Ben Howard: Westcountry singer-songwriter New Single, Video & UK Tour Dates

Ben Howard releases his new single, ‘Keep Your Head Up’ on the 26th September. It is taken from his forthcoming debut album, ‘Every Kingdom’ released on the 3rd October 2011, released through Island Records. 
Every Kingdom (Deluxe Edition) - Ben Howard -
Keep Your Head Up - Every Kingdom (Deluxe Edition)

Check out the video here 

Click here to read about Ben Howard's Single and UK Tour Dates on the Focus Music Blogspot
www/benhowardmusic.co.uk 
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http://www.myspace.com/benhoward

Devon Wildlife Trust: Wetlands project starts to sow the seeds

This month, Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands Project team has been busy with several projects to spread 'green-hay' on sites in north and west Devon to create more wildflower-rich meadows. 'Green-hay' refers to the process of cutting flower-rich grassland areas on existing wildlife sites and quickly baling them un-dried. The bales are then transported to nearby local sites where they are spread onto prepared ground to introduce the seed onto sites which are currently of lower wildlife value. The process is a cost-effective way of enhancing or creating meadows and pastures as part of existing Natural England Environmental Stewardship agreements or to expand areas of wildlife habitat so landowners have more chance of securing a Stewardship agreement. The Working Wetlands team has gained considerable experience planning and managing these projects with many hectares of ground now blooming with the plants which have been spread since the Devon Wildlife Trust's landscape-scale project began in 2008. Stuart Coleman from the Working Wetlands Team said: "The team have always worked closely with landowners and local contractors to make these projects a success, but this year Working Wetlands has expanded its own machinery-ring to include a new 90 hp tractor and fodder chopper/spreader so we can spread the flower-rich bales ourselves. This has made a real difference speeding up operations and reducing costs for landowners enabling even more fields to be enhanced in this way." One of the projects completed this month has been 5.5 ha of fields at Simon Kerslake's "Higher Grinacombe" holding in Broadwoodwidger. Simon said: "This has been a really good project and something I had never heard of before so when DWT got in touch I thought it was quite inspirational and I was keen to go along with it. I'm now really excited to see the results and interested to do more in the future. I think the extra wildlife that will hopefully result from the work will be really beneficial to the farm." The charity is now looking for other landowners in the northern and western areas of Devon who might be interested in helping wildlife by using green-hay to create flower-rich meadows. To express an interest call the Working Wetlands team on 01409 221823.
Working Wetlands is a seven year landscape scale project and this is just one of many initiatives being undertaken by the scheme across 65,000 hectares of the Culm Natural Area. It has been supported by South West Water, Tubney Charitable Trust, The Environment Agency, Devon County Council, Devon Waste Management, GrantScape and Natural England 

Petition launched to press for better protected seas

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) officially launched its Petition Fish campaign on Friday 29 July to push for effective marine reserves around Devon as part of a network of marine protected areas throughout the UK. The launch was held at Wembury Marine Centre. The petition has already gained significant support over the past few months with many specially-produced foil fish scales already signed by people visiting the Centre. A similar petition was organised in 2007 to push for an effective Marine and Coastal Access Act and now the charity, in conjunction with Wildlife Trusts across the country, plans to collect thousands of signatures from people who would like to see areas of sea and coastline protected for the benefit of both people and wildlife. Peter Burgess, DWT's Conservation Advocacy Manager said: "It is essential that the proposed network of Marine Conservation Zones which has been promised as part of the Marine Act is put into place by the end of next year. It has taken a great deal of public support and effort to get to this stage and we now urge people to help us make sure we don't lose momentum. These zones need to be in the right place, well managed and support recovery from past decline if we are to achieve our aim for Living Seas." Some of the sites around Devon's coast which are proposed as areas to receive greater protection include the north Devon coast between Bideford and Foreland Point, and areas in Torbay. Peter added: "At present our seas are a shadow of their former selves. For centuries, we have taken our sea's riches for granted, taking too much with too little care. At present, only 2% of the UK's sea area has even a minimal level of protection for wildlife and less than 0.001% is fully protected from all damaging activities. We need a healthy, well protected sea so it can survive the many demands humans put on it." The organisation will be promoting the petition through its range of events at Wembury Marine Centre and at other locations over the summer starting this weekend with National Marine Weeks. The plan is to present all the signed Petition Fish from across the region to Government next year to make sure its acts decisively so that the network of reserves is in place by the end of 2012. For more information about the campaign and to sign a virtual scale online visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/petition-fish/ Ref: DWT 27 July 2011

