Moor Links - August/September 2017 by Links Magazines

MOORLINKS August / September 2017

Issue 29

YELVERTON • BUCKLAND MONACHORUM • WALKHAMPTON • HORRABRIDGE • CLEARBROOK • MEAVY • MILTON COMBE CRAPSTONE • BERE PENINSULA • DOUSLAND • PRINCETOWN • SAMPFORD SPINEY • SHEEPSTOR • POSTBRIDGE

r o f t u O Days ! n u F r Summe A FREE Y THL BI-MON E IN MAGAZ D E DELIVER BY THE AIL ROYAL M

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, ARTS, CRAFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, FOR EVERYONE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: VILLAGE NEWS •• GARDENING •• EDUCATION •• FOOD •• HEALTH •• HISTORY •• WHAT’S ON THE ART OF OUT AND ABOUT WHAT’S ON A walk near beautiful Open studios and REFLECTION A stunning new art exhibition at Buckland Abbey

Burrator Reservoir with John Noblet

open-air plays, summer fairs and festivals – lots to enjoy

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WELCOME

LET BY

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“THE M&B RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS FULLY-MANAGED SERVICE WITH RENT GUARANTEE IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND BEST AVAILABLE” In an increasingly complex world, the choice of agent to look after one of our most valuable assets is extremely important. Our aim is to help Landlords, minimise risk and maximise return by providing a professional, stress free, tailor-made approach to property management. Our understanding and knowledge of the residential markets throughout the region enables us to provide the advice our clients are looking for.

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What are we doing today? As a child and a parent, I always felt a huge sense of liberation at the start of the long summer holidays after all the hectic whirl of end-of-term activities. All that freedom to do whatever you want when you want – of course it never quite works out like that and when that question – ‘What are we going to do today?’ comes, as it surely will at some point, it is useful to have something up your sleeve. We got into the habit of writing a family ‘wish list’ of holiday activities which everyone contributed to - the resulting plan was a chance to indulge in all those activities and day trips which never seemed to fit into the normal schedule. Even if you only take a couple of weeks off or a few days over the summer you will probably want to make the most of the time. So we have tried to fill this issue with lots of ideas, whether you prefer the outdoors, or want to do something creative, or just want to relax and be entertained. Rebecca Martin from Exciting Education has put together lots of fun ideas to keep children busy and active over the summer; Nichola has been talking to the founder of Tree Surfers in Tavistock, and an artist running courses in his new studio in Princetown; while I went to Buckland Abbey to meet the organisers of the Art of Reflection exhibition, showcasing Andrew Logan’s stunning work - something to delight both adults and children alike. On top of this we have a host of events in the What’s On, What’s On Extra and Music & Art sections, so I hope there is an event or two in there which will tempt you to add it to your summer holiday wish list.

Rosemary

4 REFERENCING

Some useful information about our magazines: • We now publish three magazine titles: Moor Links, Tavy Links and Oke Links • They are all FREE bi-monthly magazines (Feb/March, April/May etc) • Just under 25,000 copies are distributed by the Royal Mail within our three areas, to every house and business address. • All our magazines are written by local people, for local people. If you’d like to be a contributor, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you! • A minimum of 60% editorial content – always ensuring a ‘really good local read’. • Several 1000s of copies are also placed within local Doctors, Dentists, Libraries, Pubs and Supermarkets etc. – for general pick up. • Our community website - dartmoorlinks.co.uk. See all our magazine stories, local news, blogs, weather and a fully comprehensive What’s On listing. Our handy Business Directory lists all our local businesses and services. Updated daily! If you would like to ADVERTISE your business- contact Tim, Jane or Victoria on 01822 615627 or 07450 161 929

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Rosemary Best - Editor

Email: advertising@moorlinks.co.uk

4 LOCAL AREA KNOWLEDGE

editorial@moorlinks.co.uk 01822 853110

Website: www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

4 PLEASE CALL FOR A FREE VALUATION

The deadline for any inclusions in the October/ November issue of Moor Links will be 1st September 2017. We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to our many local contributors for so kindly giving us their time and expertise and making our magazine so interesting to all. THE LINKS TEAM:

M&B Residential Lettings, 77 Upland Drive, Derriford, Plymouth, PL6 6BE T: 01752 759905 F: 01752 785027 E: lettings@mblettings.co.uk

Editorial Director: Lizzie Watt Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Rosemary Best Deputy Editor: Nichola Williams Design: Sara Venner, Terri Reeves, Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Victoria Smith

www.mblettings.co.uk

Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the editorial team. We have done our utmost to ensure that all the content is correct and accurate at the time of print, but we emphasise that Moor Links or Olijam Communications Ltd accepts no responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. All data contained in advertisements are subject to the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines and are accepted by us in good faith at the time of going to press. Reproduction of editorial is strictly prohibited without prior permission from the publisher. All rights reserved copyright © 2016

Moorly and we’v is out and about e spo througho tted him 10 times ut th Can you sp e magazine. ot him to o?

@moorlinks Front Cover Image: With many thanks to Tamar Trails for supplying this wonderful image. www.tamartrails.co.uk

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CONTENTS WELCOME

INSIDE THIS ISSUE... COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Need a fast and effective solution to buying or selling your home?

Want to leave your affairs in order but not sure where to start?

Require a prompt and efficient service to deal with your commercial transactions?

Offering tailored, individual legal solutions in the areas of: Residential

Conveyancing Commercial Property Company Commercial Litigation Wills, Estate Planning and Probate Lasting Powers of Attorney Deputyship applications Professional appointment of Attorneys and Deputies

Human

Rights and Judicial Review Mental Health Law NHS Continuing Healthcare Assessments and Appeals Social Care Assessments and representation Access to Medical Records Arrangement of Care Provision Health and Welfare Advocacy

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CHARITY FOCUS St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth - providing specialist end-of-life care to the local community as well as the eighth year St Luke’s Open Gardens scheme

FEATURE The Art of Reflection – An exhibition of Andrew Logan’s glamorous and unconventional sculptures at Buckland Abbey

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

WHAT’S ON

MUSIC & ART

Art classes with talented artist Matt Buckett in his new Princetown studio, Tina and Michael Smith and the exhilarating horseback sport of tent pegging, Kate Blake, one of the adventurous founders of Tree Surfers

Coping with dementia, with Re:Cognition Health and Jo Ellis tells us its never too late to get fit!

Our usual What’s On listings with lots of summer activities and a full pull-out guide for events at the Wharf

Open studios, exhibitions, open-air drama and concerts

OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE John.Noblet from Tavistock Ramblers takes us for a walk with beautiful views of Burrator Reservoir

Get in touch today:

LOCAL PEOPLE

Tavistock Rotary round-up, Lamerton village hall 10th anniversary, Moorland gelding project, Tavistock Country Bus, Tavistock College safety

Lots of great days out for all the family… “Thank you for all your expert and timely advice. The support and kindness shown throughout such a stressful period was invaluable. Your firm will certainly come with the highest recommendation to our contacts.”

FOOD & WINE The Real Cheese Festival, and ‘the world of wine’ with Charles Steevenson

HISTORY The history of RAF Harrowbeer as the annual 1940s Weekend approaches on 12 & 13 August

See our new community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

TRADE SECRETS What it takes to become a Dartmoor National Park Sector Ranger 5

VILLAGE NEWS

Buckland Monachorum Parish News Your parish council needs you! Buckland Monachorum Parish Council needs YOU! We have a vacancy for a parish councillor to join an active and progressive parish council. So if you live within the parish (Yelverton, Buckland, Crapstone, Milton Combe or Clearbrook) please contact the clerk (Kelly Johns) at clerk@bmpc.info for more details.

Redesign for Crapstone bus shelter The bus shelter in Crapstone is in a sorry decorative state so the parish council has invited school children from Buckland Monachorum Primary School to come up with a new design, sponsored by British Beds. We now need people to let us know which design they favour, (of the many), so please look at the designs on Buckland Monachorum Parish Council’s Facebook page and let us know which one you think is the best.

Just a small sample of the many entries to be chosen from.

Burrator Twinning Association welcomes French visitors Facelift for water trough The parish council thought it might be a nice idea to restore the lettering of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee on the granite monument near the Rock on Roborough Down, as well as add our Queen’s Diamond Jubilee dates and generally clean it up. The water trough was originally opened by the Mayoress of Plymouth in July 1900 when it was described in The Western Morning News as ‘a handsome drinking fountain for both man and beast’. The facelift was funded by Dartmoor National Park, Yelverton Rotary club, Yelverton History Club and the Harrowbeer Interest Group.

Parish Neighbourhood Plan The consultation has now been completed for the Neighbourhood Plan and we would like to thank all those who responded with their thoughts and views. Currently we are undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA) to ensure the plan meets all necessary legal requirements; the plan can then be completed and the referendum arranged to ask all parish residents to vote on whether the plan should be adopted. All being well, the plan should be in place before the end of the year.

Burrator twinning association is open to anyone living in or near the parish of Burrator. Members are invited to visit Mathieu during alternate years and to host a French couple on reciprocal visits. It isn’t necessary to be able to speak fluent French, just to be sociable and enjoy sharing interests. For a little effort, many strong friendships have been made. Please contact Jenny Gray 01822 854888 for more information.

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During their stay, a group of 50 travelled to Wheal Martyn china clay museum near St. Austell. Both the French and the English found the guided tours and interactive displays to be very interesting. The photograph shows the whole group assembled outside the entrance to the attraction. The

following day the hosting families entertained their guests with visits to local places of interest before the whole group met for dinner at the Two Bridges Hotel.

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Burrator Twinning Association recently hosted visitors from the village of Mathieu in Normandy. Members of the twinning association welcomed the 24 French participants, together with schoolchildren and teachers at Meavy Primary school. The children had an opportunity to demonstrate the French vocabulary they had been taught, when offering refreshments to the visitors and presenting a short film they had made.

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Golden Charter is the UK’s leading provider with a wide range of plans to suit all budgets from just £2895. Your plan will be allocated to Morris Bros here in Tavistock. We also offer bespoke plans to suit specific requests. Telephone Simon or Lucie on 01822 612023 to request an introductory brochure pack or to request a confidential appointment at home or in the office.

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VILLAGE NEWS

I’m planning a long holiday and have been struggling to find travel insurance for a reasonable price. I’ve found a good deal from a Facebook advert but my friend thinks it might be a scam. How can I be sure if it’s legitimate? Your friend is right to raise the possibility that it might be a scam and you should do some research on the company before making a purchase. Insurance is a financial product and the seller must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Check they’re listed on the financial watchdog’s register which can be viewed at www.register.fca.org.uk. If they’re not named, take your business to a different provider as the seller will not be legitimate. If they are listed, it’s still worth doing further checks on them. A good starting point is comparing the price of the insurance deal with similar offers from competitors. Big discounts are often a tell-tale sign of a scam, but it could also be that the policy is cheap because it doesn’t provide adequate cover. Ask for a copy of the full policy so you can check it against where you’re going and what you’re doing. If the seller won’t provide one, or says they will only give it to you it after you’ve paid, don’t give them your business. Once you know the seller is legitimate use a secure payment method, such as a money transfer service like PayPal, to pay for the insurance. Don’t pay with a bank transfer, and don’t go ahead with the deal if they ask you to. For further advice contact the consumer service or get in touch with your nearest Citizens Advice. www.ruraldevoncab.org.uk For the most up-to-date advice, please visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk, pop in to your local office or call Adviceline on 03444 111 444. Tavistock Citizens Advice (Kingdon House) Mon, Weds, Fri 10am -2pm.

Moor’s Edge U3A

Tavistock Country Bus

Are you retired or semi-retired and looking for new things to do and to meet new friends? Moor’s Edge U3A could be for you! We generally meet on the second Thursday of the month at 2.30pm at the Woolwell Community Centre, and have a variety of speakers and always finish with a cuppa and biscuits (please note there are no meetings in August but many of the interest groups still run). We have a range of interest groups to suit everyone. For those who want to get out and about Garden Visits, Short Walks and Weekenders. If you want to sit and chat Literature, History and Play Reading and for the more creative Arty Crafty, Photography for Fun and Singing for Fun to name just a few.

An extraordinary survey carried out by the management of Tavistock Country Bus (TCB) has revealed just how important the operation is to the economy of Tavistock — and the other towns regularly visited by the bus.

You can come twice as a visitor before you join us and membership is £15 a year or £28 for a couple. To see more about us visit https://u3asites.org.uk/moorsedge/events or our Moor›s Edge Facebook page. We look forward to welcoming new members.

Free Childcare Update From September 2017, eligible parents will be able to access up to 30 hours of free childcare for their 3 and 4-yearolds. This does not affect the current 15 hours per week entitlement. The extra 570 hours of free childcare per year can be claimed by single parents expecting to earn at least £120 a week (equal to 16 hours at minimum wage) or by two-parent households where both parents earn at least £120 a week. 30 hours free childcare is not available if your household income is more than £100,000 per year. You may still be eligible to claim if you are on maternity, paternity, adoption or sickness leave or unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, or are on a zero-hours contract. Parents can check their eligibility and apply at www.gov.uk.childcare

Owner reunited with wedding ring Many thanks to Tracey Lumley and family who found my ring and a warm thank you to the Tavy Links Editorial Team for the notice on the ‘community noticeboard’ which made the reunion possible. Long live good community spirit -Tony

The country bus brings passengers into Tavistock, Launceston and other towns from outlying villages and TCB’s management committee wanted to find out how much their passengers actually spent in the different towns they visited. So a spend survey was carried out in May with passengers. TCB’s Peter Walshe said: “It was revealed that approximately £148,000 is forecast to be spent by TCB passengers through a whole year which is having a significant and beneficial impact on the local economy. In 2016, over 3,200 passengers travelled to Tavistock bringing in about £106,000 a year, which is an incredible amount and shows the importance of the Tavistock Country Bus service. Passenger spend in other towns was approximately £11,000 in Launceston, £10,000 in Newton Abbot, £9,000 in Exeter and £4000 in Barnstable. TCB passengers even contribute over £3,000 to Truro and Trago Mills.” The success of the country bus service is also the reason why it was chosen to be the subject of a specialist study by NatCen Social Research. Derek de Glanville, chairman of TCB, said: “They wanted to know what factors are crucial to the success of a community bus association, so they could advise anyone else who was wanting to start up such a service. I think it was quite a feather in our cap that they chose us!” Acccording to Derek, the Saturday service to Dawlish, which operates when there is a fifth Saturday in the month, is the rarest scheduled bus route in England. This little-known fact is due to become very famous indeed this September, when BBC’s The One Show climbs aboard the bus to enjoy the TCB experience!

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Following requests from passengers and thanks to financial support from the Big Lottery and Devon County Council, the bus has now been fitted with new seat belts and also has a smart new livery. TCB has also finally got its own bus stop sign in Bedford Square. TCB is run entirely by volunteers, its key purpose is to extend mobility and independence to those who do not have access to public or commercial transport or a car. It is open to everyone, from young mums to older passengers

aged 65 and over – many of whom have mobility issues and are susceptible to isolation and loneliness. The service operates on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Passengers are collected from areas around Tavistock, Horsebridge, Milton Abbot, Lifton, Princetown and Yelverton, as well as regular trips to towns further afield like Truro, Barnstaple, Torquay and Exeter. Anyone interested in voluntary work with TCB is welcome to contact the friendly management team – an extra pair of hands is always welcome and all training is provided, whether it’s helping with paperwork, maintaining the bookings or driving the bus. For more information call 07580 260683 or go to www.tavistockcountrybus.co.uk Jane Honey

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VILLAGE NEWS

Most popular paintings at Buckland Art Exhibition

Trekking from Mexico to Canada…

We would like to thank everybody who visited our annual Art & Craft Exhibition in Buckland Village Hall over the Spring bank holiday weekend and to express our appreciation of the tremendous encouragement and compliments you offered. We thought you may be interested in the result of your votes for favourite picture over the three days:

Moor Links featured Fenella Eastaugh in our Local People section before she set off on her 2,665-mile hike from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail, and we have been following her progress. She started walking on Sunday April 30th from the Mexican border near San Diego and set off to cross the 700-mile Southern California Desert – this section was about building fitness and having sufficient water. A strong sun, minor injuries and much needed rest days dictated an average of 14 miles per day, although the heat meant that night-hiking was sometimes a better option. The spectacular scenery, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, star-filled night skies, plenty of rattle-snakes, exhaustion, hunger, elation and a wonderful group of people have made it a truly amazing adventure so far.

Most popular was “Double Waters” by Iris Talbot. Most popular among our painters for pleasure was “Poppies” by Val White. If you are interested in joining us, we meet nearly every Monday evening and every other Thursday afternoon throughout the year, with a mixed programme of activities mainly using watercolour or pastels. We are very hands-on, resulting in a picture at the end of most if not all sessions.

will do so again this year - so please get in touch if you are interested - or just come along. For more information please contact: Iain Grant - 855683; basmudoc@gmail.com or Derek Mahoney - 855032; derek. mahoney@care4free.net

There is no such thing as a common-law husband or wife According to recent studies, cohabiting couples represent nearly 18% of the UK population. Cohabiting couples are those who live together without marrying. Under the current law that applies to cohabiting couples, there is little protection in the event of death or relationship breakdown, particularly where for example, the property is owned in one person’s name. Despite many people believing otherwise, there is no such thing as a common law wife or husband. Regardless of how long you have been in a relationship together or living together, you do not acquire the same rights and protections as a married couple. The law which applies to a cohabiting couple who separate is trust law based claim and this area of law is complex and beset with technicalities. Such claims can be very costly due to the complexity of the law. Many organisations, such as Resolution are campaigning for changes to the existing cohabitation laws which they say are outdated in our modern society. They argue that there are 3.3 million families who are currently cohabiting and that the laws need to change to provide legal protection for them. However, with no clear indication from the Government that any changes to the law are planned, we are stuck with the existing law.

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If you are living with your partner or thinking about moving in together, you should consider entering into a Cohabitation Agreement or Living Together Agreement to protect your interests and to formalise your financial rights and responsibilities. Perhaps not particularly romantic, but certainly more than a potentially stressful and expensive dispute if your relationship does, unfortunately, break down. At Wolferstans we can advise you on and prepare a Living Together Agreement. The Agreement can set out how you want to manage your money and property during the time that you are living together and also set out what will happen if you separate. These documents must be properly drafted and executed to ensure that they stand up to the scrutiny of the court and you will both need independent legal advice about the implications of the Agreement. If you are in doubt regarding your rights as a cohabiting couple please contact us at Wolferstans, we can advise you on the options available. Contact us on 01752 292285 to speak to one of our experienced family solicitors.

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You can read Fen’s blog on her website: www.fenellasadventures.wordpress.com.

New ‘Friends’ for Princetown Library

We have previously run a course for beginners between September and December and if there is sufficient interest we

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Each day Fen sends a GPS signal to say she is safe and well, and her exact camping location, although phone communication with friends and family has only been possible in towns when resupplying. The Sierra Nevada section now begins, arcing 500 miles across the mountain chain. Snowfall was very heavy this year and consequently walking spikes and ice-axes are a must on this part of the Trail. Fen will go into these mountains as part of a group for safety.

