Moor Links December/January 2022

The deadline date for any inclusions in the February/ March issue of Moor Links will be 6th January 2023. For all editorial enquiries please contact Rosemary via email: rosemary.best @linksmagazines.co.uk

The festive season begins…

As the end of the year approaches, I hope we can all find some enjoyment this Christmas. Dickensian Evening always gets the festive season off to a good start, and there are plenty of Christmas markets for gift inspiration. Local Christmas tree festivals are once again celebrating community creativity, while choirs and instrumental groups have been practising hard and have a string of concerts lined up for the run up to Christmas. You can also find out how pantomimes first came about and brush up your pantomime jargon ready for local pantomimes this season. Unfortunately, there aren’t any pantomime magic wands to solve the current economic issues and many people are already experiencing financial difficulties However local organisations are working hard to help people get through this time. In Community News, Tavistock Food Box Initiative is making food available which would otherwise go to landfill, by offering food boxes for collection or delivery to the local area for a donation of £17. While Tavistock Library is opening its doors for longer to provide a warm place for people to use their facilities, with a wide range of activities, help and advice on offer, as well as the community fridge. Local resident Tommy Hatwell has been helping people much further afield in Uganda, and you can read about The Sleepwell Project in our Charity Focus. Our two Local People are: Giovanni Sponziello who used to run Tavistock deli Sponzi’s, but also had an international career with hair and beauty company, Steiner; and local author Tania Crosse who won a Romantic Novelists’ Association award in 2020, and has just published a new novel set in wartime Plymouth.

Rosemary Best Editor

The story of pantomime

For many families, a visit to the pantomime is a must at this time of year, offering a chance to unwind with quick-witted banter and hilarious antics, as you’re drawn into the magic of the spectacle and its extravagant costumes and largerthan-life characters - as well as joining in with booing the villain and the obligatory ‘it’s behind you’ and ‘oh no it isn’t’! It’s extraordinary to think that people have been enjoying this wonderful tradition for around 300 years, although it has changed a little over the centuries.

The origins of this characteristically British entertainment though, lie in 16th-century Italian street theatre, ‘Commedia dell’Arte’ or comedy of the artists, which included music, dance, acrobatics, comedy, and a cast of stock characters such as the old man Pantalone, the clown Pierrot, and Columbine who was in love with the mischievous servant Arlecchino – or Harlequin as he became known in English. During the 17th century, the actors began to take commedia across Europe, visiting France and then also England, where they performed at the popular English summer fairs. Due to the language barrier though, scenes from the continental shows were mimed rather than spoken, and there was more emphasis on singing and dancing, as well as the comic chases. Harlequin’s character particularly delighted audiences, and by the end of that century some of the commedia characters even began to appear in English comic plays. Theatre became increasingly popular in the 18th century, with people from all walks of life regularly attending the London theatres, and by 1850, theatres were being built in towns across Britain.

The word ‘pantomime’ is derived from the ancient Greek pantomimus, meaning ‘imitator of all’ - a dancer playing multiple roles, and using action not words. It first appeared

on a poster in England for a 1717 production by John Weaver, and then became associated with his next production including Harlequin and Columbine, so that the name stuck for plays involving these characters. It was John Rich though who produced what is considered to be the first real pantomime in 1721, entitled The Magician; or Harlequin a Director.

An actor and theatre manager, Rich developed the harlequinade, a comic chase telling the adventures of Harlequin and Columbine, melded with acrobatics, music, magical transformations and ‘slapstick’ comedy. Rich played the part of Harlequin and used his magic wand/sword (a wooden ‘slapstick’ with a hinged flap to make a loud slapping noise) to change the stage scenery by touching it, while giving the backstage crew an audible cue. The sound also lent more theatrical effect when the stick was used to slap other actors – hence the term slapstick comedy. Rich went on to introduce animals, serpents, and even flying vehicles to enhance his productions. His harlequinades became so popular that other theatres decided to adopt them, despite warnings from the critics that they would finish serious theatre. The manager of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, David Garrick, initially joined in the criticism but seeing the commercial opportunities offered by pantomime, he decided to put on new pantomime stories with a speaking Harlequin. However, he limited pantomime performances to the Christmas season, aiming to maintain a balance between serious and more frivolous theatre - and the tradition of Christmas pantomimes was sown.

The 1700s had seen a rise in the popularity of folk tales and fairy tales, and then in the early 1800s the stories of Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sinbad were translated into English. Gradually, pantomime stories evolved, and many are still performed today. Jack and the Beanstalk developed from many different

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Courtesy of Theatre Royal Plymouth

Dan Leno

folk tales going backs hundreds of years, and there was even a reference to the popular Cornish folk tale of Jack the Giant Killer in Shakespeare’s King Lear; the story of Cinderella has also existed for centuries, but became very popular when the French writer, Charles Perrault included it in his collection of fairy tales published in 1697; it is also the only pantomime to retain a transformation scene at the end. While Dick Whittington was based on the life of a real mayor of London who died in 1423.

From 1800, Joseph Grimaldi’s performances of the clown with his mischievous tricks, clever satire and bizarre songs started to edge Harlequin out of the limelight – Grimaldi also introduced cross dressing to create the role of the pantomime dame, although until 1660 men had always played women’s roles as female performers were banned from the stage in Britain. By the Victorian era, pantomime had become a Christmas custom, and gender switching became even more established when women started playing the role of the principal boy, dressed in shorts and tights. At a time when women wore long skirts this was considered risqué, but allowed for a woman playing a male role. Until the Theatres Act of 1843 only theatres with a royal patent could produce spoken drama – after this, pantomimes had freedom to make the most of witty puns, quickfire patter and audience participation. During the 1860s,

music hall stars were increasingly cast in pantomimes, and their celebrity status and extrovert characters changed the shape of pantomime, replacing lengthy plots with topical satire and popular songs, as well as attracting new audiences.

Pantomime may appear to be an absurd mix of bizarre characters, curious plots, and tomfoolery, but as you can see, it is a piece of our history which has evolved around the conventions of the times through the innovations of inspired performers and entrepreneurs to please and delight audiences over the years. And if it has managed to do that for this long then it must be getting something right! So, why not participate in some pantomime magic this Christmas.

See What’s On for details of local pantomimes.

for local people by local people.

Rosemary Best

Courtesy of Theatre Royal Plymouth

Harlequin (Commedia dell’Arte)

A passion for writing

Devon author Tania Crosse talks about her writing career and how she came to set most of her books on west Dartmoor and the surrounding area.

I was born in London but we moved to Surrey when I was five, and I’ve always been a country girl at heart. I wanted

to be an author from a very young age. The earliest example I still have of my attempts, is a school project when I was ten – a tale of twin sisters and their horses. While most of the class wrote a few pages, I completely filled the exercise book. However, after watching an early film of Jane Eyre, I wanted to be not just a writer, but a writer of historical novels. But university, work and then bringing up three children prevented me from following my dream. When my youngest started school, I allowed myself one morning a week either to write or to carry out research into the Victorian period, my great passion. However, when I submitted some of my manuscripts to agents and publishers, the answer was always the

same. They told me I wrote very well but that the Victorian era had had its day as far as publication was concerned. I was disappointed but decided to follow their advice and planned a story set in the post-war years.

It was then that I discovered Morwellham Quay. I was captivated, and characters sprung into my mind, giving me an idea. If I were to write a novel and have it printed myself, I would have a direct outlet at the gift shop. When I enquired, I found that no one else had ever written a book based on the history of the port, and the trust that ran the living history museum in those days agreed that if I wrote such a thing, they would be delighted to stock it. It was

From

Established and sought after location north of Plymouth city centre.

• Flanked by woodlands.

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• Close by Park & Ride offers easy travel links.

Set in the Tamar Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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• Pets considered.

• St. Ann’s Chapel has a post office and store.

Woodland surroundings with views of the rolling hills of Dartmoor.

• Good shopping facilities.

• Plenty to explore.

• Dartmoor is only a 10 minute drive away.

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FAMILY-RUN

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a gamble as back then it was printed copies only. I knew I’d be lucky to break even, but I’d have the joy of seeing a book of mine in print. We launched Morwellham’s Child in 2001. It was a huge success, not only at the quay but in many local outlets too, so much so that we re-printed the following year. By then, I’d started another novel based on farming and mining near Peter Tavy. Then, as I’d proved there was still a market for Victorian stories, Pan Books offered me a contract for both books. Thus my career proper was launched. I wrote a total of five Victorian sagas set on Dartmoor, featuring the gunpowder mills, the prison, Foggintor Quarry, the Princetown Railway, the second railway through Tavistock and the town’s workhouse. There followed two novels exploring the area’s role in the Great War, such as moss gathering and the hospital for soldiers at Mount Tavy. My agent then persuaded me to pen two sagas set in the 1950s, and these I based on Tavistock Cottage Hospital, changes on the moor and the legacy of the Second World War. Then came a period of some years when for various

reasons I had to give up writing, but eventually I was drawn back to my passion and composed four 1930s and WW2 stories set in Kent and London, the last of which, The Street of Broken Dreams, won Saga of the Year 2020 in the prestigious Romantic Novelists’ Association awards.

However, my heart remained in Devon. Recently, Joffe Books have re-published my entire Devon series mainly under new titles. They’ve done phenomenally well, especially Morwellham’s Child under its new title The Harbour Master’s Daughter. Now, a brand new novel has been added to the series, The Convent Girl, set in Plymouth during the horrors of the Plymouth Blitz, although I couldn’t help but bring Dartmoor into the story, too. Plucked from her peaceful life in an Irish convent, Maisie is thrown into the turmoil that is Plymouth, and during the Blitz is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.

It is now my plan to set all future books in the area, and I’m currently researching for another WW2 novel based on two nurses at Plymouth’s City

Hospital during the Blitz and also in Tavistock. After that, who knows?

Tania Crosse

Tania’s novels are available as ebooks and paperbacks from Amazon. The Convent Girl, The Dartmoor Girl and The Girl at Holly Cottage are also available to buy/order through bookshops, including Book Stop, Tavistock. For more details go to www.tania-crosse.co.uk and follow her on Twitter @TaniaCrosse or on Facebook @Tania Crosse Author

The Convent Girl by Tania Crosse

During the 1920s, little Maisie O’Sullivan is left to be raised as a charity orphan in a Catholic convent in Ireland. Uprooted from the only life she has ever known, she is transplanted against her will to Plymouth in England, where she learns that being part of a family isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. An horrific tragedy during one of the worst nights of the Plymouth Blitz leads her to commit a desperate act in the name of love and duty, but what will the consequences be?

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A

way of life

Giovanni Sponziello was born in 1942 in the poor, agricultural village of Sogliano in Puglia. He went on to pursue an international career, before finding his way to Tavistock.

Giovanni’s mother Anna, was a renowned, commanding figure, highly respected for her education and not to be trifled with. As the ninth and only surviving child, Giovanni was cherished from the start. Home schooled until secondary education, he was pushed into technical college to study surveying. At the beginning of his third year

Giovanni took a rather brave leap of faith and walked out of the course, with no other option or plan, to the uproarious disapproval of his family. Slightly lost, he walked into the local hairdressing salon and asked for an apprenticeship. Immediately drawn to the immaculately dressed stylists, red leather furniture and shiny marble floor, he was a natural with clients and management. After two years of dedicated hard work, he wanted to increase his knowledge and expand his horizons; he applied for a hairdressing position in Manchester and was soon on his way.

Arriving in England in 1963 with a suitcase and very little English he embarked on his ‘second apprenticeship’ in a highly regarded salon owned by the Goldstein family. Noting his potential, Mr Goldstein soon took Giovanni

under his wing, teaching him not only the latest fashion for ladies’ hair styling, but also how to run a successful business. In 1968 Giovanni applied for a position with Steiner, the premier name in hair and beauty with exclusive salons in all major British cities, Trust House Forte hotels, and on cruise liners. He was promoted to manager at the salon in Birmingham and soon rose

through the ranks to become regional manager, then chief executive of Steiner SRL in Italy.