Adopt a species scheme expands to help the hog

This summer Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) is expanding its range of online gifts with the addition of the option to adopt a hedgehog as part of the charity's Help the Hog campaign. The 'Adopt a species' scheme, launched in 2009 through the DWT website, www.devonwildlifetrust.org  allows people to support the Trust's conservation work in Devon, protecting habitats and species for future generations to enjoy. People can choose to 'adopt' from a list of five wonderful species: dormouse, otter, dolphin, bat and now hedgehog. With each £20 donation, purchasers will receive a soft toy of their chosen species along with a welcome letter, fact sheet and certificate, a postcard of the species, a fun activity book and a pack of six colouring pencils. Phoebe Grubb, from DWT said: 'This is a great way for people to support our new campaign - adopt a species makes the perfect alternative gift for friends and family! The Help the hog campaign has really taken off this year, we have received more than 2,500 records of hedgehogs from around the county and early signs do seem to confirm our fears that these amazing mammals are in decline in Devon.' The money raised through the initiative will go towards the costs of carrying out conservation work throughout the county benefiting these species and the habitats that they need to thrive. To adopt a hedgehog today, visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org or call Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244. Ref: DWT 20 July 2011

Photo copyright Hugh Clark

Charity gets kit for frits

A leading South West conservation charity has this month been testing out its new machinery which is set to help boost the fortunes of a number of fritillary butterfly species on Dartmoor. Last year Devon Wildlife Trust was awarded money by Viridor Credits Environmental Company, through the Landfill Communities Fund and has purchased a new alpine tractor and two quad bikes to help with its conservation work. The new kit will be used at four of the charity's key nature reserves: Blackadon, Dart Valley, Dunsford and Emsworthy on Dartmoor. The low ground pressure alpine tractor is specially designed for safe use on steep slopes like those found in Dartmoor's valleys. The quad bikes will be used in width-restricted areas that the tractor is unable to access. This equipment will enable DWT's reserves staff to better manage the sites for these rare and threatened species. The Pasquali alpine tractor's small wide wheels and low centre of gravity make it safe to use on the Dartmoor valleys' steep slopes, and it even bends in the middle to help it negotiate boulders. All the vehicles will be used to cut and collect bracken, which is a key task in managing land for the endangered fritillaries' recovery. Matt Boydell, DWT's Land Management Manager said: "This is a significant boost for us and will help us manage these more difficult sites and create and expand the habitats which these butterflies thrive on. The project focuses on the management of south facing bracken slopes, increasing spring-flowering plant species including violets and bugle which are the food plants of the larvae and adults of rare fritillary butterflies such as the pearl- and small-pearl bordered. To get this equipment in place will help us greatly in our management this year and for many years to come." For more information about the project visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Reserves. Assistant Andrew Warren tries out DWT's new quad bike

WILL BIG IDEAS MEAN BIG CHANGE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

The launch of the Government's Natural Environment White Paper today has been welcomed by the Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT). However the charity has cautioned that its encouraging words now need to be followed by urgent action. DWT Director Paul Gompertz said: "For decades now, governments everywhere have been long on promises and short on action when it comes to maintaining the diversity of life on the planet. There is a real danger that this is just another set of fine words paving the way to a looming breakdown of natural systems."We welcome much of the content of today's Natural Environment White Paper and are pleased to see such a broad spectrum of proposed action, but we're reminded of the Marine Act which offered fantastic promises but remains to prove itself in the implementation." The commitment to be 'the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than it inherited' is obviously laudable. However, this country made the same commitment ten years ago, and failed. Since then 30% cuts have been made to the Department which might be expected to lead on this. And the document still insists that 'economic growth and the natural environment are mutually compatible', even though we live in a planet which is consuming at three times the rate nature can provide. Paul added: "This is more Vision document than White Paper, since it doesn't propose any significant legislation. Visions are easy on the Treasury. The principles are all sound - the document speaks the right language - but these worthy aspirations now need to be translated into urgent and substantial gains for Devon's wildlife and wild places."

