Local News

John Cleese returns to Torquay

Comedy legend John Cleese visited Torquay for the first time in 55 years for the Gala Opening of 'Fawlty Towers - The Play' at the Princess Theatre this evening (Tuesday 14 April).

Torquay is widely known as the inspiration behind the much-loved BBC comedy which 50 years on comes to...

Full story

Comfier Seats and Plush New Look Coming to the Princess Theatre Soon!

The Princess Theatre in Torquay has some exciting upgrades in store to give the theatre a fresh new look this spring. Starting in May, the auditorium will undergo a major refurbishment including replacing the seating, carpets, curtains and improving front of house areas.

While significant funds have gone toward behind-the-scenes upgrades recently, it's been decades since noticeable...

Tags:

Princess Theatre

Torquay

Devon

Thousands Across The South West Taking Part in UK’s Largest Plastic Waste Survey

Thousands of households and hundreds of teachers from across the South West have committed to counting a week’s worth of their plastic waste as part of the UK’s largest waste survey starting next week.

The Big Plastic Count, organised by Greenpeace UK and Everyday Plastic, is a crucial national survey taking place on 11-17 March 2024 that presents a unique opportunity for residents...

Tags:

Plastic Waste Survey

The South West

Devon

Sandford orchads wins funding to lead apple tree research

Award-winning cider maker, Sandford Orchards, has partnered with scientists from Bristol University to identify and preserve ancient apple varieties across the UK. Following on from a compelling small scale trial, Sandford Orchards has just tendered for and won a competitive bid to receive a grant from DEFRA to expand this research and they are now leading the way nationally, including...

Tags:

Sandford orchads

apple tree research

Community orchards open for all across East Devon

Community orchards, open for all to enjoy, are set to flourish after residents turned out in the sun, rain, and freezing cold to take part in special fruit tree and care training sessions.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) hosted the events in February at orchards in Axminster (St. George’s Avenue), Exmouth (Bidmead Close), Budleigh Salterton (Moormead), and Broadclyst (Wiltshier...

Tags:

Community orchards

east devon

Devon

East Devon District Council

Conservation and improvement work starts at Stover Country Park

Work has started on a range of major improvements at Stover Country Park as part of the Restoring Stover Park Project.

The scheme includes extending the current visitor centre, creating a new community workshop, re-establishing a section of the historic Serpentine Lake, and silt dredging of Stover Lake.

The Restoring Stover Park Project has been made possible by The National...

Tags:

Restoring Stover Park Project

Eyes Down: Call to back Bird Breeding Season on the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths

As the peak season for bird nesting arrives, it’s crucial for us all to play our part in helping East Devon’s wild birds raise their young and thrive.

From 1 March until 31 July, birds take advantage of warmer weather, availability of food and nesting materials to start breeding, making it essential to give them the undisturbed space they need.

On the East Devon Pebblebed...

Tags:

Bird Breeding

East Devon Pebblebed Heaths

Proceeds of Crime funding for good causes grows in Devon

Devon & Cornwall Police has dished out plenty of important funding towards good causes in the community since last year.

The funds have been collected as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) which allows police forces to re-allocate money from cash and assets which have been seized and confiscated from convicted criminals.

Around £20,000 has been allocated to local...

Tags:

Crime funding

Devon

Celebrating nurses from home and abroad this International Women’s Day

Priding itself on its stellar international nurses’ programme, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth, is hosting a celebration breakfast for its staff this International Women’s Day (8 March), to recognise the wealth of diversity, culture and skills its team of nurses brings to the workplace.

International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It’s a day,...

Tags:

Celebrating Nurses

Devon

International Women’s Day

Theatre Royal Plymouth to host U.Dance South West Regional Platform

Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP), in partnership with One Dance UK, has been selected to host the U.Dance South West Regional Platform 2024 which offers young people an incredible opportunity to celebrate youth dance and choreography, and to perform on the prestigious Lyric stage at TRP.

The non-competitive event is open to young people aged 11 to 19 (and disabled young people up to the...

Tags:

Theatre Royal Plymouth

U.Dance South West Regional

Devon

Guide Dog Mac, Golden Retriever, is sitting down outside on grass and is looking at the camera.

Barnstaple fundraising group reaches £13,000 milestone for Guide Dogs

Local fundraisers in Barnstaple have won recognition this week for raising £13,000, funding a guide dog into a partnership with someone with sight loss. Thanks to these hard-working volunteers, guide dog Mac (pictured) is now fully funded to support someone with sight loss for her working dog career.

It costs around £55,000 to breed, train and support a guide dog throughout their life...

Tags:

guide dogs

Guide dogs for the blind

fundraising

sight loss