Dartmoor Links - The Lockdown Issue May 2020

DARTMOORLINKS MOOR LINKS TAVY LINKS OKE LINKS PLYM LINKS

COMMUNITY

The Lockdown Issue - May 2020

NEWS & VIEWS

for West Devon, Dartmoor and North Plymouth

Pioneering support for rural communities

Local People

Chagford’s

charity chair & keen crafter

Our NEW Campaign

Local History

Tavistock’s treasure trove

CHARITY FOCUS

Supporting Devon’s farmers

75

years on

REMEMBERING

VE DAY WALKS | ARTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

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A different magazine for the new normal...

The deadline date for any inclusions in the next issue will be 22 May 2020.

For all editorial enquiries please contact me via email at: jane.honey@linksmagazines.co.uk

or by phone 07971 917071.

THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Jane Honey Design: Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard Claire Pearce

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² @plymlinks ON THE COVER:

Spring Meadow © A.Yanikap

When I started work on what was to have been the May/June edition of Oke Links, back at the end of February, I never dreamt that a few short weeks later, life as we know it would have changed so drastically.

The global pandemic seems, for the most part, have brought out the best in people many of whom are facing real difficulties in their lives, from their mental health, to their financial stability.

And while humankind struggles with a new kind of normality, the natural world very suddenly shrugged off the grey gloom of winter and an ironically-timed, blazingly beautiful spring arrived at just the time communities were locked down.

While we are unable to produce a printed magazine at the moment, as a community publication we felt it was vital to still publish an edition, albeit in a digital form. We have offered free advertising to our regular customers, in the hope it helps maintain their profile during these difficult times.

Our online magazine can be seen by a far wider readership than our individual and very popular publications, namely Oke Links, Tavy Links, Moor Links and Plym Links - and while it won’t have the usual very local flavour, there is still lots to read and plenty of valuable local information.

On page six you can find out how a project

Contents | May 2020 4 Feature 8 Local People 10 Noticeboard 16 Sport 17 Finance 18 Charity 21 Education 24 Gardening 27 Trade Secrets

28 Farming 29 Health & Beauty 34 National Trust 38 Food & Drink 41 Books 42 History 46 Walk 49 Local Services 58 Tech Help

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FROM THE EDITOR

promoting community health and wellbeing is filling gaps in a rural area following the closure of hospital in-patient beds.

Turn to page eight to read how a marketing expert from The Netherlands has embraced the moorland town of Chagford with passion and enthusiasm; and on page 22 you can find out about the vital work carried out by the Devon Farming Network charity.

As usual, we have health advice, our gardening feature, educational information plus much more - but sadly no forthcoming events, one of which would have been the local commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day. We felt this should not be forgotten - take a moment to read the poem on page 22 and reflect on another era of extraordinary historic significance, as we continue to work our way through the current one.

I am hugely grateful to everyone who has contributed submitted copy for this issue, which would have otherwise been considerably slimmer due to our own editorial financial constraints.

Please stay safe - and as many are saying, see you on the other side...

Enjoy your reading!

Jane Jane Honey Editor

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Links Magazines launch ‘Buy Local’ campaign to save jobs and our local communities Welcome to our digital Links Magazine. We are unable to offer a printed magazine due to the current crisis and ‘lockdown’. Our small community magazines are solely reliant on local businesses advertising with us as this is the only way we can afford the printing costs and Royal Mail distribution of more than 32,000 copies of our community magazines. Most, if not all, of these local businesses are currently, at time of writing, closed and/or unable to fully operate, for good reason, to help save lives.

However, this will not last, and at some point we will be able to move around freely again. Businesses will start to open and offer their services and life will return to some kind of normality. By the time you read this article this process may have already started, let’s hope so.

Local businesses, jobs and a thriving local community It has always been the case that a strong, vibrant local business community is vital to our local economy. This will never be truer than when ‘lockdown’ ends. Many of our local businesses will struggle to recover from the current pause in trading and this will put many local jobs at risk. Our local economy, jobs and businesses are a ‘lifecycle’ that must be supported and allowed to thrive.

If not then this will mean fewer jobs and less money circulating in our local economy, less tax collection which in turn means less money for local councils and boroughs to invest in our buildings and infrastructure.

Support our local businesses This is where we all come in, the readers of our magazines, the residents of West Devon, Dartmoor and North Plymouth communities. We must try and support our local businesses, be they retail shops, restaurants, cafes or accountants, estate agents, solicitors, financial advisors, our local hairdressers and florists and the countless trades people, plumbers, gardeners, painters and decorators, window cleaners and electricians. Whenever possible we must try and spend our hard-earned money within our local community and keep it here.

Buy Local Campaign That’s why we are launching a new logo and campaign for our magazines which focuses on the message ‘buy local - to save local businesses, local jobs and local communities’. This new logo will remind us of the importance of using local businesses whenever and wherever it is possible to do so.

4 www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Buy Local campaigns are not new and in some of our communities we already have ‘Totally Locally’ a fantastic UK initiative to encourage local spend. They estimate that £5 spent in local businesses equates to £16.8 billion, being invested back into our towns across the UK. The Business Improvement District (BID) in Tavistock exists to help small local businesses to prosper and give them a voice in the community and some control over decisions made within the town. Both these organisations create and run fantastic initiatives such as ‘Fiver Fest’ to encourage local spending and big annual events like Dickensian. We must support them fully.

Small businesses provide 16.3 million jobs in the UK Let’s just remind ourselves what small businesses mean to us in the UK. Small businesses create jobs, SME’s (Small, Medium Sized Enterprises) are responsible for 16.3 million jobs, 60% of the UK workforce (source FSB 2018). Small family firms generate up to 25% of the UK’s GDP (source PWC 2002). The combined annual turnover of small businesses was £2.0 trillion, 52% of all private sector turnover.

So, when we are back to ‘normal’ and you feel safe about going out again, please think about using local businesses first and you can help save and create jobs and support our local community.

Local businesses need us more than ever before.

Stay safe!

Tim

Links Magazine Publisher

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- a pioneering support programme The aptly named Wellmoor initiative promotes community health and wellbeing in the North East of Dartmoor.

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riginally a project of the Moretonhampstead Social prescribing is a growing movement where GPs and Development Trust, Wellmoor came into nurses are able to refer a patient suffering with non-clinical being in after the closure of the in-patient beds at problems to a link worker. The link worker will spend time Moretonhampstead Cottage Hospital, when volunteers understanding the needs and interests of their client and ‘grasped the nettle’, as chairman Richard Foxwell put it, offer personalised solutions, often by connecting them to deciding to take action to fill what appeared to be a gap local services provided by the voluntary and community in provision of community health. sector. Ideally it should be a win-win situation, freeing up It now covers the parishes of Moretonhampstead, GP time while making a real and long-lasting difference to Lustleigh, Manaton, North Bovey and Chagford, and the wellbeing of the client. thanks to successful funding applications, has a growing Camilla said: ‘Becky is ideal in this role - she’s dynamic, team of dedicated employees. she knows so many people Project Officer Camilla Rooney locally, she’s really approachable The picture that emerged was and personable - she’s quite said: ‘We decided early on to look into loneliness and isolation one of a really strong and dynamic exceptional. and ran a series of “listenings” or ‘She is also really well placed community spirit and huge focus groups in the community to make sure our community advantages to living in such a to find out what the issues were services are accessible and beautiful landscape in such a rural area. There sustainable. She has helped to were obvious issues about identify gaps in what we have limited transport and access to services. But the picture locally and has looked at starting new groups or services that emerged was one of a really strong and dynamic to help fill that need - it’s a really effective way of community spirit and huge advantages to living in such community building.’ a beautiful landscape. We decided early on that we really One such project is Wellmoor’s ‘community allotment’, wanted to build on those positives.’ kickstarted by GPs from the local health centre who As a result of the ‘Listening Project’, an action plan was wanted to be able to prescribe growing and working drawn up and one of the main successes has been the outdoors to suitable patients. A bramble-covered patch implementation of social prescribing for the area, with a of land at the far end of Moretonhampstead’s allotments Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Becky Beesley, being taken on was taken on and initial clearance of the site took place, board in December 2018. thanks to a band of enthusiastic local volunteers.

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FEATURE

Georgina Rayner, Wellmoor’s Network Co-ordinator opportunity,’ said Camilla. who is working on the allotment project, said volunteer ‘Unfortunately, we have had to postpone WellFest 2020 energy has been key to transforming the neglected patch until the Autumn, but we hope that it will be back bigger of land and paid special tribute to local expert Nicky and better than ever!’

Scott, Dartmoor’s very own ‘Dr Compost’. Nicky has In the meantime, the Wellmoor team have had their championed the use of no-dig ‘lasagne gardening’ which hands full working as part of the community response involves layering organic materials to Coronavirus, joining forces which over time will result in with the Moretonhampstead nutrient-rich soil.

Parish Council and local charity Before Coronavirus hit, the Morecare Moretonhampstead to team of volunteers had been coordinate a support network of establishing beds for a programme volunteers to provide practical and of spring growing, planning a emotional support through a free seating area, and a tool shed ‘Care Line’ telephone service. was on its way for storage They are also collaborating with of equipment. However, the Devon-based charity Villages in Wellmoor team have had to Action to bring virtual creative quickly adapt to meet new socialworkshops run by leading distancing rules. A whiteboard has professional arts organisations been set up for volunteers to leave to isolated members of the messages to each other, including community, using Alexa video jobs completed and tasks on the conferencing technology, with to-do list and volunteers can work sessions on traditional choral in the allotment in groups of up to singing and contemporary dance two from the same household. planned over the next few months.

Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Becky Beesley Another Wellmoor project that ‘Although no one could have has been impacted by Coronavirus is Wellmoor’s health anticipated this crisis, it crosses over with much of and wellbeing event WellFest, which would have been the work we already do’, says chairman Richard. held on the first weekend in April. WellFest aims to link ‘Our research into how to combat loneliness has been up the wide variety of organisations and individuals invaluable, and our Social Prescriber Becky’s expertise on within the communities served by Wellmoor. what is available has really helped us link everything up.’

‘The first edition of WellFest in 2019 was really ‘Now more than ever we are witnessing the importance successful - we had a lot of visitors, around 350 of the community in be tuned in to local need and people came, which surpassed our expectations. We flexible enough to deliver it. Our only problem is had a smoothie bike, performances, demonstrations, sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day!’n talks, refreshments and it was a fantastic networking Jane Honey The community allotment at Moretonhampstead

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Susan Breedijk Charity chairman - and enthusiastic crafter

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LOCAL PEOPLE

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very young but his attitude to life was: “Don’t say you usan might not have been born and bred in Chagford - but she has embraced her adopted home can’t do something, give it a try.”

‘Plus I always pick up pebbles wherever I am in the with huge affection, energy and enthusiasm. world - and I like to think when you throw a pebble in She and her husband, who are from The Netherlands, the river, it changes the flow. I like having this in mind came to the UK for a six month sabbatical in 2017, but with my customers.’ within weeks of arriving in Chagford, they knew they Growing Pebbles supports social enterprises and really didn’t want to leave. community initiatives through marketing and business Susan said: ‘We dived into community straight away development expertise, frequently using art as a means and the welcome we had was so warm - I really of engagement. Susan finds growing her own business appreciate this, I never take it for granted. It sounds exciting and one of her primary aims is to be able to really cheesy but I feel blessed that we found this place offer employment to others. She also thinks Chagford by accident. We just came here for a drink, so you could and Devon - is an amazing place to work, as well as live. say my coffee addiction brought me to Chagford - and ‘One of the attractions of Chagford, coming from that’s almost three years ago now!’

