The Saltmarsh Project – Free Community Workshop, Monday 11 November, 6pm

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Living Dart: The Saltmarsh Project is now in its third year. Our small ria saltmarshes that sit between the sea and the land have experienced 12,000 years of evolution since the last ice age – what could the future for this resilient ecosystem look like, and how can we play a part in that?

The workshop is about knowledge exchange – we will:
– Get a project update from key team members from the Environment Agency, South Devon National Landscape, Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority and ParkLife SW

– Think together about adaptation and the impact of climate change on habitats like saltmarsh. What kind of health indicators can be monitored both by experts and citizens? How can we stay connected to each other and the saltmarshes beyond the life of the project?

– Discuss next steps for saltmarsh restoration involving sister rivers the Erme, Yealm and Avon, and the Salcombe/Kingsbridge Estuary

– Hear from The Saltmarsh Artist Collective about their work about–and for–the Dart’s saltmarshes

Click here for your free ticket to this unique workshop event.

 

Come and get your juice!

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One of the joys of Parish apple pressings is that there is always plenty of juice to go around! If you weren’t able to make Saturday’s event you can still get your hands on a bottle of delicious local apple juice in return for a small donation to charity. The juice is pasteurised and will be good for at least 3 months. Please contact Gill for details on 01548 581185, or email clerk@stokenham-pc.gov.uk.

Sun shines on a juicy day out in Kellaton

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Villagers gathered at Lower Kellaton Farm Barn in glorious sunshine last Saturday to watch, learn, and lend a hand at this year’s rearranged Parish apple pressing event. The Speidel mill and metal press from Orchard Link were given a thorough workout as more than twenty sacks of apples from orchards in Kellaton, Beeson, and further afield were turned into just shy of 300 bottles of  juice. As usual, younger members of the community got stuck in, packing the “cheeses” with freshly milled apple pulp, which the giant press turned into rivers of delicious golden nectar. The bottling line had to be on its toes as the endless flow of juice demanded to be filtered, bottled, pasteurised and labelled. Sustenance, in the form of tea, coffee, soup and pasties, kept the workers victualled and by 3.30pm the last sack of apples was exhausted, as were the volunteers! Hearty thanks to Fran and Jonathan Ansell for their kind hospitality on the day.

Parish Council minutes published

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The minutes of September’s full council meeting were approved and are now available on the website, along with the draft minutes of October’s full council.

REMINDER: Pop-Up Apple Pressing Event in Kellaton, 26 October

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Just a quick reminder of Saturday’s apple pressing event in Kellaton, to which everyone is cordially invited, ESPECIALLY those bringing apples to press! The weather forecast looks lovely, so bring a picnic and enjoy the day. Lower Kellaton Farm Barn, from 11am until the apples run out!

Pop-Up Apple Pressing Event in Kellaton, 26 October – pass the word!

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red apple lotJust when we thought this autumn’s apple harvest was a write-off, up pops a crop in Kellaton demanding to be pressed. So your parish council, ever ready to lend a helping hand, has managed to wrangle a press and a mill at short notice and cordially invites all comers to attend – to watch, to help, or just to have a chat with the neighbours.

If you have apples to be pressed, so much the better – bring them along! And don’t forget to bring a container to take home some delicious freshly pressed juice in return for a small donation to charity. This is very much a homespun event, so will lack the usual refinements: there may or may not be a limited range of refreshments on the day, but why not bring a picnic, weather permitting, and make the most of it? Parking is limited on site so car-sharing is advisable. Pass the word!

Saturday 26 October, Lower Kellaton Farm, from 11am until the apples run out!

Could you be a Parish Councillor?

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A vacancy has arisen on Stokenham Parish Council – could this be a role for you? Parish Councillors meet one evening a month to consider matters of relevance to the community, from planning applications to footpath maintenance, from the state of the roads to the provision of services. We welcome applications from every corner of society regardless of age, gender, or background. No prior experience is necessary as full training will be given – the only requirement is that you can commit to attending our monthly meetings and want to help make Stokenham Parish a great place to live and work! If you’re interested and would like to know more, feel free to contact any one of our Councillors for an informal chat. Applications for this position will close on 15 November 2024.

Apple Day cancelled due to lack of apples . . .

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With regret we have had to cancel this Saturday’s event due a shortage of apples in the Community Orchard at Great Hill Wood. As luck would have it, the flowering period of many of the apple varieties grown in the orchard coincided with this spring’s poor weather. As a consequence, the insects that we rely on to visit the trees didn’t venture out of doors and few flowers got pollinated, resulting in very little fruit-set. Visitors to the orchard will notice that many of the trees are bare, with only a few having any quantity of fruit. Unfortunately this sort of thing does happen from time to time: we hope for a better harvest next year!

 

 

Chillington Health Centre Patient Participation Group seeks new members!

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The Chillington Patient Participation Group meets regularly with the practice manager and one of the doctors at Chillington Health Centre to encourage open communication and dialogue between the practice and its patients. It is a welcoming, inclusive group and membership is open to all Chillington patients and/or their carers.

If you’d like to join us, or ask us to raise an issue, or have an idea you’d like to discuss, please contact us at chillingtonhealthcentreppg@outlook.com. More information is available on our Community Page.

Temporary disruption of bus service 93 through East Charleton

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