Oke Links July/August 2021 by Links Magazines

OKE LINKS July/August 2021 | Issue 26

DARTMOOR MUSEUM

CHAGFORD’S POOL OPEN FOR ALL

Bringing history to life

NEDCARE Local community in-home care attracting UK attention

‘Send a Cow’ charity Saving lives in Africa

Meet the locals

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EDUCATION

HEALTH

Spotlight on prostate issues

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A film-maker from Belstone

A teenager’s debut single

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A photographer from Coryton

Walking in memory of Winnie

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Welcome to our summer edition! Here we are, Summer 2021 - despite the difficulties of the last 18 months, time still seems to fly by. Our eldest grandson has completed his first year at school, our youngest grandson can now smile and giggle and our dog has finally stopped chewing his bed at the grand old age of two and a half. Simple milestones can often give the most pleasure! When it comes to milestones, NEDCare has passed a few this year. Set up in Moretonhampstead following the closure of beds at the town’s cottage hospital, this trailblazing charity now provides more than 1,000 hours of regulated care every month and this summer launched a new fundraising lottery. Read about NEDCare’s pioneering work on page 6.

The deadline date for any inclusions in the September/October issue of Oke Links will be July 30th, 2021. For all editorial enquiries please contact Jane via email:

It was such a pleasure to meet the local people I interviewed for this issue. Both share a deep love of the moors they can see from their homes. Josephine Collingwood is an author and photographer who is also a member of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group - her book ‘Dartmoor Tors Compendium’ is an absolute treasure trove of fascinating facts and beautiful pictures. Chris Walpole of Belstone has lived nearly all his life in this tiny Dartmoor village and knows its history and nature intimately - much of which he has committed to film, having been a keen amateur cinematographer since his youth.

jane.honey@linksmagazines.co.uk

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

The subject of this issue’s charity focus is the Send a Cow organisation, which tackles grinding poverty in several African countries through education and training. Local ambassador Jenny Reynolds who lives in Bridestowe is available for talks at schools and groups in the area - you can learn more in the article on page 24. April brought the sad news that Winnie, the lovely working cocker spaniel owned by our walks author Denise Horner, had passed away. Denise and husband Richard were devastated - the Links team hopes new Labrador puppy Chizel, who had been chosen a month before Winnie fell ill, will help ease their loss. Winnie would have loved him!

Tim: 07450 161 929 Jane: 07772 619 808

Following the cautious roadmap out of this year’s coronavirus lockdowns, events are beginning to be held in the area once more. For a few suggestions on places to go and outings to take, head to our What’s On pages - and if you are planning events in autumn, don’t forget to let me know in good time, so I can publicise them for you!

Contact Jane Honey, Editor on 07971 917071 jane.honey@ linksmagazines.co.uk Front cover image by Steve Dooley www.stevedooley.co.uk

41 Farming 43 What’s On 49 Music and Art 52 Food and Drink 54 History 56 Walk 59 Business Directory 62 Trade Secrets

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Contents

6 Feature 10 Local People 14 Noticeboard 24 Charity Focus 26 Education 29 Health 34 Gardening 38 Finance 39 Sport

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FEATURE

Facing up to the challenge How a local charity has become a care trailblazer... In a world where care in the community is a huge challenge and governments struggle to both finance and resource the increasing demand, Moretonhampstead-based North East Dartmoor Care (NEDCare) is an example of how communities themselves can come together to find affordable, inclusive and sustainable solutions. An award-winning charity, NEDCare offers person-centred care at home across North East Dartmoor - and its model is now attracting nationwide attention due to its success.

The domiciliary care industry in the UK is worth £5 billion annually and employs over 300,000 people, so you wouldn’t think that a small care charity based on the edge of Dartmoor is revolutionising the way the care at home model is delivered! NEDCare is rooted in the local community, set up by a group of local people in response to what founder Julia Darby terms the ‘dire lack of regulated care’ in North East Dartmoor. As Julia explained: ‘With the closure of beds in the local cottage hospital back in 2016, there was supposed to be care

at home offered, but there was no-one to do it.’ After running public meetings to engage the community and identify the issues, Julia and six local volunteers decided they needed to take the provision of care into their own hands. Initially Julia began by linking local self-employed carers with those who required care, but then was granted funding from the local cottage hospital’s League of Friends charity to set up a social enterprise - which became NEDCare. Helped by donations from the local community, including a successful crowdfunding campaign, NEDCare was accredited by the Care Quality Commission in July 2017, meaning that Julia and her team of carers could then offer regulated care at home services. NEDCare currently provides more than 1,000 hours of regulated care every month, supporting individuals to live well and safely at home in later life. They support people right through the spectrum, from companionship to end of life care.

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FEATURE

people get the care they need, but are also in with the chance of winning cash prizes every week – up to £25,000!

Julia is proud that local people have always led NEDCare: ‘The Trustees are all local people, and most of the care staff are local. We are the only CQC regulated provider in the area that can legally offer personal care and one of the largest employers of local people in our area of benefit.’ This community focus sets NEDCare apart from bigger care agencies, and led to them winning the Locality Power of Community Award in 2019. NEDCare’s approach to care is personcentred, focused on meeting the needs and preferences of each individual. Julia said: ‘We work with clients in ways that offer them choice and control over how their care is delivered - ultimately ways that give them dignity.’ As the son of a client remarked: ‘You helped [my mother] stay at home, which is where she wanted to be. NEDCare

empowers the person they are caring for.’ The vision that is central to NEDCare is ‘care for everyone who needs it, where and when they need it’, and part of this is enabling those most in need to access support, regardless of financial circumstances. The eligibility threshold of who can receive support from the local authority has been steadily rising, with a minimum eligibility that requires being able to meet certain criteria. This means that many elderly people are being forced to choose between paying for food, heating or much needed care. To tackle this, NEDCare uses fundraising and donations to subsidise the cost of care. There are a variety of ways to support NEDCare’s services to Dartmoor communities - for example, there’s a new fundraising lottery, so participants are not only helping to ensure that

