Focus Nature Notes. Butterflies at last…

Last hurrah ….last week. 

Congratulations to RHS Garden Rosemoor with parts of the garden awash with bees, dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies at last …last week. Amongst the Whites are flashes of yellow, not Clouded Yellow as I thought but newly emerged Brimstone. It was a hopeful sight after the sad news about alarmingly low numbers from the Butterfly Conservation. #butterflycount. Also spotted a Peacock, 3 Red Admirals and my first and only Tortoishell of the year. Watch the clip below, enjoy a tranquil moment, I love to know what flowers are planted here.

“The Butterfly Conservation are calling on the Government to:

1. Declare a nature emergency

2. Implement an immediate and permanent ban on butterfly-harming neonicotinoid pesticides, without exceptions. 

If you agree, sign our letter and join leading conservation figures in calling on the Government to take action now.” Add your voice at (butterfly-conservation.org)

Seen 14th September

Watch the video here on youtube

 

 

 

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Heanton Nursing Home Wins Italian-Themed 'Armchair Day Out'

Heanton Nursing Home in Barnstaple was recently named 'Care Home of the Day' by Creed Food Services during an off-site training day at Nisbets in Bristol for their fantastic culinary skills.

Their reward was an Italian-themed celebration held at the care home featuring Italian cuisine, themed decorations, and the joyful company of residents (referred to as family members), their friends, and families.

Following a vibrant mocktail party the day before, the family members were in for another treat — this time with an Italian twist, filled with the colours red, white, and green! The team created an unforgettable day starting with transforming the lounge with vibrant honeycombed balls, flags, and table settings, before inviting families to join in the festivities. There was something for everyone, from dancing and postcard writing to playing a variety of instruments — all leading up to the main event of pizza and ice cream, giving the chefs a well-deserved break.

Tracy Grant, Group Catering Lead for Evolve Care Group whom Heanton are a part of, praised the team’s efforts; “Katie, John, Gerry and Danielle were brilliant at the catering training.  They are a credit to their home, and I hope they got as much out of the day as I did!”

Heanton Nursing Home, rated OUTSTANDING by the CQC, is committed to supporting its family members on their unique and complex journeys, honouring their individual values, beliefs, and identities. The Italian-themed 'Armchair Day Out' is a wonderful example of this commitment to enriching the lives of those in their care.

HEANTON NURSING HOME MEDIA RELEASE

To read more about the Catering Day please visit https://www.heantonnursinghome.com/evolve-care-group-catering-training-day/

Watermouth Castle’s first-ever immersive scare attraction: ‘Descend into Darkness’

A haunted castle with a twisted maze of horrors … This October, be first to experience Watermouth Castle’s first-ever immersive scare attraction: ‘Descend into Darkness’

Get ready to be spooked! Watermouth Castle, located in North Devon, is hosting a hair-raising Halloween scare event, promising thrills and chills for all those who love a good fright.

With event dates set for October 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, and November 1 and 2, brace yourself for bone-chilling attractions, live scare actors, and heart-pounding themed areas. This event is not for the faint of heart! Join us if you dare for a night of spine-tingling fun, and unforgettable scares. 

Do you dare to come face-to-face with terror…?

The castle’s multiple different immersive scare zones include:

• Cursed Forest: a bone-chilling woodland trail of howling wolves, clanking chains, and hanging trees
• Carnival of Clowns: this twisted fairground is a freakshow of horrifying jokers, bloody face paint and maniacal laughter…
• The Mad Maze: beware; a gang of the undead scarecrows have to come to life – and now they wander the twisted paths of the castle’s maze, looking for their next victim… you!
• Voodoo Valley: journey down the river of restless spirits; just make sure you don’t become yet another one of the lost souls trapped on its waters…
• The Haunted Castle: when the castle doors slam closed, you’ll find yourself trapped in a hellscape of cobwebs, cursed animatronics, and haunted robots. And only the bravest will dare to complete their journey with a descent into the bowels of the castle itself – the demented dungeon…

 Run by Catfish Productions, in partnership with Watermouth Castle.

The experience lasts approximately one hour

For ticket prices and early bird rates visit www.watermouthcastle.com

 

 Not suitable for under 12s or wheelchair users. Under 16s must have an accompanying adult.

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WATERMOUTH CASTLE MEDIA RELEASE

About Watermouth Castle 

Evolve Care Group “Driving” Excellence In Elderly Care

In a meaningful move towards supporting the standard of care and encouraging a continuation of life among residents, Evolve Care Group recently invested in a fleet of new cars for its care and nursing homes across the Southwest region. This initiative goes beyond providing reliable and comfortable transportation; it demonstrates the group’s commitment to ensuring that residents, whom they affectionately refer to as family members, continue to experience life as fully as possible.

Upon the arrival of the 6 new cars and 2 mini-buses at Evolve’s central support office in Bristol, a team member from each care home collected the keys and brought the vehicles to their new homes.  When asked by Car Company Wholesale, the supplier of the vehicles, why Evolve didn’t choose to fix marketing signage on to their cars, the response was clear "where is the dignity in that?" said Mark Reed, COO for the group. "These cars aren’t purchased for advertising purposes; they are for our family members."

Getting out into the community is key to boosting social and emotional health and supporting cognitive function. This aligns perfectly with Evolve’s philosophy of supporting a continuation of life, Mark went on to say that “if our family members were living at home, engaging with the community would be a normal part of their daily life. Our goal is to keep that sense of continuity, ensuring that even though they are now living in a care home, they still get to enjoy the connections you form in a community life.

 

EVOLVE CARE GROUP MEDIA RELEASE
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To find out more about Evolve Care Group, visit https://www.evolvecaregroup.com/

The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery & Museum appoints Harriet Cooper as Director

The Burton at Bideford has announced the appointment of Harriet Cooper as its new Director. She will start her new role on 16th September.

