<br />
151<br />
10<br />
31<br />
142<br />
46 30<br />
91<br />
180<br />
23<br />
52 66<br />
39<br />
155<br />
34<br />
59<br />
150<br />
78<br />
120 168 177<br />
86<br />
174<br />
131<br />
170<br />
79<br />
149<br />
147<br />
118<br />
56<br />
87<br />
154<br />
157<br />
127<br />
Teignmouth<br />
67<br />
65<br />
176<br />
Exmouth<br />
146<br />
Honiton<br />
Sidmouth<br />
Sidmouth<br />
129 15<br />
3<br />
92<br />
112<br />
2<br />
163<br />
18<br />
WHAT’S ON<br />
in Devon?<br />
Just go to<br />
www.HUBCAST.co.uk<br />
Seaton<br />
70 <strong>19</strong><br />
to see events on Devon’s only<br />
purely dedicated What’s On<br />
website - 5,500 organisations<br />
adding their events all year<br />
round.<br />
62<br />
68<br />
130<br />
160<br />
71<br />
98<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
121
PLACES TO VISIT continued<br />
87. Dawlish Museum<br />
88. Devonport Naval Heritage Centre<br />
89. Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre<br />
90. Dunkeswell Airfield Heritage Centre<br />
91. Exmouth Museum<br />
92. Fairlynch Museum<br />
93. Finch Foundry<br />
94. Great Torrington Heritage Museum<br />
95. Holsworthy Museum<br />
96. Ilfracombe Museum<br />
97. Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum<br />
98. Lyme Regis Museum<br />
99. Lyn and Exmoor Museum<br />
100. Mortehoe Museum<br />
101. Museum of Barnstaple & N. Devon<br />
102. Museum of British Surfing<br />
103. Museum of Dartmoor Life<br />
104. National Trust Carriage Museum<br />
105. Newton Abbot Town & GWR Museum<br />
106. North Devon Maritime Museum<br />
107. Park Pharmacy Trust<br />
108. Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery<br />
109. Robey Trust Perseverance Iron Works<br />
110. Royal Albert Memorial Museum<br />
111. Salcombe Maritime Museum<br />
112. Sidmouth Museum<br />
113. Smeatons Tower Lighthouse<br />
114. South Devon Railway<br />
115. South Molton and District Museum<br />
116. South West Police Heritage Museum<br />
117. Tavistock Museum<br />
118. Teign Heritage Centre<br />
1<strong>19</strong>. The Valiant Soldier<br />
120. Thomas Newcomen Engine<br />
121. Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life<br />
122. Topsham Museum<br />
123. Torquay Museum<br />
124. Totnes Fashion and Textiles Museum<br />
125. Totnes Elizabethan House<br />
126. Upottery Airfield Heritage Centre<br />
127. Whimple Heritage Centre<br />
128. William Pengelly Museum<br />
gardens<br />
129. Bicton Park and Gardens<br />
130. Burrow Farm Gardens<br />
131. Fast Rabbit Farm Gardens<br />
132. Gnome Reserve<br />
133. Holbrook Garden<br />
134. Homeyards Botanical Gardens<br />
135. Lukesland Gardens<br />
136. Marwood Hill Gardens<br />
137. RHS Garden Rosemoor<br />
138. Stone Lane Gardens<br />
139. Tapeley Park and Gardens<br />
140. The Elizabethan Gardens<br />
141. The Garden House<br />
historic houses<br />
142. A la Ronde (NT)<br />
143. Arlington Court (NT)<br />
144. Bradley Manor (NT)<br />
145. Castle Hill Estate<br />
146. Cadhay<br />
147. Coleton Fishacre (NT)<br />
148. Cotehele (NT)<br />
149. Fursdon House<br />
150. Greenway (NT)<br />
151. Haldon Belvedere<br />
152. Hartland Abbey House<br />
153. Hemerdon House<br />
154. Killerton House (NT)<br />
155. Kirkham House (EH)<br />
156. Knightshayes (NT)<br />
157. Marker’s Cottage<br />
158. Overbeck’s (NT)<br />
159. Saltram House (NT)<br />
160. Shute Barton (NT)<br />
161. The Church House (NT)<br />
162. The Merchant’s House<br />
163. The Old Bakery (NT)<br />
164. Thorn House and Garden<br />
castles & forts<br />
165. Torre Abbey<br />
166. Ugbrooke House<br />
167. Watersmeet House (NT)<br />
168. Bayard’s Cove Fort (EH)<br />
169. Berry Pomeroy Castle (EH)<br />
170. Bickleigh Castle NOP<br />
171. Castle Drogo (NT)<br />
172. Crownhill Fort<br />
173. Compton Castle (NT)<br />
174. Dartmouth Castle (EH)<br />
175. Exeter Castle NOP<br />
176. Hemyock Castle<br />
177. Kingswear Castle NOP<br />
178. Lydford Castle (EH)<br />
179. Okehampton Castle (EH)<br />
180. Powderham Castle<br />
181. Tiverton Castle NOP<br />
182. Totnes Castle (EH)<br />
183. Watermouth Castle<br />
14<br />
152<br />
Hartland<br />
Bradworthy<br />
95<br />
42<br />
132<br />
Holsworthy<br />
L<br />
122 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
96<br />
Ilfracombe<br />
Woolacombe<br />
100<br />
77<br />
Braunton<br />
102<br />
55<br />
Combe Martin<br />
136 143<br />
83<br />
183<br />
49<br />
33<br />
54<br />
104<br />
Bratton Fleming<br />
99<br />
16<br />
Lynton<br />
167<br />
41<br />
24<br />
106<br />
139<br />
BARNSTAPLE<br />
38<br />
101<br />
145<br />
37<br />
115<br />
South Molton<br />
Molland<br />
73<br />
Bampton<br />
81<br />
94<br />
Great<br />
Torrington<br />
137<br />
High Bickington<br />
Chulmleigh<br />
Lapford<br />
Winkeligh<br />
156<br />
121<br />
Tiverton<br />
181<br />
9<br />
133<br />
28 82<br />
Cullompton<br />
90<br />
Dunkeswell<br />
126<br />
Yarcombe<br />
ifton<br />
29<br />
89<br />
15<br />
Tavistock<br />
148<br />
117<br />
109<br />
Hatherleigh<br />
Lydford<br />
141<br />
26<br />
172<br />
88<br />
159<br />
113<br />
108<br />
58 140<br />
107<br />
PLYMOUTH<br />
Wembury<br />
Okehampton<br />
179<br />
103<br />
178<br />
Princetown<br />
153<br />
85<br />
51<br />
164<br />
93<br />
North Tawton<br />
DARTMOOR<br />
NATIONAL PARK<br />
135<br />
Ivybridge<br />
Hope Cove<br />
Chagford<br />
Moretonhampstead<br />
Widecombe<br />
in the Moor<br />
Buckfastleigh<br />
Kingsbridge<br />
Bantham 97<br />
5<br />
171<br />
57<br />
138<br />
50<br />
161<br />
36<br />
Salcombe<br />
1<br />
Ashburton<br />
4<br />
128<br />
1<strong>19</strong> 80<br />
158<br />
111<br />
21<br />
48<br />
114<br />
60<br />
69<br />
162<br />
Crediton<br />
Bovey Tracey<br />
125<br />
182<br />
45<br />
Totnes<br />
7<br />
76<br />
Beesands<br />
84<br />
12 166<br />
63 75<br />
144<br />
11<br />
22<br />
53 105 72<br />
173<br />
169<br />
64<br />
124<br />
Dartmouth<br />
110 175<br />
EXETER<br />
8<br />
44<br />
165<br />
123<br />
Dawlish<br />
61<br />
134<br />
25<br />
6<br />
13<br />
Torquay<br />
Paignton<br />
Brixham<br />
40<br />
Broadclyst<br />
116 74 10<br />
27 35<br />
43<br />
112<br />
32<br />
151<br />
10<br />
31<br />
142<br />
46 30<br />
91<br />
180<br />
23<br />
52 66<br />
39<br />
155<br />
34<br />
59<br />
150<br />
78<br />
120 168 177<br />
86<br />
174<br />
131<br />
170<br />
79<br />
149<br />
147<br />
118<br />
56<br />
87<br />
154<br />
157<br />
127<br />
Teignmouth<br />
67<br />
65<br />
176<br />
Exmouth<br />
146<br />
Honiton<br />
Sidmouth<br />
Sidmouth<br />
129 15<br />
3<br />
92<br />
112<br />
2<br />
163<br />
18<br />
WHAT’S ON<br />
in Devon?<br />
Just go to<br />
www.HUBCAST.co.uk<br />
Seaton<br />
70 <strong>19</strong><br />
to see events on Devon’s only<br />
purely dedicated What’s On<br />
website - 5,500 organisations<br />
adding their events all year<br />
round.<br />
62<br />
68<br />
130<br />
160<br />
71<br />
98<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
123
Great Night Out<br />
Enjoy FOOD and LIVE MUSIC at your local venue<br />
LIVE MUSIC THIS MONTH<br />
BICTON FOLK SESSION<br />
06 Jun- Enjoy an evening of lively, foottapping<br />
music when local musicians<br />
get together, The Bicton Inn, Exmouth,<br />
8.30pm to 11.00pm, Free.<br />
ROCKFELLA<br />
07 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.30pm to 12.00am.<br />
DAVE NEWTON & CRAIG MILVERTON<br />
08 Jun- Two pianos, The Tucker's Jazz<br />
Club, The Tucker's Arms, Axminster,<br />
8.00pm to 10.00pm, £10.<br />
OLDSMOBILE<br />
08 Jun- Multi-instrumental duo playing<br />
Americana and original songs, Axminster<br />
Arts Cafe Bar, Axminster, 12.15am to<br />
1.00pm, Free.<br />
SUE KING<br />
08 Jun- Folk, Country, oldies and singa-long<br />
music, Axminster Arts Cafe Bar,<br />
Axminster, 11.00am to 11.45pm, Free.<br />
REEFS OF MOONSHINE<br />
08 Jun- Enjoy an afternoon of very<br />
chilled music in the company of acoustic<br />
duo Reefs of, The Bicton Inn, Exmouth,<br />
5.00pm to 7.00pm, Free.<br />
Allison Adams Tucker<br />
RED SKY<br />
08 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.30pm to 12.00am.<br />
PETE CANTER TRIO AT EXETER RESPECT<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
09 Jun- Superb swing, bebop & latin jazz<br />
with excellent saxophonist Pete Canter,<br />
Pete Canter, Exeter Respect Festival, Exeter,<br />
11.00am to 11.45am, TBA.<br />
FIRE EXIT<br />
09 Jun- An afternoon of traditional jazz,<br />
The Bicton Inn, Exmouth, 5.00pm to 7.00pm,<br />
Free.<br />
EXMOUTH IRISH SESSION<br />
09 Jun- An evening of lively and evocative<br />
music from the Emerald Isle, The Bicton<br />
Inn, Exmouth, 8.00pm to 11.00pm, Free.<br />
JUST MISBEHAVIN'<br />
09 Jun- Swing jazz to finish your weekend<br />
in style, Just Misbehavin', The Point Bar &<br />
Grill, Exmouth, 6.00pm to 8.30pm, Free.<br />
AZHAAR SAFFAR & GLOBAL WAVE<br />
12 Jun- Global Wave is a jazz fusion outfit<br />
playing the compositions of Azha Saffar,<br />
Fougou Jazz, Brixham, 8.30pm to 10.30pm,<br />
£10 adv / £12 door.<br />
PETE CANTER TRIO<br />
12 Jun- Superb dinner jazz with fine jazz<br />
musician Pete Canter and friends, Pete<br />
Canter, Clifford Arms, Shaldon, 8.00pm<br />
to 10.30pm.<br />
OPEN MIC<br />
13 Jun- An evening of music from<br />
anyone who would like to come along<br />
and perform, The Bicton Inn, Exmouth,<br />
8.30pm to 11.00pm, Free.<br />
THE SPEEDGUMS<br />
14 Jun- You are going to love The<br />
Speedgums - new to the Bicton, The<br />
Bicton Inn, Exmouth, 9.00pm to 11.00pm,<br />
Free.<br />
USUAL SUSPECTS<br />
14 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.30pm to 12.00am.<br />
SHARON LAZIBYRD<br />
15 Jun- Original folk, Axminster Arts<br />
Cafe Bar, Axminster, 12.15am to 1.00pm,<br />
Free.<br />
INDIGO<br />
15 Jun- Saxophone Jazz Quartet,<br />
Axminster Arts Cafe Bar, Axminster,<br />
11.00am to 11.45am, Free.<br />
SARA CORSER & DAVE WARD<br />
15 Jun- Two of the Bicton’s favourites<br />
bring you an afternoon of popular songs,<br />
The Bicton Inn, Exmouth, 5.00pm to<br />
7.00pm, Free.<br />
STATIC CHARGE<br />
15 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.30pm to 12.00am.<br />
MUSIC NIGHT - NEIL BARCLAY<br />
16 Jun- Swing, Rat Pack & all the<br />
classics. A great sound form one man<br />
and guitar, The Point, 14 Pilot Wharf,<br />
Exmouth, 6.00pm to 8.30pm, Free Entry.<br />
BICTON STREET BLUES<br />
16 Jun- Authentic rock and blues just<br />
as it sounded in the 50s and 60s, The<br />
Bicton Inn, Exmouth, 5.00pm to 7.00pm,<br />
Free.<br />
RED PENDULUM JAZZ<br />
<strong>19</strong> Jun- New monthly jazz night with<br />
house trio & special guest, Pete Canter,<br />
Exeter Phoenix, Exeter, 8.30pm to<br />
10.30pm, £9.<br />
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Saturday 15th <strong>June</strong><br />
SARAH LAZIBYRD<br />
Axminster Arts Cafe Bar<br />
Sunday 30th <strong>June</strong><br />
IDLE HANDS<br />
The Point, Exmouth<br />
Sunday 23rd <strong>June</strong><br />
NINE POUND CATFISH<br />
The Bicton Inn, Exmouth<br />
Lil Jim<br />
ALLISON ADAMS TUCKER<br />
<strong>19</strong> Jun- Allison Adams Tucker jazz<br />
vocalist with a voice 'lustrous in any<br />
language', Fougou Jazz, Brixham, 8.30pm<br />
to 10.30pm, £10 adv / £12 door.<br />
FOLK AND INDIE OPEN NIGHT<br />
20 Jun- Hosted by Exmouth’s favourite<br />
balladeer Becky Brooks, The Bicton Inn,<br />
Exmouth, 8.30pm to 11.00pm, Free.<br />
THAT'LL DO<br />
21 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.30pm to 12.00am.<br />
MUSICAL SPECTACULAR IN AID OF<br />
EXMOUTH MUSEUM<br />
22 Jun- Musical Spectacular in Aid<br />
of Exmouth Museum, The Bicton Inn,<br />
Exmouth, 5.00pm to 11.00pm, Free.<br />
STONEFOX<br />
22 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.25pm to 12.00am.<br />
MUSIC NIGHT WITH PAUL ADAMS<br />
23 Jun- Outstanding live singer. Swing,<br />
Ratpak & Crooning! The Point, 14 Pilot<br />
Wharf, Exmouth, 6.00pm to 8.30pm, Free<br />
Entry.<br />
NINE POUND CATFISH<br />
23 Jun- A mixture of hokum, ragtime<br />
blues and old country music, The Bicton<br />
Inn, Exmouth, 5.00pm to 7.00pm, Free.<br />
JUST STEPHEN<br />
27 Jun- Just Stephen and a special<br />
evening of jazz, blues, soul and urban<br />
folk music, Fougou Jazz, Brixham,<br />
8.30pm to 10.30pm, £10 adv / £12 door.<br />
BICTON FOLK NIGHT FEATURING<br />
RADDON HILL CLOG<br />
27 Jun- Exmouth Shanty Man Derek<br />
Brooks hosts a traditional folk night, The<br />
Bicton Inn, Exmouth, 8.30pm to 11.00pm,<br />
Free.<br />
LIL JIM<br />
28 Jun- Combining guitar, harmonica<br />
and accordion with vocals and foot<br />
percussion, The Bicton Inn, Exmouth,<br />
9.00pm to 11.00pm, Free.<br />
MUSIC IN THE GARDEN EAST STREET<br />
BAND<br />
29 Jun- Five-piece band, Axminster Arts<br />
Cafe Bar, Axminster, 11.00am to 1.00pm<br />
& 1.30pm to 3.00pm, Free.<br />
VAL SINCLAIR/PAT BRANDON QUINTET<br />
29 Jun- Hard swinging jazz & blues<br />
with fine singer Val Sinclair & talented<br />
band, Pete Canter, Knowle Village Hall,<br />
Budleigh Salterton, 7.30pm to 10.00pm,<br />
TBC.<br />
GUY SOMERFIELD<br />
29 Jun- An afternoon featuring an<br />
eclectic mixture of music from Exmouth’s<br />
favourite, The Bicton Inn, Exmouth,<br />
5.00pm to 7.00pm, Free.<br />
THE MAGIC BADGERS<br />
29 Jun- The Black Horse, 30 Fore Street,<br />
Sidmouth, 9.30pm to 12.00am.<br />
ROSIE EADE<br />
30 Jun- Rosie’s voice is likened to Kate<br />
Bush, Maddy Prior and Grace Slick, The<br />
Bicton Inn, Exmouth, 5.00pm to 7.00pm,<br />
Free.<br />
MUSIC NIGHT - IDLE HANDS<br />
30 Jun- Acoustic duo playing a range<br />
of popular & classic songs from 60s<br />
to present, The Point, 14 Pilot Wharf,<br />
Exmouth, 6.00pm to 8.30pm, Free Entry.<br />
$PETE ALLEN'S JAZZ IN THE<br />
AFTERNOON<br />
30 Jun- The full seven-piece Pete Allen<br />
Jazz Band will be performing top-quality<br />
music, Pete Allen, Sidholme Hotel,<br />
Sidmouth, 3.00pm to 5.30pm, £15.50.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
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SWAc<br />
The South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts<br />
FOR 20<strong>19</strong> WE'RE<br />
DELIGHTED TO BE<br />
THE SPONSORS<br />
OF DEVONSHIRE ART<br />
The South West Academy work with<br />
academicians and associates to host a range of<br />
events over the year, including workshops, charity<br />
auctions, lectures, culminating in a major Open<br />
Exhibition at Exeter Castle each November.<br />
Robert Mountjoy - Chair of Trustees<br />
From its earliest years, the Academy's Open exhibitions attracted a huge response from artists from the<br />
South West, across the UK and also from many EU countries. We are proud to have numbered among our<br />
academicians such distinguished artists as Sir Peter Blake RA, Sir Terry Frost RA, Mary Fedden RA, Ken<br />
Howard RA, Colin Hayes RA and David Leach OBE. The Academy was also nurtured in its early years by a number<br />
of invaluable donations including the Drecki Legacy, which is commemorated now in the Annual Drecki Lecture<br />
Series. Thanks to the generosity of many sponsors, the Academy has evolved into a thriving community of elected<br />
Academicians with regional and international recognition in both 2D and 3D work. At the same time, the Academy<br />
actively supports the work of emerging artists from across the south west region by electing them as Associate<br />
members. The profiles and selected works of the Academicians and Associates can be found on the Academy’s<br />
website along with details of the exhibition programme; short films of past exhibitions, and current news from,<br />
and about, members www.southwestacademy.org.uk.<br />
Another major commitment for the Academy is to support the development of art and design for children and young<br />
people. With a history of dedicated exhibitions for young artists, the Academy currently provides workshops for<br />
primary and secondary pupils and also works in partnership with Young Art Devon to support their young artists’<br />
exhibition and to actively encourage and reward art teachers in local schools and colleges by sponsoring prizes for<br />
their students. At the same time as making provision for young artists, members of The Academy run workshops<br />
and talks for different adult groups including a Memory Café workshop to support the work of charities such as<br />
the Dementia Alliance. To become a Friend of the Academy or to find out more then either visit the website or<br />
email swac.contact@gmail.com<br />
ART<br />
126 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
In association with hubcast.co.uk<br />
ART<br />
Sponsored by SWAc<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
127
marinehouseatbeer.co.uk<br />
EXPORT SUCCESS FOR<br />
SOUTH WEST ART IN HONG KONG<br />
Mike Lambert - Marine House at Beer | Steam Gallery<br />
Mike Lambert lives in Branscombe, Devon. In <strong>19</strong>98 he established<br />
with his wife Rosemary leading Devon galleries Marine House<br />
and Steam Gallery. Previously his career was computer sales<br />
and marketing. He then founded a Kensington PR company.<br />
Spring despite the vagaries of British<br />
weather is a great tonic and lifts the<br />
spirits after the gloom of winter<br />
I<br />
’m at home in Branscombe. Out of<br />
my window birds are on the feeders<br />
in their smartest “chat up” outfits,<br />
lambs frolic and all is framed by the<br />
freshness of leaves and blossom.<br />
With such calm and optimism why<br />
worry about the “B” word, chaotic<br />
train schedules, Huawei, football<br />
relegation or potential victory<br />
(except of course for the Exeter Chiefs<br />
who I’m watching on <strong>June</strong> 1 in the final<br />
at Twickenham). Hopefully revenge<br />
over Saracens is on the cards.<br />
What’s the<br />
underlying message?<br />
Maybe people are tiring of trendy art<br />
(trends don’t last) and the plethora of<br />
low grade pop art often sold at mind<br />
popping prices. I’ve noticed this in<br />
London, Hong Kong, New York and<br />
Singapore, right round the world in<br />
art fair in Hong Kong. Marine House<br />
certainly made the top three galleries<br />
out of around 120 from around the<br />
globe. This certainly helps the South<br />
West export economy as there was<br />
a huge response to our artists most<br />
notably Charlie O’ Sullivan, David<br />
and Jim Farrant, father and son,<br />
Nigel Sharman and Michael Sole. A<br />
purchaser quickly hung their Charlie<br />
Entering with a spirit of optimism<br />
we had the best Affordable Art Fair<br />
in Battersea for nine years. Brexit<br />
wasn’t mentioned once. Hot on the<br />
heels of London was the New York<br />
fair. Stephen Edwards, a good gallery<br />
friend from Lime Tree in Bristol<br />
noted, “so many times people came up<br />
to me and said at last a gallery selling<br />
real art, so refreshing!”<br />
Now in my experience most<br />
Americans seem to know what they<br />
like and buy confidently. Discounts<br />
are not top of their list; if they love,<br />
they buy it – perhaps they haven’t<br />
been indoctrinated by cheap to<br />
produce TV shows like Flog It and<br />
Bargain Hunt. Needless to say, Stephen<br />
had a great show.<br />
fact. There is a renewed thirst for art<br />
of skill and quality with innovation<br />
and inspiration that possesses real<br />
staying power. Do not be deceived,<br />
dear reader by the colourful and<br />
second rate!<br />
We’ve just come back from a record<br />
and sent us the appealing image<br />
shown (below).<br />
There’s also as nice story attached<br />
to a sale of a very large picture by<br />
Michael Sole. A local billionaire was<br />
pipped at the post when we exhibited<br />
him for the first time two years ago.<br />
Not to be outdone again he quickly<br />
128 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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secured the dramatic work illustrated. Took<br />
four men to carry it out!<br />
Now back in the galleries getting ready for<br />
the upcoming show by Nigel Sharman and<br />
Hannah Ludnow, artists with Devon and<br />
Cornish roots in Marine House and fascinating<br />
reacquired earlier work by noted ceramic<br />
sculptor Amanda Popham at Steam Gallery<br />
all starting on <strong>June</strong> 22nd.<br />
There’s no stopping good art at sensible<br />
prices. Enjoy!<br />
It took four men to<br />
carry this Michael Sole<br />
painting<br />
Mike Lambert<br />
Follow us:<br />
@marinehouseatbeer<br />
@marinehousebeer<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
129
Nigel Sharman - 'Three Blue Boats in Harbour' - Marine House at Beer<br />
ART<br />
Exhibitions<br />
Until 08 Jun<br />
RACHEL GRIGOR SOLO<br />
EXHIBITION<br />
Rachel Anne Grigor Composition: The harmony of art,<br />
including musical extracts from Isaac Oliver Short. A mix<br />
of figurative and abstract original prints full with colour,<br />
Brook Gallery, Budleigh Salterton, 10.30am to 5.00pm.<br />
Until 08 Jun<br />
GALLERY ARTIST EXHIBITION<br />
Featured artists are: Edward Kelly, Jeannette Hayes, Heather<br />
Duncan, Rebecca Fontaine-Wolf and Kathy Little, Artwave<br />
West, A35, Morecombelake, 10.00am to 5.00pm, free.<br />
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Until 12 Jun<br />
MARKING THE LAND,<br />
WESTWARDS<br />
The south Devon landscape is the arena<br />
for creative collaboration by three related<br />
women artists: mother, daughter and<br />
cousin. Working in different media and<br />
materials, each follows a personal path,<br />
exploring old and new connections to<br />
this part of the landscape. New work<br />
by Rafaele Appleby, Frances Murray and<br />
Bethany Murray. Opening view and<br />
opportunity to meet the artists: Friday<br />
31 May, 6 - 8 pm, Harbour House, The<br />
Promenade, Kingsbridge, 10.00am to<br />
5.00pm, free.<br />
Until 15 Jun<br />
IMAGINARY DRAWN<br />
WITH LIGHT<br />
“Motionless images are transformed<br />
into works of art made of a versatile<br />
and energetic elegance that recall<br />
graceful watercolours or fluid oils with<br />
the communicative power of a great<br />
expressionist.” Christopher Rosewood.<br />
In his own words, he goes to sleep with<br />
the camera near the bed side, when a<br />
dream comes, he uses it as palette and<br />
brush, applying the world of his dreams<br />
to the photos of his reality. Works are<br />
characterised by this dreamlike other<br />
worldly quality, Artizan Gallery Cafe<br />
Venue, 7 Lucius Street, Torquay, 11.00am<br />
to 6.00pm, Free admission.<br />
Until 07 Jul<br />
WHAT DO YOU<br />
COLLECT?<br />
DETECTORISTS<br />
This metal-detecting group's hobby and<br />
love of history has brought them a mixed<br />
bag of treasure including the valuable,<br />
the surprising and the mundane. You can<br />
see some of their favourite finds here.<br />
MD Finds Group are based in East Devon.<br />
An open group, they allow others to share<br />
their knowledge and finds through a<br />
database (www.MDFinds.co.uk) and now<br />
in the contemporary collector’s case in<br />
the Finders Keepers Gallery, Royal Albert<br />
Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street,<br />
Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.<br />
Until 13 Jul<br />
THREE HARES<br />
EXHIBITION<br />
To celebrate the publishing of a beautiful<br />
book of illustrated poetry by the artist<br />
Eleanor Ludgate, an unusual exhibition<br />
at the Three Hares Gallery will show a<br />
collection of the artwork from the book<br />
together with the 43 poems on a wide<br />
range of subjects including Dartmoor,<br />
its wildlife and the mystery of the three<br />
hares motif. Tel: 01647 433287 www.<br />
devonsnatureinart.com, Ludgate Fine<br />
Art, 20 The Square, Chagford, 10.00am<br />
to 4.30pm.<br />
Until 31 Jul<br />
T HORSWELL ARTIST<br />
IN RESIDENCE - THE<br />
ORANGERY<br />
The Orangery at Mount Edgcumbe Country<br />
Park is proud to present to you local<br />
artist Trevor Horswell with his first major<br />
collection exhibited for over twenty years.<br />
Themed around wild flowers and local<br />
scenery the paintings display a mix of<br />
emotions from moody skies to beautiful<br />
sunsets full of colour and beauty. As the<br />
Bethany Murray - 'From Start Point' - Harbour House, Kingsbridge<br />
seasons change so will the artwork as<br />
many will be painted on site. In this<br />
permanent space for his new paintings<br />
the collection will be ever changing, open<br />