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

With the current fears over Devon’s capacity to sustain care services due to staff recruitment and retention issues related to poor conditions and pay received by some care workers, it seems that NEDCare are ahead of the curve with its treatment of staff. They offer enhanced rates of pay, with good terms and conditions, and carers are paid a fair wage, including travel and downtime at the standard rate, as well as enhanced rates for evening and weekend work. What seems revolutionary is the way NEDCare provided a community-led solution to a care crisis. The traditional model of underpaid and overstretched care workers, and depersonalised care, is turned on its head – with staff being valued and the individuality of clients made a priority.

FEATURE

As Julia pointed out: ‘Do we want a system where profit-centred corporates and organisations without local involvement and understanding dictate the care to be made available to the elderly or others with a desire to stay in their own homes?’ NEDCare offers an alternative where the care needs of local people are directly addressed, and solutions provided by the community.

Julia said: ‘We believe it takes a whole community approach to meet care and support needs. This approach caught the attention of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, and they invited NEDCare to be a member of their Innovation Network.’ The NEDCare model of community-run care is about to be trialled in other areas of the UK, with enthusiastic responses so far from local councils, such as Bristol City Council. This charity in a small Dartmoor town is pioneering a new community-centric care at home model, set to transform the care industry for the better.

A garden for everyone RHS Garden Rosemoor, located between Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, is stunning through every season. With plenty of events including summer holiday activities, craft fairs, flower shows and Glow winter illuminations, there is something for everyone. Book online at rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262. © RHS/Clive Nichols

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Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH Your visit supports our work as a charity

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For experienced, local advice you can trust www.peterslaw.co.uk 01837 52379 B i d e fo rd | B u d e | H o l s w o r t h y | O k e h a m p t o n See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

LOCAL PEOPLE

Josephine Collingwood Photographer and author As a member of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group and author of a well-regarded book on the moor’s tors, it’s no surprise to learn that Josephine Collingwood has always felt a strong pull to the stunning landscape we are lucky enough to enjoy on our doorstep. Brought up initially in London, her family moved to Totnes when she was 16. Although she went away to university, she and her husband, whom she met in a machine gun trench while with the Officer Training Corps, settled back in Devon following the death

of her mum and they’ve stayed in the county ever since.

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Although she already had a geophysics degree, in the 1990s Josephine embarked upon a three year photography course at Plymouth College of Art. It may have been a familial influence - her Dad was a film cameraman while her grandfather was a pioneer in aerial photography during World War I, working with the Royal Flying Corps. After graduating, she spent some 20 years specialising in freelance architectural work, taking pictures of

She has also done a fair bit of web design work, but one of the projects clearly close to her heart is her Dartmoor Tors Compendium, a 336-page book describing all the moorland tors in quite incredible detail, accompanied by Josephine’s stunning photographs. Not only did she research, write and illustrate the book over several years in her spare time, she set up her own publishing company to produce it. ‘I’m so glad I did it that way,’ said Josephine. ‘I could do the book exactly how I wanted it to look. The design decisions were mine, and it made sense really, as so much of my background involved desktop publishing. It’s been a great success, I’ve had some lovely feedback from people and as it’s

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LOCAL PEOPLE

It would seem only natural that someone with such a depth of knowledge of the moor should want to put this to good use and Josephine has been a member of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group’s Tavistock section for several years now, where her intimate knowledge of the landscape is a great asset.

‘I applied, did the interview, did the training and I love it. You have to be a team player, you could be in the middle of nowhere with a casualty, it’s blowing a hooley and you are stuck in this Kisu [survival tent], so you need to get on with people and work together - but to be able to help save a life is just marvellous.’

‘I love black and white photography, it strips away extra information so you just see the contrast and drama - and a lot of Dartmoor is really good for this - but I also love the colours of the moor, they are so subtle. Then there’s the smell of the turf, the tannin in the water; I adore granite and then there’s the whole history of its geology. It just gets under your skin ...’

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‘I don’t know what it is about it; It’s multi faceted, like a living museum; it’s dangerous, but beautiful and benign; at other times it’s dramatic and unpredictable,’ said Josephine.

Flushed with the success of the compendium, she’s now working on another Dartmoor book, this time concentrating on its geology - and she’s also designed a ‘Dartmoor Overground’ map of all the ancient and modern tracks and paths on the moor, in the style of the London underground map.

In addition to walking, Josephine loves to climb and to travel - but is always happy to come back to home - and Dartmoor.

LEDG

Josephine paid tribute to Dartmoor National Park Authority, who were very supportive of the book and following its publication, asked her to produce the moor’s official visitor guide.

She said: ‘A friend of mine had been talking about the rescue group - I’ve always loved the outdoors and climbing and while I was doing a route for the compendium, I came across this bloke who had broken his leg on King’s Tor. I stayed with him until help arrived and thought “I‘d really like to do this.”

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timeless, it just keeps selling, which I am delighted with.’

hand to most skills except plastering. The couple have three children, 23-year-old Lizzie and twins Poppy and Michael, who are just 17 months younger - as Josephine said wryly: ‘Those first three years were difficult, it was a bit crazy for a while!’