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Princetown Library Friends Group was set up in May. The primary aims of the group are to: raise the profile of Princetown Library and the surrounding area, increase active membership, raise money for specific library purposes and offer voluntary assistance to the library as and when it may be required. Since April 2016 Devon library services have been run by Libraries Unlimited which is an independent staff and community owned social enterprise with charitable status. The Friends Group will become a member of Libraries Unlimited and will work with it to ensure the local community benefits from high quality library services. We are also seeking community views about the current service offered by the library in Princetown with a view to making it more accessible to users. We are keen to hear from members of the local community and surrounding area

the

to determine which services the library could offer to attract more people to the library, more frequently, and also what prevents people from using the service at the moment. Please let us know your views by completing a short survey at www. bit.ly/Library17 (available until end of August). The Friends Group meets on the first Saturday of every month at the Book Group. Princetown Library is open at the following times, Monday 14:00-16:00, Wednesday 10:00-12:00 and Saturday 10:0012:00. Do these opening hours meet your needs or not? Please come along to the next meeting or contact the library to let us know. In addition to a wide selection of children’s and adult fiction and non-fiction books, including large print books, the library offers free computer access for the internet, email and word processing.

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VILLAGE NEWS

Keeping Ponies on the Moor The innovative Moorland Gelding Project has just been developed to help the farmers on Dartmoor reduce the number of unwanted foals born on the moor, at no cost to themselves. South West Equine Protection (SWEP) held the first of its free gelding clinics on Dartmoor for semi-feral ponies, which are returned to the moor following recovery from the surgical procedure with micro-chips implanted and passports issued.

Walkham Valley Scout Group opens new lodge At a ceremony earlier this year - attended by parents and friends, Scout Leader Keith Topham formally opened Walkham Valley Scout Group’s new lodge at Yelverton. A significant grant from the Big Lottery Fund and generous donations from Yelverton Rotary and Burrator Parish Council have enabled the replacement of an existing old wooden hut with a splendid new building. Carefully constructed by leaders Ray Butler and Keith Topham, with occasional assistance from scout family members, the new lodge will provide a dry and warm environment for the group. Scout groups aim to provide challenging and exciting events to develop young people,

and Walkham Valley is a strong, active group which runs camps and numerous events in addition to its regular weekly meetings during term-time. There are three scouting sections within the group – Beavers, Cubs and Scouts – covering ages from 6 to 16, and each section has its own programme of activities. The group is extremely lucky to have dedicated section leaders who give up their valuable free time to run the programmes. The new lodge will greatly enhance the activities that can be conducted in the scout field and the support given by local and national contributors has been greatly appreciated.

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Organiser of the clinics, Becky Treeby said: “Many pony keepers have either removed or vasectomised their stallion in an attempt to reduce the numbers of foals born each year, and these are the ones we are reaching out to help, the ones who are trying so hard but whose efforts are being compromised by neighbouring stallions on the open moor covering their mares. Quality breeding stallions are kept safe on the farms, and used whenever the farmer needs to add to his stock or when he knows he has a market for the foals. The ponies will be monitored and the organisers hope to show that running geldings on the moor is a positive proactive

If you would like to know more about the project or get involved call Becky Treeby on 01822 854823. Anyone wishing to donate can do so at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ the-moorland-gelding-project

TPA Young Photographer of the Year Competition Tavyside Patients’ Association in collaboration with Tavistock College is very pleased to announce that the TPA Young Photographer of the Year competition is now open. The collaboration between Tavistock College and TPA was expanded this year through a successful joint project researching Young People and Health Lifestyles with the students in years 10 and 12, which received funding from Tavistock Town Council. The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Environment’ and the four categories in each age group are: Wild and wonderful, Tenderness, Growing things, People at work. The age groups are: 4-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-18 years and you may enter three photographs in each category at £1 per entry. Photographs should be printed on A4 glossy paper and the category, entrant’s name, date of birth, address and telephone

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approach to managing the number of foals born needlessly each year. They are looking forward to the autumn when they will be working with a large number of pony keepers to ensure that the foals have a safe bright future. This project has been funded by the IVO Trust and thanks are also due to Calweton Equine Veterinary Practice for its surgical skills, as well as the pony keepers.

number and school attended must be attached or printed on the reverse. Photographs may be submitted until 10 am on Wednesday 4th October 2017. We regret that we are not able to return photographs entered into the competition but they may be collected after the exhibition by arrangement with TPA. Entries will be accepted at the reception desk at Tavyside Health Centre, Abbey Rise, Tavistock. PL19 9FD, together with the entry fees. Envelopes should be addressed to The TPA and marked ‘Photographic Competition’. The prize for the winning photograph of an enlargement on canvas is again being generously sponsored by Dartmoor Photographic. The engraving of the Maureen Reynolds trophy and all the monetary prizes for the category winners are once more sponsored by Mr Eric Reynolds.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

has already hosted a number of parties, classes and events, and hopes to continue to offer fun, educational and inspiring lessons in a stimulating, purpose-built environment.

Matt Buckett They say if you can make a living doing the thing you love then you will never have to work another day in your life.

Matt grew up on a farm near Looe before taking a Foundation course in Falmouth which led to a Degree in Fine Art from Southampton. He was drawn back to Falmouth to play drums in local band, “Pelt” whilst continuing to exhibit his work and take commissions to produce bespoke pieces. He was very fortunate to have a loyal, supportive patron who, over a tenyear period, commissioned more than 100 pieces of individual artwork for his estate house near St Mellion, including original textile paintings in oils for cushions, curtains and door panels as well as large canvas wall hangings and traditional pictures throughout the house.

After the success of his graphic novel Matt decided to take up a second Kickstarter promotion with one week’s worth of publicity to sell his original quick watercolour and ink sketches for just £10. In an attempt to test the market and get his name out there he was surprised and excited to have 81 backers after seven days’ funding who commissioned over 100 landscapes, animals or superhero characters.

Early in 2017 Matt decided the time was right to make his art a full-time job and took the lease in the Duchy Square Centre which is now full of creative businesses. He is really pleased with his new spacious studio and has furnished it with a

wide range of equipment that will cater for most artistic requirements from oils, acrylics and inks to watercolours and charcoal. Matt has the skills to teach all abilities and styles and is able to be flexible with his courses, tailoring the programme to individual or group needs. He welcomes course suggestions from those interested in expanding their knowledge, revisiting lost skills or maybe those who just need a practical space to carry out their own artwork. He

For more information please contact Matt: 01822 890592 • matt@ink-pot-graphics.com INSTAGRAM:mjbuckett • TWITTER:@MattBuckettInfo

Regular Art Classes – IPG Studio in Princetown ADULTS: Thursdays 09:00 -12:00 - £20 KIDS: Saturdays 10:00 -12:00 - £15 To book a space email: matt@ink-pot-graphics.com

Matt enjoys the process of creativity and will turn his hand to most styles of art, although his passion has always been for oil on canvas. More recently he has developed a love for pen and ink, which he used to great effect when illustrating his first graphic novel, “The Weapon” in 2015. Over the years Matt’s interest in story-telling has grown to encompass film, theatre, comics and novels, so the combination of a deepseated love of story craft and his skills as an artist led him to the graphic novel format. He became a master of social media

Matt also exhibits his artwork in Tavistock, and has exhibited in The Barbican Gallery, Plymouth Arts Centre, Plymouth College of Art, and The Plumb Line Gallery in St. Ives. He continues to sell his book through his website, on Amazon and at ComicCon shows – conventions for film, TV, books and comics, signing copies of his graphic novel and doing character sketches for fans. Busy writing both a prequel and a sequel, he is planning to use “Kickstarter” once more for help with self-publishing.

Nichola Williams

e e m a l ics ust m c S fabr ug S u b r i f all of A Fa % of e end 10 l th ti

through the crowdfunding site “Kickstarter” enabling him to self-publish and promote the novel with great success. It took 3 years to write and 18 months to illustrate during evenings and weekends, whilst holding down a day job at the same time. Taking inspiration from the ink splat design that adorns his graphic novel he has replicated this in his logo and named his company “Ink Pot Graphics”.

This is certainly true for Matt Buckett who has taken residency of a unit in the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown, with the intention of both teaching art classes and using the space to create artwork of his own. Nichola went to meet Matt in his new studio to find out more about his art and this great opportunity to have a fun day out whilst improving your artistic skills.

Matt is available for commissions, particularly contemporary portraits and pet portraits whilst also branching out into teaching. So if you’re looking for a piece of original artwork, or for something a little different to keep the children busy over the summer holidays, an unusual gift for a special friend, or perhaps a comfortable place to expand your own creativity, then Princetown might be the place for you.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Joseph Toland Joseph Toland is responsible for designing the ‘Jetstream Lagoon’ which works on a similar principle to a tidal lagoon, although Joseph estimates that his invention can produce almost five times as much power as a traditionally constructed tidal lagoon for the same amount of investment. At the start of this year, Charles Hendry published his final report in an independent review of the role of tidal lagoons in the UK’s future energy mix. The Hendry Review is now under consideration by the government and 74-year-old Joseph Toland, a local Horrabridge resident, has recently been in discussions with a senior minister about the part that his invention may be able to play in supplying the UK with green energy. You might expect Joseph to have a string of letters after his name and a background in design engineering. Instead he left school at 16 and joined the RAF

as an apprentice aircraft engineer, followed 17 years later by a career as an insurance salesman. Joseph’s invention - the Jetstream Lagoon - has a long elliptically curved wall with zero-energy pumps attached at 20-metre intervals. The shape encourages an increase of up to 25% in tidal flow close to the wall and the kinetic energy produced, operates the pumps. The pumps are then used to transfer extra water into the lagoon to increase the effect of the tide as the water flows out of the lagoon through the

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insurance broker, making use of his RAF connections to help clients as far afield as Saudi Arabia and Australia. Joseph’s proximity to the Severn Estuary while living at Llantwit Major, sparked a deep-seated interest in the tidal range and flow which gives rise to the amazing phenomenon of the Severn Bore.

So how did Joseph’s background prepare him for a career as an inventor? – Quite simply, his life experiences, a keen sense of observation and an enquiring mind have furnished him with everything required.

In 1995, he took the decision to move back to Horrabridge to care for his mother. With thinking time on his hands, he now started to make use of all the experience and knowledge he had gained over the previous 50 years. The result was a steady flow of what he terms as ‘mad ideas’, which varied from a machine to de-bead truck tyres as part of a recycling programme, designing plant machinery, converting railway branch lines into roadways – and finally the Jetstream Lagoon.

He grew up in Horrabridge and even from an early age he was fascinated by the mechanism of the former hydro-electric turbine near the bridge on the River Walkham, as well as the water wheel at Phoenix Mill. After joining Tavistock Air Training Corps in his teens, he was keen to progress into the RAF, where he trained for three years as an apprentice engineer. Stationed in Borneo as a helicopter crewman engineer in 1964/65, he enjoyed the experience of flying with ex-Battle of Britain pilots, but also had to adapt to living in the jungle and quickly learned to think on his feet to keep the planes running. During his time with the RAF he established a reputation for being the ‘go-to person’ for solving aircraft problems and his vast knowledge of different aircraft eventually led to the creation of a new role at RAF St Athan, where he was responsible for supporting the Training School instructors by maintaining 32 aircraft of different types, and supplying all the related test equipment, circuit layouts and air diagrams. He left the RAF after 17 years and continued to work in Wales for the next 20 years as a national and international

Joseph originally came up with the idea for the Jetstream Lagoon in 2008, in response to a competition to create an energy capturing structure. He based his design on the aerodynamics associated with the aeroplane shape and since then he has been working in conjunction with Pipex px and Water Powered Technologies to develop the product. He has also been nominated for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which celebrates solutions that meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and the environment. The tidal power of the Severn Estuary has huge energy potential and if Joseph Toland’s technology can be developed to provide sustainable green energy by harnessing a totally natural resource, we may all be thanking him for many years to come. Rosemary Best

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turbines on the outgoing tide and vice versa on the incoming tide. Consequently, this generates enough additional power to provide a 24-hour supply rather than a supply restricted to high and low tide times. Still more power can be generated from the sun by attaching solar panels to floating pontoons within the lagoon.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Tina and Michael Smith On a gorgeous sunny day, Nichola went along to the hamlet of Sampford Spiney to meet Tina and Michael Smith with some of their beautiful horses, and find out all about the sport of tent pegging and their Team GB gold winning success. Both Tina and Michael Smith are originally from Bromley, South East London and met at a riding club camp in 1987. Michael had been interested in horses from an early age, and at 18 was both show jumping and eventing, while Tina became interested in riding through her uncle, who met and married a riding instructor, and bought her six riding lessons for a birthday present. Tina is a McTimoney chiropractor by trade, qualified to treat both humans and animals, and currently works at a clinic in Plympton. Michael joined the civil service and later became self-employed importing ginger products for the food manufacturing industry, supplying over half of the UK market. He became interested in military re-enactments on horseback as well as more serious about dressage – often referred to as “ballet on horseback”. He was soon entering competitions in the South East, with great success. A friend suggested he take his horse to the medieval mounted games at Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex, and after three days of competition he achieved a surprising joint first place.

His interest in mounted games soon moved on to tent pegging – the ancient tradition of removing wooden ‘tent pegs’ using real swords and lances while riding a galloping horse. Riders compete in team, pair or individual classes and competitors must have good coordination and weaponry skills, whilst riding the horse at speed over a distance of 100metres, correcting the horse’s line one-handed. Europe has a developing tentpegging circuit, but the sport originated in the Middle East alongside polo and hunting wild boar, and today it is still most popular in arid countries such as Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt, and India. However, it is slowly becoming more prominent and popular in the UK with team members from Devon competing at county level, nationally and internationally. Michael began alternating between dressage competitions and tent pegging. Tina became fed up with always following Michael around so finally decided to take up the sport and was soon competing alongside Michael - together they made a formidable pair. In 2009 Tina and Michael attended their first serious international competition and since then have competed all over the world representing their country, most

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successfully as part of Team GB in the International Tent Pegging World Cup in India in 2015, with Michael gaining an individual silver medal, and Team GB winning gold in Indian File. Michael has also just taken ‘best rider’ at the Punjab Lancers Show in Birmingham and won a car for his trouble – literally the biggest prize ever in UK tent pegging. Tina was the first British female rider to ride down a tentpegging track in Pakistan gaining two silver medals. Sadly, after a fall from her horse whilst competing, she broke her hip. However this injury spurred her to take qualifications in judging and she’s now one of only two female international accredited judges in the UK and recently adjudicated the World Championships in Egypt. Tina helps to organise events in the South West with one meet each month through the summer season in each county alongside regional and national competitions. Conditions in the UK do not lend themselves to tent pegging, traditionally a desert sport - wind, rain and cold are not ideal when riding at speed on horseback with either a 7-foot,6-inch-long sword or lance and target pegs only a few centimetres above the ground.

Michael is a qualified tent-pegging coach, and also the patron of the local Devon team, the Dartmoor Demons, currently coaching a number of youngsters and adults including a 14-year-old girl from Truro whom he hopes will be match-fit for the next international competition in Holland. Michael says: “I really enjoying teaching tent pegging from scratch as you can stop both rider and horse from picking up bad habits. It is an excellent, inclusive sport for all ages and horse-riding abilities as you can soon learn the skills required and you don’t need an expensive horse”. The British team receives no formal UK funding or coaching, and has developed its success through the dedication of its members and its in-house training. Michael and Tina are keen to develop more regional training for riders interested in tent-pegging. As I leave I notice the logo on Tina’s sweatshirt ‘ride it like you stole it’ which is fitting given the high-octane buzz of tentpegging. Michael tells me that this is just a hobby, but I feel it is so much more than that. Nichola Williams

For more information visit the Facebook pages of British Tent Pegging Association and Tent Pegging South West 19

CHARITY FOCUS

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth Although called ‘St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’, this vibrant, life-affirming charity is not just about the hospice in Plymouth. Its services now reach far beyond into Devon and Cornwall Founded in 1982, St Luke’s has been providing specialist endof-life care to the local community for the last 35 years. Having grown from a seven-bed unit at Syrena House in Plymstock to the purpose-built 12 bed specialist unit in Turnchapel, along with care delivered at home and in Derriford Hospital, St Luke’s has always had a strong presence in our community, and is committed to offering dignity and choice to patients. 15 years ago, the NHS transferred end-of-life care in this area from Macmillan nurses to St Luke’s and last year the charity cared for 3,480 patients and their families, providing care for the terminally ill wherever they needed it most.

Our Specialist Unit The specialist unit is based at the head office in Turnchapel, Plymstock where most rooms look out onto the beautiful surroundings of Plymouth Sound. The vast majority of St Luke’s patients never need to come into the specialist unit, as they are well cared for in their own home. The beds are intended for short-stay patients with complex needs that are difficult to manage in other settings, and provided symptoms can be satisfactorily addressed, the aim is to return patients to their home or nursing home; in fact over 40% of patients return home after their stay in the unit.

St Luke’s at Derriford This unit operates in Derriford Hospital, providing a specialist palliative care service to patients in hospital. Across every ward, the team works alongside NHS doctors offering specialist advice and emotional support for hospital patients, their families and carers. Last year, St. Luke’s at Derriford cared for 1080 patients. The unit also plays a pivotal role in training NHS staff in delivering good end-of-life care.

St Luke’s at home The service offers specialist advice and support to people with a progressive life-limiting illness. Almost half of St Luke’s

Photos: St Luke’s Open Garden events - Hotel Endsleigh

patients are seen in their own homes, including residential care and nursing homes alongside vulnerable communities such as the homeless. The team consists of nurses, social workers and occupational therapists who work in partnership with patients, carers, GPs and other health and social care providers. The team offers advice on complex symptoms, guidance with financial and social problems and practical help to enable patients to maximise their independence.

St Luke’s Crisis Team The Crisis Team cares for patients at home or in residential and nursing homes, for a period of up to 72 hours in a time of crisis. The core aim of this service is to reduce unnecessary admissions to Derriford, by responding within an hour and stabilising symptoms with a short intervention. The Crisis Team can also arrange rapid discharge from hospital so a patient can die with their loved ones at home. The Crisis Team covers a vast area from Kingsbridge to east Looe, Plymouth and Tavistock and works alongside district nurses, GPs and other charities like Marie Curie.

St Luke’s Open Gardens Now in its eighth year St Luke’s Open Gardens is an enjoyable and inspiring way to show your support. This year’s season hosted 23 gardens across Devon and Cornwall, including Stroll Gardens in Yelverton, Ottery Cottage Gardens and Hotel Endsleigh. New gardens and old favourites are chosen to delight and inspire, from the impressive Fleet House estate and gardens, to village walkabouts. Many are not normally open to the public so they offer a unique insight, usually with homemade cakes, refreshments and plants on sale. The season is almost coming to a close for this year, but there is still time to visit Alpine House, Bere Ferrers on 13 August and Lower Charaton Cottage in Pensilva, Cornwall on 10 September. For information visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/ opengardens

The Open Gardens event raised around £50,000 last year, and St Luke’s is already looking for new gardens in West Devon to feature next year. If you would like to get involved please contact Wayne Marshall on 01752 964426 or email wmarshall@stlukes-hospice.org.uk

St Luke’s projects and partnerships St Luke’s care cannot work in isolation and the charity is keen to provide training for other healthcare partners in delivering good end-of-life care and last year 2,117 healthcare professionals, from nurses and paramedics, to homelessand alcohol-support workers were trained. St. Luke’s is also running a module at Plymouth University for doctors and nurses, and last year it welcomed 81 student doctors onto the wards to help them develop the medical and communication skills required.

