Tuesday 16 June 2015

S is for SNAKE. Watch where you're walking on hot balmy days.

Found this little critter taking a sunny wander on the busy coast road at the Valley of Rocks, Lynton & Lynmouth on Sunday 7th June. Thanks to watching the feature on Adders on  BBC Springwatch recently I recognised it as a female Adder. I have never seen one before as they tend to hunker down in the undergrowth. We moved it back to the safety of the bracken, which is probably wrong but it was about to get squashed by a car! If you are a walker, explorer or dog walker you might want to read this Safety Note from Devon Wildlife Trust http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/species/Adder/
 
Adder bites are rarely fatal to a healthy adult human but medical attention should be sought as soon as possible. If you are concerned about the safety of your dog, please refer to this ARC leaflet: http://www.arc-trust.org/…/Docume…/Dogs-n-Adders-leaflet.pdf

http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk 
Female Adder
http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk 
Female Adder 
http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk
Coast Road below at Valley of Rocks

Photos Pat Adams North Devon Focus (All rights reserved)

Thursday 11 June 2015

Beach Safety and Barrel Jellyfish. Look but don't touch!

I spotted this critter on the strandline on the beach at Westward Ho! yesterday. It was a beautiful day just after high tide, the blue waters of the ebbing tide lapping on the shore. At first I thought it was a plastic bag but on closer inspection I realised it was a huge jellyfish. It has been confirmed by the Marine Conservation Society as a #barreljellyfish which have been recently highlighted in the local press recently and the advice is to look but don't touch as they have a painful sting. If you see any of these in the water or washed up on shore please report your sightings at the Marine Conservation Society Website.


 Barrel Jellyfish sighted 10th June 2015 - Photo copyright Pat Adams (All rights reserved)

 Ebbing Tide at Westward Ho! - Photo copyright Pat Adams (All rights reserved)

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Wikepedia Stub - Rhizostoma pulmo, commonly known as the barrel jellyfish, the dustbin-lid jellyfish or the frilly-mouthed jellyfish

"Live at the Factory" Chas and Dave will be making a welcome return to North Devon in September

Chas and Dave will be returning to North Devon after 7 years away at The Factory on Friday 25th September. It sees Chas and Dave return to their roots with a collection of early R&B, skiffle and rock n' roll classics alongside new takes on songs of their own.
Now Chas and Dave will mark their 50th year in music together. It represents their first new studio album for a generation - 27 years to be precise! Chas and Dave disbanded in 2009 following the retirement of Dave Peacock after his wife's death. However, in 2010 the boys announced their return to the live circuit due to huge public support.
Their debut album 'One Fing 'n' Anuvver' was released on the Retreat label in 1975 earning critical acclaim from the likes of John Peel among others. This self-produced offering was perhaps the first (definitely the strongest) example of cockney Rock 'n' Roll, with song titles such as 'Ponders End Allotments Club' giving a strong North London angle to the genre. Their proudly cockney vocals and exuberant good humour, blended with their love for genuine Rock'n'Roll, led them to title their 1978 EMI album 'Rockney' (later to become their label name) which featured some top quality songwriting and was championed, before their commercial success, by the influential DJ Charlie Gillett. They followed up with 'The Sideboard Song (Got my Beer in The Sideboard Here)' from their third album 'Don't Give A Monkey's' , and their two most successful singles, 1980's 'Rabbit' (from the same album) and the fine, more reflective ballad 'Ain't No Pleasing You' two years later. In between they recorded their first live album - 'Live At Abbey Road' - for EMI. The famous Studio One being converted into an East end pub for the occasion with friends and industry invited.
In 2005 Chas & Dave joined forces with EMI once more resulting in two top selling CD releases. The year also saw their long overdue debut at the Glastonbury Festival as they packed out the acoustic stage with over thirty thousand fans singing along.
In this new century, Chas & Dave's appeal has never been greater or more varied. The audiences are getting younger without the boys deliberately trying to appeal to the youth, and new bands are citing them as a major influence.

http://www.thefactoryvenue.co.uk/

Advance tickets are £22.50 plus box office booking fee available from www.thefactoryvenue.co.uk
Physical tickets are available from Beatsworkin Queen Street Barnstaple, North Devon Theatres Box Offices and Petroc Brannams Campus Reception.
 Local support is to be announced. 
This is a standing only event. Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult.