The world’s largest garden wildlife survey returns, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK’s garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.
Over a million people took part in 2021, counting 17 million birds – making it the biggest Birdwatch ever! In Devon, nearly 29,000 people joined in.
Over the past year, we’ve seen how important the natural world is to our mental health and wellbeing. There has been a surge in interest in the nature on our doorsteps and many people have come to rely on garden birds to...
99% of bathing waters in England have passed water quality standards following testing at over 400 designated sites carried out by the Environment Agency (EA). The results, released today (19 January), show that for the 2021 bathing season 94.7% of England's beaches and inland waters gained an ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ rating while 4.3% achieved the minimum ‘Sufficient’ rating. This compares with 98.3% passing the required standards in 2019, and is the highest number since new standards were introduced in 2015. For the first time ever, 100% of designated bathing waters in Devon and Cornwall...
A group of cat volunteers are celebrating the successful homing of the final group of kittens from a farm near Honiton.
Cats Protection’s Honiton Branch had a busy year, rehoming more than 40 cats during 2021 and neutering 163 cats by October. However, it has been the most recent humane trapping of a pregnant female cat at a farm outside Monkton that has been cause for most celebration.
Originally contacted when three young kittens and some feral adults were seen around the farm, the branch set humane traps and was able to catch the kittens and take them into care. Two...
The British Heart Foundation shop in Exeter is urgently appealing for volunteers this New Year, as it gets back up and running, following the pandemic.
This January, the shop is encouraging the public to give the gift of time and get involved – whether that’s working the till, sorting donations or welcoming customers. The BHF has plenty of exciting volunteering roles available for those looking to support their local community, improve their wellbeing and widen their social network while supporting a good cause.
The charity’s 712 nationwide shops are bouncing back...
Following the success of the inaugural Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards, entries are now open for 2022. These remarkable awards are free to enter and offer aspiring cider makers advice, guidance and guaranteed listings with the on and off trade.
The closing date for applications is 28th February.
Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards explains:”The Breakthrough Cider Maker Awards are nothing like any other cider competition. It’s the competition that I wish I could have won when I was starting out. Without a budget, without much help and support, it can be...
Princesshay is inviting charities to apply to become its Charity of the Year for 2022 – 2023. From April 2022, the chosen Charity of the Year will be able to use Princesshay’s busy outdoor event space to fundraise to visitors throughout the year. The charity partner also benefits from money raised from centre led fundraising and events plus promotion through Princesshay’ssocial media channels and website.
Over the last decade, Princesshay has partnered a different local charity each year, helping them raise much needed funds and awareness of the services they operate in the...
Exeter is a modern, bustling, 21st Century city which, thanks to its compact size, river estuary, proximity to beach and countryside, offers many opportunities for dog owners and their companions. Although, like the rest of Devon, Exeter, Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and the environs are described as ‘dog welcoming’ we all know there is often not much difference between dog friendly, dog tolerant and dog suspicious!
So, as with each new place you visit it is sensible to check out local restrictions on council websites and always respect your other visitors. For example the...
Exeter-based paid media agency, Launch, has appointed Stephanie Iles as Sales Director. Steph joins the agency from SearchStar (now Adapt Worldwide), where she worked for over 5 years as a New Business Director.
Steph will help Launch to reach new prospects, aligning the agency’s services with individual business goals, and being a first port of call for brands to learn more about how Launch can help them achieve their aims with clever digital strategy and paid media.
Steph says: “I’ve worked and travelled across the world during my career, but my heart is in the South...
Topsham local, Paula, is celebrating after being selected as the winner of McCarthy Stone recent photography competition.
Run by the leading manager and developer of retirement communities behind the forthcoming Pym Court Retirement Living Plus development in Topsham, the competition called for local residents to share photographs of their favourite scenery, wildlife, and landscapes from all corners of the town.
The competition was judged by the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Trish Oliver, who chose Paula’s sunset photograph entitled Underway in Topsham...
Tesco is bringing a positive start to Devon communities’ year by launching a campaign to give good causes part of a £300,000 boost.
From 17 January to 6 February, Devon listeners to Heart and Smooth radio stations who work with charities or not-for-profit organisations will be encouraged to apply for a £5,000 cash grant.
Priority will be given to projects that provide food and support to young people, such as school breakfast clubs, food banks, or charities supporting young people to manage mental health.
The campaign is running in addition to Tesco Community...
