Local News

Greendale Completes Purchase of Occombe Farm

Greendale has announced its purchase of Occombe Farm from Torbay Council, along with land north of Preston Down Road, Paignton. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this much-loved site.

Working with strategic partners, Greendale plans to make a significant phased...

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Orchids galore as donkeys play key role in wildflower conservation

A scheme that allows donkeys to help with the management of a wildflower meadow at The Donkey Sanctuary’s headquarters in Sidmouth has blossomed into a dazzling display of orchids.

At the end of last summer, rescued donkeys Paddy and Kelley were walked through a wildflower meadow at the site in Sidmouth as part of their routine training and exercise.

Now the wildflowers are...

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Devon is One of the Top Five Safest Regions in the UK

New analysis of Digging up Britain 2022 search data reveals that Devon residents are the fifth safest diggers in the UK, being beaten to top spot by Nottinghamshire, London, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

The study by the UK’s leading online safe digging resource, LSBUD , highlights the country’s safest and most dangerous digging hotspots as domestic digging continues to rise, by...

Food to get a second lease of life in Devon

Convenience store shoppers and local good causes are benefitting from discounted food and surplus product as a local co-operative unveils a new programme to keep as many products as possible in the human food chain.

Southern Co-op, which has six retail stores across Devon, is currently rolling out the new food pathway across all of its stores - starting with products with use-by...

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Premium holiday village for Yelland Quay allowed on appeal

A 250-unit village proposed for the banks of the Taw estuary in North Devon has been given the green light, in a decision described by Devon CPRE as “a tragedy for both the environment and local house-hunters”.

In an Appeal decision published today (30 June) following a public inquiry, the Planning Inspectorate has found in favour of the developers who want to build a high-end...

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Torbay litter picker announced as semi-finalist in Eventbrite’s national ‘Hobby Hero’ competition

Hannah Beaumont, 25 from Brixham in Torbay, who spends up to eight hours every week litter picking on Brixham’s beaches, has made it through to the semi-finals of Eventbrite’s Hobby Hero competition, which saw hundreds of entries from throughout the UK.

Eventbrite’s Hobby Hero competition launched in May to find Britain’s greatest hobbyist and help them share their pastime with...

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New gallery’s first solo show explores the Exe Estuary

A new art gallery on the banks of the River Exe in Devon is showing work which reflects the dynamic nature of the Estuary and is offering people the chance to try ‘en plein air’ mixed media painting by the waters of the Exe for themselves.

The Seaglass Gallery in Lympstone, in the village’s old newsagents, is run by Charlotte and Bruce Ellis, who say the local landscapes and...

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UK tea habits revealed ahead of nation’s biggest tea break – and South West most offended by putting the milk in first

Embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 5th July 2022

Research from NHS Charities Together has revealed our nation’s weird and wonderful tea drinking habits, as thousands are expected to gather for the UK’s biggest tea break and celebrate the NHS’ birthday today with the NHS Big Tea.

In the survey of over 2,000 people, the South West were most offended by anyone choosing to...

Would you foster a Dartmoor foal?

Forget puppy walkers, the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust is asking for people to step forward and walk foals. The charity is pulling together a scheme to provide temporary homes for young stock bred on the moors until they are ready to be used for other purposes. The foals belong to the charity’s members who farm on Dartmoor and breed traditional ponies to ensure its survival on the moor, which...

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Earthly Biochar’s Lottie Hawkins Selected as a Young Innovators Next Steps Awardee

Lottie Hawkins (26), Founder of Earthly Biochar - a leading biochar start-up in the UK, has been selected as a Young Innovators Next Steps Awardee. As one of 19 entrepreneurs across the country being given a boost for their early-stage businesses by Innovate UK, Lottie, who had previously won the Young Innovators Award, has now been awarded a second time due to the progress and growth...

Devon charity launches summer programme of free online mental health courses and workshops

Mental health charity, Step One, has been supporting people in Devon with mental health and learning disabilities for 85 years, working closely with local NHS Trusts, GP surgeries and communities across the county. With mental health problems increasing and a reported 1 in 5 people now showing signs of depression (compared to 1 in 10 before the COVID-19 pandemic), the ‘BeWell@StepOne’ project...

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