What’s On

January

January 14 to February 27

Snowdrop Festival at The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Visit www.thegardenhouse.org.uk for more information.

January 15

Come, buy and chat at Sampford Courtenay Village Hall from 10.30am to 11.30am. Cake and produce stall, bring and buy, book exchanges, raffle, tea / coffee and cake. Please bring donations of cakes and produce to the hall from 9.30am. All proceeds from the event will go to the village hall roof appeal.

January 21

Curry night is back by popular request at Sampford Courtenay Village Hall at 7pm. There will be a choice of curry, plus rice, poppadom and mango chutney all for £10. Drinks from the bar, additional side dishes and dessert are available at an extra cost.

Last orders no later than 6pm on January 18. Call Nicky on 01837 880300 or email nickyvhmc@gmail.com

February

MED Theatre’s Mothers Who Make group is meeting once again in Moretonhampstead in February. This wonderful network brings together those who care about creating and create whilst caring. You can expect a heart-warming morning connecting with fellow mothers whilst making. For more information contact Abby Shepherd on 01647 441356.

February 11

At the invitation of Greener Belstone, Dr Malcolm Burgess will give an illustrated talk on the subject of Swifts at Belstone Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm on Friday, February 11. Admission is free; donations are invited.

Malcolm has monitored the swifts of north-east Dartmoor for 14 years and is a principal scientist at the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science where he works on migratory birds. He therefore brings to his talk both detailed local knowledge and scientific expertise. Local history talks programme

Chagford Local History Society’s programme of talks for 2022 January 17: John Mather: The whetstone mines in the Blackdown Hills February 24: Emma Cunis: Ancient tracks on Dartmoor March 31: Mark Hailwood: The alehouse in early modern Devon

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Kickstart Job Placement Scheme

Since the start of the year, the Devon & Plymouth Chamber has seen 708 approved Kickstart placements and helped to fill 308 of those vacancies with local businesses.

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April 28: Todd Gray: Devon’s last slave owners, 1834 May 26: Janet Tall: The Acland family – bringing agriculture to schools All talks are held at Endecott House (next to the Tree Crowns), starting at 7.30 pm. Free entry for members, non-members most welcome, £4 per talk. For more information contact enquiries4clhs@gmail.com or visit www. chagfordlocalhistorysociety.org.uk

Poetry Competition

January will be your last chance to submit an entry to MED Theatre’s poetry and creative writing competition running in conjunction with The River Teign Restoration Project. The competition invites writers of all levels to pen a piece of creative writing in response to the natural world. The project aims to raise awareness of conservation of the River Teign, centred around improving its tributaries for migratory fish species, particularly Salmon and Seatrout. The closing date is February 1. Check out medtheatre.co.uk for details.

Okehampton Library January and February

Enjoy six brilliant new stories and activities at Okehampton Library for free, no booking necessary January 10, 10.30am: Arlo: the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep January 18, 2.30pm: Lenny and Wilbur January 26, 10am: I Really Really Want a Wee February 3, 10.30am: Octopus Shocktopus! February 11, 2.30pm: No! Said Rabbit February 19, 10.30am: The Whales on the Bus

January 18

Walk & Talk

10am start from the Band Stand in Simmons Park, finishing at Okehampton Library for coffee and cake at about 11am. Contact Pat on 01837 83487 for details.

January 27

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2022 is One Day. There are many ways to interpret the theme, we will be putting together a display to mark HMD. First steps to getting online course - This is a short workshop, from Learn Devon. It is a great place to start if you are new to computers and getting onto the internet. You’ll be shown how to get online, connect to WiFi and how to use things like Word or Zoom. Free course, booking essential. Book with Learn Devon on 01822 613701 or call into Okehampton Library. January 21 and January 28 from 10am to noon. Doing online transactions course, February 4 from 10am to noon. This is a 2-hour course from Learn Devon, which will give you the confidence to make online transactions. Free course, booking essential. Book with Learn Devon on 01822 613701 or call into Okehampton Library.