Amsterdam, is it’s so active,’ said Susan. ‘There’s so Not long after settling in the town, Susan started much going on and the entrepreneurial spirit here I voluntary work at the community recycling centre find inspirational. People don’t Proper Job - and in 2018 she was sit on their backsides, they tend asked to become the charity’s to think: “Hold on, there’s an voluntary chairman. opportunity here”. It’s not always ‘I am really proud of what we easy to make a living in Devon do here,’ she said. ‘It has a huge but people get on with things, impact on the local community, not they may have two or three jobs only can the community recycle - there’s an energy here I really at our charity, we are also one of admire.’ the biggest employers in the town, Not surprisingly for the with six full time and 15 part time chairman of a pioneering members of staff working in re-use and the shop, café and resource We have applied to furlough some community recycle centre, Susan has centre. staff. We will keep inspiring people online, always been keen on the ‘From income generation by donations we are paying so keep an eye on our website and Face- practice of creating new from discarded salaries and pensions and I book page. We hope - after all this - to still objects materials. think the community should have a thriving charity with a clear focus ‘I’ve been crafting all my be proud they are able to life but took it up more provide incomes for local on re-use, reduce and recycle seriously when I was and young people.’

Both the Proper Job Resource Centre and Uptown shop working long hours in international marketing, back in The Netherlands’ she said. ‘It made me very stressed and are currently closed due to the Government Covid-19 I started making things, always from recycled materials restrictions. Its organic food shop The Courtyard is still it kept me grounded.’ open, providing wholesome food for the community.

Whether it’s fashioning funky cushions or a new line of Susan said: ‘We have applied to furlough some staff. We dog toys, or growing vegetables on her allotment, Susan’s will keep inspiring people online, so keep an eye on our leaning towards creativity is obvious. She also loves website and Facebook page. We hope - after all this - to music - her husband is a singer and songwriter - and she still have a thriving charity with a clear focus on re-use, regularly goes to Gidsong, the monthly musical getreduce and recycle.’ together at Gidleigh Village Hall.

Susan had previous experience of working for a charity Susan and her husband count themselves in the Netherlands, but chairmanship of Proper Job was extraordinarily lucky to be living in such a beautiful part still a ‘huge learning curve’. of the world - and apparently their two rescued cats In addition to her voluntary role and after a period doing ‘odd jobs’, she has now created her own marketing think so too: ‘They used to have a little balcony of a flat in Amsterdam - now they have a garden with a view of company, the slightly oddly-named Growing Pebbles.

Meldon - what more could they want?’ she said. n She explained: ‘I like the fact growing pebbles sounds like something impossible. My father died when I was Jane Honey

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working towards a common goal to help those in need in our communities.’

If you are looking for community support or you are a group not registered with the district or borough council, please register your details at www.southhams.gov.uk or at www.westdevon.gov.uk

Support from response teams Community response teams have been created by West Devon Borough and South Hams District Council to work closely with local town and parish councils and community volunteer groups.

In an urgent response to the pandemic, the newly formed teams will ensure there is additional support available for local communities during the Coronavirus outbreak.

West Devon has been formed into six cluster groups; South Hams has been divided into eight groups, each cluster being assigned dedicated officers. These officers will be working closely with each clusters’ local ward members, who will be instrumental in supporting their local communities. Working cohesively with local town and parish councils and the volunteer groups already on the ground, this unified approach will ensure there is comprehensive support in each area of the District.

Cllr Neil Jory, leader of West Borough Council, said: ‘I’m so proud of my West Devon councillors who have all worked exceptionally hard to support their communities. We’re in this for the long haul and everyone working together for the common good is exactly where we all want to be. Thank you to everyone for pulling together.’

Cllr Nicky Hopwood, ward member for Woolwell, said: ‘Through my Facebook Page Woolwell Matters, within 48 hours of the lockdown there were enough volunteers to offer services such as collecting prescriptions, shopping, or to speak to on the phone. This is working really well and the volunteers are doing an amazing job on behalf of those having to self-isolate or are vulnerable.

‘It’s good to work with the district council in our cluster group to bring us further resources and support so we are all

Increased support to local organisations A new grant of up to £5,000 is to be made available

by Devon County Council to local organisations helping tackle the effects of coronavirus in their communities - the COVID 19 Prompt Action Fund.

The new grant has been opened to enable community groups to help a greater number of people and maintain their support for a longer period of time.

Payments will be spread out to better support the expected expenditure throughout the lifetime of the project. The schedule of payments is flexible and will be different for each project, depending on when they need them.

Applications are welcomed from organisations who can propose initiatives helping communities become more resilient.

This may include safely addressing issues such as: • Improving connectivity, by strengthening and developing virtual community networks, for example by organising telephone calls to elderly or lonely people, online chats or penpal schemes.

• Helping people to access services and information.

• Maintaining supplies of food, medicines and essential goods for those who are vulnerable or isolating.

• Supporting good mental health and wellbeing in the community by tackling loneliness and isolation.

The grants are available to established not-for-profit Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) groups, town and parish councils, charities and local businesses.

Groups without their own separate bank accounts may still apply but will need to do so with the support of an accountable

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NOTICEBOARD

organisation acting on their behalf such as a town or parish council, local community or voluntary services organisation, a village hall or another established voluntary organisation.

The council has also contributed £100,000 to the Devon Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund after an emergency appeal was launched by the Devon Community Foundation.

The foundation helps distribute funds to charitable and voluntary groups in the county to provide them with sustainable support, enabling change in their communities.

Grants will be considered by the foundation on an individual basis and the amount will vary depending on the needs of the organisation.

To apply or donate to this fund or to find out further information please visit the http://devoncf.com/news/latest-news/ devon-coronavirus-response-recovery-fund For information on the Prompt Action Fund go to https:// www.devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-in-devon/document/ covid-19-prompt-action-fund/.

Practical and emotional support During these extraordinary times, Moretonhampstead Parish Council, Wellmoor and Morecare Moretonhampstead have joined forces to establish a public Care Line service as part of the local co-ordinated response to the Coronavirus emergency.

Care Line provides practical and emotional support to anyone who needs it by connecting them with support network of local volunteers or just offering a friendly listening ear.

Daily phone calls are offered to help those who are selfisolating or feeling lonely to feel more connected, and Care Line can also help arrange support with various tasks such as picking up shopping or prescriptions, posting mail, taking pets to the vet, or transport to emergency medical appointments.

Richard Foxwell, chairman of Wellmoor, said: ‘We are acutely aware of the pressures under which NHS and Social Care services are working – and that these pressures will grow over the coming weeks. Care Line should help to alleviate

some of those pressures. For example, the Health Centre have been referring people to Care Line to help them access their prescriptions.’

Georgina Rayner, who operates Care Line, added: ‘There has been a huge outpouring of help, we currently have over 120 people on our volunteer database. It has been wonderful to see the community pull together and we are hearing wonderful stories – a couple of people said they don’t know what they would have done without it.’

Local businesses are also helping. Whites Greengrocers and Michael Howard Family Butchers have been distributing Care Line flyers with their delivery boxes, and the local branch of Co-op have publicised the Freephone Care Line number in a big, eye-catching window display.

Care Line is a true collaboration between different community organisations, with the parish council compiling the volunteer database, Morecare taking initial calls on their Freephone number and Wellmoor helping link the two together.

It operates within Moretonhampstead, North Bovey, Manaton, Lustleigh, Bridford and Postbridge, but will offer support to anyone in the area and will try to redirect those in need to local support that is available. To contact Care Line, call Freephone 0800 622 6245 or email georgina@wellmoor. org.uk. If you would like to join as a volunteer, email moretonhampsteadpc@tiscali.co.uk.

Knead to Connect, a social enterprise in Moretonhampstead which aims to reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing through cooking and eating, has also been pitching in by expanding its ‘Souper Friday’ scheme, delivering soup made from surplus organic veg and homemade bread to the community in traditional Indian tiffins. Knead to Connect has also taken over delivery of food bank donations, distributing bags of food to families and those in need every two or three weeks.

For more information, contact info@kneadtoconnect.org.

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Rising to the challenge

Okehampton Rotary Club

Covid 19 Community Support Group started out as a group of community minded friends making an initial reaction to the unfolding situation around the Covid 19 pandemic.

Our primary focus was, and still is, to get food and medication to those who needed to stay safely at home given the high elderly population of Okehampton this feels extremely important. We pick up prescriptions and deliver them daily through a team of volunteers from the local Lions.

Shopping is supported by wonderful local shops offering free delivery, linking up with volunteers who pick up provisions and deliver to doorsteps.

We have also begun a buddy scheme for those who need regular support from a trusted person, who can offer regular phone calls, errands and shopping picked up here and there.

We have had an overwhelming response to calls for volunteers and currently have over 150 on our database, offering anything from phone chats to dog walking.

For those in isolation we have our Okehampton Isolation group - an online Facebook group run by those self isolating to support each other - but has proved so much fun, everyone joins!

We now have an added community initiative run by the Allotment Club that helps us feed some of those isolated, key workers or those who have lost their jobs and we are also expanding a current scheme to provide families with books, pens and craft items to support home learning.

Each day brings new difficulties but the people of Okehampton have risen to the challenge of supporting one another - we are constantly reminded of the wonderful community we are part of.

For more information please call 07707 565612.

Okehampton Covid 19 Community Support Group

Like everyone else, the Okehampton Rotary Club has had to cancel its activities for the foreseeable future including the popular May Fair which was scheduled for Sunday, May 24th.

However, there is one bright spot on the horizon. The club plans to hold a Summer Fair in Simmons Park on Sunday, August 30th. If restrictions allow, the Fair will go ahead and include the popular duck races. If you have already bought ducks for the May event, the entries will be held over to the Summer Fair.

We are unable to meet at present, but please still send in any requests for grant funding to the club. We are setting up a process by which any requests will be dealt with without undue delay so that we can respond to them in these unprecedented times.

In the meantime, Rotary president Hugh McPhillips and all club members thank you for your support, without which we could not do our work supporting charities and good causes in the local community and beyond.

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NOTICEBOARD

Energy bill issues I run a small business. It’s been a very difficult six months, we lost a major contract and I just haven’t been able to replace it with new business. Now I’ve just received a huge energy bill. It feels like the last straw...

The first thing to do is to call Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. They can often help to resolve problems with energy suppliers.

It’s particularly important to do this quickly if you’re on a business contract and you’ve been told you’re going to be disconnected. If this happens an extra fee can be added to your bill, and then there’ll be another charge for being reconnected.

If you think the bill is wrong, contact your energy company. If you are a microbusiness you can only be charged for gas or electricity you’ve used in the last 12 months - they can’t send you a new bill dating back longer than a year.

If the bill is correct, but you just can’t afford it, your energy supplier might agree to a payment plan. Work out a realistic budget - here at Citizens Advice we can help sole traders and individuals, but for other businesses there’s the Business Debtline on 0800 197 6026.

If your bills are being estimated you might be paying more than you need to. Set up a reminder on your phone to send monthly meter readings to your supplier or see if you can get a smart meter installed.

You may also find switching energy companies will save you money. You could also try energy efficiency measures such as switching off computers and other equipment overnight, using energy efficient light bulbs or making sure your premises are insulated.

For the most up-to-date advice, please visit: www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call the Advice line on: 03444 111 444.

Support for rough sleepers Funding of £150,000 has been secured by West Devon, South Hams and Teignbridge councils to continue outreach work for rough sleepers.

The funding will help to continue the valuable work of three outreach workers. It will also provide a further year of MultiAgency Hub and co-ordinator support. The Hub is made up of a wide range of vital statutory services who work together to improve the future of vulnerable residents.

South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils will be working with local housing associations to provide selfcontained flats for rough sleepers. The intention is for these properties to become their long term homes after an initial period of support.

Occupants will be assessed by the Hub, based on their need.

The new tenants will be providing a strong commitment to working with support agencies so they can get the guidance, care and support they need to turn their life around, directly from their new home rather than from off the street. They will also be provided with a rural transport allowance and a small personal budget to help them to get to important meetings with their support services.

To help the health and wellbeing of those suffering from addiction, two new part time posts have been created this year, providing alcohol and drug recovery support to people sleeping rough more easily.

West Devon Borough Council’s lead member for homes, Cllr Debo Sellis, said: ‘We want to break the cycle of rough sleeping so that our residents can turn their lives around and look forward to a brighter future. Having more council staff available to support that aim can only be a good thing for everyone.’

