Down on the Farm - A North Devon Short Film Commission

Farmers, film makers and local communities are being invited to show their support for a landmark creative heritage project in north Devon. Local community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image CIC (NDMI) is making plans to launch an exciting new film commission which will create a series of short documentary films about farmers and farming in northern Devon.

Creative Director of NDMI, Amanda McCormack says "Down on the Farm will be a unique chance for the farming community to share their stories with the wider world. Our Boat Stories films have been immensely popular and that project demonstrated the value of preserving and sharing local heritage on film. We now want to do for farming what Boat Stories did for fishing and Down on the Farm is set to do that."

Amanda adds "Part of our remit at NDMI is to support film makers, both in North Devon and the wider creative community throughout the UK. This commission will provide an exciting opportunity (and the money - £1,000 per film) for six emerging or experienced film makers to develop and exhibit their individual artistic and narrative skills."

Before NDMI can apply for funding they are seeking written support for the project. Amanda says she would like to hear from: 

• farming families who would like to be the subject of a film
• volunteers interested in local agricultural heritage who will support the film makers with research and contact with farmers
• film makers who would like to apply for a commission
• film tutors who believe this is a great opportunity for film production students
• members of the local community who would love to see the films made.

To find out more visit http://www.northdevonmovingimage.org.uk/down-on-the-farm.html and if you would like to show your support you can email Amanda at northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com, write to North Devon Moving Image, 2 Cullamartin, Instow, Bideford, Devon EX39 4LU or visit the NDMI website and complete the contact form.

 

In the Gallery: Dave Clinch and The Ballad of Richie Havens 20th October

Step back in time with Dave Clinch when he performs his Gallery Gig: The Ballad of Richie Havens" at the Plough Arts Centre in Great Torrington on the 20th October.

Richie Havens rocketed to world fame following his stellar opening performance in front of half a million people at Max Yasgur’s farm at  Woodstock in the August of 1969. Freedom became his signature song.

Dave says “I was mesmerised by the way Richie Havens played when I saw the film Woodstock in 1970. Forty years later I took up a Guild D40, like Richie’s, and began learning to play his method.

The evening will be my acknowledgement to the memory of Richie Havens and his songs. It will include some of my own songs and other favourites.”

Dave Clinch is a singer and multi-instrumentalist, who has been playing on the North Devon open mic scene for nearly two decades. He also plays the uilleann pipes and low whistle in the tribute band Nightwished.

Gallery Gig
The Ballad of Richie Havens
with
Dave Clinch
Friday 20 October 8.15pm to 10.00pm
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Tickets from The Plough Arts Centre  

Box Office Tel: 01805 624624
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Proceeds to the Hebron International Resources Network education projects
For More Information
Website: www.thepipercallsproject.co.uk
Facebook: thepipercallsproject Clinch
Email: dpclinch@gmail.com - Tel: 07887 650671

Devon residents go batty for science this summer

Hundreds of people in Devon have surveyed their gardens for bats this summer as part of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project.

The 2017 Devon Bat Survey has been the biggest yet with 600 unique locations surveyed, from Seaton to Plymouth and Salcombe to Combe Martin. Participants in the survey - which this year runs until the end of October - collect their bat detector and ultrasonic microphone from one of 20 monitoring centres across Devon, including shops, garden centres and community hubs.

Each survey takes place over three nights - so there have been a total of 1,800 nights of bat detecting in Devon gardens this summer. So far that has required more than 2,700 hours of volunteer time in collecting and deploying the bat detectors.

And this survey effort has resulted in more than half a million sound files recording the nocturnal noises - including those of echo-locating bats in flight - in Devon gardens since April.

These files are being analysed to produce a report for each garden showing which of Devon's sixteen bat species has been recorded. Bat surveyors from early in the season have already had their reports, which take around a month for project staff and volunteers to complete.

Devon's landscapes supported thriving bat populations for centuries until some species suffered serious declines in the last few decades. Monitoring bat activity is an important tool in bat conservation, but there are still many gaps in our knowledge of what species are present in different parts of Devon.

Ruth Testa, manager of the Devon Wildlife Trust-led Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project said: "The Devon Bat Survey is so important in helping to increase our understanding of how all bats, not just the greater horseshoe, are using our landscape. By doing it in a way that involves members of the general public, it means that more people become aware of bats around them, raising the profile of these fascinating mammals".

Taking part in the Devon Bat Survey has proved a hit with wildlife lovers in Devon. After receiving the report from their garden, one participant at Goodrington, near Paignton, said: "We are most excited to hear that we have so many different bats in the area. We will most definitely be keeping an eye out for them!"