St Luke’s volunteers, sponsorship and fundraising St Luke’s is extremely grateful for the generous support of the local community in raising £4million last year, but also for the 891 volunteers that helped in charity shops, offered professional corporate skills, welcomed patients’ families,

ran events, supported the recently bereaved and handed out cups of tea. In 2015 Her Majesty conferred the Queen’s Award for Volunteering upon St. Luke’s. Last year 540,000 purchases were made in one of the 30 St Luke’s charity shops in Devon and Cornwall, contributing £1million profit towards the £9.5million annual running costs. Over 52,000 steps were walked, run and sweated in sponsored events, 11,000 people played the weekly lottery, while the orange collecting cans on shop and café counters amassed over £80,000. St Luke’s service is free of charge to patients - however the charity receives only 36% of its funding, from the government and has to raise over £4 million every year, so the support of the community will continue to be very important to St Luke’s. St Luke’s patients are involved as far as possible in decisions about their care, to maintain privacy, dignity and to respect patients’ individual rights, and religious and cultural beliefs. The approach to care is holistic, sharing the ethos of the late Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern hospice movement: “You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can to help you not only to die peacefully, but also to live until you die”. That would seem to be what all of us would want. Nichola Williams For more information visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk

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DAYS OUT & ACTIVITIES

DAYS OUT & ACTIVITES

Our top tips for days out have kindly been compiled by Rebecca Martin from Exciting Education

Getting kids out and about Many studies show that children are spending less and less time outside. In this issue we have a few ideas for local trails, challenges and activities to encourage your children to get out and enjoy everything Dartmoor and our locality has to offer.

Our top 3 tips for easy days out: Pack the night before - There is nothing worse than trying to ensure that you have everything you need whilst trying to calm children who are over-excited and ready to go. If you pack everything but those last-minute lunch items the night before, you leave the house with a spring in your step and happy, nicely-excited children. Pack for all weathers - No matter what the weather man says, always keep a bag with wellies, waterproofs, shorts, jumpers and sun-cream in the boot of the car. This means you can be prepared for all situations in our changeable south west weather! A plastic bag or bin-liner is an essential item too; for some reason, children always seem to find a way of getting wet or muddy no matter where you are. Pack snacks and drinks - It is great to eat out but it is always shocking how much children eat and drink in one day. 10 minutes of packing snacks and drinks can save you £20-30 a day on those extra bits of food.

South West Lakes: 101 things to do this summer Have a go at completing South West Lakes Trust ‘101 things to do this summer’. Your children will experience a proper outdoors adventure, creating lasting memories as a family – from toasting marshmallows to playing tag on a paddle board!

and much more. You can also take to the water and enjoy a different type of adventure – race kayaks backwards, strike your best pirate pose or create your own mini-sailing quest with the family. There’s no better way to spend quality time together as a family than getting outdoors and trying something new. Go to www.southwestlakes.co.uk to download your ‘101 Things’ booklet or pick up a copy from one of the centres and get ticking!

Be a Moor Otter Spotter You can become an ‘Otter Spotter’ this summer and enter a competition to win lots of family-friendly prizes including, vouchers for The House of Marbles, Family Cream Teas and cinema tickets for the Wharf, Tavistock. All you need to do is find 20 of the 100 fabulous otters and hand your form into one of the visitor centres at Haytor, Princetown or Postbridge - or you can post your form back to them to be included in the draw to win one of many prizes. Don’t forget to collect your Otter Spotter badge from one of the visitor centres! Not only will the children love seeing all the amazing artwork, they will learn about some of the wonderful places on Dartmoor that they may not have visited. For an extra challenge, see if you can find the elusive 100th Otter who will be making guest appearances at a number of events including:

Explore woodlands, forests, ponds and lakes; discover nature reserves, areas of outstanding natural beauty, monuments

TAVISTOCK ANNUAL SUMMER EXHIBITION WED 2ND AUG TO SUN 6TH AUG 2017 OPEN DAILY 10AM TO 4.30PM. SUN 10AM TO 3PM TAVISTOCK TOWN HALL, TAVISTOCK

DRAWN TO THE VALLEY OPEN STUDIOS

EXHIBITION & OPEN STUDIOS ART IST S O F T HE TA MA R VA LLE Y

10th August - Okehampton Show 15th August - Meldon Wildlife Festival, near Okehampton 27th August - Devonport Park summer fair 10th September - Family Fun day, Two Bridges Hotel 17th September - Lamerton Tractor day & Country Fair To find out more and download your Otter Spotter Trail Map, go to www.moorotters.co.uk/otter-trail/

Lydford Gorge: 11 things to do this summer Lydford Gorge has created a timetable of activities for the summer that will encourage your children to get creative with nature and learn the essential skills needed to become the next Bear Grylls. Children (and adults) can learn how to make wooden mallets and use cordage to create bows, build homes for wildlife and try different lighting techniques to create those perfect fires for toasting marshmallows. Finish off the summer with a dip in the river whilst you do your bit for nature and conservation during their wellies and wetsuits litter pick. See our What’s On pages or www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lydfordgorge for more information.

From September 2017 we will be offering 30 hours funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds who have working parents.

SAT 2ND SEP TO SUN 10TH SEP 2017 BROCHURES FROM LOCAL OUTLETS OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

drawntothevalley.co.uk facebook.com/Drawn-to-the-Valley @Drawn2Valley

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The Village Centre Princetown See our new community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

1 September Kids Nature Treasure Hunt and Letterboxing A fun and interesting way for children to connect with the beautiful Dartmoor landscape as well as meet other children and burn off lots of energy! Children will be provided with a picture list of things to find and tick off (animals and birds, flora and fauna, historical artefacts in the landscape etc), plus there are rocks to climb, granite tramlines to follow, and letterboxes and geocaches to find… This event is aimed at children between the ages of 5-11 years old - there is some flexibility depending on the pace and energy of your child, so please get in touch if you think this would be suitable. Please bring/wear: sunscreen, waterproof jacket and trousers (whatever the weather forecast), warm layers, walking shoes, packed lunch and drink. All children must be accompanied by an adult - and you are encouraged to help out! 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Haytor (Lower) (SX765772) 0-3 hours, Price: Children (U16) £12.50; Adult - Free if accompanied by a child, Guide: Emma Cunis www.moorlandguides.co.uk/ kids-nature-treasure-hunt-letterboxing-3

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Caring for your little ones in their own home 23

DAYS OUT & ACTIVITIES

Clearbrook Wild Child Events

Devonport Naval Heritage Centre and HMS Courageous If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to live and work in a submarine then you need to visit HMS Courageous in Plymouth, one of only three public submarines in the UK – where just for a couple of hours you can experience the atmosphere for yourself and explore the control room, a façade of the manoeuvring room, living accommodation, galley and torpedo stowage compartment, and imagine what it was like for the 110-120 crew members who took the ‘boat’ (as it’s commonly called) to sea. Royal Navy personnel and civilian volunteers, provide guided tours by appointment to explain how the submarine functioned, including the chance to see examples of torpedoes and missiles in this superb living museum. HMS Courageous was one of the first-generation nuclear submarines and became part of the Third Submarine Squadron based at Faslane, after its launch in 1970. She was used as part of the surveillance initiative to track and gather intelligence about Soviet units during the Cold War, as well as being deployed during the Falklands War. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 at the end of the Cold War, the MOD decommissioned older nuclear submarines, including Courageous, which meant the reactor plant was defuelled and all the equipment forward stripped out, leaving just the hulk. Courageous was first refurbished on a very limited scale for Devonport Navy Days in 2002 and a group of volunteer guides was formed to show the public round the boat. A handful of the guides had served on Courageous and were keen to restore it to its former glory, so took it upon themselves to continue refurbishing Courageous to its current high standard. Parts were begged, borrowed, bought and ‘relocated’ from other laid-up submarines, and their work soon earned them first place in the queue for spare parts. They stripped some of the boat back to bare metal and painstakingly recreated the internal living and working areas to their original specifications, even moving a façade of the manoeuvring room forward in the boat layout, so it could be included on the public tour, complete with a full set of non-operational control panels. Ex-submariner Michael Pitkeathly, who served on Courageous during the Cold War years, was awarded the MBE in 2013 for his work in co-ordinating the refit of Courageous at minimal cost, enabling the public to appreciate ‘the complex nature of these unique underwater fighting machines’ (HMS Courageous guidebook). 24

You can also check out the fascinating Devonport Naval Heritage Centre which contains a series of galleries charting the importance of the relationship of Devonport, Plymouth, The Royal Navy and the Dockyard through major conflicts since 1300, including two world wars. The Engine House and old Fire Station map the history of ship-building with a fine collection of ship figureheads and interactive exhibits detailing the tasks of caulkers, sawyers, coopers, riggers, ropemakers and shipwrights, as well as life on a gun deck. Knowledgeable guides bring all the artefacts to life with interesting anecdotes, even explaining how terms and phrases came into being, such as a ‘square meal’ (a main meal eaten from a square-shaped wooden plate) and ‘not enough room to swing a cat’ (the cat-o’-nine-tails whip). The 18th Century Pay Office houses numerous types of naval dress, swords and medals but also covers the important subject of food and drink or naval victualling with exhibits connected to everything from the essential rum ration to a royal dinner service used to serve Queen Victoria. If you don’t manage to get to the submarine then you can visit the Courageous display and see what you can spot using the fully operational submarine periscope. Rosemary Best

For more information visit www.devonportnhc.wordpress.com Bookings & enquiries: 01752 552326; navynbcd-book1@mod. uk - NB 2 weeks’ notice can be required for tours - visitors to the submarine need to be able to manage steep ladders and the minimum height for children is 1.2 metres.

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Our first event was back in April and was a Make Your Own Bow & Arrow session on the moors. We expected 20 children might attend, we hoped for 30, what we got was 70 children, plus accompanying adults! For two glorious hours, the moor was packed with children with home-made bows and arrows, pretending to be Robin Hood or Merida from Brave. I spent most of my childhood out and about and I wanted my daughter to be able to enjoy the same activities. Since having a daughter, I have become much more aware of the subliminal gender stereotyping that little girls face. The Wild Child project hopes to show girls and boys that outdoors stuff isn’t just a ‘boy’ thing. It is, if you like, one dad’s heroic resistance against the relentless onslaught of pink! All our events are completely free, and open to boys and girls of all ages, from toddler to teenager. However, ALL children must be accompanied by an adult, who is responsible for their children’s safety. You don’t have to live in Clearbrook and children are welcome to bring friends along.

Hall (postcode PL20 6JD) at 8:30pm and be joined by local charity group Dartmoor Skies, who will be bringing their telescopes. Bring a torch, warm clothes, food, drink, camp chairs, blankets etc as it may get cold. If you’ve got a telescope or binoculars, bring them too! Obviously, this event is weather dependent, so please visit our Facebook page in advance for updates at www.facebook.com/ClearbrookWildChild.

Blackberry Jam and Pancakes on a Camp Fire 2 September from 2pm We’ll pick blackberries on the moor, then build a fire and make our own pancakes and blackberry jam. Bring a bucket or tub for picking the blackberries and bramble-proof clothes. Meet at Clearbrook Village Hall (postcode PL20 6JD) at 2pm.

Hallowe’en: Mad Science at Frankenstein’s Laboratory - 28 October from 2pm We’ll carve pumpkins, make witches’ brew and do some mad science in Frankenstein’s lab. Prize for the best costume. Meet at Clearbrook Village Hall (postcode PL20 6JD) at 2pm.

Jamie Lee - Clearbrook Wild Child info@clearbrookwildchild.co.uk 07812 116345 For more info visit www.clearbrookwildchild.co.uk or like our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/clearbrookwildchild

Stargazing with Meteors and Shooting Stars 12 August from 8:30pm We’ll be heading out onto the moors to watch the annual Perseids meteor shower. We’ll meet at Clearbrook Village

family outdoor adventure

tree surfers canoeing biking running walking archery café Ȧȉ QMRYXIW JVSQ 8EZMWXSGO

tamartrails.co.uk 01822 833409 editorial@moorlinks.co.uk

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KIDS WHAT’S ON

SUMMER FUN BUCKLAND ABBEY

HANNAH’S-AT-SEALE

MEDIEVAL BEAST HUNT 31 July - 10 September, 10am-5pm

WHITE RABBIT’S TREASURE HUNT Saturday 1st July - Monday 28th August, 10am - 5pm

Grab your booklet and crayon and adventure round the Buckland estate to capture as many medieval beasties as you can. COST: £1 FAMILY FELT WITH CLAIRE PACKER Wednesday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th August, 11am-4pm Join local wool artist Claire Packer for a fun, family-friendly felting workshop. Drop in when you can. COST: £3 per child. No need to book

COTEHELE COTEHELE SUMMER FUN Daily, Tuesday 1st August – Thursday 31st August, 12pm-3pm Go along for an assortment of ledactivities including antique sword holding, crafty Fridays, and swords & shields. There will be a different activity each day. You’ll also find a variety of self-led activities like a pixie door summer trail, hobby horse jumping, quizzes and 50 Things challenges every day. COST: Normal admission charges apply

Kids will love this Alice in Wonderlandthemed treasure hunt, following the White Rabbit around the grounds of Hannah’s, solving clues and riddles along the way. There’s a delicious treat waiting at the end. Why not wear a mad hat yourself when taking part? Buy your clue sheets from Hannah’s Gift Shop. COST: £2.50 per child.

LYDFORD GORGE BUSH CRAFT ACTIVITIES IN THE ORCHARD 3rd,10th,17th & 24th August, 2pm-4pm Four separate sessions will be themed around den building, fire lighting, wood working and cordage. Suitable for children aged 7 to 12 years. COST: £5 per child - Booking essential MAKE A HOME FOR WILDLIFE Tuesday 22nd August, 10.30am-1.30pm Build a bug home for all sorts of creepy crawlies and tick off one of the 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾. COST: £2 per person - Booking advisable WELLIES AND WETSUITS LITTER PICK Saturday 26th August, 11am

7.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday 51 weeks a year From birth to 8-years old. Vacancies for babies. Taking bookings for 30 funded hours Trimal House, Yelverton Business Park

01822 855644 Manager: Joanne Davey BA Hons Proprietors: Debbie & Keith Parriss 26

25th Anniversary Party in September

www.edgemoornursery.com

If you would like to help look after the beautiful gorge as well as have fun splashing about in the river, then join the team for a wellies and wetsuits litter pick. We’ll be covering a section of river starting from the long and easy path up-stream to Whitelady waterfall, this does not include Devil’s cauldron for safety reasons.

Sunday August 20th, 11am-5pm

TAMAR VALLEY AONB

Come and discover some interesting outfits from the museum collections, and even try some on - Roman armour, WWII helmets, fantastic shoes and more. Design your own bag, flip flops or Roman shield. This is a ‘Museum On Tour’ event for the Plymouth History Centre. Devonport Park bandstand, Plymouth, PL1 4BT

EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES: OUTDOOR THEATRE Wednesday 16th August, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

MOORLAND GARDEN HOTEL

CRAFT WITH CLAY Wednesday August 23rd, 10:30am 12:45pm

PETER PAN Monday 28th August, Gardens Open 12pm, Show Starts 2.30pm

Can you make a character that would fit in with Beryl Cook’s famous curvy ladies?

Chapterhouse Theatre Company is delighted to present an all new production of Peter Pan. Join Wendy, Michael and John Darling on their adventures with Peter, far away on the magical island of Neverland. Please bring low-backed seating or a picnic rug and please refrain from bringing your own food and beverages. Performance will go ahead in all but the very worst weather

Sculpt your own clay figure in this fun family workshop. You can even take your creation home to paint. At 12.30pm there’s an optional FREE visit to the Beryl Cook exhibition. COST: £2.50 per child. Accompanying adult goes free. Advance booking essential via Eventbrite. www.plymhearts.org/pcmag/whats-on

COST: Adult £15 / Child £10 / Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) £44 Booking: Phone (0871) 220 0260 or www. seetickets.com (10% off for 10 or more)

BURRATOR FAMILY ‘DROP IN’ ACTIVITY DAYS Thursday 3rd, Tuesday 8rd, Wednesday 16th & Thursday 24th August, 10am-3pm

PENNYWELL FARM

SOUTHWEST LAKES

COST: £2 per child, £1 per adult.

HAWKEYE FALCONRY Wednesday 2nd August

BURRATOR: EXPLORE THE BOUNDARY STONES Sunday 17th September, 10.30am-12.30pm

Hawkeye Falconry is one of the most sought-after display teams in the UK and having seen them in action, we understand why. Enjoy two breath-taking displays, a beautiful and varied collection of birds, plus plenty of opportunities to chat to the team.

Find out about the boundary stones in this family friendly event as part of the Family Wildlife Watch session. You will learn all about the stones before enjoying hot chocolate & biscuits. COST: £2 per child, £1 per adult.

COST: Normal admission charges apply.

PLYMOUTH MUSEUM OUT AND ABOUT: CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES AT DEVONPORT PARK FESTIVAL

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Join the Pentillie team on the old tennis lawn at Pentillie Castle to enjoy Illyria’s open-air performance of the Emperor’s New Clothes, Hans Christian Andersen’s much-loved story, about a hapless Emperor and a suit of clothes so fine that only intelligent people can see them. Performance at 6:30pm, gardens open from 4:30pm COST: Adults £15, children £10 (under 12), family (2 adults, 2 children) £45 BOOKING: www.pentillie.co.uk and follow the links BAT BEACON EXHIBITION Tuesday 12th September, continuing weekdays throughout the month, 10am4pm. An exhibition at the Tamar Valley Centre, exploring the story of the Greater Horseshoe Bat. See its prey and predator, communities and juveniles.. COST: Free

THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH FAMILY WORKSHOPS AGES 3-7 YEARS OLD Various Dates throughout August, 11am Family-friendly workshops filled with lots of movement, rhyme, storytelling and fun. Age: 3-7 yrs. COST: £8 per child, adults free! For more information go to www. theatreroyal.com/whats-on or call 01752 267222

PLAY IN A WEEK Monday 14th – Friday 18th August, Daily 10am. Your 7 to 10-year-olds will love devising their own original piece of theatre to perform at the end of the week. COST: £100 For more information go to www. theatreroyal.com/whats-on or call 01752 267222 MUSICAL THEATRE ACADEMY Monday 21st – Friday 25th August, Daily starting at 10am 11-16-year-olds get to explore a range of musicals, learn essential vocal and acting techniques and how to put movement with song before performing a showcase at the end of the week. COST: £120. For more information go to www.theatreroyal.com/ whats-on or call 01752 267222

MISS IVY EVENTS AND VISIT DARTMOOR DARTMOOR FAMILY DAY Saturday 10th September Join Miss Ivy Events and Visit Dartmoor at the Two Bridges Hotel to celebrate the best that Dartmoor has to offer. There will be an array of food and artisan exhibitors, activities including archery, llama rides, ponies, workshops and lots more. COST: £3.50; Under 12’s go FREE! Telephone: 07739033476 for more information

opening soon

September 2017

Amendment to June/July Kid’s What’s On: The garden at the Princetown Visitor Centre is called the Dartmoor Conservation Garden, not the Dartmoor Visitor Centre Conservation Garden. This is a project supported and managed by the Dartmoor Preservation Association - an independent membership charity that helps to look after Dartmoor. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused.

Pre-school for 2-4 year olds • 9am to 1pm daily Monday to Friday • Term time only

Buckland Monachorum Village Hall

A happy place to b ...

Contact Jane Beard on 01822 853634

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Are you concerned about your memory?