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Clampdown on flytipping and litter Devon has launched a new multi-agency task force to combat fly tipping. Many of the county’s leading agencies will work together in a crime-busting partnership known as the Clean Devon task force, sending a clear message that fly tippers will not be tolerated.

For the first time, organisations from across Devon, including environmental and business groups, emergency services, government departments, local authorities, community groups and voluntary services, are being brought together into a single partnership.

There will be a single, co-ordinated way of reporting fly tipping anywhere in the county, via https://cleandevon.org, as well as advice about how to dispose of waste legally.

Partners will compile a fly tipping and litter data base, collate and share intelligence and introduce the latest technology to help identify culprits and investigate and prosecute illegal behaviour.

Last year district councils recorded 4,349 incidents of fly tipping in Devon, spending approximately £7 million on street cleaning services, which includes dealing with fly tipping waste and litter.

But that’s just part of the picture. Fly tipping on privately owned land is not always recorded because it becomes the land owners’ responsibility to clear it up, so the full impact in

the county is not known.

Kevin Baker, the Environment Agency’s waste crime engagement specialist, urged the public to report people illegally tipping by using the Clean Devon website. He said: ‘Waste crime is estimated to cost the UK economy at least £600 million a year. It puts communities at risk and is an unacceptable blight on our environment.’

Dartmoor National Park Authority deals with fly tipped waste at least once a month. Andrew Watson, DNPA head of recreation, access and estates, said: ‘Fly tipping is a blight on Dartmoor, bad for tourism and our local communities, as well as being a hazard to visitors, grazing livestock and wildlife.’

Working closer and sharing good practice between authorities is expected to tighten up enforcement actions. Cllr David Harvey, Chair of Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, said: ‘Enforcement can be difficult because offences are often difficult to prove. But this new initiative will certainly help - it will make it easier to report incidents as well as utilising the latest technology to share intelligence in dealing with the culprits.’

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We also offer bespoke plans to suit specific requests. Contact us for further details or to make an appointment.

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NOTICEBOARD

Scam calls - they’re on the increase...

Recently, more and more people are contacting me because they have been victims of scammers and need my help the make their computers safe to use again. I have seen first hand the pain and distress caused by scammers and would like to offer some advice to help people avoid becoming a scam victim.

In the UK, right now, people with bank accounts are losing on average £674 per minute, each!

Bank Transfer Scams - If a person calls you and asks for your bank details, whoever they say they are, just terminate the call. This is a bank transfer scam.

Remote Access Scams - If a caller claims that you have a problem with your computer and asks you to switch it on, just terminate the call. This is a remote access scam.

These are two of the most common scams but, there are many others.

Scammers may say that they are calling from your bank, the police and big organisations such as BT or Amazon, But you must assume any caller that you don’t know personally could be a scammer.

Is your phone ringing right now? Is it a friend? No, but the call was from a local phone number, so it won’t be a scammer?

WRONG – this is known as caller spoofing. Scammers can

fake the number they are calling from so will often fake a local number when they are ringing numbers on a particular geographical area.

You have a 50% chance of your next call being a scam call – that is how many scam calls are being carried out in the UK currently.

If you do take a scam call but, then realise, and terminate the call, the scammer will probably remain on the line, so make sure you can hear a dialling tone before making another call.

The best ways to avoid getting scammed: • Use your answerphone - If you have an answering machine built-in to your landline home phone just allow the answerphone to take messages. You can also interrupt the answer machine and take the call if it is someone you know personally, and if you want to. Don’t answer a call and get into a conversation with an uninvited caller.

• Call Interception – The BT Advanced Cordless Home Phone will intercept every call from an unknown number and ask the caller to announce themselves. This will prevent any automated scammer calls getting through and will give you the chance to determine if you know the person before answering.

• Call blocking – I would not recommend this as a solution.

Now scammers are using ‘Caller Spoofing’ and using authentic local phone numbers, scammers calls will not be blocked by this sort of facility, although it would help to stop other types of nuisance calls.

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LSC is a small but enthusiastic club whose aim is to promote sailboat racing for all ages and abilities at Roadford Lake.

The club operates under the umbrella of the Roadford Lake Watersports Centre, which provides the site facilities of showers, boat park and safety cover, covering a major source of worry for many sailing clubs, and keeps the membership fee low at ÂŁ10, but members do need to be a member of the Watersports Centre as well.

Racing (suspended currently due to restrictions) is low-key and aims to be fun for all, whatever their experience.

To that end the format varies from week to week. Racing takes place on Sundays with two races running back to back, each lasting around 45 minutes, starting at 11.30, with some afternoon races.

Racing is mostly handicapped and any type of boat under 20ft is accepted; from Toppers to Lasers to catamarans and to small keelboats.

There is a keen group of Supernova sailors, in addition to laser sailors, with a number of other dinghies with a mix of experienced and novice helms. Although the club does not provide specific training courses, members are always willing to give

help and advice. RYA Certified training is available from the Watersports Centre, as is boat hire.

In addition to Sunday racing, the club runs a number of open events. In the winter there is a charity fundraising endurance race called the Roadford Rocket which is now part of the SW Challenge series, comprising ten events over the whole of the SW. The Club runs in conjunction with the Trust, the Goodacre Cup; this year this is postponed due to the Covid-19 shutdown, but usually with entrants from over the SW, and the Peter Bartlett Cup for juniors, in September.

In July, a two-day rally for Vintage Dinghies, is planned, subject to restrictions, organised by the Classic & Vintage Dinghy Racing Association.n

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More information: The Club website gives details of events, race results, membership form, webcam and weather links. See www. roadfordlakesailingclub.org.uk Specific enquiries may be addressed to the Club Secretary/Treasurer via email: Kevin Reed, RLSCtreasurer@outlook.com Once the pandemic restrictions are relaxed - come and have some fun! advertising@linksmagazines.co.uk

FINANCE

Lockdown Lessons

It’s interesting the things we’ve learnt since going into lockdown. If you had asked me a month ago about staff working from home I would have said, no way José! That is simply not something we do. The advisers come into the office to meet clients, how would they do that from home?

The admin staff come into the office to process work, print letters, documents and valuations. They can’t do that from home. And yet, here we are; the advisers are working from home meeting clients over the phone or zoom and some admin staff have been processing work from home. Our expensive telephone system is now doing things it could always do, but we never really understood how and we have a team of two in the office printing things. That’s an amazing transformation in just three weeks.

At the same time, we are seeing some time-honoured truths being proven once again. Apparently, markets do actually fall as well as rise and performance can’t be guaranteed.

Between February 19th and March 23rd, the FTSE 100 fell by 2,463 points. That’s a drop of 33%. If you were in a FTSE 100 Tracker, you would have lost one third of your value in just over four weeks. Except you didn’t if you didn’t sell at that point. Between the 23rd March and the 16th April the FTSE 100 rose by 634 points. That’s an increase of 12.6%. It’s not back to where it started, but we can see the bounce already, and we’re still in the middle of lockdown.

So what are the lessons? Firstly, don’t panic. Selling at the moment simply locks in your loss. We don’t know what will

happen next, but we expect to see a strong stock market recovery over a short period of time. We can’t predict that, so staying invested increases your chances of being part of it.

Secondly, diversify. A well-balanced, diversified portfolio should have shielded you from the worst of the falls and it will serve you well in the recovery. Our portfolios have fallen along with everyone else’s, but nowhere near as much as the markets. That means the recovery starts from a higher base, adding to your long term performance.

And finally, if you can, stay at home and stay safe.

Craig Davidson Davidsons IFA Ltd

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The Farming Community Network Providing support and advice for 25 years

A

s the old saying goes, it never rains, but it pours. For the farming community, this is not only the case metaphorically, but also literally.

The winter’s torrential rain across the country was described in some quarters as ‘biblical’ and left a significant amount of British farmland under water. Many farmers were unable to finish harvesting crops and many experienced significant delays in drilling and sowing winter cereals. Meanwhile livestock farmers were forced to bring in livestock earlier than normal, which means higher costs for feed and bedding.

Then spring arrived - with barely any rain for weeks.

And now, we have the Coronavirus pandemic - restrictions have forced sudden drastic changes in demand,

price collapses, difficulties in picking seasonal crops - the list goes on.

For some people in the agricultural industry, facing these changes may be too much to bear.

In times like these, it is more important than ever that farmers build their personal and business resilience. As The Farming Community Network (FCN) enters its 25th year in 2020, we have evolved from merely responding to farmers in crisis into an organisation which offers a much more proactive support service that actively encourages farmers to seek help before their situation worsens significantly.

We now plan to be even more focussed on helping to build personal and business resilience in those that turn to us for help.

There is some great information

available to help farmers become more resilient, but this information is rarely in one place and can often be difficult to access, especially if you are dealing with reduced mental wellbeing.

This is why we have launched a new initiative called FarmWell - a one-stop online resources hub to help farmers and their businesses stay strong and resilient. FarmWell gives ready access to a range of vital information from a wide variety of sources. It is free to use and has three clear aims: • To help develop and keep farm businesses resilient through changing times.

• To help farmers, their families and their staff become resilient and enable them to manage their personal and business lives more effectively.

• To provide ready access to a range of support and help to anyone who may need it.

FarmWell is available to use now and is already attracting interest from a wide variety of key agricultural stakeholders, including the NFU and AHDB. To learn more about FarmWell, visit www.farmwell.org.uk.

FCN continues to support the farming community - from BSE to bereavement, foot and mouth to family disputes, TB to tenancy issues, retirement to relationship problems, passports to BPS payments, illness to isolation, we offer support and signposting, whatever the issue.

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CHARITY

In Devon we have around 100 new cases and are involved in 200 ongoing cases each year.

The first part of this year saw a 30% rise in calls for help. Our team of around 30 volunteers provide all sorts of support, from visiting farmers and signposting to befriending, for as long as needed.

We are a Christian charity set to help those of any faith or none. Our support is free and confidential and you can contact our helpline every day of the year from 7am until 11pm.

Over one third of our cases involve an aspect of mental health and this continues to be one of our focus areas – encouraging people to talk about how they are really feeling.

Along with some of Devon YFC members, we have been trained to deliver mental health awareness sessions. We have now visited nearly every club in Devon. The stigma around mental health is definitely

changing with many request coming from farm groups and organisations for talks about mental health awareness.

On average, one farmer in the UK dies by suicide every week and this needs to be addressed – it can only be achieved by a willingness to talk.

Farmers are very resilient and adaptable, but not all have family or friends around them to offer support and that is where we can help.

Another growing area of concern for the farming community is dementia and we continue to work with researchers at Plymouth University to understand what help is required and what we can do to help.

We work closely with other farm charities to offer the best support we can to those in need.

This year we hope to offer a new service in partnership with Devon Carers offering a service to carers, allowing them a break to have some

time to care for themselves.

We expect the next few years to bring a big increase in calls for help - once the current pandemic subsides, there will be Brexit, red tape, concerns over methane and vegan activists, climate change and extremes of weather.

FCN will continue to support farmers in need and at a national level, inform those making policies what their effect will be on farmers. n Emily Sizmur Farming Community Network

More information: If you, or someone you know needs someone to talk to, FCN is here for you.

The FCN helpline is open from 7am-11pm every day of the year.

Call ✆ 03000 111999 or email: help@fcn.org.uk

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EDUCATION

Co-operative learning!

Harvest Workers Co-op is a workers’ cooperative based in Okehampton. We run both the Harvest Farm Shop in Red Lion Yard and regular community education projects and events. All our work is based on growing an understanding and involvement in the production and use of local, seasonal, organic food.

This year our plans had to change. We had an exciting mix of practical workshops and events planned for the community of Okehampton, supported through funding from Okehampton United Charities and Learn Devon. But the impact of Covid-19 changed this. We have adapted to the situation and are discovering new ways of connecting local people to good mood food.

So look out for our first ever online community film show!

