The South West Coast Path launches Motographer of the Year 2013 competition

Durdle Door by Katharine Davies, taken on an iPhone

The South West Coast Path team is encouraging budding mobile phone photographers of all ages to capture a moment in time on the Coast Path as part of its Motographer of the Year 2103 competition, which launched last week.  It could be a shot of a couple resting a while to admire the view or a child collecting seashells – the only rule is that it is taken on a mobile phone and includes a person out on any stretch of the 630-mile South West Coast Path.

Among this year’s judges is the award-winning travel and landscape photographer David Noton, who runs photography workshops on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, and award leader of BA Photography at Falmouth University, Deborah Baker, who has worked with artists including Mary Ellen Mark and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Says David Noton, whose work has long taken inspiration from the South West Coast Path: “The joy of being on the South West Coast Path can be enhanced with photography. The very process of trying to capture the experience to share with friends and family makes us look at what’s all around us on the cliff tops, headlands and in the coves with an analytical eye, noticing details and tricks of the light that maybe we wouldn’t without the stimulus of photography. A good picture is the product of a perceptive eye, so this competition is a great opportunity for anyone with a camera phone to get creative and share their unique vision of people experiencing the pleasures of the outdoor life on the South West Coast Path with the rest of the world.”

Deborah Baker adds: “I am very supportive of this competition as mobile phone imagery contributes to all genres of the medium with incredible ease of use and remarkable technical quality. On our photography courses we feel that it is important to encourage a diversity of photographic practices. This is a wonderful opportunity for all to create stunning imagery in a location that’s hard to beat anywhere in the world.”

The winner will receive an iPad mini.

Mobile photographers are invited to submit their entries via the South West Coast Path Facebook page or Twitter @swcoastpath using the hashtag #MOTY2013 by the deadline of 30 September2013. For full details of how to enter the competition and terms and conditions, please visit www.southwestcoastpath.com/MOTY2013

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Get in the Chelsea mood at RHS Garden Rosemoor

It may be too late to get tickets for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show but there is still plenty visitors can do to get into the Chelsea mood at RHS Garden Rosemoor. The garden is looking wonderful with cheerful daffodils, woodlanders such as trilliums, alliums, and fresh new growth unfurling in the Rock Gully. The many fruit trees are putting on exquisite blossom displays, too.

If you were thinking about seeing the show gardens at Chelsea take a trip to the model gardens at Rosemoor instead. They share a similar focus on garden design and future similarly intricate planting.

Irises are also set to be a huge trend at Chelsea this year and Rosemoor is absolutely packed with water irises and Iris ensata. And finally Roses, always popular at Chelsea and especially so this year as English rose breeder David Austin Roses prepare to launch four splendid new varieties. Rosemoor is the South West’s largest stockist of David Austin Roses and it’s rose gardens are famed throughout the world for their beauty.

So if you’re a green-fingered garden lover but haven’t been able to get tickets to Chelsea this year, come along to Rosemoor and get in the Chelsea mood.

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Notification of consultation on the Lynton & Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan (The Lyn Plan)

Lynton & Lynmouth Town Council has prepared a neighbourhood development plan, entitled The Lyn Plan, for their parish with the help of the local community. The plan sets out a vision for the future of the parish and the settlements of Lynton, Lynmouth and Barbrook and planning policies which will be used to determine planning applications locally.

Lynton & Lynmouth Town Council formally submitted The Lyn Plan to Exmoor National Park Authority on 16 April 2012. They have notified the Town Council that they are satisfied that the preparation of the neighbourhood plan has complied with matters set out in Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Exmoor National Park Authority are publishing the Lyn Plan and supporting documents for consultation for an eight-week period commencing last Thursday, 16 May 2013, that will conclude at 4.00pm on Friday 12 July 2013. They are inviting responses to this consultation during this period which will be considered during the examination of the neighbourhood plan.

The Lyn Plan, the Consultation Statement, Basic Conditions Statement and a number of supporting documents are available on the Authority’s website www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/neighbourhood-plans . Hard copies of these documents are also available for inspection at the following locations during the consultation period.

o Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset TA22 9HL
o Lynton Town Hall, Lee Road, Lenten
o Lynmouth National Park Centre, Lyndale Car Park, Lynmouth
o Barbrook Community Information Centre

Please make your comments using the response form (available online and at locations for inspection) via email to ldf@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or in paper format to:

o David Wyborn, Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset TA22 9HL

Please note that this will be the final opportunity to comment on the Lyn Plan before it proceeds to examination. If you wish to be notified of the Authority’s decision on whether to bring the plan into force (Regulation 19 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations) please ensure that you tick the relevant box on the response form. Any comments on the Lyn Plan must be received by 4.00pm on Friday 12 July 2013, from when they will be treated as a public document.