every day, Art By Horswell, The Orangery,<br />
Torpoint, 10.30am to 4.00pm, Free.<br />
Until 21 Jul<br />
REFLECTIONS - A<br />
FRESH LOOK, MOISH<br />
SOKAL<br />
Returning from his latest trip to New York<br />
and Cuba local Somerset artist Moish<br />
Sokal is reflecting on all the exotic places<br />
he has visited and painted over the last<br />
25 years. He felt inspired to look back<br />
at these locations and to paint them in<br />
his current vibrant style. The result is<br />
his landmark exhibition 'Reflections - A<br />
Fresh Look' which opens at the Malthouse<br />
Gallery on Tuesday 4th <strong>June</strong>. Included<br />
will be work from Crete and nearer home,<br />
the coastline of Cornwall, Dorset and<br />
Wales, East Lambrook Manor Gardens,<br />
East Lambrook, South Petherton, 10.00am<br />
to 5.00pm, This is a free event. Closed<br />
Mondays. Limited disabled access.<br />
Continued...<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
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08 Jun to 15 Jun<br />
ART, DESIGN &<br />
ARCHITECTURE<br />
GRADUATE SHOW<br />
20<strong>19</strong><br />
This is an inspiring exhibition of work<br />
from nearly 500 final yr students<br />
across the UoP School of Art, Design<br />
and Architecture. It showcases the<br />
impressive creativity, innovation and<br />
talent of our students across a wide<br />
spectrum of disciplines, from architecture<br />
and design, to media and photography.<br />
The Graduate Show provides a platform<br />
for students to present their work publicly<br />
as budding professional artists, designers<br />
and architects. Please see website for<br />
various venues and times, The Arts<br />
Institute, Main Campus, University of<br />
Plymouth, Plymouth, 10.00am to 5.00pm.<br />
08 Jun to 13 Jul<br />
A COUNTRY WALK<br />
Linda Felcey and Debbie Lush both<br />
gain inspiration from from walking<br />
and observing seasonal changes in<br />
the countryside, Hybrid, 51 High Street,<br />
Honiton, 10.00am to 5.00pm.<br />
11 Jun to 30 Jun<br />
LOCAL ART SHOW<br />
20<strong>19</strong>: MIGRATION<br />
The annual Local Art Show gives art<br />
groups and societies from Exeter and the<br />
surrounding area the chance to display<br />
their members’ work in an exhibition at<br />
RAMM. Shortlisted entries are featured<br />
Eleanor Ludgate - 'Badger'<br />
Three Hares Gallery, Chagford<br />
by Devon Live and viewers invited to<br />
vote on their favourite. The theme for<br />
the 2017 competition is Migration, the<br />
museum’s over-arching theme for the year.<br />
All entries must be submitted by 5pm<br />
on Friday 22 March 20<strong>19</strong>, Royal Albert<br />
Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street,<br />
Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm, Free, drop in.<br />
14 Jun to 23 Jun<br />
CONTEMPORARY<br />
COLLABORATIONS<br />
Opening View: Friday 14 <strong>June</strong>, 6 - 8<br />
pm. "For the last year we have been<br />
experiencing Dartmoor in all seasons,<br />
painting collaboratively and independently<br />
en plein air. We love it. The colours,<br />
sounds, constant changes of light and<br />
discovery of new places contribute to<br />
evoking all the senses and create a<br />
vitality not found in the studio!" With<br />
their collaborative mixed media paintings<br />
Jane and Josie were finalists in Devon<br />
Life’s ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ in<br />
2018, Harbour House, The Promenade,<br />
Kingsbridge, 10.00am to 5.00pm, free.<br />
14 Jun to 10 Aug<br />
SUMMER EXHIBITION<br />
A delightful mixed exhibition for<br />
the summer!, Artwave West, A35,<br />
Morecombelake, 10.00am to 5.00pm, free.<br />
15 Jun<br />
IKEBANA EXHIBITION<br />
Discover the beautiful art of Japanese<br />
Floral Art. On display will be arrangements<br />
by local Ikenobo Ikebana professor<br />
Kazumi, and her students. For one<br />
day only, these exquisite floral displays<br />
are made more beautiful by their fleeting<br />
nature. Admission is free and all are<br />
welcome. For more information email<br />
DevonIkebana@gmail.com, Kennaway<br />
House, Coburg Road, Sidmouth, 10.00am<br />
to 4.00pm, FREE ENTRY.<br />
22 Jun to 05 Jul<br />
A JOINT SHOW BY<br />
HANNAH LUDNOW &<br />
NIGEL SHARMAN<br />
Two prominent London artists will be<br />
showcasing their work at Marine House<br />
at Beer this summer. The joint show<br />
by Hannah Ludnow and Nigel Sharman<br />
will present new artworks by these highly<br />
respected semi-abstract painters, whose<br />
work is simultaneously inspired by colour<br />
and composition, as well as the vibrant<br />
coastlines of Cornwall. Though both<br />
artists work and live in London, their<br />
roots are firmly in the South West!,<br />
Marine House at Beer, Fore Street, Beer,<br />
10.00am to 5.30pm.<br />
A Country Walk<br />
Debbie Lush (left)<br />
& Linda Felcey<br />
www.hybrid-devon.co.uk<br />
See more events on<br />
hubcast.co.uk<br />
132 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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CONTRAST IN COLOUR<br />
AND COMPOSITION<br />
A SHOW OF NEW PAINTINGS BY<br />
AND <br />
Saturday 22 <strong>June</strong> - Friday 6 July, 11.00am to 5.30pm at Marine House at Beer<br />
Two London based artists with backgrounds steeped in the West Country<br />
are hosting their first show at Marine House at Beer.<br />
Joy, 92 x 122cm, oil on canvas, £1,895<br />
<br />
excels in depicting the changing<br />
moods of sky, sea and shore of<br />
Cornwall. Her work has impressive<br />
presence, moody and semi<br />
abstract in style. Her paintings<br />
are extremely popular, and she<br />
sells widely in London and with<br />
us in Hong Kong and Singapore.<br />
paints confident<br />
works in which perspective is challenged to<br />
dramatic effect and the subject matter be it<br />
still life, harbour scenes or landscapes, are<br />
reduced down to their vital elements. Since<br />
his introduction to the gallery he has proved<br />
one of our leading artists.<br />
01297 625257<br />
Fore Street, Beer, EX12 3EF<br />
info@marinehouseatbeer.co.uk<br />
marinehouseatbeer.co.uk<br />
Three Blue Boats in Harbour, 90 x 90cm, oil on canvas, £2,995<br />
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LYME REGIS FROM ABOVE<br />
Image by Nigel Jones. Taken in 2012.<br />
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former home in Devon, near Tavistock<br />
for five months so that local residents<br />
can see the Elizabethan portrait for<br />
the first time on their doorstep.<br />
Alison Cooper the National Trust’s<br />
curator says "The painting was created<br />
shortly after Drake came home from his<br />
circumnavigation of the globe. In 1581<br />
following his return, his life entirely<br />
changed. His voyage made him famous<br />
as well as fabulously wealthy. He was<br />
knighted by Elizabeth I, and was able to<br />
purchase Buckland Abbey - a country<br />
home that befitted his new found status.<br />
"He then became mayor of Plymouth and<br />
an MP. He was even granted his own Coat<br />
of Arms with a motto that reminded him<br />
of his yeomanry birth – sic parvis magna<br />
– from small beginnings, great things. He<br />
had ‘made it’. This display centring on<br />
Drake’s portrait aims to explore how<br />
Drake presented himself and his new found<br />
status, and, as part of this, the importance<br />
of his new home at Buckland Abbey. It’s a<br />
wonderful opportunity for Buckland to<br />
be able to borrow this portrait and put it<br />
on public display outside of London. The<br />
fact that we are able to bring it back to<br />
Drake’s former home where it may have<br />
been during Drake’s lifetime, makes this<br />
prospect even more exciting."<br />
Sir Francis Drake portrait<br />
leaves London gallery to<br />
come home to Devon<br />
This year the portrait of Sir Francis<br />
Drake, which belongs to the National<br />
Portrait Gallery, will be coming to<br />
Buckland Abbey. A rare opportunity<br />
to see this wonderful Elizabethan<br />
portrait exhibited in the sea farer’s<br />
former home in Devon.<br />
The painting will travel to Buckland<br />
Abbey as part of the National Portrait<br />
Gallery’s COMING HOME project,<br />
which will see the Gallery lend 50<br />
portraits of iconic individuals to<br />
places across the UK with which<br />
they are most closely associated; this<br />
portrait will be on display at Buckland<br />
Abbey until 22nd September.<br />
The portrait was painted c.1581 and<br />
will hanging the local sea farer’s<br />
The display will bring together<br />
Drake’s portrait along with a portrait<br />
of Lady Elizabethan Sydenham –<br />
Drake’s second wife – belonging<br />
to Plymouth City Museum & Art<br />
Gallery. Thought to be a marriage<br />
portrait, both paintings previously<br />
belonged to the same owner, so will<br />
be re-united in this display for the<br />
first time in over 60 years.<br />
COMING HOME has been made<br />
possible by the National Portrait<br />
Gallery, the Department for Digital,<br />
Culture, Media and Sport, generous<br />
contributions from The Thompson<br />
Family Charitable Trust and funds<br />
raised at the Gallery’s Portrait Gala<br />
in 2017.<br />
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DEVONSHIRE<br />
PEOPLE<br />
137<br />
What's in this section...<br />
Hub of Comfort Nightstop Devon We need to talk...<br />
Me, Him & Dementia<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> Mum Money Matters Devon Eccentric Mindfulness<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 137
Peter, Chief Executive of Hospiscare is responsible for running the<br />
charity in partnership with the senior management team and with<br />
support from the Hospiscare Board of Trustees.<br />
HUB OF COMFORT<br />
Peter Brennan, Hospiscare Chief Executive Officer<br />
There is no doubt life will throw you some challenges<br />
along the way. There are moments when things<br />
just don’t go to plan or you’ll find yourself physically,<br />
emotionally, spiritually or financially under pressure.<br />
Tough times are part and parcel of<br />
the human experience and how<br />
long they last or how difficult they<br />
are to overcome vary tremendously.<br />
We can all relate to first world<br />
problems, but what happens if you<br />
hit a major life occurrence? Like<br />
being given the news you have a<br />
terminal illness.<br />
matter because you are you, and you<br />
matter to the last moment of your life.” It’s<br />
a quote we wholeheartedly embrace.<br />
There is a misconception that<br />
hospices are places you go to in the<br />
final stages of an illness, just before<br />
give you the necessary paperwork<br />
to take the drugs through customs.<br />
Hospiscare will treat you as an<br />
individual and make every effort to<br />
enable you to live the rest of your<br />
life in the way you want.<br />
Receiving a terminal diagnosis and<br />
facing your own mortality is one of<br />
the biggest challenges an individual<br />
can face. It can generate all sorts<br />
of anxiety, bitterness, frustration<br />
and fears. Not just for the person<br />
with the illness but for all those<br />
around them too. It’s the ultimate<br />
life crisis with many unknown factors<br />
associated with it.<br />
How long do I have? How do I prepare<br />
for this? What about my family?<br />
You may have many more years to<br />
live or your time may be limited to<br />
months, weeks or days. Whatever<br />
your circumstance, if you live in<br />
Exeter, Mid or East Devon, local<br />
charity Hospiscare is here to help<br />
you from diagnosis till the end of<br />
your life.<br />
The founder of the hospice movement,<br />
Dame Cicely Saunders, said: “You<br />
How long do I have? How do I prepare<br />
for this? What about my family?<br />
you die. But hospices offer you and<br />
your family so much more than that.<br />
If you don’t know how to break<br />
the news to your family or how to<br />
approach conversations about coming<br />
to terms with what is happening, our<br />
nurses can support you.<br />
If your symptoms impact on your<br />
quality of life, our clinical team<br />
are experts in making you more<br />
comfortable.<br />
If you want to go on a final holiday<br />
abroad and are well enough, our<br />
doctors can provide you with a ‘just in<br />
case’ bag of medicines. They will also<br />
So if you or your family or friends<br />
ever find yourself facing a terminal<br />
illness, don’t hesitate if your doctor<br />
refers you to Hospiscare. Thanks to<br />
the generosity of local people, we are<br />
here to enable you to make the most<br />
of the time you have left.<br />
A hub of comfort and expertise,<br />
Hospiscare is here to support you<br />
when you need it the most.<br />
Peter Brennan<br />
Contact Hospiscare:<br />
01392 688000<br />
hospiscare.co.uk<br />
138 138 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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Sarah Lakey is the Senior Community & Events Fundraiser for the<br />
Devon & Dorset branch of Julian House, a registered charitable society<br />
NIGHTSTOP DEVON<br />
JULIAN HOUSE - Sarah Lakey<br />
sarah.lakey@julianhouse.org.uk<br />
Anna was born into a complex whirlwind of drug<br />
addiction, crime and severe mental health issues.<br />
At 25 years old I was back living<br />
at my mother’s house amongst<br />
a chaos of issues. I was exhausting<br />
myself trying to earn money, whilst in<br />
a toxic relationship which gave me an<br />
escape from the issues at home, and<br />
desperately trying to study a masters<br />
degree. I was struggling dramatically<br />
with mental health issues, I kept<br />
going back to the doctors to request<br />
talking therapies. Due to the lack<br />
of funding I was dismissed and told<br />
that “because I am not suicidal I am not<br />
a priority”… so the struggle continued.<br />
did not speak English. I am very<br />
lucky to have many local friends who<br />
prevented the Egyptian authorities<br />
from sending me to an awful hospital<br />
On my return to the UK, the<br />
psychiatrist offered no help after<br />
all that had happened. I was still<br />
unwell, both mentally and physically<br />
I was eventually referred to a<br />
psychiatrist and diagnosed with<br />
adult ADHD. Little did I know my<br />
life was soon to be turned upside<br />
down. I thought this would lead to<br />
talking therapies, but I was instead<br />
offered medication, amphetamines.<br />
I expressed my understanding that<br />
medications are only effective when<br />
used alongside talking therapies, to<br />
receive the answer “We will consider<br />
talking therapies when the drugs have<br />
an effect on you”.<br />
To cut a long story short, I travelled<br />
to Egypt and increased my dose of<br />
medication whilst there. I only slept<br />
for four or five hours each night<br />
which very quickly escalated into an<br />
extreme case of mania and paranoid<br />
psychosis. I was tied up with ropes,<br />
forced into an ambulance and taken to<br />
the local hospital, where I was sedated<br />
up to my eye balls by strangers who<br />
to be sectioned, something I would<br />
have never recovered from. They<br />
contacted my mother and got her<br />
on a flight to rescue me within a<br />
few days.<br />
The reason for this trip was to<br />
conduct research for my dissertation,<br />
investigating the lives of Egyptian<br />
women in traditional farming<br />
communities, and the role working<br />
animals play in their daily livelihood.<br />
Luxor was my second home, my<br />
safe place where I lived, ate, slept<br />
and worked with the locals. I had<br />
dedicated the past four years of my<br />
life to this historical country.<br />
I travelled to Egypt and<br />
increased my dose of<br />
medication whilst there<br />
and this meant I could not continue<br />
with my masters. I had to reluctantly<br />
interrupt my studies. I had lost all<br />
sense of belonging and purpose in my<br />
life. I was living back at mums with<br />
severe paranoia and post-traumatic<br />
stress, which terrifyingly involved<br />
all aspects of my life.<br />
After a few weeks living amongst<br />
the difficult circumstances at mums,<br />
continued on page 1<strong>19</strong><br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 139 139
seatonmatters.org<br />
From an academic background, Martin is an Independent member of<br />
Devon County Council representing Seaton and Colyton. Here he gives<br />
his personal view of the challenges the county faces in our troubled times.<br />
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DEVON<br />
Martin Shaw<br />
cllrmartinshaw@gmail.com<br />
Is there a future for Devon's libraries?<br />
After a decade of austerity,<br />
libraries are one of the success<br />
stories that our County Council<br />
likes to tell. As another shire county,<br />
Derbyshire, hands over all its libraries<br />
to local communities, Devon still<br />
has fifty branches across the county.<br />
The Council handed over the service<br />
in 2017 to the mutual Libraries<br />
Unlimited, but still provides the bulk<br />
of the funding. However Libraries<br />
Unlimited’s charitable status has<br />
enabled it to win funding from other<br />
bodies and - if we are to believe the<br />
publicity - do more for less.<br />
and exciting new developments take<br />
place, while financial pressure is<br />
lifted from the hard-pressed council.<br />
However when we look beneath the<br />
surface, there are troubling areas<br />
in Devon’s library service and big<br />
uncertainties about the future.<br />
Libraries Unlimited has a new chair,<br />
Professor William Harvey of Exeter<br />
University; a new chief executive,<br />
no are longer viable libraries. The<br />
new developments would be fine<br />
to supplement well-resourced<br />
book-lending libraries. But what<br />
happens when managers are putting<br />
their energies into raising grants<br />
for innovation, while funding for<br />
books declines?<br />
Libraries Unlimited’s vision is to<br />
‘reach beyond libraries’ traditional<br />
book lending role’ to look at broader<br />
‘ways in which libraries support<br />
individuals and communities’.<br />
Highlights include ‘fab labs’ in<br />
Exeter and Barnstaple - which allow<br />
users to ‘print t-shirts, design and<br />
produce 3D prints, make beautiful<br />
embroidered designs’, etc. - and an<br />
Exeter business information centre<br />
where workshops, one-to-one advice<br />
sessions and ‘inspiring’ talks take<br />
place. Of course libraries in smaller<br />
towns and villages don’t have these<br />
things, but the aim is to turn them<br />
into community centres, hosting<br />
local events and increasingly run by<br />
local community volunteers.<br />
Win-win?<br />
We’re told this is a win-win situation.<br />
Library users keep their core service<br />
Alex Kittow, takes over on 1st <strong>June</strong><br />
20<strong>19</strong>. So I offer a critical perspective<br />
in the hope that the new team will<br />
recognise the seriousness of the<br />
challenge they face. At its heart<br />
is not just a different vision of the<br />
library of the future, but whether<br />
Devon’s libraries have a longer-term<br />
future at all.<br />
The question is how far ‘beyond’ their<br />
traditional book-centred role our<br />
libraries can go before - especially<br />
in smaller communities - they are<br />
The evidence, as<br />
measured by the library<br />
service itself, is sobering<br />
The evidence, as measured by the<br />
library service itself, is sobering.<br />
When the figures for book (and other)<br />
loans in 2018/<strong>19</strong> are released, it’s<br />
likely that they will have fallen by 50<br />
per cent over the last decade: only<br />
140 140 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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half the number of books that were being taken out<br />
of Devon libraries ten years ago are being taken<br />
out today. And that’s the average; in many smaller<br />
libraries the downturn is far greater. Particularly<br />
alarming, children’s book issues, which were holding<br />
much steadier, have fallen drastically in the last<br />
couple of years.<br />
Devon’s libraries have seen a modest rise in issues<br />
of e-books, but small in numbers compared to<br />
the drop in issues of ‘real’ books. People like the<br />
convenience of e-readers when they go on holiday,<br />
but despite the enthusiasm for digital a decade<br />
back, the traditional paper version still dominates.<br />
In the USA and Australia, libraries haven’t seen the<br />
crippling cuts we’ve had under austerity in the UK,<br />
and they are thriving.<br />
Tipping point?<br />
The danger is that we may have reached a tipping<br />
point at which the failure to renew the library stock<br />
is seriously driving away readers. A constituent told<br />
me, ‘I’m an avid reader and I used to go to the library<br />
every week. But I’ve read everything they’ve got and<br />
they just don’t get the new releases.’ Some libraries<br />
are taking donations of books from local people;<br />
while the gifts are laudable, they’re no substitute for<br />
a professionally curated, up-to-date library stock.<br />
If these trends continue, it would be rash to bet<br />
against a Derbyshire-style clearout in the not-toodistant<br />
future. I’m sure that neither the County<br />
libraries team nor Libraries Unlimited wish that, but<br />
the time has come for everyone to recognise where<br />
the crisis in the book stock could lead. Communities<br />
should demand proper local provision, and the<br />
Council should halt its inexorable funding cuts.<br />
Instead of going to the library, my constituent<br />
was looking for bargains on Amazon. But that’s no<br />
substitute for a proper local library, especially for our<br />
children. What if the next generation never get the<br />
reading bug which their parents and grandparents<br />
got from their local community library? We will all<br />
be the poorer.<br />
Martin Shaw<br />
NIGHTSTOP DEVON ...continued<br />
I called Exeter University as a last cry for help.<br />
One guild advisor who went on to support me<br />
over the next year, demanded that I came to see<br />
her in person. I jumped on a train to Exeter and<br />
found a friend I could stay with.<br />
Sarah brought me to realise that I needed to<br />
move to Exeter to access support, she made many<br />
phone calls declaring me homeless and fleeing<br />
domestic abuse.<br />
I have always felt that<br />
there are others in more<br />
need than myself<br />
I was very resistant to all of this. I have always felt<br />
that there are others in more need than myself,<br />
that I should be grateful for all that I have, that<br />
I should work and am not worthy of benefits.<br />
Thankfully, Sarah had the courage to keep pushing<br />
me to seek help.<br />
We could not secure a property in time and I no<br />
longer had anywhere safe to stay, my only options<br />
involved drug abuse. She sent me to the housing<br />
benefits office which led to me breaking down in<br />
tears, not knowing which direction to move with<br />
complications and questioning if I will be eligible<br />
or any benefits.<br />
This is where Nightstop came into the equation. I<br />
was given the address to meet a member of staff<br />
from Night Stop, I was greeted with a friendly<br />
reassuring smile from Pete, a Nightstop staff<br />
member.<br />
Scared and numb, but with a slight glimpse of<br />
faith that something was going to happen, within<br />
a couple of hours I was picked up and driven to<br />
my first Nightstop host volunteer.<br />
Follow me:<br />
@CllrMartinShaw<br />
@MartinShawEDA<br />
Julian House<br />
CONTENTS<br />
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LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 141 141<br />
hubcast
Mary is a professional genealogist. She has cared for foster children<br />
with disabilities including spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and has spent<br />
many years campaigning for the rights of disabled children.<br />
ME, HIM AND DEMENTIA<br />
Mary Hyland<br />
The journey continues... Like many of us, I learnt to<br />
drive before there were satnavs, and did not always<br />
have a map.<br />
Like many of us, I learnt to drive<br />
before there were satnavs, and did<br />
not always have a map. I remember<br />
once trying to drive from my other<br />