This will be the life-affirming film 2040, which looks at what we can do now to make 2040 a positive date to look forward to. The film, at 7pm on Sunday, May 3rd will be followed by an online discussion. Tickets are free but you need to register through the website at www.harvestworkerscoop.org.uk Find out about the film https://whatsyour2040.com Seasonal family workshops We’ve been running these monthly events for over two years.

They are a mix of gardening activities, creative, seasonal cooking and storytelling. Usually based at the wonderful EcoHub next to Okehampton College, they are now being presented through words, images and video. You can find these on our website and through our social media.

Growing Plot to Cooking Pot A project for people out of work, involving gardening in limited space and cooking seasonally with a limited budget.

This is now being presented through online guides and recipe and activity postcards in the shop.

Land workshops From potato planting to apple pruning - we are creating simple guides with images and video clips to reflect what is happening with Martin and Sara who run Hilltown Organics. We also will be posting information about other farms that supply the shop.

Get snapping folks!

This is an invitation to enter your photographs in our calendar competition. There are lots of categories and we will be showing them as an online gallery and in the shop, before deciding which to include in the 2021 Harvest Calendar. Find out more on our website.

All these events and resources are free. We are very grateful to Learn Devon who are supporting the Family Workshops and Growing Plot Project and to Okehampton United Charities who support our whole program.

Check out the community board outside the Harvest Farm Shop in Red Lion Yard, Okehampton, follow our social media /harvestworkerscoop and sign up to our newsletter or visit www.harvestworkerscoop.org.uk/site/ education-and-community-workshops-on-line-and-active/ The Harvest Farm Shop is open for shopping, orders and deliveries. We have guidelines in place to do this safely.

We are starting a Veg Bag project bringing simple fresh vegetables to the Okehampton Food Bank and also working with the excellent Okehampton Volunteer Support Group helping to bring food boxes to vulnerable folk in self isolation. n

Moorsway Federation Where learning is an adventure!

Kevin Harvest Workers Co-operative

Moorsway Where learning is an adventure!

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Learning in lockdown Dartmoor National Park has launched a new ‘learning in lockdown’ digital hub to help inspire and educate people about the National Park’s special landscape and what can be found there.

The free online resources are aimed at supporting children, parents and teachers as we all continue to observe ‘stay at home’ measures due to the Covid-19 emergency.

Developed by Dartmoor National Park Authority, the ‘learning in lockdown’ hub is rich with lively, fun and fascinating multi-media content so people can teach and learn about nature, the environment around them and remain connected to Dartmoor.

Orlando Rutter, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s head of outreach and understanding, said: ‘People may not be able to come to Dartmoor right now because of the measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but we can ensure Dartmoor goes to them – and what better way than by offering a free online learning centre.

‘Our learning hub is fun, engaging and useful for children, parents and teachers. It helps children and young people learn in a variety of ways, from getting hands-on in the garden to more in-depth programmes of study.

‘Our aim is to help people stay connected with Dartmoor

and bring the joy of this unique landscape into people’s homes. Hopefully, this will help them continue their journey of learning while understanding more about what makes Dartmoor such a special place.’

There are games and activities aimed at younger children such as learning how to make wigwams and race tracks for garden creatures. Parents can take the opportunity to join their children up for the Ranger Ralph Club too.

In addition there are in-depth schemes of work for parents who find themselves in the unfamiliar role of ‘teacher’ and for teachers who are in schools with key worker children. They focus on Dartmoor’s famous bogs and mires and their role in tackling climate change and the moor’s Bronze Age past.

Each topic has downloadable resources, links to websites and videos to provide a comprehensive learning experience for children and in education phases Key Stages 2 and 3.

People can find out more about Dartmoor’s spooky past and legends including the tall, dark Evil Rider who rode a coalblack horse, and the giant ‘Blunderbus’ who lived at Dinger Tor and whose favourite wife, Jennie, invented clotted cream which we now dollop on cream teas (the Devon way!)

There is also a host of videos, animated films, fact sheets and to help people learn about Dartmoor’s Story; from its formation thousands of years ago, to the human hands which have shaped the landscape, its fascinating and rare habitats and the weird and wonderful creatures which live there.

Why not explore and learn more? Visit the Learning in Lockdown website at www.dartmoor.gov.uk/learning/ learning-in-lockdown

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Celebrate at home Join people across the nation to celebrate VE Day 75 from the safety of your own home. Plymouth City Council have kindly outlined what the City is doing to celebrate VE Day. VE Day 75 takes place on Friday 8 May – which is the first May Bank Holiday this year - and marks 75 years since the end of World War II in Europe.

With large commemoration events across the country cancelled due to coronavirus, Plymouth City Council is encouraging you to join in by hosting a party at home, with members of your household, instead.

Deputy Council leader Pete Smith said: “We were due to host a fantastic community event on Plymouth Hoe for VE Day and it goes without saying that we were devastated when we had to cancel.

“However, just because we can’t all gather together physically it doesn’t mean we can’t commemorate this significant anniversary. It’s a chance for us all to give thanks to and remember those who lost their lives during the war, and to reflect on the past. Plymouth was heavily damaged by the war. Our city was bombed on 59 separate occasions during the Blitz, resulting in thousands of buildings being destroyed and 1,178 civilian lives lost. It certainly puts into perspective what we’re going through today.

“It’s also important to remember that in 1945, it was a day of celebration. Street parties took place across the country and The Box has shared some wonderful photos from the city’s archives showing communities in Plymouth celebrating together on the day. We’re encouraging you to join in your own celebrations 75 years on, with moments of reflection as well as plenty of fun activities to enjoy.”

A huge range of resources have been pulled together in a

VE DAY

dedicated area on the Visit Plymouth website to help you throw your own 1940s themed party at home, including bunting templates, hair tutorials, wartime recipes and a playlist. Plymouth Dance, who host ‘Tea Dances with a Twist’, have filmed three different tutorials so you can learn some new moves and dance along to vintage tunes provided

by The Drat Pack.

A range of children’s worksheets are available to download, including rationing-themed maths puzzles, word searches and crafts, which offer a useful home-schooling opportunity during lockdown.

The Box has provided some fantastic film clips showing Plymouth during the war years. The footage offers a glimpse into the city’s past, including the King’s secret visit in 1941 and the bomb damage the city suffered during the Blitz.

The Box is also coordinating this year’s Plymouth History Festival which is running online from 8 to 31 May. The start of the festival has been timed to coincide with VE Day 75.

You’ll be able to see an online gallery featuring even more fascinating archive images from the city’s collections, as well as links to information and resources from the Imperial War Museums and Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

For those wishing to participate in VE Day at home, there are a number of key moments during the day that everyone is invited to take part in, which will bring people across the country together from a distance. This includes a two minute silence at 11am and the Nation’s Toast to wartime heroes at 3pm – to join in, simply raise a glass of a refreshment of your choice and say: “For those that gave so much, we thank you.”

Find out more and discover all of the resources available at visitplymouth.co.uk/veday75.

You can follow the History Festival from 8 May at plymouthhistoryfestival.com.

If you host a VE Day celebration then please ensure you follow all social distancing guidelines, stay at home and only celebrate with the family or friends that you live with.

Unmentioned in Despatches Some of them never come home to fanfares, they dump their kit-bags down at the door, kiss their wives and let their children wrestle them down to the kitchen floor, switch the telly on, pour out a whiskey, search for the local football score.

Some of them skip the quayside welcome, dodge the bunting and cannonade, make their landfall in silent harbours, nod to the coastguard, but evade the searchlight of public scrutiny like those engaged in the smuggling trade.

Some of them land at lonely airfields far removed from the celebration, hang their flying gear in a locker, cadge a lift to the railway station, make for home and take for granted the short-lived thanks of a grateful nation.

Some of them miss the royal salute, the victory parade along the Mall, the fly-past, the ships in formation passing the cheering crowds on the harbour wall. Remembered only by friends and relatives, some of them never come home at all.

Peter Wyton

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Giving nature a helping hand

Making compost and creating a wildlife haven

A

s gardeners at a busy garden, we are asked many questions, some of which come up more often than most. One subject we are questioned about routinely is composting. It is the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with kitchen and garden waste, plus it produces material that can be used as an excellent soil improver. In addition, it provides an incredible place for animals and insects to live, feed and hibernate. There are a myriad of bins, devices and accelerators on the market, all of which have their uses, however, there are some basic guidelines that will help with successful composting.

Place your container or compound in a semi shaded spot to maintain an even temperature and on bare ground to allow drainage and for the transfer of organisms.

Try to get a balanced mix (40:60) of green, moist waste material (grass clippings, vegetable waste) to feed your micro-organisms and woody, brown material (leaves, chipped prunings, shredded paper) to provide an ideal environment for them to do their job. A spade full of garden soil or fresh manure mixed in will act as an accelerator. Turn your heap once a month, this prevents compaction and introduces air, vital in the decomposition process and finally, ensure it remains moist (especially open compounds in dry weather).

The transformation to useful compost resembling light soil and smelling like damp woodland can take anything from six months to two years. It can be incorporated into borders as a soil improver or used as a mulch.

Creating a garden haven for wildlife is on the wish list of many people, including mine, and making a few simple changes to your outdoor space can make a huge difference, supporting an enormous range of wildlife.

Borders, filled with flowering plants and shrubs, give nectar-rich food to butterflies and bees, as well as seeds, berries and cover for birds and small mammals. Trees and hedges offer roosting and nesting sites for birds and mammals, as well as valuable shelter and cover from the elements and possible predators. The list of wildlife friendly plants is significant and wide-ranging - here is a small list of plants to maybe squeeze into your plot that will really make a difference: • Buddleja davidii ‘Dartmoor’ AGM*.

• Geranium Rozanne = ‘Gerwat’ (PBR) AGM. • Hylotelephium (Herbstfreude Group) ‘Herbstfreude’ AGM. (Sedum).

• Verbena bonariensis AGM. • Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ AGM. • Hedera Hibernica. (Irish Ivy).

Slow worms love compost ©RHS/Andrew Halstead

NO M 20 IN 19 E E

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GARDENING

Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ ©RHS/Graham Titchmarsh

Verbena bonariensis ©RHS/Mike Sleigh

• Rosa canina. (Dog Rose).

• Malus Sylvestris. (Crab Apple).

• Sorbus aucuparia. (Rowan).

Don’t be too tidy, this doesn’t mean your garden has to look a mess, but piles of leaves and twiggy debris provide both food and habitat for many species. If you leave perennials uncut over winter, their hollow stems and seed heads can shelter hibernating insects. Create a log and/ or stone pile; tuck them away in a shady corner. Introduce water; the smallest area of water is the single easiest way

Geranium Rozanne ©RHS/Sheila Dearing

to add wildlife value to your garden. Allow a patch of grass to grow longer. Try to garden sustainably; avoid peat-based composts, choose sustainably-sourced wood for patio furniture, recycle all you can, and save water wherever possible, it will help ensure that your garden treads lightly on the world.n * The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is the RHS seal of approval that a plant performs reliably in the garden. It is intended to help gardeners make their choice of plants that are readily available, excellent when used in the appropriate conditions and reasonably resistant to pests and diseases.

Richard Wilson

RHS Rosemoor Horticulturist Richard is a horticulturist at RHS Rosemoor and has been a member of the Formal Gardens team since May 2015

www.rhs.org.uk

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TRADE SECRETS

Ellis Taylor

Dartmoor Pond Services Why did you become a pond designer and constructor?

When I was young, my father and I built a pond in our back garden with just a spade.

From that time onwards I was hooked and in the garden of every home I have ever owned, I have designed and built ponds. I started installing them for friends and relatives, just as a hobby really, but it became something I was good at.

How long have you been a pond designer and constructor?

I have held a number of senior roles in a variety of companies from international mineral exploration to financial advice, but when the opportunity came to downsize in 2010, I moved to Devon and started up Dartmoor Pond Services. Year on year we have grown and I am now in the enviable position where my passion has become my job.

Where do you work?

I cover approximately a 50-mile radius of Tavistock.

