Devon Doctors to help wildlife

The organisation responsible for the county's urgent GP out-of-hours healthcare has teamed up with Devon Wildlife Trust [DWT] in a bid to do its bit for the county's environment. As a social enterprise, committed to benefiting the community in which it operates, Devon Doctors has always attached great importance to environmental issues and jumped at the opportunity to become a corporate sponsor of Devon Wildlife Trust. Chief executive Chris Wright said: "While our first priority is always the wellbeing of our patients, we're mindful that we also have a responsibility to the environment and are at pains to ensure our carbon footprint is as small as possible." "Wherever we can we endeavour to assist callers to Devon Doctors over the phone but there will, inevitably, be occasions when we need to visit patients who are especially vulnerable, and unable to get to one of our treatment centres, in their homes. Indeed, last year our GPs visited more than 30,000 patients, as a result of which our drivers clocked up more than half-a-million miles." "While this is unavoidable, we're delighted to be able to redress the balance a little by lending our support to DWT." DWT's chief executive Harry Barton said: "We're thrilled to have the support of another not-for-profit organisation, which shares our aim of keeping Devon healthy. We look forward to working together for the benefit of the natural environment." In due course, Devon Doctors is looking forward to supporting DWT's Working Wetlands project and, in so doing, offsetting some part of its carbon footprint. The initiative involves the restoration of wetland areas, with the capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon in a similar way to coal but much more quickly, and is regarded as a local, long-term and effective alternative to standard offset schemes. What is more, Devon Doctors will be encouraging its staff to transform their gardens, and other locations, into bee-friendly zones in support of DWT's 2013 campaign to Get Devon Buzzing. This vital project encourages the use of plants that support the local bee population by providing bee homes, as well as campaigning for a reduction in the use of pesticides. "Devon Doctors is already acknowledged as one of the country's leading providers of urgent out-of hours care," said Mr Wright. "However, as a social enterprise, our corporate responsibility doesn't stop there and we look forward to working in partnership with DWT and to encouraging both staff and service users to protect the environment."

Devon Wildlife Trust's Tracey Ebbrell presents Devon Doctors Chief Executive, Chris Wright, with a certificate in recognition of their support. 

It's 'Ho-ho-ho-wholemeal' at Cricklepit Mill

A festive treat awaits visitors to one of Exeter's least known but most charismatic historic treasures. Devon Wildlife Trust is staging a Christmas-themed open day at its Cricklepit Mill headquarters, close to Exeter's ancient quayside. The 'Milling and Mince Pie' event takes place on Friday 14 December between 10am and 12noon. It is free, but booking is advised. On the day Christmas decorations will adorn the C18th watermill. Visitors will have a chance to see behind the scenes, watching the mill at work, grinding flour in the traditional way. A band of merry millers will be on hand to guide people through the fascinating processes and history of milling. At the end of their visit people will be able to re-fuel on mince pies made from the mill's own stoneground flour and locally-produced mincemeat. On sale will be a selection of the charity's Christmas cards, calendars, along with bags of wholemeal stoneground flour complete with free festive recipe leaflets. The Trust's Verity Hunt added: 'Cricklepit Mill is a wonderful old building, but at Christmas it becomes a magical one. Its ancient atmosphere combines with festive decorations to give a real sense of Christmas past.' 'The flour we produce here makes a wonderful and unusual Christmas gift. Cricklepit Mill is the only remaining working watermill in Exeter and our open days make a great way to explore this important part of the city's heritage. Taking home a bag of flour at the end of their visit gives people a fitting memento.' All proceeds from the sale of flour and Christmas gifts go to support The Trust's important work for wildlife across the county. Bookings for 'Milling and mince pies' are being taken now. Call Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244 or email contactus@devonwildlifetrust.org

'Devon Wildlife Trust's Cricklepit Mill is a magical place at
Christmas'

Show your landscape some love

Those who live in the catchment of the river Torridge will know that it's a spectacular and unique wildlife-rich landscape. Local people, landowners and land managers may be interested to hear of a major new project which aims to help boost both wildlife and communities in the area. As the run up to Christmas accelerates, staff of the new Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area project will be at an event near you. They are looking forward to talking more about the free advice available for landowners and the community activities the project will be supporting and how people can get involved. Meet the NIA team and get involved! You can meet members of the NIA team and find out more at the Big Sheep Christmas Fair at Abbotsham every Saturday up until Christmas, and also at Holsworthy Christmas Market on Wednesday 12 December and Okehampton Christmas market on Saturday 15 December. We are also offering the chance to get out in the fresh air, meet new people and start the new year health kick early; simply call phone 01409 221823 or email cmanning@devonwildlifetrust.org to get involved in the following forthcoming events in our community volunteer programme: 

• Thurs 20 December 10am-3pm - Specott Moor scrub clearance (off the Tarka Trail at East Yarde) 
• Tues 22 January 10am-3pm - Otter holt & small mammal/bird boxes Higher Kingford Farm, Pancrasweek 
• Friday 8th February 10am-3pm - Stowford Moor hazel coppice and scrub clearance 
• February mid-week - Thorn Moor Swaling (dates subject to suitable weather conditions) 
• Sunday 10th March - Ford Wood woodland management NIA Champions! 

As part of our community programme we are also on the look out people interested in wildlife who would like to take an active role to work with the NIA in their community. You might already be involved with wildlife activities or a local group, perhaps you're keen to develop your skills and knowledge or perhaps you know of someone else who fits the bill. Contact the NIA Community Outreach team for an informal discussion. 

So what exactly is the NIA? The Northern Devon NIA is a partnership project led by Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve Partnership. Covering 72,000 ha (the greater part of the river Torridge catchment), the Northern Devon NIA hosts 35% of the UK's remaining Culm grassland, 120 scheduled plants and animals, and important populations of two of Europe's ten most threatened species - the marsh fritillary butterfly and the freshwater pearl mussel. It also includes wooded lower valleys that flank the river Torridge; a feature of great biodiversity interest, but in much need of restoration. Over the next three years and beyond, the Nature Improvement Area project aims to restore and re-create internationally important habitats such as Culm grasslands, wetlands, neutral meadows, woodlands, hedgerows, rivers and streams across Northern Devon's unique Torridge river catchment. We will also help to develop the local woodland economy and will be working with the local community to achieve all this through a diverse programme of events and activities. 

This project has been supported by Defra, DCLG, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Natural England. The Northern Devon NIA is one of the 12 nationally important new landscape scale wildlife schemes across England. It was developed as a partnership project within the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The partnership consists of 16 different organisations, of which Devon Wildlife Trust is the project's lead partner.