A Taste of the Sea. Down along Clovelly

Make a date in your diary for the Clovelly Seaweed Festival in aid of the North Devon Hospice.  Its launch in 2015 was a great success and the fun will be repeated this year on the 12th June. Clovelly's Seaweed Festival is held to promote seaweed for its immense health and nutritional benefits as it is hugely versatile. The Quay kitchens down along Clovelly Harbour will be preparing a surprising variety of dishes and stalls will be selling a range of seaweed products along with demonstrations, crafts and talks.

There will also be plenty of entertainment for both adults and children to enjoy, such as Seaweed foot spa's and massage, Sciency workshops with Sarah Hotchkiss from CyberColloids exploring the types and uses of seaweeds, The National Trust & North Cornwall seaweeds craft activities (bring your own plastic bottle to make an under the sea miniatuere garden), Facepainting & Henna tattoo's. The Seaweed Health Foundation will provide information on the benefits of human food quality seaweed for food and health. Also Emma Gunn will be doing talks, providing tasters and the chance to buy a signed copy of her book.

There’ll be street entertainers and live music throughout the day which is included in the admission charges. 

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.

Also from 3pm the New Inn will be hosting an afternoon street tea-party, in celebration of the Queens 90th! With Cream teas, sandwiches, "make your own bunting" arts & crafts and live music! 

A Taste of the Sea. A selection of photos from Clovelly Seaweed Festival 2015 by P. Adams

Clovelly Seaweed Festival, Sunday 12th June 2016
Clovelly Harbour,
10 am to 5 pm
For further details contact Clovelly Visitor Centre. 

Tel: 01237 431781.- www.clovelly.co.uk
Clovelly News and Events

Seaton Jurassic to open doors for first time on Saturday 26th March

A £4million visitor attraction is set to open its doors to visitors for the first time this Easter.

Seaton Jurassic is based in the East Devon coastal resort of Seaton. It hopes to attract thousands of visitors to experience its unique telling of the story of life and particularly how it has evolved on the Jurassic Coast over the past 250 million years ago.

Mike Ruiter, Seaton Jurassic's manager said:
'We are very excited about the prospect of opening. Our staff and local volunteers can't wait to greet the first visitors when we open our doors at 10am on Saturday 26th March. We think Seaton Jurassic offers a unique experience for visitors. They can certainly expect something very different to what already exists along the Jurassic Coast.'
 
In the past weeks trial sessions with invited guests have already proved Seaton Jurassic own take on local natural and geological history to be a hit with people of all ages.

Mike Ruiter said:
'We've had people tell us they were amazed by our interactive exhibits, wowed by the detail of them and what we've managed to fit into the space available.' Seaton Jurassic promises to take people on an adventure back across 250 million years to the beginnings of the Mesozoic period. It charts the struggles of local life to adapt and survive in changing and often hostile environments. Visitors are being promised 'time travel' and the prospect of coming face-to-face with the creatures and characters who have been part of the Jurassic Coast's story. But there's a more tranquil side to Seaton Jurassic. Visitors can also expect a café with two huge palm trees at their centre along with a menu of good food and drink sourced using local suppliers. A shop and wildlife garden completes the experience. Seaton Jurassic is marking its opening with a packed programme of entertainments and events. On Saturday 26th March there will be storytellers, face painters and more. Sunday 27th March sees a Jurassic-themed Easter Egg Hunt. While on Easter Monday 28th March a special expert-led guided walk will unlock the secrets held in the rocks of the local landscape. These events signal a spring and summer programme the full details of which people can see at www.seatonjurassic.org 

Seaton Jurassic is owned by East Devon District Council. Councillor Paul Diviani, Leader of East Devon District Council, said that the centre - at the very heart of the world-renowned Jurassic Coast - marks another step in the regeneration of the town. He said: 

'Seaton Jurassic is a top attraction which will bring in thousands of visitors and, in turn, will boost the economy of Seaton and East Devon too.' 'We're very proud to be the main funder of such a unique project and we believe it will be a catalyst for the further regeneration of the town itself.' The operator of Seaton Jurassic is Devon Wildlife Trust. 
The charity's Chief Executive Officer, Harry Barton, said: 
'Seaton Jurassic is a project that has been more than a decade in the making. Seeing it for real, brand new, dramatic and sparkling in the spring sunshine, is an absolute thrill. And like all great treasures, the best bits are inside! I am just so grateful for all the support from the local community. I really hope they are as proud of the end result as I am.' 

Seaton Jurassic will open its doors for the first time at 10am on Saturday 26th March. Entry costs £8 for adults and £5 for children, with family tickets priced at £18. The entry fee covers return visits for a year. Seaton Jurassic can be found on the Underfleet, Seaton, EX12 2WD, next to the Seaton Tramway. It has a pay and display car park just 100 metres from its entrance and excellent public transport links with the X53 Jurassic Coast bus stopping at its door! 

Young people enjoy Seaton Jurassic's interactive displays at a recent trial day  

Photos copyright Matt Austin (All rights reserved)

 Further details about making a visit to Seaton Jurassic can be found at www.seatonjurassic.org Seaton Jurassic has received generous support from Devon County Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, Coastal Communities Fund, Seaton Town Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Fine Family Foundation, Seaton Visitor Centre Trust, Blue Marine Foundation and Jurassic Coast Trust.

Troubadours Come to Town. Wildwood Jack to play at St Anne's Arts and Community Centre in Barnstaple

The travelling acoustic guitar and ukulele duo Wildwood Jack will be playing at St Anne's Arts and Community Centre in Barnstaple on Tuesday 22nd March as part of their UK tour.

Described by Netrythms as “genuinely uplifting” with “intensely adept acoustic guitar stylings” the duo showcase a unique blend of fingerstyle guitar and ukulele that draws influences from folk, country and world music. Over the last two years they've played as far afield as Bangkok, Hanoi and New Zealand. European dates have taken them from street festivals in Croatia, Germany and Italy to a circus tent in Austria as well as two tours of Denmark.

Adam says “'Wildwood Jack' is our name for the independent spirit of music that knows no boundaries and that's very much reflected in both our music and our troubadour lifestyle”.

Their sound has been described as a mix of Paul Simon, Ry Cooder and Nanci Griffiths and their wide repertoire draws from an eclectic songbook as well as instrumentals and original songs.

Tickets are £6 and available from the Heritage Centre shop on the Strand in Barnstaple or from 01271 373003. Also online with a small booking fee www.ticketsource.co.uk/StAnnesArtsCentre

Wildwood Jack,

St Annes Arts and Community Centre 

Paternoster Row, Barnstaple EX31 1SX 

Tuesday 22nd March

----------------

Wildwood Jack
Inventive Acoustic Folk and Roots
"Engaging, uplifting and filled with memorable melodies and clever hooks" R2 Magazine
www.wildwoodjack.com
www.twitter.com/wildwoodjack
www.facebook.com/wildwoodjack