Who else works with you?

I have a dedicated team who assist with the heavy machinery and larger contracts that require more manpower. I am very hands-on with every pond and it can be

hard graft with a lot of manual labour that requires an extra pair of hands. I have designed ponds not much bigger than a dining room table, but when I’m creating something closer to a lake or on multiple levels with waterfalls and rills, I need some serious machinery.

What would you say to someone thinking of this as a career?

One of the most interesting things about my job is seeing a project all the way through to completion. Creating a beautiful pond from scratch involves meeting clients, viewing the prospective site and getting an idea of the project. When designing a pond, whether large or small, formal or wild, there are so many things to consider.

It all has to look just right; a pond must sit in its situation as if it has always been there. It is a delightful process and I love each stage. If you love the outdoors and you are creative and good with your hands,

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this could be a job you would enjoy.

What is the best thing about your job?

One of the best things about my job, is knowing the owners of the pond are pleased with the end product. It’s a leap of faith building a pond as they are organic things which often necessarily deviate from a strict design and evolve as they are built. It is a real joy to go back on a sunny day, a year or two after completing a pond, and see how it has settled into its plot, how the wildlife has moved in, the plants have grown and how much the owners enjoy their pond – although I always feel there is a balance of ownership and 10% of any pond is mine!

More information: www.dartmoorpondservices.co.uk ellis@dartmoorpondservices.co.uk ✆ 07836 576722

Dartmoor Pond Services

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Contact Ian on Tel: 01409 478648 / 07591 036096 Email: ian@cookitclean.co.uk www.cookitclean.co.uk

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FARMING

The Birth of Quins Farmer Stuart Luxton celebrates the miracle of life in difficult times

Hello again. As you are all aware we are finding ourselves in very unusual times. If six months ago we had been told that we would all be confined to our homes with many businesses shut and the roads deserted, no-one would have believed you. While many people must be worried about the present and the future, it’s not all bad. I feel that many people will realise how much we have and how little we need.

We are also very very lucky that we live in rural Devon, not in a metropolis. I am currently sat in my garden listening to birdsong with the first house martins of the year flying overhead - not listening to cars, with planes flying overhead.

There seems to be a heightened sense of community. People are helping neighbours and friends in their times of need.

Many local businesses are delivering to the vulnerable.

The farm has been very different for me this spring. My parents are in their 70s and dad in particular would be classified as high risk in virus terms. As a family we took the decision that I would work at the shop and my sisters would look after the farm - I am allowed to pop into the farm but mustn’t get too close to anyone.

On the farm, lambing has gone well, the most memorable moment was one ewe having quins! Calving has so far

28 www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

gone exceptionally well and we started with a very high proportion of twins. We have also had some exceptional calves both from our new bulls (Sportsman and Black Bill) and from the AI bull we used last summer.

The straws of semen weren’t cheap, I like to think of them as the rock stars of the Aberdeen Angus world (Rawburn Jumbo Eric and Linton Gilbertines Powerhouse).

The weather has been amazing for the last six weeks but we are now desperate for rain. It does look like we will be getting some very soon.

At Farmer Luxton’s things have changed beyond all recognition. Obviously, we have had to shut the café but in some ways that has been a blessing in disguise. The shop has been so busy that we would have struggled to cope with everything. The shop now has a one-way system and a strict policy of social distancing. We have used the café area to prepare orders which we deliver to the vulnerable.

We also have a ring and collect service which has been very popular. It’s been a very steep learning curve, with every week presenting a new challenge, but all the staff have been absolutely amazing.

We soon realized that one phone line would be inadequate and had to upgrade to three. Some elderly people don’t know how to use the internet to shop, are scared and just want a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.

At the moment no one knows how long lock down will last but I have a feeling that unlocking won’t be as easy as locking down.

Bye for now everyone, stay safe, see you drekly.

Stuart Luxton

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Eczema E

HEALTH

czema is a very common skin condition which affects many people and is due to skin inflammation. It can appear at any age but often starts in childhood. It may start later in life in people who did not have it as a child.

Symptoms of eczema The main symptom is the itch. Scratching in response to an itch may cause many of the changes seen on the skin. The itching can interfere with sleep, causing tiredness and irritability. Eczema can go through phases of ‘flare-up’ where it is severe, then improves, and then gets worse again.

What does eczema look like?

Eczema can affect any part of the skin, including the face. Most commonly affected are the creases in the joints, at the elbows and knees, as well as wrists and neck. Affected skin is red and dry, and scratch marks or bleeding is common. During a ‘flare-up’ eczema may be moist and weep and small water blisters may develop, especially on the hands and feet. In areas repeatedly scratched, the skin may thicken, which may cause the skin to itch more.

What makes eczema flare-up?

Many factors in a person’s environment can make their eczema worse; these include heat, dust, woollen clothing, pets, soaps, detergents and other chemicals. Being unwell, dryness of the skin, teething in babies, stress and sometimes food allergens may cause a flare up.

Can eczema be cured?

Eczema cannot be cured, but it can be controlled by regularly using medical moisturisers which help restore the skin’s barrier. ‘Complete emollient therapy’ is the main treatment for all people with eczema - regular application of a moisturiser (emollient) and washing with a moisturiser instead of soap (known as a soap substitute).

For those with frequent flare-ups, intermittent use of a topical steroid may help. People with severe or widespread eczema not responding to topical treatments may need oral treatments. These dampen

down the immune system and are given under the close supervision of a health care professional. Your GP can advise if you are struggling with your eczema.

Self care • Moisturise as often as possible, at least 2-3 times each day, using a non-perfumed moisturiser.

• Wash with moisturiser instead of soap, and avoid bubble baths, shower gels and detergents.

• Rinse well after swimming and apply plenty of your moisturiser after drying.

• Wear comfortable clothes made materials like cotton avoid wearing wool next to your skin.

• Try not to scratch. Smooth a moisturiser onto itchy skin, cool it with frozen peas in a towel or try ‘tapping’ the itchy area instead.

• Keep cool.

• Try to treat your eczema early as the more severe it becomes, the more difficult it will be to control.

• Wash clothes with a non-biological washing powder where possible.

More information: www.eczema.org www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/eczema

Dr Emma Chapman is a doctor at Okehampton Medical Centre

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BEAUTY

Healthy Tips from the team at

Moor Beauty

F

irstly, I just want to say how much we’re missing you all. It feels so strange being at home so much, but we’re all in this together due to the Covid 19 lockdown.

Salon businesses have been forced to temporarily close so let’s take a moment for self-care, to create, to go offline, to breathe and have some ‘me time’.

We hope that you all stay safe and are able to return to normality very soon. In the meantime, we have put together just a few tips to share with you while you stay home and stay safe. It’s important to keep up routine during times like these, so follow up these simple steps.

Follow a skincare routine (twice a day) • Remove make up • Cleanse • Exfoliate (2-3 times a week) • Mask (2-3times a week) • Toner • Serum • Moisturize • Eye cream • Protect (apply SPF) Exercise This gives you a good feeling, a great body, better skin, a boost of energy and a better mood - put together, they equal happiness! And it’s not just for the body - take a look online at facial exercises you can do to also help with your skincare needs Protect the skin from the sun and heat Before, during and after sun exposure, the sunscreens, reflectors and antioxidants in the sun care range work in synergy to assist in providing the benefits of UV-A and UV-B protection for the skin.

Get quality rest A great day starts with a good night’s sleep.

Stay hydrated Water is your skin’s best friend. Good skin starts from within, so staying hydrated is the foundation to good skin care. Try drinking at least eight glasses (two litres) of water a day to keep the skin looking radiant.

Eat well You are what you eat. Every 35 days, your skin replaces itself and your body to make new cells from the food you eat. What you eat literally becomes you.

Choose the right skincare and make up products Invest in your skin, it’s going to represent you for a very long time.

Here at Moor Beauty we offer Caci, Environ and Guinot skincare products and treatments, and the lovely Jane Iredale make up range. We would be more than happy to discuss these products further, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call.

We would also love to see you when we’re back up and running, and give you a free skin consultation.

Remember stay home, stay safe, stay healthy and if anyone needs us please call 01822 854403.

Our love to you all. n Ashleigh Burt and Karen Grant

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BEAUTY

Hair Survival Tips

professional colours in the salon as quality is so important we would hate for you to sacrifice your lovely condition by using a second-rate product and undo the hard work.

If you only have a few greys your best bet is to just be patient and wait until you can see us.

Blondes If you normally love being blonde you may now have he pandemic has most definitely been a crazy and some darker roots showing. I would advise to use a uncertain time for all of us. Not only have we all felt purple shampoo as your toner may have faded by now. the impact of this virus, we can’t even do your hair.

The purple shampoo will neutralise the brassy tones and We do understand that hair is only hair, although we keep the blonde fresh. truly believe it can have a massive impact on how you Dry shampoo can really help disguise dark roots although I feel. For some self-care has even more importance when advise not to use as it can make the hair dry over time. the world around us is so unpredictable.

Play around with hair accessories, scarfs, jewellery Here are some hair tips to get you through lock down. and go for a boho look now the sun is out. Go out in Coping with hair growth the sunshine as much as you can, the sun will naturally We really don’t advise you to cut your own hair - we lighten you colour and a nice sun kissed skin complexion cannot emphasise enough to try and be patient and wait. will always help too.

Hairdressers have very expensive scissors which do make Please stay away from any home blonde colouring, it a big difference when cutting, we also make it look a lot could be a disaster and there will be no hairdressers easier than what it actually is. around to fix it for you.

Instead try brushing your hair into different partings I know this is hard for everyone - we cannot wait to get or wear a sweeping fringe instead of a full fringe. If you back in and sort out everybody’s hair. In the meantime, normally have short hair, as it grows try tucking it behind use this time to give your hair a holiday. Minimise heat your ears to create a short-bobbed look. If you have long styling, put on a treatment once a week and maintain hair there are lots of tutorials online that you can watch optimal condition by not putting any harsh chemicals or to help you create your own messy buns and updo’s. colour on it. If you have already attempted any of these Clips, pins and grips will really come in handy. If you things, please don’t feel embarrassed - we can sort it out. have curly hair check out ‘The Curly Girl Method’ - the We really cannot wait to see all our existing clients and method works wonders. look forward to welcoming anyone new.

Grey Hair Please stay safe - we send our good wishes to everybody and If you normally have your hair permanently coloured, the biggest thank you to the NHS and all key workers. n chances are the regrowth is showing by now.

If you are very grey, there are some root touch up products available. They can come in a spray, powder or mousse which would help temporarily blend in the grey.

Please don’t pull any packet colours through to the ends.

They are too harsh and will create a build-up. We cannot emphasise this enough. We use the best and most expensive

from Claire at

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History, beauty and nature at West Devon’s National Trust properties

Tools for the job at Finch Foundry Finch was one of the largest tool manufacturers in the South West; mainly supplying the workers in and around Sticklepath.

Below are some of the tools that would have been made for farmers, thatchers and gardeners to use at this time of year.

Grass hooks were often made-to-order in the specific shape and size required by the buyer, dependeding on what they needed them for.

You might think weeding is a chore now, but during the 19th century you could be fined if it was proved that weeds had crossed your boundary into your neighbour’s garden. So the Finch weeding fork, a long wooden shaft with a two-pronged metal head and a cross beam to help press the fork into the ground with your foot, would have been particularly useful for lifting dock and thistle.

The Finch’s supplied tools for many different industries in the area. A thatcher’s shearing hook was used by sweeping the blade across and towards the body, to gain a very flat finish on the Identifying rhododendrons at Castle Drogo It’s the season for rhododendrons and although the garden at Castle Drogo is closed there’s still lots to learn about these iconic spring flowers.

The Rhododendron Garden was established by Basil Drewe in the 1940s, in an era when there was a fashion for such gardens. The collection has been added to by the National Trust so there is a mixed collection of plants, some of which are easily identifiable, and some which are a little trickier. There are also a fair few that are listed in the plant database merely as ‘rhododendron’- it’s a long-term project to identify some of these and work out which have special significance.

