Happy Earth Day from North Devon

We can't save the world but we can do a little to help the environment, the natural world and wildlife and we can help by planting wild flowers and making sure they are preserved in their natural environment. 'No Mow May' will hopefully help with this, our local Devon councils have done a great job over the past couple of years leaving the wildflowers to flourish by the roadsides.  

Here is a photo of a tiny little wildflower predominant (but hiding in plain sight) in hedgerows, woodlands, green lanes and roadside borders leaving mile after mile of bounty for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

The Common Dog-violet flowers from April to June and is the food source for High-Brown Fritillary Butterfly caterpillars. I had a little look in the leaves and petals in the banks beside the path through an ancient woodland the other day but did not see any. 

According to Butterfly Conservation "The High Brown Fritillary was once widespread in England and Wales but since the 1950s has undergone a dramatic decline. It is now reduced to around 50 sites where conservationists are working to save it from extinction."

FACT CHECKING

What would we do without Google and Wikepedia

TAP HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION -  

"A world where butterflies and moths thrive and can be enjoyed by everyone, forever." 

TAP HERETO VISIT WOODLAND TRUST for more information on the Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana)

TAP HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT EARTH DAY

Nursing Home Turns Reception Area into Sweet Shop and Café

Hatherleigh Nursing Home near Okehampton, Devon, has re-vamped what was once its reception area, turning it into a sweet shop and café. The space now features shelves of traditional sweet jars alongside a small coffee area where drinks can be made and enjoyed, creating another place to sit and make a hot drink beyond the kitchenettes within each household.

The idea grew from a family member (resident) who previously ran her own sweet shop. She now spends time in the space with others, surrounded by something that still feels recognisable. The team worked with The Puzzled Sweet Shop in Dawlish to bring the idea to life, sourcing jars and a selection of classic sweets from the local business.

Jars line the shelves filled with liquorice all sorts, jelly beans, chocolate mice, peppermint creams and other traditional favourites. A vintage-style scale is used as sweets are weighed out into white or classic pink striped paper bags.

The space has quickly become part of everyday life in the home, with people stopping by throughout the day. Some pause in front of the jars, taking their time to choose, while others sit nearby with a drink and watch as bags are filled and passed across the counter.

For some, it brings back the experience of stopping at the local shop, whether that was after school with friends or later taking their own children at the weekend, choosing sweets from behind the counter — something many remember as a familiar part of daily life. It has introduced a setting that feels recognisable, while also offering a place for relatives and visitors to pause when they arrive.

The change reflects a wider focus on the spaces people use each day and the routines that continue within them. By understanding each person’s history, preferences and habits, support is shaped around the individual, with family members continuing to live in a way that feels familiar to them.

 

If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/lifes-journey-continued-2/

The Burton at Bideford awarded a grant to transform public access to its ceramic collection

The Burton at Bideford has been awarded a grant of £86,500 from The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund to help transform public access to one of the leading ceramic collections in the South West of England.

The funding is part of the £4 million contributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Wolfson Foundation in 2025-27 to support museums and galleries across England to improve displays, protect collections and make exhibitions more accessible to visitors.

Due to open in Spring 2027, The Ceramic Futures project will see The Burton’s collection of over 1,000 ceramic works moved to a new bespoke gallery space on the ground floor of the building. The improved facilities will significantly increase public access to the collections, bringing important works out of storage to tell the story of Bideford’s ceramic heritage and future.

Bideford’s pottery heritage is central to the town’s identity, with North Devon known as one of England’s most important locations for slipware – a style recognised for its warm glazes and intricate sgraffito designs scratched into white slip over red clay.

As The Burton celebrates its 75^th birthday in 2026, Ceramic Futures is part of a series of projects that aim to reimagine how collections can be shared with and used by current and future communities in Torridge. It will create new accessible resources for schools and community groups, and include a space for contemporary commissions, exhibitions and acquisitions that connect The Burton’s historic collections to vital conversations today.

Warren Collum, Exhibitions and Collections Manager at The Burton at Bideford said:

“Receiving this funding is essential to enabling us to present the story of North Devon ceramics with the depth and clarity it deserves. Not only will it strengthen our ability to communicate the significance of The Burton’s collections and their place within a wider cultural and historical context. It also provides a valuable opportunity to bring important works out of storage and into public view, ensuring they can be properly seen, studied, and inspire the next generation.”

