Sunday 31 December 2017

On reflection a colourful North Devon Coast and Country Chronicle

North Devon Coast and Country Chronicle, just some of the moments that caught my eye in 2017. Looking forward to another colourful year.
Here's to a Happy and 'Event'full 2018 everyone.

North Devon Focus Annual Chronicle 2017

Friday 22 December 2017

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

We are looking forward to bringing you more colourful news and events in 2018.
Thank you for visiting
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Pat
North Devon Focus
Good Tidings from Bideford. Photo copyright B. Adams (All Rights Reserved)

Thursday 21 December 2017

Has Santa’s beard been found in North Devon?

If Father Christmas appears beardless in our skies this Christmas then he could do worse than to visit North Devon to reclaim his famous white facial fuzz.

The discovery of a rare and weird looking fungus has led to it being nicknamed ‘Santa’s beard’ by amazed staff at the wildlife conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust. The fungus, which is more usually known by its scientific name Hericium erinaceus and by other names including hedgehog fungus and lion’s mane fungus, has been spotted near the village of Thornbury, in North Devon. The fungus is rarely seen in the UK and it’s thought to be only the second sighting of it in Devon, and only the 215th time it has been recorded in the UK since 1923.

The white, football-sized mass was spotted growing from the trunk of a tree by Meg Galley-Taylor as she drove along a road close to her North Devon home. Meg said:

“People call me ‘Curious Meg’ so of course I spotted the fungus! It is large, white and very conspicuous. I had no idea what it was but I knew I had never seen anything like it before.”

After returning with binoculars and her camera, Meg set about researching the strange object, trying to find out just what it was. Meg said:
 
“In the end I posted the picture on-line and then I started to get a response. At that point I thought, oh wow, this is seriously rare.”
 
Meg also reported her sighting to leading conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust. The Trust’s Steve Hussey said:
 
“This fungus is usually spotted in North American and Asia but has occurred in the South West of England only rarely before. We’re so pleased that Meg managed to spot it and tell us about it. Fungi come in wondrous and fascinating forms, but this is one of the most unusual we’ve ever seen.”
 
“Its weird shape and shaggy appearance, combined with the Christmas spirit here in the office, to make us wonder if the fungus could be part of the Santa Claus story? If the great man does appear without his beard this Christmas then we will know where to send him to look for it: it’ll be hanging on a tree in North Devon.”

Devon Wildlife Trust - Santa's Beard (Hedgehog Fungus) Photo copyright Meg Galley-Taylor (All Rights Reserved)
Santa's Beard (Hedgehog Fungus) Photo copyright Meg Galley-Taylor (All Rights Reserved

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Make volunteering your new year's resolution. Can you help Marie Curie in Barnstaple or Ilfracombe?

Marie Curie provides support for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. We offer expert care, guidance and support to help them get the most from the time they have left. We are now looking for volunteers in the Barnstaple and Ilfracombe area. If you think you could spare them a few hours of your time, we would love to hear from you.
 
Collection Box Co-ordinators in Barnstaple or Ilfracombe
You’ll be amazed how much money is donated through collection boxes placed within the local community, and as a Collection Box Coordinator you will be responsible for your own network of boxes in your local area. Whether it’s a local shop or leisure centre, the more boxes you can place and collect, the more money you will raise for Marie Curie.
 
As a Collection Box Coordinator you will visit existing sites a few times a year to swap full tins for empty ones and use your local knowledge to seek new locations. You’ll also play a key part in the Great Daffodil Appeal in March, Marie Curie’s flagship fundraising campaign, by helping to place and collect daffodil boxes.
 
This role is flexible and varied, so you can really make it your own. You can organise your time so that your volunteering fits around your life - what could be better?
 
Collection Hosts in Barnstaple or Ilfracombe
Are you enthusiastic, sociable and good at dealing with money? Marie Curie are looking for people to help coordinate local store collections, particularly during the Great Daffodil Appeal in March. This would involve welcoming collectors on the day, providing them with the kit they need for the collection and counting and banking the income. The collection host will be asked to look after a few collections a year.
 
For more information please call Riona Houghton on 01179420129 or email riona.houghton@mariecurie.org.uk
Volunteering: Can you help Marie Curie in Barnstaple or Ilfracombe?

ABOUT The Great Daffodil Appeal The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraising campaign and encourages everyone to give a donation in return for a daffodil pin during March. Money raised helps Marie Curie Nurses provide care and support to people living with a terminal illness and their families. Daffodil pins are available from our volunteers across the country and in Superdrug, Spar and Poundworld stores, and Wyevale Garden Centres. Morrisons supermarkets held fundraising collections on 10, 11 & 12 March across all of their 490 stores. For more information call 0800 304 7025 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil
*Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. Your call may be recorded for quality and training purposes.