Identification is by no means a simple task. The genus Rhododendron is huge and is split into eight sub-groups, many of which are further split into sections and subsections. To make it even more complicated there are also many hybrid rhododendrons.

However, a few simple pieces of information gleaned from observation of plants can help to point you in the right direction: • Some rhododendrons have tiny scales present on the underside of their leaves and other parts. These mostly belong to the subgenus Rhododendron.

• Most rhododendrons have their flower buds at the tips of shoots. New shoots come from branches behind the flowering tip. A few rhododendrons, however, have a different growth habit: their flowers grow from shoots between leaves and branches and new growth continues from the tips of shoots or from the same growth point as the flower bud. These rhododendrons come from the subgenera Azaleastrum, Mumazalea or Candidastrum.

34 www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

thatch. It was available in both left and right handed versions.

Billhooks were, and still are, particularly useful for hedging.

The design, size and shape vary widely, with local variations as well. At the foundry, most of the billhooks were made with a small notch in the handle, where a leather strap could be attached so it could hang on the wrist.

• Lots of rhododendrons have ‘furry’ leaves. The fur is called indumentum and can be used to distinguish between different rhododendrons but it usually requires a microscope. Any rhododendron buff will tell you that they can recognise a fellow enthusiast by the way that they look straight at the underside of the leaf when inspecting a new plant.

What is the difference between a rhododendron and an azalea?

Carl Linnaeus, who more or less invented our binomial system of naming species (the botanical Latin names), identified Rhododendron and Azalea on the basis that Rhododendron have 10 stamens in their flowers, whereas Azalea have just five. Unfortunately, Linnaeus clearly couldn’t count very well, and there are so many exceptions to the 5:10 stamen division that it’s not helpful. Modern biology groups all these species under Rhododendron, so the term ‘azalea’ is no longer botanically correct. However, it is still used as a common name for some plants.

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NATIONAL TRUST

Improving the meadow at Lydford Gorge The orchard is home to around 40 young apple trees and although currently closed is one of the best places for butterflies at the gorge. It’s the only meadow habitat that the National Trust looks after and like all the different habitats it manages, staff and volunteers are always working to maintain and improve them for the benefit of both flora and fauna.

Over the winter of 2019/2020 a flock of local Whiteface Dartmoor sheep were brought in to graze the meadow. The use of herbivores to manage sites for nature conservation purposes is now widespread. Conservation grazing, as it’s known, plays a key role in maintaining species-rich habitats by controlling more aggressive species which would otherwise dominate these areas.

The Whiteface Dartmoor sheep is one of Britain’s most ancient breeds. It is indigenous to Dartmoor, and well adapted to upland pastures and moors, however numbers have declined drastically since the 18th century and the breed is now classified as ‘At risk’. So, as well as helping to support this breed the National Trust hopes to increase the diversity of the meadow and benefit all the other species that it supports.

Along with essential work to mitigate the effect of Ash dieback at the gorge, which can make a tree too dangerous

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to climb or fell if the disease takes hold, there has been some selective thinning to improve the habitat in the gorge for butterflies. There is a nearby population of highly threatened heath fritillaries which it would be great to encourage into the gorge.

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The heart of Three great venues at the heart of our beautiful bustling market town

TAVISTOCK TOWN HALL

tavistock_town_hall TavistockTC tavistocktownhall

Whether you’re holding a gala dinner, a wedding, sales fayre, or even an exercise class, our facilities and friendly and experienced staff make our elegant Gothic building the ideal place for your event.

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VOTED AS ONE OF THE ‘BEST TOWN WEDDING VENUES’ IN THE SOUTH WEST Butchershalltavistock Butchers_Hall ButchershHallTavistock

If you are looking for something a little different, that inspires and celebrates the very best of what our region has to offer, visit Butchers’ Hall

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Butchers’ Hall is available to hire for private functions and events: 01822 616134

Pannier Market ‘Shopping heaven in the heart of Tavistock’ tavistockpanniermarket

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OCTOBER Goose Fair, 10th To promote your business to 16,100 readers - call 01822 615627 advertising@linksmagazines.co.uk Open 9am - 6pm Goose Fair, 10th DECEMBER Open 9am - 6pm

ARE YOU MOVING HOME? Planning to buy or sell property is exciting, but there’s a lot to it! Be as prepared as you can be by getting conveyancing advice early. We offer face-to-face appointments every Wednesday afternoon in Okehampton.

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Food as medicine?

Offering your body extra support

T

he concept of ‘food as medicine’ is especially important during these days of Covid-19. We can empower ourselves through positive holistic self care while offering our bodies extra support to help keep us healthy and strong.

Information shared here compliments and does not replace professional medical advice and presents opportunities to dig out those old herb books you found in the charity shop and create nourishing food.

The concept ‘food is medicine’ is not new and has evolved over many centuries. It has perhaps been lost within modern societies and the chaos of the modern world but is practiced within the animal kingdoms. Cat or dog owners will notice they eat grass when feeling unwell.

Hippocrates (460-375 BC), often described as the ‘father of medicine’, tells us: ‘Each one of the substances of man’s diet acts upon his body and changes it in some way and upon these changes his whole life depends, whether he be in health, in sickness or convalescent.’

In Native American culture the word medicine means power, a vital energy force that can be drawn upon and directed, for them ‘medicine’

is also ‘knowledge’.

In Yoga and Ti Chi this power is called ‘universal life force’, Chi or Prana.

As we widen our knowledge and experience, we begin to make informed choices by choosing foods to support specific purposes like promoting immunity, reducing inflammation or blood pressure, our kitchens becoming a sort of pharmacy!

Here are some medicinal actions of foods that are widely available to start you off on your ‘food as medicine’ journey. Include them in herby homemade soups, add them to dishes for extra flavour and potential medicinal properties, and create homemade herbal tea infusions.

Honey is antibacterial and soothes sore throats, ginger root stimulates the digestive and circulatory systems, is warming and helpful for arthritis, nausea - including morning sickness and dizziness - it can help ease cold and flu symptoms.

Traditionally rosemary is used to enhance memory, stimulate the brain and circulatory system. Rosemary aids those with low blood pressure

and is beneficial for arthritis, colds and flu. Basil stimulates the brain and nervous system; it can be helpful for indigestion, headaches and nervous tension.

Thyme can loosen phlegm and soothe dry coughs.

Garlic is known for its preventative properties, helpful for respiratory infections, colds, flu, sinuses and is beneficial to the circulatory system. Onions are a traditional remedy for colds, coughs and bronchitis, while celery can help reduce blood pressure and has a calming effect on gout and the central nervous system. Chilli and pepper are warming, stimulating and increase circulation; they can expel access mucus and are helpful for rheumatism.

Citrus fruits help maintain our body’s defences, pineapples have anti-inflammatory actions, cranberries ease urinary tract infections and contain antiviral properties. Bananas are energising, while prunes help relieve constipation.

I hope this introduction will inspire your own explorations and curiosity into the medicinal potential of foods, herbs, spices and oils in supporting our bodies during the days of Covid-19 and beyond. n Anna Georghiou MA, MAR, FHT Founding member of Okehampton Community Wellbeing for All

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Scrumptious summer wines...

Think light and refreshing and you won’t go wrong!

S

ummer means it’s time to adjust wine selections to offset hopefully warmer months, with more outdoor dining, relaxation and lots of sunshine. For most, summer is when wine enthusiasts turn to lighter reds and rosé, as well as nicely chilled whites. Heavier wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel can seem a little too overpowering. Our tastes move towards fruity reds and light whites with more acidity and, of course, rosé wines are generally the order of the day.

The rule should be: Think light and refreshing and you won’t head too far off the mark.

Here are six varietals to look out for:

Beaujolais Low in tannin, with vibrant red berry flavours, it’s the ultimate summer red. The Beaujolais Nouveau style, produced and released on the third Thursday in November, is meant to be drunk within the year, so the beginning of June and July are perfect moments to uncork a bottle or two!

Bright acidity and a touch of oak makes it a versatile wine that will pair with a wide array of foods from pork sausages to fried calamari.

Pinot Noir A French classic but produced all over the world, it’s another red that’s light in body with a fruity flavour that you can serve chilled. Pinot Noir makes a great match with salmon or other fatty fish, roasted chicken or pasta dishes.

Chardonnay The world’s most planted white wine varietal, originating from Burgundy in France, Chardonnay is a summer staple on many tables. Light and refreshing, it’s a good all-rounder to include at the dinner table or to enjoy in the garden.

Young, unoaked Chardonnay is a perfect partner for delicate foods like raw and lightly cooked shellfish or grilled fish. Oaked Chardonnay lends itself well to rich textured foods such as creamy mustard and tarragon chicken and makes a great partner to a veggie pizza.

Sauvignon Blanc It’s dry, crisp and fruity taste makes it the perfect choice for celebrations and family get togethers. It’s versatile enough to match an array of foods but is is supreme coupled with a goat’s cheese salad or lighter fish such as sole or rainbow trout.

FOOD & DRINK

Riesling Originating from the Rhine valley, this highly versatile wine with a universally low alcohol content can be paired with any summer food. It also works with spicier meals.

Provence Rosé Summer in a bottle, this classic pale rosé from vineyards close to the sunny Mediterranean coast boasts summer pudding flavours and beautiful elegant freshness. Wine has been made here for over 2,600 years, making Provence the oldest wine producing region of France.

Offering acidity levels of a white wine and the fruit character of a red makes this rosé ideal with grilled sardines and a well herbed rack of lamb.

Of course, there are plenty of other equally great wines for summer including Chablis and a wide range of other rosés. Always look for quality and veer to the light and refreshing rather than the fullbodied grape varieties. Particularly in summer, it’s important to keep hydrated with plenty of water and drink alcohol responsibly. n Jason Mules Waitrose, Okehampton

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BOOKS

Book Recommendations for May from Book Stop, Tavistock

Rest and be Thankful

by Emma Glass In these trying times we are all aware of the huge sacrifices made by those working in the healthcare sector. This recently published second novel by Emma Glass (herself a paediatric nurse) reiterates in the starkest terms the abnormal burdens which our doctors and nurses can carry even under ‘normal’ circumstances. The brooding and compelling narrative follows a young nurse’s harrowing efforts to keep on going whilst an ominous figure in black waits in the wings for the shocking finale.

Published by Bloomsbury; £12.99

And five more great new reads: The Garden House by Marcia Willett Local favourite’s brand new novel, set in Tavistock Bantam: £16.99 Slime by David Walliams Latest wacky adventure by children’s favourite HarperCollins: £12.99 Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Incredibly well received story of the Shakespeare family and the loss of their son Tinder Press; £20 Farming Dartmoor by Damian Bird Beautiful book of new photography Life Force; £20 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2020 We may not have much cricket this summer, but we still have Wisden! £55 Book Stop continues to take orders for mail order or home delivery throughout the lockdown (01822 617244, email bookstoptavistock@gmail.com; @BookStop1)

New owners, same great olives and now so much more…

30 The Market, Tavistock PL19 0AL great taste • provenance • slow food

² www.delatorres.co.uk µ

Wingletang Rescue & Rehoming centre Heathfield, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0LF

Celebrating the care of animals for 55 years! The charity rescues both cats and dogs and is your local dedicated rescue centre.

Achieving many milestones over the years, including lifesaving surgery for cats and dogs, record attendees at walking events and providing high standard boarding for pets to enjoy a holiday. The centre is currently closed for rehoming and boarding due to the lockdown restrictions, however, if you have an emergency please contact: t: 01822 810215 or e: wingletang@mgar.org.uk. We hope to see you again once we reopen!

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Registered Charity Number: 1167990

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Tavistock Subscription Library Local historian Simon Dell investigates this town gem

The Propylaeum

T

he significance of a library is of course not in the building, but in the availability of a collection of books - Tavistock Subscription Library, as an organisation, was established in 1799.

