North Devon Focus Coast & Country Chronicle is a local community page for North Devon news or coast and countryside press releases. We also welcome submissions from North Devon Local Event organisers. The listing is free for anyone wishing to promote, local village/church events, charity or non-profitmaking fund raising organisations. It is also free for North Devon musicians, North Devon Arts and festival organisers who wish to promote gigs, events or exhibitions. Visitors may use the links above to explore the North Devon Focus site for North Devon Tourist Information, places to visit and things to do. As ever, the RSPB kicked off 2010 with their biggest event of the year - Big Garden Birdwatch. The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch was held over weekend 30 and 31 January They are also celebrating Big Garden Birdwatch with a special promotional incentive to join the RSPB - new members joining between 19 January and 31 March can choose a FREE RSPB classic apex nest box (normally £11.99) as their free joining gift. Find out more join the RSPB today. - Click here for latest North Devon Coast and Country press releases

WIDER FOCUS - Click here to view the latest Travel and Holiday Offers including Thomson Late Deals and Ski Holiday Offers. Preparation is Everything - Tickets now on sale for RHS Flower Shows

SPRING COURSES FOR EVERYBODY. The Yarner Trust would like to encourage more people to enjoy their inspiring courses, and have created a bursary to help fund places on courses. Read full press release

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the The North Devon Coast AONB who will celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its designation. They are aiming to make September 2009 to June 2010 a very special time so check out our event listings below or visit ANOB web site for more details.

Please visit the northdevonfocus.blog.spot. which we hope will be an interesting addition to North Devon Focus Coast & Country Chronicle. Blog Roll: The North Devon Snow Party's Over, Bideford Bay Beachcombing, Peppercombe Chronicles - Rosemoor Scents and Sensibility - Tamar Otter & Wildlife Park "In Search of Tarka"

Click here to add your event to the 2010 Community Calendar - It's Free!

NORTH DEVON COAST & COUNTRY EVENTS (We advise that you check with local Tourist Information Centres to ensure events are taking place, to confirm dates & times or see local press for further details) NB. Clovelly Events 2009 Events, dates and content may be subject to change, so please consult www.clovelly.co.uk for latest details. Scroll down for the latest press releases

FEBRUARY

Get Your Skates On!! INDOOR FUN for you and your flock at The BIG Skate Rink Have you been watching ITV's Dancing on Ice? Want to have a go yourself? .... well now you can at The BIG Sheep. The BIG Skate is running until Sunday 14th March '10 No additional cost! Skating is included in the winter entry price of £5 each. (£2.50 each for local residents with 4EWE cards) Open weekends only, you can enjoy whizzing along on the environmentally friendly ice rink. Adults and children can both join in. (Skate sizes for children start from a little 8.) UNDERCOVER FUN the whole family can still enjoy themselves whatever the weather ! Visit the big sheep web site for prices and more information. With spring just around the corner, the first lambs are due at February Half Term school holidays. If you're lucky you may even see a live birth! Don't forget your camera!!

MARCH

APRIL

1st - 16th April the annual EASTER egg hunt at the Big Sheep will be in full swing with a total of 30,000 eggs to find!! Visit the website for full details. www.thebigsheep.co.uk

5th-8th April Hartland Arts & Crafts Easter Fayre at Hartland Parish Hall. Local handmade crafts, Refreshments, free admission, wheelchair access, free parking in adjacent car park. In aid of: Part proceeds to local charities Contact Jeanne Clark 01237 451467 Email: philipclarke50@btinternet.com

Friday 2 April - Friday 9 April The Fantastic Fudge Hunt, Clovelly. Back by popular demand! TWENTY fudge stones are hidden along the main street of the village. Track one down, take it to the fudge shop at the Visitor Centre and find out how much mouthwatering, creamy fudge you have won. Find stone number 20, and you win a whole kilo of luxurious fudge! One stone redeemable per visiting family per day.