half's home in Leicestershire down<br />
to my place in Devon. He had given<br />
me directions about going on the<br />
M1 - this was when he was very<br />
astute and a very, very, good driver.<br />
Me? I was used to Devon lanes. I<br />
was terrified of the M1 and realised<br />
I had gone wrong when I saw a sign<br />
for Windsor and Maidenhead.<br />
What did I do? I looked into the sky<br />
and saw the sun beginning to set. Ha!<br />
That was the answer - follow the sun,<br />
it sets in the west, I live in the west,<br />
and so I did. Eventually, I saw a sign<br />
saying "Bristol 89 miles." It was still<br />
a long way home, but now I knew I<br />
was on the right track.<br />
And so this journey that we are now<br />
on, does not have a satnav, it does<br />
not have a map, and it does not even<br />
have a sun to guide us.<br />
I had worked out the diagnosis for<br />
myself, after reading the discharge<br />
letter from Musgrove Park Hospital.<br />
But, I am not a medic, I am just me. I<br />
decided for myself that "small vessel<br />
disease" could not be serious because<br />
it was only "small." I guess that was<br />
me being in denial. Him? He did<br />
not even read the letter, as he was<br />
still spending a lot of time in bed<br />
recovering from his surgery.<br />
Late February 2017<br />
You know when you watch<br />
programmes like Holby City and<br />
Casualty and it all seems so exciting?<br />
Well, it isn't really. We turned up at the<br />
Memory Clinic at the RD&E Wonford<br />
for his appointment not knowing<br />
what to expect. He was totally<br />
unconcerned. I looked around the<br />
waiting room wondering how many<br />
of the people there had dementia,<br />
and how many were just with them.<br />
All very mundane.<br />
Tell me all<br />
about it, how<br />
bad is he, how<br />
bad will he get?<br />
It was our turn. The consultant was<br />
very nice. I realise now, he did not<br />
know how much we understood,<br />
or how intelligent we were, and so<br />
treated us as he did. That sounds<br />
awful, I know. But he knew the score<br />
and he also knew he would never<br />
see us again, but he was quite blasé<br />
about it all.<br />
Face concealed<br />
He showed us the brain scan that had<br />
been done pre operation at Musgrove<br />
Park. The operation had been just 3<br />
weeks before, for Crohn's disease,<br />
and had removed OH's colon and<br />
he now "pooed" through a hole in<br />
his abdomen into a bag that had to<br />
be changed daily - not nice - but<br />
add to this the problem that was<br />
looming... the brain scan - well, I<br />
had seen a brain scan before and<br />
understood it at a basic level - I knew<br />
some of the structures and I could<br />
see where the problems were. The<br />
enlarged ventricles in the middle, the<br />
vascular damage, the atrophied right<br />
frontal lobe. I tried to ask questions<br />
that would make the consultant see<br />
that I would understand what he<br />
was saying to us. I could not make<br />
myself say out loud "Tell me all about<br />
it, how bad is he, how bad will he get?"<br />
Because he was sat there next to<br />
me, taking not a blind bit of notice<br />
of what was going on.<br />
The consultant said "We will give you<br />
a couple of weeks to come to terms with<br />
it, and then you will get an appointment<br />
at Tiverton Hospital."<br />
And that really was that. A life changing<br />
situation for both of us, without any<br />
explanation or prognosis whatsoever.<br />
Just that it was not Alzheimer's, for<br />
which there are drug therapies, but<br />
vascular/mixed dementia for which<br />
there was no treatment.<br />
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Where was the sun when you needed<br />
it, to guide you on your way, because,<br />
for me this was a very grey day? The<br />
situation with his stoma and bag<br />
drifted into my background. I still<br />
dealt with what was needed, still<br />
hated it, and the smell of everything.<br />
The BIG thing was DEMENTIA - oh,<br />
heck. Our lives were ruined.<br />
That's what I thought. It was the most<br />
horrid of times. I had seen people<br />
with end stage dementia, including<br />
my OH's sister, and also my Auntie,<br />
and also my friend's Mum. It was a<br />
horrible, nasty thing.<br />
Is that what was ahead of us? Two<br />
and a half years later, I do not really<br />
know. I can only write as I remember<br />
and recall this journey as it happens.<br />
March 2017<br />
I allowed for the fact that my OH was<br />
recovering, but he was so distant<br />
from what was happening to him.<br />
We kept the appointment at Tiverton<br />
Hospital, difficult to arrange as the<br />
doctor had advised OH not to drive<br />
and I had given up driving because<br />
of sight problems. We thought we<br />
would see some sort of practitioner<br />
who would give us the 'heads up' on<br />
what lay ahead, what we could do,<br />
what treatment, what to expect.<br />
There was no medical practitioner,<br />
just a very nice lady from the<br />
Alzheimer's Society who gave us<br />
some leaflets, and that was that.<br />
There are many different kinds of<br />
dementia, and some dementias are a<br />
mix of various kinds. It is highly likely<br />
that our experiences were ours alone,<br />
so I do not criticise the medics one<br />
iota. My overwhelming impression<br />
is that telling someone and their<br />
family that they have dementia is<br />
an every day occurrence for the<br />
professional - they forget that it is<br />
a once in a lifetime situation for the<br />
person with dementia. They do not<br />
offer help or hope or anything, or<br />
they did not to us - they are factual.<br />
I had expected that, as with many<br />
ailments, there would be follow up<br />
appointments, ongoing tests, and so<br />
on - but, no, it was almost "Go away<br />
and get on with it."<br />
I had seen<br />
people with end<br />
stage dementia<br />
... It was a<br />
horrible, nasty<br />
thing<br />
I wished there was some sort of<br />
publicity that would show us (for<br />
us read 'me') what to do. We kept<br />
many appointments at the Doctors<br />
about his physical condition, and<br />
invariably the conversation turned<br />
to the dementia - and some advice -<br />
the first thing was the driving license.<br />
OH could not be relied upon to drive<br />
a car safely - and this varies from<br />
person to person with dementia. I<br />
got the form from the DVLA and<br />
he tried to complete it - but it was<br />
nonsense!! He saw no reason not<br />
to drive, I was bemused, as I could<br />
not see a way around this without<br />
offending this life long driver.<br />
End of March 2017<br />
Various conversations, such as<br />
they were, made me realise that<br />
OH actually did not think there was<br />
anything wrong with him. It was not<br />
him being awkward, it is a condition.<br />
It seems because the right frontal<br />
lobe of his brain had atrophied, the<br />
left side was taking charge as it were,<br />
and told him he was fine - this is still<br />
the case, and it causes me no end<br />
of difficulties. Anyway, long story<br />
short - he lost his driving license and<br />
believed it was because he had had<br />
the operation on his colon - so be it!<br />
Here we are in a lovely village, with<br />
a 3 hourly bus service between 2<br />
points, and no car. As I write it is<br />
Good Friday tomorrow - and the 4<br />
day weekend. On 3 of those days there<br />
are no buses. So the thought of "It's<br />
a nice day, let's go to Lyme Regis" is<br />
completely beyond us. Mind you, it's<br />
beyond us any day of the year, as the<br />
one bus does not go to Lyme Regis!<br />
It's amazing how one can adapt when<br />
one has to - two of my best friends<br />
now are the Postman and the Tesco<br />
delivery person - they bring all we<br />
need to our front door.<br />
How to tell family and friends, about<br />
the dementia... that was the question.<br />
Many people had thought there was<br />
something wrong, and this was the<br />
confirmation. But, you know what?<br />
So many people think dementia is<br />
"just being a bit forgetful" - but is<br />
isn't, it is so much more - it is the<br />
loss of the person you knew and the<br />
learning to live with someone who is<br />
not them, but looks like them - it's<br />
strange and very upsetting.<br />
9th April 2017<br />
Some of my OH's family were great,<br />
others were much less so. His step<br />
sister and her husband, came down<br />
with both OH's son and ex wife, while<br />
we organised the Lasting Power of<br />
Attorney forms.<br />
I cannot stress how important this<br />
is. We did it only 2 months after the<br />
diagnosis, and I thought we would<br />
not need it for years. But I was wrong,<br />
we are already using it.<br />
continued<br />
CONTENTS<br />
PEOPLE HOME WEBSITE<br />
& GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 143 143<br />
hubcast
ME, HIM AND DEMENTIA ...continued<br />
So, if a family member has recently<br />
been diagnosed with dementia, do<br />
sort the Power of Attorney out. It's<br />
not that difficult and you can do it<br />
without paying expensive lawyers<br />
fees - we did. The thing to remember<br />
with PoA is that it has to be done<br />
whilst the person concerned, in this<br />
case my OH, still has 'Capacity' - that<br />
is a legal term that means, still has<br />
enough brain functioning so that<br />
they understand exactly what the<br />
PoA is all about . If one tries to take<br />
out PoA after this stage has passed,<br />
then it has to go before the Courts<br />
and can make a difficult situation<br />
even more difficult. So, we sorted<br />
that whilst family were down, and<br />
we sold the car. End of an era.<br />
We (again, I mean "I" as in myself) but<br />
when one is part of a twosome, one<br />
automatically uses "We" doesn't one?<br />
So, we were functioning on a greatly<br />
reduced income as I had to stop work<br />
to look after my OH. His brother<br />
helped us out at one point and we<br />
bumbled along until I had the mental<br />
strength to start looking at finances<br />
and what we were entitled to.<br />
So many people<br />
think dementia<br />
is "just being a<br />
bit forgetful"<br />
There is help out there, and, if, like<br />
us, you have paid into the system<br />
by way of taxes, well, I feel we are<br />
entitled to what help is available. It's<br />
not easy to find your way, again, no<br />
satnav, no road map and no sun in<br />
the sky. It is all trial and error, and<br />
we both did plenty of that.<br />
I recall just after his operation, he<br />
stood to put his coat on completely<br />
forgetting that he had lost 57 lb in<br />
weight. He put his jacket on, reached<br />
up for his scarf (it was still chilly) and<br />
his cord pants fell down round his<br />
ankles. I laughed and laughed, he<br />
looked so funny standing there! But,<br />
over time one learns what one can<br />
laugh at and what one cannot.<br />
The next part of the journey will take<br />
me through finances from secure<br />
to very bad, and for the sun in the<br />
skies when things finally got put<br />
into place, because we finally had a<br />
satnav called Attendance Allowance.<br />
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144 144 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
save-your-time.co.uk<br />
Writer and Social Media Strategist Kim is a mum of two with her own<br />
freelance social media consultancy. Living and working remotely in the<br />
South Hams. Here are her reflections on living in Devon and working<br />
remotely - with tips on how we can switch off and enjoy the summer.<br />
THE DEVONSHIRE MUM<br />
Kim Willis, Writer, Social Media Strategist<br />
Hello, it’s lovely to be here!<br />
This is my first column for<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> Digital Magazine, and I<br />
look forward to sharing the juggle of<br />
parenting, working, rural challenges<br />
and local gems to visit. I love South<br />
Devon especially in <strong>June</strong> – it’s the best<br />
time of the year while the fox gloves<br />
are flowering in the hedgerows - but<br />
before it gets too busy. I don’t think<br />
there is a county in England that can<br />
boast half as much beauty as Devon<br />
but then I’m biased – probably just<br />
like you!<br />
I spend nearly half my life driving<br />
my two children to various activities<br />
all in our local towns of Kingsbridge<br />
and sometimes if I’m lucky Salcombe<br />
where I kid myself that I’ll get time<br />
to go to the shops and hang out as<br />
if I’m on holiday – have a coffee and<br />
a quick shop, but the reality is that<br />
we are generally running late and<br />
then we have to get back to the car<br />
park or do the parking ticket gamble.<br />
Last night though we did manage<br />
are just not allowed anywhere near<br />
them unless you promise to park half<br />
a mile down the road…<br />
The move to secondary has been<br />
hanging over me like a dark cloud ever<br />
since the start of year six. He’s more<br />
than ready for it and is desperate<br />
to join his big sister and get the<br />
A bit about me, I’m Kim and I live in<br />
deepest South Devon (not quite at the<br />
most southerly point that’s East Prawle<br />
just down the road) mum of two, wife<br />
of one, part time owner of two cats<br />
and a full time very crazy Sprollie in<br />
quite possibly one of the remotest<br />
parts of South Devon - near Start<br />
Point Light house. Which is well<br />
worth a visit if you haven’t been.<br />
We used to have the beam of the<br />
lighthouse sweep over our garden<br />
until they upgraded and revamped<br />
the lamp in the lighthouse last winter.<br />
We can hear the sea in Start Bay down<br />
at the lost village of Hallsands when<br />
there is an Easterly wind blowing.<br />
We get excited when we see cars<br />
and when it’s summer or the sun is<br />
out the ‘main road’ to the lighthouse<br />
which also takes us to civilization gets<br />
really busy, like we have to reverse<br />
15 billion times just to get to our<br />
local village.<br />
It’s all change for us this year as<br />
the youngest is transitioning to<br />
secondary school in September<br />
to combine a Scout litter pick and a<br />
trip to the fabulous Winking Prawn<br />
at North Sands. Which was a bit of<br />
a win-win.<br />
But it’s all change for us this year<br />
as the youngest is transitioning to<br />
secondary school in September - he<br />
can’t wait, but for me it’s the end<br />
of an era. I know the last half of<br />
Summer term is going to fly past.<br />
I’m feeling sad that it’s the end of<br />
primary school - that lovely safe<br />
environment where I know their<br />
friends and teachers and I see my<br />
friends at school pick-ups. Because<br />
let’s face it at secondary school you<br />
mobile phone and the upgrade of<br />
freedom that you get when you start<br />
secondary school. The Instagram<br />
account and the choice of everything<br />
for school lunch, playing sport every<br />
lunchtime and having a structured<br />
timetable. I think it will be easier<br />
letting go this time compared to last<br />
but I know there will be tears at the<br />
leavers assembly (from me!) because I<br />
remember what it was like last time!<br />
I still can’t listen to ‘September Song’<br />
– two years on!<br />
I’ll also be losing my four(!) commutes<br />
walking up the hill to drop at and<br />
meet the school bus, now it will be<br />
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 145 145
THE DEVONSHIRE MUM COLUMN ...continued<br />
back to two which means I’ll also be losing<br />
about 3,500 steps a day too!<br />
Kim's top tips to switch off<br />
The other half of my life I spend at my desk.<br />
I run a Social Media Consultancy called Save<br />
Your Time specialising in Strategic Social Media<br />
and Facebook/Instagram Adverts. I also write<br />
for a few clients which I love doing and I have<br />
interviewed all kinds of interesting people my<br />
favourite so far: Mariella Frostrup on her BBC<br />
series Bringing Up Britain.<br />
I’m kind of slightly addicted to finding new<br />
and innovative ways to do things efficiently<br />
and digitally and so consequently spend a<br />
lot of my time online; my clients are all over<br />
the UK and Devon, so it’s hard to disconnect<br />
as we get more and more connected in our<br />
digital world. I have to be quite strict about<br />
my work-life boundaries and I used to be<br />
really bad at switching off – ask any member<br />
of my family! But I have been managing my<br />
time better and I have come to realise that<br />
when you are a freelancer and run your own<br />
business - the work never ends. You have to<br />
set yourself boundaries and declare what job<br />
done looks like at the end of the day. I now<br />
follow some really hard and fast rules and I<br />
am TRYING to get my children on board with<br />
a couple of these too!<br />
I’ll be back in September for some tips to<br />
keep your children safe online. But in the<br />
meantime, don’t forget to switch off and<br />
have a lovely Summer! And enjoy those long<br />
summer evenings, beach BBQ’s, get paddling<br />
and make those memories.<br />
You’ll find Kim trying to switch off on her<br />
paddleboard at her secret local beach, walking<br />
the south west coast path, juggling holiday<br />
cottages, children and also online.<br />
Kim Willis<br />
Follow me:<br />
@devonlysocial<br />
@LamacraftFarmCottages<br />
@saveyourtimepa<br />
• Avoid work/life blur and understand that the<br />
work never ends so decide your own deadlines<br />
and set your own finish time for the day.<br />
• Don’t let technology rule you. Use it to help<br />
you but don’t let it lead you. Don’t charge<br />
your phone in your bedroom and use it as<br />
an alarm clock. Put your phone out of sight<br />
in the evening when you are eating dinner or<br />
watching TV or use do not disturb/flight mode.<br />
• Stop the relentless scrolling and also ask<br />
yourself if you really need to consume as<br />
much news and social media updates as you<br />
are. Refocus on what you need to know.<br />
• Accountability is great. If you are trying<br />
to switch off then tell your children or<br />
partner, give them permission to call you<br />
out on it if you do start working…<br />
• Don’t be afraid to switch off, seriously it’s very<br />
unlikely that you will have a work emergency and<br />
do people really expect you to deal with things<br />
late at night? Don’t let fear keep you switched on.<br />
• The internet is a vast rabbit hole of time and<br />
space and you can start doing one thing,<br />
and get completely distracted by another<br />
so notice when this is happening to you.<br />
• Use your phone's technology to limit<br />
what it tells you. Check in with your email<br />
to suit you a couple of times a day and<br />
turn off notifications on your phone and<br />
get your children to do the same!<br />
• Finally, try paddle boarding, it’s amazing<br />
how much you can switch off whilst<br />
paddling and there is absolutely no<br />
way you’ll have your phone out!<br />
146 146 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
ichmondindependent.co.uk<br />
Helen has been advising clients in the East Devon for the past 27 years<br />
and specialises in the provision of retirement and investment advice.<br />
MANAGING YOUR MONEY<br />
Helen Mulvaney BA (Hons), Dip M, DipPFS<br />
Proprietor: Richmond Independent<br />
There’s no denying it; many people are actively<br />
considering and requiring “greener” investment<br />
solutions.<br />
Recent media coverage of our<br />
planet’s problems surrounding<br />
climate change and the massive<br />
plastic mountains which are ruining<br />
our natural world seem never ending.<br />
Indeed, this week it was reported<br />
on the news that an explorer who<br />
broke the record for the deepest-ever<br />
dive found a plastic bag and sweet<br />
"the hardest thing in<br />
the world to understand<br />
is income tax"<br />
Albert Einstein<br />
wrappers on the seabed; so even<br />
the furthest corners of our planet<br />
are already sullied. Coupled with<br />
this, is the inexorable data about our<br />
loss of species and natural habitat<br />
which can make the whole matter<br />
overwhelming and depressing to<br />
say the least.<br />
Those who are green minded want<br />
to take more responsibility in the way<br />
they lead their lives by minimising<br />
waste and looking to keep personal<br />
levels of pollution as low as possible.<br />
These can be wide ranging actions,<br />
from avoiding air travel to simply<br />
walking to the shops instead of<br />
taking the car, from making sure<br />
that everything is recycled to buying<br />
green energy. This way of thinking is<br />
translating into how some individuals<br />
want to invest their money. Put in<br />
a nutshell prospective investors<br />
sometimes simply state that they<br />
want to avoid environmental harm.<br />
Over recent years, demand has<br />
grown from a distinctly fringe<br />
offering to a much more mainstream<br />
movement, much along the lines<br />
of the demonstrations and media<br />
coverage on the subject. The green<br />
investment movement has grown<br />
recently to the extent that the<br />
Investment Association is discussing*<br />
the possibility of a new sector for<br />
these types of investment along the<br />
lines of an Environmental, Social and<br />
Governance sector. For some time,<br />
Richmond Independent has asked<br />
clients about how important this<br />
might be to them and new regulation**<br />
would appear to make this a new<br />
imperative. In the past, there was<br />
little choice in this area*** and the<br />
distinct probability of smaller returns<br />
(mainly due to screening out companies).<br />
Most of the problem with this<br />
investment sector is that there is,<br />
unfortunately, a very wide range<br />
of issues to consider and different<br />
approaches to these within funds.<br />
Some funds simply screen out<br />
harmful or maybe unethical or<br />
polluting businesses. Others might<br />
invest in those which are looking to<br />
actively promote greener solutions,<br />
e.g. developing alternative energy<br />
supplies, alternatives to plastics. Some<br />
may look at companies which trade<br />
as greenly as possible and actively be<br />
looking to reduce waste and pollution.<br />
In the past, ethical investments has<br />
largely meant screening out tobacco,<br />
alcohol and armaments and these<br />
are still important considerations<br />
for some managers and investors.<br />
But there has been a progression.<br />
Historically there have been green<br />
funds e.g. reducing greenhouse gases<br />
and ethical funds e.g. excluding<br />
armaments manufacture but there<br />
is emerging a more rounded approach.<br />
Environmental Social and<br />
Governance (known as ESG) might<br />
be described as follows:-<br />
1. Environmental - taking into<br />
account climate change,<br />
greenhouse emissions, renewable<br />
energy, resource depletion, waste<br />
and pollution and deforestation<br />
2. Social - working conditions,<br />
local communities, conflict,<br />
health and safety, employee<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 147 147
MONEY MATTERS ...continued<br />
relations and diversity<br />
3. Governance - executive pay,<br />
bribery and corruption, political<br />
lobbying and broad diversity.<br />
Firstly, the Governance aspect of<br />
these funds appears to be a positive<br />
to companies, because having robust<br />
governance means businesses are<br />
less likely to get into severe problems<br />
and managers tend to be better<br />
custodians of shareholder capital.<br />
Also as public awareness and opinion<br />
are heightened there is an increased<br />
demand from the public for greener<br />
more socially aware practices. Doing<br />
business with these principles in<br />
mind means businesses may be able<br />
to differentiate themselves from<br />
competitors; forward thinking<br />
businesses will start to think this way<br />
and could become more profitable.<br />
This type of thinking may also start<br />
to lead to using more technology<br />
and therefore reducing unnecessary<br />
waste and for companies to be<br />
generally more forward thinking in<br />
their decision-making. Also dirty<br />
and polluting situations may lead to<br />
taxation issues which could weigh<br />