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Chris Walpole Film fanatic and history lover Chris comes from just about as far from Belstone as it’s possible to get - even though he’s lived nearly all his life in this tiny Dartmoor village. He was borne in Tasmania - his father, a conscientious objector, died within a month of his birth and his mum later re-married. His stepfather was a scientist with ICI in China and former Far East prisoner of war. Chris left Tasmania aged eight and in 1963 settled with his mother, grandmother and stepfather in the house he still lives in today. His father’s family held a strong faith and he was sent to a Quaker boarding school in Somerset between the ages of eleven and 18 - an experience that obviously took some getting used to. ‘It was a shock,’ remembered Chris. ‘I was a bit of a mummy’s boy and an only child - I used to get incredibly upset when we’d drive up at the start of each term, I remember having to stop in lay-bys because I had right boohooing fits, but I was pretty much OK once they’d left me!’ Chris studied geography and surveying at Newcastle University before he started working life with the Hydrographic Office in Taunton. He spent 20 years there as a civil servant, turning seabed and coastal data and port information into nautical charts used by shipping worldwide. It was while working in Taunton that he met Marion and they married in 1992, the year after his mum died. Chris was lucky enough to retire at the very young age of just 42: ‘It was the week Tony Blair came to power - I remember the bunting everywhere and the air of euphoria - it was quite something.’ He might have retired early but he’s never been one to ‘doss around’. From a young age he has been fascinated by films and a room in his house is devoted to a lifetime of amateur film-making, on subjects as diverse as local history and nature, to Westerns and horror movies. He’s recorded the Belstone

‘Beating of the Bounds’ (a once in seven years occurrence) five times, preserving a unique perspective of a Dartmoor community - and spent a good part of the coronavirus lockdowns uploading his work onto YouTube. ‘I did try to make a few feature films - there was a Vietnamese war movie, a concert film starring me and Bob Dylan, an antinuclear epic - they were all going to be serious films but ended up comedies,’ said Chris somewhat wryly, admitting his efforts to commit one Dartmoor legend to celluloid involved gluing carpet to the back of his mum’s hands. ‘As you can imagine, The Hairy Hands wasn’t terribly convincing - that one didn’t get finished either,’ he said. Chris is also very interested in local history - so much so, the imminent new millennium in 2000 sparked a project to write a book about Belstone. ‘The idea was that each chapter would be written by a different expert - I ended up writing it all, but I did enjoy it once I got into it, and Marion edited it. Many of the people we interviewed have died now, but we got in just in time with the locals that had spent their whole lives here - they had some wonderful stories.’ Chris is now planning a second edition of the book - he also pens a monthly history piece for the ‘Beacon’ parish magazine and occasional articles for the Dartmoor Magazine, while helping with the production of the local Dartmoor News. Not surprisingly for a man with a strong sense of community, Chris has been involved with a variety of village organisations for many years, including fundraising for the village hall with walks and talks, and Belstone Cricket Club. ‘I used to play a bit - these days I say “I’m available if you are short” and hope to goodness they aren’t!’ said Chris, who is also a keen hill walker. He’s enjoyed many mountain holidays in Scotland and has even trekked to Everest Base Camp - twice!

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LOCAL PEOPLE

‘That was absolutely fantastic, quite incredible - I made a film of that called The Sherpa’s Song, one of my better efforts,’ said Chris. I’m not sure if this particular film has made it to YouTube yet but Chris is proud his recording of Belstone Players cutting the pantomime baddie in half in the village hall has now notched up 1,000 views in a month. ‘I think it might be something to do with the title, Magic Box - I think some people thought they were going to see dodgy material!’ laughed Chris. Jane Honey

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Greenway crowdfunding success The Greenway Project steering group for the proposed multi-use route linking Moretonhampstead to Chagford are delighted with a very successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised over £5,000 and substantially increased its supporter base. Due to the generosity of local businesses in Moretonhampstead and Chagford, The Greenway Project was able to offer many donors a gift voucher as a thank you. The crowdfunder will pay for a feasibility study which Sustrans are now undertaking with the help of the steering group, who together will agree the best route for the new multi-use trail. Once the route is decided the

next stage of fundraising and planning applications will ensue. All being well, the actual digging work will be undertaken by Devon County Council at a later date. It’s an exciting time for ‘active travel’. During the pandemic more people have sought fresh air and exercise. There is enthusiasm for more trafficfree routes to access the countryside and to link rural and urban locations with mainline train stations such as Okehampton. There is increased funding from central and local government for these routes but the dedication to see them happen comes first from local communities. For the latest news find The Greenway Project on Facebook.

Big Peaks in Ashburton generously gave away a child’s bike to support The Greenway Project, which was won by Jo Diffey and enjoyed by her granddaughter, Artemis. Pic by Chris Saville, The Moorlander

New loo at the church The plan to put a toilet into the parish church of All Saints in Okehampton is coming to fruition. In fact it may be being built as you read this. The purpose is to make a toilet, suitable for wheelchair users as well as others, available in the north porch of the church. An architect had to draw up detailed plans and then they needed a Faculty (permission from the Diocese). Builders and drainage engineers were required, and they also had to make sure that the drains did not interfere with any historic remains. This meant employing professional archeologists to supervise the work.

The big challenge was to raise the funds - around £36,000. Thanks to a very generous grant from Okehampton United Charities, plus funding from Garfield Weston, All Churches and the Beatrice Laing Trust, this figure was nearly reached. The PCC treasurer was then able to get released a sum reserved by the Diocese and the total was achieved! The main problem for the PCC was not being able to run fundraising events or campaigns during the long Covid crisis and lockdowns. The PCC is delighted the church facilities have now been brought into the 21st century.