MAY

Saturday 29 May - Monday 31 May Clovelly Celebration of Local Ales and Cider, Come along to Clovelly for its special Celebration of Ales and Ciders, where you can enjoy a range of local brews. Whether you're a committed ale and cider drinker or yet to be convinced, you'll find a tipple to suit your palate. So come along and raise a glass and support North Devon's brewers and cider makers.

JUNE

JULY

Sunday 18 July Clovelly Maritime Festival, held in aid of the North Devon Hospice. There's something for everyone at the Clovelly Maritime Festival, held in aid of the North Devon Hospice. It's a day of traditional seaside entertainment, including shanty singers, fire-eating, juggling, Punch and Judy, a wench auction, and lots more. Enjoy delicious seafood or a succulent hog roast on the beach. The Old Gaffers Association will be coming along - they're devoted to the conservation of traditional sailing craft and our maritime heritage. Saturday 24 July Lundy Gig Row, West Country pilot gigs were designed to carry pilots out to ships. The first one alongside won the pilotage job, so speed was critical. The row from Clovelly to Lundy and back is a true test of endurance over 32 miles of sea - it can take up to four hours, depending upon the weather and tides. So come along and support the brave crews! Monday 26 July Woolsery Agricultural Show, Clovelly Court, held in aid of various charities. Summer in North Devon would not be complete without a visit to this country agricultural show.There are many classes for cattle, horses, and sheep, along with pony competitions. You'll find bustling trade and exhibition stands with stalls offering locally made crafts and foods. The children will be kept busy with fairground rides and a bouncy castle. A great summer day out for all the family! Saturday 31 July - Sunday 1 August Lifeboat Weekend, held in aid of the R.N.L.I Keeping Clovelly's lifeboat on alert for emergencies round the clock takes effort and dedication. Held in aid of the RNLI, Clovelly's Lifeboat Weekend is a popular celebration of the lifeboat and her crew. To get the fun going on Saturday there's a sponsored swim to Bucks Mills and back. Sunday is packed with entertainments, including a hilarious race of men dressed as women, a tug-of-war and, of course, the ever popular slave auction in which young local men are 'sold' to the highest bidder to do their chores for a day. And there are stalls galore.

AUGUST

Saturday 7 August Clovelly Gig Regatta, In the West Country we are proud of our long tradition of racing pilot gigs. The sport's popularity is hardly surprising - gig racing today is exciting, strenuous and often downright dangerous, with the crews reaching speeds of 9 knots in fast-flowing tidal waters. So come along and cheer on the rowers. It will be an exhilarating day's racing.

SEPTEMBER

Sunday 5 September Clovelly Lobster & Crab Feast, in support of The National Lobster Hatchery. This popular event pays tribute to Clovelly's famous lobster and crabs. There's always a fun party atmosphere, so come along and enjoy a day of live folk music and theatre. And will you be able to resist the charms of the lobster hypnotist? There will be local craft and food stalls, a quay kitchen with cookery demonstrations, wine and beer tasting, and no shortage of entertainments for the children. And it's in aid of the National Lobster Hatchery at Padstow. So don't miss it!

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Sunday 21 November Clovelly Herring Festival, In the 18th century, a hundred boats fished for the 'silver darlings' (herring) out of Clovelly. This Herring Festival is held in support of sustainable fishing by traditional methods and to celebrate the herring. Mike Smylie will be there with his popular 'Kipperland' exhibition, smoking delicious kippers and bloaters. Simon and Ann Cooper will be bringing along their curragh, making nets, and demonstrating flax processing and knitting. In addition, Jim MacCool, founder of National Poetry Month, will be performing his show of infectious verse and toe-tapping Celtic rhythms. Enjoy herring specialities, local cider and wine, shanty singing, a walk-about theatre and masses of stalls.