Barnstaple comes alive for Wildlife Festival

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) held its annual Wildlife Festival in Barnstaple on Saturday as part of the 13th North Devon Festival. It was the charity's fifth annual Wildlife Festival and ran between 10am and 4pm. The event featured many wildlife-themed exhibits and activities aimed at keeping families entertained. It began with a parade through the High Street with a samba band and giant bug stilt walkers, all led by the Mayor of the town who brought the parade to the Square and officially opened the event. Jo Pullin, DWT's event organiser said: "This year's event was a real success with over 3,000 people attending. We had Vintage Mobile Cinema showing wildlife films and over 100 nest boxes were made, which is always a firm favourite at our festivals. We would like to thank all the volunteers who help make the event possible and luckily the weather held off despite a short shower in the afternoon. Look out for us at a town near you next year!" This year's event was generously sponsored by BID Barnstaple, The Bridge Trust and South West Water. Photo: Wildlife Festival Stilt Walkers copyright Devon Wildlife Trust

Big Garden Birdwatch 2011 Results

The Big Garden Birdwatch 2011 results are here! Wow! Over 600,000 of you took part in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch. Not only does that make 2011 a record-breaking year for the number of people watching their garden birds, but your counts also revealed some exciting news about our smaller birds. Click here to view results in your area.  

The 2011 Big Garden Birdwatch top 10; Position Species

1 house sparrow

2 starling

3 blackbird

4 blue tit

5 chaffinch

6 woodpigeon

7 great tit

8 goldfinch

9 robin 

10 collared dove 

Next Event

June: Make Your Nature Count

October: Feed the Birds Day

BBC ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW COMES TO HARTLAND ABBEY 7 JULY

One of the highlights of the summer at Hartland Abbey will be the arrival of BBC's Antiques Roadshow on Thursday 7th July, starting at 10 a.m.. It is a great honour to be hosting it in this beautiful corner of North Devon which is easily accessible from Junction 27 of the M5 or from the A39. We are within easy reach of all Devon, Cornwall and Somerset with the City of Plymouth, and towns of Launceston, Holsworthy, Okehampton, Torrington, Bideford, Barnstaple, Crediton and Tiverton nearby. The house itself will be closed to visitors on that day only as it will be used as part of the show. However the gardens should be looking lovely and will be open as normal; if you are planning to visit anyway come along and perhaps bring some family heirloom with you too! The walk to the beach will also be open as normal and there will be a large variety of refreshments available, many supporting local charities. Contact TEL NO: Tel: 01237 441264/234 EMAIL: ha_admin@btconnect.com
7 July 2011 BBC ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW COMES TO HARTLAND ABBEY, Nr. Bideford, North Devon EX39 6DT.

Royal Wedding Watch

North Devon prepares to celebrate William and Kate's Big Day with a host of Street Parties around the Region. Clovelly are holding a street party to celebrate the occasion and you can watch the Royal Wedding on a widescreen TV at 11:30 am. The Royal Street Party starts at 2:30 p.m. with a complimentary glass of Bucks fizz or fruit cocktail to toast the happy couple. There follows a children's tea party with jelly and ice cream, BBQ burger or hotdog for adults, a scone with jam & cream, all for just £1 each. Children can have their faces painted, enter a fancy dress prize competition for the best Prince and Princess and enjoy a treasure hunt. There'll be a specially brewed real ale on sale, a prize draw in aid of the S.W. Children's Hospice and live music. The New Inn will also be hosting a cocktail party with disco and karaoke in the evening.

Royal Wedding Street Party Date: Friday, 29th April Location: New Inn, Clovelly Normal admission charges apply Visit Clovelly Web Site
NORTH Devon is getting ready to break out the bunting and celebrate the Royal Wedding in style......Visit the North Devon Gazette for more events around the region 

The wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton will be available to watch on the Royal Channel Live Stream, accompanied by a live multi-media blog put together by St. James's Palace......visit The Royal Wedding Official Site
BBC Royal Wedding Features, Wedding Route, Updates & Video

Devon residents invited to help the hog

A local wildlife charity has launched a new campaign to find out more about the current state of the hedgehog population in Devon. Devon Wildlife Trust is asking local people to send in records of hedgehog sightings in or near their garden over the last few years via its website. There is growing evidence which suggests that the hedgehog population is in decline throughout the UK and this much loved animal is becoming a rarer sight. Although the reason behind this decline is not yet clear, it is thought that the loss of green space in the urban environment one factor. Stephen Hussey DWT's Communications Coordinator said: "We decided to launch this campaign to involve local people in recording the wildlife on their doorstep. The hedgehog is a well known species and it's easy to recognise. People know them as a common visitors to Devon gardens and we want to find out if there really is a problem in our region." Its not all doom and gloom, there are a number of things that people can do in their own garden to help hedgehogs. Stephen added: "From making your garden more wildlife friendly, feeding your local hedgehog dog food and water (not bread and milk), to ensuring your pond is safe for these lovable creatures, there are plenty of things you can do to help. We have lots of useful tips and information on our website for people who want to know more." For more information helping the hog or to fill in a survey form visit http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/.

Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Challenges 2011 Fancy a challenge this year? Devon Wildlife Trust is running its first ever sponsored cycle challenges in May and July. Click on the link below to find out more! www.devonwildlifetrust.org/cycle-devon-coast-to-coast-2011/

Ponies used to help restore rare grassland habitat at Bridgelea

Four hardy moorland ponies have this month been brought in to graze a rare Culm grassland site in central Devon as part of Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project. The 2.5 hectare site at Bridgelea near Sampford Courtenay had been in need of attention for several years. The Working Wetlands project awarded the landowners a grant to carry out scrub clearance and install stockproof fencing which has enabled the re-introduction of grazing. The four ponies are part of the Devon Wildlife Trust's Grazing Links scheme, an initiative which brings people with livestock together with landowners in need of grazing for their holdings. It is hoped that the ponies will help to open up the habitat and allow a broad range of wild flower species to become more widely established across the site. This increase in the range of wild flowers will benefit a host of insects, which in turn will support healthy populations of birds and small mammals. This initiative was only made possible by the generous funding of Devon Waste Management. Their support has enabled the Working Wetlands project to set up and administer a small grant award initiative which offers landowners financial support to carry out capital works on wildlife-rich sites in the Culm Measures. Devon Wildlife Trust's Mike Symes oversaw the introduction of grazing and said: "Bridgelea is a great site but its value for wildlife was being lost due to scrub encroachment and a lack of grazing. Now, as a result of the funding provided by Devon Waste Management, the important Culm grassland habitat will be restored through improved, sympathetic land management." Bob and Joy Tucker, the landowners at Bridgelea, added: "When we moved here we knew that the land was in need of some careful management, but we didn't know where to start. Devon Wildlife Trust has enabled us to embark on this exciting project and we are really looking forward to seeing the field transformed year by year, allowing  the more delicate and vulnerable species that could not compete with the rushes to  establish themselves."

Ponies at Bridgelea photo copyright Devon Wildlife Trust 

Working Wetlands is a seven year landscape scale project working across 65,000 hectares of the Culm Natural Area. It has been supported by South West Water, Tubney Charitable Trust, The Environment Agency, Devon County Council, Devon Waste Management, GrantScape and Natural England.

Devon Reptile & Amphibian Group calls for sightings of rare newt!

Although frogs and newts are familiar from ponds and gardens, globally amphibians are one of the most threatened creatures on earth. In order to help conserve one of the UK's rarest amphibians the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group, with funding from the Devon Biodiversity Partnership and help from the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, has recently set up a Great Crested Newt Project. As part of this they are looking for help in locating records of the rare and protected Great Crested Newt, which is currently only known to exist in a few ponds in the county. Great Crested Newts are much larger (up to 17cm long) than the small newts (around 10cm long) more commonly found in our ponds. The body is dark brown to black in colour with a warty appearance. Male Great Crested Newts can be identified by the jagged crest running along their back. Newts have a similar life cycle to frogs and toads, hibernating through the winter months and returning to breed in ponds in the spring. Nicky Green, Chair of the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group (DRAG) said: 'The Great Crested Newt is thought to be virtually extinct in Devon. However, there have been new recorded sightings across the county, which suggest that there are more of them out there than previously thought. In order to help conserve this rare and fascinating species we need as many records of sightings as possible'. If you think you may have seen Great Crested Newts in your pond please contact Julia.clark_DRAG@hotmail.co.uk or 01626 834422 with the location, post code and date of the sighting. A Great Crested Newt identification and conservation pack is available for respondents.