Harriet Cooper, Director at The Burton at Bideford said:

“This exciting gallery improvement is a catalyst for how we can transform our local community’s relationship to our collections, creating a new context to explore the relevance these objects have to life today. We aim to celebrate Bideford’s ceramic heritage while also looking to the future and our aspirations to support new acquisitions, ambitious partnerships and creative skills opportunities for young people in the town.”

The Burton’s ceramic collections include the RJ Lloyd Collection of North Devon slipware which comprises over 500 works spanning 300-years, and the Christine Halstead Collection of over 400 pieces of studio ware, providing an insightful introduction to the South West region’s ceramic heritage. Since 2020 an annual Artist in Residence programme has supported contemporary artists like Connor Colston, Florence Dwyer and Simon Bayliss to make new work in response to these collections.

If you would like to stay up to date about Burton 2101: Ceramic Futures please sign up to The Burton’s newsletter at www.theburton.org.   

North Devon Harvest Jug, Robert Fishley, 1837

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The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ

(e) info@theburton.org   (t) 01237 471455 (w) www.theburton.org

 Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am–5pm - Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry

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Focus Nature Notes - April firsts

Well the rain and wind has been back today but yesterday I had sunlit walk on what the weather report said was one of the warmest early April days in 80 years.

Nothing like a wander through an ancient woodland or along a nature trail looking for signs of life, wildflowers and wild things. At this time of year Primroses and Lesser Celandine are out and the Bluebells and Wild Garlic are just rising ready for May days.

On my walk I spotted Dandelions and Daisies and one Red Campion - The collage below shows some of the flora I spotted:

• Herb Robert
• Dog Violet
• Primroses
• Lesser Celandine
• Ramsons
• Dogs Mercury
• Greater Stitchwart
• Alexander
• Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage.

The 'ancient, soon to be no more' trees have taken a battering in the past few years but that hasn't deterred the birds and the many different calls and response bring joy to the heart. I always feel Spring/Summer is on the way when I hear the Chiff Chaff. 

There were a number of bees buzzing around and I spotted the first Brimstone, three Speckled Wood butterflies and a Peacock which seems to love basking in the sun on the same bit of path every year. I just caught sight of one of the Speckled Wood landing on the stump of a recently felled tree.

I miss the overhanging branches of the old trees on either side of wooded valley.

Wildflowers in an ancient woodland - Photo © Pat Adams

Proud as a Peacock Butterfly basking in the April sunshine - Photo © Pat Adams

For the record. Early arrival of one of the first Swallows having a well-earned break after that long  trip from Africa before the nest building begins > View Short on my YouTube Channel

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Fact Checking...
what would we do without Google and Wikipedia

 

"Wednesday, 8 April 2026, was an exceptionally warm day in the UK, marking the hottest day of the year so far and one of the warmest early April days in 80 years".(google)

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North Devon Focus. Watching the changing seasons throughout the year, looking out and photographing events, nature, wildlife and places while walking on the North Devon coast and in the countryside. 
All photos/articles copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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Barnstaple Reflections. 'This is Me!' Documentary Photography Open 2026 Exhibition

The Documentary Photography Open 2026 is an exhibition of photographs sent in by the public in response to the theme, This Is Me.  The theme asked the public to explore who they are, as people living in North Devon today.  In a world that is constantly changing, where people are constantly moving, the public was invited to reflect on what makes them unique.

To complement the Open, a selection of historic portraits by photographer, James Ravilious, will also be on display. The warmth and affection that Ravilious felt for his subjects shines out, each bringing to life the unique character and personality of each individual.

 

In addition, the exhibition will include photographs taken by GCSE students from Pilton Community College as part of a portrait project run by local photographer, Carole Evans and funded by the Richard and Siobhan Coward Foundation Fund. The ‘Selfies’ to Self-Aware Portrait Project encouraged students to explore what makes a good portrait, how to use low key and natural lighting and consider the question ‘what one word captures what is it to be a young adult in 2025’ in their portraiture.

Bill Cooke in his kitchen, Colehouse, May 1988, James Ravilious © Beaford Arts (All Rights Reserved)

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This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

25th April – 20th June 2026

 

Website link - This is Me! Documentary Photography Open 2026 – Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

 

01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

Pine martens are 'doing well' after South West releases

Pine martens in the South West of England have begun to produce young and are 'doing well' since their recent reintroduction, say experts. 

