Thursday, 20 April 2017

Plea to help save one of Devon’s most endangered species

A conservation project which aims to save one of Devon’s most endangered animals is now urgently seeking donations from the public so that it can continue its vitalwork.

The freshwater pearl mussel might not look as stunning as some wildlife but the conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust describes it as a ‘remarkable animal’ and one that can have a positive impact for us all.

Freshwater pearl mussels filter bacteria and algae. So a large population helps to clean up our rivers for the benefit of other wildlife - and people. They have been wild residents of Devon’s rivers for thousands of years. But now the mussels are declining significantly across their range and in the whole of Devon they are only found on the Torridge and the Taw.

But even these rivers are too polluted for the mussels to breed successfully. Although they can live to 130 years of age, the youngest freshwater pearl mussels on the River Torridge were born in the 1960s. Now Devon Wildlife Trust is warning that if they are unable to breed, this unique animal will be lost from the county.

Devon Wildlife Trust is working to clean up the river and to breed mussels in captivity - so they can survive in healthy water at their earliest stage of life, before being returned to the wild. However, it now needs to fill a £9,000 funding gap in the project and is asking people to help.

In her role as Freshwater Pearl Mussel officer for the national ‘Restoring Freshwater Mussel Rivers in England’ project, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Izzy Moser has been working with landowners to help improve water quality in the River Torridge for the last two years. She is also involved in the captive breeding programme, as part of this nationwide effort co-ordinated by the Freshwater Biological Association.

Izzy Moser said:
“This winter, we had some great news: the first signs of breeding success for freshwater pearl mussels from the River Torridge in more than 50 years!”

This animal's amazing life cycle involves a stage of living on the gills of Atlantic salmon or brown trout, so right now, the fish – and the mussel larvae - are all in tanks in a hatchery in north Devon. Once they are big enough, the larvae will drop off the fish, down to the gravel bed of the tanks and then grow to become juvenile mussels. And the juveniles then have a real growth spurt, growing approximately 200% bigger in their first year.

But even in unpolluted rivers, only an average of five larvae from the five million released by an adult mussel each year will survive to become an adult freshwater pearl mussel.

The next stage of the project is crucial. Izzy will have to move the juvenile mussels from their gravel habitat in the tanks, to specially selected points of the Torridge riverbed - and then monitor these sites to check on the progress of the first young mussels on the river since the 1960s.

Although this project is largely funded by Biffa Award, Devon Wildlife Trust has to find a further £9,000 to cover the costs of this critical work on the Freshwater Pearl Mussel project over the coming months.

Izzy Moser said:
“Despite the projects recent successes, there is still a significant amount of work to be done on a catchment scale to reduce run-off from farmland, roads and domestic sources and protect our local waters. We have already planted 80 trees and 250 willow stakes this year to reduce riverbank erosion, and fenced 1km of river but there is much more to be done!”

Anyone making a donation to the Freshwater Pearl Mussel appeal will be playing a role in the rescue plan for one of Devon’s most endangered creatures. And by supporting work to improve water quality in one of Devon’s grandest rivers – the Torridge – they’ll be helping a wide range of other wildlife too, including otters, dragonflies, bats and kingfishers.

People wanting to make a difference to one of Devon’s most endangered species should visit
Devon Wildlife Trust. Freshwater Pearl Mussels in a tank at the hatchery in North Devon;
Photos show Freshwater Pearl Mussels in a tank at the hatchery in North Devon; Izzy
Moser in the River Torridge; Devon Wildlife Trust’s Izzy Moser inspecting a freshwater pearl mussel for larvae

Wednesday, 19 April 2017

Seaweed Festival in aid of the N.D. Hospice

Clovelly Seaweed Festival was launched in 2015 and has been a great success. It is being held on Devon Day in 2017.

Clovelly Seaweed Festival promotes seaweed for its immense health & nutritional benefits. As it is hugely versatile, quay kitchens will have a surprising variety of dishes and stalls will be selling a range of seaweed products and seaweed arts and crafts.

There will also be plenty of entertainment for both adults and children to enjoy, such as "Know your Seaweed" talks, demonstrations, craft activities and workshops, street entertainment and live music throughout the day. The Seaweed Health Foundation will provide information on the benefits of seaweed for food and health aswell as giving a talk.

You will be amazed at the world of seaweed. Bring your own and ask the experts what is the best use for your particular selection.

Clovelly Seaweed Festival. Photo copyright B.D. Adams (All Rights Reserved)

Clovelly Seaweed Festival
Sunday 4th June, Clovelly Harbour 10.00am-17.00pm
Contact: Visitor Centre. Tel:  01237 431781.
 Email: visitorcentre@clovelly.co.uk

“WHAAM SUMMER” - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase

Get ready for “WHAAM SUMMER”. This is part of a trilogy of events organised every year under the banner of WHAAM - Westward Ho! and Appledore Music Showcase. The event takes place on Thursday 1st June from 6.15pm to 10.00pm at the Kingsley Hall, Westward Ho! as part of the Westward Ho! Seaside Festival representing North Devon’s musical entertainers performing in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Appledore Station.

Entertainers include:-
  • Ian Hudson - Artist/Tutor and Folk Song Entertainer at The Hunters Inn, Exmoor
  • Westward Ho! Youth Theatre – a taster of their talents!
  • Charlotte Juniper and Peter Wormington (WHYG)
  • Andras Droppa - Dr Droppa
  • Robert Stiryaker
  • Connor Gould
  • Humming Bird – Ian and Su Hudson 
👀👀👀
Tickets are on sale from 
  • The booking office at Happy Cafe (07773 679559) 
  • Delicadevon and The Co-operative Food, Westward Ho! 
  • The Coffee Cabin, The Quay, Appledore
  • and of course AT THE DOOR!
Reservations are acceptable by email for collection at the door. Email: noahsark@uku.co.uk ADMISSION TICKETS – £3.00 each
Doors open at 6.15pm and show runs from 7.00 to 10.00pm.

THIS EVENT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG AND NOT SO YOUNG ARTISTES TO SHOWCASE THEIR MUSICAL TALENTS IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE.
 WHAAM - Westward Ho! And Appledore Music Showcase
WHAAM - Westward Ho! and Appledore Music Showcase
FURTHER INFORMATION:  
John Barton Email: noahsark@uku.co.uk Mobile: 07725 056 094