Photo copyright James Grundy: (All rights reserved)

About Devon Reptile & Amphibian Group
DRAG is the county’s amphibian and reptile voluntary body, with more than 100 members. The group aims to promote the conservation of amphibians and reptiles and their habitats in the county. DRAG record, monitor and survey amphibians and reptiles in Devon.The Great Crested Newt Project has been funded by the Devon Biodiversity Partnership and the Devon Biodiversity Record Centre. The project aims to increase our knowledge of the distribution of Great Crested Newts in the county so they are better able to promote their conservation and ensure they are not adversely affected by development activities.The Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) is Britain’s largest and most threatened newt. The body is dark brown to black in colour with a warty appearance. It has a bright orange belly with black markings.

Peppercombe Chronicles - Brighter days and babbling brooks

26th February. The sun has come out at last. The recent heavy rainfall has resulted in the formation of many rivulets forging channels as they travel down the valley to the sea. The surplus water runs off the upper meadows on both sides of the valley and the two main streams merge just under the bridge at the Coastguard cottages. Mini babbling brooks are also created alongside the path all the way down occasionally pooling where leaves have blocked the way. The odd bird chirps but the main action today seems to be the hundreds of starlings roosting along the electricity wires on the A39 at Horns Cross.  Down by Peppercombe Meadows two buzzards are battling above the coastpath. Although Clovelly is visible across Bideford Bay, Lundy is not. Spring is breaking now in earnest and the first spikes of the ransoms are pushing through on the banks beside the track which, sadly, are still being eroded. Soon Peppercombe will take on a yellow glow when carpeted by flowering primroses, lesser celandine, daffodils and lofty Alexanders. As February draws to a close the early morning frost has returned, so it seems Spring is not quite here yet!. The starlings are a regular sight now swirling aloft like a cloud then settling on the hedgerows around the field.

Lundy high, sign of dry

Lundy plain, sign of rain

Lundy low, sign of snow

North Devon otter video makes a splash at film festival!

A film capturing wild otters in their natural environment shot by Devon Wildlife Trust's Senior Nature Reserves Officer Gary Pilkington has been shortlisted for an award. Gary managed to film the family of otters one day when out working on Marsland Nature Reserve near Hartland. The footage which has already had thousands of views on You Tube was submitted to the Borderlines Film Festival at the end of the year. Now it has been shortlisted for the Under Open Skies Harry Williamson Award for the best amateur and professional films on Britain's natural world. This is the first time the competition has been run and it was set up in honour of Harry Williamson, a very dedicated and prolific amateur film-maker. The prize is sponsored by Wyevale Nurseries. Borderlines Film Festival runs throughout Herefordshire and Shropshire and will screen at 37 venues from 25 March to 10 April. With over 220 screenings and events it is the UK's largest rural film festival. Gary said: "It's great to be shortlisted for this award, I have managed this reserve for more than 20 years and never seen an otter so it was a shock and real surprise to be in the right place in the right time with my camera at hand. The otters didn't seem to mind me being around at all and as the footage shows the two young ones had probably not had any contact with humans, they seemed fully at ease playing about in the stream." Gary will find out in early April whether he has won the prize.

Here is the video for you all to enjoy

Good Luck Gary

First Footing! - Spring breaks at Welcombe

20th February. A trip down to Welcombe Mouth, one of my favourite secluded coves on the wild North Devon Heritage Coast. Stong winds, good light, heavy ocean spray above high rolling surf. The first sighting of a number of Coltsfoot peeking through the undergrowth, sure sign that Spring is on the way. The flower heads, similar to a Dandelion, appear before the leaves on this hardy little plant which was once used as a remedy for coughs and colds. Coltsfoot is prevalent on the boggy grassland above the beach. Looks like it is also the first flight for an orange tailed bumble bee and two caterpillars are out for a walk. I am hoping that the motionless bumble bee hiding in the grass is just enjoying an afternoon siesta. Welcombe Mouth is located on the outer limits of the North Devon Area of Natural Beauty. A quiet spot, popular with surfers, photographers and walkers. The secluded beach has good sand at low tide and is surrounded by high cliffs. There is a superb panorama from high on the Southwest Coast Path. Welcombe Mouth is accessed by car from the A39, the road winds down to the scattered village of Welcombe which is home to the Yarner Trust, Welcombe Pottery and the Old Smithy Inn. The last part of the road is not surfaced so great care must be taken.