Sports

Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging - we all go upstairs and then forget what we came up for, and this sort of forgetfulness can get a lot more prominent in times of stress. It is important for clinicians working in the field of memory loss and cognitive impairment to tease apart what is a normal part of the aging process and what might be the signs of a greater problem.

everyday life and refresh your mind. For people with dementia, it is particularly good to visit places of great significance and familiarity. Long-term memory stays intact for longer than short-term memory, therefore, familiar locations can provide a great source of joy and comfort for people suffering from the disease.

There are a great number of benefits to exercise, not just physically but mentally and socially as well. A further benefit to doing exercise for a person with dementia is that it can be easily implemented into a routine which will help them with day-to-day orientation. Current research suggests that routine is very helpful for people with dementia as it orientates them to time and location, which becomes increasingly difficult as the illness progresses. Some examples of exercise that everyone can take part in are: a daily 15-minute walk, a twiceweekly gym session, badminton, tennis, swimming, dancing and cricket. The socialisation involved in sports stimulates the brain, as can the act of strategizing and co-ordinating actions.

Indeed, dementia is the most feared illness amongst those aged over 50. There is currently a huge amount of research taking place that provides hope for people affected by dementia, and new medications for Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment are being tested all around the world. While in the past there was little we could do to prevent it happening or to treat it, there is now cause for cautious optimism. However, there are also things we can do ourselves to help - whether you have been diagnosed with dementia, are experiencing memory difficulties or know someone with dementia, there are important activities you can do this summer to help.

Community

The first case of dementia was diagnosed in 1906 and we have come a long way in 111 years. There is hope for people

Leanne Timings of Re:Cognition Health explains how taking part in activities can help people cope with dementia and even delay the onset.

Go out for the day Staying inside for too long is unhealthy for anyone and going outside is a good way to get away from the stresses of

Regular engagement in social activities such as meeting with friends for a chat, joining clubs and societies, provides brain stimulation.

Hobbies Sharing hobbies with your loved ones is a great way for people to bond, particularly with younger members of the family and can help children understand how they help a relative with dementia. Activities such as reminiscing over photo albums, baking, gardening, arts and crafts and playing favourite family board games are activities that everyone can enjoy together. Doing fun activities is important as it helps to reduce feelings of sadness, irritability and anxiety, and also stimulates the mind, engaging everyone involved in a shared goal.

affected by dementia due to increased efforts in dementia research. If you or someone you know is concerned about memory or is interested in getting involved in dementia research, see your GP or contact Re:Cognition Health, a team of cognitive experts and clinicians who offer access to detailed brain function testing, and in some cases new treatments, which offer a glimmer of hope for delaying or preventing dementia. Leanne Timings Re:Cognition Health: 01752 875604, plymouth@re-cognitionhealth.com. www.re-cognitionhealth.com

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Caring for People in the Community

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Set in the peaceful and tranquil surroundings of traditional Devonshire life, Redmount is a quaint family Residential care home offering a variety of care services to our local and surrounding communities. Redmount can offer long term permanent accommodation and short term respite stays as well as day care services to people living at home who may require a little extra support and companionship. At Redmount we have been working hard to achieve our goal of ensuring couples do not have to face older age in separation from one another, therefore we are excited to announce the completion of our en suite premier rooms specially designed for couples. Complete with 32inch flat screen televisions, luxurious soft furnishings, free Wi-Fi and parking, countryside views, private telephone access, separate sitting & bedroom area, personally tailored meals and of course, the 24 hour care and attention from our family of professionals carers. Rooms are limited so call us today for more information or to book an appointment for viewing.

It’s never too late to get fit… Many of the symptoms we associate with old age are actually due to a loss of fitness, and according to Diana Moran and Muir Gray in their book ‘Sod Sitting, Get Moving! Getting Active in your 60s, 70s and Beyond’, aging by itself is not a major cause of disability until our 90s. Countless studies show that regular exercise significantly lowers the risk of a whole host of life-threatening diseases, but exercise also plays a vital role in helping you to stay fit, active and mobile into old age. Exercise improves balance and consequently reduces the risk of injury through falls, and improves flexibility and joint strength. Resistance training (using weights or body weight to make an exercise more challenging) helps to build muscle, which counteracts the natural reduction in muscle mass that happens as we get older. Regular resistance training and weight-bearing exercise both add an extra load to your bones, which respond by becoming denser and therefore stronger, which lowers the risk of osteoporosis and associated fractures. Our bodies are designed to move and need to keep moving to stay healthy and mobile. We need to realise that the way we live our life in our younger years will impact on our physical ability as we get older. If you are in your fifties or sixties and starting to find it difficult to stand up from a chair without using your hands, this doesn’t have to be the start of an inevitable decline, it may be that the muscles in your legs have weakened and decreased in size simply because they haven’t been exercised enough. Exercising and strengthening your muscles and joints is totally achievable and it really is never too late to make changes that will pay dividends as you age. What better way to highlight the potential capabilities of the human body in later life than some examples of truly inspirational people who are positively redefining what it means to be elderly:

We welcome people to pop in at anytime for an informal chat and tour of our home or contact us on the details below to request a free brochure. Competitive rates and discounts for couples are available.

01364 642403 | fay@yourhealthgroup.co.uk | www.yourhealthgroup.co.uk

We look forward to welcoming you!

Ernestine Shepherd, 80, was crowned the world’s oldest competitive female bodybuilder in 2011. She walks 10 miles every morning and then works out at the gym. Ernestine’s journey from inactivity to the world of competitive fitness began at the age of 56, because she wasn’t happy with a photo of herself in her swimsuit. Her advice to those that want

to get in to shape is to start with small steps. “If your doctor says yes, then start with a walking programme because it is very good for you.” Last year, at age 71 Doreen Pechey, became the oldest person to pass the Royal Academy of Dance Grade 6 Ballet exam, just two years after having knee-replacement surgery. Doreen has ballet lessons 3 times a week and also practices for 30 minutes a day on a barre she had installed in her kitchen. Doreen only started to learn ballet 10 years ago. She said: “My shape has changed totally, I’m fitter, I’m more flexible and my posture has improved”. The late, great Charles Eugster rowed in his youth and then became relatively inactive until he took up rowing again at age 60. When he reached 80, he started lifting weights. Charles gave up rowing at age 95 and instead took up sprinting! Two years on, he held the indoor 200m and outdoor 400m sprint world records for men over the age of 95. “I’m not chasing youthfulness. I’m chasing health. People have been brainwashed to think that after you’re 65, you’re finished. We’re told that old age is a continuous state of decline, and that we should stop working, slow down and prepare to die. I disagree. To me, a 65-year-old is young.” Of course, you don’t have to be breaking records and winning medals to improve your strength and fitness, just as you don’t have to run or lift weights. The 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise recommended for adults can include brisk walking, aqua-aerobics and riding a bike on level ground. The two muscle-strengthening activities also advised for adults per week (vital for retaining/regaining muscle mass) can include carrying or moving heavy loads, heavy digging in the garden or activities that involve stepping and jumping, such as dancing. If you feel inspired to improve your fitness and start reversing the aging process, the NHS Live Well website is a great place to get lots of exercise ideas and sensible advice. Jo Ellis – Mojo Fitness, Tavistock Personal Training and Weight Loss Support

GARDENING

Late Summer Gardening There’s a wealth of beautiful gardens to be found all over our county that make for some fabulous days out... With the school holidays stretching ahead, I’ve chosen some of my favourites gardens for families. Some places are happy for visitors to picnic in the gardens, or have a picnic area, which saves a lot of money and hassle when feeding a family. Even if the weather does its worst, gardens can be great places to explore in less than perfect weather – so long as you have wellies and waterproofs, needless to say. Plants may be a hit with adults but it is usually other features that score with children: ornaments, sculptures, winding paths, woodlands and hidden places to explore. Fascinating sculptures are a key attraction in my two family favourites: Stone Lane Gardens near Chagford and Sedgewell Coach House Gardens north of Newton Abbot. The 5-acre woodland garden at Stone Lane is well known for its summer-long Mythic Garden sculpture exhibition and now has willowweaver Katherine as artist in residence. Incredibly lifelike creatures ‘wander’ through the gardens and she can often be seen at work in her studio (open daily www.stonelanegardens.com). Sedgewell is home to sculptor Heather Jansch, famous for her life-size and life-like driftwood sculptures, and extends over 14 acres including woodland, water meadow and herb garden. Open for the National Gardens Scheme on 19 and 20 August only (11am-5pm - www. ngs.org.uk). Heather’s driftwood sculptures can also be seen at the Eden Project - only an hour or so away from us and absolutely brilliant for children, though I’m constantly amazed at how many people have never been there. Of course these are all great gardens for adults too - wonderful days out for all ages.

Sue Fisher is a garden designer and writer based on the Bere peninsula. www.suefishergardens.co.uk

Seasonal jobs Feed summer-flowering plants in pots and hanging baskets and deadhead regularly to keep the show going well into autumn. Pick beans, courgettes and sweet peas regularly - don’t let them mature on plants or they’ll stop producing. Prune rambler roses once flowering has finished. These differ from climbers by producing very long stems from near the ground - cut out flowered stems and tie in new growth. Cut back all old foliage from strawberries once they’ve finished fruiting. Sow brassicas like calabrese and kale for an autumn or spring crop.

Looking good Butterfly bush (Buddleja) - not just flowers in blues, purples, pinks and whites, but the gorgeous butterflies it attracts. Dahlias - tops for ultra-colourful late-season blooms. Cosmos - my favourite annual for gap-filling in borders with large blooms that bees love too. Ornamental grasses - airy flower stems are particularly stunning when backlit by low morning or evening sun

ALL ASPECTS OF LANDSCAPING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Wildlife: If garden space permits, stack woody prunings like hedge trimmings and branches to create brush piles. These make wonderful habitats for small birds, many invertebrates, hedgehogs and other wildlife. ‘Green’: Now free garden waste collections have ended, home composting is even more appealing. Subsidised compost bins are available at £15 from West Devon Borough Council. Although perennial weed roots shouldn’t go in the bin as they’d continue to grow, I find they rot down beautifully when bagged up in strong plastic sacks; fold over the tops to exclude light and leave for a year. Time saving: High summer is a good time to trim evergreen hedges, shrubs and topiary plants – do inspect for birds’ nests first, though. For speedy clearing up, spread a lightweight tarpaulin or large sheet of plastic beneath so the clippings can be bundled up and easily removed. Favourite plant: Eucomis bicolor (pineapple flower) - one of my favourite easy-care container plants. This bulbous perennial pops up year after year to form broad clumps of lush foliage and unusual pale green flowers with a pineapple-like top, hence the name. Hails from South Africa so needs a sheltered spot and good drainage to get through the winter; move under cover if the winter is cold. Once several years old, simply split up the cluster of bulbs in spring to make more plants for free.

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Thrifty: Take cuttings of tender/borderline hardy plants in summer containers and beds, like Osteospermum, Salvias and Nemesia. Grow on in small pots to overwinter under cover, then plant up in spring for a fabulous and free early summer display.

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Sue’s Top Tips

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What’s on:Gardening Events Gardens to visit Close by and further afield are many splendid gardens to visit that open regularly such as the Garden House, Cotehele and Rosemoor. Other gardens that open occasionally or for special events, and private gardens that open for charity on one or two days a year, can be a particularly rich source of ideas and inspiration. For listings, check out the National Gardens Scheme (affectionately known as the ‘yellow book’ for its eponymous handbook) www.ngs.org.uk, and locally St Luke’s Hospice has many wonderful gardens including Alpine House at Bere Ferrers on Sunday 13 August, 11am-4pm. Pick up a gardens guide from the St Luke’s shop in Tavistock or look online at www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/open-gardens-2017. A visit to Hotel Endsleigh near Milton Abbot is a real treat and while my budget has never stretched to a night there, lunch isn’t too bank-breaking – particularly as you can eat on the sheltered terrace with glorious views over the garden and then explore the gardens, woodland and river walks after – no charge if you eat there. Or you can just pay to visit the gardens only, entry £5. Right next door, in what was the walled kitchen gardens, visit Endsleigh Gardens Nursery, a wonderful traditional plant nursery with a huge range of stock.

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RHS Rosemoor

The Garden House

Tavistock Pannier Market will be packed with plants on Sunday 17th September from 10am for one of the superb Plant Heritage fairs. These gatherings of small specialist nurseries are an unmissable delight for plant and garden lovers – and autumn is the perfect time for planting anything hardy too, if you need further excuse! If you miss this one, there’s a similar event at RHS Rosemoor on 24th September. Sue Fisher is a garden designer and writer based on the Bere Peninsula. Tel 01822 841895. Email: suefisher@talktalk.net Website: www.suefishergardens.co.uk

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Book your Winter Service now. See our new community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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I never cease to marvel at the aerial acrobatics of a dragonfly in flight with its ability to hover, dive and reverse in mid-air and as well as a rapid turn of speed when in full flight. The ‘buzz’ that we hear comes from the rapid figure-of-eight rotation of their stiff transparent wings. When seen at rest, which they do especially in the morning before they have fully warmed up, the details of head and wings are visible even to the naked eye. Two helmet-like eyes dominate the head, with 30,000 individual facets and colour vision they are very sensitive to movement of their prey even if they don’t focus a full picture in the way that our eyes do. Folded up under the head are a pair of jaws that can bite and kill larvae and adult insects, though despite their reputation they are completely harmless to humans!

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These insects, like the butterflies are associated with high summer. Stretches of open water such as the newly established pond at the Garden House, Buckland Monachorum are a good place to start watching them, though the larger species will travel far and wide in their search for food. We have just over 40 species in the UK yet there are few common names for them. This is partly historical as museum specimens fade rapidly and disintegrate, so they were of little interest to Victorian and Edwardian collectors who liked to catch, preserve and only then admire their specimens. Nevertheless even casual observers will pick out the broad categories by watching their behaviour. The smaller species, the ‘damselflies’ are the ones with needle-like abdomens, less than 1mm in diameter and have a more languid flight pattern, similar to that of a butterfly. They are generally blue in colour but there is a distinct red species that is relatively common and easy to identify. I remember seeing swarms of them in Brittany on the Nantes-Brest canal, hovering about 30cm above the surface. Every few seconds they would drop down to the surface, to pick up some microscopic prey, before returning to hovering.

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The true dragonflies are more like knitting needles, up 15cm long and a few mm in diameter, though a few broad-bodied species reach 7mm across. The large yellow and black hawkers are most easily recognised and may be seen at some distance from water; we watched a blue species of a similar size over the Garden House pond. ‘Hawkers’ are the ones that patrol up and down, sometimes following a zig-zag path while they are hunting. ‘Skimmers’ hunt for water-borne prey by brushing close to the surface, while the third group ‘chasers’ or ‘darters’ patrol more gently then make a sudden dash to catch their prey. This classification may seem a bit rough-andready, but it is an easy way to start finding out more about these fascinating creatures. At this point I should say a bit about their early larval life on the muddy bottom of the pond and amongst the aquatic plants. Pond-dipping is the best way to see them when the catch can be studied for a short while in an aquarium before returning them to the original site. With their somewhat dinosaur-like appearance and carnivorous habits, tadpoles and small fish are part of their diet, they are the T. Rex of the underwater world. After up to two years of this life they climb up the stem of a reed into the open air and pass through their last metamorphic change to emerge as a fully-formed dragonfly. Their last skin remains ghost-like attatched to the stem as reminding us of their fomer life. They then have just a few weeks of freedom to start a new generation. Mating pairs can be seen joined together in flight throughout the summer months. The fossil record shows that dragonflies have existed in the UK for over 300million years and still retain the same body shape. They are well suited to this ecological niche! Pete Mayston

FARMING DIARY

TAVISTOCK’S TOWN HALL WEDDING SHOWCASE

‘YOUR LOCAL VIBRANT EVENTS VENUE’

Flea Market

Come along and look around our fabulous hall. An intimate opportunity to meet our events team, as well as our recommended local suppliers who will be happy to assist you on your special day.

A selection of antiques, collectables, vintage items, bric-a-brac and unusual what-nots... New Traders Welcome

Free Admission Town Hall Bar open Fully Licensed Bar Licensed for Civil Ceremonies Seating for up to 190 People Call Ross and his team today to Full Disabled Access discuss your needs and reserve Modern Kitchen Facilities your time and date Full Days Hire from £470 townhall@tavistock.gov.uk www.tavistock.gov.uk

Off to market, holidays and great agricultural days out….

EVERY THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

10AM - 4PM

01822 617232

Refreshments available Disabled access

With the Lambs now all weaned, our focus with the sheep moves on to sales and we have some big breeding markets coming up. The sheep calendar is so seasonal we rely on these Call Ross and his team today to discuss your needs and reserve your time and date yearly sales in August and September and it is really important 01822 617232 T. 01822 617232 E. townhall@tavistock.gov.uk we have our lambs, rams and ewes in top condition. www.tavistock.gov.uk

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Tavistock Town Hall Bedford Square Tavistock PL19 0AE

www.tavistocktownhall.co.uk townhall@tavistock.gov.uk Tavistock Town Hall, Bedford Square, Tavistock, PL19 0AE The opportunity to make those premium prices, only comes

FOR HOME, FARM & FAMILY Clothing & Footwear School Uniforms Equestrian Farm & Smallholder Gardening Household & DIY Pet & Bird Exeter Road Monday to Friday 8am - 5.30pm OKEHAMPTON Saturday 8.30am - 5pm EX20 1QQ Sunday 10am - 4pm

around at a few markets once or twice a year. These sales are mainly for breeding sheep where other farmers will come to replace ewes, ewe lambs and rams in their flock and they are prepared to pay well for good sheep. In the hills of Dartmoor we may not be able to grow the fattest sheep, so we concentrate on breeding the best sheep we can, so they can then be taken to better pasture down the hill and thrive. One of the ways we do this on our farm is by crossing our Blackface ewes with a Bluefaced Leicester ram to create a very desirable cross breed know commonly as a mule. They make fantastic commercial ewes and will have large crops of lambs; they are great mothers and they mature quickly. Basically these ewes retain the best bits of both breeds and can do a great job at producing lots of butcher lambs. As a result if you get the lambs in good order and grown on well, you can, with a fair wind, expect £15 premium per lamb over the fat price. The cattle are pretty low maintenance at this time of year. Everything is growing well, making best use of long hot days with plenty to eat before autumn and winter darken our door. The cows and calves born in the spring are growing well and the bulls are off visiting the yummy mummies to see if they fancy stepping out for a while…! It is a revolving door this farming lark and the breeding cycle and making it work for us is so important. I found this out the hard way last winter when I discovered my belted Galloway bull had become infertile. He had worked hard and had delivered a great crop of calves the year before but somehow he damaged his private parts

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and although looked as if he was working, he wasn’t! The end result was twenty cows not in calf. This now has its knock-on and we will have to carry those cows for up to a year before they calf again. Obviously this can be devastating and will ultimately lead to lost income in two years time, when those calves would have come to market. Fortunately it is not such a big number and it will average out, but it is a sharp lesson for us and although we do swap our bulls around to cover these sorts of things it can be a real pain. Gem and I will be trying to fit in a holiday at some point during the school break. Now the boys are at school we are bound by ‘big brother’ and will have to take the pain of trying to holiday with every other family in the UK. I am sure we can find a bolthole somewhere, however I do always dread going away as there are so many things to be seen or done on the farm. But once I get away it is lovely to relax with the family, although as Tom and Billy get older I am not sure how much relaxing will actually be done! I will also be exhibiting at a few local shows again this summer. I show my Whiteface Dartmoor sheep at several local agricultural shows and it is a great day out with the family. It also helps promote what we can produce as a farm and there is a good competitive spirit amongst our breeders which makes it all good fun. I am sure you have seen the animals at these shows and it is pretty much like a dog show for sheep; there are different classes for breed, age, sex etc etc. So if you are visiting these shows they are a great way of getting close to the animals and learning about the countryside. May see you there! Mat Cole Greenwell Farm, Dartmoor