Regulars

Regular events at Okehampton Library Digital Fridays – by appointment: A member of staff will be on hand to assist with digital devices. Whether you are a complete beginner or just need a few tips, book a short session for help with your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Booking in advance is essential. Call 01837 52805 for more information. Knit & Natter - Tuesdays, 1.30pm to 2.30pm 13:30-14:30 Bounce & Rhyme - Tuesdays 10am to 10.20am and 11am to 11.20am. Suitable for under 5s, booking essential. Duplo Builders & Storytime - Wednesdays, 9.30am to 10.15am, 0-5 years. Lego Builders - Saturdays, 10.30am to 11.30am. Suitable for ages 5+.

Join Devon’s Holiday Letting Experts

If you’re thinking of joining a new holiday letting agent for the 2022 season, now is the perfect time!

01647 401615 (select option 2) - Owners help@helpfulholidays.co.uk helpfulholidays.co.uk

Celebrating the beauty of Snowdrops

Snowdrops of all varieties offer fascinating curiosities and give great pleasure to amateur gardeners, galanthophiles and photographers alike. The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum on the western edge of Dartmoor, can certainly attest to this with visitors in their hundreds arriving each year to view what is now one of the favourite collections of snowdrops in the country. Lionel and Katharine Fortescue moved from their home at Eton College in the summer of 1945, to retire to this former vicarage where Lionel then spent his retirement developing the garden. From its early days snowdrops would certainly have featured within the eight acres of gardens, but over the past 75 years and under the guidance of various Head Gardeners, The Garden House collection of snowdrops has grown in interest. In response to large visitor numbers, an official annual ‘Snowdrop Festival’ has now become a highlight at The Garden House. Specialist snowdrop nurseries visit on certain dates and the garden and café are open with a dedicated snowdrop exhibition, with various artists and photographers exhibiting. The Snowdrop Festival at The Garden House will run from Friday, January 14 to February 27 — open Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week from 10.30am to 3.30pm. However, these winter months are not only about snowdrops at The Garden House, as other delights give visitors a true winter wonderland to explore. Nurseries will be at The Garden House on the following dates: Avon Bulbs: Saturday, February 5 Millwood Plants: Saturday, February 12. Elmworthy Plants: Saturday, February 19. For more details of The Garden House Snowdrop Festival, visit www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

February 3 to March 26 An exhibition to reinvigorate the senses

An exhibition of contrasting contemporary work by artists Neil Beech and Jeremy Speck at Green Hill Arts. Neil Beech travelled the world as a textile pattern and T-shirt designer for 20-years before returning to Devon and using his skills to investigate landscape and its relationship with memories and fiction. He uses mixed media digital collages, with elements of photography and painting, alongside oil and acrylic on board and canvas. His landscapes are strangely familiar with slightly hallucinogenic evocations of space, time and place that contain an other-worldly sense of beauty. By way of contrast, Jeremy Speck is strongly influenced by the abstraction of natural forms, as well as the work of 20th century British artists, in particular the St Ives school. Starting with a loose design of cut paper or sketch, Jeremy uses the printmaking techniques of lino, woodcut and screenprint to create enigmatic works, layer by layer, attempting to achieve a fine balance between form, colour and texture.

Entry is free. The Green Hill Arts Gallery is open from 10am to 4pm weekly from Thursday to Saturday. The Gallery is situated at the top of Fore Street, Moretonhampstead, close to the Parish Church. Parking is in the Court Street and Station Road car parks.

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ANTS’ pantomime is back after two years

ANTS presents ‘Cinderella, the Pantomime’ in Association with NODA.

Directed by Twiggy Lake, show dates are Tuesday, April 12 to Saturday, April 16 at North Tawton Town Hall.

