Moor Links August/September 2020 issue

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

MOOR LINKS Aug/Sept 2020 | Issue 46

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The GB Row Challenge

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Buckfastleigh Caves AN HISTORIC GEM

Sustainable Creativity SUE BAMFORD’S ‘GREEN’ ART

In this issue:

Celebrating 25 years of Tamar Valley AONB 200 artists get ready for Devon Open Studios

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HISTORY

The voyage of the Mayflower

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GARDENING

The ‘staycation’ summer garden

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It is what it is

The deadline date for any inclusions in the October/ November issue of Moor Links will be 2 September 2020. For all editorial enquiries please contact Rosemary via email: rosemary.best@ linksmagazines.co.uk

THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Rosemary Best Writers: Nichola Williams, Kaye Rogers Design: Sara Venner, Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard, Claire Pearce

Tim: 07450 161 929 Jane: 07772 619 808

We are in ‘unprecedented and strange times’, and have sometimes felt as if we have entered ‘the stage-set of a science-fiction film’, but at the end of the day ‘it is what it is’. Similar phrases have been uttered so many times in recent months as we have all grappled to come to terms with the new reality of our lives. Since the last issues of the Links magazine were sent to print, we have experienced weeks of lockdown, where key workers and volunteers have earned everyone’s admiration, and the residents of West Devon have done a sterling job in keeping infection rates low. As we now continue our tentative return to social interaction, albeit in a different format, nobody knows for certain what lies ahead but as we cautiously move forward it’s good to see a hint of normality return.

This is a bumper, double-feature issue with Sue Douglass’s account of an intrepid team of four female rowers taking part in the 2021 GB Row Challenge, covering 500 miles from London’s Tower Bridge to Land’s End. In addition, we have Alan Finch’s introduction to Buckfastleigh Caves, formed at least 300,000 years ago, and now looked after

by The William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust. Tim interviewed Sue Bamford via Zoom to find out how she combines her love of art alongside her obsession with recycling. Sue Fisher has some excellent advice on making the most of your garden for a ‘staycation’ summer, as well getting a good harvest from all those vegetables the nation seems to be planting. For obvious reasons there isn’t an extensive what’s on section this time, but you can still enjoy a socially distanced Devon Open Studios this year.

Front cover: Burrator by Liz Saddington available from Wildwood Arts (see page 41)

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Rosemary Best

Editor

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Contents 6 Feature – A Shore Thing

20 Gardening

40 Music & Art

8 Feature – Buckfastleigh Caves

24 Trade Secrets

42 What’s On

11 Naturalist

25 Farming News

43 Book Review

26 Law

44 History

27 Community News

46 Outdoors & Active

36 Food & Drink

50 Tech Help

12 Local People 14 Health & Wellbeing 18 Charity

39 Business

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@moorlinks Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Olijam Communications Ltd the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by such material. The opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. All content is fully covered by copyright laws and reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

BUY LOCAL

‘Buy local - save local businesses, local jobs and local communities’ Support our local businesses This is where we all come in, the readers of our magazines, the residents of West Devon, Dartmoor and North Plymouth communities. We must try and support our local businesses, be they retail shops, restaurants, cafes or accountants, estate agents, solicitors, financial advisors, our local hairdressers and florists and the countless tradespeople, plumbers, gardeners,

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BUY LOCAL & SAVE JOBS

painters and decorators, window cleaners and electricians.

Whenever possible we must try and spend our hard-earned money within our local community and keep it here.

Buy local campaign

Welcome back to our printed Links magazines. Our small, community magazines are solely reliant on local businesses advertising with us, so we can afford the printing costs and Royal Mail distribution of more than 32,000 copies. A strong, vibrant, business community is vital to our local economy. As many of our local businesses struggle to recover, they must be supported for the ‘lifecycle’ to thrive. Otherwise this will mean less money circulating in our local economy, fewer jobs and less local investment.

That’s why we are launching a new campaign for our magazines focusing on the message ‘Buy local - save local businesses, local jobs and local communities’, to remind us of the importance of using local businesses. We already have ‘Totally Locally’, a fantastic UK initiative and it is estimated that £5 spent in local businesses equates to £16.8 billion, being invested back into towns across the UK. Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) also helps small local businesses to prosper, giving them a voice in the community and some control over decisions made within the town.

Supporting their fantastic initiatives, such as ‘Fiver Fest’ and annual events, such as Dickensian makes a difference.

So, when you feel safe about going out again, please think about using local businesses and help save and create jobs, and support our local community. Local businesses need us more than ever before.

Stay safe Tim, Links Magazine Publisher

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FEATURE

A Shore Thing In June 2020, A Shore Thing’s crew of four rowers - Susan Douglass, Anya Anstey, Charity Phillips and Rebecca Mingo - will set out on an epic adventure, covering 500 miles from London’s Tower Bridge to Land’s End as part of the GB Row Challenge.

We will be crossing the busiest shipping lane in the world, rowing against prevailing westerly winds, coping with heat, rain, fog or whatever weather is thrown at us, and we’ll row in two-hour shifts day and night until we reach our destination.

In total it’s the equivalent of 19 consecutive marathons. The crew are all Tamar & Tavy Gig Club rowers which means we are used to the generally flat and sheltered conditions of the river, and have very little experience of the sea. We will need to complete a number of essential safety and navigation courses to prepare ourselves for the difficult and constantly changing conditions of the English Channel.

The idea of undertaking something so far out of our comfort zone came about at the end of 2019, and after coming up with a crew name and some branding, Nicola Bathe Business Support very generously supplied us with a website; so by the end of the year we’d officially begun our mission. In early March 2020 6

we put on our first fundraising event, a big breakfast. The whole gig club either helped or came along to eat and support us, and we were blown away by the generosity and support we received.

We also received some generous donations, including corporate sponsorship from Egerton Clinical Consultancy, giving us a great start to our fundraising. However just as we were getting started, coronavirus hit. All our plans to raise awareness of our challenge and fundraise came to a screeching halt, with no more rowing or events for the foreseeable future.

We chose to raise money for mental health charities Devon Mind and Cornwall Mind, and we feel it’s more important than ever in the difficult circumstances we are all facing, that these organisations are able to support people, and help them deal with the added anxiety, fear and uncertainty. They provide training, counselling and support groups to those in need, and the more money we raise the more people they can help.

Currently we are able to train as a group over Zoom, doing some strength training and cardio workouts to keep us fit and happy, and we look forward to the day we can go rowing together. As soon as we are able, we will be taking sculling lessons - a sliding seat form of rowing similar to

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FEATURE

the experience in our ocean rowing boat – as well as doing some team building exercises. This challenge will be as much mental as physical, so we need to work on our mental strength and resilience and prepare for the difficult sleep deprivation that will result from a two-hour shift pattern. We also need to assume the worst-case scenario of strong winds and be as strong as possible before the event.

A major part of this challenge is raising enough money to fund the trip itself. Ocean rowing boats are highly technical vessels with solar panels, navigation equipment, a device to turn seawater into drinking water (which is also used to rehydrate our required high energy foods) not to mention oars, shore support and race entry fees. As you can imagine, a global pandemic makes gaining corporate sponsorship a little tricky, and fundraising events next to impossible. Therefore we have recently launched a virtual ocean rowing challenge, where anyone can join a crew based or solo mission with A Shore Thing’s crew and compete

with each other in a virtual race along the south coast. We have medals for all finishers and prizes available for lots of different categories, not just the fastest, so anyone could win something. It’s a really exciting initiative that will hopefully allow some of the coastal and gig rowers out there a chance to enjoy some competitiveness this summer, despite all the cancelled events. Data can be entered from rowing, running, cycling etc, and the distance is tracked on a map so you can see how far you’ve come.

Whenever we feel overwhelmed by what we’re doing and how far we have to go it’s important that we remember why we are doing this, and how important the money we raise will be to people’s lives.

Susan Douglass

We are accepting sponsorship applications with the chance to brand our amazing ocean rowing boat or our official crew vests which will be used for all promotional activities.

For more information see ashorething.uk or facebook.com/ ashorethinguk or join our virtual challenge at myvirtualmission. com/missions/52994/longships-challenge

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FEATURE

Guided walk

Causeway

The William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust On the south-east corner of Dartmoor, at Buckfastleigh, in a disused limestone quarry lies one of the historical gems of South Devon.

It’s hard to imagine hyenas, elephants, rhinoceros, lions and hippopotamuses, to name just a few, wandering along the A38 corridor to drink at the River Dart. Yet, within the limestone caves of the quarry is irrefutable evidence that they once did.

The limestone developed about 400 million years ago in a warm tropical sea, south of the equator with coral reefs and active volcanos nearby. Over time eruptions produced volcanic ash that covered the coral causing it to die and so the process of conversion to limestone began. Meanwhile the earth’s tectonic plates with associated land masses moved slowly northwards until the coral reef became part of today’s South Devon.

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Buckfastleigh caves were formed in the limestone through solution; rainwater on hitting the ground increases in acidity, this in turn seeps down into small cracks and fissures in the limestone. Very slowly, over thousands of years, this acidity begins to eat into the rock creating tunnels and passages. It was through this process the caves were probably formed no later than 300,000 years ago.

About 100,000 years ago, when the climate was much warmer than today, the roof of one cave (Joint Mitnor) suddenly collapsed leaving an opening on the surface. Inevitably, some animals accidently fell through this hole into the cave below and could not escape. Over a period of many years the cave gradually filled up with a mixture of soil, rocks and bones to create a debris pile called a talus cone. When this eventually reached the roof the cave was resealed leaving a historical time capsule.

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The discovery of the caves came in the 19th century when quarrymen, extracting stone for building and making lime in the kilns for fertilizer, broke into small chambers and passages. They were either too busy to notice or understand the significance of any old bones they might have come across. It was not until 1938 that the true value of the cave’s deposits was established, although nearly being dismissed at first.

A few young men were exploring one of the caves in the quarry when they climbed into a chamber through a difficult

tight passage; there they found some very old bones. Taking one with them, they sent it to Torquay Natural History Museum to be examined. Amazingly an expert, A.H. Ogilvie, dismissed the bone as that of a common ox. The then curator, Mr Ed Milton, wrote a letter expressing disappointment, concluding that there were no bones of extinct animals in the Buckfastleigh caves.