In the later 18th century, the mining industries in Cornwall and Devon, the French war and the naval dock at Plymouth gave impetus to technological development and corresponding intellectual activity, and learned societies and libraries were founded.

In Tavistock, the Unitarian minister William Evans and two young men of the town, Edward Atkins Bray and John Commins, were stimulated by the arrival of a brilliant young engineer John Taylor to organise a public library to provide or lend books, periodicals and newspapers to subscribers, who paid an annual fee for the privilege.

Over two centuries there have been fluctuations in member numbers and fees, but a significant proportion of interested people in the town have continued to enjoy the library facilities up to the present day.

For the first 20 years the library occupied part of the premises of a local bookseller, William Tapson, who acted as librarian. Ladies were eligible, although not for office, and families of members were admitted at a reduced fee. From 1810 the Duke and Duchess of Bedford became members. The first printed catalogue was issued in 1810, and by 1897 the number of books had increased from a few hundred to nearly 5,000. Subjects were well-balanced between the arts, sciences, and fiction. William Tapson 42 www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

retired in 1819, by which time the collection had outgrown his accommodation. In July 1820, it was suggested to the duke that the room over Court Gate arch be converted to a library. Architect John Foulston provided a drawing which can be seen in the library, showing how the room might be fitted up.

However William Bray, the Tavistock steward, was so slow to respond that instead, a new library was built behind the old Guildhall, on a vacant site now forming the southwest corner of Bedford Square.

The library minutes show the plans were submitted by a builder called James Colling, in a classical style resembling Foulston’s Athenaeum in Plymouth.

The building opened on July 1st, 1822 and was nicknamed the Propylaeum.

From 1822 the 6th Duke of Bedford had been making improvements to Tavistock, and the Propylaeum building was in the way. In 1829 he offered the library the use of the Court Gate rooms, plus a cottage for the librarian, rent free for 15 years and so in 1831, the library was moved. Some of the railings from the old building were used to fence the garden of the replacement library and a few of the stones they were set in survive - otherwise, the only remains are fragments of stucco, dug up in 1997 and kept in the museum.

The books were mostly housed in the room above Court Gate arch and lectures for the Tavistock Institution, formed in 1927 ‘for the acquirement and diffusion of useful knowledge’, were given in the upstairs reading room.

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HISTORY

the second war, Plymouth City Museum hired the A succession of librarians lived in the cottage; lecture room for storage for some years. In 1949 the William Merrifield was the most remarkable library’s 150th anniversary was celebrated, attended incumbent of the 19th century and ran the by the Duke of Bedford. library for 30 years, taking daily meteorological In the 1960s the remaining Bedford Estate observations and recording the life of the town properties were sold, and it was feared Court Gate by photography - Tavistock Museum has copies would be lost to developers. With of some of his photographs. aid from an appeal, the town Another memorable and popular council bought the buildings, but librarian was John Quick, a In 1829 the Duke of library could only afford to well-read man and an expert Bedford offered the library the rent the ground floor room, which on Charles Dickens. He was the use of the Court Gate it still occupies as a reading room. responsible for the last printed catalogue and served until 1920. rooms, plus a cottage for the Some furniture was moved and the library policy changed to reference In 1929 the offices of librarian librarian, rent free for 15 use only, with the collection and secretary merged to became years and so in 1831, the concentrating on local topics. an honorary role and the cottage In 1989 the library became a was given over to a caretaker. library was moved member of the Association of Library membership fell in Independent Libraries and in 2007 the mid-1800s and in 1868, the it obtained charitable status. It duke reduced the rent to £8, but celebrated its 200th anniversary leased the lecture room to the in 1999 and a new catalogue was Freemasons, who used it until printed, with a history of the their new premises in Barley library by Jean Wans.

Market Street were built in 1901.

The library still possesses some It is sometimes thought the tiles from the abbey, a collection elaborate chair in the lecture room of minerals (not the original one) was masonic, but it was part of and some pictures and busts. the early fittings and according to Tavistock Subscription Library an account printed in the 1840s, has over 800 books and was carved by a local craftsman. occasionally hosts visits from other The room on the ground floor learned bodies; it can also be used housed a collection of natural by researchers from elsewhere, by history specimens, largely minerals arrangement. The subscription is £12 a year, or £18 from the local interest in mining, and in 1852 became a temporary home for John Phillips’ Savings for family membership and there are now nearly 100 members. It also holds regular coffee mornings and Bank.

Membership fluctuated and in both World Wars, the issues a newsletter.

For more information, or to apply for membership library struggled financially. In the first war, parts go to www.tavistocksubscriptionlibrary.co.uk. n of the premises were lent to the military and after

“

”

The Court Gate rooms

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Walks

with Winnie

West Mill Tor to High Willhayes - the highest tor on Dartmoor!

Here’s a lovely Dartmoor walk we can all look forward to once the lockdown restrictions are lifted!

START: Below West Mill Tor SX591912 or What3words: patch.clerk.active DISTANCE: Approximately 3.8 miles TIME: Approximately two hours allowing stops to enjoy the views.

DIFFICULTY: Medium. A steady uphill, more noticeable just before reaching Yes Tor. TERRAIN: Mostly gravel with clear paths the majority of the way.

From Okehampton Army Camp and Moor Gate, turn right on to the Ranges and drive as far as you can along the tarmac road. You will clearly see where you can park, it is only a small area. If you park facing the way you have come, West Mill Tor is on your left hand side.

This is a great walk with amazing views throughout. It is very open, so make sure you take the right clothing for the conditions. It is a there and back walk, but you can take a detour up to Yes Tor. The path will take you over a small stream, suitable for cooling off the dog!

With West Mill Tor on your righthand side, follow the 46 www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

gravel path in front of you, (not to the left, this path would take you to Rowtor). As you make your way along this path, on your left you will see the firing range and what looks like a hut. This is the locomotive shed for the Wickham Trolleys that were used for military target practice. This is the Rowtor Military narrow gauge target railway, opened in 1959 and still there today. The tracks are still easily visible.

Continue along the track and at the fork, turn right, There’s a slight incline here which flattens out when you can then see Yes Tor (619m) in front of you. Stay on the track crossing a small stream, a great place for the dog to have a drink and to cool your feet on a warm day.

There’s a bit of an uphill stretch now to a point where you will see a track to the left as you get closer to Yes Tor. If you stay on the track which bends around to the right, you will reach Yes Tor which you can see clearly in front of you. We are heading left from the track, where you will see a range of granite tors in front of you on the horizon, the furthest being High Willhayes (621m) - the highest tor on Dartmoor. The views from here are amazing. Standing with Yes Tor to your left you can see Steeperton Tor in front of you, to the left of that Oke Tor, Belstone Tor and the ridge. Turning to face the opposite way, on your far left is Great Links Tor and Corn Ridge in front of this. Along

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WALK

and below here is a WWII crash site along with a further WWII crash site over the ridge. Following the ridge along you will see Sourton Tor and the site of the Sourton Ice Works - yes, ice works!

Stay and enjoy the view for as far as you can see, have a coffee and when you are ready, head back down the way you have come.

We would love to hear how you have enjoyed your Walk with Winnie, you can send us your photos on Winnie@ moorlandpaws@gmail.com or Walk with Winnie on Dartmoor’s Facebook page. Stay safe and always tell someone where you are going. n

Denise and Winnie

This walk has been kindly written (and walked) for us by Denise Horner of Dartmoor Nordic Walking with her dog, Winnie. www.dartmoornordicwalkng.co.uk c Dartmoor Nordic Walking c Walks with Winnie

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LOCAL SERVICES

Tavistock Locals Help (TLH) is a local community group formed in response to the Covid-19 crisis. We assist with a variety of tasks including shopping or prescription pickup and delivery, foodbank delivery, and helping with online payment for these services.

What started as a simple delivery service has grown into a vital helping service for many in the community. Our website and phone volunteers can signpost individuals to commercial delivery services locally, important government information and advice, and other support organisations like the Listening Ear group for companionship and conversation.

Our focus is to make sure people get the help they need to protect themselves from the virus and ensure that no one goes without because of their personal situation during this crisis. Our volunteers are making personal connections with their neighbours and others. We receive messages daily in appreciation of their efforts and several have formed a

Get those decorating jobs done...

It’s an ideal time for doing all those painting jobs that we have all been putting off ! the weather is perfect for sprucing up the outside of our houses so I thought I would give you a few tips for the woodwork to get you going !

Make sure you have a good base to start with .Remove all flaking paint and any denatured wood. Good preparation is key to longevity of paint finish .

If the woodwork is in poor condition denatured and dry its in need of some loving care. A good base paint is Aluminium primer .This can be applied as one coat and forms a waterproof seal to allow the primer undercoat to adhere to.

It’s a common myth that any old primer will do ! Sadly a good quality top coat can be ruined by a cheap primer undercoat .Poor quality or incompatible primer undercoats can be the cause of a

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friendship with their clients, providing ongoing assistance throughout the last six weeks.

We began offering our service on Saturday March 21 and have already taken more than 650 calls and completed more than 400 deliveries. We’re working with the WDBC hub for Tavistock as well as the local foodbank, businesses and pharmacies. Mount Kelly School has joined the effort assisting with transporting medical supplies and food parcels arranged through the group. We have safeguarding guidelines on our website and DBS checks on all of our core volunteers.

We have a Facebook page and Facebook group anyone can join to find out more information about what support is available locally. We have linked with Tavistock BID in the “Tavistock Local” app they quickly developed which can be installed on your phone and links to local businesses as well as our website to help organise deliveries and purchases.

You can reach us through 0800 046 5531 a phone line sponsored by Tavistock Town Council or visit our website www. tavistocklocalshelp.co.uk donated by ABC Services.

Tavistock Locals Help is accepting donations for our work through our open collective fund, at www.opencollective.com/ tavistocklocalshelp All expenses paid with donations are publicly visible on the site.

flaking top coat later. We are all quick to blame the top coat.

A good quality primer comes as a primer and undercoat all in one so there should be no need to apply both Primers bend and flex at different rates so don’t be temped to skimp on the base coat .Both Little Greene and Farrow & Ball supply undercoats which are tinted to a similar colour to the top coat and they are specifically designed to be compatible with your chosen top finish being it Exterior eggshell or Full Gloss . Don’t forget the 6 year guarantee on these paints only applies if you have used the whole system .

One coat of primer undercoat should be applied followed by two coats of your chosen top coat.

Temperature is vital,10 degrees C and above and ideally not too much direct sunlight. Watch the weather for frost this time of year .Frost can cause unseen fine lines In paint which can result in pockets of moisture blistering at a later date.

We are here to help so please e mail with any questions you may have through our web site www.poshpaint.comand you can post pictures on our face book page. We look forward to seeing them !

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Home heating advice...

DB Heating’s Lawrence Barnes answers some seasonal questions Q: With summer coming, should I switch off my gas/oil boiler and use the electric immersion heater to heat my hot water?

A: No, the average energy consumed by an immersion heater to heat a full cylinder (storage tank) of hot water is far higher than that consumed by using the gas or oil boiler. Using Gas as an example, the average boiler will heat the hot water cylinder in 1/3 of the time with gas, over hot water. Not only will the time using energy be reduced, but the gas is also far cheaper (based on current prices). Running the immersion heater using electricity from the grid, for 10 hours (approximately 5 days of hot water use) will total approximately £4.20. Using the boiler to heat the same amount of hot water will cost only £0.93.

Presuming your hot water use is similar all year round, that’s a saving of over £80 for the summer period alone!* If you are unsure about how to set your gas boiler to hot water only for the summer, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01822 611300, we will be only too happy to help.

of the system dropping. Please do not bleed the radiators if you are not aware of how to top up the pressure safely. As always, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01822 611300 for friendly, local advice.