ANTS is excited to bring its pantomime to the people of West Devon after having to put plans on hold for the last two years. With an amazing cast of members both new and existing, including some Young ANTS - and even a dance troupe - tickets for the pantomime will be available from North Tawton Post Office from March 1. Doors for the show open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets are £8 adults and £5 for children aged 12 and under. The backstage crew is lined up ready and waiting to bring the production to life, but ANTS would welcome with open arms anyone who is interested in helping - as more hands on deck always makes for a smoother run. The group is especially seeking someone for follow spot and props/painting. On the subject of new, ANTS is also looking for a new chairperson; perhaps someone who has been involved in theatre somehow and wants to take a step back from the limelight. The role would involve chairing meetings which are held roughly every three months. As a group, it holds a monthly get together in the local pub on a Thursday evening to read through plays (and socialise). This is a fantastic way to get involved in the group if the thought of getting on stage scares the life out of you, no commitment required. Finally, Young ANTS will be recommencing next spring with monthly workshops. This is open to children aged 10 to 17 years (up to 18th birthday).

For more information on the pantomime/ helping/read through nights contact Hayley on gills_finwood@btinternet.com For more information on chairperson contact Nigel on njdavies03.nd@gmail. com or for more information on Young Ants please contact Sarah on sarah_ cacchio@hotmail.com

www.wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk

Traditional, investment & contemporary fi ne art . prints . ceramics . jewellery . glass . textiles

After the Rain Yar Tor. Oil by Simon Fowler

Dartmoor’s Art Gallery

Foggintor Quarry in Oil by Simon Fowler

Representing the region’s fi nest artists

Garden opens for National Garden Scheme

Higher Cherubeer Garden is scheduled to open on Friday, February 4, 11 and Saturday, February 19 from 2pm to 5pm. The garden, near Dolton, is owned by Jo Hynes, who has over 400 snowdrop varieties in her one and three quarter acre garden. Jo has also bred some new snowdrops including Daisy Hynes named after her daughter and Spottie Lottie named after her dog. The garden is opening for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) which raises money to support Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Hospices UK, Carers Trust and other nursing and caring charities. The woodland paths are lined with named snowdrops, hellebores and winter flowering shrubs. As well as many other spring flowering plants, Jo has a National Collection of cyclamen species. In poor weather the alpine house provides refuge and is used to display plants in season. There is also a kitchen garden, orchard, large greenhouse, gravelled courtyard and paths, raised bed, lawns, and herbaceous borders. There will be refreshments and plants on sale including snowdrops. Admission is £5 and children are free. Higher Cherubeer (EX19 8PP) is 2 miles east of Dolton. From the A3124 turn south towards Stafford Moor Fisheries, take the first right and the garden is 500 metres on the left.

Please check the website for the latest Covid information prior to visiting: www.ngs.org.uk. The yellow booklet, ‘Devon Gardens Open for Charity 2022’ full of all the beautiful gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme will be available in garden centres from early March. Or visit www.ngs.org.uk.

February 13 Snowdrop Sunday – Andrews Corner Belstone

Question: where can you meet Dionysus, Lavinia, Titania, Ophelia, Cordelia, Tiny Tim, Merlin, Robin Hood and Little John – all at the same party? Answer: among the multitude of different varieties of snowdrops in the garden of Andrews Corner, where the Belstone and Area Group of Friends of the Children’s Hospice South West are, once again, hosting the popular Snowdrop Sunday.For those galanthophiles (snowdrop fanatics) among you, there are over 100 different varieties of snowdrop in the garden, many of which will be in flower at that time, as well as an assortment of hellebores and crocus – some of which will be for sale. And, for the younger members of the family, there are fairy doors to seek out and a children’s playhouse to enjoy.As usual, there will be CHSW promotional goods for sale, as well as bacon baps, hot soup and bread, cheese scones, hot drinks and cakes. Indoor space available for those who prefer to view the garden or consume refreshments in relative warmth! The event will take place from 11am to 4pm at Andrews Corner, Skaigh Lane, Belstone EX20 1RD. Entrance is £5, children free. Parking in nearby field. All proceeds go to CHSW.For further information or directions contact Edwina and Robin Hill on 01837 840332 edwinarobinhill@outlook.com or visit andrewscorner.garden

Charity Lunches Supporting Devon Air Ambulance Fridays and Saturdays between 12.00 noon and 2pm Two course lunch £21.50 Three course lunch £28.50 Tea, Coffee and Petit Fours £3.50 Charity envelopes will be provided for donations