FEATURE

FEATURE FEATURE

The Art of Reflection

Andrew Logan’s new exhibition at Buckland Abbey Andrew Logan is an extremely successful contemporary artist from ‘a unique school of English eccentrics’, whose work is exhibited in major public collections all over the world. Andrew is famed for his extravagant, glamorous and unconventional sculptures, as well as for creating the surreal Alternative Miss World competition which he has run since 1972. So what does all this have to do with Buckland Abbey, a former Cistercian Abbey founded over 700 years ago? If you are familiar with Buckland Abbey then imagine walking through the Great Barn filled with 4.5-metre high golden wheat stalks, floating jewelled butterflies and silver field mice – if that image is striking a chord then you can start to see how the apparently incongruous partnership involved in The Art of Reflection, is actually an inspired choice, not only providing a stunning setting for the artwork but also evoking a sense of Elizabethan excess which is actually quite fitting for the former home of Sir Francis Drake. The exhibition unfolds in what feels almost like a treasure hunt or in the artist’s words, an ‘Alicein-Wonderland’ exploration starting with the giant wheat structures, where perspectives are altered, imparting a sense of the world from the mouse’s

point of view. In their entirety, the ears of wheat form a work entitled Goldfield, one of Andrew Logan’s earliest public commissions from 1976, which has only ever been exhibited once before. Delighted that the work will once again be on display, Andrew has produced a whole new set of butterflies, especially for the Buckland Abbey exhibition. He has also created a completely new piece of art in celebration of the event - a jewel and painted glass portrait of Sir Francis Drake, Buckland’s most celebrated owner - as well as bespoke ‘apple’ jewellery to be worn by the volunteers, inspired by the abbey’s orchards of Colloggett Pippin apples and its history of cider making. Without wishing to pre-empt all the delights of the treasure trail, the harmony of Andrew Logan’s contemporary art in juxtaposition with its historical backdrop is quite astounding. Visitors have an opportunity to see Life and Oomph, one of Logan’s most recent works, featuring a life-size sculpture of Royal Ballet principal ballerina Lynn Seymour reaching out from a sea of pearls. This is the first time this elegant work has been on public display and its location in the alabaster serenity of the former Long Gallery sets it off perfectly - however it also seems exceptionally apt that this was a space historically used for dancing. Hanging in Drake’s Chamber is a stunning globe entitled, World of Smiles, depicting continents formed of ‘smiles’ yet also reminiscent of Drake’s circumnavigation of the world – you should also look out for Ducking the Universe (the exhibition organisers make no apology for the pun on Drake’s name). The ornamental Elements and Universe thrones on which the Alternative Miss World winners are crowned, will also be part of the exhibition and visitors will be able try out the Elements Throne for themselves. Outside in the beautiful gardens more delights wait to be discovered, such as Four Flowers of the Apocalypse, and Excalibur, a 3-metre glass sword, which needs no introduction. Although this may not be the exact sword with magical powers used by King Arthur, it certainly looks as if it should be, and if you check up on the Arthurian legend of the Lady of the Lake then you have a good chance of finding it. I was fortunate enough to visit Buckland Abbey for a behindthe-scenes view of what was involved while Andrew Logan and his team were setting up the exhibition. A huge removal

Dame Helen Ghosh and Dame Zandra Rhodes opening the exhibition

van, packed to the roof, had arrived a couple of weeks before with the eighteen main pieces of art from five decades of Andrew Logan’s career. When I arrived, Icarus was being strung to hang down the central stairwell and in the Great Hall, Steve the photographer was setting up to start taking some official photos. I came across Penny Hinves, the event organiser, and she told me a little about her role which seems to cover everything from working very closely with Andrew and being in tune with his requirements for displaying each piece of art, to working with contractors and the staff at Buckland Abbey, and knowing exactly which bag contains each essential item. She explained that Buckland Abbey is far from the typical event venue they are used to and the team was finding it quite a challenge, but loved working with such a fantastic setting. Behind us the three flamboyant winged horses of Birth, Life and Death had been unpacked, while on the floor the huge self-portrait of Andrew was peeping tantalizingly from its bubble-wrap. As we were talking, Sally the head gardener and the Buckland Abbey garden team turned up to report for duty, and suddenly the room was full of people, including the great man himself, Andrew Logan, resplendent in red from top to toe - it appeared I had struck gold and the team was about to hang the portrait on the wall while a photo shoot with Andrew took place as well. It was a very hands-on affair with everyone helping to get the job done, including quite a lot of good-natured banter in the process. Within a few minutes the stunning portrait was on the specially constructed internal wall and someone commented that it looked even better there, than in its usual home. The Art of Reflection has been organised under the conservation charity’s Trust New Art contemporary art programme, curated jointly by Buckland Abbey and Andrew Logan, and is one of the largest exhibitions ever staged by

the National Trust in collaboration with one artist. The event is the culmination of almost thirty months of discussion, site visits and creative planning - James Breslin, Buckland Abbey’s House & Visitor Experience Manager, has been a key figure in bringing the exhibition to Buckland Abbey. When he first visited Andrew Logan’s studio he was ‘blown away’ by his work and delighted when the artist agreed to stage an exhibition at Buckland Abbey. Andrew then visited the abbey to suggest works of art which would be relevant to the ‘spirit’ of Buckland and to choose the right location for each piece. James says that despite the hard work involved it has felt like a very easy and natural process and he hopes that the exhibition will inspire visitors and offer new and exciting ways to reflect on Buckland’s historic past. Andrew Logan originally qualified as an architect and has worked across many fields, but as a sculptor and artist, he has built his reputation on transforming real objects from nature and the universe into unique works of art with a touch of fantasy. On his website he writes: “My reason for living is to give enjoyment and pleasure to others through quirky, humorous and extravagant mementos.” So make time to visit The Art of Reflection this summer and don’t forget to check out the bread oven in the kitchen before you leave the abbey! The Art of Reflection – Andrew Logan at Buckland Abbey opened at Buckland Abbey on 1 July and will run until 4 February 2018. For opening times and further information visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland or call 01822 853607. Rosemary Best

WHAT’S ON

REGULARS

EVERY DAY UNTIL 10 SEPTEMBER OPEN STUDIOS AT DRAWN TO THE VALLEY admin@drawntothevalley.co.uk

DAILY UNTIL FEBRUARY 2018 THE ART OF REFLECTION Explore the abbey and its surroundings to discover fantastical and aweinspiring mirrored sculptures created by internationally renowned artist Andrew Logan, celebrating the spirit of Buckland Abbey. 11am-4pm. Normal admission charges apply. EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 1 AUGUST IN-DEPTH TOURS OF BUCKLAND ABBEY Join one of Buckland’s knowledgeable volunteers for an in-depth tour of the Abbey. Places limited. Buckland Abbey, 11:30 am. Normal admission charges apply. EVERY SUNDAY AND THURSDAY FROM 1 AUGUST MILLING DAYS AT COTEHELE MILL Watch the millers grind organic wholemeal flour (water dependent) and buy a bag to take home. Cotehele, from 11am-4pm. Normal admission charges apply. EVERY DAY UNTIL 29 OCT ‘SUNLIGHT AND SHADOWS’ IN COTEHELE GALLERY The art and craft gallery exhibits and sells the work of west country artists. This exhibition features art by Clive Maddison, Jo Marsh, Suzie Marsh, and Hamlin and Wright. Normal admission charges apply. 11:00am-5:00pm

FIRST SAT OF MONTH BOOK GROUP AT PRINCETOWN LIBRARY We are an informal group that meets at 10:30am-12noon on the first Saturday of each month to discuss a book we have all read. Come along to see what it’s all about and pick up the book for the following month’s discussion. Alternatively drop into Princetown Library or check the Princetown Library Facebook Page. EVERY WEDNESDAY THE PLOUGH AND SHARE CREDIT UNION Savers can obtain loans at 2% or less. Just drop in to find out more information. Princetown Community Centre from 11am1pm

AUGUST 1 AUGUST PRINCETOWN HISTORY CLUB Joss Hibbs History of Dartmoor Ponies (a short talk followed by an excursion) Meet 19:00 at Powdermills, SX 628 769 Numbers limited to 15, so book by email to Bill.Radcliffe2@btopenworld.com 1-6 AUGUST EXON SINGERS - 51ST ANNUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL 2017 Festival in St Eustachius in Tavistock

Tickets priced £12 (under 18s free) available at the door for evening concerts, or in advance from “Bookstop”, 3 Market Street, Tavistock 01822 617244 or via tickets@exonsingers.org.uk. For more info www.exonsingers.org.uk 2 AUGUST DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS The Olde Plough Inn, Bere Ferrers at 8pm for more details www.dartmoorbordermorris.com/diary 2-6 AUGUST DRAWN TO THE VALLEY ART EXHIBITION 100 artists from the Drawn to the Valley art collective in Devon and Cornwall will be exhibiting their work to the public at two major exhibitions in Tavistock. Tavistock Town Hall, Bedford Square, Tavistock: 2-6 August. Open Studios event: 2-10 September. For more information visit www.drawntothevalley.co.uk 3 AUGUST CS RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP Come along at 12.30pm and join us for a friendly chat in the restaurant of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princetown. Anyone who is retired will receive a warm welcome. Meet old friends or make new ones. 3 AUGUST BURRATOR DISCOVERY CENTRE Family ‘drop-in’ activity days. £2 per child, £1 per adult. 10am-3pm 5 AUGUST ‘WIND IN THE WILLOWS’ AT THE GARDEN HOUSE Relax in the garden and join us for an

evening of exciting, open-air family theatre with a lakeside stage in the natural amphitheatre of the arboretum. See our Music and Art section for more details. 6 AUGUST MILTON COMBE BROOK RACE 12:00pm with BBQ and live music at The Who’d Have Thought It Inn The Milton Combe brook race involves teams of three people running while carrying a barrel. 8 AUGUST BURRATOR DISCOVERY CENTRE Family ‘drop-in’ activity days. £2 per child, £1 per adult. 10am-3pm 9 AUGUST DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS The Tamar Inn, for more details check out www.dartmoorbordermorris.com/diary 11 - 14 AUGUST 15TH ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION BY DERRIFORD ART GROUP Derriford Art Group is holding its annual art exhibition at Clearbrook Village Hall, Clearbrook, near Yelverton, Devon PL20 6JD. The exhibition has a wide range of paintings which are available for sale on a “Buy & Take Away” basis. Refreshments will be available and entry is free. 11th August 1pm – 4pm, 12th August 10am – 4pm, 13th August 10am –4pm, 14th August 10am – 3.30pm 12 & 13 AUGUST RAF HARROWBEER 1940S WEEKEND This year there will be a fly-past from a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire

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on the Saturday of the event. Replica Spitfire, WWII re-enactors, vintage cars, military vehicles and machinery and much more. For more details visit www. rafharrowbeer1940s.co.uk 10am to 5pm - free entry 16 AUGUST DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS The East Dart Hotel, with Newton Bushel Morris at 8pm for more details check out www.dartmoorbordermorris.com/diary 16 AUGUST A GARDENING MASTERCLASS – HOW TO DESIGN BORDERS Spend a day at The Garden House with head gardener Nick Haworth and learn how to design and maintain borders. 11am – 3.00pm. Ticket price £32 from www. thegardenhouse.org.uk or telephone 01822 854679 17 AUGUST C.S. RETIREMENT DAY TRIP Retired? Why not join us for a leisurely coach trip to Bicton Botanical Gardens. The day out will also include a lunch at a select venue. Pick up points will be from Tavistock, Yelverton and Princetown and anywhere in between. Booking is essential. Reservations will be taken at our meeting on 3rd August. Ring Mike on 01822-890799 for further information. 23 AUGUST DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS Dartmoor Border Morris at The Plume of Feathers Inn. at 8pm - for more details check out www.dartmoorbordermorris. com/diary

ANTIQUES, JEWELLERY & CERAMICS VALUATION DAY TAVISTOCK

Thursday 21st Sept The Bedford Hotel Plymouth Road 10.00am - 1.00pm

James Dickson Innes (1887-1914) ‘Grey Mediterranean’ oil on board Sold for £15,500

St. Edmund’s Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter EX4 1DU T: 01392 413100 W: www.bhandl.co.uk E: enquiries@bhandl.co.uk

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24 AUGUST AN ART CLASS – USING WATER COLOURS Led by Richard Mabey at The Garden House, this course in water colour painting will suit beginners, improvers or lapsed painters. 10.30am – 4.00pm Ticket price £32 from www. thegardenhouse.org.uk or telephone 01822 854679

We specialise in valuations for auction, probate and insurance purposes

Collection of Antique & Vintage Cameras SOLD £6,000

Rare Clarice Cliff ‘Lightening’ pattern jug

Victorian Diamond & Pearl Pendant SOLD £8,600

Regular specialist auctions with live online Internet bidding Rolex Oyster Datejust SOLD £3,700

For professional advice and free valuations, please call 01752 721199 or email images to enquiries@eldreds.net

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1 Belliver Way, Roborough, Plymouth PL6 7BP 43

WHAT’S ON

25-27 AUGUST THE FAMILY FESTIVAL The Family Festival at the Old Mine House, Horrabridge, PL20 7UA – music, tree climbing, circus skills, drumming. The Kingstons, Datura (reggae) and the Ukulele Vagabonds play on Saturday night. Evening visitor tickets start at £5 for accompanied kids, £10 for adults. For more info visit www.facebook.com/pg/theoldminehouse/ events or call 07905 276375 or email theoldminehouse@yahoo.com

What’s On Business Networking Breakfast Thursday 17th August 7.30am

Jazz Sunday Lunch Sunday 3rd September From 12.00 noon

26 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEMBER DARTMOOR WALKING FESTIVAL The Moorland Guides’ 2017 event has a variety of walks for all abilities. See What’s On Extra 26 AUGUST WALKHAMPTON COTTAGE GARDEN SOCIETY - 74TH FLOWER & PRODUCE SHOW Walkhampton Memorial Hall, including exhibits, cream teas & homemade cakes, local producers’ market stalls, raffle and Scarecrow Trail at 11am visit www. walkhamptonshow.weebly.com or see What’s On Extra 2:00pm 26 AUGUST THE ROBOROUGH ROCK VOLUNTEERS - DNP EVENT Volunteer groups and working parties help to maintain the beauty of Dartmoor by clearing tracks and tidying up areas that have been neglected or spoiled. Dartmoor National Park rangers are hosting The Roborough Rock Volunteers event and if you are interested in helping please meet at 10am at Roborough Rock for a 2-hour session of clearing scrub from the RAF Harrowbeer aircraft dispersal bays.

Heritage Walk with Fish & Chips

Ring Paul Glanville on 07720 509272 if you can come along.

Sunday 10th September 7.00pm

26 AUGUST WHITCHURCH AND SAMPFORD SPINEY SHEEPDOG TRIALS AND FAMILY DOG SHOW The trials include the very popular family dog show, terrier racing, charity and craft stalls, exhibits, a parade of horses and hounds by the Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt, stationary engines and old

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vehicles. 10:00am Playfields, Plasterdown PL19 7QU. Entry £3 adults, children and parking are free. 29 AUGUST BURRATOR DISCOVERY CENTRE RESERVOIR RAMBLE Part of the Dartmoor Walking Festival - £3 per adult, £1 per child. Please book in advance. 10am-2pm 30 AUGUST DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS Dartmoor Border Morris at The Horse & Groom Bittaford, with Grimspound Border Morris. at 8pm for more details check out www.dartmoorbordermorris.com/diary 2 SEPTEMBER CROHN’S & COLITIS UK FUNDRAISING COFFEE MORNING coffee morning at The Rock Inn, Yelverton, PL20 6DS with cakes, raffle, bring&buy. Everyone welcome, free admission. 10am-12pm 2 SEPTEMBER TAMAR VALLEY MALE VOICE CHOIR Concert starts at 7.30 pm at St Andrew’s Church, Bere Ferrers 2-3 SEPTEMBER TAVISTOCK CAMERA CLUB PRINT EXHIBITION 10am - 4pm, Lower Deck Cafe, The United Reformed Church, Russell Street, Tavistock - free entry. For more info visit www. tavistockcameraclub.org.uk

5 SEPTEMBER PRINCETOWN HISTORY CLUB Dr Annie Pulsford Dartmoor’s moss Gatherers at Princetown Community Centre 7 SEPTEMBER C.S. RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP Retired? - Come along to our ‘get together’ at 12.30pm for a friendly chat in the restaurant of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princetown, Anyone who is retired will receive a warm welcome. Meet old friends or make new ones. 9 SEPTEMBER DOGWORTHY’S SUMMER MAGIC Jacolly Puppet Theatre presents Dogworthy’s Summer Magic - a joyful show for 4 years and upwards at Clearbrook Village Hall at 2.30pm, refreshments available. Tickets £5, family rate £4.50 each for 4 tickets or more Tickets: phone 01726 879500, online at crbo.co.uk/jacolly CRBO Cornish Riviera Box Office, or in person from Mansbridge and Balmont, Yelverton www.facebook.com/ClearbrookVillageHall; www.clearbrookvillagehall.co.uk 9 SEPTEMBER HERITAGE OPEN DAY AT COTEHELE This is a great chance to view Cotehele on this free entry day. 11am-4pm

Pilates and Legs, Bums & Tums

10 SEPTEMBER DARTMOOR FAMILY DAY There will be an array of food and artisan exhibitors, outdoor activities, archery, ponies, workshops and lots more. Entry £3.00 (under 12’s free) Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor 10:30am-4:00pm 10 SEPTEMBER THE POLPERRO FISHERMEN’S CHOIR Join in for an evening to celebrate and support Shamrock, the beloved 1899 Tamar Sailing Barge on Cotehele Quay. There will be singing by the Polperro Choir and interval music by west Devon acoustic duo Mike and Tilly Music. This is an open-air event with interval refreshments. £5, parking £3 (members park free). 6-9pm 14 SEPTEMBER MOOR’S EDGE U3A Third Anniversary Party, 2.30pm at the Woolwell Community Centre 15 SEPTEMBER A TEXTILE ART CLASS AT THE GARDEN HOUSE Led by textile artist Meg Beable, make your own unique piece of art inspired by ‘Chinese Lanterns’. 10.30am 4.00pm Ticket price £45 from www. thegardenhouse.org.uk or telephone 01822 854679 16 & 17 SEPTEMBER ELIZABETHAN WEEKEND AT BUCKLAND ABBEY Step back to the Elizabethan era as falconers, costumed characters, archers and musicians take over Buckland Abbey. 11am-4pm

17 SEPTEMBER EXHIBITION ON PCWW 1917 BOUNDARY STONES This is a free exhibition to mark the centenary of PCWW 1917 Boundary Stones - Burrator Discovery Centre, 10am4pm

What’s On Charity Dinner in support of Devon Air Ambulance Thursday 5th October

A celebration of Devon food, in aid of an amazing Devon cause. Five course dinner with matched wines. £47.50 per person. Dress code: Black Tie Tables seat 6, 7 or 8 guests. Take a whole table, or join other guests on a shared table for a sociable and enjoyable evening.