Giovanni attributes his ambition and success to character traits he inherited from his mother. Anna’s respect in the community meant she was tasked with distributing rationed food after the war which blossomed into running a large food shop. She was assertive, hard-working but socially aware, and Giovanni is the same, professional to a tee, with one eye on providing exceptional quality of service. Giovanni met his wife, Christine, when she was an apprentice hair stylist and they married within the year. Their first son James was born in 1972 but medical complications meant a reassessment of priorities. Giovanni relinquished his role in Italy and was offered the opportunity of opening a new salon for Steiner in Norwich. Giovanni realised the way forward was through corporate branding and began writing a training manual, ‘Progress with Steiner’, setting the standard for every employee to reach, and covering practical topics on styling techniques and colouring, but also etiquette, punctuality, and attitude. This manual was accepted as the Steiner formula and Giovanni was soon principal of a new Steiner training school in Wolverhampton for Steiner operational

standards, which ran multiple courses on hair styling as well as professionalism.

to Devon and he took up the position of manager of four salons owned by the Plymouth Cooperative Society. He expanded Snips to twelve salons, increasing clientele and turnover, raising the profile and promoting a new brand of professional service.

Giovanni spent a year in Los Angeles scouting locations and establishing four new ‘Toppy’s’ salons, a Steiner franchise - as well as training both stylists and management to his exacting standards. He later managed the team of stylists who fashioned the hair for the Miss World competition in 1981 and also visited Japan, speaking at prestigious seminars. Giovanni organised two exhibitions, The World of Steiner at Wembley Stadium and somehow found the time to launch a new hairstyle, the ‘coupe midi’ which swept the nation.

By 1985 having achieved professional recognition and personal success, Giovanni felt that the time had come to leave Steiner and dedicate more time to his family. He and his family moved

Giovanni turned 60, twenty years ago and decided to hand in his scissors. He has not been idle though. He began selling Italian produce at the Pannier Market in Tavistock and became a regular fixture, extolling the virtue of his authentic oils, pasta and coffee. He and Christine worked all hours creating delicious Italian menus and word soon spread. The Italian deli Sponzi’s was a huge success and has led to Giovanni teaching Italian cookery and giving Italian lessons. He is currently compiling a recipe book and has written a beautiful memoir packed with gorgeous photographs of his life and legacy.

Giovanni also lent himself to a Tavistock barber shop and continues to cut hair for friends, unable to completely let go of his first love. Like his mother he is a proudly Italian commanding presence, and his passion for hair, strong work ethic and top-quality customer service have led to a fascinating, varied, international and creative life.

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Nichola Williams

International presentation of the coupe midi

The coupe midi

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Why we need to keep moving

I love the winter months, and one of my favourite things at this time is reading books about people doing activity and exercise while curled up in front of the fire, and somehow feeling that it makes me more fit doing it. Now this might be a nice thing to do but really what I need to be doing is moving myself despite the dark and the rain.

We all know that exercise is important for our muscles and bones, and the strength of our body. We also know that exercise is important for our heart and cardiovascular system reducing our risk of heart attacks and strokes. But as a doctor and a human myself I know that the thought of having to exercise – to go out of our way, change clothes, get sweaty, be out of breath and uncomfortable – can feel intimidating and off-putting if we’re tired, or not as fit as we want to be, or self-conscious. What I’ve been thinking about more and more is movement, not exercise. What is fascinating is all the evidence emerging about just why movement is good for us and how the ‘surprising added benefits’ are now becoming more central to how we view movement. All of this is acutely important as year on year we’re moving less as a human race, whatever age we are. As a group we move a whopping 30% less than our counterparts in the 1960s.

There is growing evidence that movement is hugely important for our mental health too, and also for our

cognition and the actual act of thinking. I often discuss endorphins and related compounds, the ‘happy hormones’, with my patients. These are released when we exercise and act as stress busters, improving anxiety and depression. From now on I’m going to start talking much more about osteocalcin as well. This is a hormone released from our bones that has some vital jobs: it works directly on our brain improving its function, boosting our memory and keeping our thinking sharp. So absolutely do a sudoku and a crossword to keep your mind active and dementia at bay –but then go for a walk, or go out to a dance class, because that is just as essential to keeping our brain active. Another big job that osteocalcin does is in the fight against diabetes. It works on the pancreas and the fat cells to directly combat the development and progression of Type 2 diabetes. Bones produce osteocalcin when we are using and stressing them, which means when we are doing weight bearing exercises. This doesn’t mean you have to go to a gym and lift weights, anything that involves moving our own body weight around is weight bearing – walking, climbing a flight of stairs, doing tai chi or gardening. So move to beep the bones strong, and the strong bones will help to keep the brain and body healthy.

As well as decreasing movement, another point in our life when females significantly reduce bone density is after the menopause, so staying active

as we get into middle age and older is hugely important to preserve bone mass and minimise this post-menopausal loss. Wonderfully, we are now talking more about HRT. The oestrogen in HRT has a direct effect on the bones, helping keep them strong and healthy for longer, and therefore improving our brain and body function too.

So back to my cosy fireplace in the Devon winter. I can’t even use the excuse that the weather is too bad to go out because research shows we get additional health benefits from walking in the wind and rain. Raindrops stimulate plants and soil to release sweet smelling compounds into the air which improve our mood, and the highly ionised air associated with rain improves our lung capacity and amplifies our immunity. Really, I knew this anyway before reading the evidence about it. It is the proverbial ‘blowing away the cobwebs’ that makes us feel energised, less irritable and more joyous when we get back from a blustery rainy walk. So, wellies on, and out I go.

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of moving our bodies, read Move by Caroline Williams.

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Dr Jo Coldron Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock

Could you restart a heart?

In 2021, Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) crews attended 333 patients who were suffering a cardiac arrest. This year the crew has so far attended 247 patients whose heart stopped beating. Cardiac arrest is the most common reason their emergency medical team is called to help. As part of the charity’s ‘Help with all your Heart campaign’, they launched a public survey in February to find out how people felt about helping someone in cardiac arrest and what might stop them from stepping in. Almost two thirds of respondents said they would be willing to step in and help but felt lacking in two vital things that would empower them: knowledge and confidence. Respondents also stated they would be interested in finding out more.

DAA set about planning five CPR & defibrillator training days across Devon, designed to dismantle those barriers. The training was a huge success with all who fed back saying they would recommend this invaluable training to a friend. Several sessions were available over each training day which included a presentation by DAA Specialist

Paramedics, allowing people to learn about the differences between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, as well as a hands-on session learning how to carry out effective CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

Many described feeling much more knowledgeable about cardiac arrest and importantly, confident about stepping in to help someone suffering a cardiac arrest before specialist medical help arrives. Early intervention from a bystander giving CPR and using a defibrillator has been proven to give the patient a much better chance of survival.

Ginette Gisborne, communications manager at Devon Air Ambulance said: “It was fantastic to see so many people attend our first five training days, from retired couples and those who knew of a defibrillator in their local communities, to those who were retired medical professionals who came along to refresh their previous knowledge.

“We are thrilled to be able to plan more training days for 2023. Our team of Specialist Paramedics, who sadly have first-hand experience of many cardiac related incidents, will once again be leading the sessions. Giving people the knowledge and the confidence needed to help their loved one, a neighbour or a stranger in cardiac arrest means that another life may be saved.”

The DAA team is now planning when and where the next set of training days will be held and you can register your interest in attending a future training session by visiting bit.ly/DAACPRDAY

If you would like to support the vital work of Devon Air Ambulance, you can donate at daat.org/donate

Hardy plants that are not only tough enough to stand up to harsh winter conditions but which look great no matter the weather, are a wonderful investment, performing year after year to cheer us up in these dark, short days. Treat yourself to some winter cheer, or with Christmas just around the corner, give a growing gift that will get bigger and better as the years pass.

Topiary plants - evergreens stylishly trimmed in a variety of architectural shapes – give handsome substance and structure all year round. For the festive season, they also make a fantastic basis for an outdoor display in front gardens, patio pots, and raised beds, wreathed with fairy lights or Christmas decorations. Shapes vary from simple balls and small pyramids to more grandiose tall spirals or standards

with a clear stem and a ‘head’ of foliage. A matching pair emphasise and complement doors and gateways; taller plants create structural height in a patio or courtyard while small topiaries look fabulous in window boxes. Popular topiary plants include Box, small leaved Privet, Bay, and of course the Christmas classic, holly. This prickly character comes in a range of leaf colours from dark glossy green to bright variegations of gold and silver that are perfect for winter cheer. Female varieties bear berries: usually glowing sealing-wax red, as well as yellow, though berries are only borne if a male variety is growing nearby.

Winter-flowering shrubs are few, but those which bloom whatever the weather are real gems. Every garden is likely to have a corner for

Christmas box (Sarcococca), a neat little evergreen happy in sun or shade that is a mid-winter delight, smothered in little tassels of creamy-white flowers that aren’t the showiest to look at, but have an amazingly strong scent. Much more space is needed for a plant that combines bright blooms, scent, and autumn leaf colour: witch hazel or Hamamelis, which slowly forms a large shrub 2-3 metres high and wide. My top choice is the variety ‘Pallida’, with bright lemon-yellow, delightfully fragrant flowers. Growth can be restricted by pruning just after the flowers fade, or with care and patience it’s possible to train Hamamelis into a fan or espalier shape to fit a relatively small space. Finally, easy shrubs that are tops for scent, but not much for looks, are the shrubby winter-flowering honeysuckles Lonicera fragrantissima and L. purpusii.

Hamamelis

I grow mine in an out-of-the-way border and harvest stems of creamy-white flowers to bring in and enjoy indoors.

Winter plant care

Protect susceptible plants growing in pots if very cold weather is forecast. Any really tender plants like geraniums, fuchsias, and other patio plants should be tucked up indoors (hopefully already).

Move hardy and borderline hardy plants in pots against a sheltered, ideally south-facing house wall, and stand close together so they protect each other. These plants are vulnerable to frost damage as all the rootball is above ground, so wrap the pots in insulating material like bubble polythene or sacking. During severe frosts, wrap the top growth in thick horticultural ‘frost’ fleece.

Good drainage is important so make sure pots standing on paving can drain freely by raising them just off the ground using pot supports or putting pieces of slate or tile beneath. Standing pots on gravel is ideal.

Tender plants in greenhouses and polytunnels mostly survive with little or no additional heat unless the temperature goes well below zero. The important thing is to water sparingly as plants tolerate a surprising amount of cold so long as they don’t have ‘wet feet’. Regularly pick off dead leaves and faded flowers as these quickly become infested with grey mould that could spread to live growth.

Large shrubs that are destined to be pruned in spring, such as roses, butterfly bush (Buddleja), and mallow (Lavatera)

are at risk of wind damage. Reduce growth by half now so there’s less to blow about.

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Sue Fisher

Sue Fisher

Not long ago our garden was responding to autumn with changing leaf colours, abundant fruit and seeds, flowering ivy and colourful fungi. We were saying goodbye to swallows and redstarts starting their six-week return journey to Africa. But now winter is here. Our hedgehog no longer gathers nest material and sleeps under the old stone trough. Adult peacock and tortoiseshell butterflies have moved indoors to the conservatory. A young field cricket occupies the downstairs loo – a positive sign that numbers are improving.

The extended October warm spell meant many insects began seeking winter shelter later this year. We’ve enjoyed watching a huge garden spider eyeing up our wooden letterbox as a more hospitable refuge, and the large ladybird cluster discovered last year under the bedroom windowsill is back. In the

same room is an incomplete bell-shaped solitary wasp nest hanging from the curtains - started during the summer, but then abandoned.

Night-time frosts have encouraged our friendly toad to return to his favourite corner in the garage; how he squeezes his bulky body under the door is not yet known. Impervious to the cold with denser fur than other shrews, a solitary water-shrew has been spotted hunting aquatic prey in the pond.

We’ve enjoyed the grey squirrel antics as they try fathoming out where they squirrelled away their winter nut supply. Squirrels are supposed to have good spatial memories to relocate cached food larders - the many unsuccessful holes in our lawn suggest otherwise!

Finally, we’ve enjoyed testing Exeter

University’s findings about the pecking order of birds using seed and nut feeders. Our observations suggest the more aggressive birds, such as nuthatches, dominate the nut feeders, while larger birds, such as sparrows and finches, hold sway on the seed feeders. The smaller ones, such as tits and dunnocks, simply wait patiently until a gap opens in the queue. One bird that always trumps the others, however, is the Great Spotted Woodpecker, whose sudden and noisy arrival simply scatters all diners far and wide until he leaves.

Country Mouse

Our birdlife this winter

During the winter months we all look forward to spring and the sight of the first swallow. ‘Our’ swallows are now known to winter in South Africa, nearly 10,000 km (6000 miles) away, although in Gilbert White’s day (1720-1793) they were thought to overwinter in the mud of ponds! Their migration journey includes a crossing of the 2000-mile wide Sahara Desert. The change to milder winters over the last 40-50 years has meant that some flowers are in bloom almost all the year round. A few migrant birds have altered their migration pattern and some remain in Britain through the winter. There are now far more blackcaps and chiffchaffs overwintering in suburban gardens and coastal sites, and some gardens may host several blackcaps during winter. Even small numbers of swallows are now spending the winter in coastal areas of Cornwall.