Undeterred the specimen was sent to the British Museum, Natural History, London, where it was identified as coming from a wild bison which had indeed roamed this country 100,000 years ago and was now long extinct. This information had a major impact on the scientific community and research started in earnest only to be curtailed with the outbreak of the Second World War. The cave later became known as Joint Mitnor after the three men, Joint, Mitchell and Northey who were principle in discovering the cave’s true value.

The 1940s and 50s saw considerable effort to excavate the cave, hundreds of bones were carefully extracted establishing it as the largest deposit of mammal bones from the last interglacial period ever found in a British cave. The considerable amount of mud and rocks taken from the cave during this work was sufficient to build a level causeway to the cave which is still in use today by visitors.

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FEATURE

The site had been privately owned with a special access agreement for cave exploration and scientific work. In 1961 the owners suddenly announced they were intending to sell it at auction.

The possibility of the site being lost to science provoked a quick reaction and it was hurriedly bought by the Society for Nature Reserves. Having now acquired the land it needed to establish a group or organisation to administer it.

The William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust was formed to undertake this task and convert the old disused barns on the site into a studies centre. Why is it called William Pengelly? In the early 19th century many cave scientists took a very cavalier approach to excavations often removing whatever was found without proper records or cataloguing.

William Pengelly (1812 – 1894) was a rare exception. Born in Cornwall he was a self-taught man who would rise to great scientific eminence. Today he is thought by many as the forefather of cave research. Pengelly was meticulous; any object that had been removed was carefully recorded and listed to the extent that it was possible to pin-point its exact location within the cave and at what depth in a deposit. He was

renowned for his careful excavations at Brixham Cave followed in 1865 by Kents Cavern where he worked until 1880. He understood that newly discovered caves could reveal information of great value if systematically excavated rather than simply removing any artefacts found.

The Centre at Buckfastleigh demonstrates many fascinating pieces of science, from palaeontology, geology to natural history. It is an important site for the rare greater horseshoe bat along with other bat species. Industrial heritage associated with the quarry and limestone industry is present for visitors to see and understand. The onsite museum houses some of the bones originally excavated from Joint Mitnor cave and the public have the opportunity to handle some of these exhibits designated for that purpose.

The William Pengelly Cave Studies Trust has existed now for nearly 60 years as a fully volunteered charity providing a unique educational resource on Dartmoor’s edge. Volunteers are on hand to guide people around the quarry and into Joint Mitnor Cave explaining the science and history in layman’s terms.

To stand inside the cave and see some

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of the original bones over 100,000 years old still lying in situ amongst to mud and rock is something quite amazing.

During August the centre is usually open to the general public for guided walks on Wednesdays and Thursdays. However due to the current crisis please check our website. www.pengellytrust.org for latest information.

Alan Finch

All photos courtesy of WPCST Archive

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NATURALIST

Spending time ‘in nature’ Since the 1940s the number of wildflower meadows in Britain has decreased by a huge 97%. Around the edge of Dartmoor some of the farms are still farmed in a way that enables wild flowers to thrive in their fields. In 2015 a number of like-minded people formed an organisation – the Moor Meadows group – dedicated to increasing the number of flower-rich meadows around Dartmoor. This group has encouraged many more landowners to turn some of their land into fields rich in flowers, insects and other wildlife, and some of these landowners open their meadows in summer for others to enjoy. You can join the Moor Meadows group (www.moormeadows.org.uk) and will be kept up to date with events and talks taking place locally.

The group also has links to short courses on identification of, for instance, wild flowers, grasses, bumblebees etc.

Many people have noticed a big drop in the number of insects in their garden and in the wider countryside. For instance, when was the last time you had to stop the car and clean the windscreen while driving in summer?

These insects – bees, bumblebees, moths, butterflies, wasps – are vital for pollinating crops and flowers as well as controlling pests. If you have a garden, you can create a meadow, albeit a small one, by leaving your lawn, or part of it, unmown in spring and early summer. This allows some wildflowers to grow – speedwell, self-heal, daisies, dandelions, buttercups, forget-me-not, and red campion – and in turn allows the bees and butterflies to flourish. I realise that this may seem a strange idea for many keen gardeners, but why not try it and see the beneficial results. I have been fascinated to watch as a Goldfinch, or a Bullfinch, fed carefully on dandelion seeds.

Spending time in nature is good for you. Several recent books have shown the beneficial effect that being out ‘in nature’ has on mental health. The ‘Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing’ lists around a dozen recently published books considered to be the best of current nature writing.

Two books on this year’s list are ‘The Diary of a Young Naturalist’ by Dara McAnulty and ‘Bird Therapy’ by Joe Harkness. Both of these books show how being out ‘in nature’ helped the authors to recover. As Dara McAnulty put it, nature became for him ‘a life-support system’.

Nature and our connection with it, is under threat, particularly for younger people. The Oxford Junior Dictionary has removed common words about nature – such as acorn, blackberry and conker – and replaced them with words about the digital age we live in – such as blog, broadband and chat room. How many younger people nowadays can identify common wild flowers, or butterflies, or birds? As a result of our increasing dependence on technology, many of us spend long hours looking at screens of one sort or another. Maybe we should consider this and perhaps spend a bit more time enjoying the countryside and all the natural beauty that it has to offer?

During the recent lockdown, most of us have had more time on our hands, time to ‘stand and stare’ as the poet William Henry Davies wrote in his poem ‘Leisure’: “A poor life this is, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.”

Anthony John

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LOCAL PEOPLE

When imagination meets reality Meeting with Sue Bamford is a session in positivity. She is someone you would absolutely want to turn to when you’re feeling down; creativity is the solution to all things stressful and I doubt I will ever meet a more creative person.

Sue, now based in Tavistock, hails from Wadebridge. After A levels she went off to seek her fortune in London, eventually studying Art History at one of the most famous art colleges in the world. Sue says: “Goldsmiths University, is part of the so called ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge and turns out the weird and the wonderful, including Damian Hurst, Vic Reeves (Jim Muir), Mary Quant and Malcolm Maclaren (who legend has it burnt the library down). My application was initially rejected but a determined and stern phone call to the

tutor, led to me being offered a place the following year for a three-year degree.”

Sue followed this by a PhD, which she did not complete due to health issues. She suffers from an autoimmune disease, and at the time of our interview she had just recovered from pneumonia, and was currently shielding. She says it is like having an invisible disability which has been the cause of many a disappointment when applying for jobs and promotions. Sue returned to the West Country after twenty years of life in London working in a multitude or arts related businesses. She got a part-time job at the Eden project while she completed her Masters Degree in Art Environment at Falmouth University, where she won the prestigious Sandra Blow Achievement award for her degree show.

She now describes herself as an environmental artist, saying: “Art can act as a bridge between science and art. If I can produce art that has a message then it is a subliminal way to engage people and teach them to care for their environment.

In 2015 I won a residency for an eco-project in Taiwan with

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LOCAL PEOPLE

the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology (NMMST) and was the only UK artist to be involved. There had been a ten-year conflict between the Government and local people over fishing quotas and there was a need to allow fish stocks to recover. I suggested a project to crochet a coral reef.

Fishermen, their wives, children and over one thousand people got involved. It was a great way to deliver the message of protecting fish stocks and help open the doors for NMMST to set up a marine conservation area.” Within eighteen months the project was set up, and this silly westerner (her words) with pink hair was the catalyst for what had taken 10 years to debate – and she can now teach crochet in Mandarin.

Sue wants to spread creativity in the Tavistock area and encourage people to have more fun; she believes making art, music and poetry is far more important than making money. It was great to meet Sue - she is an inspiration.

Fingers crossed that she gets the funding she needs and then we can all sit down and quietly make some pompons.

Tim Randell

For more information about Sue’s work visit bunnylove. co.uk and instagram: suetekhbamford

Sue says: “I am probably mostly known in Tavistock for wearing strange clothes, my pink hair and teaching people to knit. I teach two days a week at City College Plymouth where we have set up an art department; four years ago they didn’t have a 16-18 art provision. Creativity is a positive force for mental health and it fulfils something deep in the human soul to use our hands and make things - for example, we had a project making pigments from different mud from all over Devon. We used it to link with history and cave painting right up to the industrial twentieth century. Children seem to need permission to make a mess these days; my kind of art allows people to take risks and make mistakes, as we learn so much more from our failures than our successes.”

Sue’s next project involves an application for arts council funding to create Mystery Craft Boxes. Local people will receive a little box, free of charge by post, which might include skeins of wool, some packets of Kool-Aid and dyeing instructions, sequins, beads and instructions on making teeny, tiny pompons. The community action project aims to encourage adults and children with home art projects as relaxing and doing something creative is a great way to activate a different part of the brain. In a project to gauge the success of antidepressants versus knitting, knitting beat the daylight (my word not hers) out of the drugs. Art allows you time to slow down and be in your own self, with your thoughts working in the background. There is extensive research on this subject at www.stitchlinks.com.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Anxiety Dr Jo Coldron has some helpful advice on dealing with anxiety at this difficult time.

Dr Jo Coldron Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock

Anxiety is something that affects all of us at some time. For some it may be limited to the time of an exam or a wedding day, but for others it can be a much more pervasive feeling, impacting how they feel weekly, daily or even hourly. I have many discussions with my patients about lifestyle choices and how they can reduce anxiety. Many of these are more challenging to implement at present and may need to be adapted, but we can still make powerful changes to help ourselves.

you enjoy and doesn’t feel like a chore to get the most benefit.

Exercise

Social support

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Diet and alcohol Despite the ongoing stressors, trying to maintain control over alcohol intake and keeping to a healthy diet is hugely important for our mental health.

Sleep Try and keep to a routine with good sleep hygiene despite the current changes to our work and social lives.

This has been most impacted in the last few weeks. We have not been able to meet our friends, attend our clubs, see our families and we have all felt the

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hardship of this. It’s so important that we get this social contact in any way we can at present – talking over the garden fence, video calls with our friends and family, attending groups and religious services online, messaging groups…. whatever works for you.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

If despite doing all you can with these practical measures, anxiety is still a major issue, there are techniques that can help: identify when you feel anxious; what increases your feelings of anxiety and what decreases them? A diary can sometimes help with this. For example, does reading the news increase your anxiety? Does doing some knitting calm your mind? Try and minimise exposure to those activities that make you feel worse.