01822-892300 twobridges.co.uk/whatson

Monday

9.30-10.30 Legs, Bums & Tums 10.30-11.30 Pilates St Paul’s Church Hall Yelverton 17.45-18.45 Pilates Yelverton Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane PL206AL

ES CLASS ON T R STA y 4th Mondamber Septe

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Rustic and Rural

Thursday

Rustic furniture and rural workshops

9.30-10.30 Pilates Rock Methodist Church Hall 2 Garden Flats, Yelverton PL20 6DW

Friday

9.30-10.30 Legs, Bums & Tums 10.30-11.30 Pilates St Paul’s Church Hall, Yelverton ooking per class pay as you go or discount for advance b

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In the heart of Dartmoor

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WHAT’S ON

19 SEPTEMBER PRINCETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH MEETING Commences at 8.00pm in the restaurant of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princetown. All residents of the Dartmoor Forest Parish Council area are welcome to attend. Did you know that some insurance companies offer a discount on your Home Insurance premiums to members of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme?

BERE FILM GROUP Bere Alston United ChUrCh, Fore street

1st, 3rd & 5th wednesdAy eACh month

1.15 reFreshments 1.45 Film £2 inCl trAnsPort (If required)

16th August The Full MonTy (with afternoon tea)

6th september The ITalIan Job 20th september SIngIng In The RaIn 4th october bRaSSed oFF

Membership of the Princetown Watch Scheme is free. 20 SEPTEMBER DARTMOOR BORDER MORRIS The start of the new dance season. New members welcome at Meavy Village Hall. at 8pm - for more details check out www. dartmoorbordermorris.com/diary 20 SEPTEMBER QUIZ NIGHT AT THE ROCK INN, YELVERTON Quiz night in aid of the NSPCC led by Shaun McDermott – starts at 8pm; Teams of 4 - 6 people, £2 per person. Please book a table for your team on 852022. 21 SEPTEMBER C.S. RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP DAY TRIP Retired? Why not join us for a leisurely coach trip to Lanhydrock House and Gardens. The day out will also include lunch at a select venue. Pick up points will be Tavistock, Yelverton and Princetown and anywhere in between. Booking is essential. Reservations will be taken at our meeting on 7th.September. Ring Mike on 01822-890799 for further information. 21 SEPTEMBER BEARNES HAMPTON & LITTLEWOOD VALUATION MORNING Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood valuations for antiques, jewellery and ceramics with Lucy Marles (Jewellery specialist) and Nic Saintey (Ceramics & General Valuer) who will offer advice and valuations on items you may be thinking of selling at auction.

No appointment necessary – please call 01392 413100. The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock 10:00am-1:00pm 23-24 SEPTEMBER GREAT BRITISH COUNTRY APPLE WEEKEND AT COTEHELE HOUSE Go along for apple day combined with a lively Miss Ivy Events autumn fair. This festive weekend features artisan stalls, live music, games, refreshments, and the Victorian cider press ‘big squeeze’. 10.30am-4.30pm Member £3, non-member £4, child free, parking £3 (members park free) 25 SEPTEMBER THE AMAZING ARCHAEOLOGY OF WALKHAMPTON PARISH Dr Tom Greeves MA PhD will be talking about the wide and interestingrange of archaeological features to be found in our parish, including farmsteads, tinworks, crosses, boundstones and prehistory items. Walkhampton Memorial Hall at 7:30pm, Admission £3 includes refreshments. www.growalkhampton.weebly.com or Tel: 01822 853261

FRIENDS OF WHARF LUNCHTIME LECTURES TAVISTOCK WHARF ORGANISED BY DR ANN PULSFORD, IN AID OF FRIENDS OF THE WHARF EVERY MONDAY 2PM. ALL WELCOME

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

7th August David Lemon Walking the Zambezi

4th September Ruth Mitchell Plymouth’s Hidden Jewish Cemetery

14th August Peter Knight Walking Dartmoor’s Stone Rows

11th September Dr Todd Gray The Art of Devon’s Gardens

21st August Sue Jackson Drake’s Image as Victorian & WW1 Propaganda

18th September Dr Sue Andrew Harry Hems: A Church Woodcarver’s Career

1 OCTOBER ABBOTS WAY WALK 2017 will be the 55th anniversary of this 23-mile walk across Southern Dartmoor in teams of 3-8 To enter please email Peter Challiss (Tavistock & District Outdoor Education Forum) on: challissps@tiscali.co.uk by 15th September

18th october The SecReT lIFe oF WalTeR MITTy This project is supported by TaSS. If you would like transport to and from the film TaSS will try to provide it for you. contact TaSS on either 01822 617525 or transport@tasstavistock.org.uk contact either 01822 841021 or 01822 841185 if you would like to know more.

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MUSIC.........................

Welcome to... We hope you’re as excited about the forthcoming shows laid out on this page as we are about staging them. As a community focused theatre venue it’s our aim always to organise our programming to please as many tastes as possible. Most noticeable has been the influx of new customers – and we’d love to see even more of you – through our doors, particularly first timers to our day time café which has proved a huge success. Don’t forget we have glorious peaceful outside seating alongside the canal - open during the day!

Box Office:

01822 611166 Admin Office

01822 613928

VOUCHER Bring this voucher along to our box office and

saVE £2

ON aNY LIVE MUsIC performance listed on this page. This voucher will be redeemed with a stamp and there’s no need to cut your magazine up, just pop along before the day of your chosen gig (in case it sells out!) to our box office receptionist.

FILMS............................

The Electronix Friday 11th august

The animals 111 saturday 12th august

Jean Genie saturday 19th august

Online booking available for all music events at...

Please check our website www.tavistockwharf.com for full list of dates and showing times Nut Job 2

Cars 3 (Disney)

Surly and his ragtag group of animal friends need to band together to save their home, defeat the mayor, and take back the park.

The turbo-charged franchise returns for ‘Cars 3’, which follows the legendary Lightning McQueen on his greatest challenge yet.

25th to 31st august

11th to 24th august (various)

Captain Underpants

Tommy’s Honour

Mr. Krupp is the mean-spirited head teacher. But after they get sick of him, they hypnotise him and transform him into ‘Captain Underpants’.

Tommy’s Honor is the true story of the rough-and-tumble founding of modern golf. Set in 19th-century Scotland.

31st July to 10th aug (various)

4th to 10th august

alone in Berlin

The Last Word

This true-life tale of courage unfolds against the tumultuous backdrop of Berlin in 1940

Shirley MacLaine is Harriet Lauler, a once successful businesswoman in tight control of every aspect of her life…

11th to 17th august

18th to 24th august

The Book of Henry Sometimes things are not always what they seem, especially in the small suburban town where the Carpenter family lives.

David Gilmore recorded at Pompei Fans of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour will have a one-night-only opportuity to attend a theatrical screening of his concert movie.

Wed 13th september

25th to 31st august

80s Synth Pop Covers Duo playing classics from the 1980’s. Incl songs by OMD, Pet Shop Boys, Human League, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Erasure, Gary Numan & others.

Guns 2 Roses Friday 25th august

The UK’s longest running tribute to ‘the most dangerous rock band ever’ Guns N Roses, always a night of riotous fun.

Third generation of the 60¹s band Fans of the late legend that is David The Animals, step back to the day Bowie will relish the journey through of The House of the Rising Sun! the star’s back catalogue performed with close attention to detail.

Roxy Magic saturday 26th august The definitive and and longest running tribute to Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, an awesome night is promised.

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stone Vulture Fri 1st sept

Foreigners Journey saturday 2nd september

Popular local rock band always guaranteed to deliver a blistering performance

Paying tribute to two classic rock bands Foreigner and Journey expect to be hit with an evening of non-stop monster hits.

The Normals Friday 8th september

Beach Boyz story saturday 9th september

stray sunday 10th september

Ozzbest Friday 15th september

Hailed as the perfect festival band they launch their much anticipated new album 1986 at this gig and a good crowd is expected for this local band.

One of the most sought after 60’s tribute bands around and it’s easy to see why – come along and revel in the summer sounds!

STRAY date back to 1966 when teenagers Steve Gadd, Del Bromham, Gary Giles and Steve Crutchley formed the band whilst attending the local School in London.

As well as playing the classics War Pigs, Black Sabbath, Paranoid and crazy train expect other gems from both Ozzy and Black Sabbath.

The Floyd Effect saturday 16th september

Jack Bartlett saturday 23rd september

The Total Who show Friday 29th september

Green Haze saturday 30th september

This show plays all the hits from The Who’s early years: Tommy, Live at Leeds, Quadrophenia and many more.

Playing homage to one of the most electrifying and exciting live bands in the world expect a night of kick ass pop rock from these boy

LIVE brOADCASTS Yerma by simon stone The incredible Billie Piper (Penny Dreadful, Great Britain) returns in her Evening Standard Best Actress award-winning role.

ROCKFIT Monday nights 7pm

Taking the region by storm, for any fan of rock and heavy metal this is a fun way to tone up!

Unless you were there the first time A self-taught guitarist Jack studied round it doesn’t get closer than this, George Harrison and Joe Walsh and a must for all Floyd fans subsequently took his influences from bands like The Beatles and The Eagles

Thursday 31st august

Tavistock Wharf Box Office 01822 611166

For full details and how to book events visit our website: www.tavistockwharf.com

WHAT’S ON EXTRA

20th August

Tavistock Summer Fete Celebrating summer in true Tavistock community style, the Tavistock Summer Fete 10.30am – 4:00pm in Bedford Square will be jam-packed full of fun for all ages, with over 30 gift and artisan traders selling their unique products, such as gifts, accessories, jewellery, clothes and hand-made products. Children’s entertainment will be provided, with local company Uskate (sister company of Circus Direct at 22 West Street) who will be offering circus workshops, face-painting, balloon modelling and doing performances throughout the day. There will also be morris dancing as well as a variety of workshops taking place over the day with Tavistock Scrapstore.

Refreshments will be available on the square in addition to a beer tent. The Bedford Hotel will also be serving afternoon teas.

The event will be joined by 1940’s singer, Sandy Sparkle, a professional, multi-award-winning singer from Torquay, who has played alongside many prestigious orchestras and societies, and is affectionately known as Torbay and Devon’s very own ‘Forces Sweetheart’.

Miss Ivy Events is proud to be celebrating with the local community at The Tavistock Summer Fete in association with the BID and sponsored by The Bedford Hotel, Circus Direct, Tavy Links and Moor Links. This free community event aims to support the local Tavistock community and there will be a raffle in aid of CHICKS. So make sure you pop along and join us for this amazing day filled with exhibitors, entertainment and loads of community spirit! www.missivyevents.co.uk

26th August

12th & 13th August

Walkhampton Flower and Produce Show

RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend

We are very excited to be hosting our 74th Annual Flower & Produce show. Come and walk around the village of Walkhampton from 11am to see our scarecrows and admire the work of our exhibitors who are taking part in the “Most Welcoming Front Door” competition. Throughout the afternoon the tea-tent serves hot drinks & delicious homemade cakes, and you could buy a ticket or two in our raffle, support our local producer market stalls and, of course, see the amazing exhibits created by our parish residents.

The 2017 RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend takes place on the 12th & 13th August and this year there will be a fly-past from a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire on the Saturday of the event. The flypast will complement the ‘Spitfire Spares’ replica Mk IX Spitfire which has become a major feature of the event, with its working 27-litre Merlin engine which is fired up every hour during the weekend.

If you would like to take part in this year’s show, you can collect a show schedule, containing an entry form, from Long Ash Garden Centre or view and enter online at www. walkhamptonshow.weebly.com. Walkhampton Cottage Garden Society looks forward to seeing you at the show and we wish good luck to all our exhibitors. 2pm at Walkhampton Memorial Hall. 50

The 1940s Weekend is now in its fourth year and continues to grow in popularity, both with the public, and with WWII reenactors and vintage vehicle owners. With the BBMF Spitfire flypast, this year’s event is likely to be bigger and better than ever! There will also be a Replica Mk IX Spitfire (with working Merlin engine), Tavistock Model Flying Club displays, vintage farm and garden machinery displays, WWII re-enactors and living history displays, classic motorbikes, military and vintage vehicles. The Robey Trust steam engines will be giving trips around the airfield and there will be guided mini-bus tours of the airfield, provided by Tavistock Ring & Ride. 10am to 5pm on both days – FREE entry. Further details can be found at www.rafharrowbeer1940s.co.uk Read about RAF Harrowbeer in our History section.

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Sunday 6th August

Milton Combe Brook Race 12.00pm with BBQ and live music at The Who’d Have Thought It Inn The Milton Combe brook race is back on 6th August. In case you’re not familiar with the race, it involves teams of three people running from The Who’d Have Thought It Inn to the bottom of the village and then back up the brook to the pub carrying a barrel – and if that doesn’t sound difficult enough, the course also takes the teams under a couple of houses and finishes with a ladder climb! The event has been held on and off for thirty years and this year all the funds raised from the event are being donated to Multiple Sclerosis Trust www.mstrust.org.uk. MS Trust not only helps people who have recently been diagnosed with the condition, but also provides ongoing support and specialist services. The charity has been chosen because two residents of Milton Combe live with the condition, one being Trish Deykin. Trish has lived with MS for many years, but has largely learnt to self-manage her symptoms, allowing her to train regularly and compete in triathlons, and even become British champion twice, as well as former world champion for her age group in the sprint distance triathlon, which is no mean feat.

There are events for men’s teams, ladies’ teams and single competitors (without the barrel!) with lots of prizes to be won, as well as a BBQ from 12pm and live music at The Who’d Have Thought It. So put the date in your diaries, have a laugh, get wet, eat some lovely food and slurp some well-earned beer while helping a charity – a splendid way to spend a Sunday!

Relax in a cosy and warm environment with friendly staff and a pleasant atmosphere Homemade Cakes ¤ Range of Teas and Coffees Great breakfasts ¤ Fabulous lunches ¤ Fully licensed Cyclists and Walkers welcomed as we are alongside the Drakes Trail/Route 27 Family friendly Dogs welcomed

Email: abbie@drakescafe.co.uk • www.drakescafe.co.uk Tel: 01822 617697 • Halfway House, Grenofen, PL19 9ER

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WHAT’S ON EXTRA

10th August

110th Okehampton Show best in the West!

The livestock section includes cattle, sheep, shearing, pig, dairy goat and pygmy goat classes. In just the cattle section alone there are classes for native beef such as South Devon or Galloway, as well as dairy breeds and the showmanship competitions. But the show isn’t just about competition - get up close to the packs of fox hounds, see vintage vehicles in abundance, watch the Westcountry Falconry displays, and don’t miss ferret racing outside the main ring which is always fantastic fun! New this year is a Red Arrows simulator - not necessarily an agricultural experience but one bound to draw the thrill-chasers!

18 - 20 August

There is also plenty to entertain children with bouncy castles, With some 200 trade stands, promotion is what it’s all about ranging from charities showcasing their good work, to purveyors of tractors and agricultural machinery as well as clothing and footwear, to dog leads and kitchen gadgets. Advance discounted tickets for Okehampton Show are available by email at info@okehamptonshow.co.uk, £10.50 per adult (£13 on show day), £4 per child aged five to 16 (under fives free) and family tickets for two adults, two children for £25 (£30 on show day). Gates open at 9am, entry is free after 5.30pm. Parking at the show ground is free with reserved and non-reserved disabled parking. A free bus will operate between Okehampton town centre and Stoney Park. www.okehamptonshow.co.uk

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The first RHS Flower Show in the South West is being held at Rosemoor, from the 18 - 20 August. This three-day floral extravaganza is set in the stunning surroundings of RHS Garden Rosemoor in Great Torrington, Devon. There will be 20 specialist nurseries from across the country with exotic displays of unusual plants, plus trade stands, specialist talks in the Garden Room and advice from the RHS Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Committee. Visitors can also enjoy al-fresco catering, music, floral displays, a programme of talks and presentations from some of the 20 nurseries and advice from Rosemoor garden staff, as well as trade garden sundry exhibitors. A special ‘Early Bird’ Show Breakfast is being offered, tickets for which include a guaranteed parking space, continental breakfast with the curator and other garden staff, early show entry before standard opening times of 10am and priority viewing of the flower show. Jon Webster, curator RHS Garden Rosemoor, says: “Unlike traditional flower shows like Chelsea and Hampton Court, The Rosemoor Flower Show will be a much more relaxed affair. Set within the stunning 65 acres of gardens, it will allow Flower Show visitors to amble through the gardens, taking in the sights – a mixture of formal and informal gardens, woodlands, lake and waterfall and enjoy award-winning food. Not only is

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Rosemoor hosts first RHS Flower Show in South West

06/07/2017 16:07 editorial@moorlinks.co.uk

RHS CHELSEA GOLD MEDALIST 2014

The Okehampton Show is an event that prides itself on providing something for everyone. Since 1981 it has been staged at the Stoney Park Showground, high above Okehampton, enjoying unrivalled views across farmland to the tors of Dartmoor. Attracting crowds of some 14,000 people annually, it’s a showcase for the rural community, with animals taking pride of place, supported by a wide variety of food, drink and craft classes, displays and trade stands.

See our new community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

it a fabulous opportunity for visitors to view plants and buy flowers from nurseries that are a little more unusual for this area but they will also see the garden at a spectacular time of year. Rosemoor’s iconic Hot Garden for example will be at its peak with amazing hues of yellows, oranges, reds and purples. The Fruit and Vegetable & Potager Gardens will be brimming with produce and the tropical planting of the Streamside, Lake and Exotic Garden will be amazing too.” Running at the same time will be Rosemoor’s summer family theme which is a celebration of author Enid Blyton as The Famous Five Go on A Garden Adventure with wonderful garden trails to follow. Visitors will also be able to see an exhibition of Enid Blyton memorabilia including a Faraway Tree and a replica Noddy Car which will be ideal for family photo opportunities. It will make for a grand day out for everyone. Normal garden admission applies (free for members) and includes all activities. Early Bird show breakfasts need to be pre-booked on 01805 626810. More information, tickets and promotions can be found on the Rosemoor website www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor. A free park-and-ride service will be operating from the centre of Torrington.

Workshops available

One to one’s or groups Experience playing with flowers with your friends and learning techniques you can use at home.

MDPF

Master Florist 07973 226710 01822 870888

www.amandarandell.co.uk 53

MORE LOCAL OFFICES BETTER COVERAGE OKEHAMPTON

BERE PENINSULA

“It’s a Sellers and Landlords market at the moment which means now is the right time to maximise on the value of your property. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff live eat and breathe the local area and will help you market your property and find the right buyer or tenant. Our four local offices and our London office will ensure that your house is seen and presented to the widest possible audience. Let us help you make your next move by calling us today”. Nick Henderson, Managing Director Mansbridge Balment

More houses sold in PL19/20 in 2016 than any other agent. Source: Rightmove

TAVISTOCK YELVERTON

More than £60 MILLION worth of PROPERTY SALES AGREED by Mansbridge Balment IN 2017... SO FAR! More local ofﬁces than any other estate agent: Tavistock 01822 612345 Okehampton 01837 52371 Yelverton 01822 855055 Bere Peninsula 01822 840606

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THERE’S MORE TO US THAN JUST BEING YOUR LOCAL ESTATE AGENT

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NATIONAL TRUST

Explorer summer fun at Cotehele

Plan your perfect day out…. Open every day, Buckland Abbey has activities both inside and out to allow you to enjoy the sunshine or to dodge the summer showers.