DECEMBER

Sunday 5 December Clovelly Christmas Lights, in aid of the RNLI. (Procession starts at about 4 p.m. from the Visitor Centre. Entry free after 2 p.m. with small parking charge) Christmas is a magical time at Clovelly, so don't miss this fund-raising event and the switching on of the village Christmas lights. A brass band leads the procession down to the harbour. There's mulled wine, a barbecue, rousing carols, and Father Christmas makes a surprise visit. At 5 p.m. the switch is thrown and the entire village and harbour are lit up - it's a fantastic sight. And there are fireworks to finish off what is always a perfect day

Clovelly New for 2011: Lentsherd Children's Carnival, Sunday 20 February

NORTH DEVON COAST AND COUNTRY PRESS RELEASES

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ICE CREAM COMPETITION LAUNCHED TO HELP AID WILDLIFE (Ref: DWT 19th Feb 2010)
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT), with Langage Farm, is already planning for the summer with the launch of a competition to design a new flavour of ice cream with a wildlife theme. The competition is open to all. To enter, all you have to do is come up with a name for a wildlife-themed ice cream and list the ingredients it would contain. For example you could have vanilla ice cream with dormouse-shaped chocolate pieces and call it 'Dormicecream'. One lucky winner will visit Langage Farm to see their flavour being produced in the dairy - and will take home a year's supply! Once on sale the winning flavour will be sold around the region with a donation from every pot of ice cream sold going to the charity. Rod Birtles, DWT's Marketing Manager said: "Langage Farm proves that local produce can be fun as well as good for wildlife. Farms account for some 80% of Devon's area, and an important part of our work is to support and advise farmers on balancing profitable food production with the needs of wildlife. The ice-cream competition is a light hearted way to remind people of this connection." Langage Farm's Richard Scutt said: "At Langage Farm we have a long and deep association with the Devon landscape and it is important to us to help look after our local wildlife. We are delighted to support Devon Wildlife Trust's work." To enter, send your ingredients list and suggested name on a postcard to Devon Wildlife Trust, Cricklepit Mill, Commercial Road, Exeter, EX2 4AB. Or send an email to shussey@devonwildlifetrust.org Closing date for entries is 6 May 2010. The winning entrant will be announced in the charity's Wild Devon magazine and on its website. Photo: Langage Farm ice cream

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GREEN SHOOTS OF RECOVERY FOR NATURE RESERVE (DWT 23 Feb 2010)
Restoration of traditional Culm Grassland pastures at a north Devon nature reserve has come a step closer as seedlings start to appear in seven fields sown in the autumn. Vealand Nature Reserve, near Holsworthy, is owned by Devon Wildlife Trust. The restoration work began last year thanks to funding from GrantScape which is helping the charity restore and improve many of its north Devon sites in the Culm Measures as part of the Working Wetlands project. The fields covering an area of seven hectares were seeded with a mixture of 18 plant species featuring Culm grasses, sedges and flowers. Prior to seeding the improved fields were deep ploughed, soil stripped and harrowed to a fine tilth in preparation for the seeds. Gary Pilkington, DWT's Senior Reserves Officer, said: 'It's great news to start seeing signs of new growth from these fields. It has been quite a task to get to this stage and we are encouraged with the progress and look forward to the summer when we might start to see the plants in flower.Vealand is well situated to become an excellent example of Culm Grassland being nearby to many other good Culm sites. We hope in time, these painstakingly restored pastures will support many rare species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly.' For more information about the nature reserve visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org Photo: Vealand seedling DWT

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COURSES FOR EVERYBODY (Ref: Yarner Trust 18th February 2010)
There's really good news from the Yarner Trust in Welcombe this year to lift your spirits and welcome in the spring. Yarner would like to encourage more people to enjoy their inspiring courses, and have created a bursary to help fund places on courses. A generous legacy from one of their founders, Tom Welch, has made sure that courses remain within everyone's reach. Anyone can apply and it's a very simple process, so just call Yarner on 01288-331692 or email info@yarnertrust.org and they'll help you get started. All they ask in return is your honesty in paying the full rate where you can afford to do so. Just some of the new courses that might inspire you include Stone Carving, Cheese Making, Beekeeping and beauty products. Not forgetting their popular favourites such as Lime Rendering, Yurt Making and Smallholding. There's also a special 4 day Butterfly Break where you get a mini holiday as well as exploring Devon Wildlife Trust's nature reserve at Marsland. The Yarner trust is in Welcombe, between Bideford and Bude, just off the A39 and is a registered charity.