Welcombe Bytes: Spectacular rugged rock formations, big stepping stones across the mouth of the fast running stream linking one side of the South West Coast Path to the other. The water cascades down over the rocks. Waterfall visible from the beach and from the coast path. Site of Special Scientific interest.  In 1970, at the height of their fame, the band Deep Purple stayed at the Hermitage while writing their second album "Fireball". St. Nectan's Church St. Nectan was the first Devon Saint and Martyr. He was venerated in the Hartland area and the churches at Welcombe and Stoke are dedicated to him. Across the road from the Church is St. Nectan's Well. If you know what type of butterflies these will become leave a comment!

Appeal launched to extend charity nature reserve At Dunsdon

Devon Wildlife Trust has launched an appeal to its members and local people in the hope that it can raise money to extend one of its nature reserves and preserve some of the county's rarest wildlife. The charity has just been given the chance to add new land to its Dunsdon National Nature Reserve, which lies at the very heart of the Culm Measures in the north west of Devon. The five hectares of SSSI land for sale abut the eastern end of the existing 63 hectare site. The charity has been offered £43,000 towards the purchase by GrantScape, who have funded a wealth of groundbreaking conservation work in this area over the past four years. Devon Wildlife Trust is now looking for another £10,000 in order to complete the purchase. Gary Pilkington, DWT's Senior Reserves Officer said: "Dunsdon is a large reserve that buzzes and bursts with wildlife. Damp acid soils and a history of traditional, sympathetic farming provide ideal conditions for such rare plants as the lesser butterfly orchid, wavy-leaved St John's wort and three-leaved water crowfoot. This rich flora supports an amazing array of other wildlife. Twenty-six species of butterfly make their homes here, including a large nationally important population of rare marsh fritillaries. Breeding birds include herons, skylarks, spotted flycatchers, willow tits and grasshopper warblers. Barn owls hunt over the fields and can sometimes be seen roosting in the trees. The new parcel of land has fantastic potential for these and many other species." The site is also a strategic point on the map for DWT's Working Wetlands team who are helping neighbouring farmers to restore and re-create a network of wildlife habitats on their own holdings around Dunsdon. This gives the new land huge importance as a key link in a chain of joined-up Culm grassland sites. To donate to the appeal either call Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244 or visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Peppercombe in the Mist.

Peppercombe Chronicles 19th February Yet another dank, dismal February day but mid-morning a sea mist rolled in, not great light this time of year for photographs but there is always something happening down Peppercombe Valley. The grey mist made for a very ethereal experience. A single yellow flowering lesser celandine amidst the new green shoots beside the path was the only colourful sign of Spring. The catkins and smattering of snowdrops have been out for a couple of weeks now. An occasional flaming red elf cup can be seen snuggling down amongst fallen twigs and branches. I hardly recognise the place which seems strangely empty due to fallen or lopped trees and flattened bracken. For the first time ever I am aware of the precipitous drop from the path and unusually can see clearly over to the lower track and the fast running stream. Spring Beauty, Wood Sorrel, Bluebell Spikes, Daffodil shoots and Dogs Mercury rising.

Bideford Railway Tracks…..

I thought I would share these pictures with all you Bideford Railway history enthusiasts. The photos are dated 1976 and 1993 and were contributed by Philip Lindhurst, whose lifelong interest in Railway Stations was instigated in 1976 while on holiday at his Aunt and Uncle’s in Landcross. His Aunt took him on a trip to see the old Bideford station and Philip, who lives in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire has “walked many an old railway line” since. One of the photos taken on that day was of the old Booking Office which was, for many years occupied, by the Midland Bank. In the photo you can see the name over the door. This building is now the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre and the local office for the North Devon AONB. Many of the old stations across the country are now private homes but Philip finds that people are only too happy to share memories or show him round. One such occasion was in Frongoch, North Wales when a lady allowed him to go round the back to photograph the platforms. He was especially pleased to see the old signal box was still standing and she kindly opened it up so he could take more pictures inside. She said that at one time this particular station had two waiting rooms, one for the ladies and one for the gents. The “Gents” is now her front room and the “Ladies” is now the kitchen!  Philip has worked on the London Underground for the past forty years but still enjoys hunting out old railway stations and has built up an extensive archive of photographs, remnants of a bygone age when the Railways were the most important mode of transport especially in rural areas. Some of Philip’s photos are on display in the old Bideford Railway Carriage which is open for refreshments in the holiday season. Philip has taken pictures of Bideford Railway Station in 1976, 1993 and 2008. The old Bideford railway line now forms part of the 180 mile Tarka Trail. Click here to Explore Bideford Railway Station and the Tarka Trail with the North Devon Focus - All images, articles on this site copyright North Devon Focus. Photos of Bideford Station copyright Philip Lindhurst

Later this year Philip and twelve friends will be taking photographs "off the beaten track" on a trip to see the old nuclear power station at Chenobyl. They will also be visiting what is now the ghost town of Pripyat which once had a population of around 49,000.