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Trekking for vital charity funds An Okehampton woman has joined thousands of determined Alzheimer’s Society supporters to raise vital funds for the UK’s leading dementia charity. Sue Wonnacott, 60, is preparing for a tough 13-mile trek across Dartmoor on August 21 to support the Society’s vital work. Sue’s mum was only 58 when she passed away, having been diagnosed with young-onset dementia in her early 40s.

person he loved disappear in front of his eyes. Nobody should have to go through that.’ People with dementia have been worst hit by coronavirus in terms of deaths, both from the virus and knock-on effects of lockdown - thousands have seen their health deteriorate and mental health decline as a result of having little social contact and interruptions to essential care and support.

Sue will join hundreds of other supporters marching out at five locations across the UK between June and September, including Dartmoor, the Brecon Beacons and the Lake District. Sue was diagnosed with melanoma 15 years ago. She had a lump removed from her back, but unfortunately two years ago discovered another lump which required surgery and then regular CT and MRI scans. Sue said: ‘Following my operation I was not able to exercise for some considerable time so needed to find something to regain my fitness. I started walking a lot more and as we live on the edge of Dartmoor it was an excuse to explore more with my dog, Jess. ‘I decided to sign up to the Dartmoor Trek to walk 13 miles in August to raise funds and invited my oldest friend,

Sarah, to join me. She had also lost her mum to dementia. ‘My mother was diagnosed in her early 40s which was a huge shock. She was sharp, fit, and healthy, and we never understood why it happened to her. She was so young - there was very little understanding at the time that people could get dementia in their 40s.

Derek Dodd, Alzheimer’s Society Area Manager, said: ‘We want to thank Sue, Sarah, and everyone taking part in a walking event for us. People affected by dementia need us now more than ever.

‘The caring duties fell mainly to my dad - to suddenly become her full-time carer when she was still in her 40s was tough for him.

“The coronavirus pandemic has hit us hard financially, despite an unprecedented demand for our services. Money raised will help Alzheimer’s Society reach and support more people through our vital services, like the Dementia Connect support line, which has been used almost three million times in the UK since March 2020.

‘Dad struggled. Mum was everything to him, and he was forced to watch the

To support Sue, go to localgiving.org/ charity/Okehampton/

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Northmore Arms community purchase On the northern fringes of Dartmoor in the rural hamlet of Wonson lies the Northmore Arms, a much treasured and unspoilt country pub. With its open fire and exposed beams it is everything you would expect of a traditional country inn - and an enterprising team of locals have formed a steering group to marshal a community purchase. The pub is currently for sale and Hatt Reiss, Joseph Van Der Steen, Tom Wells and Patrick Goudge have been gathering support to buy the pub and run it for the benefit of the local and wider community. As a valuable local asset, interest has already been overwhelming with

approximately 180k in pledges to the proposed community share scheme so far. Questionnaires have been circulated to gather details of the potential support and the group plans to add additional services to the pub. A farm shop, café, live music and support groups have all been suggested and comprise just some of the ideas to create a social hub benefitting the community.

Aided by the Plunkett Foundation, the group is in the business-planning stages and hopes to apply for Government funding from the Community Ownership Fund that launched in June. More support is needed though, to get in touch email thenorthmorearms@gmail. com or find ‘Friends of the Northmore Arms’ on Facebook.

Become an otter spotter! Moor Otters is a feel-good public arts project taking young and old on an amazing journey of learning and discovery, creating stories and making memories. Eighty one decorated Otter with Cub sculptures have been released onto Dartmoor, creating four arts trails, standing tall on plinths waiting to be spotted. There will also be a Mayflower trail in Plymouth and several otters in gateway towns and villages.

A trail map is available at www. dartmoor.gov.uk so you can plan ahead. Please remember some businesses may still have some Covid restrictions in place. Trail maps are also available at Dartmoor Visitor Centres. Please be as sustainable as possible and use public transport, car share, cycle or walk if you can. There are prizes for the most sustainable otter spotter!

give their favourite otter a new home, when they are auctioned to raise funds for vital conservation and access projects in the National Park.

At the end of the summer, ‘otterspotters’ as well as art collectors and individuals will have the opportunity to

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Hospital could become new health hub Moretonhampstead Community Hospital is currently owned by National Health Property Services (NHSPS) with part leased to Moretonhampstead Development Trust and part to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E) for their community health therapists and nurses. Going forward, the hospital space won’t be needed so much by RD&E, so the vision of Moretonhampstead Development Trust and local GP Dr Tom Waterfall is to make the hospital a community health hub. This would include space for GPs and community nurses to offer clinical services, and the office of North East Dartmoor Care (NEDCare), but also space for local

community projects. Organisations such as Knead to Connect, who aim to create connections through food and local youth theatre company MED Theatre are planning to be situated in the hospital - and the garden at the rear of the hospital will be connected with the community allotments. The next step will be to involve the community in a consultation to clarify what services would be most useful to

them, and to confirm whether the project is financially viable. Moretonhampstead Development Trust have put forward a proposal to conduct a feasibility study, and hope to have a positive response to this. To find out more about the vision for the hospital or to put your thoughts forward, please email katie@wellmoor.org.uk

Take a dip! Chagford Swimming Pool was opened in 1933 and is fed by the mill leat, a small stream diverted from the river Teign. It is well reported that the pool was dug out because local children swimming in the river would

too often disturb local fishermen further downstream.

the pool has become Chagford’s biggest attraction.

Much has changed since the 1930s however and Chagford Swimming Pool remains the largest, freshwater, outdoor pool in the West Country. In 2016 season, air-source heat pumps, UV filtration and PV panels were installed which also provide hot showers.