Flocks of redwings and fieldfares are often seen in the countryside from autumn to spring, feeding on berries and other food. In very cold weather they even come into gardens. However, there was an almost total failure of rowan

berries across Scandinavia in autumn this year. Probably as a result of this berry shortage, easterly winds at the end of October resulted in a huge arrival of winter thrushes on the east coast. Several locations recorded thousands of redwings, with 33,000 over Flamborough and an amazing 122,000 counted over Crosby Marine Park in Lancashire, together with 19,000 fieldfares. In October, whilst staying on Lundy in the Bristol Channel, I witnessed an amazing passage of thrushes, mainly fieldfares, over several days, including one day when over 4000 fieldfares were counted, with fewer redwings and ring ouzels. Fieldfares and redwings breed from Scandinavia right across to eastern Russia. They feed on hawthorn, holly berries, and rosehips; when feeding on the ground they take worms, snails, beetle larvae and other invertebrates.

As a result of this year’s outbreak of avian influenza, many seabird colonies across Britain and Ireland have been devastated, with many birds dying. This has affected a variety of seabirds, with gannets, terns and skuas badly affected. Apparently the virus can survive for a year or more and there is great concern that it may continue to affect seabird colonies next year. The virus is probably spread through wild birds coming into contact with infected chickens, and then migrating to another country.

Greenfinch numbers have declined over the last decade due to trichomonosis, which affects their lungs. Recent research has now shown that chaffinches, as well as greenfinches, can also be infected with trichomonosis. Since birds visit garden feeding stations on a daily basis, it is very important to clean out the feeders regularly to avoid spreading disease. Don’t forget to provide water for the birds to bathe in; this helps to keep their plumage in good condition. Even a small bird bath is useful. If you get frequent visits from a sparrowhawk intent on his breakfast, place the bird feeders close to a hedge or thick bush so that the birds have somewhere to hide!

Anthony John

Running a family farming business, you would think, would be a straightforward affair. Follow the seasons, grow grass, grow sheep, grow cows, sell them, repeat! This is obviously a large part of what we do but as a result of the farming activity which has taken place on Dartmoor for generations, we have created some pretty special landscapes, full of history, habitat and beauty. For the past 25 years or so we have been able to enhance what we have, through environmental agreements of various incarnations. Across the farm on our various blocks, we are currently involved in eight different projects or environmental agreements, doing all sorts of things to enhance and improve things.

Although farming has had a bad press at times for its environmental record, here on Dartmoor I think we have done a fair job of working hand-in-hand with our environment. There are lots of things we can improve but because it is such a harsh, wet place, at times the only option is to work with nature. Trying to work against it on a bleak, wet rock just will not work! One of the bigger projects we are involved with is at Dartmoor Prison farm in partnership with the Duchy estate and South West Peatland Partnership (SWPP). Over the past year we have been rewetting about 200 hectares of peat. In the past, peat on this site was drained and harvested as fuel for the prison and the local community, and the land was dried out to grow more edible forage. Our ancestors made use of a valuable resource available to them at the time, but as understanding of our natural world has changed, we now know that functioning wet peatlands are great at locking away carbon and slowing water down. SWPP has been awarded a grant to rewet our peat and peatlands all over the South West. The process uses specialist equipment to minimise

ground disturbance and create numerous small leaky dams in the drainage channels across the landscape. This slows the flow, raises the water table, and allows the sphagnum moss to grow and regenerate the functioning peatbog, thereby trapping carbon, slowing the flow of our rivers and allowing peatland habitats to thrive.

It is a bit of a leap of faith on our part as we are one of the first farms to rewet part of our land on Dartmoor, but we believe in looking after our natural capital and doing what we can to help mitigate climate change. There is a question over commercial value to the farm. Currently the money available only covers the mechanics of the project, and we are not yet sure how it will affect our cattle and sheep, and their grazing patterns on a wetter landscape. I am sure the next generation of environmental agreement will reward this positive management, assuming

the government has the stability to make decisions about the future of our industry, and the ability for agricultural policy to find that sweet spot between feeding people alongside maintaining a thriving environment and landscape. But that is a whole other subject!

Winter sees all the cattle come into the barns to protect them from the Dartmoor weather. Let’s hope we have enough feed to see us through. Cutting out the use of artificial fertilizer saved us money this year, but our harvest was down as a result, and not helped by the dry summer. We will have to be careful and manage what is available as best we can!

I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year, from all at Greenwell Farm!

M.T. ALLEN M.T. ALLEN

Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm

Tommy Hatwell grew up near Tavistock but spent 15 years travelling the globe, before becoming a commercial photographer. He first went to Uganda in 2008; the strong connections he made with local people have frequently drawn him back, resulting in Think People Think Story and its lifechanging projects.

Initially, Tommy’s visits to Uganda focused around photographing the everyday lives of the people. During his 2017 trip, Tommy met David, a keen, young photographer from the village of Kyabirwa. Twenty minutes later David had a big camera round his neck and was documenting projects alongside Tommy. They worked together during Tommy’s next two trips, including two years of planning and realising ‘The Borehole’ photo, based on the evening ritual when local people ‘would come along from all directions, arriving with 1,2,3 or more yellow, plastic jerry cans ready to be pumped full of water from deep underground’. In 2019, the portrait of 37 children at the borehole in Kyabirwa was finally ready and Tommy returned to the small Ugandan village to show everyone the 2-meter-wide print.

More creativity followed with the Dream Studio, which came about after Tommy met 4-year-old Mariam, wearing a jumper emblazoned with ‘Dream’ - the nickname stuck and a project evolved to create a photo studio of banana leaves. By 5pm a line of young people had formed for Tommy to take their portraits, while helper Afuwa recorded their name, age and dream for the future. In the summer of 2019, Tommy organised an exhibition in Tavistock Library, with The Borehole print, and children designed and wrote postcards to send to the Ugandan children in the image.

In February 2019, Tommy and David visited Acholi Quarter, a Kampala slum which was originally a camp for refugees fleeing from the LRA. They were there to meet and photograph the New Hope Dance Project group who use yoga and street dance to support the mental and physical health and wellbeing of both young and old. There they came across Ambrose and Morris in the group, who were working with organisations to help their community access medical support and food. Ambrose and Morris joined Tommy and David, for a few photo shoots, as a way to educate, and empower people – and in the process the four began to gel as a team.

The Sleepwell Project

chunks of foam which served as mattresses. He had the idea of buying a few new mattresses to create a studio backdrop for portrait photos, before gifting the mattresses to those taking part. After sharing the idea with the team, it quickly evolved into a larger collaborative project. Over the next eight months, the project took shape, with David, Ambrose, and Morris sending videos and images from Uganda, whilst Tommy worked on it in the UK. The team took on the name ‘Think People Think Story’ and in October 2019, they released The Sleepwell Project – people around the world were asked to make donations to pay for a mattress to be delivered to a Ugandan family; the photographic team in Uganda created a portrait of the family with the mattress and shared it with the supporter. Over three days in February 2020, Think People Think Story delivered 60 mattresses, 45 treated mosquito nets, as well as bed sheets, and blankets to 60 families in the Acholi Quarter, benefitting over 300 people. During the covid pandemic from March to December 2020, Think People Think Story mobilised two teams in Uganda to help families in need in two communities, delivering 33,756 bowls of life-sustaining food, 700 handmade masks and over 450 cartons of milk.

Sleep is vital to function both mentally and physically, and sleep quality can be the difference between a good or bad day. In November 2022, the Think People Think Story team set out once again with a target of delivering 100 mattresses to two communities in Uganda. Tommy has also been working with Adventure Okehampton over the last two summers, and six staff members are helping deliver the Sleepwell Project 2022. All bedding items are purchased locally in Uganda with 100% of supporter’s donations going towards buying them.

For more information or if you would like to support the initiatives in Acholi Quarter, Kampala and Bujagali near Jinja, please go to thinkpeoplethinkstory.com or email thinkpeoplethinkstory@gmail.com

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legally speaking...

to do so, contributing to record breaking waits in Accident & Emergency departments following a decision to admit, and dangerous ambulance handover delays. Members of staff involved in the inspections described the system they work in as “in crisis” and shared their fears of the risk of harm people may face as representing a worrying new status quo.

There are no instant fixes – solutions to the problem that affect people’s care can only come from long term planning and investment.

the event you do not have family or friends our Anne Reed can be appointed as your Health & Welfare Attorney which means should you need such support, once appointed through a Lasting Power of Attorney, she can step in and facilitate such discharges and transitions on your behalf.

The principle message of this article is take time to think about the “what if” scenarios whilst you are well. This is not age related as everyone should think about who would make decisions for them in

Stepping

On the 21st October 2022 the Care Quality Commission (The organisation which inspects and monitors the standards of care within the NHS and Care homes) published it’s “State of Care” report for 2021-2022. The Chief Executive, Kathryn Smith, summarised the health and care system in England as a “gridlocked” situation. It is “unable to operate effectively”. “The capacity in adult social care has reduced but the unmet need has increased”. The report reminds us all of the urgency to think about how this situation affects us but in particular, the elderly and vulnerable and carers alike.

The report states only 2 in 5 people are able to leave hospital when they are ready

At Paladin we recognise that organisations both within the NHS and private sector do not have the time to focus on a person’s overall experience of care and we witness a fragmented approach that frequently leaves it to family members or services such as ourselves - we act as a voice and coordinator to ensure access to all areas of support be that facilitating a discharge from hospital back into the person’s own home, or working with the various organisations to source available funding options and negotiating packages of care.

With our extensive clinical and legally experienced team we are able to step in, often at a time of crisis, to both advise and help practically to fulfil an individual’s wishes. Either through haste or lack of knowledge, many of our clients are told the only option when in need of care and support is to go into a care home. The predominant wish of all our clients is to be cared for at home – but, what do you need to do or know to ensure this can happen?

This is where Paladin can step in and support such hospital discharges, provide links to care agencies and sign post to appropriate resources within our professional networks. In

the event they were unable to do so and where to access professional advice when the need arises. We welcome you to call us and seek guidance, either as to how to prepare for the future or perhaps to deal with an urgent need for care and advice. Every circumstance is different but with over 40 years of experience Paladin has supported clients and families across the UK at differing intervals of illness and need and continues to be one of the leading advocacy organisations in the UK.

Do take a look at our website to see the range of services we offer and simply call or have a chat with a member of our team.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Anne Reed Solicitor & Advocate Paladin Advocates

in at a time of crisis...

“With our extensive clinical and legally experienced team we are able to step in, often at a time of crisis to both advise and help practically”

Cleaning up the River Tamar

‘Sewage is discharged into our rivers on a daily basis.’ (The Rivers Trust)

I live just downstream from the Metherell sewage works and the 2021 map of sewage discharges at www.theriverstrust.org shows South West Water was given a permit for Metherell sewage works to spill sewage in exceptional circumstances 188 times over a period of 3,707 hours. (Exceptional circumstances means circumstances that could not be reasonably foreseen and for which there was insufficient time to take the necessary action to resolve the situation arising from those circumstances.) In 2021 in the Calstock area of the River Tamar there were 17 treatment plants which between them totalled 20,309 hours of discharge. This obviously cannot continue. The public use the river for gig racing, canoeing, sailing, fishing, cattle drink from the water, children play in Cotehele Weir and wild swimmers swim in the river.

South West Water has announced plans to introduce WaterFit to protect rivers and seas - ‘WaterFit will dramatically reduce our use of storm overflows, maintain our region’s excellent bathing

water quality standards all year round and reduce and then remove our impact on river water quality by 2030. Working with partners and customers WaterFit will begin to deliver the change we all want to see.’

This is an admirable ambition, but the rivers need to be cleaned up now. One way of putting pressure on polluters is by achieving designated bathing water status. Currently, the River Wharfe at Ilkley in Yorkshire, and a stretch of the River Thames at Port Meadow, Oxford, are the only rivers with designated bathing water status in the UK. Calstock Parish Council intends to add the waterfront at Calstock to this list. When the designation has been confirmed, the river will be monitored by the Environment Agency (EA) and permits to discharge sewage will be scrutinised.

Water quality standards are set for bathing waters based on World Health Organisation research into the incidence of stomach upsets in people bathing in waters with different levels of bacteria. Water is tested for two types of bacteria: E. coli and intestinal enterococci. These bacteria usually get

into water from sewage and animal manure. Tests are carried out regularly, usually weekly, between 15 May and 30 September in England.