Medieval Beast Hunt

One thing we’re incredibly excited about is the launch of an exhibition celebrating the works by contemporary artist Andrew Logan and welcoming them to Buckland Abbey, as we explore the spirit of Buckland, both tranquil and flamboyant, through five decades of the artist’s work. You can find out more about Andrew Logan and the exhibition by heading over to our website.

March past a moldiwarpe, catch a coney and hunt for a herinacius. Come along to Buckland Abbey and track down the medieval beasts on our estate walks. Normal admission charge plus £1 per booklet.

Buckland wouldn’t be the special place it is today without the help of volunteers who give a little time each week. Have you ever thought about volunteering? At Buckland we’ve got many new roles now available, along with some more suited to those who can only give a short commitment of time. Do give us a call on 01822 853607 for details or visit the volunteering pages of our website.

Join Claire Packer from The Wet Felting Company for a drop-in family friendly felting workshop. Normal admission plus £3 per person. Last makers start at 3pm.

Buckland Abbey is now open daily from 10am-5pm. Find more details at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland, or like Buckland Abbey on Facebook or Twitter.

Step back to the Elizabethan era as falconers, costumed characters, archers and musicians take over Buckland Abbey. Normal admission charges apply.

Saturday 31 July – Sunday 10 September, 10am-4pm

Family felt Wed 2, 9, 16 & 23 Aug, 11am-4pm

Elizabethan weekend Sat 16 - Sun 17 Sep, 11am-4pm

Also come along for various self-led activities every day including the pixie door summer trail, hobby-horse jumping, den building, quizzes, garden games, and 50 Things challenges. Normal admission charges apply. You won’t go hungry with a picnic lunch box in the Barn Restaurant or the Edgcumbe Tea-room on Cotehele Quay. Cotehele is near Saltash PL12 6TA. For details see nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele, ring 01579 351346 or email: cotehele@nationaltrust.org.uk

Cotehele explorer summer fun 1 – 31 August, 12noon-3pm

autumn at Gibside

Explore the spirit of Buckland Abbey, both tranquil and flamboyant, through the work of contemporary artist Andrew Logan. This major exhibition Go crunching through fallen leaves and discover a forest throughout the property spans five decades of the teeming with wildlife and autumn colours, with walking artist's work, from sixties to the present day. routes for all ages and the abilities.

9 September, 11am-4pm This is a great chance to view Cotehele on this free entry day.

Songs for shamrock with the Polperro fishermen’s choir 10 September Join in for an evening to celebrate and support Shamrock, the beloved 1899 Tamar Sailing Barge on Cotehele Quay. There will be singing by the Polperro Choir and interval music by west Devon acoustic duo Mike and Tilly Music. This is an open-air event with interval refreshments. £5, parking £3 (members park free). 6-9pm

Go along for an assortment of led-activities including antique

Call 01822 853607 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland

Call 01579 351346 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele

��en you visit, visit, donate, donate, volunteer volunteer or or join �oin the t�e National �ational Trust, �rust,your your su��ort When you �el�s us helps to look s�ecial suc� as Buckland support usafter to look after�laces specialaround places�avistock, <in the region> <like Abbey, Cadover Bridge and Lydford Gorge for ever, for everyone. property X, property Y and Proeprty Z> in for ever, for everyone.

When you visit, donate, volunteer join the When you visit, donate, volunteer or join the or National Trust,National your support helps to look after special <inafter the region> <likeplaces Trust, yourussupport helps us places to look special property X, property Y and Proeprty Z> in for ever, for everyone. Z] for ever, for everyone. © National Trust 2017. The National Trust is an © National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent independent registered charity, number 205846. registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Photography © National Trust Images\John Parker. Images.

#nationaltrust #nationaltrust

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Heritage open day at Cotehele

your weekend Stroll through thethis Valley autumnLose at Gibside Garden. yourself in the Orchards. August is a time Go crunching through fallen leaves andlazy discover days a forest for enjoying long, teeming with wildlife and autumn colours, with walking routes for all ages and abilities. with friends and loved ones.

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© National Trust 2017. The National Trust is an © National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent independent registered number © National Trust registered charity, number 205846.charity, Photography 205846. Photography © National Trust Images. Images.

sword holding, crafty Fridays, and swords & shields. A different activity each day. You’ll also find a variety of self-led activities like a pixie door summer trail, hobby horse jumping, quizzes and 50 Things challenges every day. Normal admission charges apply

Add some colour to Cotehele

The Art of Reflection: Add some colour to Andrew Logan at Buckland your weekend this Abbey

There are plenty of family adventures to be had at Cotehele this summer. Join us weekdays in August from 12noon-3pm for antique sword holding in the house, pond dipping in the garden, making and playing swords and shields on the lawn, fun on the 1899 ‘Shamrock’ Tamar sailing barge, and crafty Fridays in the Education Room. There will be a different activity each day.

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MUSIC & ART

9 - 24 September

Devon Open Studios Devon Open Studios is organised by Devon Artist Network (DAN) and provides a unique opportunity to meet artists in their own studios in some of the most beautiful, unexplored parts of Devon. This year, a bumper crop of 250 artists will be opening their doors to the public and exhibiting their work in more than 160 locations across Devon, showcasing paintings, prints, furniture, sculpture, photography, crafted ceramics, handmade jewellery and cutting-edge fashion. Resident artists and crafts people open their studios to show and sell their individual artworks directly to the public and many artists also give demonstrations, talks or let visitors have a go themselves. Jane Pine from Yelverton is taking part in this year’s Devon Open Studios and has also just won the ‘DAN Student Award for Excellence in Painting, Drawing & Printmaking’, which is awarded to a student in their final year of the Plymouth College of Arts BA (hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking course, for demonstrating excellence in the creativity and execution of their work. The award gives Jane an opportunity to showcase her art to a wider audience, as well as £250, and a year’s subscription to Devon Artist Network; she is delighted and said it was ‘a wonderful kickstart to her new career as a professional artist’. Jane specialises in experimental painting techniques and she is currently producing a series of still life oil paintings using a technique derived from mono printing; she also specialises in encaustic painting – a process using melted beeswax and pigments, applied to a surface to create translucent layers that can encase other materials, such as graphite and charcoal. She uses her knowledge of the local Dartmoor landscape and a deep connection to where she lives to inform her work.

2 - 6 August 2 - 10 September

Drawn to the Valley Events The Drawn to the Valley art collective is holding two major events in August and September. The first is an exhibition at Tavistock Town Hall on 2-6 August showing one-off and limited-edition pieces by members of Drawn to the Valley – its 160 members are all professional artists living within the Tamar Valley. The exhibition will also feature work by prisoners at Dartmoor Prison, who are studying art with a view to potentially making a living from it when they leave. The link-up between Drawn to the Valley and Dartmoor Prison came about when a local artist put curriculum manager Bob Davis in touch with the art collective’s chairman, Iain Grant. Mr Davis is employed by Somerset-based Weston College, which delivers education at the prison. He explained: “From that initial meeting, Drawn to the Valley started to hold workshops and suggested we could exhibit three or four of the paintings at the exhibition, which is a fantastic opportunity.”

A free guide to Devon Open Studios with colour coded maps and artist details is available from tourist information centres, libraries, hotels and galleries. Please check the brochure to confirm dates, times, and find out helpful directions. More information about Devon Artist Network’s Open Studios can be found on the website:www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk

Tavistock

among those throwing open their doors in the Open Studios event and she has invited two other artists, Kathy Lovell and Charlotte Marlow to join her. While Bev is a mixed media artist, Kathy specialises in jewellery art which she often combines with her photos or paintings, and Charlotte – who lives just across the road from Bev in Tavistock – is a sculptor. Kathy will be utilising the wonderful studio at the top of Bev’s garden, while Bev and Charlotte’s work will be in the main house: “Over 200 people came last year,” said Bev. “It’s lovely and laid back and comfortable, and people just enjoy seeing how we work and the equipment we use.” For information about the Tavistock Exhibition and details of Open Studios locations, visit the Drawn to the Valley website. www.drawntothevalley.co.uk

Then from 2-10 September, 100 members of the group are taking part in the Drawn to the Valley Open Studios event, which last year attracted 7,500 people. Open Studios is a chance for people to see artists in their studios and buy a stunning piece of work made locally. Many of the artists live within or on the edge of Dartmoor and find their inspiration from their surroundings, among them the Mayoress of West Devon, Bev Moody, whose husband Jeff took over the post of mayor in May. Bev is

New Art GAllery, workshop & ClAsses. Chapel Lane, HORRABRIDGE, Yelverton, pl20 7sp

Camera Club First meeting of the new season 6th September Held fortnightly. 7.30 pm at United Reformed Church Russell St, Tavistock PL19 8BD

DARTMOOR INSPIRED ART www.wildwoodsdartmoor.co.uk info@wildwoodsdartmoor.co.uk 01822 258529 mob: 0771 838 6580

www.tavistockcameraclub.org.uk 58

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MUSIC & ART

MUSIC MUSIC&&ART ART

2nd & 3rd September

Saturday 5 August

‘The Wind in the Willows’ comes to The Garden House Relax in the garden and join us for an evening of exciting, open-air family theatre. We’ll have the stage by the lake, making the most of the natural amphitheatre of the arboretum. Bring a rug or low-backed chair and enjoy a picnic as you watch the classic story of Toad unfurl. Meet Mole as he says ‘dang’ and ‘blast it!’, throws down his broom and sets off on an adventure out of his hole. On his journey, he meets the effervescent Ratty who shows him the wonders of picnics and messing about on the river, Badger, the wise old sage of the woods and Toad of Toad Hall, whose exploits cause all manner of mischief and upheaval. When the weasels and stoats take over Toad Hall it’s up to Mole and Ratty, Badger and Toad to retake control.

theatres since 2014 and has produced musical versions of ‘The Three Musketeers’, ‘Around The World In 80 Days’ and ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’. This is the first time that the Garden House has had open-air theatre in over 10 years and it is a spectacular setting for such a beloved children’s story. With inventive staging, original songs and magical storytelling we invite audiences to enjoy this classic tale of adventure, friendship and picnics in Boxtree Production’s unique and energetic way!

Nick Haworth, head gardener at The Garden House said: “Moles aren’t always welcome in the garden but I’ll make an exception for this one! We’re all looking forward to seeing the cast in action around the lake. It’s going to be a very special evening.” Boxtree Productions has been touring open-air

Performance begins at 6pm. Ticket holders can enjoy entry to the garden throughout the afternoon for free. Adults £14 Children under 16 £10, family (two adults, two children) £37. Prices include all booking fees. Order online at www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

We Have Moved to larger premises in Tavistock due to the expansion of our West Devon Business:

Tavistock Camera Club 45th Anniversary Exhibition We are celebrating Tavistock Camera Club’s 45th Anniversary and the start of our new season with a public exhibition of works by our members, at the Lower Deck Café, United Reformed Church, Russell Street, Tavistock from 10am-4pm. There will be a large selection of photographic prints covering a huge range of subjects, from landscapes, to portraits, birds to herds, architecture to zebras and just about everything in between. We are a friendly club with about 45 members and looking to add to our group. Our members range in ability from novice to experienced, so there will always be someone you can relate to. The main aim of the club is to enjoy photography at every level and in every subject. Every year we have several excellent speakers giving informative and often amusing talks on a wide range of topics, accompanied by pictures and equipment. We have photo competitions in prints and projected images, which are great fun with a slightly competitive edge. The club also runs occasional outings to local venues, (photogenic of course) to capture the scene or scenes, with experienced members on hand to help with camera usage and/or picture composition if required.

Come and see us at Ridge Grove, Russell St, Tavistock PL19 8BE

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Exon Singers - 51st Annual Summer Festival The 2017 Festival in St Eustachius in Tavistock will be the seventh under the direction of conductor and artistic director Richard Wilberforce. Festival Evenings: (all concerts start at 7.30pm) 1 August: Rachmaninov Vespers 2 August: Organ Recital by Peter King 3 August: Will Todd Mass in Blue Toby Young Dancing Star 4 August: Let the Bright Seraphim 5 August: Monteverdi Vespers

For more information please contact us on 01822 617666 or tavistock@cwcsolicitors.co.uk www.cwcsolicitors.co.uk

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1st – 6th August

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So please feel free to come along and look at the pictures and have a chat with some of the members. We have regular meetings throughout the season, which this year will run on alternate Wednesdays from 6th September 2017 to 20th June 2018 at the United Reformed Church (doors open at 7.00pm, meetings start at 7:30pm). For a full list of our speakers this year please pick up our programme at the exhibition, in the library or at a number of shops in Tavistock. We look forward to meeting you and showing you our work.

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All events take place in Tavistock Parish Church unless otherwise stated. Tickets priced £12 (under 18s free) will be available at the door for evening concerts, or in advance from “Bookstop”, 3 Market Street, Tavistock 01822 617244 or via tickets@exonsingers.org.uk. The Exon Festival Ticket costs £35 and covers entry to all concerts. For further information including Festival Lunchtimes and Festival Services visit www. exonsingers.org.uk

FOOD & WINE

We all have a list of things that we would like to do this summer and most people’s list will include a holiday, a barbecue or even a trip to the seaside to enjoy an ice cream or two. But how many people will put making a Will and Lasting Power of Attorney on their list? Our guess is not that many. We understand that talking about losing capacity and death can be daunting, that is why here at Wolferstans we have a dedicated team who will assist you throughout the whole process to ensure it is as simple and pain-free as possible. Having these documents in place can give you and your family piece of mind knowing that your affairs are in order. Wolferstans offer a great deal of fixed fee work especially for Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. A straightforward Will can cost as little as £195 plus VAT and our Lasting Power of Attorney fees start from £350 plus VAT.

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With the summer holidays just around the corner and the next heatwave on its way, why not put making a Will and Lasting Power of Attorney to the top of your list of things to do? We will be offering a 10% discount to any client who makes both a Will and Lasting Power of Attorney throughout the months of August and September. For more information or to book an appointment with a member of our team, please contact either Rachel Carey on 01752 292389 or Carolyn Watson on 01752 292302.

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Nourish Festival Nourish Festival, now in its 4th year, has become synonymous with fine food, craft and music of the highest quality presented in the heart of Bovey Tracey, Devon. The Nourish Food & Drink Fair will fill Bovey’s high street with some of the best producers from the South West on Saturday 2 September. We have invited producers of the widest possible variety of excellent food and only had two simple criteria - you make the best and you live in the South West of England. Expect to find artisan cheeses, preserves, bread, cakes, cordials, vegetables, herbs, beer, game, meat, fish, wine, liqueurs, cider, relishes, pates, handmade chocolates, oils, pies and even speciality mushrooms. An exceptional collection of epicurean delights. Other events include The Bovey Bake Off and Junior Bovey Bake Off, which will once again get the community reaching for their mixing bowls and be judged by our own Queen of Cakes, Tracey Godwin. The Nourish Contemporary Craft Fair will be hosted in the Methodist Church Hall, showcasing beautiful handmade craft from across the South West with craft demonstrations and other craft events taking place at Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Exceptional makers will present an inspirational selection of jewellery, pottery, glass, textiles and wood. The Nourish Music programme from 1 September will present a rare performance from world-renowned cellist, Steven Isserllis. Isserlis, who sells out Wigmore Hall and venues across the globe will be performing in Bovey Tracey on Friday September 1st in the intimate surroundings of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas Church. A truly unique experience. The Festival also features Japanese pianist, Noriko Ogawa.

Noriko appears with all the major European, Japanese and US orchestras including recent and forthcoming performances with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Noriko will be performing in Bovey Tracey on Friday September 2nd at St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas Church. Superlocrian, our Saturday afternoon concert, brings together two trumpets, two trombones and two saxophones to create a thrilling sound where the dynamic edge of brass sits alongside the warm, soulful sounds of sax and flute - a concert promising adrenaline, emotion and superb musicianship. Music: Fri 1 & Sat 2 September; Food & Craft: Sat 2 Sept www.nourishfestival.org

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1 – 2 September

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FOOD & WINE

Thirty years on…

26th - 27th August

Charles Steevenson explains how wine production and producers have changed significantly over the years.

The Real Cheese Fair Our original Devon cheese shindig is our homage to Westcountry cheese, and completely free to attend. Since 2004 The Tavistock Real Cheese Fair has been a joy. We always wanted the curd-based artisan and importantly Westcountry cheese shindig to be a HUGE thank you to all the public who have resolved to eat local and support small - and also for those people who have yet to experience the delights of real cheese. We also wanted to thank the wonderful cheesemakers who have become great friends over the 28 years Elise and I have been in this amazing business. The cheese-eaters saluting the cheesemakers and vice versa. And the mongers? – well we are maturing well along with our smashing cheese and still having great fun. We’ve got the best cheddar makers from Somerset and Devon, we’ve got blue cheeses to rival any that find their way to this country from anywhere in the world. We’ve got artisan goat’s cheesemakers who create simply stunning cheeses from their home-produced milk and some shining examples of sheep’s cheese magic. We’ve got soft cheese, hard

Whilst my team at Steevenson Wines prepares to celebrate our thirtieth year in business, I often reflect not only on the changes to my business, but also on the huge changes in the world of wine.

cheese, smelly cheese, nutty cheese, blue cheese and ewe cheese such as (in no particular order): Max Pillar’s goat’s cheese, Jamie Montgomery’s cheddar, Mary Quicke’s cheddar, Ben Harris with Ticklemore cheese, Mark Sharman with the Sharpham Estate wines as well as the soft cheese. There will be loads of different cheeses to sample and more importantly you get the story as told from the farm and cheese dairy. This is fascinating stuff and those who have been to the fair before will know how exciting and thought-provoking meeting the cheesemakers is. It really does change the way people think about food in the most positive fashion. We have some new cheese makers ‘on the block’ and some very old ones, in a good extra mature vintage sort of way. There will also be Waterhouse Fayre’s chutney,

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Birgit’s bread, juices from Luscombe and Vernon’s cider from Milton Abbot, plus loads of different crackers including sour dough. Gary Jungheim – Country Cheeses 26th August (9:00am-5:00pm) 27th August (10:00am-4:00pm) Tavistock Town Hall

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Following my training as a hotel manager I originally had high aspirations of running some swanky five star hotel. That said, secretly I was always drawn to the fascinating and to me, evocative fruits of the vine. My first eureka moment was when, at the age of eighteen, I bought a half bottle of Chateau Lynch Moussas, a fifth growth Grand Cru Classe...whatever all that meant to an eighteen-year-old. All I knew was that that wine triggered something that still makes me enthusiastically leap out of bed each morning. To this day I can still recall the flavours; even to my then naive pallet; ripe and vibrant blackcurrant, burnt-chocolate, a touch of cedar or a gentle oaky glow. On a recent visit to that very Chateau, I recalled my initiation into Fine Wines and thanked them for my subsequent career. Thirty years down the line, how things have changed! As the son of a soldier, and with many postings abroad, bottles of wine were a regular feature on the Steevenson dining table. That said, the very limited range of wines that I recall seemed to focus on various styles of German whites, a few French classics, the ubiquitous glass of dry sherry at sunset, a surprisingly plentiful supply of Sauternes and Port...lots of Port. Wines from the New World were in many cases not an option. That said, for many, wine was a very rare treat. But now with over forty countries producing and exporting wines around the globe, the market is wide-open for further experimentation and development.