Chagford Pool opened on June 7th for pre-booked adult lengths, some junior lengths, bubble club lane sessions and private bookings/parties. We hope to open up for some more normal sessions later in the season if Covid-19 guidelines allow. We’d love to welcome you - to book online go to www.chagfordpool. co.uk and follow us on social media to keep up to date with the pool. Facebook: @ChagfordPool Twitter: @chagfordpool

With the newly renovated toddler pool, refreshments facilities, wooden decking, a grassy sunbathing area and idyllic setting on the banks of the River Teign,

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NOTICEBOARD

Okehampton set to become a ‘Totally Locally’ town Totally Locally is a campaign to encourage people to ‘shop local’, which has shown great success in many towns across the country. The concept is simple - local businesses working together to promote local businesses as a whole, in order to benefit from increased footfall in the town - and people discovering unique independents they may not have even known existed. Chris Sands, Totally Locally founder, said: ‘Totally Locally isn’t antisupermarket or anti-online. There is a place for all these things - it’s just highlighting how a small change in spending habits can make a huge change to Okehampton.

‘We have a choice to make the place we live that little bit better, by just diverting £5 of our weekly spend back into our local economy. And everyone wants their town to be great, don’t they?’ Okehampton’s first Totally Locally event ahead of the full launch was June’s ‘Fiver Fest’ when for two weeks, a number of local participating businesses put on special offers for £5 to encourage people into the town, give them a bargain and get to know the friendly faces running local businesses. If every adult in Okehampton was to

spend just £5 a week extra in a local business, it would mean an extra £1.9million to the local economy each year, supporting local jobs and suppliers while often getting a friendly service you just don’t find elsewhere. For more information go to www.totallylocallyokehampton.co.uk or search for TotallyLocallyOkehampton on Facebook.

Okehampton Choral Society Open Evening there is no charge. If possible please bring a copy of ‘Messiah’ with you. Just come and make some music – it’s been a long year!

Some popular pieces will be sung, also extracts from Handel’s ‘Messiah’. The event is open to all, whether or not you are a member of the Choral Society, and

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On September 20th normal practice sessions will resume so if you enjoy a good sing, like having fun and making music with friendly enthusiastic people, give it a try. The society sings and

rehearses on Monday evenings at Fairplace Church and performs a wide variety of choral works locally. Any voices, young or old, are welcome. There are no auditions so why not come along and decide if you would like to join. For more information please contact Jenny on 01837 840282 or email enquiries@ okechoralsociety.org.uk

Merry Go Round Community Ventures

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Celebrate the new freedom to sing with Okehampton Choral Society on September 13th at 7.15pm in Fairplace United Church, Okehampton (pandemic regulations permitting).

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Reconnecting with nature Andy McConnachie, founder of Lost Habitat, believes the future state of our environment is determined by peoples’ choice today, and their values in the way they live. He wants to create connections with people and nature through ecological landscaping and rewilding practices by introducing wildlife stepping-stones, bringing nature closer to peoples’ outdoor space across Devon for benefits of nature, our planet and for our well-being. Being born in Devon, growing up in Dartmoor, and having recently graduated from Plymouth University in Land & Ecological Restoration, receiving a master’s with distinction, Andy has had a natural instinct to care for wildlife from a young age, and passion to teach people about the wonderful positive effects of water, the environment, and everything sharing these precious ecosystems. Wildlife ponds and wetland habitats are diminishing rapidly across Dartmoor, amphibian numbers are reducing, and it’s estimated less than 20% are considered as priority habitat. By creating wildlife ponds between naturally occurring buffers, such as streams, allows free movement, an ecological connection creating habitat for large numbers of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. Creating a pond in your garden will attract an array of wildlife, they are

a visual magnet and refuge for calm thought, adding huge aesthetic benefit to gardens and helping to prevent habitat loss. Understanding the ecology of the outdoor environment, Lost Habitat enhances people’s outdoor space, working with nature to attract wildlife and to allow free movement, helping to prevent habitat fragmentation by creating stepping stones and corridors, such as the incorporation of wildlife ponds, edible gardens, perennial food systems, sensory gardens, refuges for wildlife such as hedgehogs, or bird boxes, sustainable structures from boardwalks and wooded pathways to hidden mediation areas, community gardens, wildflower schemes and meadows. Lost Habitat ensures natural equilibrium with nature and humans, creating beautifully diverse landscaped gardens, promoting the true value of our natural environment by enhancing people’s outdoor space utilising ecological landscaping and rewilding techniques. By working in this way, we will combat against ecosystem stressors such as the future threat of climate change, pollution, and flooding.

Topsham to Tokyo Challenge There’s still time for keen horse riders to join the British Horse Society’s Ride Out UK Olympic challenge, which started on May 1st and finishes on September 5th, coinciding with the closing ceremony of the paralympics in Tokyo. To take part in BHS Devon’s contribution, the ‘Topsham to Tokyo

9750km Ride’, sign up to the BHS challenge at https:bit.ly/3tUXxG7 and pledge to ride 70 kilometres to raise £70. To submit the miles you have ridden, send a picture of your Rideathon Tracking Card to bhs.johanna@gmail. com or post a picture of your Tracking Card on The BHS Devon Equestrian Community Facebook Group.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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NOTICEBOARD

The shed door is open! Okehampton Men in Sheds is running again! After a long hibernation, the builders, joiners, carpenters, wood carvers and wood turners are all offering their skills and a place to work. On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 4.30pm, the shed at the Community Garden off Fatherford Lane is open and welcoming all those needing a place to meet, have a coffee or tea and join in the chat. Expert advice is freely available and the men there are already busy on tasks for the benefit of the community. They are currently making a large carved cross for Chagford Primary School, a model kiddies’ train for Who Let the Dads Out, garden obelisks, hedgehog, doormice and owl boxes and sharpening

or refurbishing old tools. Some of these will go to a charity in Africa (Amigos). Other broken tools can be sent to Lindfield Day Opportunities, a farm centre that caters for people with learning difficulties where they sort out the different metals and send them for scrap. The team at Men in Sheds are also on the lookout for unwanted sewing machines in any condition - these will

be repaired and sent to Amigos. The shed is not large, but people spread outside in fair weather and plans are being drawn up for a bigger shed. The landlord’s agreement has been obtained and planning permission is hopefully on its way. For more information call Phil on 01837 54894. Men in Sheds

Charity needs a helping hand A Devon charity supporting vulnerable women in is in urgent need of donations towards the cost of buying a vehicle. Okehampton charity Gilead Foundations, which this year celebrates its 30th birthday, provides supported living accommodation on a farm for vulnerable women, who have experienced domestic violence, addiction and homelessness. They need a vehicle, so that residents can reach appointments and work placements more easily.