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FARMER GETS FIRST GO ON CONSERVATION CHARITY'S NEW KIT (Ref DWT 16 February 2010)
Devon Wildlife Trust has this month lent out its brand new Pasquali low ground pressure tractor to a landowner in North Devon, the first to benefit from the addition to the charity's machinery ring.The tractor was purchased as part of the Working Wetlands Project to help with conservation work on environmentally sensitive sites in three target areas of the Culm measures in the north of the county. Lesley Deadman from West Bursdon Farm near Hartland was delighted to get his hands on the specialist bit of kit that is designed to handle rough wet ground, and set up with a flair mower to tackle rush and scrub that commonly invades areas of the Culm grassland that the charity is working to protect. He said: "It's ideal for cutting firebreaks and paths and along fence lines to act as a deterrent against fire. It's an extremely useful machine able to cut small areas and is really easy to manoeuvre. It's particularly very good for reducing rushes." The equipment adds an extra element to the already burgeoning range of kit that the charity lends out, including cattle handling units and trailers all to better enable landowners to manage their rare grasslands as easily and cheaply as possible. Simon Berry, DWT's Grazing Links Officer said: "The Pasquali tractor is light weight, and with the low ground pressure it is able to work in wet conditions as well as on awkward and steep slopes. We could do with another with the current demand!" Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project has been supported by the Tubney Charitable Trust, South West Water, The Environment Agency, Devon County Council, Devon Waste Management, GrantScape and Natural England. Rob Dixon from Natural England came along to see the equipment in action, he said: "This is a really useful tool to help land managers keep on top of difficult sites. Some of Devon's most important habitats are under threat from lack of management but many farmers work hard in tough conditions to maintain these areas, many of which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest or County Wildlife Sites. This tractor is very light, and with its weight spread over four equal-sized wheels, will minimise the impact of necessary management on fragile grassland. We are already letting farmers know of its availability it's free of charge, and this will be a valuable tool for them to use where heavier machinery is impractical." For more information about the Pasquali tractor and how to make use of the resource, call the Working Wetlands team on 01409 221823 or email sberry@devonwildlifetrust.org Photo: Les Deadman driving the new Pasquali tractor

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CHARITY COMMISION CHAIR VISITS CRICKLEPIT MILL (Ref: DWT 27th January 2010)
Last Friday, Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission, was given a special tour of Exeter's Cricklepit Mill, headquarters of Devon Wildlife Trust, to witness the work of the county charity. Director of the charity Paul Gompertz led the tour of the historic mill which was followed by lunch with some of DWT's trustees. In the afternoon Dame Suzi was also taken on a site visit to Lutworthy and Affeton Moors to view progress of the ground breaking habitat restoration work taking place there as part of 'Working Wetlands', a project which is working in partnership with farmers in the Culm Measures of Devon. Dame Suzi, who lives in Exeter, has been Chair for the last four years and was delighted to witness the essential conservation work carried out by DWT. "Charities are uniquely important to our society and the Commission has a vital role to play in supporting them, both individually and collectively. Devon Wildlife Trust appears to be working on a very large scale across Devon and it was fascinating to see such dramatic work first hand," she said. Paul Gompertz said: "It was a pleasure to have the company of Dame Suzi for the day. She seemed particularly impressed with the scale of our work here in Exeter and in north Devon where we have been clearing large swathes of conifer plantations so they can revert back to wildlife rich Culm Grassland. We hope she will return towards the end of the project to see how much has been achieved." (Photo: Sir Hugh Stucely and Dame Suzi Leather at Affeton Moor)

