Wednesday 12 July 2017

Counting on Butterflies with the Butterfly Conservation

Mid-July already and I must say there have been plenty of bees a-buzzing but the butterflies seem to have been few and far between up to now around my North Devon patch.

On my walk-abouts and in my garden I have seen one Green-veined White, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Orange Tips early on in May and over the past couple of months have spotted a Brimstone, Green-Veined White and Large/Small White, a couple of Red Amiral, one Peacock, Small Tortoishell, Meadow Brown, Heath Brown, a few Comma, a Skipper and a couple of Six-Spot Burnet Moths! Earlier today I got a record shot of a Ringlet.

On reflection I suppose that's not bad really but they are in so few numbers especially as the Buddleia (aka Butterfly Bush) has been flowering in my garden for a couple of weeks now, so I am hoping they arrive on mass in the next couple of weeks in time for the Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count which this year is from 14th July-6th August. It's a fun thing to do especially for a family with budding young naturalists as they can learn to recognise different species using an illustrated butterfly chart or or free mobile phone app.

The big butterfly count, is a UK nationwide survey aimed at helping assess the health of the environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. You can show your support by signing up HERE

Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, Alan Titchmarsh MBE, Nick Baker and Mike Dilger, Vice Presidents of Butterfly Conservation and the actress Joanna Lumley OBE have given their enthusiastic backing to the project and will support its launch and operation.

Before setting out on your quest to count or photograph butterflies it is also useful to know the different habitats and food plants favoured by individual species.

Comma -  Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
 Comma - RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, North Devon  2 July 2017
Meadow Brown -  Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
 Meadow Brown - RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, North Devon 2017
Large White (Female) -  Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
 Large White (Female) Welcombe, North Devon 1st July 2017
Large Skipper -  Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
Large Skipper - Welcombe, North Devon 1st July 2017
Peacock -  Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
 Peacock - My Garden North Devon 24th May 2017
Green-veined White Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
 Green-Veined White - My Garden North Devon 1st July 2017
Speckled Wood - Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus
Speckled Wood - My Garden North Devon 28th May 2017
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Article/Photos copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

Monday 10 July 2017

Book signings by local Devon author, Liz Shakespeare

Readers who enjoy books with local settings will have the opportunity to buy signed copies this summer. North Devon author Liz Shakespeare, whose latest book has recently been featured on BBC TV and radio, has a busy summer ahead visiting many South-West events.

Liz has become well-known as an author who brings to life the people, history and landscapes of Devon. She was born and brought up in Bideford and has a long Devon ancestry which she feels has given her a good understanding of Devon and its people.

Her most recent book, The Postman Poet, is a novel telling the true life story of Edward Capern, a humble Devon postman whose poems, written while walking the rural lanes of North Devon on his daily round in the mid-19th century, won plaudits from the Prime Minister and the support of the biggest literary names of the day. Liz drew on historical research and details in the poems to tell the extraordinary story through Edward’s eyes as he struggles to support his family, a story that captures the opportunities and inequalities of Victorian North Devon. Alongside the novel, she has published a selection of Capern’s poems, and in recognition of his commitment to social justice she will be donating £1 to the Northern Devon Foodbank from the sale of each copy of this book.

Historical research was also the inspiration for her previous books, The Turning of the Tide, a true story of a young Clovelly mother confined in Bideford Workhouse, Fever: A Story from a Devon Churchyard, and The Memory Be Green: An Oral History of a Devon Village. All Around The Year, is a collection of twelve poignant stories, deeply rooted in the Devon countryside, and each linked to a month of the year from January through to December.

North Devon Author Liz Shakespeare

Liz will be signing copies of all her books at the following events:
  • Magpie Marquee at the Mid-Devon Show on 22nd July
  • Dunster Country Fair on 26th July
  • Launceston Show on 27th July
  • Woolsery Show on 31st July
  • In the Crafts and Gifts Marquee at the North Devon Show on August 2nd
  • Okehampton Show on August 10th,
  • Dartmoor Folk Festival on August 12th and 13th
  • Chagford Show on August 17th,
  • Holsworthy Show on August 24th
  • Clovelly Crab and Lobster Festival on September 3rd
Further details of Liz’s books can be found on her website www.lizshakespeare.co.uk
  North Devon Author Liz Shakespeare

Thursday 6 July 2017

Wider Focus: First Taste from Flyte. New release "Cathy Come Home", Debut Album & UK Headline Tour Dates

'Cathy Come Home' is a first taste of what's to come from Flyte's highly anticipated debut album, set to be released on August 25th. 

In the school of Grizzly Bear, Alt J, and Fleet Foxes they have used their four voices to guide their sound, avoiding crashing cymbals and layers of electric guitars in favour of a more crafted, carefully constructed approach. Lead singer Will Taylor's style of lyric writing weaves threads of George Orwell and Evelyn Waugh with Nick Drake and Ray Davies, tapping into the English malaise and coming of age nostalgia like so many writers before him. Tap here to Watch the Cathy Lyric Video 

Flyte separately admit that as early as age ten, a career in music was their only ambition. Drummer Jon Supran and bassist Nick Hill met guitarist Will Taylor at their local comprehensive school, where Will's parents both taught English. They later came upon keys player Sam Berridge busking at Tottenham Court Road station after moving to Hackney in their late teens. Accomplished songwriters who quickly earned a reputation for their trademark vocal arrangements and live show, the band released a flurry of alternative singles before pairing up with Courtney Barnett producer Burke Reid to create their first full length record.

Flyte's debut album is out on August 25 2017.

FLYTE TOUR DATES

Fri 15 Sep 2017  United Kingdom Southampton The Joiners

Sat 16 Sep 2017 United Kingdom Brighton Patterns

Tue 19 Sep 2017 United Kingdom London Scala

Mon 25 Sep 2017 United Kingdom Cambridge Portland Arms

Tue 26 Sep 2017 United Kingdom Norwich The Waterfront Studio

Wed 27 Sep 2017 United Kingdom Wolverhampton Newhampton Arts Centre

Thu 28 Sep 2017 United Kingdom Cardiff Gwdihลต Cafรฉ Bar

Sat 30 Sep 2017 United Kingdom Leicester The Cookie

Sun 1 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Oxford The Cellar

Mon 2 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Guildford Boileroom

Wed 4 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Hull The Polar Bear

Thu 5 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Leeds Chapel

Fri 6 Oct 2017 United Kingdom York The Fulford Arms

Sat 7 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Manchester Neighbourhood Festival

Mon 09 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Nottingham The Bodega

Tue 10 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Birmingham Academy 3

Wed 11 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Liverpool Buyers' Club

Thu 12 Oct 2017 United Kingdom Bristol Exchange


Flyte "Cathy Come Home" UK Headlie Tour and Debut Album
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"Echoes of early solo macca" – The Sunday Times
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