One Year Ago Today. Swell Time at Westward Ho!

As the region prepares itself for more rain and flood warnings we look back one  year ago today and a swell time at Westward Ho!. It was a warm, balmy day with a particularly high tide. People never seem to tire of the sight of the mighty ocean pounding on Westward Ho! slipway rocks and the Pebbleridge. It was fantastic to capture the stunning rainbow highlight as the “Wild Horses” crashed over the shore before splashing up high on the pebbles. Surfers were taking advantage of the huge waves, even the lifeguard took a trip out on his belly board. This is just one of the Autumn Highlights around Bideford Bay, it’s also a time for dramatic skies, coast and country walks amidst berry laden hedgerows and burnished bracken. Be on the look-out for late butterflies and fungi,  the departure of the swallows and the arrival of the winter flocks on the Skern. For more Autumn Highlights check out the North Devon Focus Flickr slideshow. Article Pat Adams 25/9/12
 

'World's BIGGEST Coffee Morning' at the Big Sheep - Friday 28th September

COFFEE, CHA CHA CHA & A CHAT!
The Big Sheep will be hosting the 'World's BIGGEST Coffee Morning' organised by Macmillan Cancer Care from 10am to 12 noon to raise vital funds for this wonderful charity who provide medical, emotional, practical and financial support for people living with cancer in our local community. As well as offering coffee and cake and a lovely friendly environment where people can meet and enjoy a chat, the BIG Sheep will also be holding Cha Cha Cha dancing demonstrations and inviting visitors to come along and have a go swaying their hips to the sounds of some fantastic Latin music - a great way to burn off all the cake calories!
The BIG Sheep Friday 28th September 2012  - Visitors taking part in the coffee morning will also be able to enjoy FREE entry to the BIG Sheep from 10 am to 12 noon.

BEAVERS GET THEIR OWN BLOG!

A pair of Devon beavers now have their own blog! The online messages are being released by a leading conservation charity, the Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT). The blog centres on the life and goings on of a pair of European beavers which are part of a controlled experiment being run by Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project. The beavers live in a securely fenced 3 hectare compound in north-west Devon. The charity is monitoring their everyday lives plus the effects they are having on their compound, to its tree and scrub covering, to its ground water levels and to water quality. DWT is also keen to learn more about the impacts of beavers on wider wildlife. Beavers once lived throughout the UK including Devon and were an important part of the natural regulation of our river and stream systems. They are believed to have been hunted to extinction in the C16th. The blog is being written by volunteer Vicky Halse. Vicky has a background in studying animal behaviour and was particularly keen to learn more about the beavers, how they interact with each other and with their surroundings. Vicky said: 'Having visited the site a number of times I've been amazed by just how busy they've been. Although the beavers have only been living in their compound for little more than a year, in that time they've worked hard to enlarge their lodge (home), build small dams and construct watery pathways known as 'canals'. It looks like there will be plenty to talk about in the blog!' The project, which will measure the impact the animals have on local water quality and wildlife, has been funded by Viridor Credits Environmental Company and The Truell Charitable Foundation. To read the blog and to find out more about the beavers' progress visit the 'What we do' pages of www.devonwildlifetrust.org 

Watch video of Devon Wildlife Trust's beavers at work here:

 
 
Devon Wildlife Trust is 50 this year. Find out more about how you can get involved in our golden celebrations! http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/50-years-of-dwt/