Try to recognise anxiety inducing thoughts; challenge those thoughts and try to replace them with more positive constructive ones. Practise recognising when thoughts are making you feel anxious and try and catch them early.

To help challenge them imagine what you would say to a friend to help them feel better. We often find ourselves concentrating on the negatives of a situation rather than the positives – try and change a negative into a positive.

For example instead of thinking ‘I’m going to do this exam and I’m going to fail’, try and think about how well prepared you are, that you really know your stuff, that you’ve done really well in practice exams, and you are going to do your best. It’s important to realise this attempt to change negative thoughts into positive ones won’t always work,

but with practice it can become easier.

Think of it like going to the gym. Every time you work those mental muscles, they get a little stronger and it takes less effort to use them.

If you find repetitive, intrusive, anxious thoughts are overwhelming you for much of the day you can’t simply turn these thoughts off, they need listening to and addressing. Try and make a specific time in the day to do this and aim to think about them in a structured and productive way. During the day you can put the worries to one side by using various techniques. Perhaps write them down to think about later, use distraction techniques, calming activities or practice mindfulness. When you do allow time to address your anxieties, use techniques to make this time positive rather than negative. Perhaps use a worry tree to face the problem, reframe thoughts and come up with practical solutions.

Lots of support is available online to help you manage your anxiety and develop these techniques. A good starting point with lots of helpful links is: nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/ anxiety. If you feel you need more help to manage your anxiety you can self-refer to our local NHS depression and anxiety service called Talkworks at talkworks.dpt.nhs.uk.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Tai Chi and Qigong The Health Benefits of Moving Meditation Tai Chi and Qigong are both forms of moving meditation originating in China and the East thousands of years ago. Tai Chi can also be done with a partner and as a martial art. They both have many health benefits including aiding balance, flexibility, muscle strength and posture and helping you to relax and ease stress. Here, I will talk about why focusing mind on body while moving is so good for our health.

When we are fully absorbed with our physical movements and our changing balance, we bring ourselves right into the present moment where cares can melt away. It gives our mind a holiday from worries and anxiety. We can bring our mind out of our head and down into our body! This helps us to become aware of how we feel inside, notice where we might be holding tension and decide to let it go. When we learn to relax fully in this way, what has become stuck can flow again. We can literally unwind. If we set aside regular times to practise, it can raise energy levels and slowly build vitality. Creative energies can flow, helping you to bring more creativity into your life.

Moving meditation teaches us to meditate under every circumstance, building a bridge to allow us to bring meditation into every area of our life. Whatever we are doing, in whatever situation, we have the means to feel stillness and peace.

Over time, this can help us to see our habitual patterns more clearly and let them fall away. We can become ‘our natural selves’ where we can respond to each situation as it comes, and experience the uniqueness of each new moment. Tai Chi and Qigong are accessible to everyone, whatever your level of fitness and ability. They lend themselves to being practiced outdoors, helping us to tune in with our surroundings and feel joyfully immersed in nature. Whether practiced inside or outside, they give you tools for building emotional resilience and physical health.

This article was written before the pandemic started but meditation exercises such as these have become even more meaningful during these last few months and I hope that this article will inspire you to have a go. I look forward to resuming classes later in the year as soon as it is safe to do so. Please email me on kate@forestchi.co.uk if you would like to be added to my mailing list. You can also find more information at www.forestchi.co.uk or on Facebook: one.forestchi.

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CHARITY FOCUS

Shekinah Shekinah is now in its 28th year and although homelessness is at the core of our work, there is an increasing demand from people with complex needs, including mental health, substance abuse and criminality.

Our Drop In Centre on Bath Street in Plymouth offers support to people who are rough sleeping; these individuals can have access to showers, clean clothes and hot food which is prepared fresh daily, as well as support with housing, drug and alcohol advice, benefit advice, training, education, employment or just someone to talk to. We have GPs and nurses working out of this location along with other specialist services to help people with whatever they need.

During the Covid-19 lockdown we were able to secure accommodation for 26 people who were experiencing homelessness in Plymouth so they could self-isolate and stay safe during this period; we also provide them with hot meals daily. We have continued to offer support with staff from our Drop In Centre, as this is temporarily closed. They have been working with staff from other agencies to offer an effective and joined-up approach. This accommodation is in place until December and we are looking at a long-term solution for it to continue.

We have a 30-bed hostel in Torquay which was kept open during the Covid-19 lockdown by two amazing members of staff, Gary and Harrison, who moved into the hostel for six weeks, so our residents remained safe and well within their accommodation during this period. There was even time for a socially distanced birthday celebration for one of the residents. Residents from the hostel can access support from the Housing First team, this team believe in providing people with permanent housing at the earliest opportunity, giving

them choice and control over their lives and supporting them for as long as they need support. This enables them to make the best possible decisions about their future Shekinah grow centre and increases their chances of achieving all of the goals they set for themselves. The team were still able to collect food donations during lockdown to support people in need.

Wherever people are, the Shekinah teams encourage individuals to visualise a future and find their purpose. Our training teams offer people an opportunity to re-engage with learning in a safe, nurturing, fun and motivating environment. As well as therapeutically-based personal development programmes at Endeavour House in Torquay and 24 Stonehouse Street in Plymouth, Shekinah also runs a construction skills programme in Plymouth and a horticulture programme in Torbay; the Shekinah Grow Community is a landbased therapeutic project, offering holistic recovery through growing, connections through nature, green woodwork, land management, accredited courses such as forestry, and a place to belong. Shekinah’s multi-skilled teams offer wrap-around support throughout engagement; finding your reason for

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‘being’ is at the heart of what is achieved. When interested, individuals are encouraged to explore volunteering and employment options. Our painting and maintenance team have returned from being furloughed and have started back by painting a large contact centre in North Prospect for Plymouth City Council. This work will last for around six weeks; work will then move onto the Hoe where we will be refreshing all of the railings.

Shekinah runs specific contracts to help people in the wider community, and one of these is Make Amends - Shekinah’s restorative justice service. Commissioned by The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Make Amends is an accredited service provider (RSQM) and accredited training provider (TPQM) that delivers communication between those affected by crime and those responsible across Devon and

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Cornwall. A team at Endeavour House in Torquay also run a probation contract and oversee the rehabilitation activity requirement for the probation service. They implement strategies that help to stop reoffending such as education, training or signposting to other agencies, and this has had positive outcomes for offenders and their families in Torbay.

Now lockdown restrictions have been relaxed for shops we are looking at re-opening our charity shops in Plymouth, located on Mutley Plain and Union Street. Once we have assessed the safety measures we need to put in place so we can keep staff and customers safe we hope to return to accepting donations.

Revenue from these shops is a valuable help in supporting other areas of the charity.

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GARDENING

The post-lockdown garden Through the unprecedented events of this year, our gardens have become more important than we could ever have imagined in those carefree pre-coronavirus times. Although restrictions are easing, it is still likely to be a long while before travel and holidays become their old relaxing selves. Instead, look at how to re-organise your garden for a ‘staycation’ summer.

Meeting family and friends outdoors is Covid-safe, so the ideal gathering spot is a good-sized patio with potential for socially-distanced overspill. When planning a patio area, the commonest trap to fall into is ‘undersizing’ –

because paving does look expansive when empty or measured out on bare ground. But once occupied by a table and several chairs, possibly a few planted containers - allowing for space to push chairs back from the table and move around - the space soon fills. Adjacent lawn makes for easy guest overspill, using folding chairs or outdoor beanbags. Extra ‘occasional’ seating can be made in the form of wide-topped raised beds made with wooden sleepers, or stone topped with slate. Fill these with fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage, and your patio will become your own little Paradise garden. My summer favourites include pale pink Nemesia ‘Confetti’ with a light floral fragrance that lives up to its name; dark red Chocolate Cosmos with a mouth-watering scent; and

late-flowering Gladiolus murielae; while the rich perfumes of tobacco plants (Nicotiana) and Oriental lilies intensify in the evening and night. Get the most from your space by growing upwards: sweet peas and star jasmine (Trachelospermum) clamber up arches, trellis and obelisks. All these plants are great for containers, borders or raised beds, so you can have perfume anywhere that gets a reasonable amount of sun.

Watching wildlife in the garden was one of the great discoveries of lockdown for a huge number of people, coming as it did at the start of the breeding season.

Without traffic, birds were able to make themselves heard, and were able to set up home in previously inaccessible places. In our garden, a constantly

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GARDENING

Tips on how to ‘grow your own’ Gladiolus Murieliae

open shed door meant swallows were able to prospect and, with the aid of a hastily put-up artificial nest, are busy raising a brood, to my absolute delight.

Hedgehogs have reappeared and can be heard after dark noisily prospecting for slugs and snails. Entice more wildlife in with food, water and shelter: go chemical-free and wildlife will munch up the organic slugs and bugs; install boxes for birds, bats and hedgehogs, as well as dense thorny shrubs; and water in any form. A new garden pond would be a wonderful legacy of this lockdown year. For anyone who is still shielding, a selection of bird feeders (go to www. rspb.org.uk) would make a wonderful gift that’s likely to give many hours of pleasure.

“Keep calm and grow veg” pretty much summed up my approach to lockdown, which saw sales of vegetable seed and plants absolutely rocket as the nation turned to home growing. In response to fear of food shortages, yes, but also as a something to fulfil a real practical purpose to fill suddenly empty days.

Hopefully you’ll now be starting to tuck into this summer’s harvest, and here’s some timely tips to carry on growing all year round.

In late summer and autumn, sow hardy crops to harvest next spring, like perpetual spinach, turnips, and Swiss chard.

Sowing seed in small pots or modules means you’ll have young plants ready to put into any gaps that appear as you harvest. Rootrainers (deep grooved pots) are perfect for larger plants.

Buy young veg plants such as kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli which will crop over winter and into next year. Protect with fine insect mesh to keep off pests and pigeons.

Feed tomatoes and other fruit-producing crops (such as cucumbers and peppers) with a weekly liquid feed, for a bigger, better harvest.