The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, part of the Soviet Union). It is considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history and is the only level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Click here for Chernobyl Disaster Wikipedia Stub

Ruined farmstead uncovered in conservation project at Knowstone Moor

Scrub clearance work currently being carried out at Devon Wildlife Trust's Knowstone Moor nature reserve has uncovered a long-lost farmstead hidden from view for decades. The 120 hectare reserve near Rackenford is a mixture of grassland, heathland and bog is split by the A361 Devon Link Road. It was known that the ruins known as Little Comfort Farm existed at the site, but work this month to remove scrub as part of the GrantScape funded Culm restoration project has unveiled a large area of walls and foundations thought to date back to Elizabethan times. Ian Chadwick, the nature reserves officer for the site who has been in charge of the  work said: "We knew there was suppose to be a farmstead in the area, but until now had never had the funding to really get on top of the thick scrub in the area and fully discover it. Now with the help of contractors and volunteers the site has really opened up and we can see the layout of the farmstead, its out buildings and walls." Along with opening up this ruin, the conservation work is due to benefit a widerange of rare species that exist on the nature reserve including birds such as curlew, nightjar, whinchat and hen harrier. Its insects include two rarities; the marsh fritillary butterfly and the narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth. The charity is now interested to hear from local historians who may be able to shed more light on this ruin.

Leave a comment if you know anything about the history of Little Comfort Farm

Culm restoration project's Christmas tree clearance begins

Clearance work at an overgrown Christmas tree plantation near Rackenford in Devon gets under way this month as part of Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project.The 3.5 hectare site includes Norway Spruce trees of varying ages which have passed their commercial peak. It is hoped that by clearing the trees the site will return to being Culm grassland. In turn, this should enable habitat connections between several key wildlife sites in the vicinity, and help important species to move around the landscape.The initiative is due for completion by the end of March 2011 and is being funded through Natural England's Higher Level Stewardship scheme. The project site is owned by Tim & Andy Paxton and represents part of their Rackenford Manor Farm. Situated close to Rackenford Moor, it forms part of a larger area of internationally important Culm grassland habitat.The Paxton's holding sits within the Working Wetlands project's Knowstone and Witheridge priority area. Stuart Coleman, DWT Working Wetlands project advisor said: "Although not a large site, the removal of this derelict conifer crop is a key strategic boost for us. The wildlife rich habitat which will be recreated here will link nicely with other areas of Culm grassland, and aid the recovery of many

important species, such as curlew, and marsh fritillary." Working Wetlands is a seven year landscape scale project and this is just one of many initiatives being undertaken by the scheme across 65,000 hectares of the Culm Natural Area. It has been supported by South West Water, Tubney Charitable Trust, The Environment Agency, Devon County Council, Devon Waste Management, Grantscape and Natural England.

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The National Trust is a charity and is completely independent of Government. The Trust relies for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and revenue raised from commercial operations. It has over 3.6 million members and 55,000 volunteers. More than 14 million people visit its pay for entry properties, while an estimated 50 million visit its open air properties.The National Trust protects and opens to the public over 350 historic houses, gardens and ancient monuments and also looks after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves, villages - for ever, for everyone. Join online today
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Nick Baker confirmed to open summer Wildlife Festival in Barnstaple

TV wildlife presenter Nick Baker has confirmed he will open this year's Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) Wildlife Festival in June. The event is just one in a series taking place to celebrate the 13th North Devon Festival. The date for the Wildlife Festival has just been announced and plans are well on the way for making this year's event the best ever. This year will be the charity's fifth annual Wildlife Festival. Following a successful spectacle in Plymouth last year the event comes to Barnstaple Town Centre for 2011. The festival will be held on Saturday 4 June between 10am and 4pm. Jo Pullin DWT's event organiser said: "It's great to have Nick Baker on board again. He had a great time last year making nest boxes and talking to families about his wildlife experiences, so he was quick to agree to come up to north Devon. This will be the second time the festival has visited Barnstaple and it will be lovely to see old faces returning along with new people. We have a winning formula which people seem to love!" The charity is currently writing to local wildlife related organisations in the area to see if they would like to attend the event which will be held at The Square, close to the town centre. This year there are plans for a wildlife parade, along with bird watching on the river, and the ever popular attractions of nest box making, face painting and live animals. For more information about the event visit http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/. Anyone wanting to volunteer or have a stall at the event should contact Jo Pullin on 01392 279244.