Following a recent visit to vineyards in Croatia, one cannot but admire their endeavours and determination to break into the bigger world market. However, such enthusiasm must be checked by the understanding that wine drinkers’ expectations and knowledge is now so high that there is no place in the market for mediocre wines. As the father of a winemaker, I am made very aware that out-and-out quality and intrigue are crucial for aspiring new wine concepts. With our sophisticated palettes and relatively deep pockets, nothing else will do. We are all aware of the massive influence, financial growth and prosperity in such markets as China and India. These rapidly expanding markets continue to put huge pressure on producers worldwide, a pressure elevated to some degree by their own planting of vineyards and wine production. Finding suitable vineyard sites, selecting the preferred grape varieties, nurturing the fruit and making the wine is often the easy part of the equation. With wine production there are, and will always be, added complications. At every turn the quality of the fruit and the finished wine are dependent on the variance of the weather. The weather will also have an influence on the quantities and qualities of the wine produced and some wines will also need to age before they can be released. It is only then that the wine entrepreneurs can hope to see some return on their investment. It is at this point that, as a wine merchant and shipper, my company gets involved. Hopefully you do, or will one day share my enthusiasm. Charles Steevenson

"Family run business for 30 years supplying wine to licensed trade, corporate & private customers" Plymouth lymouth Road Industrial Estate, Tavistock, Devon PL19 9QN / www.steevensonwines.co.uk / Tel: 01822 616272 / sales@steevensonwines.co.uk

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OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers A 4-mile walk on the northern side of Burrator Reservoir with John Noblet. The walk starts from the parking area at Norsworthy Bridge (SX568693) at the eastern end of the reservoir. It may be on our doorstep and easily taken for granted, but Burrator is possibly one of the most beautiful reservoirs in England. An easy climb gives us great views of the lake before returning alongside the water’s edge. A short, optional, extension takes us to the legendary Crazywell Pool with extensive views deep into the moor. 1. From the bridge over the River Meavy turn right up the stony track. At a path junction bear right and then look for a large boulder beside the track. An attempt to split this has failed but the old way of feather and tare is clear. A row of holes has been drilled and the iron feather and tare, a form of wedge which was hammered to split the rock,

is stuck in one of the holes. Perhaps this is why it was abandoned. 2. At a second junction continue uphill on the wide track to visit Crazywell Pool. For a shorter walk, turn left and follow the route from waypoint 5. Old field walls are those of farms that were abandoned when Burrator Reservoir was built. Once on the open moor the track climbs gradually and Crazywell Cross can be seen silhouetted on the skyline. 3. Where the track bends, cross a small stream from a tinner’s gulley and go immediately left up a rough pathway. This quickly becomes a grassy track and at the top is Crazywell Pool, hidden until almost the last moment.

4. Return to the path junction (waypoint 2) and now turn right. The track descends to Leather Tor bridge. 5. Cross the bridge and shortly afterwards on the right is a potato cave and the ruins of Leather Tor Farm. Continue uphill, (ignoring side turnings) and cross the Devonport Leat at the top. Turn left and after 50m look out for a cist or burial chamber on the right (surrounded by a wooden fence). Walk alongside the leat to meet a lane and another old cross with views across Burrator Reservoir towards the dam. Follow the lane alongside the leat for about 600m. 6. The road crosses the leat again. Soon after, turn left down a wide track beside the building of Lower Lowery Barn.

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7. At the reservoir perimeter road turn left. After 200m go right over a stile into the woodland. Then immediately left alongside a high deer fence to a path junction by a grassy area beside the lake. Turn left through a gate and continue on a woodland path. 8. After a second gate turn right on the path which soon bears left to follow the River Meavy upstream. Be careful, the ground is rather uneven and tree roots are a hazard.

Map not to scale – for guidance only. Please refer to OS Map SX568 693

Pass the reservoir headweir and soon afterwards go through a small gate beside Norsworthy Bridge. Why not join Tavistock Ramblers for more Dartmoor walks or see John’s book of fairly short Dartmoor walks entitled “Walks for All Ages on Dartmoor”? Go to www.tavistockramblers.org.uk for more details

26th August - 3rd September

Dartmoor Walking Festival The first ever Dartmoor Walking Festival in 2016 was such a great success, with 1400 people taking part, that we have decided to make it an annual event. After excellent feedback on last year’s event we will be organising another very varied schedule with as many events as possible. The Moorland Guides’ 2017 event will have a variety of walks for all abilities, accessible events as in last year’s programme and also taster sessions in other outdoor activities. There will be several events each day during the nine-day festival ranging from modest guided strolls and children’s rambles to full day walks and ambitious challenges! So come along, explore ‘Dartmoor

on your Doorstep’ and find out more about this incredibly special place. With over a week of activities stretching over the August Bank Holiday weekend we hope visitors will be able to explore all that Dartmoor has to offer, and local residents will have a chance to come out and enjoy the moors before the children go back to school. Full details can be found online at www. dartmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk - printed schedules are also available from the Dartmoor National Park information centres, and the organisers at www.moorlandguides.co.uk.

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BUSINESS

Post-election News from Geoffrey Cox MP The General Election on 8 June was the fifth in which I have stood to be your Member of Parliament and I am honoured and humbled to have received the support of so many once again.

I will also continue my campaign to secure a fair deal for our farmers and the revitalisation of our fishing industry. I have for a long time been proud to work with and lobby for our local fishermen and I will continue to advocate a new start for our fishing fleet, which would bring increased prosperity and opportunity to our coastal and rural communities.

I would like to congratulate all the candidates. It is not easy to place oneself in the firing line but it is vital for our democracy that people should continue to be willing to do so and to debate their differences with civility and mutual respect.

During the campaign, I also had ample opportunity to speak to parents and residents about the funding that local schools will receive next year. While school budgets have been rising, costs have increased at a greater pace. Devon MPs are united in working to achieve greater provision for schools to alleviate the increasing cost pressures they have experienced in the last few years. With our encouragement, the Department for Education is now pursuing all options to increase school funding.

It was, in many ways, a remarkable election here in Torridge. For the first time, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party achieved a clear second place, thousands of votes ahead of the Liberal Democrats, and Labour is now the main challenger in this constituency and throughout the South West. Having fallen a few seats short of an overall majority, that is something the Conservative Party must now reflect on and learn the important lessons from the national campaign.

Wolferstans Joins Group B Strep Support Panel Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria carried by 20-30% of adults. Young babies can be particularly vulnerable to it, and sadly it is the most common cause of serious infection in newborn babies and of meningitis in babies under 3 months. On average in the UK a baby develops group B Strep infection every day and every week a baby dies from the infection. Every fortnight a baby who recovers from their group B Strep infection is left with lifelong disability with half of the survivors of group B Strep meningitis suffering from blindness, deafness or physical or learning disabilities. Whilst the majority of the time the bacteria is harmless and causes no symptoms, problems can potentially arise during pregnancy and labour if the mother is a carrier. Currently, a test for GBS is not undertaken routinely in the UK during the antenatal period, unlike in many other developed countries. If Mum is found to be a carrier, preventative measures can be put into place to avoid her passing the bacteria on to her baby, which would otherwise increase the risk of the baby developing a GBS infection. If a woman is found to have GBS she should be offered intravenous antibiotics from the start of her labour and at various intervals throughout until her child is safely delivered. Although rare, a GBS infection can cause stillbirth and late miscarriage. Although it is important to stress that these complication are rare, it is essential that mothers and healthcare professionals are educated about the risks so that tests can be arranged. Wolferstans are one of the few solicitors in the UK on the legal panel of the leading charity and pressure group, Group B Strep Support. Group B Strep Support provides vital information to pregnant women and health professionals to promote awareness of group B Strep and wants every pregnant woman to be given information on group B Strep as part of her antenatal care and the opportunity to be tested for the infection.

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For more information go to www.gbss.org.uk Wolferstans have sadly seen an increase in the number of babies infected by group B Strep who have received inappropriate treatment, or have been given antibiotic treatment too late which has left them with serious injury. We understand that bringing a clinical negligence claim is not just about compensation; it’s about obtaining the practical support you and your child need after an injury, giving your child the best possible chance of living an active, able and fulfilling life. If you or a member of your family have suffered an injury as a result of medical negligence and you would like to receive some free initial legal advice, without obligation, please contact Jodie O’Connor on 01752 292360 or email her at jo’connor@wolferstans.comor email her at jo’connor@wolferstans.com

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In the meantime, as substantially the largest Party in the House of Commons, it is only the Conservative Party that has the ability and legitimacy to form a government and I welcome that the Prime Minister has got on with the business of government against the backdrop of horrific national tragedies such as those we have seen in Borough Market, Kensington and Finsbury Park. The response of people who have provided help, compassion and support has once again shown the deep well of solidarity and public spiritedness that exists in Britain. The negotiations have now begun and the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union has reported that the talks were productive and constructive. During the campaign, I had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of constituents and discuss their priorities. It will not be a surprise that the principal issue raised with me was the arrangements for Britain’s exit from the EU. I am determined to see the UK achieve a flexible and pragmatic arrangement with the EU that will create new opportunities for our local industries while providing the certainty, reassurance and responsible stewardship that our economy requires to remain strong. I will be vigilant to protect the interests of our constituency in these negotiations.

The next few months will also be a crucial period for Holsworthy Hospital. I will shortly meet the Head of the Devon CCG to press for the earliest possible reopening of the beds after their temporary closure and I will be collaborating closely with the Mayor’s working party, the CCG and the NDDHT to facilitate a way forward. It is encouraging that the first stage of the review into our health services in Devon has found, as I have consistently represented to the Department of Health and those conducting the review, that vital A&E, stroke, maternity and paediatric services must be retained at North Devon District Hospital. At the election, I made clear that one of my top priorities was to guarantee my constituents access to the health services they need and a good level of care, and as your MP I will continue to fight not only to protect these services but to enhance them.

KEEPING YOU MOBILE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE HOME

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BUSINESS

Tavistock BID summer activities for everyone…

Tech Tips from ChezvousPC Defence again lightning: With the recent thunderstorms, we have once again seen computer equipment being damaged or destroyed by an electrical surge. A surge-protector is one good way to prevent this kind of damage, although it is a good idea to buy one with ‘telephone line protection’ - a standard surgeprotector just shields devices from surges on your electrical system, and not those that come in via the telephone line to your router, and then pass along the line to your connected equipment. However, it is worth noting that most surge protectors work via a ‘fuse’ affair – so they protect you for one hit, and then they need to be replaced to ensure ongoing cover. Shield yourself against Ransomware: Big in the news at the moment are those ‘Ransomware’ threats which encrypt your data, and hold it hostage until you cough up the ransom – usually around £400. But what can YOU do to protect yourself again this, and other similar threats? Use a reputable, up-to-date antivirus. This is VERY important. If you use the internet at all, you should have some cover. There is a basic antivirus included with Windows 10, however we would always recommend installing a specifically designed

security software, such as Norton Security. Make sure it is renewed, and up-to-date. Be suspicious of seemingly random emails, especially those with links or attachments. If you suddenly get an email from a friend, which seems quite out of the ordinary – perhaps the spelling or grammar isn’t correct, or they have just sent you a link or attachment – DO NOT open it! Or at least check with them first! Back up your data. I cannot stress this enough, back things up. However having all your data on an external drive or USB stick won’t prevent your data being encrypted, unless the device is unplugged at the time you get the infection. So do a backup, then unplug your backup drive until the next time you need it. TIM, Tim and Carol - ChezvousPC

For help with any home or business IT needs, give us a ring on 01822 855822 or visit our website at chezvouspc.com

In summer I feel Tavistock looks more beautiful than ever, with the hanging baskets bringing so much colour to the town. This year Tavistock BID has put up more baskets than in previous years and we are pleased to report that there are over 193 baskets around Tavistock. The baskets really showcase the town and ensure people want to keep coming back. We also compete in the annual Britain in Bloom awards where we are consistently strong contenders - for the last 3 years we have won Gold for the BID entry. This year we are hoping for yet another success.

around the shops of Tavistock in search of treasure. The event was launched by our pirate characters on 26th July and will run throughout the summer holidays. All hunters will receive a free pirate hat along the way as well as their treasure at the end of the trail.

This summer we have really focussed our attention on putting on a comprehensive list of events to increase footfall into the town. Events to look forward to include staged character displays, weekly craft tents, circus and skate skills days on the square and finally Miss Ivy’s Tavistock Fete.

16 August Fairytale theme craft tent, (10am-4pm)

Over Easter we arranged a very successful Bunny Hunt that saw over 200 participants during the weekend and business owners commented on the marked increase of visitors to their shops. We are now hoping to replicate that success by putting on a treasure hunt that will see people following the clues

Events in Bedford Square and Tavistock town centre…. 2 August Skate and Circus Fun Day, (10am-4pm) 10 August Space theme craft tent, (10am-4pm)

20 August Miss Ivy’s Tavistock Fete, (10am-4pm) 22 August Natural crafts tent, (10am-4pm) 26 August Alice in Wonderland character display, various locations in town centre (10am-3pm) 30 August Ocean theme craft tent, (10am-4pm) Every Monday Tavistock Scrap Store will be on Bedford Square creating themed craft sessions for both children and adults.

PC, Tablet & Mac Help for home or business Got a computer problem at home or office? We are the LOCAL help you have been looking for!

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We sell new PCs, laptops, tablets, printers, etc. We can even set your new equipment up for you. Got a virus? We can remove it. We also fix and maintain all Apple Macs and iPads.

*1 July to 30 September

Also networking, cabling, broadband issues, email, etc. Range of experience with people of all ages/abilities for teaching.

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HISTORY

A brief history of RAF Harrowbeer

Creating a Family Tree “Someone’s in a Hurry!” in the Airfield’s ORB.

Documents in the West Devon Record Office show that Plymouth City Council began to look at future airfield sites for Plymouth in the mid-1930s and a report in 1937 shows that three sites were looked at: Chelson Meadow, Roborough, and Harrowbeer. The report suggests that Chelson Meadow was not suitable as it lay in a ‘hollow’, and would be awkward for planes landing and taking off. Roborough was felt to be unsuitable because the main runway would be too short (a very familiar argument!). Finally, Harrowbeer, although not ideal due to potential fog, became the preferred option.

Airfield construction – 1940/1941 At the beginning of the Second World War it was assumed that towns in the South West were too far from enemy air bases to be under threat of aerial bombardment. However, the fall of France meant that Channel air bases were now in enemy hands and it is presumed that a call went out for potential airfield sites so the report on Harrowbeer was put forward. In late 1940, land was requisitioned for the new airfield and construction began. Mine waste and rock from quarries near Tavistock was used to form the base for the runways and new roads in the area. After Plymouth was subjected to air raids in March and April 1941 the blitz rubble was also used at Harrowbeer. The airfield comprised three runways in an ‘A’ shaped layout, and there were two Bellman hangars, eight smaller blister hangars and twelve dispersal pens. The work provided welcome employment for local people, and Yelverton became a hive of activity. The area around the new airfield saw many changes. Yelverton’s shops were reduced to singlestorey and several roads were diverted, new ones were built and the present roundabout installed. A number of properties near the airfield were demolished and others requisitioned for accommodation for airfield personnel.

Harrowbeer becomes operational – August 1941 RAF Harrowbeer officially opened on 15th August and the first aircraft to land was a Blenheim 1F bomber. The first operational unit to use RAF Harrowbeer was No.500 Squadron, 72

flying Bristol Blenheim fighterbombers which were used for anti-shipping and intruder operations over the Channel and France. In October, No.130 (Punjab) Squadron, flying Spitfire Mk II fighters, enjoyed a brief stay until November, when they were replaced by No.302 (City of Poznan) Squadron. This Polish Squadron flew Hurricanes but converted to flying Spitfire VBs whilst at Harrowbeer. Also at this time, No.276 Squadron formed at the airfield to undertake air sea rescue duties, flying Lysanders, Spitfires and Walruses and rescuing many pilots who had bailed out over the Channel.

Harrowbeer expands - 1942-1943 Although fully operational, building construction continued at Harrowbeer into 1942. The Poles were replaced by No.312 (Czech) Squadron, flying Spitfire VCs and early missions involved shipping reconnaissance and protecting the South Hams from ‘tip and run’ raids from the new German fighter, the Focke Wulf 190. In December 1942, No.193 Squadron was formed at Harrowbeer and equipped with the new Hawker Typhoon fighter, which played an effective part in the battle for Normandy in 1944 when it was used principally in the ground attack role against German armour. In February 1943, No.263 Squadron arrived flying the twinengined Whirlwind fighter-bomber and in May, No.414 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force commenced flying operations in Mustangs, a supremely effective fighter used, like the Typhoon, in a ground attack role. Harrowbeer, as with all other RAF stations, was to play a key role in the forthcoming invasion of occupied Europe. The Typhoons were replaced by many squadrons of Spitfires, whose function would be to defend the invasion force against enemy air attacks. As D-Day approached, operations from the station increased rapidly, leading one person to write

However, the end of Operation Overlord marked the start of the demise of Harrowbeer as an RAF fighter station, because as the war in Europe moved further in-land, it took longer to fly from Harrowbeer to the front line. By August 1944, the station became a satellite of Exeter and the Free French No.329 Squadron was the last operational unit to use the field, flying Spitfire IX fighters until June 1945. The airfield officially closed on the 31st July 1945, although two days later, President Harry Truman made an unscheduled visit to Harrowbeer on his way to meet King George VI on HMS Renown in Plymouth Sound.

RAF Harrowbeer closes - post-war developments With the end of the war in Europe, RAF Harrowbeer had fulfilled its crucial role and was no longer required as a fighter station. Initially only hangars, huts and fences were removed while the runways were left intact. In 1960, Plymouth Corporation proposed that Harrowbeer should become the city’s airport but there was strong local opposition and in 1961, the proposal was rejected. The rest of the airfield was subsequently demolished, the runways removed and a road constructed across the former air base. For some time after the war, the dispersed sites (used as billets by the station’s aircrews) were used as temporary accommodation for local families, with some still occupied in the 1970s. Today, although some of the picket posts and toilet blocks remain standing, all that now remains of RAF Harrowbeer are the vestiges of runways and hangar bases. In 2004, a group of enthusiasts formed the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group, (HIG) to promote the airfield’s history. There is now a website, three interpretation boards around the airfield and a new, revised, edition of Dennis Teague’s original history book on Harrowbeer. Each year in August, the HIG organises the RAF Harrowbeer 1940s Weekend, to commemorate the anniversary of the opening of the airfield - this year 12th and 13th August. Stephen Fryer www.rafharrowbeer.co.uk

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While you are gathering your family history data, it is useful to add it to a family tree as you go along. This will help you visualise the different generations, and show clearly what you have discovered and where data is missing. There are various ways to create family trees: you could simply write one yourself, or download one of the many templates from the internet, or create one online, using one of the genealogy databases, such as: Ancestry, Find My Past [available at public libraries],The Genealogist, Family Search [free]. Or you could buy one of the genealogy software programmes. All good programmes will allow you to create many different family trees if you wish, offer several types of charts and reports, and enable you to add notes and photographs. Some also have other features and some programmes offer a free trial period, so that you can try out the software for a limited time. For Windows: Legacy links to sites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch For Macs: Family Tree Maker for Mac links to Ancestry, MacFamily Tree is user-friendly, Reunion connects to FamilySearch. You can then print out your family tree, although if it is extensive it may become difficult to read on home-printer A4 sized paper. It is often very useful to get a larger sized version printed by an online printer, which you can do by sending a pdf of your tree with the required size. Family trees can be printed out on A3 or up to A0 sized paper and then framed and kept for future generations to read. Susan Francia Family History Research Services 01822 820855 fhistoryresearch@gmail.com www.family-historyresearch.co.uk

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