And receiving survey results has even inspired a little friendly competition among the volunteer surveyors, keen to see whether they can match the number of bat species recorded in their neighbours' gardens. Jill Turner, owner of holiday cottages near Bideford, commented on Facebook: "Really easy to set up the equipment, now eagerly awaiting the report from our August survey. Others in Littleham have discovered 10+ species flying by so we are excited to discover more about our bat population."

There are still opportunities to take part in this year's survey by booking a bat detector online at www.devonbatproject.org. The 2017 survey runs until the end of October. The Devon Bat Survey will return next spring and continue as part of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project for another three years.

A report on the full results from all bat surveys across Devon in 2017 is scheduled to be available online in January.

 Greater Horseshoe Bat in flight - Photo copyright Frank Greenaway (All Rights Reserved)

Collecting Devon Bat Survey materials at Chudleigh Town Hall

Bat detector, microphone and other kit

Rare Strawberry Spider Discovered in North Devon

A rare and remarkable looking spider has been discovered living at a North Devon nature reserve.

The spider in question is the strawberry spider, a species which is classified as ‘nationally scarce’ by arachnid experts. The discovery is thought to be one of only a handful of sightings in Devon since it was discovered near Ivybridge in 2008.

The strawberry spider was found at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Meeth Quarry nature reserve, the first time it had been seen at the North Devon wildlife haven which is close to the town of Hatherleigh.

Araneus alsine to give the strawberry spider its full scientific name, is a member of the orb-weaving family of spiders. The spider has a very distinctive red-orange body, flecked with yellow dots and looks remarkably like a plump, ripe strawberry. It’s also large for a British spider, with the bodies of females reaching up to 15mm in size.

The surprising eight-legged discovery was made by bug-hunting expert Rob Wolton while he was making a routine visit to Meeth Quarry nature reserve. Rob said:

“I was out recording insects like hoverflies on the reserve, when I spotted this huge red spider unlike any I had ever seen before. I took some photos and when I got home looked it up. It was a real surprise to find such an eye-catching spider. It just goes to show what a special place Meeth Quarry is. Full of the unexpected.”

Meeth Quarry is one of 50 nature reserves cared for by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust. Until the 1990s it was an active clay mine producing clay for export. After being decommissioned its two huge clay pits stood unused for a more than a decade before Devon Wildlife Trust took over its ownership in 2013.

Today the nature reserve is visited by thousands of people each year, many arriving on the Tarka Trail cycle way which runs through the site. Its 150 hectares are free for people to explore and enjoy. A newly installed wildlife hide makes a popular destination for birdwatchers while insect experts have identified one of southern England’s largest colonies of the rare wood white butterfly living on the reserve. Now a rare spider, the strawberry spider, can be added to the growing list of Meeth Quarry’s known inhabitants.

 

Strawberry Spider (Araneus Alsine) Photo copyright Rob Wolton (All rights reserved)

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Tap here for more details on Meeth Quarry Nature Reserve

Tap here for other blog posts on  Meeth Quarry

Invitation to New Book Launch at Clovelly Visitor Centre, Saurday 14th October at 2pm

Sir David Lewis, in his retirement from a successful career in the City (also as the eighth Welsh Lord Mayor), settled in the Edwinsford area, North Carmarthenshire, and has since researched and written about the histories of gentry and families there.

This book is the third in his series, covering the connection to Clovelly when the Williams family daughter, Arabella Williams (1739-97) of Edwinsford, married Sir James Hamlyn Bt MP (1735-1811) of Clovelly in 1762, bringing the Edwinsford Estate as a dowry.

To celebrate the Clovelly launch of this handsome and very interesting new book, Sir David Lewis will be at the Clovelly Visitor Centre on Saturday 14th October, from 2 pm to give a reading, answer questions and sign any purchased books.

The book is a hardback cover with dust jacket, 540 pages, 400 old and new photographs, and maps. £20 per copy.

• History of the Edwinsford and Clovelly family and estates over 1,500 years
• Histories of Clovelly, Talley, Llansawel, Caio, Crugybar, Pumsaint and Hawthornden Castle families and estate properties
• Histories of community life, sporting events, churches, chapels and schools

A book can be purchased at the launch OR thereafter at the Clovelly Visitor Centre OR by contacting Sir David Lewis, email: lewis.erwhen@icloud.com

ALL SIR DAVID LEWIS' BOOK SALES GO TO CHARITY.

