YOUR CHANCE TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RNLI

This month the RNLI launched their “Respect the Water” Campaign and if you have ever been in peril on the sea you will know what a great job they do, so here is a chance for you and the family to help raise funds for your local RNLI Lifeboat Stations and their volunteer crews. See below the events being held in aid of the RNLI Lifeboat Stations around the North Devon Coast.

2nd August to 3rd August Lifeboat Weekend at Clovelly Held in aid of the RNLI, it is a popular celebration of the Clovelly Lifeboat. The Lifeboat House will be open both days to the public. On Saturday afternoon there will be a sponsored swim from Bucks Mills to Clovelly, followed by a barbecue. Sunday will be a fun-packed family day with games, competitions, entertainment, food & drink and music. There will be a coconut shy, a tug of war, local stalls and children's activities. To finish the day, "Toby Rundle" will be launched for a demonstration by our volunteer crew. http://www.clovelly.co.uk/village/lifeboat-station

3rd August Appledore & Instow Regatta Day Lifeboats alongside the Quay at 0930 for you to come aboard to look around http://www.appledorelifeboat.org.uk/

To see programme of events visit http://www.appledoreinstowregatta.org.uk/

13th August RNLI Rescue Day - Ilfracombe Harbour. The largest live emergency services display. Air-sea rescues, real fires, displays and exhibitions lasting all day. http://www.visitilfracombe.co.uk

This little video clip was taken of a real lifeboat shout during the Clovelly Maritime Festival on the 21st July. The new lifeboat "Toby Rundle" was launched to recover a broken down fishing boat.

RNLI Stand at the Appledore Summer Festival -  Photo Pat Adams 
 FOR SAFETY TIPS IN THE WATER THIS SUMMER - CLICK HERE FOR THE RESPECT THE WATER CAMPAIGN
Click here to find your nearest Lifeboat Station and Lifeguarded Beaches

Clovelly - In Time to the Music

Clovelly embraces it's fishing and maritime history each year with a series of fun festivals. This Sunday it's the Maritime Festival  in aid of  the North Devon Hospice. This is a clip from last years Lobster and Crab Fest. I was relaxing, listening to the Tennessee Waltz and watching the boats coming in and out of the harbour seemingly in time to the music.



Click here to see North Devon Focus "Spirit of Clovelly" photos of Clovelly Lobster and Crab Fest 2013
"Tennessee Waltz" was performed Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll, 

Clovelly Maritime Festival, Sunday 20th July. Starting at 10am, the day will be full of fun and cram-packed with a programme of all sorts of activities and entertainment for all ages. There'll be lively music, cookery demonstrations, crafty creations and family activities throughout the day. The quay will be full of seafood kitchens, arts and crafts and facepainting too. The New Inn, in the heart of the village, will be offering two lunch specials and fresh strawberrry and cream teas with home made scones. So do come along and enjoy this fun-packed day out, held in aid of the North Devon Hospice.
**Young people (7-16 years) will have free entry if they come dressed as a pirate or a mermaid. Under 7s have free entry anyway, but we would love it if they come dressed up too.
Standard admission charges to Clovelly include all entertainment.
Click here for Clovelly Event Information

Scarce dragonfly finds new Devon home

A real rarity has been discovered at a Devon nature reserve. The rarity in question is an aptly named dragonfly known as the scarce chaser. It was seen recently at Devon Wildlife Trust's Old Sludge Beds nature reserve on the outskirts of Exeter. The charity's site is a well-known haven for local wildlife, but the sighting of a scarce chaser still came as something of a surprise. The nature reserve is now thought to be one of only a handful of places in Devon in which scarce chasers have ever been recorded. The dragonfly was spotted by Keith Richards, a member of the British Dragonfly Society. At first Keith was unsure of his find but after taking photos he had it confirmed by the British Dragonfly Society who told him: "This is a very interesting record - the first ever seen at the Old Sludge Beds. The species first appeared at the nearby Exminster Marshes in 2007 and small numbers have been seen there since. It's possible that the species has bred at the Old Sludge Beds, but more likely it has flown over or under the M5 to get there." The adult male scarce chaser has a bright blue abdomen with patches of black, while the adult female and juvenile male each possess bright orange abdomen. It is about 45 mm in length with a wingspan of 74 mm. This dragonfly is considered a 'species of special concern', making it one of the rarest in the UK. Stephen Hussey from Devon Wildlife Trust said: "We are thrilled by this news. This dragonfly's appearance at our nature reserve suggests we are being successful with our management. Scarce chasers need wetlands with dense vegetation. In the last 100 years our countryside has lost many of its wetlands and wildlife like this dragonfly has struggled to survive. But at the Old Sludge Beds the mix of wet lagoons, reeds and submerged plants seem to have provided it with the ideal conditions. We are so pleased that it has found a home with us." The scarce chaser was spotted in early summer and with a flying season which extends into August it could be seen for some weeks to come. Steve added: "Old Sludge Beds nature reserve makes a wonderful place to visit in the summer. Being close to Exeter and the Exeter Canal cycle path the reserve already attracts good numbers of visitors. But the news that this rare dragonfly has taken up residence may mean that those numbers are boosted still further." The Old Sludge Beds is one of 48 wildlife havens looked after by Devon Wildlife Trust. The charity is keen for people to know that they are free to enter and make wonderful places to explore the county's landscapes and wildlife. More details from www.devonwildlifetrust.org 

Scarce Chaser Photo: Copyright Keith Richards. (All Rights Reserved)