Currently the Tamar has NO monitoring whatsoever in the Calstock area for bacteria from sewage and animal manure. Bathing water designation guarantees that the EA will carry out bacteria sampling during the bathing season (May to September).

I am optimistic that South West Water will be able to adapt their processes to enable Calstock to be proud of its bathing water status. The Calstock part of the Tamar is in a World Heritage Site, AONB and SSSI and as such should surely be a top priority.

Brown BDS

See www.theriverstrust.org for more information and how you can get involved in cleaning up our rivers. www. theriverstrust.org/sewage-map shows where sewage discharges and overflows into rivers took place in England & Wales in 2021.

Photo: Jan Simpson

Andrew

Ten Tors with Dartmoor Plodders

The Dartmoor Plodders is an independent walking group and Ten Tors team for young people. Founded in 2001, the group is run entirely by volunteers – all of whom have done Ten Tors. Plodders get to make friends outside of school and although we do have a history of winning things, with several event records in the 2000s, there’s no pressure to do that. What really matters is enthusiasm and teamwork. Our training is thorough, but includes lots of fun - we can’t say for sure, but not many teams bring sofas to Okehampton Camp – or a lifesize plastic skeleton!

Whatever we’re doing seems to be working: Dartmoor Plodders hasn’t had a single participant drop out of the Ten Tors event in over a decade.

The training season involves lots of walking (typically every other weekend), camping and a residential. There is then the chance to enter other local events and challenges, like Abbott’s Way and Midnight Madness. The Plodders are also one of the few groups who still train and enter a 55-mile Ten Tors team, if there’s enough interest from previous 45-milers. Beyond completing events, we help young people develop outdoor skills and understanding to see them through life: camp craft, map and compass navigation, independence and self-reliance - as well as a comprehensive knowledge of Dartmoor.

Some members have gone on to become outdoor instructors, join the military or emergency services – and most continue their love for the outdoors post-school, be it hiking, trail running, mountaineering, rock climbing.

Dartmoor Plodders are currently recruiting walkers for Ten Tors 2023 in the 35 and 45-mile events (ages 14-17). If you are interested or would like to find out more, please contact us via Instagram or Facebook message @ dartmoorplodders.

‘Tree of Trees’ for Yelverton Yelverton plans for the Coronation

On 12 October, a very special tree was planted in Yelverton Play Park. The tree, a birch, was one of the ‘Tree of Trees’ outside Buckingham Palace during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer. At the end of the celebrations, it was decided to distribute these trees around the country and Yelverton Play Park was chosen as a suitable site for one of them. The tree was planted by Clare Broom, a deputy lieutenant of Devon, Ric Cheadle, chair of Yelverton Community Projects (which looks after the play park), and children from Mount Kelly who regularly come and help maintain the park.

The play park receives no local authority funding, and raises all its

funds from donations, bequests and by running a monthly lottery. There is a planned ‘upgrade’ for the toddler area, funds permitting, over the next year.

If you would like to help, donate, join the lottery or just want to know more, please get in touch at r_s_cheadle@ hotmail.com; we’d love to hear from you!

A ‘Yelverton event’ to celebrate the King’s Coronation is being planned for May 2023 and we’re looking for local groups to join in, both to support the event and use the occasion to promote their group. It will probably be centred around Yelverton Play Park on the afternoon of 6th or 7th of May with a BBQ, children’s entertainment and something for grown-ups too! If you would like to be involved or know more, please contact Ric at r_s_ cheadle@hotmail.com or 01822 84710.

Success for Tavistock

Tavistock BID held its annual AGM in October where it outlined plans for 2023. Some of the priorities will be: to develop the reach of Visit Tavistock; to encourage visitors to spend longer in the town and immediate area; to investigate a new annual event in the town; to conduct an initial survey for free town WIFI and to continue supporting the town’s businesses during uncertain economic times.

The Tavistock Gift Card scheme will shortly be re-defined, with new businesses joining the scheme. So far, the Gift Card has increased spend in the town to the tune of £40,000 and we are excited by its success. You can pick one up from Lawsons Tavistock, pick up a ‘Load This Card’ envelope at all participating businesses or buy it online. It really is so simple, and the choice is vast! Best of all, it directly supports the town. The perfect gift this Christmas. tavistockgiftcard.co.uk

We are extremely proud to have won a GOLD for our entry into South West in Bloom and for supporting the town’s own entry which was awarded Silver Gilt. The BID entry also came

top of its class, beating other towns and cities across the region. Thanks must go to Ali Sedgewick of the Community Gardeners and Becky Rowe at Tavistock Town Council for supporting it, alongside Tidy Tavi and all the other local community groups that make this town so special.

With Christmas fast approaching, we look forward to the many events taking place throughout the town. There will be ‘free from 3’ parking on Thursdays and Fridays providing a great reason to come in and shop later on in the day! For more details on all upcoming events go to visit-tavistock.co.uk/ whats-on

Local magazines for local people by local people. See our community

Tavistock food charity makes a huge difference

A charity set up to help people struggling to feed themselves and their families through the cost-of-living crisis, has launched a Saturday FoodStore project in Tavistock. The scheme, based at Tavistock Red and Black Club in Crowndale Road, offers a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled food between 11am and noon every Saturday. Anyone can take advantage of the project. All that is asked is a donation towards the cost of running the charity, to cover electricity, fuel, rates and rent. It follows the success of the Devon and Cornwall Food Action (DCFA) charity inspired Tavistock Food Box initiative since July, which has seen more than 160 families being supported.

DCFA trustee and Whitchurch resident Graham Parker said: “People can fill a carrier bag with anything that we have on display – fruit, vegetables, dairy

products, eggs, baking and confectionery – and all that we ask is a donation of £5 to the charity. Everyone associated with the Food Box Initiative is a volunteer, and we are always looking for more volunteers to help.”

The Tavistock Food Box Initiative is a partnership between DCFA, the Red and Black Club and local volunteer charity Tavi Helps. In addition to helping feed people, DCFA also focuses on minimising food waste and the food boxes help to save some of the surplus produce from supermarkets ending up in landfill. However, even after boxes have been filled and distributed, there is still surplus and that’s where the Saturday short-dated FoodStore comes in, to avoid discarding food which is perfectly good but is within a few days of its sellby or best-by date. It is offered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis at the Red and

New charity shop in Yelverton

Plymouth & Cornwall Cancer Fund (PCCF) is delighted to announce the opening of a second shop in Yelverton in November/December 2022. This is happening almost exactly 25 years since our first shop opened in Hyde Park Road, Plymouth. PCCF is a small local charity committed to supporting local people whose lives are affected by cancer and

who are under the care of Derriford Hospital. We do this by providing small grants to people in need, perhaps for travel expenses or accommodation. We also fund initiatives to improve diagnosis, care and treatment, staff education, and research; in addition we are currently financing training posts for cancer nurse specialists.

Black Club and anything left over after that is taken to Tavy Fridge at Tavistock Library and to the nurses in the Intensive Care Unit at Derriford. As well as the Saturday FoodStore, in the past three months the partnership has provided over 300 food boxes to more than 160 local families.

The boxes contain enough food to feed a small family for a week, for a suggested charitable donation of £17. Boxes are available for collection from the Red and Black Club on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 11 and noon. On those days, DCFA’s volunteer drivers can also deliver to homes in an area as wide as Gunnislake, Bere Alston, Yelverton, Princetown, Mary Tavy, Lamerton and Milton Abbot. To order a box, contact graham.parker@dcfa.org.uk or ring Graham on 07545 075942.

Please do come along and support this new venture in Yelverton - pick up a bargain and meet the team. And if you’re interested in volunteering either in the shop or fundraising, please get in touch on 01822 859042. Our other contact details can be found on our website at www.plymouthandcornwallcancerfund. org.uk

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ARGYLE COMMUNITY TRUST

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AND FOOD (HAF) PROGRAMME

19 - 22 December, 10am-3pm

Available locally at Horrabridge Primary School and Mount Kelly College, Tavistock, this Christmas holiday programme provides 5 free hours of activities each day, such as multi sports, invasion games, athletics, racket sports, dance, daily mile; plus animal encounters, circus skills and magic tricks. Available to all primary and secondary pupils, priority places for children eligible for free school meals. Book at argylecommunitytrust.co.uk; more info at devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies

BUCKLAND ABBEY

A MAGICAL WOODLAND CHRISTMAS

3 - 31 December (closed 25, 26 Dec), 10am-4pm

Step into Buckland Abbey’s Great Barn, transformed into a magical forest this Christmas. Look out for animals living in the trees and admire the immersive light and sound display. Normal admission charges apply.

OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS

17 - 18 December, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 2pm and 3pm

Meet Olde Father Christmas at Buckland Abbey as he returns to read Christmastime stories to groups of children and listen to your Christmas wishes. Booking essential at nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey£6 per child, plus normal admission charges apply.

COTEHELE

CHRISTMAS AT COTEHELE MILL

3, 4, 10 & 11 Dec; daily 17 Dec - 3 Jan (closed 25, 26 Dec), 11am-3pm

Follow the festive lights to Cotehele Mill, discover the mill decorated in traditional Victorian style and see how families celebrated Christmas then. Normal admission charges apply.

LET’S WASSAIL!

17 December, 11.30am-12.30pm Join us for our annual wassail as we attempt the scare away the evil spirits from the orchards to ensure a bumper crop next year. Fancy dress encouraged. Normal admission charges apply.

SOAPBOX THEATRE

THE CHRISTMAS MOUSE 15 - 24 December

Christmas Mouse has lost his home when the snow begins to fall. Can he find somewhere warm and snuggly before Christmas Day? Follow his adventures in this charming Christmas story with stunning puppets made by Jacqueline.

THE SNOW CAT AT YULETIDE 17 - 24 December

This enchanting story from an Icelandic traditional tale, explains if we all work together, we can make incredible things happen. Will mischief and mayhem from some rather mischievous elves get in the way, or can the village pull together to make sure nothing or no-one goes astray - with incredible puppets, magical characters and a fantastic soundtrack.

PLYM VALLEY RAILWAY

CHRISTMAS EXPRESS Weekends 3 - 18 & 19 - 21 December

Board a special steam train service at Marsh Mills Station, Plympton and travel to Plym Bridge to meet Father Christmas, receive a gift and play in the snow. Booking essential at www.plymrail.co.uk.

RHS ROSEMOOR

DICK WHITTINGTON

17 December, 2-4pm

Join Dick Whittington and his faithful feline friend Tommy on their quest to seek fame and fortune in the city of London, where the streets are paved with gold and the evil Queen Rat dwells. Admission includes entry to Glow at 4:30pm.

THEATRE ROYAL

PINNOCHIO

The Drum, until 14 January

Three very funny men seek refuge in a grand but abandoned old house, where an extraordinary dining table becomes their playground. Grandfather, Father and Son tell tales of growing up; one of them is Pinocchio and he’s had quite a life! Stuff and Nonsense combine this classic story with hilarity, skilled puppetry, music and extraordinary tricks.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

The Lyric, 16 December - 14 January

Once upon a time in a land far away, the beautiful Princess Aurora is given a twenty-first birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse. On pricking her finger, a cruel curse forces her to sleep for 100 years.

THE BOX

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Until 18 December

Tuck into breakfast with Santa at The Box Kitchen & Bar, including pancakes, bacon, sausage, egg or veggie sausage baps with tea or coffee for adults and hot chocolate or fruit juice for children. Children’s tickets include a gift from Santa too.

FAMILY FUN: FESTIVE PLAY WITH CLAY

3 & 10 December, 10:30am - 12:30pm; 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Drop in and learn more about Andy Holden’s ceramic cats artwork on display in British Art Show 9. Make your own festive cat, or another figurine inspired by something special to you, and share some creative time. Activities are ideal for 4 to 11-year-olds and their adults. Free admission, no need to book.

FAMILY FUN: TELL ME A STORY 2, 9, 16, 23 December, 10:30 - 11:00am

Join us every Friday morning for half an hour of storytelling underneath our figureheads. Our story time sessions are perfect for under 5s and their grown-ups, and don’t worry, you’ll still have time to go and say ‘hello’ to Mildred the Mammoth afterwards!