Marketing manager Jo Drew said: ‘Our aim is to not only provide safe housing, but also to support the women through the therapy and skills training required leading to future employment and ultimately change their lives for the better. ‘We are raising funds for the purchase of a used vehicle to help transport our women to appointments, work

placements, education and training. It will help to achieve the aim of getting people who are socially disadvantaged into work and training to help them reach their full potential. We are so grateful for donations sent to us so far, but still have just over £5,000 to go to reach our target. If you could help Gilead Foundations by making a donation please visit www.gilead.org.uk

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Men In Sheds Okehampton

- charities we support

Day Opportunities

Lindfield is a working smallholding established in 2004 providing private day care as a resource. It is a welcoming environment for people with learning disabilities or mental health issues, who can come for anything from a few hours to five days a week. As well as working with farm animals our visitors also work with staff to build feeders, gates, and planters. Keep an eye on our social media for our planned Open Day or drop by our market stall at the farm layby for farm and workshop produce. Morchard Road, EX17 5LQ • 07881953180 kevin@lindfielddo.com/becky@lindfielddo.com www.lindfielddo.com • c Lindfielddo

Amigos works with children, youths and caregivers in rural Northern Uganda, facilitating training and education and infrastructure so that they may become self-supporting in the future. Via our Conservation Farming Groups, we train 30-40 adults in each community in conservation farming. This training yields results quickly, with everyone at least doubling their crop yields within the first year, and some tripling or even quadrupling them in comparison to traditional farming practices. Our main aims are to provide vocational training, life skills, clean water and education. www.amigos.org.uk

The Who Let The Dads Out? movement is all about creating space where dads and male carers and their children and grandchildren can have fun together and join in with other men who are also on the parenting journey. It’s a space that provides support, friendship and learning from each other. The group has recently been awarded funding from the National Lottery to allow it to grow and develop. In the next few months we are planning to go kite flying, and to work on our patch in the community gardens. Hopefully enjoying a family sports day in July. If you would like to join our next session please email wltdookehampton@gmail.com for further information.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

NOTICEBOARD

Holiday Plans? I am thinking about booking a family holiday for later in the year, but I am worried about what will happen if we go into another lockdown or further restrictions. What should I look out for? 1 Check the cancellation conditions. If you have to cancel your holiday because you’re self-isolating, you may not be entitled to a refund. If the cancellation is because the national lockdown is extended, you should get a refund. 2 If you are intending to go abroad, check the local entry requirements. You might need a negative test before you fly and may need to self-isolate on arrival. If the destination country imposes new restrictions after you book but the flight is still going, you may not be entitled to a refund if you no longer want to travel. 3. Make sure you understand the entry requirements to the UK when you return. You might need a negative test

before returning or to self-isolate or quarantine when you get back. The managed quarantine hotels in the UK are expensive, currently £1,750 for 10 nights (and you could be fined up to £10,000 if you don’t comply). 4 Pay by credit card if you can manage the repayments. If you put at least the deposit on a credit card, the full amount of the holiday costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 is protected by the Consumer Credit Act. If you don’t have a credit card, pay by debit card rather than by cash, cheque or bank transfer.

5 If your holiday is cancelled, you may be offered refund credit notes. Some credit notes are guaranteed and offer a refund, but all have time limits. Make sure the travel agent is protected by The Travel Association (ABTA). Make sure to use the credit notes or claim the refund before it expires. You don’t have to accept a refund credit note for cancelled package holidays which must be refunded in full by law within 14 days. If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you should be refunded within 7 days.

Stella F Hudson – A Lifetime in Art and Craft

10am and 4pm every day she and friends from the Belstone Art Group welcome you to an exhibition of paintings and knitting, sewing and pottery, and to chat about anything and everything art

HAMPTO N

Stella is well known in local circles for her passion for singing. Between August 7th and 14th in Belstone Village Hall, she displays another of her great enthusiasms – Arts and Crafts. Between

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and craft-related. All welcome – free entry. Look out for posters for further details, check the village website belstonevillage.net or phone Marion on 01837 840498.

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Rescued turns rescuer! A rescued collie cross has become the latest recruit to a Dartmoor rescue group - having been rescued himself by the North Devon Animal Ambulance Charity. Catherine Goo, a team member with Okehampton-based North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team ((NDSART), came across Jack as an eight-month year old puppy. Catherine said: ‘I had always thought there is something very lovely about a dog who has been rescued going on to be a rescuer.’ Jack is what Catherine calls a ‘Pollie’, a Pointer crossed with a Collie, a great mix for a search dog combining boundless energy and play with a strong nose. Finding the right dog is just the start, qualifying a search dog takes many years and a lot of sacrifice from a handler and supporters.