If you have any general queries relating to the Lyn Plan or require further information on the consultation please email ldf@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or call 01398 323665.

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Torbridge Vets Sponsor Taff The Wonder Dog!

Bill Slee with Taff and Tracey Berridge founder of DFK.

Dogs Helping Kids (DHK) is a local charity that harnesses dog power, to help children improve their literacy and social skills.  This involves highly-trained canines working in schools and libraries, often with amazing results. The dogs work on a different level to their human counterparts.  Their presence seems to disarm and engage the children, and working with the dogs alleviates the pressure some pupils can feel in education, often with amazing results.

Obviously using dogs as teachers and facilitators requires them to be trained to very special standards.  As yet only seven canny canines have passed all six assessments with flying colours, although a further dozen are are currently undergoing training.  One of these is the delightful Taff, a two year old Cavapoo (Cavalier Spaniel cross Poodle).  Taff has been on the DHK training programme for nine months and is sponsored by Torbridge Vets.

So far Taff has passed his First and Second level assessments.  This has involved basic training (heelwork, recall, wait, stay and the ‘watch me’) but in very distracting environments.  These include local shops and the town, learning how to cope with distractions such as noise, changing environments, different surfaces and lots of people.  The dogs have to learn how to do a five-minute ‘out of sight’ stay on the High Street, fun tricks to impress the children such as the snuggle; how to settle on a blanket (for the classroom), how to focus on the pages or cover of a book, and how to press the ‘Easy!’ button to let children know they have done well.

DHK was founded by Tracey Berridge, who has very hands on role in day to day proceedings, both in managing the charity and in selecting and training the dogs to do such amazing things! Tracey says: “We are delighted with the progress Taff is making and his aptitude for the task. After passing his first and second DHK assessments at the beginning of March, we are now working with Taff on reading and preparing him for working in a school environment.  We have just started helping him and the others in the same class to read single words – starting with ‘Down’ and ‘Sit’. This takes time, patience and a lot of practice, as you can imagine. However, once mastered, it is an immensely powerful tool which can bring real breakthroughs for kids who have difficulties in literacy.  Seeing a dog read can demonstrate how they can do it too!”

Torbridge Vets like to support DHK in a number of practical ways. An initiative involving vaccination donations earlier this year has just raised further funds for the cause.  Bill Slee Veterinary Director of Torbridge says:

“We are delighted to be able to donate this £772 to DHK and would like to thank all our clients who helped raised the money.  We know that a dog undertaking the intensive levels of training required by DHK will always require substantial amounts of finance and therefore we hope this will help Taff to progress to the next level.”

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Summer issue of Exmoor Magazine is being delivered to your local shop in the next five day!

Welcome to the summer magazine. To celebrate the season, we have packed this issue with bright and beautiful delights, from the natural wonders of Jane Mares’ ‘Small lives that shimmer’, to art imitating nature, in the form of Ian Cryer’s Oil Paintings for A Year on Exmoor.

A stroll around Somerset Cricket care of Stephen Edmonds lends us the summery sounds of friendlies being played out in village clubs, while Andy Stuthridge encourages us to cast our eyes upwards as he shares a second array of birdlife – this time mainly moorland species. Not only has our own Trevor Beer kindly complemented the photographs with an explanatory text for each bird, but Minehead artist Leo Davey has also produced a unique limited-edition print of the species in question to accompany the piece.

As well as many things winged, from ladybirds to nightjars, there is a strong, earthy element to the issue: Mel Roach meets an innovative couple who live in woods near Rackenford, where they run The Bulworthy Project making artisan charcoal, and there are herbs and more herbs – in Elaine Pearce’s Wellbeing article about Dr Gavin Haig and in our feature on herb farms. On or near the coast Tony James meets the salty sea dogs who are some of Watchet’s extensive liveaboard community, we head to Longlands Safari Lodges in North Devon for a night of luxury under canvas and nip into the Hood Arms at Kilve for lunch.

Our rural focus this issue belongs to shearing. Many readers will have known Albert Beer – a long-time friend of the magazine – and well-known farming figure. Very sadly, Albert passed away not long after we received his piece on shearing. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Albert’s family at this time.

Over on the Quantocks, exciting plans are afoot as the Friends of Quantock have taken over nearly 400 acres of the Quantock Hills from Somerset County Council. We hope that they get plenty of support; find out how you can help them on page 14 of the current issue. On our news pages this time, we also extend our congratulations to the many tourism businesses which have won awards of late (a small selection are mentioned in this issue), and we would like to wish local businesses across the whole area the best possible summer season. Happy reading!

Naomi, Elaine and Sue

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Work under way to restore ‘rare and nationally important’ building

Work is under way to restore the eighteenth-century pottery kiln situated behind the Luttrell Arms in Dunster. The work, which is expected to take about six weeks, is part of a management agreement between Exmoor National Park Authority and English Heritage which includes capital works of up to £17,000 for the kiln.

The Dunster pottery kiln is a rare and nationally important industrial building made for firing earthenware pottery.  From the available evidence it seems to date from 1759 and as far as is known it is the earliest pottery kiln to survive almost complete exactly where it was built.  An oil painting by William Tomkins dated 1768, which hangs in Dunster Castle, shows the kiln as part of a group of buildings that were standing on this site at the time. The Pottery House itself was demolished in about 1850 leaving just the kiln behind.

The pottery kiln was converted to a garden shed for the Luttrell Arms and used as such for over 150 years, but over the years it has deteriorated and a number of structural cracks have appeared – the building is also being monitored for movement.

Shirley Blaylock, historic environment conservation officer at the National Park Authority, says: “The kiln is a Scheduled Monument and repair has to be carefully undertaken to ensure that no weight is put onto the building and as a much original fabric is retained as possible.

“The first phase of the work will be clearing vegetation away from the structure and then to fix a temporary timber arch under the entrance for support. Consolidation and repair work can then start to the building including decorating and re-fixing the metal door gate and lime washing the building.”

There will be no access to the area around the kiln while the work is being carried out by the contractor, Cyril Harriss, working to instructions from Amanda Watmore of Jonathan Rhind Architects.

A leaflet about the kiln and some other early surviving potteries in the south west is available from National Park Centres.

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Blundell’s team triumphs for the South West at national finals

Teacher Tim Dyke with the winning team Oscar Mustard, Freya de Lisle and Rowan Carew

The team from Blundell’s School representing the South West region triumphed at a national competition to find the best young public speakers. More than 300 schools from across England and Wales entered the English-Speaking Union’s public speaking competition and, at this year’s final, Blundell’s School were crowned the winners. The team, Oscar Mustard, Freya de Lisle and Rowan Carew, all in Year 11, had already won four rounds to get to the finals, which were held at Goodenough College in London. In addition, Oliver Mustard won the individual category as Outstanding Personality, which was judged by a ballot from amongst the audience of all the schools competing and their supporters, while Blundell’s Head of English Tim Dyke was presented with a long service award by the ESU.

Blundell’s has entered the competition for the more than 25 years and this is the first time the school has reached the final. Speaking after the event, Mr Dyke said: “The team did what they had to do and did it perfectly with grace, charm and intelligence. As for Oliver, he is an outstanding young man and has a brilliant future ahead of him as a politician.”

The Blundell’s team discussed the quote by Churchill ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts’. The judging panel, chaired by Baroness Maggie Jones, the Shadow Minister for Education in the House of Lords, commended all the finalists on the high quality of this year’s competition.

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Devon County Show Starts Tomorrow!

Devon County Show starts tomorrow and one of the many hopefuls attending will be young farmer, 25- year-old Charlotte Slee from North Devon.  When Charlotte bought three Jacob sheep ten years ago, little did she think it would be the start of a prize-winning flock

Now she runs the Halsbury Flock with her brother Christopher, aged 22 , on their parents’ farm at Buckland Brewer near Bideford.

At this year’s Devon County Show – which runs from 16-18 May- they hope to recreate the triumph of last year when they went away with a coveted Special Prize (for the most points gained by a livestock exhibitor aged under 35) and an armful of rosettes.

Charlotte, who works full time on the farm, said: “Last year we had great success in the show rings and we’d love to be able to do even better this year.”

The pair has been preparing their flock of Jacobs for many months alongside working with their parents – John and Marilyn – who run a commercial sheep flock.

At the Show they will split their time between the show rings and the West Country Crafts Marquee where they will sell their luxurious woollen products.

“Jacobs’ wool has many soft, natural colours in the fibre and it looks and feels wonderful when made up. Christopher decided to explore the market and has developed a range of woollen throws and products for the home.