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Tavistock’s much-loved, traditional Dickensian Evening is a truly magical part of the town’s Christmas season. We are anticipating a spectacular event this year with entertainment from The Curiosity Christmas Tree, Corvus Angelicus and Elfic. There will be fire performers, child rides and vintage music from Terrie-Mae McNulty, and Father Christmas will be on hand to spread the seasonal joy. The smell of roasting chestnuts and twinkling of Christmas lights is sure to get those festive feelings flowing! The evening remains a celebration of our town and the businesses who make the event possible, as they embrace the festivities in traditional dress. This year the lantern parade will begin from 5pm in the

centre of town, and the Christmas lights will be switched-on by local school children and Town Mayor, Cllr. Ward, at 5:45pm. Community carol singing will take place at 8:30pm on Bedford Square.

To complement the town’s shops and eateries, we can also expect a host of other wonderful stalls selling cider, Christmas puddings, Christmas decorations and mulled wine. You can also visit the Christmas Tree Festival in St Eustachius’ Church until 9pm, and the Magic of Christmas Market in Butchers’ Hall. Let’s Christmas Together in Tavistock.

It’s pantomime time again!

Friday 9 to Saturday 24 December

‘Oh No It Isn’t!’

Barbican Theatre, Plymouth

They’re the best of sisters on stage but the worst of friends off it... It’s the final performance of Cinderella in a motheaten, regional theatre and backstage tensions threaten to boil over onstage. Will the ugly sisters keep the professional professional, and the personal personal? Will we ever find out what happened during Babes in the Wood? Based on a lifetime of experience onstage and backstage, Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre’s Oh No It Isn’t! is a hilariously funny and beautifully moving new play exploring the highs and lows of life in

December to 14 January

Sleeping Beauty

Theatre Royal Plymouth

Join soap star and panto legend Shane Richie this Christmas at Theatre Royal Plymouth and make Sleeping Beauty the pantomime of your dreams! He will be joined by X Factor winner, Matt Terry, the fabulous Ceri Dupree, the hilarious Peter Piper and newcomer Stephanie McKenzie as Sleeping Beauty. Once upon a time in a land far away, the beautiful Princess Aurora is given a twenty-first birthday present by her evil aunt Carabosse. By pricking her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel, she is placed under a cruel curse and forced to sleep for 100 years. Can true love survive and can the handsome Prince Charming break the spell? Who will outwit

26 to 28 January, 2 to 4 February

Robin Hood & Babes in the Wood

Postbridge Village Hall

Phyl’s Follies present this year’s pantomime - Ben Crocker’s hilarious version of Robin Hood & Babes in the Wood. When the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham and his clueless henchman, Dennis, disguise themselves as school girls, so they can capture the Babes, Tilly and Tommy, at the village school run by Winnie Widebottom, the scene is set for an epic adventure. Robin Hood may be the best archer in the land, but can he and his gang of outlaws outwit the scheming Sheriff and save the Babes? Come along and meet the colourful Winnie Widebottom, the infamous Robin Hood and his beloved Maid Marion, the slightly confused Friar Tuck and Little Joan, as well

the theatre. Written by Great British Pantomime Award nominee Luke Adamson, using real anecdotes and stories. See barbicantheatre.co.uk for details and tickets: full £16.50, concessions £13.50, suitable for age 12+.

the evil enchantress and foil her wicked plans? All will be revealed in this spectacular panto, packed with magic, music, comedy and special effects. Tickets from £18, for more details go to theatreroyal.com

as the band of Outlaws. Help them search for Tilly and Tommy and stop the evil Sheriff’s plans. Expect fun, laughter, songs and dances in this family friendly production as two great stories combine to create one fantastic pantomime!

Performances: Thurs 26 & Fri 27 January, 7.30pm; Sat 28 January, 2pm matinee; Thurs 2, Fri 3, Sat 4 February, 7.30pm. Tickets: adult £8.00, child £4.00; ice creams can also be pre-booked. For all bookings contact 01822 880223, postbridgepanto@gmail.com or see Sue on the meat stall at Walkhampton market on Saturday mornings.

Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 December

Horrabridge Festival of Nativity Scenes

Nativity scenes created by the local community will be on display 10.30am to 4.30pm each day. Tea/coffee and cake will be available plus a hamper raffle. Free craft sessions for children will be held on Tues 13 and Thurs 15

December from 3.00pm to 4.30pm. Entry is by donation with proceeds in aid of the St John’s Church porch and roof restoration. The festival concludes on Sun 18 December with a service of Advent carols at 4.30pm.

13 December to 18 December

Yelverton Christmas Tree Festival

One again it is time for the Christmas Tree Festival at Rock Methodist Church in Yelverton. It seems to come around very quickly and this year, more than ever, we hope it will be a cheerful beacon of light in these difficult times. For those that don’t know, the festival hosts about 22 trees, all sponsored and decorated by local businesses, organisations and schools. The church is very suited to this type of display as there are no internal pillars which means that when you walk in you get the full impact of the trees. I never cease to be amazed at the creativity of the decorations which frequently reflect the nature of the business or organisation sponsoring the tree. Even more amazing are the trees decorated by local schools on behalf of some of

the businesses. If you have never been to the event, you are missing a real treat especially as it is all FREE. The festival runs from Tuesday 13 December – Sunday 18 December with a carol service on the Sunday at 10:30am.

Opening times are as follows:

Tues 13 – Sat 17 Dec: 10.00am – 4pm

Sun 18 Dec: 2pm – 4pm

Sun 18 Dec: Carol service at 10.30am

Festive family fun at Buckland Abbey and Cotehele

Whether discovering the magical winter forest within Buckland Abbey’s Great Barn or admiring the 60ft festive garland at Cotehele, there are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained this winter.

Step into a magical forest at Buckland Abbey as the Great Barn is turned into an immersive light display filled with 100 Christmas trees, the sounds of the forest and light, changing from dawn to dusk. Look out for different animals along your way before completing the habitat exploration trail around the gardens. Head into the abbey to see the house fully decorated as it turns into an Elizabethan home of feast and festivity, working with local floristry groups who have beautifully decorated the fireplaces and stairways around the abbey. Don’t miss the cascade descending down

the Georgian staircase with over 700 decorations made by volunteers, exploring how, with the changing of the seasons, the ruling king changes too.

Celebrate Christmas with a festive day out to Cotehele. Every year Cotehele’s gardeners build a 60-foot garland from thousands of flowers grown on the estate – this year is no different. Head to the Great Hall to admire this year’s festive masterpiece adorning the entire length of the hall featuring thousands of dried flowers. Follow the festive lights along the stream to find Cotehele Mill tucked within the Morden Valley. See the mill decorated in traditional Victorian style and discover how families celebrated Christmas in those times. Challenge the family to see who can complete Cotehele’s winter trails the quickest, get creative at our crafting

stations and see who looks best in the various outfits to try on.

It wouldn’t be a National Trust visit without a break for cake, and Cotehele and Buckland Abbey have plenty of options. Keep those mittens warm with a warming hot chocolate as you explore the estate paths or head indoors to enjoy festive treats and lights meals. Find local gifts within the shops or something unique in the craft galleries. Every time you join, make a purchase, donate or volunteer, you help us to look after Buckland Abbey and Cotehele –thank you.

Festive memories made at Cotehele and Buckland Abbey

Plan your day out:

nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey

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Wassails and mummers’ plays

Dartmoor Border Morris keeps practicing regularly through the winter and thoughts are now turning to this season’s wassailing. What, I hear you ask, is a wassail? ‘Wassail’ is an old English word for ‘your health’ (‘wes hál’ meaning ‘be in good health’ - Oxford English Dictionary). The greeting became a drinking toast which was said when passing around a ceremonial drinking bowl, with the reply ‘Drink hail’ (‘drinc hæil’). Wassailing in orchards developed from this tradition to wish the trees good health and encourage an abundant crop in the forthcoming year. Cider is poured on the tree’s roots and toast is tied to the branches to ‘feed’ the tree. Musicians play while everyone sings the wassailing song. The crowd then makes a lot of noise to frighten away any bad spirits. These events are very family friendly, so wrap up warm, wear wellies, and bring a horn, or even better, your mum’s favourite cooking pot and a wooden spoon to make as much noise as possible! We will be performing three wassails in January at Cornwood, Buckland Abbey and Bere Ferrers.

Dartmoor Border Morris also performs a mummers’ play at Buckland Abbey, the former home of Sir Francis Drake. The plays’ origins are lost in the mists of time but they are based loosely on the legend of St George and the dragon, showing the struggle between good and evil. Our play shows how Drake overcomes the evil King Philip of Spain, with the help of a Quack, the Winter Queen and a Morris beast called Chatterley. Mummers often hid their faces behind masks and the plays were performed in the winter, probably as a way of earning money when work was short. In addition, we will be at Bere Alston Christmas Fair on Saturday 3 December from 6pm, The Dolphin Hotel in Plymouth on 10 December from 1pm, and The Royal Oak, Meavy on Boxing Day from midday. New dancers and musicians are always

welcome at Wednesday rehearsals in Meavy Parish Hall. Check out www. dartmoorbordermorris.com or like our Facebook page.

Saturday 17 December

Let’s Wassail! At Cotehele

At Cotehele’s annual wassail we attempt to scare away the evil spirits from the orchards to ensure a bumper crop next year. Fancy dress encouraged. Normal admission charges apply, 11.30am-12.30pm.

Sunday 1 January

Cornwood Wassail

Dartmoor Border Morris starts with Morris dancing outside Cornwood Inn from 3pm, then there’s a short walk to the Millennium Orchard for a wassail. Suitable for children of all ages; wellies are a must.

Sunday 8 January

Mummers’

Play & Buckland Abbey Wassail

Dartmoor Border Morris perform their traditional mummers’ play at 12pm in the Great Barn at Buckland Abbey, followed by a wassail in the Great Orchard. Normal admission charges apply.

Saturday 21 January

Bere Ferrers Wassail

Starting from Bere Ferrers Church Hall at 6pm, everyone heads to the orchard for a bonfire and to wassail the apple trees with libations of cider and plenty of noise to ward off bad spirits, followed by morris dancing, poetry, music and a pasty supper. Small entry fee.

Friday 13 January to Sunday 12 March

Snowdrop Festival

Here at The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, we’re renowned for our snowdrop collection and the range and variety in flower builds from December into January, in readiness for the first day of the Snowdrop Festival. Spread throughout the 10-acre garden, the 350 plus species and varieties are a welcome adornment to the winter landscape. Autumn leaves have fallen, most perennials have retreated below ground, leaving the foliage of camellias, rhododendrons and other evergreens to furnish the garden, with some even flowering at this time: by the house, yellow flowered Mahonia ‘Lionel Fortescue’ was bred here,

and Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Enchantress’ welcomes visitors with scent that can travel as far as the car park on warmer days. Venture further into the walled garden and the winter flowering Clematis urophylla is draped over the walled garden tower. Add to this, bright winter bark from the dogwood shrubs, many birches and acers, and winter doesn’t seem quite as bleak. The garden and café open Friday to Sunday, 10:30am to 3:30pm. See.thegardenhouse.org.uk/whats-on for details of the festival, talks and specialist nursery visits together with a full schedule of events and workshops for 2023. We look forward to seeing you.

26, 27 & 28

January

Tipping Point

Buckland Monachorum Drama Group presents ‘Tipping Point’, a comedy by Vince Jones and James Cuthill. The action takes place in a recycling centre. It’s young Chantelle’s first day working at the Crudley Recycling Centre. Ron and Reg show her the ropes,

including some nefarious sidelines which Chantelle is able to turn into charitable causes. All the time various customers, with issues of their own, come and go. For details about tickets and performance times go to www. bucklandmonachorumdramagroup.co.uk

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DECEMBER

2 & 4 December

Magic of Christmas Market

ticket prices visit plymouthphilchoir.org.

9 December

Join us at 10:30am at Whitchurch

Choral concert

One Letter Answer

1. The head of MI6 is known be what one-letter code name?

If you are looking for something a little different, visit the award-winning Butchers’ Hall Tavistock, for the best of the region’s wares this Christmas. Open from 9am to 9pm on 2 Nov for Dickensian Evening and from 9am to 4pm on 4 Nov; free entry.

2. Most capital cities worldwide begin with this letter

3 - 11 December

3. Which vowel is not on the top row of a keyboard?

Tavistock Christmas Tree Festival

4. Which letter was the pound sign derived from?

5. The number 50 is represented by which letter in roman numerals?

6. This letter marks the ‘spot’ on treasure maps

7. The only letter that does not appear in the name of any US state

8. A type of road junction with 3 roads

See 60 trees, decorated by local schools, charities, businesses and organisations at St Eustachius’ Church. Opening ceremony at 2:30pm on 2 Dec then open daily from 10:00am to 4.30pm except during services. Refreshments available. Admission: adults £1, children free.