Jack began his training in 2018, passing registration and stock training in 2019, indication and a stage two test in 2020 and finally passed his final grading on April 25th, 2021. The training and exams are run by the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (MRSDE), a registered charity. Jack is an ‘Non discriminatory air scenting’ dog and has been trained to find a human scent and locate onto the smell. When Jack locates a scent he gives a bark indication that draws the handler and search team onto the person. So long as Jack is downwind of a casualty he should be able to locate them and because he can cover a large area of ground, this massively speeds up the rescue for a team. Jack can also work in bad weather when police helicopters can’t operate, which of course which tends to be the weather that sees the team most frequently called out in.

While most search dogs will perfect their bark when a casualty has been located, it doesn’t always happen like this: ‘One time Jack came back to me to indicate - and opened his mouth and burped at me instead!’ said Catherine. So, while he may be out saving lives, he is a still a little way off being invited around for dinner! North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team

Summer Reading Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge is a free national challenge from the Reading Agency in partnership with World Wildlife Fund UK, celebrating nature and action for the environment. It’s being delivered by libraries to encourage children aged four to eleven to read six books or

more over the summer holidays to help prevent a summer reading ‘dip’. There are special stickers to collect as you read.. To sign up you will need to be a library member. Join online if possible or visit Okehampton Library in North Street, which is now open!

Check out Okehampton.library@ librariesunlimited.org.uk go to Facebook. com/OkehamptonLibrary or call 01837 52805 for all events and activities over the summer.

We look forward to s ing you again soon!

A small independent toy shop, stocking all the popular brands such as Lego, Orchard Toys, Green Toys, Lottie, Schleich, Smart Games, Djeco & Nerf. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, then come and see our range of toys that you wont see anywhere else in town! Receive a warm welcome and helpful advice.

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CHARITY FOCUS

Send a Cow Combatting poverty through growing solutions Send a Cow was set up by a group of Christian dairy farmers from the West Country in 1988. Outraged at EU milk quotas, which were forcing them to slaughter healthy dairy cows, and in response to an appeal from Uganda for milk, they met round the table in a Lapford farmhouse kitchen and embarked on a project, which was set to become an innovative and practical charity. Uganda was just emerging from a long civil war. Communities and their farmland had been destroyed and much of the country’s livestock wiped out. Several of the UK farmers flew to Africa to investigate how they could help. After meeting Ugandan farmers and a livestock expert, they saw how smallholder dairy farming in Africa could work.They returned to the UK determined to help, and sent cows from their own herds to Uganda. Send a Cow was born. Every day, families face poverty that is extreme, cruel, and worst of all – unnecessary. But rural Africa is rich with opportunity and where there is land, there is hope. Send a Cow doesn’t impose solutions, we help grow them from within. That’s why they work. Families get back the skills and confidence they need to get the most from their land. They can grow enough food, earn a living and go after their dreams. And because they pass on what they know, success quickly multiplies, from family to family, community to community, generation to generation. We work across six African countries – Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia. We work with 24

smallholder farmers of whom 65% are women, often widows caring for orphaned grandchildren. We also work with other marginalised groups like disabled people and those with HIV/ AIDS. Our focus on gender and social inclusion means that women are supported to raise their aspirations beyond subsistence farming. We help husbands and wives work out how best to share the workload and decision-making to achieve their vision. We teach them the organic agricultural principles and skills they need to integrate these into a sustainable, biodiverse farm – without expensive artificial fertilisers or GM seeds. Techniques such as water harvesting, composting, vegetable growing, tree planting and animal husbandry are easily adaptable to each farmer’s own land. As farmers start producing enough food to feed their families and sell a surplus, their confidence and self-esteem are boosted. By the time our projects end, families are feeding their families and selling surplus crops. Their income increases sixfold enabling them to pay for their basic needs: education, better housing and healthcare. They are no longer just surviving, but thriving.

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Once families are eating well and earning enough to send their children to school, we encourage them to think bigger. They learn money management and enterprise skills so they can access savings and credit services. They discover how best to add value to their produce, start small businesses and To promote your business to 23,536* readers - call 07450 161 929 advertising@linksmagazines.co.uk

CHARITY FOCUS

may form co-operatives. Our low-input, high achieving approach means that our programmes cost as little as £30 a year. We focus on training; ensuring families have the skills they need to grow food and earn an income. Where necessary, we also provide locally bought seeds, tools and livestock. Send a Cow Patron, Bishop Ruth of Taunton, writes: ‘Harvest is a time when we traditionally celebrate the abundant blessings of God and the hard work of our farmers locally. This is also an opportunity to both celebrate the work of farmers worldwide and to pledge to support them as neighbours whose livelihoods are affected by the climate crisis. This autumn, let’s stand in solidarity with families like Grace’s (pictured). With your donations, we can show them they’re not facing the climate

ONE

crisis alone. By holding a Harvest celebration for Send a Cow you will help families like Grace’s to adapt and grow their resilience, so that when the next drought or flood comes, they can still grow enough food to eat and send their children to school.’

started with Send a Cow will enable me to use my farm so that we no longer go hungry.’ £105 could provide training for 6 families in soil conservation techniques such as composting, helping them to grow more and stand up to extreme weather. You can find all the resources you need to help make your celebration run smoothly at sendacow.org/harvest.