Plant strawberries for a luscious harvest next summer. They grow well in containers – even hanging baskets and window boxes.

Sow quick growing veg to harvest in late summer and autumn, such as beetroot, radish, rocket, lettuce and spinach. If the soil is dry, make the seed drill (shallow trench) using a trowel or hoe, and water well before sowing the seed.

If this is your first time of growing your own and you’ve had a few disasters, don’t be discouraged. Every garden has successes and failures: at the moment my brassicas have lacy-edged leaves due to an invasion of wood pigeons;

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GARDENING

some of my seeds didn’t appear (lettuce doesn’t germinate well in the heat); and the dry conditions were ideal for a plague of red ants on my soft fruit (I’ve now planted Pennyroyal mint round my fruit patch, which deters slugs).

There’s lots of advice and information on the internet specifically for ‘lockdown’ gardeners like the excellent www. digforvictory.org. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) was quick off the mark to launch ‘Grow at Home’, with advice that covers veg, fruit, herbs and flowers, as well as lots of great projects for children.

on 01822 841895 or email at suefisher@talktalk.net. Website: www. suefishergardens.co.uk Sue’s book on growing food in small spaces, ‘Growing up the Wall’, is available from www.greenbooks.co.uk

www.edenproject.com/learn also has many superb ideas to inspire and occupy children through the long summer holidays. Pardon the pun, but it could sow the seed of an interest that can last a lifetime.

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TRADE SECRETS

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

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

How long have you been a pond designer and constructor?

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

Where do you work?

I cover approximately a 50-mile radius of Tavistock.

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

What is the best thing about your job?

One of the most interesting things about my job is seeing a project all the way through to completion. Creating a beautiful pond from scratch involves meeting clients, viewing the prospective site and getting an idea of the project.

When designing a pond, whether large or small, formal or wild, there are so many things to consider. It all has to look just right; a pond must sit in its situation as if it has always been there.

It is a delightful process and I love each stage. If you love the outdoors and you are creative and good with your hands, this could be a job you would enjoy.

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

For more information visit www.dartmoorpondservices.co.uk, or contact ellis@dartmoorpondservices.co.uk or 07836 576722

Who else works with you?

I have a dedicated team who assist with the heavy machinery and larger contracts that require more manpower.

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

24

Design and Installation Waterfalls and Streams Planting and Stocking Water Features Renovation Leak Repair

Dartmoor Pond Services Ellis Taylor

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FARMING NEWS

Same life, new challenges Since I wrote my last article the world seems to have been turned upside down by Covid-19 and people’s lives, livelihoods, businesses and everything else we regard as normal have been smashed on the rocks. As we now slowly start gathering those pieces together and endeavour to return to some sort of normality, I will try and give you a window into my farming life, what our Covid-19 journey has been like, and how it has affected us.

The country was starting to shut down back in early March just as we were about to open our doors for Lambing Live. We had nearly 1000 people booked to come and we were ready to go, with the shed and farm all prepared, and safety measures in place. We received the first four groups of people and all was going really well, but that week the government started to shut things down and it was clear lockdown was imminent. We took the sad decision to shut the doors and cancel the remainder of the event. The whole team were gutted and left feeling relieved that the decision had been made, but totally flat that the event so much effort had been put into, had to be cancelled at the last minute.

Day to day though the farm has run as normal; lambing and calving have gone really well with the good weather. I was worried going into lambing that the ewes would struggle given how wet it

had been the whole winter. But they lambed really well and the subsequent dry, sunny weather was a gift, even though it meant the grass didn’t grow as much as we would like; however the lambs have gone away really well and we have been able to get the cattle and sheep back to their summer grazing on the moor earlier than usual.

It is obviously sad that schools had to close and home schooling has proved challenging to say the least! But it has been lovely to have the kids around the farm so much, especially during lambing.

I would like to think the boys will look back on this time as a prolonged period of family time on the farm, just helping out and having time to enjoy the weather, the abundant new life and the distractions which the farm constantly provides - if you let it! They missed seeing family and friends as did Gem and I, but soon enough the constant merry-go-round of shipping boys to after-school clubs almost every night of the week and at weekends will resume, and we will miss this quiet time spent together as a family on the farm.

Howells of Tavistock and Dartmoor Farmers. Unfortunately for them and us, due to the closure of pubs, hotels and restaurants the market for beef collapsed. There was an uplift in buying local though, and both Howells and Dartmoor Farmers have moved quickly to try and sell direct to willing customers who want to support local food shops.

But even then, we only sold half the number of cattle we normally would. We still have the cattle of course so it is not all lost, but the whole market for beef has been in turmoil with very low prices on the open market, as the steaks and more expensive cuts of beef perfect for restaurants and pubs weren’t selling.

So, I suggest you pop down and upgrade your beef order to steak – I’m sure they’ll give you a good deal!

Day-to-day life at Greenwell hasn’t changed much, but as a business, cash flow has been a major challenge.

Normally during the spring and early summer there are no lamb or sheep sales as they mainly come during the late summer and autumn. We rely more on cattle sales direct to

I would like to finish by thanking, firstly all NHS staff and all other key workers who during this crazy time have, without exception stepped up to the plate and put their shoulder to the wheel to keep this country moving. Thank you all, stay safe and buy local!

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm

25

LAW

legally speaking...

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Photo credit: Stewart Taylor

Burrator Biodiversity Project I’ve recently been appointed by South West Lakes Trust (SWLT) as their new Biodiversity Officer to deliver an exciting new project focussed around the wider Burrator Catchment (approx. 2,500ha).

I must admit starting a new job just as Lockdown began felt quite daunting and then frustrating not being able to get out onto site whilst the sun was shining in April. However in May we were given the green light, so I pulled on my walking boots and started to explore my new ‘patch’, I wasn’t disappointed.

It feels like wildlife has grown into the space over the past 2 months.

thrive in this multi-use landscape. The project is funded by South West Water to help inform their future habitat management decisions which can improve opportunities for biodiversity, water quality and resilience to climate change within the catchment.

During May, Emma (our ecologist) and I have been out in the catchment recording birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. We have been rewarded with the evocative song of the cuckoo from almost every direction, the ‘churring’ of a nightjar, sightings of rare butterflies such as the marsh fritillary and green hairstreak, along with good numbers of large red damselfly, beautiful demoiselle, four spotted chaser and keeled skimmer.

NestQuest - buglife.org.uk/get-involved/ surveys/nest-quest. Look out for mounds of twigs and leaves as this could be a wood ant nest, take a photo and send it into Buglife. Just knowing where these wood ants live can help us to discover a much rarer ant species, the much smaller shining guest ant. This ant actually cohabits amongst the wood ants, rearing their own brood and very cheekily intercepting the food the wood ant workers bring into their nest.

We are trying to gather as much species data as we can for this area, whether it’s ants, spiders, lichens, fish, otters etc, so we are keen to hear from anyone who has recent records. If you want to get out exploring, Buglife is promoting a Wood Ant survey through their Back from the Brink project known as

I’m looking forward to what the next few months bring us and hope you are able to get out and explore too. As the project progresses we will provide updates, but for more information please contact me on DDdeveney@swlakestrust.org.uk.

Photo credit: Emma Scotney

The Burrator Catchment supports a fantastic mosaic of habitats, from wet woodlands, conifer plantations, open moorland, fragments of upland heath to wet mires, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife dependent on these habitats. My role, over the next 2 years, will be to work with local stakeholders and wildlife recorders to assess the potential of these habitats and explore opportunities to enable wildlife to

Photo credit: Emma Scotney

Deborah Deveney (Biodiversity Officer, SWLT)

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Bespoke Furniture 27

COMMUNITY NEWS

80th anniversary of British Commandos The Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe. Initially drawn from soldiers of the British Army who volunteered for the Special Service Brigade, the Commandos’ ranks would eventually be filled by members of all branches of the British Armed Forces, and a number of foreign volunteers from German-occupied countries. By the end of the war 25,000 men had passed through the Commando course at Achnacarry. This total includes not only the British volunteers, but volunteers from Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and the United States Army Rangers, which was modelled on the Commandos.

Reaching a wartime strength of over 30 units and four assault brigades, the Commandos’ operations ranged from small groups of men landing from the sea, or by parachute, to a brigade of assault troops spearheading the allied invasions of Europe and Asia.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the British Commandos formation and in June Baz Gray ran 80 miles non-stop around Dartmoor, both in recognition of the milestone and to raise funds for the Royal Marines Charity. Local resident Baz Gray has served as a Royal Marines Commando for 26 years and wanted to undertake the feat on the iconic Royal Marine training ground of Dartmoor.

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The Royal Marines Charity The Royal Marines Charity depends on the public’s goodwill and generosity to fund our work, but the COVID-19 crisis has devastated our fundraising capability, as we have had to cancel all our major events. This total shutdown for the foreseeable future, alongside the downturn in trust grants, private and corporate donations and investment income all threaten our continued ability to deliver our support.

Our priority now in the charity is to continue to provide support to the vulnerable members of our community, those suffering from the economic and social impacts of coronavirus and particularly those who may have even greater troubles due to the social distancing measures now imposed. We are confident that we are alleviating pressure on the NHS and government as we meet needs from those battling isolation in old age, mental ill-health and addiction, medical discharge, unemployment and poverty. (Jonathan Ball - CEO Royal Marines Charity) You can donate to the RM Charity in support of Baz’s run here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bazgray-commando80

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A fossil tree for Tavistock Tavistock has acquired a very rare and unusual tree - a Wollemi pine. Known in fossils from 200 million years ago in the Cretaceous age when Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed the earth, this tree was long thought to be extinct. It was only in 1994 that a stand of between one and two hundred trees was discovered in a deep sandstone gorge in the Wollemi National Park, a hundred or so miles north-west of Sydney in Australia.

Fortunately, the tree has been successfully cloned at the Botanical Gardens of Sydney and from 2006 made available at specialist nurseries in this country. Tavistock’s healthy specimen now stands proudly in The Meadows, carefully looked after by the Town Council Works Department. It is entirely fitting that this rare tree should find a home here because it was discovered and reintroduced to the world by a man who spent his early years in Tavistock.