Invitation to New Book Launch at Clovelly Visitor Centre 

Saturday 14th October at 2pm
"A History of the Edwinsford and Clovelly Communities - The Williams, Drummond, Cary, Hamlyn, Fane, Manners, Asquith and Rous Family Owners" by David T. R. Lewis

Clovelly Lectures: "What the Jihadis Really Want" Speaker Sir Sherard Louis Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO

Clovelly welcomes Sir Sherard Louis Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO to a Forum on World Affairs, International Relations, Security & Defence and Science & Technology. A platform for providing information for informed choices . In its 8th year, Clovelly Lectures has found a reflective and responsive audience. A curiosity and interest in listening and discussing matters that directly impact our lives in a fast changing and confusing economic and political world.

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles joined HSBC Holdings in October 2013 as Senior Adviser tothe Group Chairman and Group Chief Executive. In May 2015, he was appointed to a new post as Group Head of Government Affairs, and then as Group Head of Public Affairs from June 2017. He is also Chairman of HSBC Bank Oman SAOG, and a Director of HSBC Bank Egypt SAE. 

Before HSBC Sherard worked for two and a half years as Business Development Director, International, at BAE Systems PLC. Earlier he spent over 30 years in the British Diplomatic Service, which he joined straight from reading Classics at Oxford. He served in Cairo, Washington and Paris. 

He was also Principal Private Secretary to the UK Foreign Secretary, the late Robin Cook, and was Head of the Foreign Office Hong Kong Department from 1994 up to the handover to China in 1997. His final diplomatic jobs were as Ambassador to Israel(2001–2003), Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (2003–2007), Ambassador to Afghanistan (2007-2009), and the UK Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (2009–2010). 

Sherard is also Chairman of the UK Financial Inclusion Commission; an Ambassador for the Money Advice Trust, and for the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust; a member of the Boards of the China-Britain Business Council, and the Egyptian British Business Council; Chairman of the Omani-British Business Council; a Committee Member of The Hong Kong Association; and a Board Member of Asia House. He is President of the Algeria British Business Council;and Chair of the UK Advisory Council, LSE Confucius Institute for Business London, and of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust. 

He sits on the International Engagement Committee of the British Academy. He is an Honorary Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford, and President of the Jane Austen Society. He has an honorary D Litt from the University of Westminster, and is a Liveryman of The Skinners' Company. Sherard is the author of two books about his diplomatic experiences: Cables from Kabuland Ever the Diplomat. He speaks French and Arabic, some Hebrew and rudimentary Pashtu

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CLOVELLY L​ECTURES

CHAIRMAN : SIR MICHAEL BURTON . KCVO CMG

DIRECTOR : THE HONOURABLE MRS ROUS

RECEPTION-LECTURE-DEBATE-DINNER

Saturday October 7th 2017

"What the Jihadis Really Want"

Speaker

Sir Sherard Louis Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO

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For tickets and further information please contact
Clovellylectures11@gmail.com or Tel: 01237 431200
www.clovellylectures.com

Sign of the Cross. Remembering the Lynmouth Flood Disaster

The Lynmouth Flood August 15th 1952.

“When the Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend C. Mortimer preached at the Memorial Service held a fortnight after the disaster in 1952 he said that when it was all over a cross should be erected where the water broke through.

The Bishop said, ‘A cross is a sign, not simply of death, but of death followed by resurrection’.”

On the 50th Anniversary of the disaster the Lord Lieutenant of Devon unveiled the memorial wooden cross on the Lyndale Bridge as seen in the photograph here.

There is permanent free exhibition at the Flood Memorial Hall opposite Lynmouth Harbour.

Exhibits include a  model of the village pre-flood, along with images of the buildings which were destroyed, films, photographs and personal accounts.

Today Lynmouth has been truly resurrected, a vibrant place where visitors flock from all around the world. Lynton and Lymouth "Where the moor meets the sea" is on the dramatic Exmoor Coast and is also famous for the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Glen Lyn Gorge, Watersmeet, the Valley of Rocks and more....

 The Memorial Cross for the victims of the Lynmouth Flood Disaster. Photo Lynmouth August 2017 Pat Adams

Press cuttings on show inside the Flood Memorial Hall - Photo Pat Adams

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Tap here for information on the Flood Memorial Hall. 

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Tap here for Lynton and Lynmouth Tourist Information Centre

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynmouth_Flood

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2192926.stm

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02651/Southwest_England_2651416a.pdf