Harriet is a curator known for her developmental work with early-career artists, expertise in commissioning new work, and strategic leadership of national partnership projects. Her most recent roles have included Project Director at Southwark Park Galleries for national touring exhibition ‘Jerwood Survey III’; Curator of the UAL Art Collection; and member of the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions Committee 2022-25.

From 2018-22 Harriet was Head of Visual Arts for independent funder Jerwood Arts, supporting over 85 early-career visual artists, curators and arts writers to create ambitious new works, and building partnerships with 18 visual arts organisations across the UK. In this role she spearheaded pioneering new programmes including Jerwood Curatorial Accelerator – a 12-month curatorial and leadership development programme for curators from working class/low socio-economic backgrounds – and strategically shaped specialist commissioning initiatives such as Jerwood Art Fund Makers Open and the Jerwood/Photoworks Awards.

Harriet was co-curator of Phyllida Barlow’s celebrated solo commission ‘folly’ for the British Pavilion at the 57th Venice Art Biennale in 2017 and worked with Delhi-based Raqs Media Collective in 2018 to develop the project ‘Not Yet At Ease’ for 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. She has previously worked in the curatorial teams at Firstsite in Colchester, the British Council in London, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Tate Liverpool, and has served as an independent member of the Cymru yn Fenis Wales in Venice Advisory Committee.

Harriet said: “As a passionate advocate for the importance of art and artists in society, I am thrilled to join The Burton at this pivotal moment in the organisation’s journey. Since it was founded in 1951 The Burton has been committed to celebrating, exhibiting and nurturing artists, and I am looking forward to working with the incredible team of trustees, staff and volunteers to continue this essential legacy. The Burton is renowned as one of North Devon’s most important creative destinations and it is an honour to guide its next steps as the team strive to centre accessibility and sustainability in plans to improve the building, extend outreach and education programmes, and present even more ambitious projects and exhibitions for our audiences.”

Chair of The Burton trustees Robert Millward commented: “"I am certain that the appointment of Harriet as our new Director will help all of us at The Burton, staff and trustees alike, expand our horizons and consider novel and innovative ways to further improve and grow our wonderful gallery."

The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum is a National Portfolio Organisation and one of the leading cultural venues within the South West, attracting over 180,000 visitors last year. It is situated in the historic town of Bideford, where art, craft and maritime heritage meet at the water’s edge. With two exhibition spaces, heritage displays, craft gallery, a retail area, an education space and a café, The Burton attracts a wide range of audiences and provides the opportunity to access and engage with artists, collections and exhibitions on all levels. Placing community at the heart of all its activities, The Burton offers a rich outreach programme for those who don’t have easy access to a traditional arts venue.

The exhibition programme brings some of the most celebrated international artists to North Devon in partnership with leading organisations such as Tate, Arts Council Collection and the British Museum. Recent exhibitions include solo presentations by Louise Bourgeois (Tate ARTIST ROOMS), Paula Rego, and Yinka Shonibare CBE; while the Annual Schools Exhibition, Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society Annual Open Exhibition and Annual Friends Exhibition highlight the thriving artistic community in the region.

The Burton also supports contemporary artists through its annual Environmental and Ceramics Commissions, which offer an artist access to our collections and the opportunity to produce a body of work in response. The positions are currently held by Cornwall-based Andy Hughes (Environmental Commission) and Glasgow-based Florence Dwyer (Ceramics Commission).

Originally established to house the collections of Hubert Coop RBA, The Burton now displays a rich array of artefacts that vividly capture the history of Bideford and its surrounding area. The museum's dedicated Ceramics Gallery features the RJ Lloyd Collection, renowned for its North Devon slipware, and the Christine Halstead Collection of studio ware, providing an insightful introduction to the region’s ceramic heritage. The Permanent Collection also features work by artists including Gillian Ayres, Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA FRS, Aubrey Hunt, Bertram Prance, James Ravilious, and the archive of Mary Stella Edwards and Judith Ackland.

 

Harriet Cooper. Photo copyright Carole Evans (All Rights Reserved)

Complex Nursing Home Celebrates Afternoon Tea Week

Residents and the team at Heanton Nursing Home celebrated Afternoon Tea Week in style with an enchanting English Garden Themed party. The event celebrated the British tradition while creating a social gathering throughout the home.

The day began with a planned activity for residents, affectionately known as family members of flower arranging which offered a multi-sensory experience which can improve motor skills (the gentle movement of moving hands and fingers) encouraging mobility for those who are less mobile.

The arrangements were then used to decorate their living room at the Barnstaple Nursing Home, perfectly matching the Garden Party theme. The space was further brightened up with balloons and favour bags to get everyone in the celebratory spirit! In the afternoon, thanks to the catering team, an array of beautifully decorated handmade cakes, biscuits, sandwiches (and of course tea!) were displayed for all to enjoy. Trays were prepared and taken up to the rooms of the less mobile family members – just one example of the inclusive and thoughtful care the team at the Barnstaple Care Home provide.

Lesley Heale, a Care Assistant at Heanton Nursing Home, shared, ‘just the little extras like the pretty plates and cardboard teapots made it so special for us all.’ She added, ‘and of course a little favour bag with a selection of prepacked biscuits and various sweets for family members to enjoy in their own time. Just WOW.!

The CQC-rated OUTSTANDING Nursing Home supports family members on a complex journey and is dedicated to supporting the continued well-being by honouring the individual values, beliefs, and identities of people living there. Celebrating Afternoon Tea week with a party for all to be involved in, is a prime example of this dedication.

HEANTON NURSING HOME MEDIA RELEASE
To find out more about Heanton Nursing Home please visit https://www.heantonnursinghome.com/