David Noble lived as a child with his parents at St John’s House in Deer Park Road, the home of his grandmother Helen Noble, and formerly of his twice great uncle, John Quick, the well-known Tavistock personality and horticulturalist. David’s aunt now lives in the town.

over the trees, and helicopters dropped specialist fire-fighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service to rig up a sprinkler system over the trees. As a result, the trees were saved even though much of the national park was destroyed. It is believed the Wollemia nobilis lives between five hundred and one thousand years, reaching a height of over forty metres. Their clones around the world are doing well, and it is to be hoped Tavistock’s pine will grow to tower over the town for countless generations to come.

Dick Eberlie

David was also instrumental in saving the pines in the gorge from the forest fires that ravaged large areas of New South Wales in January 2020. In what was described as a military operation, aircraft dropped water and fire retardant

Welcome back everyone!

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David emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1967 and became a ranger at the Wollemi National Park among the

inland forests and hills of New South Wales. In the summer of 1994 while systematically exploring the park, he and two colleagues abseiled down into a steep-sided canyon never previously visited by modern man. The trees there seemed unusual to him because of their lime-green pine needles and strange knobbly bark. He took specimens and showed them to the Sydney Botanical Gardens where they were identified as a tree known previously only from fossils – a remarkable species in terms of its ecology and evolution, now classed as critically endangered with special legal protection in the wild. It was named Wollemi nobilis both after its ‘founder’ and because of its noble structure. Its only known relative is the Araucaria, commonly known as the Monkey Puzzle Tree.

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Pens & Moor • 21 West Street • Tavistock 29

The heart of

TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL

WORKING FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

D

Market to our historic town, Officers liaised with market traders and made the necessary operational arrangements and safely reopened the Pannier Market on Thursday 2nd July, this will hopefully be followed by themed markets in Butchers’ Hall and on Bedford Square from August onwards. Also help in the form of deferred rent and other assistance has been offered to commercial tenants to support the local economy and the wider community together with a grant scheme assisting community organisations to help the most vulnerable and disadvantaged affected by coronavirus.

uring lockdown Tavistock Town Council has been working hard to continue to deliver essential services to Tavistock during the challenging Coronavirus pandemic.

Staff in our Works Department have been busy keeping our cemetery open, as well as tending to parks and open spaces, including The Meadows, Whitchurch Down and the smaller local parks, keeping them neat and tidy to provide pleasant havens for the community to enjoy during such challenging times , and to ensure they are ready for the normal use we all used to appreciate prior to lockdown. Although the Town Council organised part of the 2020 Goose Fair will not be able to proceed on safety grounds work is already in hand for 2021 to welcome residents and visitors back in better times.

More generally all Council services are being kept under review to ensure that they comply with government guidance and the Council is delighted to have been able to reopen children’s play areas from 4th July. Parents and guardians are asked to respect the safety guidance applying to these facilities, and ensure their charges do, to keep them open and safe to use.

The Council has been working in partnership with the Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) and West Devon Borough Council to manage the safe reopening of shops in the Town Centre, as circumstances and Government policy permit and will continue to do so as lockdown eases.

Recognising the importance of a vibrant Pannier

Your Council wishes all in Tavistock, your friends and family safe and well in these difficult times, please continue to follow the applicable guidance, stay alert and protect yourself and others.

PANNIER MARKET

NOW OPEN! Please visit the website for the latest opening times tavistockpanniermarket

OPEN TUESDAY - SATURDAY

www.tavistock.gov.uk

OPEN TUESDAY - SATURDAY 9am - 4:30pm 9am - 4:30pm

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‘Shopping heaven in the heart of Tavistock’

‘Shopping heaven in the heart of Tavistock’

What’s On

What’s On OCTOBER

OCTOBER Goose Fair, 10th Open 9am - 6pm

Goose Fair, 10th DECEMBER Open 9am - 6pm

TavistockPannierMarket

COMMUNITY NEWS

Open for business!

Tavistock is open once again for business and we are thrilled to welcome you back to town. Covid-19 has presented huge challenges to all of us and affected the way that we live our lives. Things feel very different - but what the town has to offer is not. We are all hopeful about what the future holds. Businesses, some of which did not close at all through this crisis, are doing everything they can to adapt, so we would ask you please to have patience with the changes that you may find in your favourite places.

What you can expect in the town centre: •

New signs reminding people to keep their distance

•

Extra space to keep you safe

•

Street graphics to make queuing easier

•

Visual reminders to drivers to consider pedestrians

•

Enhanced cleaning regime of the public toilets

•

Businesses complying with government guidelines

•

Over the summer, the BID has two safe trails planned that will appeal to all:

‘Windows in Time’ offers the chance to explore 40 businesses in the town through a series of photo boards giving a glimpse into their history, showing what these premises were like in times past. Maps are available from the Visitor Information Centre and can be downloaded from www.visit-tavistock. co.uk/events.

We are also proud to be a host for the national ‘MonsterHero Safari’. This is a family, fun story-trail to help spread joy, support the NHS and give families a safe reason to return into town. Search the streets for 10 cute and colourful

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

MonsterHeroes to unlock a free e-book.

Go to www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/events for more details or connect with us on Facebook @visit-tavistock.

Covid-19 has shown us how important it is to be able to shop locally. Tavistock has a unique high street, wonderful cafes and restaurants and lots of wideopen space for you to enjoy. We are thrilled to welcome you back and thank you for supporting this beautiful, worldheritage town.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Life after lockdown - limited horizons Twelve weeks isolating with my family in a two-bed bungalow.

The prospect was so daunting that the innards of our washing machine gave way, creating a nervous puddle and leaving us to wash clothes in the bathtub. Whilst the familiar faces of television grappled with isolation, caught between the shocking numbers and the novelty of the situation, life for me did not change all that much. In fact, for a great many disabled and chronically ill people, isolation is a familiar, if unwelcome companion.

Since lockdown came into force in the UK in mid-March, the response from communities has been emphatic. On the Bere Peninsula, our Covid-19 Volunteer Group gained over two hundred members within a fortnight. Tavistock businesses worked together to enable customers to receive their fruit, veg, meat, dairy and eggs in a single delivery and a flyer dropped onto our doormat from a neighbour we had never even spoken to, offering help and support. Community spirit was galvanised and nothing encapsulated that so neatly and so buoyantly as the Thursday evening Clap for Carers.

There is, however, a second groundswell rising, one you may not be aware of. Since lockdown came into force, the disabled community has watched the wider world come to terms with having limitations placed on their movements and with the fear that every cough can bring. Infrastructure has evolved rapidly to cater to the housebound; remote meetings are commonplace and digital consultations with doctors have become run of the mill. Yet, these are things the disabled community has been crying out for, for years. You cannot blame the 13.9 million disabled people in the UK for beginning to question whether these advancements would ever have come to pass without the impetus of Covid-19? To question why our needs were not stimulus enough?

No one can pinpoint exactly when lockdown will be lifted in its entirety, and the anxiety it has caused, the financial and emotional pressure on families and individuals, and the losses sustained, cannot be underestimated. Slowly however, businesses will reopen, people will return to work, buses and trains will fill up and life will return to ‘normal’. Only normal for some of us will not be dissimilar to life under lockdown. Covid-19 has offered an unexpected and not always comfortable glimpse into isolated lives. My hope is that when lockdown is only a memory, you do not forget that life for many of us remains restricted. That fact does not make us pitiable, it makes us resilient and tenacious. We have the toolkit to cope with isolation and fear. Creativity within limits is second nature to us. This in turn makes us valuable, particularly in times of crisis and we naturally want the opportunity to contribute.

We cannot achieve this without equal access though. After all, if you had to live in lockdown for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you expect the advancements in remote accessibility to continue? Wouldn’t you demand the right to see a doctor when you needed to and continue earning a living? Wouldn’t you want to be valued as a consumer and be able to contribute to business, industry and your community? Why should innovation be driven only in extraordinary circumstances? After all, time does not create change, people do. As your freedoms are restored and you walk into shops, hop onto a train or board a flight to visit family abroad, keep in mind the disabled and chronically ill people in your community who, might not see their lives change so very much. An open shop is not the same as an accessible one. If we all lent our voices to ensuring that access to transport, commerce, education and business is equal, imagine what we could achieve. Our society can only benefit from inclusivity, becoming fairer, stronger and culturally richer. As a placard so neatly put it in a recent Black Lives Matter march – ‘I am human - that is enough’.

Nicola Duff

Our Live-In Carer Service is a great alternative to residential care for those who wish to stay at home

Are you finding it difficult to manage on your own at home? You don’t have to leave your home to move in with your family or to go into residential care, lose your independence, stop socialising or going out just because you are finding it hard to cope on your own. Instead, you can have a live-in carer, someone who will provide you with the level of companionship, personal care and housekeeping you want and need in your own home.

Santé Care At Home’s live-in care service is designed for home-loving and independently-minded people like you. We provide live-in carers who will help you to stay as physically active and socially engaged as possible. You and your family can rest assured that we are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and that we’re fully committed to complying and exceeding its guidelines.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

New bee-innings at Cotehele A new sculpture has been installed within the Mother Orchard at Cotehele, the National Trust estate near Saltash, to celebrate the vital role of pollinators and their contribution to the success of the orchard.

Designed by contemporary figurative sculptor, Brendon Murless, the main sculpture depicts honey bees filling their cells with pollen. The cells have also been created to provide a home to a variety of solitary bees. Since the 1950s orchard numbers in the UK have fallen by 63% due to changes in agricultural practices and pressures from

development. As part of the conservation charity’s work to encourage wildlife, the National Trust is planting 68 new orchard sites in England and Wales by 2025.

The sculpture was funded through donations from visitors to Cotehele. The National Trust relies on income from membership and entry fees, as well as donations, legacies and other fundraising efforts to enable it to care for places under its stewardship. You can support our essential work during the coronavirus pandemic by making a donation at nationaltrust. org.uk/donate for more details.

The garden at Cotehele has now reopened with advance bookings needed to limit visitor numbers and maintain public safety. Visitors can book their tickets in advance at www. nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele. Tickets are free for National Trust members; other visitors will need to pay an admission fee. The house, mill, shop, gallery, restaurant and tea-room remain closed in line with government guidelines.

