Archive for category: News

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.

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.

Draft minutes of September’s Full Council Meeting are now published and on the website.

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!

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.