Q: What is the best boiler, taking in to account cost, reliability, build quality, ease of use and efficiency?

market leaders in heating products currently. With Which? Independent advisors awarding the Worcester Bosch boiler range “Best Buy” for the last 10 years, a huge achievement we are sure you agree. We are very happy that we made the decision to join the Worcester Bosch accredited installer scheme some years ago. Our membership with the Worcester Bosch scheme started at Bronze level, and has now matured and progressed through silver, gold and now to the Platinum level. Our experience and wealth of knowledge within these products, means that we offer direct from the manufacturer to our customers, a 12 year “No Quibble Guarantee” on the gas boiler range (8 years on Oil boilers). It is this Guarantee, coupled with excellent products, first class support (end user and technical) and a continual programme of development that puts Worcester Bosch boilers head and shoulders above the rest of the competition for us.

A: At DB Heating Ltd, during our 38 year history, we have had the opportunity to install and work on a huge variety Q: Should I bleed my radiators every of boilers, from the cast iron boilers of year? the early 80’s, through to installing the very first condensing boiler in Devon & A: We recommend that you only bleed Cornwall (the descendants of which are your radiators if they are cold at the commonplace today). As the specifics top, and hot at the bottom when the of selecting a boiler are finite to say heating is on. Please only proceed to the least, we will presume that we are bleed a radiator with a proper radiator discussing an average size home. key (available from us FREE!* Just call We would recommend the Worcester * 01822 611300), and do so only when Bosch Greenstar 8000 Range. Packed the heating has been turned off for with functionality to enable the very more than 10 minutes.

Benefi t from: best in efficient set up & ease of use.

If you have an open vented system (roof • Hotter radiators up not quicker For some that time, heat we have been able tanks in the loft), then you can bleed *Figures approximate and based on info • Increased life & reliability of your heating system to find anything to beat the Worcester your radiators without any other steps. available online. Free radiator keys available to • A more energy efficient system = cheaper energy bills Bosch range. By far and away the UK local customers only, limit of one per household.

If you have a sealed system (pressure gauge on the boiler or in the cylinder/ airing cupboard, no roof tanks) please be aware that any air being removed from the system will result in the pressure

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Your home is your Covid sanctuary Bored at looking at the same four walls? Need a boost?

This won’t cost a penny. Create a change, be it temporary or permanent and add a new positive energy to your home. It will most certainly give you vitality to inspire you to do other things.

Pick two or three rooms. Have the mirrors, paintings, wall art, clocks and photos always been in the same place? If yes, be brave and take them all down!

Place them into three piles: a) your favourite items, must haves and mirrors. b) bored, don’t like, does nothing for me. c) don’t know (Auntie so and so gave me this so I guess I should keep).

Ignore Pile B) for the moment…

Pile A - firstly look at where the natural daylight is coming from in each room. Can you maximize this by placing a mirror opposite? if not perpendicular to receive a boost of light at some point during the day. We all know that daylight is a mood enhancer.

Now what can you see in the reflection of the mirror (other than your gorgeous self) ? Place an item you want to see or a painting you love so you can see it twice, the real one and the mirror image.

Where do you sit and relax? Place your most favourite painting, wall decor, photo or grouping of these and position these in your eye line from that relaxing area.

Do experiment by grouping items together - they don’t have to match. It is visually more stimulating if they don’t. Remember this is for your household only and not to please anyone else.

There is no right or wrong.

Move wall decor into different rooms and keep moving round to different places until it naturally feels right to you.

Use the hooks already left in the walls as temporary placements to get a feel before repositioning completely. Be patient this can

Motoring tips during lockdown from Barton Garage, Yelverton Can I get my car MOT tested?

Yes, we are still able to MOT your Vehicle and maintain its road worthiness.

Will I be able to get my car serviced or repaired during the pandemic?

Yes, but you may end up waiting longer for parts depending on supply. Please bear with us as we are giving priority to KEY WORKERS. Although car, van, motorcycle MOT expiry dates have been extended by 6 months if it’s due on or after 30 March 2020 - vehicle must be safe to drive. As a driver, you are responsible for the road worthiness of your vehicle.

Checking the engine oil Check the oil level regularly, especially before a long journey, to make sure the oil is at the recommended level. Your vehicle handbook will tell you how to check the oil level and how to top it up. It should also tell you what type of oil to use. Using the wrong STAY AT HOME

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take some time as it is good to view at different times of the day when the light changes. We have plenty of time to experiment.

Look at your cherished photos on display. Are some of these now very outdated? Do keep your favourites. Now with social distancing it is vital to keep a connection with friends and family.

Print out and add / re-place with current up to date photos.

Pile C - Re evaluate. Have a look at the wall spaces you have left. Can you place them in other areas and mix and match? Will they enhance, add something positive? If not required or not helping add them to pile B. For the creatives among you Pile B can be a real treasure trove and be used to make a work of art! Take a good look, is there any little bit you can re-use? A frame maybe? Can an item be painted? Modified? Sprayed, glued? Can you over-paint a painting to add more colour or add a new dimension? Make a collage? Have fun and be creative.

Box the items you no longer require ready for your preferred charity when they re-open.

Take a look at our website for inspiration cabanainteriors.co.uk, we have a new online selling website coming soon.

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type of oil can increase fuel consumption, damage the engine and could affect the vehicle warranty. Don’t overfill your engine oil as this can damage the engine and cause extra emissions.

Checking the engine coolant The engine coolant is a mixture of anti-freeze and water, which stops the engine from overheating. You should check the coolant level frequently, and especially before a long journey. Look at your vehicle handbook to find out how to check the engine coolant and how to top it up if necessary.

Tyres Make sure that your tyres are correctly fitted and check they’re inflated to the correct pressure regularly. Use a tyre pressure gauge when the tyres are cold to make sure the pressures match those given in the vehicle handbook. The tread on your tyres must measure at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, going all the way around the tyre. Check your tyres for damage that could make them unsafe, such as bulges, cuts, stones, etc. If you’re caught using faulty or worn tyres, you could be charged with fines, driving disqualification or points on your licence. 

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Uneven or excessive tyre wear can mean that there’s a fault with the tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, wheel alignment or wheel balance. Get your car checked by a mechanic as soon as possible so any faults can be put right.

Checking the windscreen and windows Windscreens often get damaged by stone chips. A damaged area bigger than 10 mm across in the area of the windscreen immediately in front of the driver will fail the MOT test. This would need to be repaired or the windscreen replaced. On the rest of the windscreen, damage up to 40 mm across can be repaired.

Other items to check • Battery: make sure the terminals are secure, clean and greased. Most modern batteries are maintenance-free and sealed for life. However, if the battery has a filler cap, you’ll need to check the fluid level to make sure that the plates in each cell are covered.

• Lights: make sure the front and rear lights, brake lights, indicators and hazard lights work. You should do this each time you use the vehicle. Use reflections in windows and garage doors to help you see whether the lights are working.

• Windscreen washers and wipers: check the washers are working correctly and make sure there’s enough liquid in the washer reservoir. This is especially important in wet, muddy

Support and encouragement in the community We have always been proud of the sense of family and community felt within our federation and so it was important to us that this continued despite the school closures. How could we create a place to support and encourage each other throughout this uncertain time? How would we continue to spread our ‘Moorsway Magic’? By pulling together as a team, we have managed to achieve this in several ways.

Perhaps the most obvious way to stay in contact was to create a Moorsway Facebook page. Not only is this used to share general updates, our weekly newsletter and letters with parents, it has also become a way to spread positivity to everyone within our school community. We have achieved this by: • Sharing fun art and physical education activities; • Hosting a weekly bake-off and similar challenges, encouraging children to learn new skills and spend time with loved ones; • Encouraging parents to share photos of their children and what they have been up to (whether this be academic or otherwise); • and by creating our own ‘pass it on’ video of the teachers to show the children that we are still having as much fun as ever!

Of course, with there being no end in sight with the school closures, we also needed to provide our children with ways to continue with education at home, without piling the pressure on to our parents who already work so hard. How have we achieved this?

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

conditions. Replace the wiper blades if they’re damaged or worn.

• Horn: check the horn is working properly but be careful not to do it when it might frighten or annoy other people.

Keep your car’s lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates clean at all times. Dirt on the lights and reflectors will stop them working effectively.

Checking the controls Get your vehicle checked by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible if: • You feel or hear knocking or rattling from the steering or suspension.

• There is a lot of ‘play’ in the steering wheel (i.e. you can move the steering wheel from side to side without the wheels moving).

• the steering begins to feel heavy (i.e. it needs a lot of effort to turn the wheel).

• the brakes feel spongy or slack.

Check your brakes, including your parking brake, are working whenever you set out on a journey.

Please call us on 01822 853939 where we will be happy to help. Stay safe and keep well.

Adrian, Tracy and the team

Whole-school themed planning uploaded weekly to our website, with suggested activities for a range of subjects including English. This allows for child-led learning where the children can choose which activities they would like to try!

We have also uploaded daily tasks for maths, spelling and reading for each year group building on prior learning, making sure to keep the tasks short and snappy so that both parents and children can feel success.

We felt it important for our parents and children to communicate on a personal basis with their class teacher, so we have created class email addresses that can be used at any time of day! These are of course in addition to regular forms of communication used between school and parent, such as admin emails, letters, newsletters, our Facebook pages and Tapestry for our EYFS children.

Moorsway Federation home learning top tips: 1. Enjoy time as a family; 2. Do what’s right for you and your family; 3. Try to have a little routine; 4. Don’t expect too much; 5. Stay safe and have fun!

Although these are of course challenging times, we have found a new sense of unity with parents and teachers from across our three schools working together. We know that when we do return to school, our bond and family feel will be stronger than ever.

If you are interested in looking at anything mentioned, take a look at our ‘Moorsway Federation’ Facebook page or our website www.moorswayfederation.org.uk/.

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Tamar Energy Community has installed 325kW of solar PV on six sites across the area for community benefit To register your interest to invest and help put the ‘Local’ back into ‘Energy’ visit

tamarenergycommunity.com/community-solar • Find us on ² ³ Tamar Energy Community Limited is a social enterprise for commnutiy benefit.

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TECH HELP

Lockdown advice As we are all now spending more time at home, suddenly the digital world we use brings a new significance to keeping in touch. Things to bear in mind.

Watch out for scammers both online and on the telephone – At home we are especially vulnerable to the phone scams as they have always called during the day. Ask yourself the question “is this real, does it apply to me, would they normally call?” If the answer is no to any of these, then it is likely a scam call.

For more guidance: www.citizensadvice. org.uk/consumer/phone-internetdownloads-or-tv/stop-getting-nuisancecalls-and-texts/ Or: www.ageuk.org. uk/information-advice/money-legal/ scams-fraud/phone-scams/ Being in touch with friends and relatives has now moved to online platforms with Conference Calling by video rather than a conversation on the humble telephone.

To briefly summarise.

1. You will need a decent internet

connection >1.5mbps – do a speedtest in Google if you are not sure 2. You will need a webcam to take full advantage, but you can ‘get by’ in Skype for instance, without one.

3. You may well need to sign up to a service or even several if you want to keep in touch with ALL the generations – each has their own favourite!

4. You will no doubt take a while to get it sorted, but most of the other people in the conversation will be more than keen to show you how clever they are!

Here are the main platforms: Zoom – great fun, can have very many people online at the same time (up to 200 without paying for the use!). Works on Computers, tablets and phones.

WhatsApp – used pretty much as THE alternative to Zoom as most of us have it anyway for family group chat. Webcam Only works on Smartphones and tablets.

Skype & Facetime – more traditional but used a lot less these days as they are either too difficult to get to grips with or limited to iPhone/iPad which narrows

down their use.

For all of these methods of keeping in touch, you will need a Webcam. For desktop computers you will need to buy a Webcam. Prices have gone through the roof on Amazon, normally a webcam won’t cost more than £27.50.

If you get in to trouble at all or need a little help to get by, then I am working throughout the “lockdown”, but confined to the Office.

Hope some of this has helped and I’ll see you on the other side.

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Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles

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Unit 8 Plymouth Road Industrial Estate, Tavistock PL19 9QN

01822 618 619 info@tavistockbathrooms-tiles.co.uk

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TAVISTOCK

BATHROOMS & TILES By amanda - james