Trainee sought to help north Devon conservation project

The Grazing Advice Partnership is offering one person the chance to gain a year's training and learn about conservation grazing through Devon Wildlife Trust's (DWT) Working Wetlands project. The twelve month placement will be involved in the day to day management of the charity's herd of rare breed cattle. This will include stock checking, transportation and liaison with landowners. As well as gaining the chance to carry out tractor driving tasks such as soil aeration, topping and flailing there will be the opportunity to learn other skills such as green hay spreading. The placement is part of the Grazing Links initiative of Working Wetlands, a project that supports landowners to undertake conservation grazing within three target areas of north Devon's Culm Natural Area. It is particularly focused on restoring wildlife rich habitats such as Culm grassland. Mark Elliot DWT's Working Wetlands Project Manager said: "This is a great opportunity for a local person who is perhaps looking to get into the conservation sector to gain hands-on experience through this landscape scale conservation project. They will get to work across the whole 65,000 hectare project area and help make a noticeable difference to local wildlife rich sites." Trainees will receive a tax exempt bursary of £14,000, mentoring support and access to GAP training courses. To apply applicants should visit the Grazing Advice Partnership website: www.grazingadvicepartnership.org.uk/ - Closing date for entries is 21 January.

The RSPB’s biggest event of the year "Big Garden Birdwatch"

The RSPB’s biggest event of the year "Big Garden Birdwatch" will take place on January 29th and 30th. In recent years, around half a million people have taken part but this year the RSPB hope to encourage even more people to count the birds in their garden over the weekend. Go to the Big Garden Birdwatch website: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch where you can pre-register and receive a free information pack (if you register by 19th Jan) and 10% off bird food. Big Garden Birdwatch encourages many people to get involved and enjoy the wildlife in their garden and from 11th January, they are offering new adult members a choice of free gift that includes the popular RSPB classic apex nest box if they join by 31st March. Or, you can still choose the RSPB Handbook of British Birds or bird feeder with seed – all perfect gifts to help people enjoy the birds in their garden.
New Membership prices for 2011:
Single child £16
Two or more children £26.50
Single Adult Membership £38
Joint Adult Membership £48
Family Membership £53


More Big Garden Bird Watch Posts

Walking for Health scheme receives new support for the New Year

Taw Torridge Volunteer Services (TTVS) and Transform Ilfracombe have come together with the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Service to coordinate Walking for Health groups in North Devon and Torridge. Walking for Health is a national scheme that uses the national environment to help people confront and prevent health problems such as obesity, stress and mental health conditions, and aid recovery from illness. Led by Natural England, it provides support for local, volunteer-led walking groups to offer a range of walks for people of varying abilities. As Jenny Fish from TTVS explains, "Health and exercise are at the forefront of our thoughts immediately after the excesses of Christmas and New Year, so what better time to encourage people to get involved with Walking for Health." Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Cllr Roger Croad, agrees; "Research shows that access to the natural environment is good for us. We are lucky in north Devon to have a Biosphere Reserve with a high quality environment that is internationally recognised, so a scheme like this that uses our natural environment to confront health problems and other diseases is to be welcomed. Devon County Council is pleased to have provided the resources for the Biosphere Reserve team to bring in the voluntary sector to support provision in northern Devon." "Using the voluntary sector's community links and experience will make sure that walking for health opportunities reach those that really need them. This is what big society is all about!" There are Walking for Health Groups currently operating in Bideford and Holsworthy in Torridge, and South Molton, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Combe Martin in North Devon and all can benefit from this support. Transform and TTVS have received 18 month's grant funding from the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service to enable the Groups to grow and reach more new walkers, and to set up new groups where there is demand.
To learn more about Walking for Health in North Devon and Torridge contact Transform (01271 867131) and TTVS (01805 625614) respectively. All the Group's walks programmes can be found at  www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk/walkfinder