Charity makes Christmas cards count

Following the huge success of its Christmas cards last year, a local wildlife charity is preparing for a bumper season in 2011 with a new range of designs. Devon Wildlife Trust's has been selling Christmas cards for a number of years and last year the scheme raised over £5,000 for it's work conserving wildlife around the county. There are eight stunning designs in this year's range which are available to order online, over the phone or by post. The designs include fox, squirrel, robin, deer, and hare and a number of beautiful wintery landscape shots. Phoebe Grubb, DWT's Fundraising Officer enthused: 'With Christmas now looming and the weather turning cold we have started to promote our latest range of cards. They are printed on card from sustainable sources and really show off some of Devon's best loved animals. The cards are a great way to help wildlife on your doorstep while sending your Christmas wishes to loved ones." People who wish to purchase cards should visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org or call Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244. The cards are also available through the Cards for Good Causes outlets across the county.

Photo copyright Devon Wildlife Trust

Westward Ho! Gimme Shelter!

Gone but not forgotten! Westward Ho! Village Green enhancement started in March 2011 with the creation of a modern landscaped green with open spaces, paths, low bench seating and sympathetic planting. The pictures below of the old Village Green have been taken at various times of the year. The old shelter, now removed, has been a haven for locals and holidaymakers for years. Where else can you find some shade from the Summer sun, snuggle up in the Winter or eat your ice cream and fish n' chips on a windy day beside the seaside! If you want to share any information about the old shelter please leave a comment

Explore Westward Ho! with the North Devon Focus Picture Tour

CAP reforms: a missed opportunity for farming and wildlife in Devon

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) believes the Common Agricultural Policy reforms announced today are a missed opportunity to help secure a brighter future for the county's rich environment. The charity, which has 33,000 members and manages 45 nature reserves, has concerns that the EU farming reforms will reduce funding for vital agri-environment schemes. These reductions will have direct impacts on the future health of our countryside and also the farming community, with whom DWT works in partnerships across the county. D.W.T. believes that landowners are inadequately rewarded for the critical role they play in producing food and maintaining a healthy wildlife-rich environment. This includes providing clean water supplies, clean air and productive soils. Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust's new Chief Executive said: "This is the best opportunity in a decade to make CAP work better for farmers and wildlife. Pressures on our natural environment are growing ever greater as land is built upon and demand for cheap food grows. These reforms do not go anywhere near far enough. Politicians in the UK and Europe need to have the courage and conviction to bring forward a package of measures that will have a real, meaningful and long lasting impact for the natural environment on which will all depend." "Through our Working Wetlands project in the north of the county our farming and wildlife advisors have carried out more than 1,000 farm visits and helped secure over 2,300 hectares of wildlife rich grasslands in optimum condition. From this experience we know the crucial role agri-environmental schemes play in both sustaining farmers' way of life, as well as our life support systems. But the proposed reforms threaten the protection that these grasslands have been given, and risk undoing years of hard won gains for rare wildlife. " The charity will campaign along with the other Wildlife Trusts throughout the UK over the coming months to feed in to the consultation process which is due to end
next year. (Photo: Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust's new Chief Executive)