Thursday 23 May 2019

Stepping Out. Enjoy an intriquing performance walk along the unique Northam Burrows coastline with Red Herring.

Join Red Herring on a unique shared journey, a fun and intriguing performance walk, which reveals little known stories of our coastline and invites us to experience it in new ways.

Come and walk with us along the unique Northam Burrows coastline. This place may already be familiar to you, we’ll experience it together, in new and unfamiliar ways. You’ll be immersed in a journey of both travel and time: a monumental journey of the earth beneath our feet; the migratory routes of wintering birds; the marks left behind by boatbuilders and the footprints of life along this coastline.

Through snippets of text, recorded sound and found objects, we’ll investigate the stories attached to the land as we travel across it.

A circular walk, developed in partnership with Northam Burrows Country Park, will cover 2 – 3 miles over uneven ground. Please come prepared to walk this distance with suitable outdoor footwear and clothing. You will walk for about 1.5 hours with frequent stops and creative interludes along the way. We will provide light refreshments. Please note, performance duration and finish times may vary, depending on the walking pace of each group.

Red Herring will be running further Stepping Out events in September 2019, please join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates. Events will include a new Creative Coastal Walk as well as an Interactive Walkabout Performance and Sound Installation see below for details.

Stepping Out
Saturday June 8th and Sunday June 9th: 2.00 – 4.30 PM
Location: The walks will start and finish from The Skern end of Northam Burrows Country Park. Specific details on the meeting place will be provided after booking. Performances will start promptly, please arrive 15 minutes in advance to allow time to park and walk to the start. If you drive to the Burrows please be aware, unless you have a season ticket, there will be a £4 access fee.
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Cancellations: If weather conditions are unsafe, we will inform you of any cancellations by 10am on the morning of the performance. If, due to poor weather, a performance is cancelled we will endeavour to offer an alternative date.

  • Unfortunately, as the walks take place over uneven ground, we aren’t able to accommodate wheelchairs or push chairs. 
  • As we’ll be walking in a group, we also request that dogs stay at home. 
  • Walks are suitable for young people aged 13+. 
  • Numbers are limited to 20 on each walk.
Illustration from "A History of the Earth and Animated Nature" by Oliver Goldsmith from rawpixel’s own original edition of the publication (Creative Commons)
Illustration from "A History of the Earth and Animated Nature" by Oliver Goldsmith  (Creative Commons)

Stepping Out is supported with funding from Arts Council England and the North Devon Coast AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) which is funded by Defra. Stepping Out is part of a series of events celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the North Devon Coast AONB.

About Red Herring Productions CIC:
"We create playful and exciting outdoor theatre which brings diverse groups of people together to celebrate our shared heritage. These are performed on street corners, in parks and rural landscapes, with a fresh approach that blurs the edges between performers and audiences. We work with local communities, enabling them to learn about, share and celebrate their cultural heritage through talks, workshops and performance." Website - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

Thursday 16 May 2019

‘Dangerous’ fly-tipping creates problems for charity

A Devon-based charity has been left the costly and dangerous task of clearing up fly-tipping left by thoughtless vandals at one of its nature reserves.
 
A ‘substantial truck or van load’ of mixed rubbish was dumped recently at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Meresfelle nature reserve. The reserve is near Woolfardisworthy in North West Devon and is a haven for rare wildlife including the marsh fritillary butterfly.
 
The charity’s staff discovered what was described as a ‘mixed load’ of rubbish fly-tipped and blocking an entrance to the site. On closer inspection the items dumped included carrier bags, children’s toys, general household rubbish, concrete paving slabs, timber, an old fan heater and garden waste.
 
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Steve Hussey said:
“It’s always sad when people fly-tip at one our nature reserves. Most are in rural spots and represent easy targets for unthinking individuals who can’t be bothered or don’t want the expense of recycling and disposing of rubbish properly.
 
Clearing up after fly-tippers puts our staff at risk because you can never be sure what has been dumped. In the past we’ve discovered used medical equipment in amongst discarded materials.
 
It’s very expensive for our charity to deal with these incidents. We’d much rather be directing our people and resources to the job of helping Devon’s wildlife.”
 
Devon Wildlife Trust cares for 50 nature reserves in the county. Anyone with any information on the fly-tipped rubbish should call the charity or the police with information.
The fly-tipped rubbish recently found at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Meresfelle nature reserve
The fly-tipped rubbish recently found at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Meresfelle nature reserve
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Devon Wildlife Trust cares for 50 nature reserves in the county. Anyone with any information on the fly-tipped rubbish should call the charity or the police with information.
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Keep in touch with Devon Wildlife Trust
 Website

Wednesday 24 April 2019

Wild days ahead in Devon. A leading South West charity is urging us all to go wild.

Sign up is now open for the Wildlife Trusts’ month-long national nature challenge. People can get their free packs at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild and start planning their 30 Days Wild which starts on Saturday 1st June.
 
Last year 30 Days Wild was a record breaker with more than 2,500 people in Devon joining the 350,000 people across the UK who chose to embrace the challenge of experiencing nature every day during June.
 
People choosing to make the commitment this year are promised a rich array of resources to help them go wild. Participants receive a handy pocket-sized guide to 101 Random Acts of Wildness, a packet of wildflower seeds, a wall chart to make memories of their wild month, and wild-at-heart stickers to share with family and friends.
 
For the first time, the Wildlife Trusts have also produced a pack for care homes alongside packs for schools and businesses. Research has shown that providing contact with nature can help people to feel happier and healthier.
 
Steve Hussey for Devon Wildlife Trust, said:
“30 Days Wild is such a fun thing to do and everyone can get involved - make a daisy chain, start a list of wildlife you see in your garden, look for animal tracks or feel cool grass between your toes. You can sign up now to get your free pack of goodies, including stickers, wallchart and lots more Random Acts of Wildness to help you to plan your wild month. Get your family, friends, school, work place or care home involved too. We can’t wait to share in everybody’s wild adventures!”
 
Now in its fifth year, 30 Days Wild participants keep up to date and share the fun and activities across social media #30DaysWild.
#30DaysWild with Devon Wildlife Trust - Photo copyright Matthew Roberts (All Rights Reserved)
#30DaysWild with Devon Wildlife Trust. Photo copyright Matthew Roberts (All Rights Reserved)
#30DaysWild with Devon Wildlife Trust - Photo copyright Nick Upton (All Rights Reserved)
#30DaysWild with Devon Wildlife Trust. Photo copyright Nick Upton (All Rights Reserved)