EXMOOR THE COUNTRY MAGAZINE
MYSTERIOUS stoats WALKING
HUNTSHAM COURT
www.exmoormagazine.co.uk
ISSUE No. 66 Spring 2014
KEEPING HENS
£2.95
EXMOOR DIARY
heading out
win
A trip for two to Lundy Island!
All Aboard the Oldenburg Hostels, Barns & Bunkhouses Discovering Exmoor’s Whitebeams
free inside
Exmoor weddings: your local guide
delicious!
Hoar Oak Publishing Ltd
Spring Foraging Planting Early Veg Asparagus Farming Lunch in Dulverton
plus
Shackleton & Chapel Cleeve Hospital Arts
39 Published by: Hoar Oak Publishing Ltd Address: Exmoor Magazine, PO Box 281, Parracombe, Devon EX31 4WW Tel: 0845 224 1203 Email: admin@theexmoormagazine.com Website: www.exmoormagazine.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/exmoormagazine Twitter: twitter.com/ExmoorMagazine Editor & Designer: Naomi Cudmore naomi@lighthousecommunications.co.uk/ www.lighthousecommunications.co.uk Editorial Director: Elaine Pearce hoaroak.publishing@googlemail.com Assistant Editor: Katy Charge Associate Editor: John Dunscombe Website: Mike Bishop & Naomi Cudmore Director & Subscriptions/Office Manager: Sue South: admin@theexmoormagazine.com Colour Management & Associate Designer: Colin Matthews Advertising Sales: Zara Media: Grant Harrison, Susie Walker. Tel: 01392 201227; email: info@zaramedia.co.uk Printing: Warner Midlands PLC, Bourne
35
Contents
Spring 2014
8
In the News
17
Profile: A drop of the hard stuff – Rock Themes and Original Mix
21
Young Farmers' Clubs
Ellen Cowling
Elaine Pearce
IMPORTANT NOTICE We do our best to ensure that all advertisements and articles appear correctly. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by this publication. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor.
23 Farming: Lay a little egg for me! Hilary Binding
Copyright © Hoar Oak Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. We welcome contributions that fit into the magazine’s general ethos but, while every care is taken, all such material is sent entirely at the sender’s risk.
31
Cover photograph: Stoat photographed by Jack Clegg. See page 9 for the full cover story.
6 Exmoor Spring 2014
27
Lunch in Dulverton Holly Wright
The Toast of Exmoor: Kubla Brewery Adrian Tierney Jones
32 Taste of Exmoor: Asparagus: 'a mini event' Mel Roach
35
Recipes: Spring foraging from Streamcombe
39
Heavy dews, light showers
45
Past Times: Quest for adventure – south with Shackleton from Chapel Cleeve
Jeff Cox
49
Country Matters: The stoat
Trevor Beer
Ian Jarmarkier
Jane A. Mares
84
17
58
89
50
Family Page: Uncle Willow explores a stone wall
79
Homes: Under the weather
Louise Crossman Architects
Endymion Beer
53
Wellbeing: Hospital arts
Garden notes: Digging for treasure – potatoes, onions and shallots
58
Coast: The MS Oldenburg
83
Tony James
84
Gardens: Huntsham Court
87
Lawhorse: Exercising liens for livery fees
89
In the Stableyard: Culmstock – 'Newmarket of the South West'
93
Country driving: ATVs & mud of every description!
94
Exmoor Diary
96
Final Paws: 'Staffies' and 'rotties' – docile or dangerous?
Mary Bromiley
Sandy Francis
63 Active Exmoor: Youth Hostels – a roof with a smile Malcolm Rigby 66
Walking: Chumleigh and Eggesford Forest Sue Viccars
70 Crossword Bryan Cath 71
Ecology: Whitebeam magic of coast and combe
Rosemary FitzGerald
75
Books: News & reviews
Hilary Binding
77
Property: Overheating or under-performing?
Napoleon Wilcox
23
Paul Fonnereau
Cad Shaw
Jill Headford
Cindy Cowling
Competitions!
WIN a three-course dinner for two at the Dunkery Beacon Country House Hotel's Coleridge Restaurant. See page 10. WIN a pair of day-return tickets to Lundy! See page 61. WIN £20 in our crossword competition. See page 70.
ARK ATVs
Compiled by Sue South
53
27
32
Exmoor Spring 2014 7