down on some businesses.<br />
However, for the time being there<br />
is room for confusion even among<br />
ESG funds as they seem to be doing<br />
a range of different things; but for<br />
investors this does at least offer<br />
alternatives and will answer some<br />
of their needs. This is a sector at a<br />
reasonably early stage (although it`s<br />
been around since the 80s but not<br />
taken off until recently) so there is<br />
plenty to discuss with prospective<br />
investors and time for the sector to<br />
develop and mature.<br />
Helen Mulvaney<br />
Contact me:<br />
helen@richmond-ifa.com<br />
01395 512166<br />
This article is purely for information<br />
purposes and does not constitute advice,<br />
for advice based on your individual needs<br />
and circumstances please contact an<br />
independent financial adviser.<br />
* According to FT Adviser 04/04/20<strong>19</strong><br />
** European Commission’s Delegated<br />
Regulation (EU) 2017/565)<br />
*** There have been numerous fund launches<br />
recently to meet increased customer<br />
demand - FT Adviser 20<strong>19</strong>.<br />
A point of view!<br />
by JOHN FISHER<br />
Please don’t shoot the<br />
messengers<br />
SUDDENLY IT SEEMS, our news<br />
is filled with dire warnings about<br />
the future of the planet, our natural<br />
environment, man’s impact on it and<br />
what we - including the good folk of<br />
Devon - need to do to bring about change,<br />
without any of us becoming fed up with<br />
the whole uncomfortable subject.<br />
It was 71 years ago this January that<br />
Mahatma Gandhi delivered what was<br />
an equally uncomfortable message for<br />
some, on the subject of his nation’s<br />
independence. Famously, he was a man<br />
of peace and advocated non-violent<br />
demonstration as a means of protest. His<br />
overriding message was simple. “YOU<br />
must be the change you wish to see in the<br />
world”. He was assassinated for what<br />
he did and what he said yet it is not by<br />
chance that the United Nations observe<br />
International Day of Non-Violence each<br />
2nd of October, his birthday.<br />
Now there are ‘eco-demonstrators’<br />
out there. They come from all age<br />
groups, genders, ethnicities and social<br />
backgrounds. Their recent co-ordinated<br />
actions in stopping traffic in city centres<br />
around the globe by peaceful means were<br />
designed to lift climate change higher-up<br />
the news agenda and bring the subject<br />
into sharper focus. They were dubbed<br />
“anarchists” by one significant section<br />
of the UK’s press.<br />
Yet their message was the self same<br />
one that was delivered by the UN’s<br />
appointed Intergovernmental Panel on<br />
Climate Change (IPCC). It said that<br />
“reducing global warming by half a degree<br />
to 1.5ºC will require rapid, far-reaching<br />
and unprecedented changes in all aspects<br />
of society with clear benefits to people and<br />
natural ecosystems”.<br />
It was Gandhi again who said, “What we<br />
are doing to the forests of the world, is but<br />
a mirror reflection of what we are doing to<br />
ourselves and to one another.” What would<br />
his message be for today we wonder?<br />
“The best time to plant a forest was 20 years<br />
ago, the second best time is now!”<br />
148 148 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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advert. Just email your answer<br />
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RICHMOND<br />
INDEPENDENT<br />
richmondindependent.co.uk<br />
PROPRIETOR<br />
HELEN MULVANEY<br />
BA(HONS), Dip M, DipPFS<br />
Tel. 01395 512166<br />
Beech Royd Bennetts Hill<br />
Sidmouth Devon<br />
Richmond Independent<br />
is a trading name of<br />
Investment and Financial<br />
Solutions Partnership LLP<br />
which is authorised and<br />
regulated by the Financial<br />
Conduct Authority<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 149 149
thedevonshireeccentric<br />
Colin, following in the footsteps of the ancient poets, blind-foldedly,<br />
invites his readers to join an honest and engaging conversation with<br />
him, a human, fascinated with the world around him, with a gift of<br />
poetic expression. He is at ease with his words …" - The Eccentric Club<br />
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN<br />
AN ESCAPE ARTIST<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> Eccentric - Colin Shaddick - Nil Nisi Bonum<br />
To this day there’s no exact definition to classify<br />
someone as an eccentric, and there are no limits to<br />
the many different facets of an eccentric person's<br />
expression.<br />
Until there is a scientific answer<br />
to this conundrum, many people<br />
are definitely interested in finding<br />
out for themselves what an eccentric<br />
person is. So, I have included a list of<br />
some of the common traits that could<br />
help, or possibly hinder, the process<br />
of identifying and understanding<br />
these individuals.<br />
Traits of an Eccentric<br />
Person<br />
One psychologist, Dr. David Weeks,<br />
believes there are around 15<br />
characteristics that can distinguish<br />
a normal person from an eccentric<br />
individual.<br />
According to Dr. Weeks, the first 5<br />
attributes in the following list are<br />
present in every eccentric person:<br />
1. Nonconforming<br />
2. Creative<br />
3. Strongly motivated by curiosity<br />
4. Idealistic; he/she wants to make<br />
the world a better place and the<br />
people in it happier<br />
5. Happily obsessed with hobbies<br />
(usually, five or six)<br />
6. Not interested in the company<br />
or opinions of others<br />
7. Knowing since childhood that he<br />
or she is different from others<br />
8. Opinionated and outspoken;<br />
believing that I am always right,<br />
and the rest of the world is wrong<br />
9. Single<br />
10. Usually the only child or the<br />
eldest child<br />
11. Unusual in eating habits and<br />
living arrangements<br />
12. Possessed of a mischievous sense<br />
of humour<br />
13. Bad spleler<br />
14. Noncompetitive, and not needing<br />
reassurance from society<br />
15. Intelligent<br />
Fellow Travellers<br />
When I was very young<br />
I didn’t relate well to<br />
fellow travellers.<br />
I’d spend a lot of time<br />
alone.<br />
I’d cry a lot.<br />
And after a while<br />
my tears began to comfort me.<br />
My tears warmed me.<br />
Tears were all I needed.<br />
They became friends,<br />
and I made a lot of new friends<br />
every day.<br />
The world thinks eccentricity in<br />
great things is genius, but in small<br />
things, only crazy.<br />
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton<br />
150 150 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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There are also other common traits<br />
describing the nature of these people.<br />
They show compassion, are geniuses<br />
and intelligent, preoccupied with a<br />
purpose in their life, and analytical.<br />
However, some are notorious for<br />
their quirky, cranky, bizarre, erratic,<br />
or weird behaviour.<br />
Well, on first reading, all that stuff<br />
appears to be a bit rigid and totally<br />
boring. I hate to think of myself as a<br />
word ‘good’ is used. The question is so<br />
complex. It could have taken forever<br />
to attempt to come to a suitable<br />
definition.<br />
I must admit though, that I found<br />
this question very amusing. Was<br />
the enquirer expecting me to<br />
say something like, ‘A really good<br />
eccentric would be someone who<br />
always travels on public transport<br />
with a pigeon attached to his/her<br />
easy songs to write. If only I could<br />
express myself as well as William<br />
Blake does in the following poem:<br />
Infant Sorrow<br />
My mother groand! my father wept.<br />
Into the dangerous world I leapt:<br />
Helpless, naked, piping loud;<br />
Like a fiend hid in a cloud.<br />
Struggling in my fathers hands:<br />
Striving against my swaddling bands:<br />
Bound and weary I thought best<br />
To sulk upon my mothers breast.<br />
Some people never go crazy.<br />
What truly horrible lives they<br />
must live.<br />
Charles Bukowski<br />
Anyway here is the second song,<br />
warts and all.<br />
Freedom Wears a<br />
Frown<br />
set of numbers on a list; I have always<br />
been classed as an enigma, and I’ve<br />
bobbed and weaved my way through<br />
life in order to avoid the people who<br />
quickly pin labels on others.<br />
But, to be quite honest with you,<br />
when I look at that list for a second<br />
time, I can clearly see that I display<br />
several of the attributes on the list. I<br />
love photography and I have always<br />
drooled over the look of, and the<br />
beautiful pictorial quality of, Leica<br />
cameras. I don’t own a Leica because<br />
they’re so expensive, but I can’t stop<br />
thinking about them, day and night.<br />
I would say that this qualifies as an<br />
obsession. How annoying!<br />
To start to tackle the issue of what<br />
an eccentric is, I’d like to in respond<br />
to an interesting question that was<br />
recently thrown at me. Here it is:<br />
What makes a good<br />
eccentric?<br />
This is a difficult one. Firstly, one has<br />
to define the context in which the<br />
head.’ On giving it further thought<br />
I gave my, probably tedious, answer,<br />
which was:<br />
‘A good eccentric is an eccentric who does<br />
no harm. To me, eccentricity only exists<br />
in the minds of others. Most eccentrics<br />
do not, in the first instance, realise they<br />
are eccentric.’<br />
In my opinion one is either born an<br />
eccentric, or not. True eccentrics<br />
cannot be made. Yes, ones behaviour<br />
can be changed in some way, due to<br />
trauma for instance, but funny hats<br />
and false noses do not an eccentric<br />
make.<br />
I’m often asked questions about my<br />
life and I don’t usually relish the<br />
thought of being honest. But, as this<br />
column is to be about myself and<br />
eccentricity in general, I will do my<br />
best to be open and truthful.<br />
I have included a couple of poems<br />
in this article. They are about being<br />
honest and how it could affect the<br />
way in which people see me. Basically<br />
they are songs to myself. They weren’t<br />
Don’t be afraid to break the silence<br />
It can always be repaired<br />
Tears and fears and twisted dreams<br />
Fade once they are shared<br />
Some thoughts are hard to handle<br />
Some truths will cut you down<br />
Peace don’t come around for nothin’<br />
Even freedom wears a frown<br />
Hollows left by emotions<br />
Can sometimes turn to pools<br />
Other times, fill with rocks and dust:<br />
A footpath for the fools<br />
From Self-Loathing to Self-Love<br />
Is a journey through many states<br />
Release the pain, it ain’t worth dying<br />
Kick open them exit gates<br />
Thermals of personal opinions blow<br />
Rise above them like a bird<br />
Blame is a game that shouldn’t be played<br />
There’s so much power in a word.<br />
Colin Shaddick<br />
Follow me:<br />
@devonshireeccentric<br />
@colinshaddick<br />
@<strong>Devonshire</strong>mag<br />
CONTENTS<br />
PEOPLE HOME WEBSITE<br />
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LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 151 151<br />
hubcast
thefibroclinicsouthwest.co.uk<br />
Jok has a life time’s experience of working in business and therapy as<br />
a Neuro Linguistic Progamming (NLP) Practitioner in Devon. In recent<br />
years she re-trained in Pain Management and Mindfulness, opening<br />
her clinic.<br />
MINDLESSNESS OR MINDFULNESS?<br />
Jok Saunders, Mindfulness Coach<br />
It’s estimated that we let our minds wander<br />
aimlessly for about 50% of our waking moments<br />
either ruminating about the past or projecting into<br />
the future with what if’s.<br />
Added to this, time gets swallowed<br />
up as we go about our day in and<br />
out of auto-pilot where we become<br />
mindlessly unaware of what we are<br />
doing.<br />
Have you ever set off on a journey<br />
and arrived at your destination only<br />
to realise you have no recollection<br />
of travelling, but you got there all<br />
the same and your presence of mind<br />
returns?<br />
You flip in and out of these rare<br />
mindful moments where you are fully<br />
engaged in your present experience,<br />
you feel aware of some of your senses<br />
and the environment around you but<br />
before you know it you’re back in<br />
habitual auto-pilot. We return to our<br />
lives lived inside our heads, mindlessly<br />
lost in thought with endless internal<br />
chatter about what needs to be done<br />
and how we’re going to accomplish it.<br />
Attention is soon absorbed by all this<br />
clutter and it’s usually accompanied<br />
by the inner critic whispering garbage<br />
at you and overloading us with stress.<br />
Sound familiar?<br />
We all know the mind body connection<br />
and that too much stress leads to<br />
poor health. The thing is the mind<br />
is really good at shaping itself to<br />
what it already knows and to what<br />
it is given. The mind will only go in<br />
the direction you tell it to go, so you<br />
need to make sure you are going in the<br />
right direction. Don’t misunderstand<br />
me; there are a lot of great ideas that<br />
emerge from all types of thinking<br />
but if you’re going to spend a lot of<br />
time in your head then it needs to<br />
be a good place to be.<br />
Mindfulness can be<br />
practised anywhere and<br />
all you need is yourself<br />
Types of Mindfulness and meditations<br />
have been practised in different<br />
cultures for thousands of years and<br />
it’s now internationally recognised<br />
in many organisations to include<br />
health, education and business. The<br />
beauty of Mindfulness is that it can be<br />
practised anywhere and all you need<br />
is yourself, an intention with a desire<br />
to see life with a fresh perspective.<br />
Start with a beginner’s mind and be<br />
curious to what might enfold. The<br />
intention is to withhold judgement,<br />
the need to label and simply let<br />
your awareness begin to show up.<br />
Mindfulness teaches us to stay<br />
in touch with our values and the<br />
environment, it will remind you to<br />
notice when you’re going off course<br />
and learn to respond rather than<br />
react.<br />
Consistent practice allows you to<br />
be the observer of your thoughts,<br />
emotions and sense perceptions<br />
as they arise but without having<br />
to get caught up and swept away<br />
by them. Becoming the observer<br />
re-trains the brain and we are less<br />
likely to play out old habitual ways<br />
of thinking, opening up choice and<br />
a new freedom in our lives. Give it a<br />
try and enjoy the moment!<br />
Jok Saunders<br />
152 152 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
to life. It’s great to see their thirst for<br />
knowledge ignite. You can almost see<br />
their brains ticking over.”<br />
Photo by Guy Newman/KOR Communications<br />
Milk, Muck and Minibeasts<br />
Following the workshops at Dalditch<br />
Farm, which are run by staff from the<br />
Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust,<br />
Clinton Devon Estates and a keen<br />
band of volunteers, the second part<br />
of the scheme involves the children<br />
planning and creating project work.<br />
The final part is an awards evening<br />
at Bicton Arena in July, where the<br />
projects will be judged and the<br />
winning school presented with a<br />
wooden kingfisher trophy, books<br />
and prize money.<br />
The link between earthworms and<br />
milk production, what makes farms<br />
organic, and the role moths play in<br />
pollination are among the many<br />
insights gained by 240 East Devon<br />
primary school children taking<br />
part in this year’s Kingfisher Award<br />
Scheme.<br />
Now in its 26th year, the educational<br />
farming initiative offers young people<br />
across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset<br />
and Wiltshire the opportunity to<br />
find out about the vital relationship<br />
between food production, farming<br />
and Devon’s wildlife through<br />
hands-on experiential learning. More<br />
than 12,000 children have taken part<br />
since its inception.<br />
Over four days this May (21-24)<br />
children from Budleigh Salterton,<br />
Exmouth, Feniton and Broadclyst<br />
primary schools, donned their<br />
wellies and took part in a series of<br />
workshops to learn about milk, soil<br />
and pollinators, exploring the theme<br />
“Milk, Muck and Minibeasts”.<br />
Sixty year five children from St Peter’s<br />
Church of England Primary School<br />
in Budleigh Salterton were among<br />
those taking part in the scheme.<br />
Henry Lees, 10, said: “I’ve learnt so<br />
much already, like how worms help keep<br />
air and moisture in the soil which helps<br />
the grass grow for the cows. It made me<br />
think that all farms should be organic.”<br />
“We can’t live without insects, like worms<br />
and moths, so we should take care of them,”<br />
said Abbi James, 10, after the field day.<br />
Their teacher Kelly Back, said: “The<br />
scheme brings the children’s learning<br />
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PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 153 153
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
Do you care deeply<br />
about the environment?<br />
Are you an exceptional person<br />
with a professional background?<br />
Time on your hands and<br />
want to make a difference?<br />
We’re looking for someone with energy, drive and ability to help us push this scheme<br />
out across Devon. Perhaps you have a day a week available, or a couple of mornings<br />
(or more?) and would like to contribute in terms of creating and implementing<br />
ways to promote and forge links with organisations across Devon, and help with<br />
our general strategy for Proud to be Green. You may occasionally be required to<br />
meet heads of organisations, attend meetings, etc. fuel is covered. This position is<br />
voluntary.<br />
Contact Nigel Jones on 01395 513383 or nigel@proudtobegreen.org<br />
www.proudtobegreen.org<br />
154 154 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
HOME AND<br />
GARDEN<br />
155<br />
What's in this section...<br />
Thatching Nelson's Column But Here's The Thing<br />
Roses<br />
Cadhay Allotments<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
155
THATCH FIRE PROTECTION<br />
& CONSERVATION<br />
Chris Hammett, Thatching Advisory Services<br />
156 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
There is nothing more quintessentially English<br />
than a thatched cottage in the country<br />
Prospective owners of thatched<br />
houses often believe that owning<br />
a thatched property is expensive,<br />
has an increased risk of fire and<br />
requires constant attention. This is<br />
not the case.<br />
Safety measures<br />
Statistically, homes with thatched<br />
roofs are no more likely to catch<br />
fire than those with conventional<br />
roofs. The majority of thatched home<br />
owners recognise the responsibility<br />
that comes with owning a thatched<br />
property and take measures to reduce<br />
the risk of fire.<br />
Building Regulations call for specialist<br />
fire barriers on new build properties<br />
and extensions, with many architects<br />
insisting on treating the thatch with<br />
a fire retardant as an additional<br />
precaution. These safety measures<br />
can also be carried out on many<br />
existing thatched properties.<br />
A very long Devon<br />
longhouse, an ecologically<br />
friendly marriage of cob<br />
and thatch.<br />
If you are considering buying a<br />
thatched property, ask the owner<br />
who their thatcher is and when work<br />
was last carried out on the roof.<br />
The knowledge of a local thatcher<br />
is invaluable. If the property has a<br />
wood burner, it is imperative the<br />
appliance is served by a suitable liner,<br />
swept regularly and the correct fuel<br />
used - seasoned wood is a must.<br />
When seeking home insurance, a<br />
number of specialist insurance<br />
companies reward their policy holders<br />
if they take a proactive approach to<br />
minimise the risk of fire by reducing<br />
the premium. This approach is usually<br />
with the installation of fire barriers,<br />
which sit on top of the rafters beneath<br />
the thatch. This in most cases will<br />
offer 30 - 60 minutes protection<br />
to the building depending on the<br />
product used.<br />
Fire prevention<br />
In the unlikely event of a fire, the<br />
damage from both fire and water is<br />
minimised if there is a fire barrier<br />
present or the thatch has been treated<br />
with a fire retardant. The thatch is<br />
always considered sacrificial in the<br />
event of a fire. From a fire-fighting<br />
perspective, it’s people first, property<br />
second.<br />
Conservation issues<br />
If you are buying or considering a selfbuild<br />
or refurbishment project and the<br />
building is listed, a barn conversion<br />
may have potential conservation<br />
issues - e.g. bats. Natural England,<br />
English Heritage, conservation and<br />
listed buildings personnel may well<br />
be involved. This doesn’t mean a wall<br />
Hayes Barton,<br />
Sir Walter Raleigh's<br />
boyhood home.<br />
of bureaucratic red tape. The right<br />
team of professionals will liaise with<br />
these organisations, work alongside<br />
them and offer advice on the most<br />
suitable materials for the entire roof<br />
make-up.<br />
A refurbishment project is not for<br />
everyone and fortunately new build<br />
thatched properties are on the<br />
increase. The inclusion of thatched<br />
roofs on new developments has<br />
proved tremendously popular and<br />
provided new unique thatched<br />
properties in stunning locations.<br />
Sustainability<br />
Sustainability is often a key objective<br />
in building and construction. As<br />
the need for sustainability grows,<br />
developers and architects are turning<br />
to thatch as the material of choice.<br />
Thatch is a sustainable material<br />
with excellent thermal properties,<br />
has a low-carbon footprint and is<br />
environmentally friendly. Thatch<br />
is easily grown and harvested, very<br />
often in rural communities who<br />
in turn benefit from the work and<br />
revenue generated.<br />
It is often said thatch is making a<br />
comeback - it has never been away.<br />
Chris Hammett<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
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157
HOME DESIGN BUSINESSES<br />
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158 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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A point of view!<br />
by JOHN FISHER<br />
I’ll be a monkey’s uncle<br />
IN A RARE MOVE TO PAMPER<br />
MYSELF I abandon our local<br />
supermarket’s own-brand shaving gel<br />
(£1.05) and treat myself instead to a<br />
more up-market one on the self above<br />
(£2.75) and labelled ‘SENSITIVE’.<br />
Later, when the thick, surplus white<br />
gloop in the sink floats around the<br />
plughole like so much beef dripping<br />
(instead of dissolving nicely as my old one<br />
did) I read the contents printed on the<br />
side of the can. Too late. I have been<br />
caught out!<br />
I read the fine print on food labels<br />
in search of palm oil of course but<br />
had forgotten the loophole that many<br />
non-food manufacturers still hide<br />
behind. Labelling regulations in the<br />
EU require food products to clearly<br />
indicate that they contain palm oil<br />
but not so for non-food items such as<br />
cosmetics and cleaning products.<br />
High up there amongst my can’s 23<br />
listed ingredients is something called<br />
Isopropyl palmitate, which I learn<br />
from Google is “a colourless and almost<br />
odourless liquid substance made from<br />
palm oil and/or animal fats. Palm oil<br />
typically comes from palm trees which<br />
grow throughout tropical areas around the<br />
world”.<br />
Like Borneo for instance, where rain<br />
forest - habitat of the orangutan - is<br />
being destroyed by big business, to<br />
plant countless tens of thousands<br />
of acres of palm oil trees and the<br />
forest’s endangered species there are<br />
being pushed closer to extinction as a<br />
consequence.<br />
A wide range of chemical names may<br />
still be used to hide the use of palm<br />
