North Devon Coast and Country Chronicle

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

Good News Day for Northam Burrows Country Park Visitors

It was announced in the local press yesterday (18^th July) that the Northam Burrows Visitor Centre will be re-opening in time for the Summer holidays after the major fire which occurred over the Bank Holiday in May 2017.

Although the centre was badly damaged the rangers adapted well while the reconstruction work was underway as can be seen in the photo below taken on a sunny Saturday in June. The North Devon Biosphere Foundation loaned the events trailer which served as a temporary display area and information point. If you know the name of the happy ranger please leave a comment

The re-opening will coincide with the launch of the Burrows’ Summer programme of events including talks and walks, rockpool rambles, herbal potions, dinosaur days, underwater crafts, circus skills and more.

Northam Burrows Visitors Centre temporary display area and information point - Photo copyright Pat Adams

Happy to Help - temporary display area and information point - Photo Pat Adams

Northam Burrows Country Park - Photo copyright Pat Adams

Walk beside the sea beside Northam Burrows Country Park - Photo Pat Adams

The saviour of the Sand Dunes is Marram Grass - Photo copyright Pat Adams

The saviour of the Sand Dunes is Marram Grass - Photo Pat Adams

View over to the North Devon Biosphere from Northam Burrows Country Park - Photo copyright Pat Adams

Braunton Burrows across the Torridge Estuary - Photo Pat Adams

"Business as usual" while reconstruction work is underway on the fire damaged Northam Burrows Visitor Centre - Photo Pat Adams

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Tap here for information on Northam Burrows Country Park & latest event details

Tap here to read article/view pictures of the damage in the North Devon Gazette

Tap here for news about the opening from Torridge District Council

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Northam Burrows Country Park lies at the mouth of the Taw Torridge Estuary and is protected from the raging Atlantic Ocean by a famous Pebble Ridge which runs the length of the two mile stretch of beach at Westward Ho! The Burrows consist of over 600 acres of coastal grassland, sand dunes and salt marsh known as The Skern. This area certainly appears to be a bleak, barren wasteland, but looks can be deceptive. It is a designated site of scientific interest and although there is a dearth of vegetation on the actual pebble ridge save the odd sprig of sea spurge, the Burrows supports a variety of plant life including Dune Pansy, Glasswort, Sea Holly, Sharp Rush and Storksbill. The saviour of the Sand Dunes is Marram Grass which grows vigorously in this inhospitable landscape. This common land is shared happily by all manner of tiny creatures, birds, butterflies, horses and sheep as well as golfers and walkers. The oldest links course in England is sited within the park and a separate section is set aside for local horse riding stables.(Article North Devon Focus on Northam Burrows)

Thursday, 13 July 2017

Prof Iain Stewart revealed as charity’s new president

Plymouth University academic and TV geologist Professor Iain Stewart MBE has been revealed as the new president of top local conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust.

Prof Stewart is only the third person to take on the honorary role since the conservation charity was founded 55 years ago in 1962. His appointment was made after a unanimous decision by Devon Wildlife Trust’s 15 strong Board of Trustees. He succeeds Prof Ian Mercer CBE, the eminent conservationist who had held the position from 1985 until his death in September 2016.

Prof Stewart spent a recent visit to Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wembury Marine Centre finding out about the work the charity does for local people and nature. Prof Stewart spoke of his new role as The Trust’s president:

“It’s a tremendously exciting opportunity. Wildlife conservation is fresh territory for me and it’s going to be a big learning curve, but it will allow me to indulge myself in all the things I loved as a kid – the natural world and a sense of adventure.

I thought a lot about whether to take this role up with Devon Wildlife Trust. I said yes because the charity is local to me. They are right in my neighbourhood. But I also said yes because for a lot of people wildlife is an entry point to something much bigger. There’s an overlap between people who are interested in wildlife and issues in my working world such as climate change.”

The geologist, who is Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute at Plymouth University’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, joined pupils from Coombe Dean Secondary School, Plymouth on a guided rockpool safari to discover the wildlife which lives in Wembury’s many tidal pools. Among the group’s finds were shore crabs, pipe fish and cushion stars. Prof Stewart said:

“Spending time with these young people you can see there’s loads of energy, it’s just buzzing. One of the best things about this kind of event is that it provides really simple excitement from being outdoors and exploring nature. It’s the kind of thing I did as a child and I also did it with my kids on this very beach. You get the sense that the children here today don’t think they are learning science, they are just having fun, which is fantastic.

Devon Wildlife Trust is an exemplar as to how you can combine good science and a passionate membership, with effective decision making. I’m proud that I am now to be a part of it.”

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chair, Dr Peta Foxall, joined Prof Stewart on his visit and welcomed the news of the appointment. She said:

"I am delighted that Iain has accepted the Board’s invitation to become President of Devon Wildlife Trust. Iain’s knowledge and expertise as a geologist and his infectious enthusiasm for the subject means that he will be a great ambassador for the work of the Trust.”

Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, spoke of the role Prof Iain Stewart would now take up. He said:

“I’m absolutely delighted about Iain’s appointment, as I am sure will be our 31,000 members and our many other supporters. Iain is a brilliant communicator and has turned audiences on to geology all over the world through his TV series, such as How Earth Made Us. I have no doubt that he will be a wonderful advocate for our work too.

Wildlife and wild places remain Devon’s best assets but they face some serious pressures today. I’m so pleased that Iain has agreed to become our president and help us champion their cause.”

Prof Stewart was born in East Kilbride, Scotland and studied geography and geology at Strathclyde University. He came to Devon in 2004 to take up a teaching and research post at Plymouth University. He was later appointed Professor of Geoscience Communication, believed to be the first position of its type in the world.

He lives in Plymouth with his partner Paola and two teenage daughters. In a profile piece with the Sunday Telegraph in 2010 Prof Stewart described his favourite Devon haunts as Dartmoor, the waterfalls at Lydford Gorge and the county’s wonderful beaches.

Prof Iain Stewart, Devon Wildlife Trust’s new President, at Wembury Marine Centre, near Plymouth

Prof Iain Stewart, centre, with Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chair, Dr Peta Foxall, and Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, Harry Barton.

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Counting on Butterflies with the Butterfly Conservation

Mid-July already and I must say there have been plenty of bees a-buzzing but the butterflies seem to have been few and far between up to now around my North Devon patch.

On my walk-abouts and in my garden I have seen one Green-veined White, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Orange Tips early on in May and over the past couple of months have spotted a Brimstone, Green-Veined White and Large/Small White, a couple of Red Amiral, one Peacock, Small Tortoishell, Meadow Brown, Heath Brown, a few Comma, a Skipper and a couple of Six-Spot Burnet Moths! Earlier today I got a record shot of a Ringlet.

On reflection I suppose that's not bad really but they are in so few numbers especially as the Buddleia (aka Butterfly Bush) has been flowering in my garden for a couple of weeks now, so I am hoping they arrive on mass in the next couple of weeks in time for the Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count which this year is from 14th July-6th August. It's a fun thing to do especially for a family with budding young naturalists as they can learn to recognise different species using an illustrated butterfly chart or or free mobile phone app.

The big butterfly count, is a UK nationwide survey aimed at helping assess the health of the environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. You can show your support by signing up HERE

Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, Alan Titchmarsh MBE, Nick Baker and Mike Dilger, Vice Presidents of Butterfly Conservation and the actress Joanna Lumley OBE have given their enthusiastic backing to the project and will support its launch and operation.

Before setting out on your quest to count or photograph butterflies it is also useful to know the different habitats and food plants favoured by individual species.