Locally, Buckland Abbey has also opened The Cider House and main abbey gardens, and the estate walks. You need to book tickets online or by calling 0344 249 1895 by 3pm the day before your visit. Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking. Tickets will be released every Friday, and please note that anyone who arrives without booking will be turned away.

Dartmoor Border Morris Dartmoor Border Morris practice sessions were going well at the start of the year and we had collected £1760 for Children in Need. We were looking forward to a wonderful season as our summer diary was filling up nicely with events at most weekends and every Wednesday was booked up with visits to pubs across Dartmoor. Then everything was cancelled. We appreciated the pandemic was serious stuff though, especially as 25% of our members are 70 or older. With the modern age and social media playing a part, we have managed to keep in contact and help each other out with ideas and helpful hints - like where to get bread flour. Though for some of us, getting to grips with Zoom and other functions was a battle in itself.

The musicians have played tunes at home and fortunately, our governing body, The Morris Federation, has come up with

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

some clever ideas to keep people dancing, despite being alone, with a ‘Lone Morris Festival’, where members can get fully kitted up and film themselves dancing in their gardens to a sound recording.

Dartmoor Border Morris are hoping to be on the village green at Meavy over the summer, armed with a collecting pot for our nominated charity, Dartmoor Rescue Group. The musicians are planning a Morris Musical Mayhem session, and who knows, there might even be a single jig along with bells and tatters.

If all else fails we will be in Meavy Parish Hall on Wednesday evenings from September, practicing for another season ahead!

33

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COMMUNITY NEWS

TT&CC donation to Woodside Welfare Trust was the chosen favourite.

During the course of our regular monthly meetings TT&CC members put their spare coins in the collection ‘jam jar’ and by the end of our financial year a good sum had been donated, this was rounded up from club funds to £100.

Tavy Turners & Carvers Club, established in 2002, is organised and run by enthusiastic club members willing to share their combined years of woodworking experience with others new to this wonderful and creative hobby. Last year TT&CC members decided to hold a collection in favour of a local charity, and Woodside Animal

Woodside Animal Welfare Trust is a registered charity established in1977, still run by Carole Bowles MBE and dedicated primarily to re-homing domestic pets displaced when their owners move abroad, have died or encounter medical, financial or other problems. Cats, dogs, rabbits, birds plus the odd tame farm animal, such as sheep, goats, pigs and chickens, are taken in at the sanctuary, medically checked over, rehabilitated when

necessary and re-homed whenever possible. Woodside’s excellent website has details of all the animals currently needing a new home - please have a look. Woodside helps to fund its activities by running a number of charity shops, and the manageress of the Tavistock shop, Tracey Holland, kindly accepted our cheque on behalf of Woodside.

For more details see tavistockwoodturners.co.uk and woodsidesanctuary.org.uk.

Tavistock Goose Fair 2020 cancelled In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and following careful consideration regarding the safety of our local community, exhibitors and visitors, Tavistock Town Council has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Goose Fair event scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14th October. The event, which attracts in the region of 20,000 visitors, has been held in the heart of the historic market town since the early 12th Century and so the decision has been taken with deep regret and sadness, however the safety of the

community is paramount. The Council’s dedicated events team will use this time to take stock and work on revitalising Goose Fair to deliver a diverse and vibrant event next year and would like to thank all of the working partners, exhibitors, and staff who work tirelessly to deliver Goose Fair each year and look forward to welcoming you all back in 2021. The Town Mayor, Councillor Anne Johnson said: “The town council has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Goose Fair to ensure the safety of our community during the Covid-19

pandemic. I know some people will be disappointed, but they can look forward to Goose Fair 2021 when we hope to deliver a revitalised event in what we very much hope will be better and safer times”.

Please be advised the town council is responsible for organising the one-day Goose Fair event; arrangements for the fairground in Bedford car park and the bus station falls under the borough council’s control.

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FOOD & DRINK

Brewing & Blending Marking 25 years of Tamar Valley AONB A new ale and a gin liqueur have been created in celebration of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s (AONB) silver anniversary. This August marks 25 years since the Tamar Valley was designated as an AONB,

a national level of protection, to help conserve and enhance natural beauty; the creation of two new drinks is just one way chosen to honour the occasion.

Elizabeth Rickeard, from Bere Brewery, in Bere Alston, says: “Creating a new beer is always such fun, like a great big cookery-come-chemistry experiment, with all the different malt, hop and yeast flavours to choose from and marry together to try to create something perfectly balanced with layer upon layer of lovely flavours. The new light and hoppy blonde ale has been named ‘Ale ONB’ (Ale of Outstanding Natural Beauty) by Ben Dancer, Planning Officer for Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and Tamar Valley AONB; it has been produced using 100% Tamar Valley hops from the site in Bere Alston – namely Zenith, Styrian Golding and Cascade.

The ale is described as having fresh citrus notes and is a bright, sparkling and refreshing beer for the long, light, summer days and evenings of the Tamar Valley.

Meanwhile, in St Giles on the Heath, near Launceston, Cliff and Elizabeth L’Estrange West from Monarch Liqueurs – home of the Tamar Tipple - have been busy pairing fruits from Tamar Valley 36

hedgerows to produce a delicious gin liqueur. Creators of the award-winning Tamar Tipple range of gin, rum, vodka and whisky liqueurs, the duo set about capturing the essence of the Valley.

Elizabeth explains: “We couldn’t think of a more appropriate flavour than the humble blackberry. This small, hedgerow gem that everyone recognises, appears each autumn, come rain or shine. After much trial and error and many tasting sessions, Cliff (our alchemist), decided another dimension was needed; the addition of elderflower. The result is a rich, slightly sharp blackberry with a hint of elderflower in the background that lingers on the palate.”

Charlotte Dancer, Information & Communications Officer for the Tamar Valley AONB, said: “A Taste the Tamar event planned for mid-June, to celebrate the great variety of Tamar Valley produce had to be postponed, but we look forward to the time when we can gather together safely again

and celebrate our local produce in all its glory.”

‘Ale ONB’ went on sale at the end of June at Bere Brewery, open Wednesdays 4:30 - 7pm and any other time by arrangement, as well as Saturdays 3 - 5pm during coronavirus restrictions (check www.berebrewery. co.uk for details). The ale is also stocked at Roots & Vines in Tavistock.

The new gin liqueur is available to buy from Homeleigh Garden Centre (Launceston and Bude), Roots & Vines, Tavistock and online at www. monarchliqueurs.co.uk.

The Tamar Valley Centre, Drakewalls, will also stock the beer and gin liqueurs once it reopens. For further information about the Tamar Valley AONB please visit www.tamarvalley.org.uk, follow @ TVAONB on Facebook and Twitter, or tamar_valley_aonb on Instagram.

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FOOD & DRINK

Ingredients list Tray bake

200g butter (softened) 320g caster sugar Zest of 4 limes 4 medium eggs 290g self-raising flour 80g ground almonds 200ml milk

Top and bottom layer

Lime Drizzle Tray Bake At the Dartmoor Ice Cream Co, we’re huge lovers of cake, which we often serve up with big dollops of lovely vanilla ice cream. If you’re a fan of lemon drizzle cake, then you’ll love this twist on an old favourite. This cake has a delicious, summery zing, which combined with its moreish topping makes it an ideal treat for a summer afternoon in the garden.

Method

in carefully until everything is well incorporated.

150g chopped nuts (pecans, pistachio, macadamia) 150g caster sugar Juice of 6 limes

Spoon the mix into the prepared baking tray and sprinkle the remaining sugar and nut mixture to create a crust across the top.

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a rectangular baking tray (22cm x 30cm, at least 2cm deep) with greaseproof paper.

Bake for 50mins; if it looks like the nuts are going to burn, cover loosely for the final 10 mins with foil or greaseproof paper.

To make the zingy bottom crust, mix one third of the chopped nuts (about 50g) with an equal amount of sugar and sprinkle this in a layer on the bottom of the tray. Sprinkle the juice of two limes over the layer to moisten.

While the sponge is baking, make the syrup. Heat the juice of 4 limes together with 150g sugar until the sugar has dissolved.

To make the sponge, whisk the butter, sugar and lime zest until pale and fluffy and then add the eggs one at a time until they are well mixed.

Add the flour, ground almonds and milk to the mix, and fold

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Once cooked and golden in colour, remove the sponge from the oven and pierce all over with a thin sharp knife. While still warm, carefully pour the syrup over the top of the sponge.

Allow the sponge to absorb the syrup, then cut into squares and leave in the tray to cool. When cool, serve with a dollop of cream or a scoop of beautiful vanilla ice cream.

37

FOOD & DRINK

New online Dartmoor food and drink map

Hill Farm Project Chairman Russell Ashford said: “We have seen a definite increase in demand for local food due to the Covid-19 lockdown which is an unexpected but positive development.

A new food and drink directory for Dartmoor has been launched with the aim of linking communities with producers in their local area.

“As someone who retails directly, I know that buying local strengthens the relationship between the producer and consumer, and benefits the environment.

The aim is to celebrate the range of local food and encourage people to support local businesses.

The food and drink map shows around 60 outlets and where you can find them.

As well as local meat and vegetables the directory also includes suppliers of honey, ale and chillies.

“It’s wonderful to develop a relationship with a local customer and to be able to share our farming calendar with someone that knows and appreciates the landscape.”

Under the current restrictions of the Covid-19 outbreak, the directory is focused on businesses who have dedicated retail premises or are able to offer home delivery. As the national recovery effort continues, and lockdown restrictions are eased, it is hoped the range will be updated and expanded.

Many of the suppliers are involved in schemes to enhance Dartmoor’s biodiversity and landscape, and this link will be highlighted too so people can understand the journey from farm to fork.

The project is coordinated by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, set up in 2003, which works to support farmers in their work. It runs a wide range of initiatives to add value to their businesses and increase vocational skills.

If you have a food or drink business on Dartmoor and would like to be listed contact the Hill Farm Project by email on hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk.

It is hosted by the Dartmoor National Park Authority and receives support and funding from the Duchy of Cornwall.

abigail’s W

Beef and mutton producer, Judy Dodd from near Moretonhampstead, said: “I think the directory is a great opportunity to promote local food produced within the National Park.