“Traceability is of upmost importance to us and everything we’re bringing to the Show is made from 100 per cent Halsbury Jacob wool,” added Charlotte.

Handicrafts are flourishing and the huge craft marquee will be packed with talented artisans including traditional spinners and weaves, lace makers and quilt makers.

Show Secretary Ollie Allen said: “There seems to be a huge resurgence of interest in homecrafts and we’re delighted to welcome a huge selection of west country hand made products to this year’s Show.”

In total there will be around 1,400 sheep, along with 500 cattle, about 300 camelids, 1,400 horses, more than a 1,000 dogs and lots of pigeons, poultry, rabbits and cavies (guinea pigs). Among the cattle will be national shows for Britain’s largest native breed, the South Devons, and its smallest, the Dexters.

The Show is a great celebration of the Devon countryside and provides excellence and entertainment in equal measure.

The Diggerland JCB Stunt Team will be strutting their stuff in the Mole Valley Farmers Main Arena performing amazing routines, including ‘hand stands’.

Alongside the woodland area Savage Skills – the UK’s leading mountain bike and BMX extreme freestyle display team – will be demonstrating their stunts and giving advice to budding cyclists.

Advance tickets offering savings are on sale now from the showground, tourist information centres and online. New this year are downloadable online tickets and an online cut off time of midnight tonight!  Visit: www.devoncountyshow.co.uk

Once again up to three children (aged 5 to 15) get free admission on Saturday when accompanied by a paying adult and senior citizens are eligible for the buy-one-get-one-free offer on all three days of the Show as long as they buy their tickets in advance.

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Over 100 artists sign up as Festival website goes live

Artwork by Jim Munnion

Over 100 artists, craftspeople and performers have now signed up for this year’s exciting 10 Parishes Festival – and the new website guide has just gone live.

The 2013 Festival is a major biennial celebration of creative talent in Wiveliscombe and surrounding parishes in West Somerset. It runs from September 7 – 15 and includes a highly popular day long Street Market and human powered Carnival.

“We’ve had enormous interest with so many artists and craftspeople signing up once again for the Festival, in spite of the economic climate,” said Festival Director Pauline Homeshaw.

“It’s a wonderful community event which also gives a real economic boost to not only the artists and craftspeople taking part, but to food producers and traders in the area.”

Now the new 2013 Festival website guide details all the exhibitors and events taking place, as the area starts making preparations to show the creative and community talent of Wiveliscombe, Ashbrittle, Bathealton, Brompton Ralph, Chipstable with Waterrow, Clatworthy, Fitzhead, Huish Champflower and Milverton.

As well as the great variety of art and craft going on show from paintings and sculpture to jewellery and pottery, the website also details community and performance events – from a floral extravaganza with huge, exotic ‘blooms’ to a Sculpture Park; a Celebration of Somerset Folk Singers event to voice workshops and poetry readings.

There is also an inventive variety of venues from school to pub, campsite to church, barn to town hall and more.

“The website and printed Guide which we publish later in the summer, give a full overview and there are so many outstanding exhibitions and events, visitors come from far outside the 10 Parishes area,” said Pauline.

Visit the website at www.10parishesfestival.org.uk and like and follow the 10 Parishes Festival on Facebook and Twitter (@10Parishes).

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New displays at National Park Centre Dunster

A new display has just been installed in the National Park Centre in Dunster highlighting and celebrating the key landscapes and wildlife found on Exmoor, offering a fantastic introduction to the special qualities of the National Park.

The panels, which extend across an area 22ft by 7ft, with illustrations of over 100 Exmoor species, have been produced from hand painted originals by Richard Allen and are works of art in themselves.

The display is the first phase of the National Park Authority’s refurbishment of the Centre and over the next two months, the second phase will be completed with a new, interactive display about historic Dunster being installed.

The National Park Centre team are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the formal launch of the new displays on Thursday 23 May between 5pm and 7pm.

The National Park Centre in Dunster is at a key gateway to Exmoor and, working together with local businesses and the community, welcomes around 70,000 visitors a year offering advice and guidance on what is special about Exmoor and how people can get the most out of their visit.

“We are delighted to be able to invest in the National Park Centre to improve and enhance the experience for visitors to Exmoor,” said Tim Braund, Head of Information and Communication at Exmoor National Park. “It is important that we try to keep our information and ways of sharing information up to date to help people discover and explore the National Park.”

The Centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm until 3 November.

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