oil. A quick check of your favourite<br />
search engine will turn up palm oilfree<br />
alternatives however.<br />
Isopropyl palmitate is now firmly<br />
on my radar along with the plight<br />
of my fourth closest cousins over<br />
there in Borneo, the orangutan - for<br />
whom his own close shave is come<br />
- as you may read at www.rainforestrescue.org/topics/palm-oil<br />
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PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
159
Bishops House<br />
Chagford, Dartmoor - note the<br />
fabulous jettied porch<br />
160 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
161
A point of view!<br />
by JOHN FISHER<br />
The plight of the<br />
humble bee<br />
ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE<br />
UK Devon’s native bee population<br />
has taken a hit over recent years and<br />
we now have to import some 65,000<br />
boxes of farmed bees from the continent<br />
each year to keep our fruit and<br />
vegetables growing.<br />
This, according to conservationists, is<br />
because we have lost 97 per cent of<br />
our flower-rich meadowland since the<br />
<strong>19</strong>30s. Flowers are food and drink to<br />
bees and a busy bee forager is only<br />
ever 40 minutes from starvation.<br />
PHOTO: Guerin Nicholas<br />
So planting nectar-rich flowers in our<br />
gardens and community spaces is<br />
important but so too is not to overmow<br />
green spaces and verges - giving<br />
wildflowers a chance to give bees a<br />
chance.<br />
Where have all the flowers gone?<br />
In order to produce one pound of<br />
honey, two million flowers must be<br />
visited. A hive of bees must fly 55,000<br />
miles to produce a pound of honey.<br />
One bee colony can produce 60 to 100<br />
pounds of honey per year. An average<br />
worker bee makes only about 1/12<br />
teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.<br />
Which brings us to those beautiful<br />
(but to some) pesky lawn dandelions<br />
(Taraxacum officinale). They appear<br />
early in the season and then make a<br />
comeback again in the autumn - a fact<br />
that makes them what has been called<br />
“The Pollinators Best Friend”.<br />
So pull them out if you must but how<br />
many of us know the young leaves<br />
are edible and loaded with vitamins<br />
and antioxidants, that the roots can be<br />
ground into a coffee substitute, and<br />
the flowers into wine? Well they can<br />
apparently, although having once<br />
tasted dandelion wine I think I still<br />
prefer to stick to something with a few<br />
grapes in it. All we are saying is give<br />
bees a chance. Cheers!<br />
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162 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
WOODLEY ’ S<br />
JOINERY LIMITED<br />
Exeter Road, Newton Poppleford, Devon EX10 0BJ<br />
www.woodleysjoinery.co.uk<br />
info@woodleysjoinery.co.uk 01395 568 666<br />
We Make Wood, Work<br />
Windows, Doors, Gates & Staircases are our speciality<br />
We’re a longstanding family run company that’s been operating<br />
from East Devon within the beautiful Otter Valley for almost a<br />
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money joinery to our trade, domestic & self-build customers.<br />
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01297 33839 / 07779 550 771<br />
www.hunthay.co.uk jenny@hunthay.co.uk<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
163
y JOHN FISHER<br />
A plogging we will go!<br />
PLASTIC PICK-UP GROUPS are in<br />
action all over Devon but have any of<br />
them tried plogging yet?<br />
Plogging combines jogging with picking<br />
up litter. It started as an organised<br />
activity in Sweden around 2016 and<br />
spread to other countries in 2018<br />
following increased concern about<br />
plastic pollution. (Swedish: plocka upp)<br />
As a workout, it provides variation in<br />
body movements by adding bending,<br />
squatting and stretching to the main<br />
action of running, hiking, or walking.<br />
One bright Green spark in Devon suggested<br />
recently that it ought to be put<br />
forward as an Olympic sport in the<br />
not too distant future.<br />
Or you can always join a gym of<br />
course, which will cost money - but<br />
you could still join but plog there and<br />
back.<br />
Seahorses<br />
A RARE BREED OF SEA-<br />
HORSE, more frequently found<br />
in the Mediterranean has been<br />
discovered off the coast of Devon<br />
amid coastal sea grass and<br />
identified at the National Marine<br />
Aquarium in Plymouth (NME)<br />
as Hippocampus Hippocampus<br />
- better known to its familiars as<br />
the Short Snouted Seahorse.<br />
Mark Parry, of the NME’s<br />
Community Seagrass Initiative,<br />
which covers a <strong>19</strong>1 mile stretch<br />
of coastline from Looe in Cornwall,<br />
to Weymouth in Dorset,<br />
said, “Seahorses were once common<br />
on the south coast but the rarity<br />
of this sighting is unfortunately a<br />
sign of how our ocean environments<br />
have changed”.<br />
“Seagrass meadows are home to<br />
some of the most charismatic species<br />
in the UK, including seahorses<br />
and cuttlefish and act as a nursery<br />
ground for commercial fish species.<br />
They can also improve water quality<br />
and stabilise sediments, reducing<br />
coastal erosion”.<br />
But before you embark on a<br />
seahorse hunt of your own this<br />
summer, checkout the web site<br />
of The Seahorse Trust based at<br />
Topsham, near Exeter which<br />
counsels that flashlight photography<br />
of them has been banned<br />
in this country since 2010 “on<br />
welfare grounds because it is harmful<br />
and does kill seahorses”.<br />
164 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Tel: 01395 263898<br />
Email: info@homesbydesignexmouth.co.uk<br />
KITCHENS BATHROOMS BEDROOMS<br />
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SHOWROOM AT: Salterton Units, Salterton Road, Exmouth EX8 2NS www.homesbydesignexmouth.co.uk<br />
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PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
165
y JOHN FISHER<br />
On the buses,<br />
<strong>19</strong><strong>19</strong>-20<strong>19</strong><br />
A GOOD YEAR FOR DEVON was<br />
<strong>19</strong><strong>19</strong>. It marked the launch of the<br />
Devon General Omnibus & Touring<br />
Company - 100 years old this August<br />
- but less so for the women who had<br />
been employed by the transport companies<br />
during the First World War.<br />
For although women<br />
had stepped into jobs in<br />
munitions factories or<br />
became railway guards,<br />
postal workers, police,<br />
firefighters, bank ‘tellers’<br />
and clerks - all on lower<br />
wages than men of course<br />
- ticket collectors on buses<br />
and trams were told to<br />
stand down in <strong>19</strong><strong>19</strong> as the<br />
troops came back from<br />
war to reclaim ‘men’s jobs’. Women<br />
were not allowed back ‘on the buses’<br />
again until WW2, still not as drivers<br />
but once more as ‘clippies’.<br />
Our thanks to the Chudleigh History<br />
Group who tell us that the first<br />
three buses to come into service with<br />
Devon General were named Sir Francis<br />
Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir<br />
John Hawkins.<br />
Their photograph is of Sir Walter Raleigh<br />
on the route that began from the<br />
depot in New North Road, Exeter to<br />
Newton Abbot via Chudleigh. Its livery<br />
was red with white relief, brown<br />
wheels and black chassis frames. In<br />
an age of<br />
large hats it’s<br />
also interesting<br />
to note<br />
that braving<br />
the top deck<br />
on that occasion<br />
were<br />
two ladies.<br />
Or was it<br />
cheaper perhaps<br />
to ride<br />
‘outside’ in<br />
those days?<br />
You wait 100 years and<br />
then dozens of ‘em come<br />
along at the same time on<br />
Sunday, 4th August next at<br />
Newton Abbot racecourse.<br />
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166 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Westgrove Joinery Limited<br />
Carpets | Karndean | Wood | Vinyls | Bespoke Rugs<br />
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From Inspiration to Installation<br />
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Proud<br />
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helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
A scheme to get<br />
everyone thinking<br />
and acting ‘Green’<br />
Now is the time to act, it’s never been more<br />
important for us all to take responsibility for<br />
our own environmental footprint. Please help<br />
us to achieve great change across Devon.<br />
WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP<br />
If you’re passionate about the environment and would like to help us push this<br />
scheme out across Devon, we’d love to talk to you. Please call 01395 513383<br />
or email: nigel@proudtobegreen.org to speak to Nigel Jones<br />
www.proudtobegreen.org<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
167
Free<br />
for RHS<br />
Members<br />
Rose Festival<br />
15 <strong>June</strong> - 21 July<br />
Including:<br />
Rose Weekend and Craft Market<br />
21 - 23 <strong>June</strong>, supported by AFWM<br />
Plus:<br />
Weekly floristry demonstrations<br />
Late evening opening until 9pm on<br />
selected dates in July<br />
Outdoor theatre 21 <strong>June</strong> & 10 July<br />
Summer garden trail includes many of the 2000 roses<br />
Come and enjoy the profusion of colour and scent in the<br />
largest rose gardens in the Southwest<br />
Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH. Tel 01805 626810<br />
Non-members can save 10%on garden admission by booking<br />
online at rhs.org.uk/rosemoor<br />
Your visit supports our work as a charity<br />
RHS Reg Charity No. 222879 / SC038262<br />
168 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Summer Events at<br />
ROSE WEEKEND AND CRAFT MARKET<br />
21 -23 Jun<br />
BARNSTAPLE MALE VOICE CHOIR<br />
CENTENARY CONCERT<br />
06 Jul<br />
VINTAGE & CLASSIC WEEKEND<br />
03 Aug - 04 Aug<br />
LOCAL PRODUCE SHOW<br />
11 Aug<br />
FALCONRY DISPLAY<br />
29 Aug<br />
AUTUMN ARTISAN CRAFT<br />
& DESIGN FAIR<br />
06 Sep - 08 Sep<br />
For more events visit: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor/whats-on<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
169
170 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Roses<br />
THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER<br />
Jonathan Webster, Curator RHS Garden Rosemoor<br />
Many plants make our gardens special places<br />
and shout seasonality as the year unfolds.<br />
For summer there is one which stands out from the rest and for me I feel we<br />
can’t have summer without roses, they are so embedded in in our gardening<br />
culture along with being so quintessentially English what would summer be<br />
without them!<br />
Roses help make the garden come alive in summer, with vibrant flowers in so<br />
many different colours from pure white to shocking orange all giving a real<br />
punch of flower power, delicate single flowers to complicated doubles but<br />
whatever they look like the most important thing for me is their fragrance,<br />
some have more than others so make sure you choose one which has this<br />
attribute.<br />
Roses are so versatile and can be used in the garden in so many different ways<br />
and also can be enjoyed no matter how small or large your garden, you will be<br />
able to find one which suits your available space. In recent years the space we<br />
have available to garden has decreased especially in our urban environments<br />
but we still crave and need plants around us, lots of breeding work has been<br />
undertaken to create patio roses, these can be pot grown so great to add a<br />
splash of colour to pots and window boxes brightening up our houses in the<br />
urban jungle. Those with larger gardens can use shrub roses they are good<br />
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
171
ROSES: THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER ...continued<br />
to add height to your border you can mix them<br />
in with other plants, it’s always good to do this<br />
so the garden has interest throughout the year,<br />
when some plants are having a sleep others will<br />
be full of flower and create the impact we desire.<br />
Every garden has boundaries either walls or fences,<br />
roses can be used to enhance these often bland<br />
and hard divisions within our green landscape,<br />
there are many climbing or rambling roses which<br />
We have embraced the rose ever since<br />
the garden was gifted to us in <strong>19</strong>88<br />
can cover these and again depending on the<br />
space available choose a cultivar that fits. Roses<br />
can also be planted as a hedge, good to try as<br />
something different and if you choose Rosa rugosa<br />
commonly called the Hedgerow rose a native of<br />
Asia, this creates a uniform hedge and with the<br />
thorns added security benefits, cultivars have<br />
pink, purple and white flowers followed by large<br />
172 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
173
ROSES: THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER ...continued<br />
decorative hips and yellow autumn<br />
colour tints to end the season with.<br />
Here at RHS Garden Rosemoor we<br />
have embraced the rose ever since<br />
the garden was gifted to us in <strong>19</strong>88,<br />
when the master plan detailing how<br />
Lady Anne Palmer’s original garden<br />
dating back to the <strong>19</strong>50’s could be<br />
blended with the newly built Formal<br />
garden containing many themed<br />
garden rooms each with their own<br />
horticultural highlights. As much<br />
of the new garden would take time<br />
to establish roses were chosen to<br />
create virtually instant impact and<br />
interest from day one, hence the<br />
planting of our two different rose<br />
gardens. However this was a brave<br />
step as the wet climate in the South<br />
West of England was thought to be<br />
too challenging for the development<br />
of what is an English obsession!<br />
Roses, as I’m sure you know, do suffer<br />
from certain problems, black spot<br />
and powdery mildew, these fungal<br />
diseases are prevalent in damp<br />
conditions which the South West is<br />
famed for and due to our rural location<br />
our air is clean of sulphur pollutants<br />
which in an urban environment act<br />
as a fungicide to help control these<br />
problems. So a lot of advice was sort<br />
from the leading growers as what<br />
would be best to plant and a long<br />
list of disease resistant cultivars<br />
were selected.<br />
Two rose gardens were designed<br />
and created with different themes<br />
and identities, both combining over<br />
200 different cultivars and over 2000<br />
plants helping to showcase what can<br />
be grown in our climate, over the<br />
last 30 years we have<br />
constantly edited the<br />
collection making sure<br />
we have the best old and new roses<br />
which create this summer spectacle<br />
for our visitors.<br />
The Queen Mother’s<br />
rose garden show cases<br />
modern hybrid tea and<br />
floribunda roses along<br />
with smaller patio and<br />
ground cover roses, with<br />
some of my favourites<br />
such as Rosa Iceburg ‘Korbin’ AGM a<br />
crisp white floribunda which I grew<br />
up with as a child in my family home<br />
a great repeat flowerer with a long<br />
season and Rosa Doctor Jo ‘Fryatlanta’<br />
PBR a fantastic floribunda with vibrant<br />
orange flowers which continues late<br />
into the season. Here we also grow<br />
Rosa ‘La France’, found in France in 1867<br />
and considered to be the first hybrid<br />
tea rose, therefore considered to be<br />
the birth of the modern rose. This is<br />
has a pink double flower with slightly<br />
rolled outer petals and a strong sweet<br />
fragrance which all roses should have.<br />
The layout of this garden is formal,<br />
with massed plantings of roses set in a<br />
colour wheel, starting with the whites<br />
at the top of the garden, moving<br />
Roses suffer from<br />
certain problems,<br />
black spot and<br />
powdery mildew<br />
in a clockwise direction, the roses<br />
gradually go to pink, red, orange and<br />
yellow. This garden is an ideal place<br />
to see roses at their full potential, so<br />
whether it is vigour, colour or scent<br />
that you are looking for there is sure<br />
to be a rose that appeals to you in<br />
this garden<br />
The Shrub Rose garden highlights<br />
many types, from the familiar David<br />
Austin repeat flowering hybrids to the<br />
more obscure forms of Rosa gallica,<br />
R x alba, the Damask roses and the<br />
curious moss roses. Rope swags are<br />
adorned with a mix of rambler roses,<br />
these only flower once during the<br />
season but put on a dramatic display,<br />
Rosa ‘Debutante’ dates back to 1862<br />
with dainty sprays of small rose pink<br />
cupped flowers with a sweet scent. A<br />
couple of my favourites of the older<br />
shrub varieties are Rosa Wild Edric<br />
‘Aushedge’ PBR in the rugosa group with<br />
deep pink flowers and a long flowering<br />
season, outstanding scent and good<br />
hips; Rosa ‘Félicité Parmentier’ AGM<br />
an alba x Damask rose, pink flowers<br />
doubled and set in quarters when you<br />
look at them and Rosa ‘Erfurt’ a hybrid<br />
musk rose, pink-white flower very<br />
delicate with high scent and quite<br />
disease resistant. Under these plants<br />
bulbs and herbaceous perennials<br />
have been used to soften and extend<br />
the season of the garden, like the<br />
delicate Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla<br />
mollis AGM, Geranium ‘Mavis Simpson’<br />
AGM hugging the ground and covered<br />
in its small pink flowers along with<br />
tall spikes of the blue Camassia’s a<br />
native of North America.<br />
When people ask me which rose<br />
I should buy and plant it is a very<br />
hard question as there are so many<br />
to choose from and it does depend<br />
on what you are looking for and your<br />
personal preferences. These are the<br />
things you need to consider when<br />
making your choice - colour, scent,<br />
vigour and situation. Most roses thrive<br />
in warm sunny positions but there<br />
are some that will fill that difficult<br />
location such as a shady north wall,<br />
174 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
such as Rosa ‘Narrow Water’ an unusual rambler that<br />
repeat flowers throughout the season, introduced in<br />
1883 with trusses of pale pink flowers showing the<br />
golden yellow stamens in the centre of the flower.<br />
Disease resistance is the other big question, in a<br />
town garden you don’t need to worry as much but in<br />
the countryside you may need to select something<br />
with more disease resistance, as I mentioned Rosa<br />
Iceburg ’Korbin’ AGM is an old favourite of mine but<br />
can be prone to blackspot, but grown well is one of<br />
the best white flowered roses available in my eyes.<br />
Avon Mill<br />
Independent Garden Centre, Café & Shops,<br />
Hidden in the Avon Valley…..<br />
As with most things in your garden the key to success<br />
is in the way you look after and maintain your plants,<br />
to make your roses bloom and thrive you need to get<br />
out in your garden at the start of the year with your<br />
secateurs. Pruning is key and roses can be confusing<br />
as all the different types have different needs, so it’s<br />
best to research what to do first, the overarching<br />
rules are firstly remove the three D’s these are the<br />
dead, diseased and dying wood, followed by crossing<br />
branches and make sure you keep a good shape. At<br />
Rosemoor we prune hard which increases their vigour,<br />
giving the bush and shrub roses an open centre so<br />
good airflow is achieved this helps with reducing the<br />
dreaded fungal problems and make sure they are fed<br />
well with a well-rotted manure mulch after pruning<br />
and a rose tonic foliar feed during the growing season.<br />
It seems quite fitting that the garden is called Rosemoor<br />
but this was not always the case, in 1851 the estate<br />
was simply known as Moor later it became Rowesmoor,<br />
around <strong>19</strong>00 it was listed as Rose Moor and when Lady<br />
Anne’s parents bought the estate in <strong>19</strong>23 it had become<br />
Rosemoor, the name has now evolved into the gardens<br />
horticultural destiny!<br />
●Great Café<br />
●Devon Cream Teas<br />
●Dogs welcome<br />
●Plenty of parking<br />
●Local art and crafts<br />
●Woodland walks<br />
Loddiswell • Kingsbridge • Devon ● TQ7 4DD<br />
Greenfingers<br />
<br />
Roses are so popular with gardeners and the last<br />
few years we have held a Rose Festival showcasing<br />
this iconic flower of the English garden, from 15 th<br />
<strong>June</strong> to 21 st July we have many themed events and<br />
demonstrations and 21 st to 23 rd <strong>June</strong> is our ever popular<br />
Rose weekend featuring specialist rose advice, rose<br />
idents, free guided walks around Rosemoor's stunning<br />
rose gardens and a floral-themed craft market, there<br />
w ill be something for ever yone this weekend.<br />
More details at www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Rosemoor<br />
Jonathan Webster<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
175
CADHAY ALLOTMENTS<br />
Rupert Thistlethwayte<br />
Spring can be an anxious time in the allotments<br />
waiting to ensure that our gardening expertise<br />
over the last twelve months has ensured that we<br />
are invited to tend our plots for another year.<br />
Luckily we all survived to dig<br />
another day in these allotments<br />
which were carved out fifteen years<br />
ago in the walled Garden adjoining<br />
a Tudor Manor House. One holder<br />
has reduced his commitments and<br />
handed over a half allotment that he<br />
has been using to grow countless<br />
varieties of Gladioli which won prizes<br />
in National competitions. It is a great<br />
pity as they added a huge amount of<br />
colour even if Dame Edna might not<br />
have approved.<br />
The Cadhay gardens are open<br />
to the public and our plots are<br />
under the close watch of the Head<br />
Gardener, Dave who is keen to<br />
make sure that the allotments are<br />
fit for inspection. Many visitors are<br />
just as interested in seeing what is<br />
going on in the allotments as in the<br />
formal gardens. This gives us a strong<br />
incentive to keep our plots in good<br />
order, and miraculously the vegetable<br />
gardens become remarkably tidy in<br />
May once the gardens and Tea Room<br />
are open every Friday afternoon. They<br />
also provide a wonderful backdrop<br />
for the weddings that go on here and<br />
are now in full swing.<br />
One allotment holder is a soil scientist<br />
and seeing him digging his plot with<br />
great vigour earlier on prompted the<br />
question whether the ‘no dig’ policy<br />
actually works. He thought it might<br />
in some places but certainly not here<br />
as the ground forms an impenetrable<br />
pan. It may just be a conspiracy theory,<br />
but it is tempting to think that the idea<br />
is being promoted by the producers<br />
of sprays and fertilisers to make us<br />
dependent. Luckily there is no chance<br />
of that here as we are strictly organic.<br />
It is all the more important when<br />
you consider that is common for<br />
some farmers to spray shortly before<br />
harvest to help dry the crop.<br />
There is another allotment where<br />
William has jettisoned<br />
the spade in favour of a<br />
Merry Tiller<br />
Miraculously the vegetable gardens<br />
become remarkably tidy in May once<br />
the gardens and Tea Room are open<br />
176 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
the holder has jettisoned the spade<br />
in favour of a Merry Tiller which<br />
must have been one of the first off<br />
the production lines back in the<br />
<strong>19</strong>50’s. Seeing him risking a heart<br />
attack having to coax this machine<br />
through its paces made the rest of us<br />
feel even more determined to stick<br />
to the spade especially if you are<br />
lucky enough to own a Devon Spade<br />
with its long handle which takes the<br />
strain from the back if used correctly.<br />
The Rhubarb has been fantastic this<br />
year and they are very prolific in<br />
this ground which must have been<br />