“As we move out of the pandemic, many farms will be under pressure.

Supporting them will help to keep money circulating in the local economy which ultimately benefits us all.”

e part of the e’r

SCHEME

@ The Knightstone Tea Rooms Serving freshly prepared hot lunches and light bites, selection of home-made cakes, cream teas, high teas and Prosecco afternoon teas Roast dinners served every Sunday (booking recommended).

RE-OPENING 10.00am SATURDAY 4th JULY

To create a COVID secure environment complying with Government guidelines, we have reduced our capacity. To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend booking tables in advance - especially during peak hours. Visit our Facebook page for booking details.

OPEN EVERY DAY BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM DOG FRIENDLY AREA • FULLY LICENSED • FREE WIFI

Crapstone R0ad, Yelverton PL20 6BT

01822 853386/07447744427 • modwan@sky.com 38

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BUSINESS

Business support in challenging times With a great number of small businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK government has put several new assistance schemes in place to offer support. With so many different grants available, as well as new business funding programmes currently being put in place, it can be confusing to know just where to start or which support programmes are suitable for your business.

These are unprecedented times but The Diverse Regeneration Company’s advisors are well placed to help with expert advice and support; it has been working to support rural and coastal businesses for the past 15 years, to not only secure grant funding, but also help with all aspects of business and project planning (future forecasting, business diversification, help with funding applications/claims, project research and more).

The DR Company’s website is kept updated daily with all current government schemes, as well as other funding programmes available - with full information on who is eligible, deadline dates and how to apply. If you need help with filling out applications for any of these schemes, The DR Company’s advisors are the experts! They’ve helped secure over £15 million of funding for businesses and community projects across the West Country since 2005.

As a not-for-profit community company, The DR Company is here to help and often just the simple things can make a big difference!

Try a couple of our quick 5-minute Business Boosters: 1. Google yourself: check out what the world sees when it Googles you or your company. What messages are they seeing and are they correct?

2. Check out your competition: search out your competitors, by name and by product. How does their online presence compare to yours? Do you have something unique you can shout about?

See all the current government schemes, funding programmes and all our Business Boosters at drcompany.co.uk, get in touch at admin@drcompany. co.uk or find us on social media @theDRCompany.

DUNN’S DAIRY FARM FRESH DARTMOOR MILK Delivered to your doorstep

We deliver in your area twice a week Also Devon Clotted, Double & Single Cream

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

39

MUSIC AND ART

Breathe new life into a room Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery is delighted to welcome customers back to our Covid-safe environment. Using our framing skills, we have installed a large booth so our customers can chat with us, and select framing in safety and comfort.

Whether you’ve had a clear-out during lockdown and want to frame some treasures, have created your own masterpiece, or have redecorated and want to breathe new life into a room with a stunning piece of art, we’ve got what you need.

Simply bring your framing items into the gallery and let our skilled framers work their magic, helping you choose from a huge array of frames and mounts to display your items in the best possible way. Whether it’s a treasured album cover, a sentimental piece of jewellery, a sports shirt, or your child’s first shoes – we’re the people you need to speak to. Don’t hide these items in the attic – hang them on your walls and let the memories come flooding back. You may have a piece of art which needs reframing to fit in with your new room. This is a great way to fall back in love with art you’ve had for a while – bring it in and let us show you what we can do.

We also have a treasure trove of original artwork for you to explore in our spacious gallery, making social distancing easy.

Come along and see what we’ve got.

40

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MUSIC AND ART

12th to 27th September

Devon Open Studios 2020 For sixteen years Devon Artist Network (DAN) has championed the individual, self-employed artists and galleries in Devon, including supporting artists through economic hard times. This year will be no exception, as we connect our 200 artists with local art lovers and the many visitors to the region. Devon is brimming with talented artists working in studios that are keen to open to the general public, giving their work exposure, feedback, and sales.

Many Devon artists have suffered extreme financial hardship during the lockdown period and Devon Open Studios enables them to sell their work without commission straight to the public, allowing a crucial economic boost in these unprecedented times. After consultations the participants felt that they could manage and control the social distancing procedures and allow the public access to their studios, many of which are separate buildings or annexes.

Undermoor Makers: Marielle Ebner-Rijke, Mary Needham – printmaking; Philippa de Burlet – ceramics; Chloe Brooks Warner - contemporary jewellery

At present the DAN Board are all collaborating with artists to reimagine and meet the needs of the artists involved this year, focusing on a larger scale digital marketing campaign, creating an online ‘flippable’ brochure and ensuring all venues will have the safety of both visitors and artists as their first priority. Over the years Devon Open Studios has seen nearly half a million visitors enjoy the event and we hope that both regulars and those new to us will seek us out again.

For more information visit devonartistnetwork.co.uk. A free guide to the event with colour-coded maps and illustrated details for every artist is available digitally.

Register as a friend at devonartistnetwork.co.uk/register and get our free newsletter. Follow the event for the latest news at instagram.com/devon_artist_network; facebook.com/ devonartistnetwork and Twitter @DevonArtistNet. Jane Pine Studio

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

41

WHAT’S ON

special guest speakers, family craft workshops for the younger ones to get stuck into, and a whole host of content to help you learn and discover more about this wonderful national park.

Stay up to date by signing up to the events newsletter or by following Dartmoor National Park on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Photo credit: Keith Urro, Tavistock Camera Club

Tavistock Camera Club Camera Club is keeping up with the current situation by holding virtual meetings and competitions online via Zoom, which is working very well with lots of informal chat and banter on Thursday mornings. We have had competitions on Wednesday evenings with external and internal judges, which have worked very well too. We are also trying to get other clubs in the area to hold interclub competitions with us in the near future. Our regular Wednesday evenings will continue virtually until Christmas and we try to cater for all ages and photographic abilities. Anyone is welcome to join us online or you can also join us on FaceBook and Instagram. We hope to continue with our usual meetings in the United Reformed Church as and when it is safe to do so, as well as have another exhibition when things are back to ‘normal’ - there should also be some interesting lockdown photos to be seen by then! (www.tavistockcameraclub.org.uk)

20 July to 16 August

‘Dartmoor Connections’ This virtual festival offers a full schedule of information and activities across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube with topics ranging from Bronze Age Dartmoor to tips on where to walk and what to see. Throughout the festival we’ll be delving into the Bronze Age, marvelling at the medieval and going wild for bogs, birds and butterflies. There will be illustrated talks from

family outdoor adventure

22 to 30 August

5th Dartmoor Walking Festival The walking festival is still planned to go ahead although there may be changes to group numbers and distancing, as well as other factors. Please check updates for this year’s festival at www.moorlandguides.co.uk.

21 September

Meavy Garden Society Our meetings, Summer Show and September outing are with regret cancelled due to the present uncertainties. However, we very much hope to resume our programme on Monday 21st September with a talk by David Bouch from Cotehele on `The Cotehele Garland` - but please check before coming.

All meetings normally start at 7.30pm in Meavy Parish Hall, with refreshments, time to chat and often plants for sale from 7pm. Visitors and new members are always very welcome.

For details visit www.meavy.org.uk/mgs or for enquiries ring 01822 852672 or 01822 852984.

Tavonians Theatre Company Our audio drama ‘Life Stories’ is now available as a 45-minute podcast. It was recorded during lockdown in the individual homes of the cast members and is available to listen to at www.tavonians.org.uk.

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

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BOOK REVIEW

Book recommendations for summer

By Katya Church of Book Stop, Tavistock

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo Tracking the experiences of 12 characters, spread over time and place but all linked together in some way, Evaristo defiantly unpacks and dissolves the idea of the ‘single story’ so often placed onto black people, women, those living on the poverty line and members of the LGBTQ+ community, amongst many others. Her characters are so startlingly real and complex that they each stand before the reader, refusing to become subsumed into any stereotype we might consciously or unconsciously hold. Evaristo masterfully covers topics of abuse, sexism, racism, homophobia and more, leaving the reader feeling both educated and frustrated by the way society has been constructed. Beautiful, powerful and endlessly insightful, Girl, Woman, Other is a fast-paced exploration of multiple stories, and is testament to how no person, culture or place can ever be reduced to a generalised narrative. Published by Penguin; £8.99

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS BFG

Roald Dahl’s most outlandishly vulgar stories about a ‘whizpopping’ Big Friendly Giant Duration : Tickets: Time: Dates:

1 hour £5 7pm 6/7/12/21/29

Guys & Dolls

Frank Loesser’s classic tale of gangsters, nightclub singers and Salvationists Duration : Tickets: Time: Dates:

1 hour £5 8pm 14/25

The Garden House by Marcia Willett Wonderful new novel set in and around Tavistock, by local favourite author. Transworld: £16.99

Blue Moon by Lee Child Latest in ever-popular Jack Reacher series. Bantam: £8.99

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Moving fictional account of the impact of the death of Shakespeare’s son on him and his family. Tinder Press: £20.00

South Devon Cattle in the Verdant Pastures Vols I and II by Colin Pearse Wonderful new book on local farming. £60.00

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Michelle Collins Brand new Hunger Games novel. Scholastic: £18.99

Latest updates

µ ² @Stertsartscentre

Upton Cross • Liskeard • Cornwall PL14 5AZ Twelfth Night

Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy centred on the twins Viola and Sebsatian Duration : Tickets: Time: Dates:

1 hour £5 7.30pm 13/22

Little Mermaid & Friends

Sterts Junior Youth perform in this preview show Duration : 1 hour Tickets: £5 Dates: 22 - 7pm/23 - 2pm

BOX OFFICE: Phone bookings ONLY 01579 362382 - Open weekdays between 10am-1pm BOOK ONLINE: www.sterts.co.uk SOCIAL DISTANCING: Please visit www.sterts.co.uk for COVID19 procedures and policies

Sterts Theatre • Upton Cross • Liskeard • Cornwall PL14 5AZ See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

43

HISTORY

The Mayflower’s voyage in 1620 More than 30 million people have ancestral links to the passengers and crew who sailed aboard the Mayflower from Plymouth UK to Plymouth Bay. Massachusetts in 1620.