Levowan XII Chamber Choir and Mount Kelly Chamber Choir bring you a selection of seasonal choral music and contemporary Christmas favourites at 7.30pm at St Lalluwy’s Church, Menheniot, Cornwall, PL14 3RR. Entry free with retiring collection.

10 December

Festive Love Local Gift Market

Primary School for our annual carol service with Stannary Brass Band - a relaxed carol service for all ages, with your favourite carols plus some activities for the kids, followed by mince pies and tea/coffee - all are welcome!

14 - 23 December

Magic of Christmas Market

If you are looking for something a little

3 December

9. Three of this letter in a row indicates the sound of sleeping

Tavistock Arts Market

10. What is the blood type that is often referred to as a universal donor?

Tavistock Arts Market features a diverse group of local artists and craftspeople who fill Butchers’ Hall with a range of handmade art and handcrafted items such as jewellery, wood and textile goods, artisan soaps, pottery and much more. 9am until 4pm, free entry.

3 & 4 December

The Garden House Christmas Fair

Visit the winter gardens and the Christmas fair for unique gifts from local artisans and makers and a visiting specialist plant nursery. Cafe open serving take-away tea, coffee and cake. Normal garden admission applies (members free - membership available at thegardenhouse.org.uk/membership). 10.30am to 3.30pm.

4

December

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir performs Handel’s blockbuster, Judas Maccabaeus at 7.30pm in Plymouth Guildhall, with soloists Natalie Montakhab, Kate Symonds-Joy, Greg Tassell and James Cleverton. For further information, and

Support local businesses this Christmastime at our ever-popular festive market at Butchers’ Hall in Tavistock, featuring an array of the finest Yuletide themed local gift and food & drink exhibitors. What’s more, you’ll be supporting a host of local, small businesses too! 10:00am to 4:00pm, entry is free.

10 December

UPCS Christmas Concert

Join the University of Plymouth Choral Society for a concert of seasonal music in celebration of Christmas including Saint-Saens: Christmas Oratorio at the Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth with musical director, Dr Sean Sweeney and accompaniment by Mary MazurPark. 7:30pm, buy tickets at eventbrite. co.uk or www.uopcs.org.uk

11 December

Tavistock Christmas Festival

An all-day market jam-packed full of festive treats from over 60 artisan, upcycled and gift exhibitors selling a selection of jewellery, candles, gifts and many other amazing items. There’ll also be a fun and festive gnome trail for the little ones, a local choir, elves, festive bouncy castles and yummy food! Butchers’ Hall from 10am to 3:30pm. Entry free.

11 December

Redeemer Church Carol Service

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Butchers’ Hall in Tavistock, for

best of the region’s wares this Christmas. Open from 9am to 4pm; free entry.

18 December

All Things Festive & Lovely Join Miss ivy Events at Mount Kelly College for a day full of festive treats from over 50 artisan, upcycled and gift exhibitors selling a selection of jewellery, candles, gifts and many other

amazing items. There will also be a gnome trail for the little ones, choirs in the fabulous chapel, elves, bouncy castles, mulled wine and festive music. 10am to 3:30pm, £3.00 entry on the door or £6.00 including a glass of mulled wine. Under 12s free entry.

18 December

Redeemer Church Family Christmas service

Join us at 10:30am at Whitchurch Primary School for our Family Christmas Service, with fun & games for all ages, puppets, music and more! Followed by mince pies and tea/coffee.

21 December

Christmas Extravaganza St Mary’s, Sampford Spiney are reviving their Christmas Extravaganza at 7.15pm on 21 December after a two-year Covid driven interregnum. As many of you know this is an excellent way to get into the mood for Christmas with its combination of carols, music, poetry and pantomime, as well as hot punch at half time. Tickets are £5 for adults from members of the PCC or direct from simonpatrickhill@outlook.com –children attend free.

31 December

Grand New Year Dinner

An evening of fabulous food, dancing and celebration at The Bedford Hotel in Tavistock, with delicious canapes on arrival, a superb five-course dinner and a glass of fizz for the countdown to midnight. £90 per person, to book call 01822 613221.

31 December

Grand New Year Dinner

Join us at Two Bridges Hotel on Dartmoor for tempting canapes, a six-course dinner, followed by our fun casino tables, dancing and a glass of fizz for midnight. £99 per person. For details visit twobridges.co.uk or call 01822892300.

JANUARY

8 January

Buckland Abbey’s Wassail

No New Year festivity is complete without a traditional wassail. Join us with Dartmoor Border Morris and help us wake the trees from their winter slumber. Normal admission charges apply.

REGULARS

1,8,15,22,29 December

Tamar & Bere wellbeing walks

Join our free walks on Thursdays in the Tamar Valley – they’re a great way to meet new people, explore your area, and improve your health. No need to book. For more details check out Walking under Exploring tab at tamarvalley.org.uk

1,4,11,18 December

Christmas craft workshops

Add a personal touch to your Christmas preparations, by making a wreath, garland, table centrepiece or topiary Christmas tree at The Bedford Hotel. Workshops include either coffee & 2-course lunch, or mulled wine and afternoon tea, plus craft materials and tuition. For details see www.bedfordhotel.co.uk. £49 per person, call 01822 613221 to book.

3 - 31 December

A magical woodland Christmas

Step into Buckland Abbey’s Great Barn which has been transformed into a magical forest this Christmas. Look out for animals living within the trees and admire the immersive light and sound display. Normal admission charges apply. 10am-4pm (closed 25 – 26 Dec)

3 - 31 December

Buckland Abbey at Christmas

See the abbey fully decorated for Christmas as it transforms into an Elizabethan home of feast and festivity. Look out for the cascade down the Georgian staircase with over 700 decorations. 11am-3.30pm (closed 25 –26 Dec).

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Until 6 January

Cotehele Garland

See the beautiful Christmas garland decorating Cotehele Great Hall. For over 65 years our garden team have created a 60-ft long garland using thousands of flowers grown on the estate, and this year we are celebrating 75 years of caring for Cotehele with a special garland. Normal admission charges, open daily 10:30am to 4 pm, closed 2526 December.

Until 3 January

Christmas at Cotehele Mill

Follow the festive lights to Cotehele Mill and discover the mill decorated in traditional Victorian style and see how families celebrated Christmas in those times. Normal admission charges apply. 3, 4, 10 & 11 Dec, then daily 17 Dec – 3 Jan (closed 25 – 26 Dec), 11am-3pm.

Until March

Tavistock Library Winter Offer

Libraries are for Life - our services and signposting to information can help support people with a range of challenges, including: the cost of living; food; loneliness; health and wellbeing; digital access and support; employment, skills and business. Weekdays from 9am to 6pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm, the library space is open to everyone of all ages. You don’t have to join but if you want to, it’s free – just ask or join at devonlibraries.org.uk. With the support of Friends of Tavistock Library, there is now an extra open session on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 5.30pm, with refreshments available.

Wednesday

Yelverton Bridge Club

We meet 1.45-4.15pm on Wednesday afternoons to play Rubber Bridge at St Paul’s Church Hall in Yelverton. A friendly and welcoming club, we encourage all abilities, from inexperienced to rusty, who want to progress their bridge game. Come along and try with no obligation. £35 annual membership. More Info: jane.

whitehead@outlook.com

Wednesday, fortnightly Tavistock Photography Club

We meet fortnightly at Tavistock United Reformed Church in Russell Street, doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. All ability levels are welcome - come and try us out before you join. We aim to cater for all photography genres, with speaker nights, presentation evenings & even more workshop evenings to get hands on. See our new website for more information at www tavistockphotographyclub.com

TAVISTOCK HERITAGE TRUST TALKS

Talks are from 7 to 8pm in Tavistock Guildhall. Tickets are £5, available on eventbrite.co.uk - search Tavistock Guildhall - or from Visitor Information Centre Tues to Sat 10am-4pm.

1 December: Simon Dell Tavistock Canal Poetry Trail

8 December: Kevin Dickens Lord John Russell: Political Insect to Dreadful Old Man

TAVISTOCK LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

All meetings are free for paid-up members, £3 for others. The meetings below take place at 7.30pm at Tavistock Parish Centre & via Zoom. For more details contact 07746 577598 or secretary@tavistockhistory.co.uk

13 December: Social & Members’ Projects Evening

10 January: Dr Sharon Gedye Tavistock’s Saxon Abbey

PRINCETOWN HISTORY CLUB

From September to May, the club meets at Princetown Community Centre at 19:00 for 19:30 start, on the first Tuesday of each month. In June, July and August, there are outdoor visits, usually involving a short walk - meet at 18:30

for 19:00 start. princetownhistoryclub. weebly.com/programme.html.

6 December: AGM and Christmas meeting

In The Prince of Wales inn, with buffet and quiz

3 January: Pip Barker

The Borstal Boys at Dartmoor Prison

7 February: Andy Crabb

www.eldreds.net

(01752) 721199

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MOOR’S EDGE U3A

2.30pm at the Woolwell Centre, but will be moving to a Friday in 2023. For more details visit u3asites.org.uk/moorsedge/ events

Tues 13 December: Christmas party

Fri 13 January: James Murray Mad, Mad World of Opera - hilarious mishaps touring the world

Tues 10 February: David Follett Tragedy to Triumph - following spinal injury in a road accident at 17, David became English National Wheelchair Badminton Champion.

WEST DEVON U3A

We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 10am in the lower hall of Tavistock Methodist Church. We have a wide range of groups and a speaker each month. For more information visit www.westdartmooru3a.org.uk or contact the membership secretary on 01822 616644.

8 December: Richard Haigh E Quest L’Italia – Is this Italy?

CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP(Princetown Group)

If you are retired, no matter what your previous career was, you are very welcome to join us. Guest speakers attend our winter meetings which take place in the restaurant of the Prince of Wales, Princetown at 12.30pm. For bookings and details contact Mike on 01822 890799 or mikeandkate132@ gmail.com.

1 December: John Waters

Watching Wildlife During Lockdown

8 December: Christmas Lunch

Coach trip to The White Thorn for lunch – please contact Mike to book.

15 December: Christmas Lunch

Lunch in the Prince of Wales, with the grand draw at 11.30am and lunch at 1.00pm. Booking is essential.

5 January: Ron Howard Devon Coast

2 February: Simon Dell

Simon will talk about his time with the police

DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION TAVISTOCK & DEVON BRANCH

Our winter series of monthly talks take place in the Parish Centre, Tavistock (members £2, others £3). For further information contact tavistock@ devonassoc.org.uk or check on our website www.devonassoc.org.uk.

16 December, 7.30pm: Professor Ian Bateman

SWEEP: the South West Partnership for Environment and Economic Prosperity (ZOOM only)

20 January, 7:30pm: Annual social event

Event includes a video on the work of Marc Hoskins, CNC engraving and signage specialist. Please book in advance – extra charge for the event

From Saturday 3 December

Wildwood Arts exhibitions

We have two brand new art exhibitions at Wildwood Arts for December. We are presenting a mixed media exhibition of 19th, 20th and 21st century art, in celebration of our wonderful artists at the gallery, providing an opportunity to see the wide range of work produced by all the talented artists Wildwood Arts represents. While our featured artist for this month is Faith Chevannes, who creates small editions of exquisite, drypoint etchings, as well as mixed media pieces where she uses complex layers of drypoint etching, acrylic, paper, pastel and charcoal to create sublime images of creatures and landscapes. Faith works from her studio in North Cornwall which is near the wild Atlantic coast, the Tamar Valley AONB and the

3 December

remote romantic moors of Bodmin and Dartmoor. She is constantly inspired by her environment, nature and the everchanging seasons, but also concerned about it; as she watches families of birds going about their daily life she worries about the destruction of their habitat. Drawing is central to the way Faith produces her art as she captures fleeting moments and precious glimpses of our fragile natural world. Faith trained in the 1990s at Falmouth School of Art and DeMontfort University, Leicester and is a Royal West Academy (RWA) artist network member.

Christmas with Phoenix Chorale

Come and join us for an evening of fabulous choral music for Christmas with carols old and new, including Eric Whitacre’s Glow, John Rutter’s Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, as well as James MacMillan’s O Radiant Dawn, and Billy Joel’s And so it goes - rounded off with Handel’s

rousing Hallelujah Chorus. Mulled wine & mince pies available as well as our annual raffle to win a luxury hamper. Tickets £12 from www.ticketsource. co.uk (search Phoenix Chorale Christmas Concert) or £14 on the door, under 18s free. 7.30pm at St Peter and The Holy Apostles, Plymouth, PL1 5EG. For details visit plymouthphoenixchorale.org

Sunset Across The Moor by Sue Lewis

Bliss by Faith Chevannes

British Art Show 9: Spotlight Talks Saturday 17 December Messiah

Meet a member of the team from each of Plymouth’s British Art Show 9 (BAS 9) venues for a short informal talk about an artist or work of art in the exhibition. Every Wednesday to Sunday throughout the exhibition from 11am-11.15am at The Box - free admission, no need to book.