the beneficiary of large amounts of<br />
manure administered over the years.<br />
The Strawberries all flowered well<br />
with the promise of a bountiful crop<br />
in <strong>June</strong>. Some of us got a bit carried<br />
away during the Easter heatwave<br />
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
177
CADHAY ALLOTMENTS ...continued<br />
and planted out peas and beans. The<br />
beans survived but the peas did not<br />
enjoy the subsequent icy blast or the<br />
attention of the mice.<br />
Whilst chitting potatoes earlier in<br />
the year the labels got mixed up so<br />
the proof will be in the eating! Those<br />
with a ‘distinctive buttery taste’ will<br />
be International Kidney and the<br />
others Arran Pilot.<br />
Rupert Thistlethwayte<br />
Our allotments are<br />
strictly organic<br />
178 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
A DEVON<br />
LIFESTYLE<br />
179<br />
What's in this section...<br />
Spring Fashion Local retail Becky Bettesworth<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 179
Summer Fashion<br />
Images from Monari<br />
180 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
181
SUMMERTIME<br />
The warmer weather is<br />
rapidly approaching!<br />
Get ready for the new<br />
season.<br />
Visit your local retailer to find<br />
out more!<br />
An Exclusive<br />
Collection<br />
Award-winning Revival Retro<br />
boutique has teamed up with Devonbased<br />
artist Becky Bettesworth<br />
for an exclusive series of skirts<br />
featuring coastal postcard scenes.<br />
Revival Retro owner Rowena Howie<br />
and Becky Bettesworth have a<br />
shared appreciation for the travel<br />
posters of the <strong>19</strong>30s which led to<br />
this collaboration and the creation of<br />
three exclusive skirt designs named<br />
the Becky Bettesworth Skirts.<br />
The limited-edition Revival Retro<br />
own label skirts feature artwork from<br />
Torquay, Bristol and Anglesey and<br />
are exclusively available at Revival<br />
Retro’s boutique in the heart of Soho<br />
and online.<br />
“When I saw Becky’s vintage style seaside<br />
prints on social media, I knew immediately<br />
she would be a perfect fit for Revival<br />
Retro,” explains the boutique’s owner<br />
Rowena Howie. “In getting to know<br />
Becky, we discovered a shared passion for<br />
supporting small business, appreciating<br />
artists, celebrating women and a love<br />
for our local areas so the partnership<br />
is perfect.”<br />
The products bearing Becky’s designs<br />
feature destinations that she has<br />
visited and she has a connection to:<br />
Devon, Anglesey and Torquay, and<br />
were made by Revival Retro in London.<br />
This joint venture by two British small<br />
businesses is rooted in nostalgia but<br />
delivers a desirable products for the<br />
discerning, modern woman.<br />
“It is wonderful to be collaborating with<br />
Revival Retro to bring about my artwork<br />
onto this new and exciting range of skirts,”<br />
says Becky. “It is always inspiring to<br />
work with other successful high street<br />
businesses and to support each other in<br />
these joint ventures. Both Rowena and I<br />
are passionate about what we do and to<br />
bring these two together has been a joyful<br />
process. Rowena's sharp eye for style<br />
combined with my artwork and love for<br />
colour and design have proved a perfect<br />
match. Bringing together the City and<br />
the Sea is something very unique and<br />
we are very proud to be launching this<br />
wonderful new range.”<br />
182 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Ringing The Changes<br />
An exhibition of extraordinary<br />
contemporary rings, on until mid July<br />
Traditional Settings<br />
Innovative Designs<br />
Sculptural Rings<br />
For more Jewellery, Online Shop and<br />
Jewellery Making Classes visit us at:<br />
www.victoriasewart.com<br />
01752 220011 (Gift Vouchers Available)<br />
39 Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth victoria sewart<br />
Chapter<br />
Summer collection<br />
Beautiful clothes at<br />
affordable prices<br />
Private Dentists<br />
that let you enjoy the confi dence<br />
of a beautiful smile.<br />
FF!<br />
Lebek ◆ Brax<br />
Marie Mero ◆ Marble<br />
Olivier Philips ◆ Just White<br />
Pause Café ◆ Frank Lyman ◆ Luna Shoes<br />
Jewellery ◆ Accessories<br />
01395 579181<br />
info@chapterclothing.co.uk<br />
Church Street ◆ Sidmouth ◆ EX10 8lZ<br />
BROOKVALE DENTAL PRACTICE<br />
6 King Street, Honiton, EX14 1AF<br />
Tel: 01404 44800<br />
MERRIFIELD DENTAL PRACTICE<br />
15 Mill Street, Sidmouth, EX10 8DW<br />
Tel: 01395 579932<br />
www.brookvaledental.co.uk | www.merrifielddentalpractice.co.uk<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
183
Proud<br />
to be<br />
Green<br />
helping our environment<br />
proudtobegreen.org<br />
'Entanglement'<br />
Victoria Sewart Gallery has collaborated with<br />
the Cornish Seal Sanctuary’ through a project<br />
called ‘Entanglement’. They have created a range of<br />
retail bracelets and pendants made from the ghost<br />
nets, alongside a collection of ‘creative mixed media<br />
jewellery’ created by all the staff at the Gallery - all to<br />
raise awareness and highlight the issues of the ghost<br />
nets entangling the seals and damaging our seas and<br />
marine life. The exhibition is open at Falmouth Poly<br />
from Monday 15th -20th July. Following the exhibition<br />
the retail pieces will be on sale in the Seal Sanctuary’s<br />
gift shop - proceeds from sales go to the charity.<br />
Read more in the Green & Nature section.<br />
184 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
HISTORY<br />
185<br />
What's in this section...<br />
The Book of the Axe A Glorious Revolution Devon Church Land<br />
The Branch Line to... The Mighty Atom WWII Bunker<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS 185
Peter Gill was born in Axminster and brought up on Pulman’s Weekly<br />
News. He became a foreign correspondent for The Daily Telegraph and<br />
a current affairs reporter for This Week on ITV. He has written books on<br />
the developing world and returns happily and regularly to East Devon.<br />
WALKING THE AXE IN<br />
PULMAN'S FOOTSTEPS<br />
Peter Gill<br />
‘The Book of the Axe’ authored by the <strong>19</strong>th century<br />
newspaper editor George Pulman may be the finest<br />
book ever written about a Devon river, but its 900<br />
richly illustrated pages weigh in at 2.5 kilos and so it’s<br />
not the handiest guide for a walker<br />
left it behind when I set out on my<br />
I own 25-mile walk (over three days)<br />
from the source of the Axe in Dorset<br />
to the sea at Seaton.<br />
What would be familiar to him and<br />
what has changed? What would have<br />
pleased him and what would have<br />
upset him? What would simply have<br />
mystified the old boy?<br />
As a fine journalist and founder of<br />
Pulman's Weekly News, he would first<br />
have been struck by a strong news<br />
story running within a few metres of<br />
the river’s source. What in his day was<br />
Lower Axknoller Farm became in the<br />
21st century a lavish wedding venue.<br />
It has recently gained some national<br />
notoriety through a bankruptcy, a<br />
take-over and tabloid tales of threats<br />
and resistance which ended up in<br />
Yeovil county court.<br />
George Pulman, known by his initials<br />
GPR, was a skilled angler, a disciple of<br />
the great Sir Izaak Walton whom he<br />
The Book of the Axe<br />
I had inherited my father’s copy of<br />
the book (the final sumptuous edition<br />
published in 1875) which was then<br />
superbly restored by Rebecca Newman,<br />
a bookbinder living close to the Axe<br />
in the East Devon village of Stockland.<br />
I had also read it (almost) from coverto-cover<br />
and wanted to relive some<br />
of Pulman’s experience of the river<br />
more than 150 years ago.<br />
Victorian Seaton - 'pretensions and primitiveness'<br />
186 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
them ‘a mighty instrument of civilisation’<br />
and a link to ‘unite all men into one<br />
great happy family…’ Then came ‘the<br />
whistle of the engine and the rush of the<br />
first passenger train’ in 1860 and eight<br />
years later a branch line right down the<br />
Axe estuary to Seaton. At that point<br />
he did question whether trade and<br />
communication had much improved<br />
for people or whether ‘the ability to travel<br />
30 or 40 miles an hour has made them any<br />
happier or better than they were before.’<br />
Tourist trams have taken over from trains down the Axe estuary<br />
quotes with approval as saying that<br />
‘A man to be a true angler must be born<br />
an angler, just as the true poet is born a<br />
poet …’ Pulman’s early love of the Axe<br />
was founded on fishing along what he<br />
describes as ‘one of the most beautiful and<br />
interesting of the numerous sparkling troutstreams<br />
which contribute to the claims of<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong> to be the Arcadia of England.’<br />
Even back in the 1800s, Pulman had<br />
a tale of woe to tell about fishing the<br />
Axe. Only a few years ago, he recorded,<br />
the river had been ‘literally swarming<br />
with the choicest salmon and trout,’ but<br />
now it was ‘almost exhausted of those<br />
most valuable breeds and abandoned to the<br />
unchecked and murderous depredations<br />
of a gang of prowling poachers!’<br />
Responsibility for this state of affairs<br />
lay squarely, in Pulman’s view, with one<br />
of the great advances of the Victorian<br />
era, the arrival of the railways. The<br />
banks of the Axe and its tributaries,<br />
he complained, ‘are now principally<br />
trodden by visitors whom the railways<br />
bring in shoals, and the old local angling<br />
fraternity has become almost a thing of<br />
the past.’ At one point, describing the<br />
glorious fishing opportunities the Axe<br />
presents close to the Somerset border,<br />
Pulman identifies the culprits as ‘the<br />
Cockney element which the railway has<br />
unfortunately introduced …’<br />
Close to Pulman’s birthplace in<br />
Axminster, I would show him a modern<br />
reflection of the poaching problem.<br />
Fishing this stretch of the river is the<br />
preserve of the Taunton Fly Fishing<br />
Club which has designed and erected<br />
an elaborate notice proclaiming ‘Private<br />
Fishing’ spelt out with the flags and<br />
scripts of five East European languages:<br />
Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian, Slovak<br />
and Russian. The modern poacher<br />
comes from further afield than London<br />
and probably not by rail.<br />
The modern-day walker surely shares<br />
Pulman’s reservations about the railway<br />
line down the Axe valley. With or<br />
without their plumes of steam, trains<br />
can be poetic enough at a distance,<br />
but back and forth over the river, even<br />
by the side of it, the railway is far<br />
from lovely. I can report one happy<br />
Stopping the Germans on<br />
the Axe<br />
exception. After Dr Beeching took his<br />
axe to the branch line from Seaton<br />
Junction in <strong>19</strong>66, a good length of it was<br />
revived to become the Seaton Tramway.<br />
It is now a major East Devon visitor<br />
attraction, trundling sedately between<br />
glorious estuary and an important<br />
wetlands nature reserve.<br />
Poaching is now international<br />
Pulman was in two minds about the<br />
railways. When they were still just a<br />
prospect for the Axe valley, he declared<br />
I took this route on my third and last<br />
day of walking the Axe. By then it<br />
had become increasingly difficult<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
187
The Axe at Axmouth - a Victorian engraving and as it is today<br />
to keep close to the river, what with<br />
unaccommodating landowners, barbed<br />
wire and blocked paths all forcing me<br />
from the fields on to busy coast roads.<br />
This is the location of the Second World<br />
War ‘Stop Line’ intended to prevent<br />
any German invasion force in the West<br />
Country moving on towards London.<br />
I would tell George Pulman all about<br />
the now ivy-covered pill boxes by the<br />
side of the river.<br />
There is a tramway halt and level<br />
crossing at Colyford where I joined<br />
the route for the final mile or so to<br />
the sea at Seaton. The broad estuary<br />
here makes for the most beautiful<br />
stretch of the entire river, but the<br />
route itself of course is the preserve<br />
The sternest of these<br />
reprimands came<br />
from a driver who was<br />
dressed as a pirate<br />
of the tramway company. As I walked<br />
on, no fewer than four trams clanked<br />
to a stop beside me so their drivers<br />
could tick me off for trespass. The<br />
sternest of these reprimands came<br />
from a driver who, in common with<br />
every single one of his passengers,<br />
was dressed as a pirate. I cheerfully<br />
undertook next time to pay my £11 for<br />
all-day travel on the line.<br />
In ‘The Book of the Axe’ George Pulman<br />
records that the new branch line<br />
transformed Seaton from one of the<br />
most quiet and isolated of sea-side<br />
villages into a modern “watering place.”<br />
He spelt out its new-found appeal -<br />
comfortable lodging houses, hot and<br />
cold baths, more and more shops and<br />
‘the town is now lighted with gas.’<br />
Seaton in the 1870s had become, wrote<br />
Pulman, a town ‘of some pretensions and<br />
yet, happily, not at the sacrifice of much of the<br />
original primitiveness which is its greatest<br />
charm.’ Seaton residents today might<br />
conclude that a mix of pretensions and<br />
primitiveness is not much of a selling<br />
point for the 2020s.<br />
Peter Gill<br />
Contact me:<br />
petergillaxminster@gmail.com<br />
Fun in the river at Cloakham Bridge in Axminster<br />
188 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
THE (FAIRLY) GLORIOUS REVOLUTION<br />
There is nothing new about ‘spin’ as the good folk<br />
of the West Country discovered in 1688<br />
FORGET 1588 and the fate of the<br />
Spanish Armada: when Prince<br />
William of Orange led the Dutch<br />
invasion of Britain one hundred<br />
years later he managed to pull the<br />
whole thing off successfully without<br />
a shot being fired, made himself<br />
king and founded a dynasty.<br />
It all started as far as the common<br />
people of this island were concerned<br />
on 5th November, 1688 in sleepy old<br />
Brixham, Devon where the startled<br />
fisherfolk of the county stood open<br />
mouthed - not to say awe struck<br />
- at the stage management that<br />
went into first the landing and then<br />
the calculated, showy progression<br />
through the muddy highways and<br />
bi-ways of the rain-soaked and<br />
decidedly soggy West Country, first<br />
to Exeter and thence to London.<br />
The 38-year old Dutch prince and<br />
his party dropped anchor with 53<br />
warships bristling with cannon,<br />
followed by hundreds of transport<br />
ships carrying an army of 20,000<br />
men and 7,000 horses along with<br />
ten fire ships - quite enough muscle<br />
to stop a war before it could even<br />
get started - which was precisely<br />
the idea.<br />
For this was what some historians<br />
tend to brush over as “The Glorious<br />
Revolution” but which was really a<br />
carefully orchestrated coup d’etat<br />
and several years in the planning,<br />
to get rid of the Catholic James II<br />
(younger son of Charles I) and his heirs<br />
from the throne and replace them<br />
with a Protestant king. It would<br />
also give the Dutch an ally against<br />
the French - but that fuller story is<br />
better told in a history book.<br />
William’s triumphal arrival in Exeter.<br />
IMAGE: Cassell’s Histories<br />
On Tuesday, the 6th of November,<br />
William's army advanced to Newton<br />
Abbot where the honeyed words<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
189 3
The (Fairly) Glorious Revolution ...continued<br />
of his declaration of intent were<br />
solemnly read to the people. He<br />
lodged at Ford, the ancient seat<br />
of Sir William Courtenay, who<br />
managed not to be at home lest he<br />
should compromise himself before<br />
he could see which way the wind<br />
might blow. Meanwhile off-stage<br />
the massive job of unloading the<br />
Prince’s D-day landing continued.<br />
Exeter ‘surrendered’ on the 9th of<br />
November and William climbed<br />
up into the pulpit in the Cathedral<br />
and re-delivered his message of<br />
peace and love to the great and the<br />
good of the West Country: but not<br />
before he made his entry into the<br />
city “with great pomp” according<br />
to Macauley.<br />
“Such a sight had never been seen in<br />
<strong>Devonshire</strong>. Many went forth half a<br />
day's journey to meet the champion<br />
of their religion. All the neighbouring<br />
villages poured forth their inhabitants. A<br />
great crowd, consisting chiefly of young<br />
peasants, brandishing their weapons,<br />
had assembled on the top of Holdron (sic)<br />
Hill, whence the army marching from<br />
Chudleigh first descried the rich valley<br />
of the Esk (sic), and the two massive<br />
towers rising from the cloud of smoke<br />
which overhung the capital of the west”.<br />
“The houses were gaily decorated; doors,<br />
windows, balconies, and roofs were<br />
thronged with gazers and the people<br />
of <strong>Devonshire</strong> were overwhelmed with<br />
delight and awe. Descriptions of the<br />
martial pageant were circulated all over<br />
the kingdom”.<br />
had never seen so many specimens of<br />
the African race, gazed with wonder on<br />
the black faces, set off by embroidered<br />
turbans and white feathers”.<br />
“Then with drawn broadswords came<br />
a squadron of Swedish horsemen in<br />
black armour and fur cloaks. They were<br />
regarded with strange interest; for it was<br />
rumoured that they themselves had slain<br />
the huge bears whose skins they wore”.<br />
“Next, surrounded by a goodly company<br />
of gentlemen and pages, was borne aloft<br />
the prince's banner. But the acclamations<br />
redoubled when, attended by forty<br />
running footmen, the Prince himself<br />
appeared, armed on back and breast,<br />
wearing a white plume, and mounted<br />
on a white charger”.<br />
Then as now, the good people of<br />
the West of England were genuinely<br />
pleased to see new faces in such<br />
vast numbers and were quick to<br />
seize the opportunity to improve<br />
their lot. “The country people brought<br />
all sorts of provisions in abundance<br />
because it yielded them money and went<br />
off well”.<br />
“It was then that an ancient woman<br />
broke from the crowd, rushed through<br />
the drawn swords and curvetting horses,<br />
touched the hand of the deliverer, and<br />
cried out that now she was happy."<br />
Macauley says that he smiled. So<br />
what of this smiling conqueror<br />
himself? He was no oil painting,<br />
according to his sister-in-law<br />
who wrote that she thought him<br />
“the ugliest man in Europe”, whilst a<br />
contemporary chronicler, one<br />
Gilbert Burnet is only a little more<br />
fl a t t e r i n g ,<br />
“He had a thin and weak body, was brown<br />
haired, and of a clear and delicate<br />
constitution: he had a Roman eagle<br />
nose, bright and sparkling eyes, a large<br />
front, and a countenance composed to<br />
gravity and authority; he was always<br />
asthmatical and the dregs of the smallpox<br />
falling on his lungs, he had a constant<br />
deep cough. His behaviour was solemn<br />
and serious, seldom cheerful, and but<br />
with a few: he spoke little and very slowly,<br />
and most commonly with a disgusting<br />
dryness, which was his character at all<br />
times, except in a day of battle; for then<br />
he was all fire, though without passion”.<br />
The bad weather continued and the<br />
‘roads’ got steadily worse, to a point<br />
where local oxen were recruited<br />
to drag the guns and ammunition<br />
through the quagmire churned up<br />
by the advancing cavalry. So vast<br />
an army was hard to move and<br />
infantry often found it easier to<br />
abandon the track and trudge the<br />
adjoining fields.<br />
Thus William’s great host became<br />
strung out over 20-30 miles as it<br />
was forced to head ‘up country’<br />
in stages and sometimes along<br />
three more-or-less parallel routes.<br />
First stop, according to the army<br />
chaplain in the Dutch force - an<br />
English cleric given the role of<br />
“First rode Macclesfield, at the head of two<br />
hundred gentlemen, mostly of English<br />
blood, glittering in helmets and cuirasses,<br />
and mounted on Flemish war-horses.<br />
Each was attended by a negro, brought<br />
from the sugar plantations on the coast<br />
of Guiana. The citizens of Exeter, who<br />
<strong>19</strong>0 4 CONTENTS GREEN COUNTRYSIDE & NATURE VISIT<br />
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peaceful regime change.<br />
The so-called Glorious Revolution<br />
“in defence of ancient freedoms” had<br />
been sold, lock stock and barrel and<br />
Britain undoubtedly prospered in<br />
many ways as a consequence: and<br />
has never looked back.<br />
diarist of the invasion - was “St.<br />
Mary Otterie’. As that advanced<br />
section moved on next day to<br />
Axminster, so the second section<br />
left from Exeter to ‘Otterie’ and so<br />
on. Fanned out through the mud<br />
their advance struggled by leaps<br />
and faltering bounds via Beaminster,<br />
Crewkerne and Lyme and then on<br />
to Sherborne.<br />
Gilbert Burnet picks up his pen<br />
once more to deliver the coup de<br />
grace to his tale by telling us that<br />
James meanwhile, having gathered<br />
his army at Salisbury, addressed<br />
the crowd in the town’s market<br />
place, “Telling them he would open<br />
his blood for the Protestant Religion<br />
(whereas he had been seen at Mass all<br />
the morning by many of his Auditors<br />
who whereupon derided him in their<br />
Hearts). No sooner had he ended his<br />
speech, but immediately falls to bleeding<br />
of his Nostrils very violently and his blood<br />
could not be stopped (in) any manner<br />
of way”.<br />
11th, 1690. Eight months later the<br />
historic Bill of Rights was passed,<br />
confirming them as monarchs and<br />
the exclusion of Catholics from the<br />
throne.<br />
Finally, in July of 1690 ‘King Billy’<br />
defeated James at the Battle of the<br />
Boyne.<br />
James returned to Paris where he<br />
lived as ‘an austere penitent’ until<br />
his death of a brain haemorrhage in<br />
1701 at the age of 67. In the interim<br />
Britain had accepted what had been<br />
a coup d’etat and bought what the<br />
Dutch spin doctors promoted as a<br />
This was also perhaps a turning<br />
point for the Great South West<br />
Road itself. Writing of its condition<br />
at about this time one seasoned<br />
traveller recorded that the road<br />
between Salisbury and Exeter was<br />
“little better than a Neolithic track”<br />
- as our Dutch visitors discovered<br />
for themselves.<br />
John Fisher<br />
The rest is history, the mercifully<br />
short version of which is that he<br />
fled to London. James met William's<br />
envoys on December 1st and was<br />
offered humiliating conditions and<br />
subsequently “allowed to escape”<br />
and seek refuge in France. William of<br />
Orange and his wife were crowned<br />
as William III and Mary II on April<br />
PEOPLE HOME & DESIGN GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>19</strong>1 5
devonchurchland<br />
Growing up in deep Devon and wandering the countryside in his youth,<br />
Douglas spent many years working around the world. Now back in Devon,<br />
he is constantly captivated by the rich beauty of our churches.<br />
MARWOOD CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL<br />
DEVON CHURCH LAND - Douglas Young<br />
In the hills above the ports of Old Devon where<br />
wool went out and exotics came in, where the<br />
Mediterranean and the Americas met the soil of<br />
Devon, lies a parish redolent of the West Country…<br />
Middle Marwood, Blakewell,<br />
Farleigh, Guineaford, Kings-<br />
Heanton, Milltown, Muddiford, Prixford,<br />
Higher Muddiford, Gotcombe Wood…<br />
and of course Cherchemerewode,<br />
or Church Merewood - the church<br />
of the boundary (maere, Old English<br />
for boundary) wood, sitting on an old<br />
Saxon border.<br />
