Win a private seafood feast - and support local nature projects

With a deadline of August 14, time is running out for the chance to win a private feast for twelve at award-winning restaurant The Seahorse in Dartmouth.

One lucky person will be able to experience a private dining experience at The Seahorse Cantina for their family and friends with a feast that celebrates fresh, seasonal seafood, served in a warm, welcoming setting near the River Dart. The prize also includes a generous accommodation voucher from Coast & Country Cottages.

The Crowdfunder competition has been organised by Devon Environment Foundation (DEF), a local charity dedicated to protecting and restoring Devon’s wild landscapes, to raise funds for local nature projects in the region.

Pledges start at just £2, with the chance to win the foodie experience of a lifetime. The feast will be prepared by three of the South West’s culinary legends: Mitch Tonks, co-founder of The Seahorse and DEF, Ben Tonks, Mitch’s son and Chef Patron of The Seahorse, and celebrated chef Mark Hix MBE. Together, they will prepare a bespoke, seasonally inspired menu, showcasing local produce.

Mitch said: “This prize is more than just a dinner; it’s a celebration of Devon’s wild beauty and the brilliant people working to protect it. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime feast for you and your guests at The Seahorse, with coastal flavours, good company, and being a part of something that truly matters.”

The prize comprises:

• A private feast for twelve guests at The Seahorse Cantina, Dartmouth with a carefully curated menu prepared and cooked by Mitch Tonks, Ben Tonks, and Mark Hix MBE
• £600 accommodation voucher from Coast & Country Cottages  
• An optional book reading and signed copies of To Have or to Hold by acclaimed nature writer Sophie Pavelle.

It’s simple to enter the prize draw and show support for the local environment. Visit DEF’s Crowdfunder page and make a pledge. The more pledges you make, the greater your chances of winning.

All proceeds from the draw will support DEF, which funds grassroots projects in the county, from rewilding moorlands to restoring seagrass beds and safeguarding endangered species. The grant-giving charity was founded in 2020 by Mitch, along with Ben Goldsmith and Simon Nicholls.

DEF’s bold ambition is to restore at least 30% of Devon’s land and sea by 2030 by working hand-in-hand with communities and local conservation heroes. In just five years, the charity has channelled more than £1.3m to a diverse range of projects. DEF Chair Simon Nicholls explained:

“The sheer scale of the work that grantees have achieved is astonishing. Our model of giving seed funding to kickstart impactful local projects brings massive rewards for nature.

“We have seen hundreds of trainees learning regenerative agriculture practices; first of its kind trials using mycelium to clean-up river pollution; several tonnes of plastic cleared from large stretches of inaccessible coastline; and communities creating and connecting more spaces for wildlife – to name but a few. There are some incredible projects going on in Devon, and it’s an honour to enable them to do their vital work.”

DEF identifies the most effective local projects working to protect and restore nature and provides them with the financial boost they need to replicate and scale. Focussing on protecting and restoring Devon’s natural beauty is a cost-effective way to address biodiversity loss and climate change. Nature-based solutions sequester carbon; increase biodiversity; reduce flooding, droughts, and soil erosion; and clean up pollution.

DEF Executive Director, Amanda Keetley said “Nature-based solutions are the biggest sources of hope in this era of climate and nature emergencies. If we learn to share space better with nature, and recognise its true value, we will be rewarded by seeing it recover and thrive.”

Support for the prize draw comes from The Seahorse, Coast & Country Cottages, Visit South Devon, Discover Dartmouth, Toastie Tiny Explorers, and Sophie Pavelle.