The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth on 16th September 1620 to travel to America. Events planned for September 2020 to commemorate the 400th anniversary have had to be postponed until the summer of 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Nonetheless, 16th September still marks the anniversary of the departure of a group of intrepid ‘Pilgrims’ and other passengers, intent on creating a new life for themselves in what was known as the New World.

The Mayflower eventually left these shores with about 30 crew members and 102 passengers on board; just under half of the passengers were English ‘Separatists’ or ‘Saints’ as they have been named, and the rest were skilled tradespeople and pioneers, also known as ‘Strangers’. Drawn from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Leiden in the Netherlands, the Separatists sought religious freedom from the Church of England. In 1608 a group of English Protestants left Scrooby in Nottinghamshire to establish themselves in Leiden in the Netherlands, where they could worship without fear of persecution. However, in time they found the life there hard, and with little chance of future economic return they resolved to move again. Together with some of the remaining congregation in England, a core group decided to travel to Virginia in America where several colonies already existed.

They were granted permission to establish a colony in Virginia 44

and managed to persuade a group of London merchants to back their venture.

The Speedwell sailed from the Netherlands carrying the party from Leiden, aiming to meet up with the Mayflower in Southampton, before the two ships set sail together for America. However by the time the Speedwell reached Southampton it was already beleaguered by a leak, which first of all caused the two ships to change course for Dartmouth for repairs, and then to abort the second attempt at the crossing when the Speedwell started leaking badly 300 miles beyond Land’s End, forcing a return to Plymouth. With the Speedwell declared unseaworthy, some of the Saints dropped out, but the remainder joined the passengers on the Mayflower and set sail once again.

The journey across the Atlantic took 66 days, hampered by severe winter storms due to the later start date. The grim crossing took its toll on the passengers, with one Stranger lost overboard, as well as a woman having to give birth. The crew sighted Cape Cod on 9 November 1620 and started to head south towards the Hudson River where the intended settlement location lay. However rough seas forced them back and they decided to stay at Cape Cod instead, anchoring at what is now Provincetown Harbor. Knowing they had no right to colonise this part of the country, the group decided to draw up a legal document stating their aims to work together to help the colony thrive and ‘combine ourselves together into a civill body politick’ to establish laws and enable fair government of the settlement. The resulting Mayflower Compact was signed by 41 men on board the ship.

The colonists explored the area and eventually came upon a Native American village called Patuxet which had been abandoned when disease was introduced by earlier European

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HISTORY

Paula Peters, citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Nation making a Wampan belt

colonists. On 26th December 1620 the colonists arrived at Patuxet, and started a settlement which would become modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first winter was harsh and almost half of the passengers and crew died between December 1620 and the following summer. The Pilgrims had settled on land which had been home to the Wampanoag tribe for 10,000 years. In the spring of 1621, two English-speaking members of the Wamponoag, Samoset and Tisquantum, showed the settlers how to plant corn, where to fish and hunt beaver, saving them from starvation. Eventually this led to an historic peace treaty between the Wampanoag chief Ousamequin and the Pilgrims. After an excellent harvest in their first autumn, the colonists celebrated with a three-day festival of prayer and invited the Wampanoag to join them for the feast – the first Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately, as more and more settlers arrived, tension escalated between the colonists and the Native American

tribes. There were frequent, violent outbreaks and then disease brought by the colonists decimated the Native Americans; by the 1630s, the Native Americans had become a minority population in this region, and in King Philip’s War in 1675 the Wampanoag were almost destroyed by a colonist army.

Rosemary Best

For a full account of the Mayflower Story go to www.mayflower400uk. org or visit the ‘Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy’ and ‘Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America’ exhibitions at The Box when it is able to open to the public.

The Mayflower 400 commemorations start with a digital event on 16 September 2020, and continue into next year with the major public commemoration in summer 2021 as part of Mayflower International Festival.

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45

OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers A 4-mile open moorland walk along part of the Dartmoor Way with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers.

This walk starts at the car park at the top of Pork Hill on the Tavistock to Princetown road (SX531751). The first part follows the Dartmoor Way on fairly level moorland with superb views beyond Tavistock and towards Brent Tor. Then, leaving the Dartmoor Way, the walk visits the prehistoric settlement below Roos Tor before climbing up to Great Staple Tor for more fantastic views.

1. Cross the road with care from the entrance to the car park and bear left on the grassy track signed as the Dartmoor Way. The conical shape of Brent Tor is straight ahead on the horizon.

The track meets a quiet tarmac lane climbing gently uphill, again signed as the Dartmoor Way. The village of Mary Tavy can be seen ahead and the church towers of both Mary Tavy and Peter Tavy peek above the trees.

2. After a further half mile, continue straight ahead on a signed

Weddings flowers for life’s events creating georgously romantic & unique designs.

bridleway where the lane goes sharp left. Continue across the open moorland and then alongside a field wall with Roos Tor ahead. When the wall ends continue on the track to a single hawthorn tree. Keep straight ahead here and do not follow the track as it bends to the left towards a gate. Go left slightly to avoid some low but dense gorse to arrive at what seems at first sight to be a jumble of stones. This is in fact a Bronze Age settlement, one of the larger ones on Dartmoor, and it is said that there are over 20 hut circles (roundhouses) and several enclosures, but it would take a trained eye to identify them all.

3. Take time to explore and then, from the upper part of the settlement, climb the slope towards Roos Tor keeping to the left of the tor itself to avoid a rocky area. A granite boundary post on the skyline is the target.

4. Once at the top, bear right towards the tor. You will notice a flagpole but do not be concerned if a red flag is flying as our route is just outside the military area. There are superb views from the top of the tor which are well worth the effort.

Continue the walk by going left around the rocks to find a wide grassy path leading to Great Staple Tor. Go through the

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Readers will, no doubt, be aware that the launch of the new Dartmoor Way walking route at the end of May was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the route is in place and can be walked (depending on any restrictions in place at the time of publication).

07973 226710

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OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

‘avenue’ between the two rock piles and continue forward towards Middle Staple Tor. 5. Again, go between the two main rock piles before crossing an area of clitter (a jumble of rocks) and descending on a wide grassy path towards the road below. Turn right at the road and walk carefully along the grassy verge back to the car.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, we will have returned to a degree of normality, whatever that turns out to be. Tavistock Ramblers planned a full and varied programme of walks for the summer months, but which, of course, had to be suspended. Have a look at our walks at www.tavistockramblers.org.uk and for details of when we hope to be able to start walking again. Come and join us if you can.

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Computer Problems?

Your local I.T. Guy, specialising in: • PC and Mac set-up and installation • Virus and spyware removal • Networking and broadband set-up and troubleshooting • Affordable websites for small businesses and the self-employed • CCTV supply and installation Call Tim:01822 600105 or 07768 852555 e-mail:help@berecomputing.co.uk Web: www.berecomputing.co.uk

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Electrical & mechanical services serving Dartmoor and surrounding areas - Domestic, Industrial, agricultural electrical installations - Fault finding, maintenance and repairs - Mechanical repairs and maintenance - Smart home technology - Solar battery storage and off grid systems - EV charging specialists

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TECH HELP

Tech tips from ChezvousPC Instant Ink with HP may well be a good idea if you do a reasonable amount of printing. However, the vast majority steer clear of subscriptions, or at least that is my experience while doing this job. If you have been subscribing and then opt out, do not be surprised if the cartridges you were using become invalid. That is to say, the printer realises that you have opted out and stops printing. You are then forced to get new ‘ordinary’ cartridges - you have been warned!

Fast Startup is an innovation from some time ago that makes Windows 8.1 and 10 computers seem to start up more quickly because it doesn’t shut down completely. That was great in the days of spinning hard drives, but is much less appropriate these days with Solid State Drives. Why? - well one drawback of Fast Startup is that the computer never really shuts down, and the answer to many problems is to simply restart it. With Fast Startup turned off, your computer shuts down completely.

Go to ‘power settings’ on the control panel and choose ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’ – untick the box for Fast Startup - only a suggestion if yours is SSD.

Ever wondered how to easily get two equal-sized windows on the screen? Easy! Open the two windows you want, click on the first one, hold the Windows key and then either the left or right arrow key; then click on the second window and the opposite arrow key to the first time. Magic! I dare not claim the credit for this, but there are other Windows key shortcuts which are also useful: E, U, F & D - just look them up.

The in-built Windows internet browser, Internet Explorer, is set for obsolescence which means that if you continue to use it you are likely to visit sites that tell you your browser is out-ofdate and to use something else. Most of these organisations are jumping the gun, but it is true that it will be obsolete once the new version of Windows is released. So, I suggest instead of using Edge which is less popular, that you start the transition to Chrome, or if you are concerned about Google privacy, then perhaps Firefox.

Chez Vous PC

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Welcome back!

We can’t wait to see you in Plymouth Plymouth offers a fantastic shopping experience, with an amazing mix of top brand names and creative independents.

As businesses continue to reopen, we’re looking forward to welcoming you back to Britain’s Ocean City.

You’ll find there are lots of additional measures in place in the city centre and across the waterfront to help keep you safe.

There are also steps you can take to protect yourself and others from the spread of coronavirus.

Your safety We’re committed to keeping you safe when you shop, here’s what we’ve done: • New signs in place about social distancing • Enhanced cleaning for the public toilets • The street cleansing team will be paying particular attention to contact points like bins and seats • We’ve made our car parks cash free, so you can pay by card or by phone What you can do: • If you or anyone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus, please stay at home and self-isolate • Remember to follow the latest Gov.uk website guidance on social distancing • Wash your hands regularly, or use hand sanitiser when out and about • Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth in situations when it’s hard to stay two metres away from people, such as in shops or on public transport • Follow social distancing and queueing instructions set out by businesses, and be mindful that you may have to wait to be allowed in to some stores to allow for a safe shopping experience.

Plan your visit Check what’s open Not all businesses will be reopening at the same time, and some may have reduced opening hours, so check before you visit.

You’ll probably need to book in advance for lots of places, including attractions and restaurants.

You can find out what businesses are open by visiting Shop4Plymouth.co.uk, keeping an eye on our social media channels or by checking the individual businesses’ website and social media before you visit.

shop4plymouth.co.uk #shop4plymouth

ur Y g o AR atin RS ebr IVE Cel NN A TH 10

Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles

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BATHROOMS & TILES By amanda - james