wave godspeed to the waters as they<br />
join their brethren and spill into the<br />
sea off to pilgrim the world.<br />
Marwood church exterior<br />
By the church gate is the Lych<br />
Gate Room, probably the old parish<br />
workhouse, and then the church comes<br />
out to play as we walk up the path.<br />
The graveyard is narrow here on the<br />
south side, so we stay on the path close<br />
to the side as the church looms over<br />
us. The chancel has some thirteenth<br />
century fabric and the rest of the<br />
church is fifteenth century.<br />
No village here, the sprinkling of<br />
farmsteads probably stretches the<br />
landscape back to the Iron Age and<br />
the original Britons who called this<br />
home. Wind through the twisted lanes<br />
and the church is ensconced on a<br />
spur between two streams meeting<br />
just below to the West, where it can<br />
To get a better feel for the place we<br />
need to go around. The graveyard<br />
stretches west away from the tower<br />
disappearing into a tanglewood<br />
of briars and bushes, saplings and<br />
creaking branches. This is a woodland<br />
church, with foliage inside and out.<br />
<strong>19</strong>2 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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Don't miss the bagpiper below an angel<br />
holding a scroll, playing the Cornish<br />
bagpipes, a style of local bagpipe that<br />
has variants all over Europe and are<br />
far lesser known than the Scottish<br />
Great Highland Bagpipe. The depth<br />
of the carving and the angular lines<br />
are designed to capture light from<br />
every angle, not only to stand out in<br />
the daytime twilight but to glitter in<br />
candlelight.<br />
But wait, there is far more here I venture,<br />
this is not just a pretty scene, not here,<br />
not in a church, not where the faithful<br />
walk and pray many a day. This is both<br />
a warning and an act of love.<br />
There is a striking north door with<br />
some handsome original windows.<br />
Above the door is an image niche, the<br />
statuette long gone. It all makes for a<br />
very attractive composition, the red and<br />
the green highlighting the colours in<br />
the wall, the glass reflections, the arch<br />
work contrasted with the stonework<br />
and that well moulded door surround.<br />
We come back to the south side to enter<br />
through the engaging south porch with<br />
its 1762 sundial stuck a touch clumsily<br />
on the battlements. The porch is much<br />
better built with neatly coursed stone<br />
than the north side. It is the public face<br />
of the church, the church in its Sunday<br />
best. The hood moulding though, over<br />
the door…hhhm. Not sure what went<br />
wrong there.<br />
But it is a nice clean porch with clear<br />
vertical and horizontal lines. Simple<br />
and effective.<br />
Marwood church interior<br />
The structure of the church is a delight.<br />
The foliage carved capitals, the space,<br />
the chipped stonework, all these are<br />
worthy of our time.<br />
But the woodwork… my heart and soul<br />
it is a wonder.<br />
The benchends are just stunning in<br />
their creativity, so many from the<br />
early 1500s.<br />
The Late Medieval church was a fan of<br />
sacred music, which was mainly vocal…<br />
other music, not so much. Popular<br />
music was about dancing, about<br />
earthly passion, about bawdiness and<br />
profane love songs, about the carnal<br />
enticements that can usher us away<br />
from our Divine nature and everyday<br />
musicians were often used to illustrate<br />
this tendency.<br />
And oh dear. A double whammy. The<br />
bagpiper does not have a naturally<br />
proportioned face or body, he is a<br />
caricature of a man, and this was a<br />
common method of showing a sinful<br />
nature.<br />
But this is not a judgement, a moral<br />
j’accuse, this shows redemption too.<br />
Bagpipe man is looking up to the angel,<br />
to heaven, to a messenger of God who<br />
is holding a scroll, a scripture. This is<br />
promise of salvation for all if they follow<br />
the word of God in the scriptures and<br />
leave their sins behind.<br />
Hope for us sinners then, which really<br />
is the point as well as being a scene to<br />
commune with during Mass.<br />
And suddenly the benches come alive<br />
with meanings. They seethe with<br />
significance.<br />
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>19</strong>3
DEVON CHURCH LAND ...continued<br />
benchends are a concatenation of<br />
full figures, plants, traceries, heads,<br />
demons and renaissance doodles,<br />
letters, shields, instruments of the<br />
Passion or even a chicken and a fox as<br />
here… such an collection of creativity.<br />
Take these two. The important thing<br />
here is that they are opposite ends of<br />
the same bench. They are related, I<br />
venture.<br />
Both have a preacher, both have a<br />
listener, but the left hand preacher has<br />
an apish face and the listener is severely<br />
deformed while the right hand one is<br />
a fine human figure and the listener<br />
well-proportioned.<br />
So apes in Gothic art tended to<br />
represent vice and sin, and here,<br />
dressed up as a priest, here is a false<br />
teacher, a widespread topic of this<br />
period, with a sinner (deformed again)<br />
to his right not exactly on the high<br />
road to heaven.<br />
But the preacher on the right with,<br />
with his humanity on display, his words<br />
feed our souls as the well-coiffed gent<br />
next to him shows.<br />
True preachers good, false preachers<br />
bad, and this to ponder on, in church<br />
and out…<br />
Seeing them in marching down the<br />
aisle in all their variety, surrounded by<br />
their foliage edges (very Devon that) is a<br />
wonder. A collection worth travelling<br />
to see, and it is not the only church in<br />
this area with fantastic carving. Check<br />
out Ashford as well, only a hop down<br />
the road.<br />
And this church reveals more treasures...<br />
This Virgin and Child being one (see<br />
first page of this article). The way their<br />
heads so tenderly lean into each other<br />
touches the heart, and their faces, oh<br />
my heart. Jesus looks like he is seeing<br />
the future all the way down and he is<br />
blessed with his mother’s love so solid;<br />
Mary is aware that she has God in her<br />
hands and her heart is going to be<br />
shattered into pieces and yet she will<br />
be there…always and forever.<br />
Especially as the drumbeat of Christ’s<br />
earthly life reaches its nightmarish<br />
crescendo and a parent’s worst grief<br />
engulfs her.<br />
More carving of a different age with<br />
William and Anthony Beard tragically<br />
dying in Marwood in 1652, aged 16<br />
and <strong>19</strong>. In the rest of the world the<br />
Dutch colonised South Africa, Russia<br />
and China fought along the Amur<br />
River, England was a new Puritan<br />
Commonwealth ruled by Parliament,<br />
Rhode Island banned slavery, but for<br />
William and Anthony’s family and<br />
friends the planet dwindled to their<br />
grief and pain. Nothing else mattered.<br />
And these two roundels on their<br />
monument address this head on with<br />
Bible verses that would have been as<br />
much part of popular culture then as<br />
music is in ours.<br />
On the left:<br />
There are 52 scintillating benchends<br />
along with the thirteen full benches,<br />
all from the sixteenth century. The full<br />
benches are thick planked beauties,<br />
gnarled and twisting with age; the<br />
And St Michael from the Victorian East<br />
Window (bring your binoculars for this),<br />
just rocking the ‘dragon on the helmet’<br />
look. With those wing colours he could<br />
probably rock whoever he chooses!<br />
How foolish! What you sow<br />
does not come to life unless it<br />
dies.<br />
On the right:<br />
1 Cor 15:36<br />
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Robinson tops it; a strong composition<br />
of a priest blessing a boy.<br />
goods, but this would have been so<br />
special in its day. The panelling, the<br />
turned legs, the carving, all would<br />
have been seen as treasure worthy.<br />
Looking at this through seventeenth<br />
century eyes we can, arguably, discover<br />
facets of its beauty that we might<br />
otherwise miss.<br />
For<br />
“All people are like grass,<br />
and all their glory is like the<br />
flowers of the field;<br />
the grass withers and the<br />
flowers fall,<br />
but the word of the Lord<br />
endures forever.”<br />
1 Peter 1:24-25<br />
(The verse numbers are very faded.)<br />
Unflinchingly honest as the bible always<br />
is… people, friendships, nature, even<br />
with all their beauty they will die<br />
eventually, yet the word of God is<br />
evermore and there peace welcomes all.<br />
Robinson was a next door neighbour<br />
to the church for part of his life, thus<br />
the connection.<br />
As we walk up from the font we meet<br />
this simple seventeenth century pulpit,<br />
possibly reduced in size from its heyday<br />
as a grand preaching platform. It is a<br />
tad wonky now, a humble little thing,<br />
with some good carving around the top.<br />
At the top of the north aisle we meet<br />
a scintillating piece of work, said to<br />
be one of the best in the country, the<br />
last piece of the original roodscreen.<br />
Well balanced, it punches way above<br />
its weight, just hiding there, away from<br />
most of the church.<br />
Which were comforting words to the<br />
religious of the day, or any day in truth.<br />
These, though, were not just words<br />
on the walls of the church, they were<br />
part of the scriptures that formed<br />
the background to individual lives<br />
and national culture, that were read,<br />
listened to and pondered on throughout<br />
the days.<br />
The coving alone is worthy of fine<br />
praise; three different bands of foliage<br />
work with a more arabesque narrower<br />
one at the bottom. This work is beyond<br />
great.<br />
Still the church accumulates treasure<br />
with this nineteenth century intricately<br />
carved font; The shape, the foliage and<br />
the supporting pillars are all marvellous.<br />
A magnificent twentieth century font<br />
cover by renowned sculptor John<br />
It is tempting to overlook this kind of<br />
gem in a church, accustomed as we are<br />
to such a variety of perfect consumer<br />
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>19</strong>5
DEVON CHURCH LAND ...continued<br />
There’s an inscription here: SIR JOHN<br />
BEAPOL PSON OF MEREWODE . Sir<br />
John Beaupul (as his last name is usually<br />
written) was rector of the parish from<br />
1520 to 1561 and is assumed to be the<br />
donor and the screen is usually dated<br />
to between 1535-1540.<br />
The panels are full of spins and fancies,<br />
of heads and hellions, all posing or<br />
playing in a mass of renaissance<br />
foliage. It is a masterpiece. It is also<br />
full on Renaissance and thus far more<br />
decorative than meaningful.<br />
So what does this mean…? Well,<br />
The Bible was your man, and all<br />
the writings in it, and the preacher<br />
would help you understand that.<br />
Very help you. Not an invitation.<br />
No RSVP required. Attendance<br />
hugely obligatory.<br />
contrast the benchends and the screen.<br />
The benchends are the end of the<br />
Gothic period (borders are always fuzzy),<br />
with a very different style and also rich<br />
with religious meaning. While here not<br />
only is the style far more decorative but<br />
<strong>19</strong>6 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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a darkened room with a warm towel over<br />
their eyes, the poor dears).<br />
Though there was one thing that was<br />
pretty regular, at least for now. No idols.<br />
No praying to saints. No worshipping<br />
bits of wood or stone. No having a<br />
quiet chat to a painted figure. Just no.<br />
The Bible was your man, and all the<br />
writings in it, and the preacher would<br />
help you understand that. Very help you.<br />
Not an invitation. No RSVP required.<br />
Attendance hugely obligatory.<br />
So the Renaissance style, which<br />
had been incorporated into church<br />
carvings before but not so full-blown<br />
(wood carvers, like all creative folk, like to<br />
experiment) came roaring into Marwood<br />
with the new screen, built just after<br />
the start of the Reformation. Fantastic<br />
carving, tentacling and floriating all<br />
over, but no idols here.<br />
that is its sole purpose. The meaning<br />
has gone. Admittedly a lot of the figures<br />
use older concepts, that combination of<br />
foliage, faces and heads for example, but<br />
in such a concatenation of twirls and<br />
whirls the whole subsumes the parts.<br />
This lack of meaning was ultraimportant,<br />
potentially life-preservingly<br />
so.<br />
This wasn’t the Roman Catholic Church<br />
anymore. Henry VIII had taken over<br />
the church in England and the country<br />
was in flux with the early Reformation<br />
in full swing, and swing it did, from<br />
one prescribed belief to another and<br />
back. Even Continental European<br />
commentators were flummoxed,<br />
unable to work out if the new Church<br />
of England was Protestant or Roman<br />
Catholicism 2.0 (this flummoxation carried<br />
on until Brexit, when everybody’s heads<br />
exploded and they just had to lie down in<br />
The details, as we look closer, are both<br />
astounding and full of joy. The poor<br />
couple who have been about to kiss for<br />
over 450 years, the leaf sprite with what<br />
seems to be a child’s rattle or a whistle<br />
in his mouth, Mick Jagger getting in<br />
on the act as he does whenever he can,<br />
two beasts that probably come from<br />
Mick’s acid days… just astounding.<br />
And this was expensive, a glorious<br />
donation, and through it we can glimpse<br />
the worldly riches pouring through the<br />
nearby ports of Bideford and Barnstaple<br />
in that period. Riches that were so often<br />
converted into church beauty for all<br />
to experience the wonder of creation<br />
and, possibly, have your name passed<br />
down the ages to be remembered in<br />
people’s prayers.<br />
A bit naughty having that inscription<br />
under the new regime though, a strong<br />
suggestion to the good folk of Marwood<br />
to pray for his soul after his death, I<br />
suspect. This was treading very close to<br />
the new heresy, to the Roman Catholic<br />
belief in Purgatory, to the enemy within,<br />
but it was the vicar and there was no<br />
actual request for prayers so he does<br />
not seem to have crossed the line.<br />
Time spent in this church is time well<br />
invested, so much to see, so many<br />
deep details to glory in and a close<br />
inspection will reveal more and more.<br />
And it is waiting patiently for us<br />
as part of the boundary wood,<br />
populated by intricate carvings that<br />
glide marvellously through our own<br />
imaginations.<br />
Douglas Young<br />
Follow me:<br />
@devonchurchland<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>19</strong>7
A railwayman, joining the Lyme Regis branch line at 15 in <strong>19</strong>60, working<br />
during the last five years before steam trains were decommissioned.<br />
THE SEATON BRANCH LINE AND THE<br />
WARNER'S HOLIDAY CAMP TRAIN<br />
Mike Clements<br />
michael @axmouth.plus.com<br />
On leaving the Lyme Regis branch line, at the<br />
age of sixteen years, I went to Exeter, and the<br />
Locomotive Depot, at Exmouth Junction, to<br />
become an Engine cleaner<br />
Exmouth Junction was a big depot,<br />
and had around one hundred and<br />
fifty steam Locomotives allocated to it.<br />
Exmouth Junction also supplied<br />
the branch lines of Exmouth,<br />
Sidmouth, Seaton, and Lyme Regis,<br />
with locomotives. And the crews,<br />
during annual leave and sickness.<br />
The year was <strong>19</strong>61, and I lodged<br />
with an Exeter locomotive fireman,<br />
while working at the junction as<br />
an engine cleaner. There were four<br />
shifts we had to cover, we had to be<br />
sixteen years of age, to do the night<br />
shifts, according to the factories act.<br />
Our shifts where as follows. 6.0.a.m.<br />
until 2.0p.m. 8.0.a.m. until 4.0. p.m.<br />
2.0.p.m. until 10.0.p.m. And 12. 01. a.m.<br />
until 8.01a.m. We would be given a<br />
list of the Engines we had to clean, A<br />
Bucket filled with cleaning oil, And a<br />
load of Cotton waste, first of all clean<br />
the engine, and then to polish them.<br />
We would also have Underneath’s<br />
to oil. (The Inside Motion) This was a<br />
job done in the inspection pits. The<br />
tools of the trade where a lit flare<br />
lamp, and an oil feeder can. It would<br />
be down in the pit, and underneath<br />
the engine which would be in steam,<br />
and then climb up to the big end and<br />
straps, of the inside motion. Taking<br />
out all the corks, and oiling all around,<br />
replacing each cork as you did so. The<br />
boiler barrel would be very hot, and<br />
sometimes, as you bent over in oiling<br />
the straps, your ear might touch the<br />
hot boiler barrel, which would bring<br />
forth more than a little cursing. The<br />
cleaners had their own cabin at the<br />
junction, as did the engineman. And<br />
a chargehand, overseeing everything<br />
went smoothly, Bill Collicott, was a<br />
good chargehand, to us lads.<br />
Firing School<br />
Time went quick at the junction, and<br />
before long, we had the call to go to<br />
firing school, down at Exeter Central,<br />
in the first aid building. We did this for<br />
a fortnight, and at the end we had to<br />
answer questions, which our tutor Mr<br />
Edgar Snow, asked us. We all passed<br />
out okay, and now we had the rank of<br />
passed cleaners, but I hasten to add,<br />
yet to gain experience. I remember my<br />
first turn on an engine, was with Driver<br />
Charlie Crump, shunting in Exmouth<br />
Junction yard. Then odd turns doing<br />
this and that, and gaining experience.<br />
Before to long, the Vacancy list came<br />
out, and on it was the vacancy for a<br />
fireman on the Seaton branch line,<br />
Warner's Holiday Camp Seaton, with the railway in the<br />
foreground.<br />
<strong>19</strong>8 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
Advertisement for Warner's<br />
Holiday Camp, Seaton.<br />
which I immediately applied. I had<br />
to wait now, to see if I was successful<br />
with my application. I was, and I was<br />
told to report to the Driver in charge<br />
at Seaton on Monday 16th April <strong>19</strong>62.<br />
Now the Seaton branch line, and the<br />
Yeovil branch line, worked on the Pull<br />
and Push System. Which was that from<br />
Seaton to Seaton Junction the Engine<br />
pulled the two coach train out. But on<br />
the return journey from the Junction<br />
to Seaton, the Engine pushed the train<br />
in, in reverse. The driver had a driving<br />
compartment on the other end of the<br />
train, with a regulator, vacuum brake,<br />
and Bell code. Between Fireman on<br />
the footplate of the engine, and the<br />
Driver in his compartment. All was well.<br />
I had to learn this, and I had a tutor<br />
in Passed fireman, Reggie (Snowball)<br />
Richardson. Snowball because of his<br />
blonde hair. A better tutor I couldn’t<br />
have wished for.<br />
I had both the late turn and early turn<br />
duties to learn, and to get to know<br />
the working of the engines, of which<br />
there where three. M-7 Drummond<br />
Tank engines, No’s 30045, 30048, and<br />
30125. All fitted for Pull and Push Work.<br />
This also included the lighting up of<br />
the engines in the morning, and the<br />
disposing of them at night, by throwing<br />
the fire out, and filling the boiler full<br />
of water prior to the disposal. With<br />
the firing of the M-7s out on the road,<br />
it was ‘little and often’. First thing in<br />
the morning, once steam had been<br />
raised, it was out of the shed, and up<br />
to the coaling stage, to fill the Bunker.<br />
Which held three tons. Once this had<br />
been done, it was making up the fire<br />
from the coaling stage, and then going<br />
up to the water column, to top up with<br />
water. Ready for the first train out,<br />
the 7.50a.m. off of Seaton. Stopping at<br />
Colyford, Colyton, and Seaton Junction,<br />
four and a quarter miles up the line.<br />
I was passed out for working the Pull<br />
and Push, by Locomotive Inspector<br />
Charlie Rooke, from Exmouth Junction,<br />
and ‘Snowball’ returned to Exmouth<br />
Junction, his home depot.<br />
Warner's Holiday<br />
Camp<br />
Now the difference between the<br />
Winter working on the branch, and the<br />
Summer working, was vastly different.<br />
The latter was all about grabbing a spot,<br />
Seaton was a busy place in the summer<br />
for racing pigeon specials, Warner’s<br />
holiday camp trains, the branch train<br />
timetable, and day excursions coming<br />
in. And of course there was the goods<br />
traffic, for the local traders.<br />
On a Friday evening, the stationmaster<br />
at Seaton, David Jones. Would come<br />
over sometimes and asked the crew of<br />
the engine, prior to going out with the<br />
last train, if we would work a special<br />
out to Seaton Junction, after we had<br />
come in with the last service train of<br />
the evening. The reason being that,<br />
all the goods traffic in the back road,<br />
would be taken out and put in the<br />
sidings at Seaton Junction. To make<br />
Seaton Station on 6th <strong>June</strong> <strong>19</strong>60. In the locomotive road,<br />
awaiting passage home to Exmouth Juncton Shed Exeter. ‘U<br />
Class’ no. 31805, Which had brought an excursion into Seaton.<br />
And unrebuilt ‘West Country Class’ no. 34096 ‘Trevone’. Which<br />
has worked in the Warner's Holiday Camp, train, from Waterloo.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>19</strong>9
SEATON BRANCH LINE ...continued<br />
Seaton Locomotive Depot. On 1st September <strong>19</strong>62. Driver ‘Dan<br />
Weston’ of Seaton, has just oiled around m-7 drummond tank,<br />
no. 30045.<br />
space, for a racing pigeon special to<br />
come in. Also arriving would be an<br />
unrebuilt West Country class engine,<br />
with a rake of empty coaches, this<br />
was for Warner’s holiday camp, and<br />
the returning holiday makers going<br />
back to Waterloo. And on top of this,<br />
could be a day excursion coming in, on<br />
unloading the passengers, the empty<br />
stock would also be taken out to the<br />
junction, and placed in the siding,<br />
ready to be brought in again later. The<br />
engine returning to its home depot.<br />
We in the meantime would be going<br />
in and out, with the branch line<br />
service. Come early afternoon another<br />
Unrebuilt West Country or Battle of<br />
Britain class Engine would come in<br />
from Waterloo, with the incoming<br />
holiday makers, for Warner’s Holiday<br />
Camp. Sometimes the empty coaches<br />
from this train, would go back to Exeter,<br />
as empty stock, with the returning<br />
West Country going back to Exmouth<br />
junction shed. Or they might be placed<br />
in the sidings at Seaton Junction, if<br />
there was space. But they would all<br />
have to be swept out and cleaned,<br />
prior to going off.<br />
You may wonder why I mention the<br />
unrebuilt West Country, instead of<br />
just saying a West Country Class.<br />
The reason being that the Rebuilt<br />
West Countries, were too heavy for<br />
the bridge over the top of ‘Cowhayne<br />
Lane’, and were banned from using<br />
the Seaton line.<br />
Rebuilt West<br />
Countries, were too<br />
heavy ... and were<br />
banned from using<br />
the Seaton line.<br />
As for the Warner’s Holiday Camp, the<br />
holiday makers would do a special<br />
walk on a Wednesday, a whole group<br />
of them would come out of the camp,<br />
led by more often than not, Johnnie<br />
Driver, their guide. They would walk<br />
down past the station, over Axmouth<br />
bridge, and into Axmouth village, up<br />
through the village and up over ‘Pound<br />
Hill’ and on out past Stedcombe to<br />
Boshill Cross, turning left here, and<br />
walking the group toward Colyford<br />
village, passing the level crossing gates,<br />
beside the little Colyford station, the<br />
whole group would go into The White<br />
Hart Inn, situated next door to the<br />
station. They would have a couple of<br />
