September Full Council minutes published
Approved minutes of September’s Full Council meeting are now published and on the website.
Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy – have your say!
There’s still time for Devon residents to help shape a new strategy aimed at reversing the decline in wildlife and restoring the county’s natural environment.
The draft Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) sets out a collaborative plan to protect and enhance nature across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. Developed by Devon County Council in partnership with the Devon Local Nature Partnership, district councils, other local authorities and community and voluntary groups, the strategy is open for public consultation until 5 November 2025.
England is split into 48 LNRS areas and the responsible authority for Devon is Devon County Council who is tasked with preparing and publishing the strategy. The LNRS identifies key priorities and actions to support nature’s recovery — from restoring habitats and species to improving urban green spaces and building resilience to climate change. It also highlights opportunities for collaboration, funding and decision-making across sectors.
The strategy is designed to reflect the needs and values of Devon’s diverse communities. Whether you’re a farmer, landowner, developer, business owner, wildlife enthusiast or resident, your views will help shape how nature is protected and restored in the years ahead.
To take part, visit www.naturerecoverydevon.org.uk to explore the draft strategy, find out about consultation events, and share your feedback.
New local government proposals announced
Devon’s district councils have collaboratively joined forces to respond to government proposals to reorganise local government in the county.
In December 2024, the UK Government announced plans to simplify the structure of local government across England. Areas such as Devon, which currently has a ‘two-tier’ system comprising a county council and district councils, are being asked to develop new unitary authorities.
East Devon, West Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge district councils, in consultation with Torbay Council, have been working together to shape a proposal. Torbay continues to work on its own submission.
The Districts’ proposal, known as the 4-5-1 model, includes:
- A unitary authority for West Devon, Teignbridge, South Hams and Torbay
- A unitary authority for North Devon, Torridge, Mid Devon, East Devon and Exeter
- Plymouth remaining a standalone unitary authority
The proposal reflects Devon’s natural communities, travel-to-work areas, and economic geographies, and is designed to deliver more coherent planning, stronger service delivery, and a unified voice for the county for now and for the future.
To maintain strong local connections, community hubs will be introduced, supporting access to essential services. Additionally, stronger and better co-ordinated links and relationships with Town and Parishes will be possible, making community involvement easier and more influential.
The councils have undertaken a comprehensive, evidence-led process to evaluate options for reorganisation. This has included collaborative analysis and options appraisal, stakeholder engagement, and independent financial modelling to ensure a credible submission to government.
The councils have consulted widely with residents, partners, businesses, and other key stakeholders to ensure the proposals reflect the needs and ambitions of Devon’s communities. There were 5,948 responses to the councils’ various public engagement surveys, with strong participation across the county.
For more information, contact communications@swdevon.gov.uk
Interactive Devon Bus Map now available
Those who regularly or even occasionally travel by bus will know the frustration of trying to put together a journey using timetables that may not tie up with connecting services. Devon County Council have made a new interactive map available that could provide the solution we’ve all been waiting for. Try it out here. This link is also stored permanently under the Bus heading on the Public Transport page of the Community tab on the website.
Slapton Ley Research Seminar, 15 November 2025
One of the undoubted highlights of autumn in the South Hams is the annual Slapton Ley Research Seminar, which this year takes place on Saturday 15 November, starting at 10am. Regular visitors will not need reminding, but for those who haven’t been before, this in an unmissable occasion for everyone who has an interest in the environment and the natural world: the opportunity to listen to leading researchers, often experts in their field, discussing their work in an informal setting, with the chance to ask questions and really get inside the research being done in a local context. This year’s keynote speakers are Tracey Hamston from The Wildlife Trust, who will be discussing the Two Moors Pine Marten Project; and Rebecca Wrigley, founder and Chief Executive of Rewilding Britain. A delicious vegetarian lunch is provided for attendees, and best of all, the event is completely free of charge!
September Full Council minutes published
Draft minutes of September’s Full Council Meeting are now published and on the website.
Wildflower Seed Bank event
Our neighbours in Slapton are holding a wildflower seed bank event in Slapton Village Hall on Saturday 4 October. Pop along if you’d like to get your hands on some lovely, locally collected wildflower seeds – all in aid of two thoroughly worthwhile causes.
Apple Day, Saturday 20 September – come and join the fun!
The weather forecast for Saturday may be looking a little iffy, but Apple Day will proceed as planned, whatever the heavens throw at us!
The venue is Chillington Village Hall, and pressing starts at 11 am. Bring apples to press if you have them, but if you don’t – don’t worry: thanks to our volunteers, who collected a magnificent 33 sacks of apples from the Community Orchard at Great Hill Wood, it looks like there’s going to be plenty of juice to go around.
It’s always a good idea to bring a container if you can to take your juice home in, as we sometime run out of bottles towards the end of the press. Rinsed milk containers are as good as anything else for fresh (unpasteurised) juice, which will keep in the fridge for up to three days. Although frankly I’d be amazed if our delicious juice lasts anywhere near three days in anyone’s fridge!
As well as gallons of juice there will be hot and cold drinks, cakes, and even some hot food for sale, so come along and make a day of it with your neighbours. We particularly like to put children to work on the apple press, so if you have any at home who like getting good and sticky, bring them along too!
South Hams Way launch postponed
The opening ceremony for the South Hams Way and subsequent mass walk that was scheduled for Sunday 14 September has been postponed due to a forecast of heavy rain and high winds.
The organizers are aiming to rearrange the event for Saturday 11 October. Full details will be confirmed nearer the time but the proposal is that the day will take the same format, i.e. ceremony at 10:30am in Borough Park, Totnes, followed by a mass walk of Section 1, Totnes to Buckfastleigh.
An “exceptional” crop bodes well for Apple Day
If you’ve been through the orchard in Great Hill Wood lately it won’t have escaped your notice that the apple trees are laden with fruit, to the point where some branches are near to breaking under the strain. This year’s record apple harvest, described as “exceptional” by local orchard owners, is due to a combination of a warm and relatively dry early spring, which promoted flowering, and a particularly sunny April that allowed the pollinators maximum time in the air to work their magic, resulting in a very successful fruit set.
All of this bodes very well for the annual Parish Apple Day, which will take place at Chillington Village Hall on Saturday 20 September from 11am. Volunteers from the parish council and other community organizations will be collecting and bagging apples in the orchard on Wednesday 17th – all help gratefully received, just turn up and get stuck in!
The apples will then be transported down to the hall in time for Saturday’s event, at which they will be pressed to make lots of lovely apple juice for people to take away. Anyone who’s been before will know that this is a great fun event, with plenty of opportunities to join in – children in particular very much enjoy getting hands-on with the apple pulp, especially if it means free apple juice!
Tea, coffee and cake will be on sale, as well as hot and cold snacks, beer, wine and – of course! – cider, so come down with the family and make a day of it.