ILFRA-EXPO NEEDS YOU! VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED for Ilfra-Expo 2013

A brand new art event that needs your support! Ilfracombe is holding its own art event this summer. Running from July into August, Ilfra-Expo will be presenting a selection of emerging and established artists from across the UK. Artworks are created in response to Ilfracombe and will be displayed in a variety of venues throughout the town, including large-scale public artworks that will remain in place throughout the summer. You can follow the process on twitter @ilfraexpo and on www.facebook.com/ilfraexpo. This event is a pilot for future events and is relying on the communities support. Could you help by volunteering your time? Support needed from people with a good local knowledge to offer guided tours and to act as live guides in some of the venues. You need to be confident talking to other people and have a desire to positively promote the event and Ilfracombe. Can you be available between 14th July and 11th August 2013? Please contact Erin Rickard for more details: lfraexpo@gmail.com

 

Get your walking boots on for Devon's marine wildlife

Challenge yourself by walking one of the most stunning stretches of the North Devon coastline and support Devon's marine wildlife by raising at least £50 for Devon Wildlife Trust on Saturday 11 August. Leaving Ilfracombe, DWT's Challenge Walk finishes 23 miles later at Braunton, or for those who prefer a shorter trek, after just 9 miles at Woolacombe. Learn about the amazing wildlife which lives on the shore and beneath the waves and why it is important to protect this stretch of coastline. Devon Wildlife Trust's event organiser, Dan Smith, said: 'Devon's marine wildlife is under threat, but with the efforts of local people DWT is campaigning and fundraising to help protect it. Keen walkers can do their bit by raising at least £50 on our North Coast Challenge Walk. One of the Trust's volunteers in Ilfracombe has already raised a wonderful £200 from shops and businesses in the town and surrounding area. All the money raised will go towards the vital work of the Devon Wildlife Trust helping wildlife both in the sea and on land. It's easy to pay for and register your place on the walk, just visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/walk-challenge/ ' The walk follows part of the Bideford to Foreland Point recommended Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). MCZ's are a new designation to create a network of 127 marine protected areas around the UK, including 16 off the coasts of Devon. Currently less than 0.001% of the UK's seas are legally protected from damaging activities. The Wildlife Trusts are lobbying the government to make sure all these sites are designated. Dan Smith added: 'With luck, our walkers might spot grey seals and gannets out at sea, along with a variety of wildflowers, birds and butterflies on the cliff-top grassland and heathland. There are regular bus links at the start, finish and mid-points of the walk so you can leave the car at home! Everyone taking part in this sponsored walk will be doing their bit towards securing a future of North Devon's spectacular wildlife.' The 23 mile route starts at Ilfracombe and finishes in Braunton (option to take a shorter 9 mile challenge walk). There is a £10 registration fee and participants need to raise at least £50 sponsorship to take part. Regular bus links at start, finish and mid-points of the walk. To register visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/walk-challenge/ 

Devon School Names the Severn Link Ferry

When ferry operator Severn Link recently purchased its first two 'FlyingCat' fast ferries, there was just one thing that was missing - brand new names to reflect the vessels' new ownership and the area they would now be servicing. So, for a helping hand in finding just the right name, Severn Link turned to the bright and creative minds of youngsters from North Devon and South Wales.Entries came in from schools from all over both regions, with clever suggestions inspired by local heroes, historical events and even wildlife and fauna found in the area - but eventually it was Parracombe School in the heart of Exmoor, which was chosen as overall regional winner for South West England by nominating the Ilfracombe cove Rapparee as its chosen name. Geoff Metcalf, Managing Director of Severn Link, said of the winning entry, "We had so many exciting and imaginative names suggested by schools that it was very hard to choose an overall winner. However, the children of Parracombe School particularly excelled - patently putting much thought and research into their entry. It's a perfect name for a Severn Link ferry, for it helps promote one of the many beautiful points of the North Devon coastline, which will be one of the biggest draws for travellers coming from South Wales." Mrs Julie Ansell, Key Stage Two teacher at Parracombe School said, 'The children are absolutely thrilled that their name was chosen to be adopted by the Severn Link ferry. Being such a small school, it means that each child's needs are catered for and children are nurtured in a happy, family centred environment with a creative curriculum. That's why we were able to adapt our learning towards historical places and places of interest for the competition. The children went on walks, discovered local information, wrote stories and poems and created artwork to support the entry for the competition. The children drew tr easure maps, wrote poems and even combined the competition into their Maths lessons by using it to learn about points of the compass.' As part of their prize, the children of Parracombe School will be invited to a special Severn Link launch event to see the ferry for themselves and will also experience a ferry trip to visit the winning school on the South Wales side which has named the sister Severn Link fast ferry, to learn more about life in Wales and commence a local cultural and educational twinning exercise. Parracombe School, which is part of the West Exmoor Federation, is a small rural village school in Exmoor dating back to 1830, with just 29 schoolchildren in attendance. It's an integral part of the local community, serving the farming families of the area and participating in many local activities such as the May Day Revels. Geoff Metcalf said of the ferry naming competition, 'The objective of the competition was not only to get local children involved in the naming of the ferries that they'll see out on the waters of the Bristol Channel on a regular basis, but also to help them learn more about the connections between South West England and South Wales. Severn Link isn't just concerned with transporting travellers from coast to coast on a fun, fast and affordable ferry service, but is also about helping to bring two communities closer, socially, culturally and economically. We're looking forward to welcoming the children of Parracombe School on board to help them experience how exciting - and educational - ferry travel can be.' Severn Link is due to commence operations across the Bristol Channel this spring, connecting key areas of South West England and South Wales via a regular fast ferry service. For more information on the countdown to the launch of the ferry service, visit www.severnlink.com or follow Severn Link on Facebook and Twitter.