ABOUT Marie Curie – care and support through terminal illness - Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance. Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
For more information visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk
Like us at www.facebook.com/mariecurieuk
Follow us on www.twitter.com/mariecurieuk

Tuesday 28 November 2017

New ‘mindfulness trail’ launched at popular Devon nature reserve

An East Devon beauty-spot has become the venue for a new ‘mindfulness trail’, promising visitors the chance to get away from some of the worst stresses and strains of modern life.

The trail has been established at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Bystock Pools nature reserve, in East Devon, and is the brainchild of local woman Clare Carter. The 46 year old from Exmouth created the mindfulness trail because she wanted to help other people to “slow down and switch off” from the demands of 21st century living.

The trail leads participants to 25 points around the varied nature reserve which features ponds, heathland, woodland and meadows. At each place people are asked to undertake an act of mindfulness ranging from the simple “take four deep breaths and stretch”’ to the more contemplative “Watch the water falling, listen to the sound of the water and watch the ripples”.

The trail has been designed to be done in short or long form, ranging from 60 to 90 minutes. It urges people to slowdown, to walk at an easy pace, reminding them that “mindfulness is about focusing on the present” and asks them to “let go of any distractions and bring back your attention to your surroundings”.

The inspiration for the trail came to Clare as a way of combining her interests in mindfulness and wildlife. Clare said:

“I was introduced to Bystock Pools nature reserve in the late nineties and now call it my second home! My main hobby is natural history, especially dragonflies. I also enjoy yoga, mindfulness and meditation. I wanted to create a walk which included some mindfulness techniques to help people switch off from their busy lives and encourage them to live in the moment.

I love being at Bystock and this Mindfulness walk has 'slowed' me down and allows me to switch off my busy mind! I hope it will help others too.”

Bystock Pools is one of 50 nature reserves cared for by Devon Wildlife Trust. The charity’s Steve Hussey welcomed the new trail:

“People visit our wildlife havens for lots of different reasons. Some will be real nature enthusiasts, perhaps searching for a particular bird, plant or insect, but many others will be there because of the sense of peace and tranquillity that these special places provide. This new mindfulness trail is a reminder to us all of how important nature reserves are to the health and well-being of people, as well as wildlife.”

A copy of the Bystock Pools mindfulness trail can be downloaded for free from the Devon Wildlife Trust website www.devonwildlifetrust.org/wildlife/reserves
 
Photo Bystock Pools "Mindfulness Trail" copyright Sheila Hancox (All Rights Reserved)
  Bystock Pools "Mindfulness Trail"  - Photo copyright Sheila Hancox (All Rights Reserved)
 Devon Wildlife Trust's Bystock Pools "Mindfulness Trail" the brainchild of Clare Carter
Devon Wildlife Trust's Bystock Pools "Mindfulness Trail" the brainchild of Clare Carter

Tuesday 21 November 2017

Wildlife lovers have the chance to Adopt-a-Beaver this Christmas.

Devon Wildlife Trust leads England’s only wild beaver re-introduction project, on east Devon’s River Otter. The project receives no government funding, relying on donations from people who care about wildlife and are enthusiastic about Devon’s wild beavers.

This month, the charity has launched the Adopt-a-Beaver scheme to help raise funds for the River Otter Beaver Trial. The five year trial is scheduled to run until 2020, working to gather evidence on the beavers’ impacts on the landscape and wildlife, infrastructure and farm businesses in the Otter valley. Introduction of further beavers into the river system is also covered by the project licence from Natural England.
Each virtual adoption includes a soft toy beaver wearing a Devon Wildlife Trust ‘Beavers are Back’ T-shirt. The charity’s Dan Smith explains: “The beaver soft toy is modelled on the project mascot, Nora, whose name was chosen in a public competition by a shop-owner in Sidmouth. These beaver soft toys are unique to Devon Wildlife Trust and the River Otter Beaver Trial and are not available anywhere else.”
Adopt-a-Beaver packs are available for children and adults for £30. All packs include the unique-to-Devon beaver soft toy but children’s packs also feature a beaver quiz, word-search, maze and colouring sheet.
For an additional £10, the pack also includes a beaver wood chip, gnawed from a Devon tree by one of the beavers living in the county. These wood chips - which come with a card of authenticity in a presentation box - have been collected from a site where Devon beavers are active.
These unique Devon gifts support what Chris Packham has described as “one of the most exciting conservation projects of the 21st century”, the River Otter Beaver Trial.
DWT’s Dan Smith said: “It’s heartening to see the continued enthusiasm for Devon’s beavers, more than two years after DWT first re-introduced beavers back on to the river after their health screening. Again this year, dozens of wildlife watchers gathered on the River Otter’s footpaths on summer evenings to spot parent beavers swimming with their new-born kits. Adopt-a-Beaver packs and Devon beaver wood chips are the ideal gifts for anyone who wants to see these charismatic mammals thriving in our countryside.” 