drinks, and Johnnie would go into the<br />
booking office, at Colyford station,<br />
and purchase the number of tickets<br />
required, for everyone to ride back on<br />
the train to Seaton station, and then<br />
walk the couple hundred yards, back<br />
up to the holiday camp. This took<br />
place every week, weather permitting.<br />
At one stage at Seaton, we lost one<br />
of our M-7 Tanks 30048. This was<br />
replaced by sister engine 30667. On<br />
the early turn, when we got out to<br />
Seaton Junction, The Express Dairy<br />
had a milk and egg depot situated right<br />
beside the station, and we would take<br />
in our Billy Cans, and get them filled<br />
with Hot Coffee made from Milk, they<br />
used to charge 6d a can. The can being<br />
placed on the tray above the Engines<br />
firebox, to keep it hot.<br />
We had a Shedman who used to look<br />
after the Engine overnight in the<br />
Engine shed, and when a truck of steam<br />
coal came in, he would unload it over<br />
several nights, the truck would hold<br />
16 tons. The last thing we used to do<br />
when we finished at night, we cleaned<br />
the fire, and then banked it up under<br />
the firebox door, the boiler would have<br />
been filled with water, the dampers<br />
where dropped down, and to finish we<br />
would black the fire out so that it would<br />
not burn out. When Bill the shedman<br />
came on duty it was all okay for him. I<br />
remember one incident that happened.<br />
Next door to the Engine shed, was a<br />
little cottage, and the engine was in<br />
200 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
On the coaling stage at Seaton, 1st September <strong>19</strong>62. Fireman ‘Mike Clement’ tops up the bunker of<br />
drummond m-7 tank. No. 30045. Note air pipes hanging down, for pull & push working.<br />
the shed, and low on steam, the lady<br />
who lived in the cottage hung some<br />
washing out on her line, anyway Bill<br />
must have put the Dart - fire iron,<br />
into the firebox, to lift the fire, and<br />
raise steam, unfortunately the wind<br />
was blowing North Westerly, there<br />
was not enough steam raised, to put<br />
the blower on (this was a fan that would<br />
clear the smoke) And the smoke blew<br />
over all her washing, she came into<br />
the engine shed and created blazes to<br />
Bill, he tried to explain to her that as<br />
soon as steam was raised enough, he<br />
would put the blower on, and clear the<br />
smoke. But she continued creating at<br />
him, Bill had took enough, and chased<br />
her out of the engine shed. I would<br />
have loved to have seen it. Both of<br />
them have long gone now.<br />
Our Driver<br />
In charge at Seaton was Harold Pope,<br />
he was a case, Harold would never<br />
send his overall jacket and trousers to<br />
the cleaners to be done, he would get<br />
a bucket from out of the engine shed,<br />
go over to the station and get some<br />
liquid Carriage cleaner, pour this in<br />
the bucket, put in some hot water stir<br />
it up, and then put his overall trousers<br />
and jacket in the bucket to soak. After<br />
Harold would<br />
never send his<br />
overall jacket and<br />
trousers to the<br />
cleaners<br />
about half a dozen treatments of this,<br />
his overalls had lost all their colour<br />
from bleaching. Another thing he<br />
would do, when coming into Seaton<br />
in the driving compartment of the<br />
train, he would be keeping his eye<br />
open, to see if there was any driftwood<br />
about on the river bank, when we<br />
uncoupled the engine to go back into<br />
the Locomotive road, we had to come<br />
right out over the points, if Harold had<br />
spotted something he would carry<br />
on up the line, till he found his piece<br />
of wood, then he would stop, get off<br />
the engine, go and pick up his great<br />
piece of wood, and put it across the<br />
front end of the engine, get back on<br />
the footplate, and go back in reverse<br />
into the locomotive road, but instead<br />
of stopping by the clinker heap, where<br />
the fire cleaning took place, he would<br />
go back to the engine shed, unload his<br />
wood, and the fireman would take the<br />
engine back to the clinker heap, and<br />
start cleaning his fire. In the meantime<br />
Harold would be in the engine shed,<br />
Wood in the vice. He would be cutting<br />
it up with the railway cross cut saw,<br />
and filling some empty sack bags, he<br />
had got from the Pebble and Flints<br />
works, next door.<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
201
SEATON BRANCH LINE ...continued<br />
line, the 7.50 p.m. Mails up from Exeter<br />
Central, arrival time at Seaton Junction<br />
8.39.p.m. The day had been rather<br />
unsettled and foggy, with a heavy<br />
drizzle at times. We noticed that the<br />
signals had been pulled off for the<br />
down through road, at the junction,<br />
which meant that a non- stop special,<br />
was coming through. Sure enough<br />
we could hear the roar as the engine<br />
accelerated around the bend from<br />
Whitford, it was an S-15 Class known<br />
as ‘BLACK UNS’ by the engineman, and<br />
she was heading a ‘Fyffes Banana’ train<br />
from Southampton docks to Exeter<br />
where they had a depot.<br />
Outside view of Seaton Station, at Station Road, Seaton. Taken in<br />
the <strong>19</strong>50s. The station was only about 200 yards, from Warner's<br />
Holiday Camp. The local lads would be lined up in the summer,<br />
with their carts, ready to take suitcases up to the holiday camp,<br />
and earn some pocket money.<br />
She came hammering through the<br />
station at the junction, watched by<br />
myself and other staff. But there was<br />
a problem. We had a dry spell and<br />
now it was wet and the rails had got<br />
greasy. As the S-15 climbed up Honiton<br />
Bank, with her train, you could hear<br />
the engine slipping on the greasy rails.<br />
When he came to work, he was<br />
always behind time, Hughie Swain<br />
the signalman would shout to him,<br />
and tap the watch face on his arm,<br />
telling him he was behind time. Come<br />
on ‘Brother’ Hughie would say, before<br />
anything else Harold would get out<br />
his Baccy Tin, with his Roll Ups in, he<br />
would get out his old petrol lighter<br />
take out a roll up, strike his lighter<br />
which was like a flame thrower, half<br />
his ‘roll up’ would be cremated, and<br />
with that he was away up the line,<br />
like the wind. For a long time he had<br />
a Johnnie Walker whisky bottle, he<br />
had an old iron kettle, which he used<br />
to boil outside on an open fire, and<br />
he used to throw paraffin over the<br />
fire, going in his kettle as well, then<br />
he used to make his tea ,and when<br />
cool enough he would pour it into his<br />
whisky bottle, and swig it as he was<br />
going along up the line. He kept the<br />
bottle on the tray over the firebox,<br />
by laying it flat on the tray. Then at<br />
one stage, he brought his bottle into<br />
use, by sending it with his fireman,<br />
over to the dairy to be filled up with<br />
coffee, Mrs L., who was in charge at<br />
the canteen, said they couldn’t accept<br />
the bottle anymore, and that it had to<br />
be replaced by a ‘Billy Can’, Harold was<br />
told this, and then one of the relief<br />
fireman from Exmouth Junction shed,<br />
left his Billy Can at Seaton, Harold<br />
collared this one, scoured it out, and<br />
had an immediate replacement for<br />
his bottle, at the dairy canteen, Mrs<br />
L. Was very pleased indeed.<br />
A trip to Honiton<br />
One summer evening, we were out at<br />
Seaton Junction, waiting for the last<br />
train of the evening for the branch<br />
This was definitely<br />
going to be a trip<br />
up the six and a<br />
half mile climb of<br />
Honiton bank<br />
I carried on in the cab of our M-7<br />
getting my fire ready for the last trip<br />
in, the Merchant Navy class hauling<br />
the ‘up’ 7.50 Mails was coming down<br />
the bank, toward Seaton Junction,<br />
my driver Dan Weston, was out on<br />
the platform, watching the passage<br />
of the S-15 up Honiton Bank.<br />
Then Dan came back to the engine, and<br />
said to me you better make your fire<br />
up mate I think we could be going on<br />
a trip to Honiton. I got off our engine<br />
to take a look up the bank, I could see<br />
202 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
FOOD & DRINK<br />
THINGS TO DO
the Guard making his way down to<br />
Seaton Junction, and I could see the<br />
goods trains back half, stood at ‘Snobs<br />
Corner’, the front half had gone round<br />
the bend, before slipping to a stand, on<br />
the greasy rail. Dan was right this was<br />
definitely going to be a trip up the six<br />
and a half mile climb of Honiton bank.<br />
The guard reached the signalbox at<br />
Seaton Junction, and confirmed what<br />
we already guessed had happened.<br />
I had my fire made up, water in the<br />
boiler was okay, and I had put a tail<br />
lamp on the bunker of our engine, I<br />
uncoupled our engine from the branch<br />
train. We picked up the guard from the<br />
signalbox, and we set off up Honiton<br />
bank. On reaching the stranded goods,<br />
we just kissed the buffers of the brake<br />
van, at the location of ‘Snobs Corner’,<br />
just letting the driver of the S-15 in<br />
front, know we had arrived. The guard<br />
boarded the brake van, and we gave<br />
the cock - crow on the whistle, to<br />
the engine in front saying we where<br />
ready, the S-15 replied, and off we<br />
went, giving it everything we had on<br />
both engines, to climb up over the<br />
bank. In the meantime, the 7.50 mails<br />
had long gone.<br />
We went by Honiton Incline signal<br />
box, and the Goods was away toward<br />
Exeter, we dropped off the back, and<br />
got the road, from Incline box back to<br />
Seaton Junction. The passengers on<br />
the 7.50 mails, on arrival at Seaton<br />
Junction had road transport to their<br />
stations. We coupled up to our empty<br />
two coach set, got the tablet, and the<br />
road, and set off with our empty train<br />
to Seaton. Passing through Colyton<br />
non-stop, Alan Darke the porter had<br />
gone home, and the station in darkness.<br />
Ken Enticott, was still manning the<br />
level crossing gates at Colyford, we<br />
went straight through non-stop, and<br />
right into platform 1 at Seaton.<br />
At the end of a memorable evening,<br />
everything was put to bed eventually.<br />
And we made our way home.<br />
Mike Clements<br />
Bringing the Past, into the Present, for the Future<br />
Gg<br />
Mary Hyland<br />
Genealogist<br />
as heard on BBC Radio Devon<br />
Gg<br />
Clients have complete control over their<br />
projects and their budget.<br />
Research is as accurate as it is possible to be with<br />
the resources available at the present time.<br />
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visit website www.plantagenesta.webs.com<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
203
THE MIGHTY ATOM<br />
Pat Stroud<br />
Despite her diminutive size, Marie Corelli reigned<br />
supreme in a male dominated world as the duenna<br />
of the soap opera, overly dramatic style of feminine<br />
Victorian literature<br />
Despite her diminutive size, Marie<br />
Corelli reigned supreme in a male<br />
dominated world as the duenna of the<br />
soap opera, overly dramatic style of<br />
feminine Victorian literature.<br />
By the time she published her first<br />
novel A Romance of Two Worlds in<br />
1886, she was 31 years old, although<br />
claiming to be seventeen and still<br />
dressing as a young girl well into her<br />
50’s. Every single one of her thirty<br />
plus novels was eagerly awaited by<br />
her dedicated readers. Queen Victoria<br />
herself had a standing order for each<br />
edition whilst Gladstone devoured her<br />
latest offering between Parliamentary<br />
sessions. In the early years of the 20th<br />
century such was her phenomenal<br />
success that 100,000 copies per title<br />
sold was not uncommon, earning<br />
her a healthy income. She outsold<br />
Kipling, H.G. Wells and Conan Doyle<br />
combined and was the most widely<br />
read author of her time, a remarkable<br />
feat given that her novels were<br />
really quite appalling. In fact one<br />
disgruntled journalist called her<br />
"the most accomplished liar in literature".<br />
She adored the North Devon<br />
countryside so much so that The<br />
Mighty Atom published in 1896 put<br />
Combe Martin on the map, in a<br />
literary sense of course.<br />
Author Marie Corelli<br />
"Combe Martin with its old grey Church,<br />
stone cottages and thatched cottages<br />
overgrown with flowers"<br />
During her visit to the village in the<br />
1890’s she stayed at the King’s Arms<br />
Hotel where in fact until recent years<br />
there was a room dedicated as the<br />
Corelli room.<br />
"All at the halt outside the funny old inn<br />
called by various wags the Pack of Cards<br />
on account of its peculiar structure"<br />
Her comment poses a bit of a mystery,<br />
as the Inn was not named the Pack<br />
of Cards until <strong>19</strong>33.<br />
She then stayed as a paying guest in<br />
Waverley, a cottage in Castle Street<br />
owned by the Church sexton James<br />
Norman the model for her character<br />
Reuben Dale.<br />
The hero of the story eleven year old<br />
Lionel Valliscourt, son of a tyrannical<br />
father and indifferent Mother, escapes<br />
his life of study and drudgery in a<br />
cold loveless house when he meets<br />
pretty little Jessamine, the daughter<br />
of Reuben Dale and verger of St Peters.<br />
When his Mother runs off with a<br />
local toff Charles Lascelles, a wealthy<br />
Baronet, Lionel is sent to Clovelly<br />
accompanied by his miserable, strict<br />
tutor Mr Cadman-Gore. En route they<br />
stay at the Castle Hotel in Lynton –<br />
the "Switzerland of England" where<br />
she mentions the Lynton/Lynmouth<br />
tram -<br />
"They’ve got a queer tram car that slides<br />
up and down a hill from Lynton to<br />
Lynmouth"<br />
While writing the book, she stayed<br />
at the Lyndale Hotel in Lynmouth<br />
which was unfortunately destroyed<br />
during the <strong>19</strong>52 flood disaster.<br />
The arrival of Lionel and Mr Cadman-<br />
Gore in Clovelly is heralded with<br />
three pages of it obvious wonders, but<br />
204 CONTENTS GREEN & NATURE VISIT<br />
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THINGS TO DO
strangely wanders off into a tirade<br />
about the local women – their dyed<br />
hair and moral decline.<br />
"Dyed hair in the village of Clovelly is a<br />
curious anomaly – women of our large<br />
and overcrowded cities foolishly strive<br />
to make themselves as much like their<br />
fallen sisters as possible, but in a tiny<br />
village tenderly nestling between two<br />
flowery knolls, what stranger sight can<br />
there be than artless native maiden<br />
with dyed hair"<br />
Miss Corelli had very definite ideas<br />
about the sisterhood. Although it was<br />
rumoured she not only preferred the<br />
company of the fair sex, namely Miss<br />
he hangs himself... remember this is<br />
an eleven year old boy.<br />
"Lionel’s grave was closed in and a full<br />
flowering stem ot the white lilies of St<br />
John lay upon it like an angel’s sceptre.<br />
Another similar stem adorned the<br />
grave of Jessamine and between the<br />
two little mounds of earth beneath<br />
which two little innocent hearts were<br />
at rest forever, a robin red breast sang<br />
its plaintive evening carol while the<br />
sun flamed down into the west and<br />
the night fell"<br />
Ridiculous as the plot seems now, not<br />
to mention the corny, over flowery<br />
For good measure she threw in the<br />
odd bit of local colour -<br />
"Here lyeth ye earthlie body of Simon<br />
Yeddie saddler in Combe Martin who<br />
dyed full of joy and hope to see his<br />
Christe on the 17th daye of <strong>June</strong> 1761<br />
aged 102"<br />
At the end of her life she and Bertha<br />
moved to Stratford to be close to<br />
her soul-mate William Shakespeare<br />
in fact she purchased Mason Croft,<br />
reputed to once have been the home<br />
of the Bard’s daughter. Much to the<br />
annoyance of the locals, among other<br />
things, they had taken to gliding<br />
up and down the river Avon in her<br />
genuine gondola, propelled by her<br />
genuine Venetian gondolier, that is<br />
until he was shipped back to Italy<br />
after an altercation in a bar.<br />
She seemed to invite controversy, was<br />
notoriously outrageous, eccentric,<br />
and had a knack of insulting<br />
journalists. Hence as one hack<br />
who had had enough of her antics<br />
described her in a most unflattering<br />
way as "a deplorable woman who thought<br />
herself a genius".<br />
Bertha Vyver with whom she lived<br />
with for most of her life, she had little<br />
time for the suffragette movement.<br />
Her explanation of why she never<br />
married, despite suffering the pain<br />
of unrequited love, is typical Corelli:<br />
"I never married because I have three<br />
pets at home which answer the same<br />
purpose as a husband. I have a dog that<br />
growls every morning, a parrot that<br />
swears all afternoon and a cat that<br />
comes home late at night"<br />
Upon his return to Combe, Lionel<br />
finds Reuben Dale digging a grave<br />
for his beloved Jessamine who had<br />
succumbed to diphtheria. After<br />
questioning whether there is a God,<br />
one of Marie’s favourite subjects, or<br />
did life spring from the mighty atom,<br />
King's Arms Hotel,<br />
Combe Martin<br />
dialogue, hundreds of faithful fans<br />
were so moved they flocked to Combe<br />
and St Peters to see where it had all<br />
happened. James Norman, much to<br />
his bemusement, became an over<br />
night celebrity. Corelli tourism at<br />
its finest.<br />
Her love of the beauty and wildness of<br />
North Devon shines throughout the<br />
novel and her obvious appreciation<br />
of Devon cream teas at Miss Clarinda<br />
Cleverley’s establishment. "New laid<br />
eggs and <strong>Devonshire</strong> junkets", were<br />
particular favourites.<br />
Sued by the Ministry of Works during<br />
the first World War for hoarding sugar<br />
to make jam, she was fined £50 plus<br />
20 guineas for costs.<br />
Whatever has been documented good<br />
or bad about the life of Marie Corelli,<br />
the Mighty Atom,<br />
she was an amazing<br />
character, a woman<br />
of her time who had<br />
risen to dizzying<br />
heights - not bad for<br />
someone who started<br />
out life as plain old<br />
Minnie Mackay, the<br />
illegitimate daughter<br />
of Charles Mackay, poet, writer and<br />
editor of the London Illustrated News.<br />
Pat Stroud<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
205
1<br />
2<br />
A poignant reminder<br />
of what ever so nearly<br />
happened to us!<br />
3<br />
WWII British Resistance bunker at<br />
Metcombe, near Newton Poppleford,<br />
East Devon<br />
The highly secret World War Two<br />
British Resistance consisted of<br />
hundreds of units stretching the<br />
length of Britain. In the event of<br />
German invasion, their job would<br />
have been to leave their homes<br />
and occupy their bases hidden in<br />
the British countryside.<br />
This bunker at Metcombe was<br />
part of group 6, which also<br />
included Sidbury, Branscombe,<br />
Beer, Bovey and Seaton which was<br />
commanded by Captain Leonard<br />
Howes of Colyford. Their task was<br />
to perform night attacks on the<br />
supply chain of the German army<br />
The fields next to the secret bunker. Ever vigilant - Jack'd have been no use down the<br />
bunker, the Germans would have soon located his incessant yapping and barking - you'd<br />
have very quickly ended up at the end of a firing squad!<br />
force, also to take out key facilities and to<br />
'deal' with collaborators. If the Germans had<br />
managed to land in Britain, things would really<br />
have been at a desperate stage in our history,<br />
but thankfully the British and American armed<br />
forces really did show them the error of their<br />
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4<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
Quiet lanes provided ideal access to the<br />
secret bunkers.<br />
Hard to spot, the hatch was easily hidden.<br />
Here you can see the hatch open with<br />
ladder in place allowing us to view inside.<br />
There'd be no Euro if these chaps would've<br />
had their way, it'd be Deutschmarks only I'm<br />
afraid. Whichever way you look at it, since<br />
WWII we've been paying for them ever since<br />
to prevent their warring antics. We'd also<br />
be eating sauerkraut and frankfurters - that<br />
would really have been awful!<br />
It's pokey inside, an amazing vestige of WWII.<br />
Of course, it wasn't built for comfort, things<br />
would have been desperate had this bunker<br />
come into proper use.<br />
Looking upwards from inside the bunker.<br />
a thought to what could have been.<br />
It all seems like a distant memory,<br />
but the vicious German Nazis would<br />
have carved up Britain, much like the<br />
Normans did after the battle of Hastings<br />
in 1066, bringing with them their evil<br />
tyranny.<br />
5<br />
6<br />
ways and averted what could have been a<br />
seismic event for humanity.<br />
As a child of the 70s, my parents had<br />
experienced at first hand the effects<br />
of war, so unlike the politically correct<br />
censorship at our schools today, it was<br />
accepted as being better for children<br />
to be furnished with the reality, rather<br />
than the rose tinted viewpoint that's<br />
broadcast in our in schools these days.<br />
My subscription to 'Victor' and suchlike<br />
was seen as both being informative and<br />
patriotic. Let us not forget the sacrifice<br />
that millions made during the two wars<br />
in order to secure our freedom from<br />
tyranny. We should all be eternally<br />
grateful to these unfortunates that<br />
were forced to experience the horrors<br />
of war at first hand. We certainly<br />
shouldn't be hushing the whole thing<br />
up - yes, you may say it's in the past<br />
now, but there's a lesson never to be<br />
forgotten and our youngsters should<br />
be furnished with the facts.<br />
It's often we drive or stroll past many<br />
of concrete bunkers situated along the<br />
southern coast of Devon, often without<br />
You're of a certain age if you<br />
read these after school<br />
My visit to the secret bunker was on<br />
a dreary, damp day in August, and the<br />
opportunity was provided to climb<br />
continued<br />
PEOPLE HOME & GARDEN<br />
LIFESTYLE HISTORY<br />
CONTENTS<br />
207
WWII BRITISH RESISTANCE BUNKER ...continued<br />
down into the bunker to experience the<br />
cramped underground situation. This<br />
was pretty serious stuff, and graphically<br />
illustrates how worried high command<br />
were about the invasion threat. I<br />
suppose the immediate threat was to<br />
our south coast, particularly the more<br />
rural areas. Thank god for our English<br />
Channel, it's helped us immensely to<br />
stave of the German threat.<br />
The British Resistance were also known<br />
as Auxiliary Units, and many of these<br />
volunteers would have signed the<br />
Official Secrets Act, with many going<br />
to their graves without letting anyone<br />
know about their activities, not even<br />
their wives, closest family or friends.<br />
The Patrol was ideally located to cause<br />
havoc to supply routes from the coast<br />
to inland areas and hence northern<br />
and eastern routes also and the rest of<br />
the country. Public lanes allowed the<br />
Auxiliers very easy access from their<br />
homes to the bunker, attracting very<br />
little attention.<br />
We are lucky enough to have the names<br />
of some of the patrol members:<br />
• Sergeant Percy Retter<br />
• Jack B Pyle<br />
• Arthur T Rose<br />
• Reginald J Stone<br />
• Dan Pring<br />
• F H Haslam who was awarded the<br />
Defence Medal<br />
• George W Cross who was awarded<br />
the Defence Medal<br />
• Albert Garnsworthy who was<br />
transferred to 2nd Clyst Battalion<br />
Home Guard April <strong>19</strong>43<br />
Many thanks to CART (Coleshill<br />
Auxiliary Research Team) and to The<br />
British Resistance Archive for arranging<br />
the visit to the Metcombe bunker.<br />
For more information visit www.<br />
coleshillhouse.com<br />
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