New training scheme to help combat skills shortage

A new training programme 'Wildlife Skills' has been awarded £829,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), allowing four Wildlife Trusts in the South West to train 46 aspiring conservationists over the next three years. The scheme is designed to address the skills shortages within the South West conservation sector, and has already appointed 16 trainees based at Devon Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust. Each will focus on one of three areas; practical conservation, survey & monitoring or volunteer and community engagement. As well as gaining formal qualifications, the trainees will receive complimentary training in transferable skills to enhance their future employability and consolidate their learning by working with Wildlife Trust staff. 'Wildlife Skills' Coordinator, Dr Rachel Janes, said: "This new scheme will give those interested in wildlife a real insight into working in conservation, from learning about communications in the media, to gaining their chainsaw qualifications. After they have completed their year-long placement, trainees will have the skills and confidence to take their careers forward in the work place. The wildlife trusts involved are delighted to be part of this programme, and are grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has helped make it happen." Luke Workman, Wildlife Skills volunteer & engagement trainee based at Devon Wildlife Trust said : "A special moment for me was introducing a rockpool crab to a child for the first time, it was great to see the fear of holding the creature be replaced with a fascination and excitement for wildlife. I realised that some of the animals I take for granted, other people have never encountered before. What a privilege it is to be the first person to help this little girl meet a crab for the first time!" Beth Aucott, Wildlife Skills practical conservation trainee based at Somerset Wildlife Trust said: "The most exciting thing for me so far, apart from seeing my first wild otter, has been working with the people who are so passionate about looking after wildlife. I have already learnt so much; I've improved my identification skills, honed and learnt new practical skills, such as brushcutting, and learnt about grants, working with graziers and management plans." 

The scheme aims to diversify the future of conservation by providing opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly young people and those in transitional phases of their lives and careers. New placements will be available in summer 2015. For more information about the training scheme please visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife_skills

SQUEEZEBOX EVENTS PRESENTS COMSO JARVIS @ THE FACTORY SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER

Cosmo Jarvis is an accomplished filmmaker, a brilliant composer and an exceptional live performer. Somewhere between perfect pop, deep funk and nonchalant virtuosity, Cosmo inhabits a ground that he is fast beginning to claim as his own as an utterly unique artist. Cosmo Jarvis does what he wants. In an age when musicians seem to be manufactured popstrels, the 23 year old from Devon is a breath of fresh air. Cosmo speaks his mind and, musically, go anywhere, regardless of ‘cool’, from hip hop to punk hoedown to gorgeous ensemble orchestration. His music and films have made him an online phenomenon. His YouTube shorts, usually observational comedy skits about small town life, have been viewed over two million times, his contagious shanty ‘Gay Pirates’, beloved of Stephen Fry, has almost a million Youtube hits. Cosmo’s last two albums, 2009’s ‘Humas you hitch/Son of a bitch’ and 2011’s ‘Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange?’, have seen him hightail between almost too many musical styles, but with his new album, ‘Think Bigger’, he decided to adhere to a singer-songwriter template tinged with alt-country sensibilities. This is Cosmo Jarvis, though, so it’s never straightforward or predictable, everything is imprinted with his personality and effusive imagination. 2012 saw Cosmo Jarvis embark on a 24-date tour with Mad Dog Mcrea.

http://www.cosmojarvis.com 
http://www.facebook.com/cosmojarvis 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG-vPi1W_cs 
Tickets: 
Advance Tickets £8 (Standing Only) Door Tickets £10 (Standing Only)
Tickets available from: Beats Workin Barnstaple http://www.undergroundtickets.net Door open 7.30pm
Local support from: 
Sam Dowden https://www.facebook.com/samdowdenmusic 
The Tuesday Syndicate https://www.facebook.com/thetuesdaysyndicateofficial

 WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
“Cosmo Jarvis is a very interesting example to me of a new kind of person; a new kind of artist” – Brian Eno, BBC6 Music Nov 
“I believe him to be one of the most potentially important and fascinating new artists around at the moment.” – Angus Beatty, The Guardian 
“It’s the originality and daring of Cosmo’s lyrics that distance him from the identikit singer- songwriter hoards” – MOJO **** 
“Going large: third album from Devon’s answer to Beck” – Q **** 

Grazers return for first time in generation

For the first time in many years cattle are roaming the heathland landscape of one of south Devon's top nature reserves. Bovey Heathfield Nature Reserve, close to Bovey Tracey, is now home to six Galloway cattle. The job of the cows will be to munch their way through the some of the grasses, brambles and scrub that threaten to take over some areas of the delicate heathland. When the cattle are removed later this year it is hoped that they will leave the nature reserve in a better state to help rare wildlife including reptiles, birds, butterflies and wildflowers. Bovey Heathfield Nature Reserve is managed by leading environmental charity Devon Wildlife Trust. Its Nature Reserves officer Jackie Gage said: "This heath would once have been grazed by cattle belonging to local people. This grazing helped to keep it in balance, allowing its unique heathland wildlife to thrive. However these old ways of land management largely ceased in the first half of the 20th century and many heathlands were lost as a result of this. After a break of many years, introducing grazing animals means that Bovey Heathfield should now remain as a wonderful place for wildlife and people." The nature reserve needed investment before it cattle could roam again. Large parts of the 24 hectare site's perimeter had to be improved with stock-proof fencing. The cost of this was significant but Devon Wildlife Trust was able to do the vital work using a generous grant from Biffa Award, a multi-million pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK. Jackie explained the difference that cattle will make to the nature reserve's wildlife: "The cattle will feed on some of the young scrubby bushes, brambles and trees that could otherwise easily smother the delicate heathland. They also munch through a lot of the dead purple moor grass that will also dominate if unchecked. This process of clearing is vital for a whole range of heathland specialist plants and animals that call the nature reserve their home.' Among the plants which are set to do well from the cows stay are wildflowers including heath milkwort, tormentil and lousewort. Birds set to prosper include stonechats and nightjars. While the cattle will also create bare spots in the heath for reptiles including common lizards, adders and grass snakes to bask in. The cattle should not put people off visiting this popular nature reserve which sits as a green oasis on the edge of the busy Heathfield industrial estate. Jackie added: 'The cattle are calm animals but we do ask people to be sensible around them. In particular that means keeping all dogs on a short lead. That way the cows can get on with their vital job of work keeping the reserve in good shape for local wildlife.' Bovey Heathfield is one of 50 nature reserves managed for people and nature by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust.

'Cattle are once again roaming the heathland of Bovey Heathfield Nature Reserve. near Bovey Tracey' Photo copyright DWT (All rights reserved)