Gospel Chords from Florence and the Machine. Never Let Me Go release date April 2

Florence + the Machine are set to release ‘Never Let Me Go’ as the follow up to ‘No Light, No Light’ on April 2. This emotionally charged huge song is suffused with an elegantly weary grandiloquence, gospel chords shine the way for a multi-tracked flock of Florences to soar in free flight. “The gospel thing comes from my obsession with hymns. I’m drawn to anything that has a hymnal quality, be it Spiritualized or dusty old albums by Georgian choirs.” In the two months since the release of ‘Ceremonials’, love for Florence’s second album continues apace, a mainstay of the UK and US chart top10s with worldwide sales now in excess of 1.5 million. Fresh from a non-stop globe-spanning jaunt of live shows (the US, Brazil and a first visit to Japan), Florence has just returned to the UK where she performed at the Brit Awards & The NME Awards before embarking on her biggest UK tour to date in March. All 120,000 tickets for the spring tour were snapped up by her ever expanding army of fans up and down the country.

Never Let Me Go Island Records April 2 - myspace.com/florenceandthemachine
+ Sold Out (120,000 tickets) UK Tour
+ 1.5 million albums sold worldwide
+ Performances at The Brit Awards & NME Awards

Wildlife Festival marks a golden year for charity

Devon Wildlife Trust is making the final plans for its Wildlife Festival which takes place in April. One of the county's premier green events the festival is being staged in the centre of Exeter and forms the focus of the charity's 50th anniversary celebrations. The Wildlife Festival is a free event to be held on Saturday 28 April between 10am and 4pm on Cathedral Green. This year the charity has attracted a record number of exhibitors including Pennywell Farm, Exmoor Zoo, Devon Bee Keepers Society, RAMM, South West Lakes Trust and Wild Aid. The event is being sponsored by South West Water and Tozers who will both be there on the day. This year the event will be a chance for the charity to showcase its work in the city through the Exeter Wild City project along with a time for people to get involve in the charity's 50th celebrations. It all starts with a colourful parade with giant bugs, fish and animals through the city centre followed by the official opening on the Green. Throughout day there will be opportunities for visitors to make their own nest box, meet birds of prey, pet small animals and spy on some creepy crawlies! Jo Pullin DWT's event organiser said: "This is a special Wildlife Festival to mark our 50th anniversary and it is set to be bigger and better than ever. There will be so much for families to get involved with and in previous years many have stayed all day. Face painting, puppet making, badge making and quizzes, the chance to try out the latest binoculars and scopes and even see a caveman! If you love wildlife and programmes such as the BBC's Springwatch then this is the event for you!" For more information about the event visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org. Anyone wanting to volunteer on the day please contact Jo Pullin on 01392 279244.

Spring Breaks at Hartland Abbey

At Last, the sky above is blue! Spring breaks, the mists have cleared, the sun is out  just in time for Daffodil Day at Hartland Abbey. We arrived about 11.15am, no parked cars at the front as yet, blue sky and perfect light on the house so a great photo opportunity. Spotted a robin, a wren and two rather shabby painted ladies (the butterfly variety) as we made our way down the lush meadow. It’s so much warmer in this sheltered valley and the wildflowers are coming out sooner here than Peppercombe, my local patch just up the coast, the first Primroses, Bluebells, Dog Violet and even a Ransom and Greater Stitchwart are already in flower. Mission accomplished we pick up a Bacon Bap from the Exmoor Kitchens stall then have our picnic in the sun by the Summer House. On cold days you can sit inside and read all about the restoration of the Summer House and the Gazaebo by the log fire. A note on the table asks that visitors please “keep the fires going”. From here I noticed a new “High Road” a trail which runs all the way to the Gazaebo. Photographers and happy snappers will love this route when the woodland glades are covered in Bluebells in the next few weeks. Today we took the “Low Road” to Blackpool and felt a slight chill from the incoming tide after quite a balmy walk down, the sea, the deepest blue against the ochre hues of the cliffs. Dry under foot today as we ambled back up the meadow by the river. One of my favourite early Spring wild flowers is the Lesser Celandine. The star-shaped yellow flower twinkles in the sun lighting up coastal meadows, path and road-side verges. We took time for tea and Lemon Curd Cake back at the Abbey kitchens before taking some final shots as the daffodils turned their heads to the late afternoon sun. Their happy smiling faces reflected the convivial atmosphere created by Lord and Lady Stucely and their team making Mothering Sunday a real family occasion. Article Pat Adams 18/3/2012

Missed it then make a date for Hartland Abbey Bluebell Week - Sunday 22 to Sunday 29 April 2012 from 11am to 5pm For further information please ring 01237 441234 or visit www.hartlandabbey.com
Explore Hartland with the North Devon Focus Picture Tour