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DEVON DORMICE GO NUTS OVER FUNDING BOOST (Ref: DWT 26 Jan 2010)
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) has just received funding to help with conservation work to improve the lot of dormice at a number of its nature reserves. The £4986 grant from the Pennon Environment Fund will help the charity's reserve officers to implement and enhance coppicing regimes at its Andrew's Wood, Lady's Wood, Scanniclift Copse, Sourton Quarry and Dunsford nature reserves in the coming months. Dormice thrive in woodland with hazel coppice, as one of their staple foods is the hazelnut. An autumn diet of these helps keep them sufficiently plump to survive their annual winter hibernation. Although dormice are also found in hedgerows and other habitats, these Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves are known to be some of their most important and protected strongholds. DWT's Reserve Officer Jackie Gage said: 'The money will help pay for our time on the reserve coppicing the hazel trees so that they are kept in the best possible condition for the populations of dormice. By allowing more light into the woodlands, these activities will allow denser and more species-rich understoreys to develop. This in turn will increase the amount of food and cover available to dormice throughout the seasons when they are active." Over the coming months the dormice on the sites will be monitored using nest boxes and nest tubes which will be put up at the sites with the help of volunteers. This part of the project has also been paid for using some of the grant money. Jackie added: "It's important that we continue to monitor populations in Devon, particularly as we are the Biodiversity Action Plan lead partner for the species. We cannot continue this important work without the volunteer and financial support which this funding gives us." Pennon Group is the parent group of Viridor Waste Management and South West Water and through its Environment Fund supports environmental and social improvement projects across the region and nation. For more information about DWT's reserves and how you can help visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org

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HISTORIC HEDGES RESTORED AT NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE (Ref: DWT 6 January 10)
Devon Wildlife Trust last month planted a series of new hedges at its Dunsdon National Nature Reserve to help restore the traditional network of small fields that would have once been a feature of the local landscape. The site, near Holsworthy, was planted up with locally produced native species by the charity's reserves team and long term estates volunteers. The hedge species including a mixture of hawthorn, ash, oak, hazel and rowan will sit on traditional Devon hedge banks which were created last year. Gary Pilkington, DWT's senior reserves officer, said: 'These new hedges will provide essential wildlife corridors at these Culm grassland sites. The hedges are replacing ones that were removed through agricultural improvement in the years before DWT took charge of the land. We used Tithe maps from the early 1900s to work out exactly where the original hedges were located.' The project has been supported thanks to funding from The Tree Council's Real Hedge Fund (working in conjunction with the National Hedgelaying Society and Stella Artois). For more information about the site visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org

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THE NORTHERN DEVON COAST & COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE
1. The Northern Devon Coast and Country Service (NDCCS) is jointly funded by Devon County Council, Torridge District Council, North Devon District Council and the Countryside Agency. www.devon.gov.uk/ndccs
2. The North Devon coast was designated an AONB in 1959 and is comprised of two defined Heritage Coasts and covers approximately 171 sq km. The Hartland and North Devon Heritage Coasts together with the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at Braunton Burrows make up one of the finest 'Protected Landscapes' in England. www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk
As the Highway Authority for Devon, the County Council is responsible for 3,200 miles (4,960km) of public rights of way. www.devon.gov.uk
3. The Countryside Agency - The work of the landscape, access and recreation division of the Countryside Agency is concerned with protecting our landscapes for now and future generations whilst also encouraging respect and enjoyment of our beautiful countryside. www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/index.asp Click here to view more North Devon press releases

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RockETS stands for Rock Environmental Treatment Scheme, and distributes funding from the Government's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to projects that reduce the effects of aggregate extraction in Devon (including Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, and Plymouth and Torbay Unitary Authorities).

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