British Art Show 9 is the UK’s most influential contemporary art exhibition and the Plymouth exhibition in this national tour centres on the migration of bodies, peoples, plants, objects, ideas and forms; taking inspiration from and referencing the role it has played in Britain’s colonial past, as well as the encounters between British and other cultures that have, and continue to enrich our society. Works by the selected

artists include film, photography, multimedia, painting, sculpture and performance and can be seen across four venues: The Box, KARST, The Levinsky Gallery at the University of Plymouth and MIRROR at the Arts University Plymouth. For more details see britishartshow9.co.uk

delighted to be presenting this classic of the choral repertoire in Tavistock Methodist Church at 7.30pm, with professional soloists and Dartmoor Chamber Orchestra conducted by musical director, Julian Jensen. Adults £12; free of charge for under 18s – tickets available from Book Stop Tavistock or www.ticketsource.co.uk/ mount-kelly-choral-society

Mount Kelly Choral Society will be celebrating Christmas this year with a performance of Handel’s ever popular Messiah. We are

A Winter’s Night

“Soaring harmonies, great dynamics from each section of the choir who were note-perfect” (Geoff Lakeman)

Wheelhouse Folk Choir presents a concert of a cappella singing in celebration of winter at St Eustachius’ Church, Tavistock. Directed by local folk musicians Julu Irvine and Heg

Plymouth Jazz Club

The gigs are held at The Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5DH starting at 7.30pm. Doors open 7.00pm and tickets are available on the door only. For further information visit plymouth-jazz-club.org. uk, the club’s Facebook page or phone 01752 290758.

Sunday 18 December

Dart Valley Stompers

Led by award-winning reed player Jeremy Huggett on clarinet, saxophones and vocals, this is one of the busiest and most popular jazz bands in the country and has proved a great favourite with Plymouth Jazz Club since its first visit in 2019.

Admission £15 (members £12, full-time students £7)

Brignall (Suthering), the choir is already building a reputation for high quality singing and performs original arrangements by Heg and Julu, which are richly textured and often complex. Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 7:30pm. Tickets

Sunday 15 January

The New Washboard Syncopators

This a six-piece band with a percussionist and washboard player instead of a drummer. On bass (originally from the USA) is Jeff Burton, who plays a tuba and is a former employee of the Walt Disney Corporation. The band plays a mixture of trad and New Orleans jazz with a hint of skiffle from the 50s. The expected line-up includes trumpet player Graham Trevarton, leading the band and adding a little Cornish humour during the performance, Dave Vaughan(reeds), Ron Milford(tbn), John Baker(bjo) and Tony Quinn (percussion/guitar). The main aim of the band is to entertain the audience.

Admission £12 (members £9, full-time students £7)

£6-£12 at wegottickets. com/event/560242 – you decide how much you want to pay; proceeds to a local charity. For details see www.wheelhousefolkchoir. co.uk or Facebook: wheelhousefolkchoir

Sunday 19 February

Devon Magnolia Jazz Band

This is a six-piece, traditional style jazz band from Exeter, led by banjoist Pete Miller, which contains some of the most accomplished jazz musicians in Devon and around. The band plays lively, traditional and New Orleans style music which is foot-tapping and highly danceable.

Admission £12 (members £9, full-time students £7)

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Out

and

About with Tavistock Ramblers

A winter woodland walk, and lots of history with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers. This 4-mile walk visits Morwellham, once a thriving village and port. It is the terminus of the Tavistock Canal and developed in the 19th century to ship copper ores mined in West Devon and East Cornwall. The walk goes by the historic manor of Morwell Barton before passing the crags of Morwell Rocks and the historic quays on the River Tamar.

Park in a layby just below the crossroads at The Rock (SX451711 PL19 8JL)

1. Go back up the road to the crossroads, turn left and almost immediately left

again down the signed public footpath past a white gate. Walk down the tarmac drive and past the entrance to Morwell Barton, a fine manor house dating from the late 15th century. Continue straight on the now grassy track to a gate.

2. Cross a stile beside the gate and into a field. Keep the hedge on the right and into a second field. Continue ahead towards woodland and a

metal gate. The path goes into the woods, at first a little indistinct but soon turning left and becoming a substantial track by Pleasure Rock. Descend gently down through the woodland to reach Morwell Rocks. This is a spectacular viewpoint high above the meandering River Tamar loved by Victorian artists and climbers alike. An information board sets the scene. A little further on, the pit for a waterwheel of Wheal

Russell, a 19th century copper mine, can be glimpsed. Go straight on through a wooden gate and join a tarmac lane which will lead down to the quay.

3. Pass a row of cottages built by the Duke of Bedford, to house workers, before bearing left between the old industrial buildings of this once busy quay. Please ensure that you keep to the public footpath here. If you wish to explore further an entry charge applies. Walk past the huge waterwheel, the quays where ore was stacked before loading onto the waiting ships, and The Ship Inn

before turning right on the footpath signed to ‘George and Charlotte Mine’. (The large building on the right is a hydroelectric power station powered by water from the Tavistock Canal). Continue beside the track of the old mine railway as it goes into the mine (and a little further on, comes out again).

4. By a black corrugated iron shed, the footpath leaves the railway track and continues alongside a low wall with the River Tamar on the right to the eerie remains of Newquay. Pass a line of huge lime kilns and go up the track to a wooden gate.

5. Go through the gate, turning left signed to the county road. Keep straight on at a T-junction and pass a metal gate. The lane passes Lower

Sheepridge Farm and continues uphill to Sheepridge Farm and Sheepridge Cottage before reaching the layby where we started the walk.

Tavistock Ramblers walk on most Saturdays and Sundays and some Wednesdays. There is a mix of short walks and longer all day hikes to suit all. Go to www.tavistockramblers.org.uk to see the latest programme of walks on offer. You are welcome to join us. If you want something shorter to start with, try a Ramblers Wellbeing Walk to get active. There will be one near you.

You will also find a series of self-guided walks on the website to download or print. Two books of Tavistock District walks and several leaflets of walks in the area are available in the Tavistock Information Centre.

Tavistock Union Workhouse 1836-1930

Life was hard for the children and inmates living in The Tavistock Union Workhouse on Bannawell Street in the late nineteenth century. They rose at dawn and, after a breakfast of bread and tea, the children attended lessons. For the boys, this was reading, writing, arithmetic and trade or farming skills, such as tailoring, shoemaking or husbandry. The girls received training suitable for becoming domestic servants, such as sewing as well as reading and writing. In the afternoons they helped around the house, working in the bakery, garden or the stone breaking yard for the older boys. The adults who were able to, worked from dawn to dusk on limited food and in poor conditions, and even the elderly and infirm were expected to contribute as they could. The people of Tavistock were aware of their plight and worked with the town and workhouse masters to make their lives a little better. Christmas Day lunch became an annual event where the people of Tavistock could show their philanthropic side, and each year the local papers reported the event. In 1848 the inmates were ‘regaled with a substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding by the kindness of some of the inhabitants of the town and parish of Tavistock’. In 1858 inmates were provided ‘on Christmas Day, through the liberality of the Guardians, with an abundant supply of excellent roast beef and plum pudding’. The report in the Tavistock Gazette continued: ‘We were delighted to see the cheerful happiness that was indicated by their countenances. It also afforded us much pleasure to see several ladies and gentlemen of Tavistock taking part in this joyous scene, amongst them Mrs Carpenter of Mount Tavy and her party…. Through a liberal subscription amongst the

friends of the poor, a supply of oranges, nuts, tea and other little luxuries was afterwards distributed.’ Presents for the inmates were also included: books and toys for the children, and tobacco and snuff for the older people. Entertainment was provided by local bands, such as the 22nd Devon Volunteer Band or the Salvation Army Band, which stopped at the workhouse en route around Tavistock.

The kindness of the people of Tavistock was year-round, with people bringing tea, sugar, buns and cakes to the house on a regular basis for the inmates to enjoy. This charity extended to the older residents as well, and during the 1870s and 80s, Reverend E. Spencer entertained around 30 ‘aged’ inmates to dinner at his home and, along with ample food, tobacco and snuff were provided. In November 1876 as part of the ‘rejoicings’ in connection with the wedding of the Marquis of Tavistock, according to the Launceston Weekly, ‘all inmates of the Tavistock Workhouse, numbering about 150, were treated to a most substantial dinner, comprising roast beef, legs of mutton, beefsteak, pies, geese, plum puddings, dessert, and plenty of good things afterward’. The Jubilee celebrations were similarly celebrated.

Some masters allowed the children an annual day’s outing. In 1860, the master, Mr Beck, took the children to Plymouth

which was recounted in the Western Morning News on 14 September 1860: ‘Through the kindness of several friends, the children of the Workhouse are annually treated with a holiday, when they are taken to some place of interest in the vicinity, and ample provision made for their comfort. The railway having generously offered to give them a trip for a nominal charge, they yesterday went to Plymouth under the charge of Mr Beck, the Master, accompanied by the schoolmaster and schoolmistress. After viewing the interior of St. Andrew’s Church, they went around the ramparts of the Citadel, when the sight of the ocean, shipping, cannon, soldiers &c., appeared to bewilder them, none of the juveniles having any idea of the reality of these objects. After seeing what else was likely to interest them, they adjourned to the Hoe, where a hamper of pasties was waiting, and which they evidently relished with an appetite that many an epicure might have envied. The afternoon was partly devoted to a sight of the Sutton Pool Regatta, and the party returned happily in the evening, having had a day’s thorough enjoyment. It is but justice to Mr. and Mrs. Beck, the respected Master and Mistress of the Tavistock Union, to state that the clean and healthy appearance of the children, and their orderly behaviour, was remarked by all.’

In 1864, the brethren of the Ancient Order of Foresters’ Friendly Society held a fete and gala on Monday 8 August in aid of the Widow and Orphan and Management Fund at Grenofen Park in the grounds of W. H. Chichester Esq. The Tavistock Gazette advert announcing the fete reported that it consisted of five bands, and ‘splendid Banners from different Courts, brethren in full original Costume and Regalia, Robin Hood, Friar

To promote your business to 13,800* readers - call 07450 161929 advertising@linksmagazines.co.uk

Children at Crumpsall Workhouse, 1895–97

Tuck, Little John…’. It commenced with a ‘Perambulate [of] the principle streets of the town’ before going to the ‘beautiful grounds of Grenofen’ for maypole dancing on the green, archery, running for prizes, driving wheelbarrows blindfolded, and much more. Entrance to the grounds was 6d for adults, 3d for children under 12, younger children 1d and free for inmates of the workhouse.

In 1892, the president of the Devon

Agricultural Association, Mr Gill, sent invitations to the inmates to visit the county show held at Crowndale that year, and in the evening to Sanger’s Circus; the guardians accepted his kindness. The Western Times commented that: ‘Not content with this liberal programme of diversions, the kindly Mr. Gill also offered to defray the expenses of a tea for the poor folk. The exhibitions, the unwonted liberty, and the feats of horsemanship are calculated

to give a day of hilarity to the workhouse people, which will be long remembered by them with gratefulness.’

Though life could be harsh for the children and inmates of the workhouse, the people of Tavistock have a long history of generosity and kindness which offered them respite at times.

Nicola Gurr

Dinnertime at St Pancras Workhouse, London, 1911

Postcard c.1905, illustrating the ballad ‘Christmas Day in the Workhouse’ by George Robert Sims

Tavistock Workhouse circa 1880

Entrance to Tavistock Workhouse

What’s in a name?

and barely adequate nutrition. They grow best on loam, clay, and on sandy or volcanic soil. So the reason the vine you planted five years ago has never fruited, is probably because you treat it too well!

water warms slowly during summer and releases the warmth slowly when the weather cools).

It’s very satisfying when a customer announces they don’t like something – chardonnay or even French wine, for example – then later leaves with a bottle of French chardonnay! Often this follows a discussion about ‘terroir’, the French word used to describe every aspect of the environment in which grapes are grown. The same name does not equal the same wine...

