Summer Signings. Meet the author, Liz Shakespeare at a host of Devon Festivals and Events.

Readers who enjoy local books will have the opportunity to meet author Liz Shakespeare this summer.
 

Liz has become well-known as an author who brings to life the people, history and landscapes of Devon, and she has a busy summer ahead visiting many South-West events.
 

Liz said ‘Writing is a very solitary occupation so I enjoy these opportunities to go out and meet my readers.’
 

Liz has a long Devon ancestry which she feels has given her a good understanding of Devon and its people. Her most recent book is The Postman Poet, a novel which captures the opportunities and inequalities of Victorian North Devon. The Postman Poet has been long-listed for the DLF Hall and Woodhouse prize and will be featured at the Sidmouth Folk Festival on August 7th when Liz will be joining with musicians Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll to celebrate the life and songs of Devon’s Postman Poet Edward Capern.

Historical research was also the inspiration for her previous books, The Turning of the Tide, a true story of a young Clovelly mother confined in Bideford Workhouse, Fever: A Story from a Devon Churchyard, and The Memory Be Green: An Oral History of a Devon Village. All Around The Year, is a collection of twelve poignant stories, deeply rooted in the Devon countryside, and each linked to a month of the year from January through to December.
 

Liz will be signing copies of all her books at the following events:

• Clovelly Maritime Festival on July 14th 
• Launceston Show on July 26th
• In the Magpie Marquee at the Mid-Devon Show on July 28th
• Woolsery Show on July 30th
• In the Crafts and Gifts Marquee at the North Devon Show on August 1st
• Okehampton Show on August 9th
• Dartmoor Folk Festival on August 11th and 12th
• Chagford Show on August 16th
• Holsworthy Show on August 23rd
• Lustleigh Village Show on August 27th
• Clovelly Crab and Lobster Festival on September 2nd

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Further details of Liz’s books can be found on her website www.lizshakespeare.co.uk

Follow Liz 

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August Highllights. Atlantic Soul with a sprinkling of Motown.

Soul Intention is an 11 piece soul band who play Stax & Atlantic soul classics from the 60's & 70's with a sprinkling of Motown. The band formed in 2016 having responded to a letter in the Gazette from bassist, Trevor Davis, who wanted to form a soul band. You can check them out at the following events this August.

BIDEFORD

 Thursday 2nd August Soul Intention big sound soul band 

at the Palladium Club, Bideford EX29 2DE.. 

Doors open at 8pm. Tickets £4 on the door.

CROYDE

Saturday 24th August Soul InTention big sound soul band 

at Croyde Village Hall, Croyde EX33 1LX.. 

Doors open 8pm. Tickets £5 on the door.

Follow Soul Intention SW

Facebook 
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Based in South West U.K. Soul Intention Big Sound Soul Band is available for Functions, Festivals, Parties, Weddings or special event 

Tap link for Visit  gig dates and bookings

Tel: 01237 470268 or 01237 451450

‘Bat cam’ provides unique view of rare animals

Viewers of a very different kind of reality TV will be going batty in the coming weeks. People can visit www.devonbatproject.org to view a live webcam of a greater horseshoe bat roost in Devon to see hundreds of the rare animals appearing on screen at one time.

The bat cam, installed as part of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project, is beaming live pictures around the world from a greater horseshoe bat roost at a secret location in South Devon. The Project is a 5-year partnership initiative involving 18 organisations led by Devon Wildlife Trust and supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as other funders.

Ruth Testa, Project Manager, of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project said:

‘The hi-tech infrared camera allows everyone to see what goes on inside a bat roost – something that is not normally possible. By logging on to our website (www.devonbatproject.org) and watching the live footage, people can get a unique and intimate view into the lives of these wonderful animals. You can also watch footage of some of our team’s favourite moments from previous years.’

Colin Morris, Nature Reserves Manager for The Vincent Wildlife Trust, the project partner that owns and manages the roost site, said:

‘The bats are very active at the moment - people should keep their eyes peeled as the female greater horseshoe bats are getting ready to give birth. While difficult to see during daytime, the new-born pups are left on their own once the adults go out to hunt at night. The coming weeks should see some drama as a succession of baby bats appear on screen!’

Greater horseshoe bats have seen their numbers plummet by over 90% in the last 100 years. Today Devon remains a stronghold of the endangered species with about a third of the UK population thought to be surviving in the county.

The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project hopes to reverse the species’ decline. Over the coming years it will continue to work with local landowners, farmers and communities across Devon ensuring that Devon remains a place which offers greater horseshoe bats the room to live and flourish.

Members of the public can help us improve our scientific knowledge of bats by taking part in the Devon Bat Survey. During the summer months, you can borrow a special detector from 20 locations across Devon using an online booking service www.devonbatproject.org/devon-bat-survey.

A Greater Horseshoe Bat – Photo copyright Michael Symes (All Rights Reserved)