Beaver gifts are available from www.devonwildlifetrust.org/support-devon-beavers or by calling 01392 279244 or calling in to DWT’s headquarters at Cricklepit Mill in Exeter, on a weekday. 

 Adopt-a-Beaver scheme to help raise funds for the River Otter Beaver Trial

Adopt-a-Beaver scheme to help raise funds for the River Otter Beaver Trial

River Otter beaver kits - Photo copyright Mike Symes.(All Rights Reserved)
River Otter beaver kits - Photo copyright Mike Symes.(All Rights Reserved)

Tuesday 14 November 2017

The Bike Shed Cafe, Barnstaple has been shortlisted for Feed With Confidence Award

The Bike Shed Cafe in Barnstaple has been shortlisted for a national breastfeeding award by local mothers. The awards have been designed  by Lansinoh to celebrate places and people across the country supporting breastfeeding mums.    

One mum who nominated the cafe said: The bike shed is a cafe for bike enthusiast primarily however they have a very spacious cafe and me and my mum friends often meet there for coffee and can freely breastfeed our babies. The staff help move things around and welcome us all with all of our prams and everything else you need to lug around with a baby! We would be lost without this place! 

 In 2015, 776,950 babies were born in the UK. Yet just 0.5% of UK mums are breastfeeding their newborn at 12 months, despite recommendations from the World Health Organisation to continue breastfeeding into your baby's second year. With British breastfeeding rates among the worst in the world, could the culprit be society's attitudes towards breastfeeding? 

To understand if there is a stigma attached to breastfeeding in public, Lansinoh conducted research to gauge public opinion. The new research quashed common misconceptions, revealing that the over 65s are the most accepting and that men are more comfortable with it than women. Witnessing a woman breastfeeding in a café, restaurant or pub was uncomfortable for an average of 46% of people. Despite the most comfortable public spaces being revealed as the great outdoors, a surprising percentage of people still felt uncomfortable at the park (17%) and beach (16%).

The Feed With Confidence Awards recognise people and places that help to support mums and positively change perceptions. The awards are supported by the Lansinoh Feed With Confidence Ambassador: Al Ferguson of The Dad Network.
The Bike Shed Cafe, Barnstaple
The Bike Shed Cafe, Barnstaple
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The Bike Shed Cafe, The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LS

Tuesday 7 November 2017

Wild About Watercolour. Devon watercolour artist Karen Thomas wins coveted industry award

Devon watercolour artist Karen Thomas has won a coveted industry award for her beautiful painting Shades of Gold. Judges of the PaintersOnline 50th anniversary competition awarded Karen the Summer painting prize for her intimate portrait of a handsome Bengal tiger at rest.

Karen, who lives in rural North Devon, is best known for her lively watercolour paintings of hares and the majority of her work, in demand at art fairs and galleries throughout the West Country, focuses on local landscape and wildlife. However, Shades of Gold is part of a body of work taking a step in a wilder direction, inspired by Karen’s developing relationship with Dartmoor Zoo.

Karen says “Friends of mine visited Dartmoor Zoo and, being keen photographers who know I paint animals, forwarded me some very inspiring images. I sent a painting to them as a thank you, which Benjamin (the Zoo’s owner) saw and loved, and he asked that I contact him. Benjamin gave me a tour of the zoo, meeting the animals and teaching me how to engage with them. He described their personalities to me, which is very important to me as I try to reflect that in my painting. Over several visits with sketchbook and camera, I enjoyed spending time there getting to know the animals better and produced a series of paintings. My award winning painting, ’Shades of Gold’ was inspired by that period of time.

“The painting was a culmination of all the exposure to endangered animals at the zoo. I wanted it to be moodier in feel than my usual work and to convey a sense of the connection I felt while getting to know such animals. Eye contact with a Bengal tiger is such an electrifying experience - it’s hard to describe but you’ve never felt more ’seen’. A stillness descends. It’s a bit like falling in love. I felt no threat, only a connection, but I was still grateful for the fence!”

Karen says that winning the award was a total surprise and a sheer delight. Painters-Online are responsible for The Artist magazine and Leisure Painter magazine, two publications who create valuable content for artists and serve as a pulse on the UK world of art. Karen feels that winning the award is confirmation that, as an emerging artist, she is headed in the right direction.

Karen has just taken up a new studio space at the beautiful Kigbeare Studios and Gallery near Okehampton at the edge of Dartmoor. She will be moving in this November just in time for the Kigbeare Christmas Open Studio where visitors will be welcome to chat to Karen about her work and buy direct from the studio. You can see more of Karen’s watercolour work on her website www.karenthomaswatercolour.com where you can also find out information about upcoming exhibitions and where to buy original paintings as well as prints and cards produced from her delightful paintings.

Shades of Gold. Karen Thomas Watercolour winner of the PaintersOnline 50th anniversary competition
Shades of Gold - An intimate portrait of a handsome Bengal tiger at rest
Karen Thomas Watercolour  Animal Paintings and Nature Inspired Art