In autumn 2024, 15 pine martens were released at secret woodland locations on Dartmoor; while in autumn 2025 a further 19 animals were released at undisclosed spots on Exmoor. The reintroductions were the work of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project is led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust and is a partnership between seven organisations: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust.

 

Pine martens had been missing from the region for more than 100 years after having been hunted and trapped to extinction. The animals are the size of a small cat and like to climb trees in search of food which includes wild fruits, mice, grey squirrels, and other small prey.

 

Tracking collars given to each animal before release have allowed the project to monitor their progress. Tracey Hamston is the Two Moors Pine Marten Project Lead. Tracey said:

 

"The collars have meant we can track the animals' movements. The results show that some pine martens stayed close to where they were released, but others travelled some distance, in a few cases more than 20 miles.

 

The Dartmoor pine martens seem now to have settled forming their own individual territories. Some of the Exmoor animals still seem to be mobile but we'd expect most to settle and establish a territory soon.

 

It's been amazing to see where the pine martens have travelled since their release. We can see that they've been thoroughly exploring the landscape before settling into their new woodland homes."    

 

The pine martens' collars are designed to cease to function and drop off after six months. In their place the project is now seeking to track the animals' progress using remote cameras positioned in local woodlands.

 

Last July, one of these cameras recorded images of a female pine marten and her three kits (youngsters) as they moved through a Dartmoor woodland. This was the first proof that the animals had bred successfully.

 

Tracey Hamston said:

"This was the news we were waiting for – proof that the pine martens have established themselves and are doing well. 

 

This year's kits should be being born on both Dartmoor and Exmoor around now. We hope to see evidence of this on our cameras when the kits become more active in May and June."

 

Abby Parravani is Forest Planner at Forestry England. Abby said:

"Forestry England is proud to be a partner in the Two Moors Pine Marten project. The encouraging results from collar tracking and camera trap monitoring are hugely rewarding for all involved in the project. As omnivores and predators, pine martens fulfil an important role in woodland ecosystems, helping to increase the resilience of forests, so we are thrilled that this native species is once again establishing in woodlands in the South West."

The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is now appealing to the public to help it keep tabs on the pine martens' whereabouts. It is asking anyone who sees a pine marten in the region to let them know where and when they spot them. The project would especially welcome photos or video of sightings. All records of pine marten encounters can be sent to a dedicated email address: pinemartens@devonwildlifetrust.org   

 

The precise locations of the animals are being kept secret by the project to minimise disturbance.  

 

The project is also keen to hear from woodland owners with wildlife cameras, especially those on or close to Dartmoor and Exmoor, who would be happy to take part in its Woodland Survey.

 

Ali North is the project's Exmoor Field Officer. Ali said:

"Pine martens are a highly mobile species and so they have kept us very busy trying to keep track of them.

 

We're excited to moving into the next phase of our monitoring using camera traps to catch a glimpse into their elusive woodland antics. We hope many landowners will want to get involved in our newly launched woodland citizen science survey to help us track their distribution over time."

Two Moors Pine Marten Project. Photo ©Mark Hamblin 2020Vision (All Rights Reserved)

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Landowners with woodland and who have cameras are being encouraged to contact the project via pinemartens@devonwildlifetrust.org

People can find out much more about pine martens and the Two Moors Pine Marten Project at www.twomoorspinemartens.org

Love April Nature Notes

Well it's still a tad cold but the leaves are daring to come into view. They are celebrating Hanami in Japan. It's Cherry Blossom time in my garden, one of the two trees I planted in pots two years ago has been flowering for a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile there is a lot of action with the birds flitting backwards and forwards, nest building and building a relationship. Our resident 'love birds' love the old Pine to roost, snuggle and pass the time of day (its also where the bird feeders hang) but they are now building their nest in the Hawthorne.

I always have a camera close by as I photograph the birds through the window for my garden diary, I use a long lens this means I'm not disturbing them, they are spooked at the slightest movement. On reflection they may be aware there is a Sparrowhawk around.

Sky News has just flashed up on my iPhone that another storm is on the way so nature is going to take another battering at the most crucial time of year. Looks like the Yellow Weather Warnings are for up North so here's hoping we have a sunny rain-free Easter.

Blue skies and sunshine today though, the Bees are buzzing, seen a Sparrow collecting bits for the nest and the Doves have just had a moment.

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North Devon Focus. Watching the changing seasons throughout the year, looking out and photographing events, nature, wildlife and places while walking on the North Devon coast and in the countryside. 
All photos/articles copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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