‘Terroir’ literally means ‘land’, but in wine terms a great deal more besides. Soil is certainly vital – vines usually produce the best grapes when they struggle to survive, sending long, searching roots to find limited water

Sunshine and warmth are important, though the combination is not always obvious – you can grow great malbec high in the Andes because although there’s little warmth, there’s lots of sunshine. Vines can therefore be planted in areas of more or less sun as required. Chablis is a hill village in France that grows chardonnay (though it’s never called chardonnay, just Chablis). Exactly where on the hill, grapes are planted determines whether they will make Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru or Grand Cru wines – the prices of which vary enormously. The parts of the hill with the best exposure to sun, best drainage and the right soil type are the most valuable.

Proximity to water is frequently a decisive factor in the quality of wine. Large bodies of water moderate temperatures around them, allowing grapes to ripen evenly over a longer time, which is a very good thing (consider sea-swimming in October –

Moisture and humidity encourage diseases and pests – especially moulds. Yet the world’s finest dessert wines are made by encouraging botrytis cinerea, a mould that depletes the water in grapes, intensifying the flavours. This requires cool, misty mornings and warm, sunny afternoons – a great example of how tricky ‘terroir’ can be.

Of course, there’s more to this, but in simple terms if the right grapes are grown in exactly the right environment, the result is perfectly ripened grapes and great wine. Naturally, few places are perfect, so the resulting wines vary! A chardonnay grown in French limestone soil will taste very different to one grown in Chile on volcanic soil. Other factors such as wine-making techniques (e.g. barrel ageing) are also very significant, but I’m afraid I’m out of space. The bottom line? The more wines you sample, the more you will properly understand the variety available!

Dave Anning SW Bottle Shop

Don’t let your loved ones lose out

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is under the spotlight, due largely to the continued rise in house prices and freezing of IHT thresholds. These days, you don’t have to be hugely wealthy to be affected by IHT – the hated tax can cost your estate thousands of pounds when you die; however, the good news is that expert planning can legitimately mitigate this tax, meaning you can pass on assets to your family as you’d intended.

IHT receipts on the up

The latest IHT figures released in October make interesting reading. Total HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receipts for April 2022 to September 2022 were £3.5bn, £0.4bn higher than in the same period last year. Government IHT receipts were bolstered by £557m taken during September alone.

What is IHT?

IHT is a tax payable on money, savings, property and other assets you pass on when you die and potentially on some gifts you make during your lifetime. If the estate is liable for IHT, it is usually payable at 40%.

Do you know what your IHT threshold and allowances are?

Everyone has an IHT threshold or nil-rate band, which is an amount on which no

IHT is payable. This isn’t straightforward as there are many factors affecting the thresholds. Your threshold could be £325,000, £500,000, £650,000 or £1 million - or more, or even less.

Gifting assets

To reduce the amount of IHT payable, many families consider giving assets away during their lifetime. Again, this isn’t straightforward as there are various allowances and gifting needs to be handled in the right way. Getting the right balance between gifting money during your lifetime and ensuring you have enough for your future years requires careful planning.

Your local independent adviser – here to help

If you would like to find out about your IHT threshold or understand more about planning ahead and passing on your assets, Gary Tromans from Equitas Financial provides independent advice to individuals and companies in your area for all of your financial planning needs.

I am committed to putting clients at the heart of everything I do and providing the best possible service, taking time to understand your needs and aspirations.

I pride myself in offering clients a truly independent financial planning service. My

35 years of banking and financial services experience puts me in a great position to develop the most suitable individual solutions from the best offerings in the whole of the market. I’m only a phone call away and based locally to you, so if you have any questions or would like to understand what your own IHT liability may be or discuss any aspect of estate planning please get in touch. I offer a no fee/no obligation initial consultation.

Gary Tromans Independent Financial Adviser

The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The purpose of this article is for general information and should not be interpreted as a personal recommendation or advice.

Our aim is to help individuals and businesses to achieve their financial goals. Our approach is straightforward. Tell us about your current situation and about your financial objectives and when you want to achieve them and we develop a practical plan designed to help you meet those objectives. We’ll discuss the plan with you and agree the course of action you want to take. Whilst the final decisions are of course yours, we’re here to help and guide you with jargon-free advice both now and in the future.

Local

for local people by local people. See our community

A difficult year

This year has been a most difficult one financially for many, where the cost of energy and food for day-to-day living has suddenly risen substantially, with inflation running in many areas in excess of 10%.

Interest rates will be rising to help counter this sudden high inflation and this will be good news for those with deposit account savings. However, interest rates will lag price increases and only partially compensate the effects inflation will have on long-term buying power. Increasing interest rates will negatively impact on the cost of borrowing, and those with mortgages, that are not on fixed rates, will see their payments increase. These changes may mean tough times ahead for many, as current monthly budgeting and affordability will be strained and tested as the global economy slows. Investment markets have also had a tough 2022 and been volatile in these uncertain times and for many this may have caused extra stress and worry.

There is help in these challenging times from many sources outside family and friends which may improve decision making going forward to overcome these current difficulties, short-term

and long-term volatilities, whether pre or post retirement. Good financial planning can help achieve greater financial wellbeing which could involve:

• Helping your money work harder for you while reducing investment risk

• Providing optimised flexible and suitable solutions, helping you understand what is essential, what is not

• Having flexible plans with clear outcomes that can deal with the unexpected

• Having peace of mind and confidence that you are making well informed decisions

• Integrating the aspects of your bespoke plan to work efficiently to meet your needs

Hence, good advice is more important than ever in these challenging times from well qualified, independent, financial planners.

Natasha Bennett Bennett Wealth Planning

Jamie Shewbrook, director of Westcountry Tile and Bathroom Ltd at Christian Mill Business Park, explains how the business began and what it means to him.

When was Westcountry Tile and Bathroom Ltd established?

Having spent 20 years working with various corporate companies, I fulfilled my lifetime dream and launched my own showroom in 2013. From the outset, Westcountry Tile and Bathroom aimed to showcase quality products previously unseen in the South West. I met with various manufacturers and suppliers to secure products, and we had the arduous task of laying wall and floor coverings for 25 room settings in just 12 weeks.

How has the showroom grown?

The showroom was initially 2000 square feet, run by myself alongside my mother, Sue. As we’ve grown, we have doubled in size and taken on more staff. The showroom now holds 55 room settings across 4000 square feet, showcasing the latest products in style, design and innovation. It also includes a fully operational area with working showers, taps and lighting. We have free on-site parking for customers.

What services do you offer?

Our experienced staff are experts in bathroom consultation, design and supply and can also offer an installation service. We work with developers, installers, interior designers, architects and retail customers, and offer inspiration whatever your investment level – from wet rooms and shower rooms to luxurious bathrooms and saunas, including all wall and floor coverings to help create the bathroom of your dreams!

What do you enjoy most about your role?

We have a passion for design, innovation and customer fulfilment – the ultimate aim is to meet every client’s needs, as published on our Google reviews. We relish new product training from manufacturers, giving us full confidence in our products. I’m hugely proud of our business and everything it has achieved in the last 10 years, despite challenges including the global pandemic. I am also lucky to have a great team around me, regarded not just as colleagues, but as part of the Westcountry family.

Book recommendations for winter By Simon Church

Booksellers’ choice Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

This exquisite novella of small town mid-1980s Ireland before the economic boom, which was shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize, is our firm recommendation for anyone looking for a modern twist on the Dickensian Christmas story. Bill Furlong, father of five and local businessman, is not a wealthy man, but a generous one driven by conscience, faith and a deep love for his family. When, one cold Christmas, he becomes aware of disturbing events at the local convent, all these attributes are put to the test. How will beautiful Bill Furlong respond?

Published by Faber; £8.99

Top 5 for Christmas & winter

The Repair Shop: Life in the Barn Inside stories from the experts; £22

The Golden Mole by Katherine Rundell and Talya Baldwin

Calling Vermin? by Pam Ayres

Shrines of Gaiety by

Kate Atkinson

New novel from the brilliant Atkinson set in 1920s Soho; £20

Who Are You

Lavishly illustrated collection of the lives of some of the Earth’s most astounding animals; £14.99

Which Way to Anywhere

by Cressida Cowell

The inimitable Ayres returns with a new volume of lyrical satire; £12.99

Bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once brings us an out-of-this-world new adventure for kids; £12.99

of Book Stop, Tavistock

Moor Links Business Directory

In every issue of Moor Links we promote local businesses, conversely, these businesses support and enable us to continue writing and publishing your local community magazine. If you are looking for a great local business then please choose from the list below. Next to each business is the page number on which they appear in this issue, please go and look at their advert and, if you call them, mention that you found them in Moor Links.

Accountants

Wings Accountants 40

Aerial Services

YelTV 56

Arts, Galleries & Museums

Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery 45

The Box 44

Wildwood Arts 43

Attractions, Days Out & Events

Butchers Hall Markets 31

National Trust 35

Tavistock Pannier Market 39

Auctioneers & Valuers

Drake’s Auctions 34

Eldreds Auctioneers 41

Bathroom & Tile Retailers

Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles 60

Westcountry Tile and Bathroom 53 Bed Retailers

Tavistock Beds 22 Building, Construction & Maintenance

Jonathan Case Builders 32

Marcus Allen Groundworks 21

The Handymen 57

Business Services

Tavistock BID 27

Care Services & Care Homes

Santé Care at Home 25 Carpet Retailers

Tavistock Carpets 23

Yelverton Carpet Company 10

Computer Maintenance

Bere Computing IT Consultant 56

Cleaning & Domestic Services

Laundry Cupboard 56

Curtain & Blind Retailers

LTB Blinds and Curtains 47

Dentists

Harwood Dental Practice 3

QueensWood Dental Clinic 12

Rock Dental Practice 14

Electricians

Dartmoor Electrical 57

Griffin Electrical 55

Estate Agents & Lettings

Kirby Estate Agents 59

Financial Advice

Bennett Wealth Planning 52

Equitas Financial 51

Florists

Amanda Randell Master Florist 49

Fuel Supplier

Moorland Fuels 57

Tricounty Ltd 57

Utility Warehouse 55

Funeral Directors

Morris Bros Funeral Directors 29

Garage Services

Barton Garages 55

Garden Centres & Retailers

Endsleigh Gardens Nursery 19

Garden Services

Dartmoor Pond Services 18 Hartland Landscaping 16

J A Francis Stone Walling & Patios 19

Men for All Seasons 18

Neil Tidder Garden Services 18

Hair, Health, Beauty & Nutrition

Ochre Hair Lounge 14

Wine to Water Coaching 14

Dartmoor Skincare Company 42

Jewellery Retailers

Nonsisa Jewellery 36

Hearing & Mobility

Alistair Kinsey Hearing & Mobility 12

Holidays & Holiday Lets

Helpful Holidays 37

Home Furnishings

Fabric & Furniture 43

Home Improvements & Interiors

Gemma Harvey Decorating 57

Realistic Home Improvements 28 Hotels, Inns & Clubs

Bedford Hotel 50

Kitchen Retailers & Fitters

Charles Gray Kitchens 2

Plumbing & Heating Services Chamings Heating & Plumbing 32

Clearbrook Plumbing and Heating 56

DB Heating 4

Moor Warm Heating Solutions 56

Podiatrists

Moor Mobile Foot clinic 14 Whiteley Podiatry 14 Pre-Schools & Nurseries Buckland Beehive 30

Private Water Engineers

AquaTech Water Services 57

GWT Ltd 56

Residential Parks

Berkeley Parks 8

Solicitors & Advocacy Services

Chilcotts Law 38

Paladin Advocates 24

Tree Surgeons

Adam of Eden Tree Care 18

Countrywise Tree Care 18

Dart Forest Treeworks 17

Red Squirrel Tree Care 18

The Devon Tree Co. 19

Will Writing Service

Will Writers Services 28

Windows, Doors & Conservatories

Affordable Windows & Doors 56

Amari Plastics Secondary Glazing 54

Safe & Sound Windows, Doors & Conservatories 55

Yoga Tuition

Find your Fire 14

Gem Yoga Teacher Training 15

“I have been advertising in the Links magazines for some time now and I believe it has had a positive impact on my business. The response from the latest editions has been extremely good with customers saying how much they enjoy the publication as it is informative and allows them to fi nd local businesses and trades. I would certainly be happy to recommend this publication to anybody looking to promote their business locally”.

Delivered by the Royal Mail to more than 32,000 homes and businesses in West Devon, Dartmoor and North Plymouth.

To make sure your business is featured in the next issue of Moor Links magazine, call us today on 07450 161 929 or email tim.randell@linksmagazines.co.uk

Mark Hussey, Moorview Glazing