Grace is a widow with eight children, living in rural Migori, Kenya, who struggles to feed her family. Without a good harvest Grace cannot feed her Jenny Reynolds family a nutritious diet or send her children to school. Grace has recently Local Send a Cow ambassador started to work alongside Send a Cow Jenny Reynolds is available to give and is hopeful for a brighter future. more information and talks to any With your support this Harvest, women group, church or school who would like Grace could learn new techniques to like to learn more about the charity. help protect their land from the effects Contact Jenny on 01837 861678. of the climate crisis. Funeral Directors Email jenneo78@gmail.com

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EDUCATION

Teenager releases her debut singer Exciting times beckon for talented teenaged singer Mitzi Irish, who has released her debut single, ‘Trivial’, on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and iTunes - an incredible achievement for a 16-year-old. Mitzi, a year 11 student from Shebbear College, lives in Bude. She describes her music as ‘somewhere between acoustic and pop’ and wrote Trivial over Zoom during lockdown with London-based producer and writer Andy Gilbert, with whom she has been working over the last six months, along with her manager, Haydn Williams. Mitzi plays the guitar and piano as well as taking singing lessons at Shebbear and has been passionate about music for as long as she can remember. She wrote her first song at just nine years old and performed at her first public gig at 13. Currently studying for her GCSEs, Mitzi successfully balances school work and music, with her teachers offering guidance, advice and support enabling her to excel in both her academics and her singing. Caroline Kirby, Shebbear College headmistress, has supported Mitzi every step of the way on her songwriting journey. Mrs Kirby said: ‘I am absolutely delighted for Mitzi as I know she

has put a lot of hard work, passion and dedication into this - and it’s paid off. To have released a single at 16 is just fantastic and she should be very proud of her accomplishment - she certainly has a very bright future ahead of her!’ Mitzi’s achievement has been celebrated across the school with other pupils being inspired by her dedication, passion and success. Mitzi said: ‘I’m absolutely elated to have a single out - I’ve wanted to put music on streaming services for years and I finally have! ‘The whole experience has been great and whilst the song is still so small, I think it’s ridiculously cool that you can successfully ask Alexa to play ‘Trivial’ by Mitzi Irish!’ Listen to and stream Trivia via distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ mitziirish/trivial (or ask Alexa!)

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EDUCATION

Reflections on an unforgettable time Best of times - worst of times? This has in many ways be a tumultuous year. The pandemic cleaved it in two, descending like a misty veil, obscuring the past and separating us from our usual touchstones. Reviewing the year, we might be reminded of the well-known opening words from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’. Completing the introduction might tempt us down the rabbit-hole of comparison, but it is not beyond reason to suggest that we have this year experienced something as significant and seismic as the subject of Dickens’ masterpiece. It would be easy to say the best times came before the pandemic and the worst after the lockdown was announced. Certainly, the first half of the year was full of the ‘best of times’; joyous activity and achievement, crowned just as the virus was enveloping the nation, by Mount Kelly victories in the Arena League swimming and Choir of the Year competition. And certainly, the second half had plenty to suggest the ‘worst of times’; riven with insecurity and anxiety, most keenly felt by those taking public examinations and our oldest pupils being cruelly robbed of final rites of passage that until now we have all taken for granted.

stood more on their own feet than ever before, exposing in the process a steel that older generations claim exclusively for their own; and while all this was going on, parents rallied to the support not only of their children, but the school itself. It is often at the times of greatest stress we discover who we really are and what we can do. We have at a dark moment in our history affirmed our values as a school community, and felt the boundless power of kindness and compassion; we have understood, as never before, light-footedness, creativity

This dichotomy between best and worst, on either side of the veil, is neat but misleading. In fact, it has been during the worst time of lockdown, or rather in the collective response, that we may have seen the very best of Mount Kelly. Staff created a remote learning programme in just days, but more impressively adapted constantly to the unanticipated demands of a medium never explored at teacher training college; pupils found unmined reserves of application and undoubtedly many See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

and innovation, and when the time is right, the importance of acting swiftly and with courage. We have learned how Your Ne we respond to challenges beyond our Okeham control is utterly within our control, and College that the decision to hold firm or give ground is only ours to make. We have lived Machado’s words that ‘there is no path, paths are made by walking’, I’m mad using and have taken hope in the revelation 36 plas bottle that what troubled us yesterday rarely comes to pass when a new day dawns. Guy Ayling Headmaster, Mount Kelly

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

‘I aim to look for ways that I can support the person to be who they were before old age and frailty made life a bit more challenging.’

Vitamin Sea Devon care worker prescribes vitamin ‘sea’ for dementia Frances Lewis joined Bluebird Care as a live-in carer after being a dedicated yoga teacher for twenty years. She cares for customer Jim in his home as a live-in carer, and after discovering his love for sailing, she decided to help him relive his life on the sea by organising a boat trip on the Exe Estuary. Frances says: “One of the things that gives me a great deal of fulfilment in my role as a live-in carer is discovering what the person I am caring for was like before the crippling stroke or dementia diagnosis. What did the person enjoy doing for a hobby? What do they value at a deep level? What were their main interests in life? Then I aim to look for ways that I can support the person to be who they were before old age and frailty made life a bit more challenging.” Frances, who isolated with Jim during the lockdown, has been doing what she can to help him reconnect with his love of the sea. Jim, who has a deep love of the ocean and was - in his youth - a passionate sailor, has dementia.

Sadly, due to suffering from occasional moments of confusion and disorientation - which is why he has a live-in carer to support him - Jim is unable to own a boat of his own. However, he is still just as passionate as he ever was about the sea and sailing, which is why Frances has been doing everything that she can to help him to feel closer to the sea. Wanting to help Jim reconnect with his love of the ocean on a more personal level, Frances recently organised to take him on a boat trip on the Exmouth to Starcross ferry. Jim thoroughly enjoyed being out at sea again, and Frances loved being able to help him relieve his

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Frances explains: “Jim enjoyed taking family members sailing to France,

travelling in and out of Exmouth estuary regularly. He has many friends who enjoy sailing, and he is familiar with the whole world of navigation, boatyards, the ways of the open sea, and the rules and regulations of harbours. He seems to enjoy nothing better than sitting by the side of the ocean or the estuary, watching the waves, the tides coming and going, the clouds and the birds. Sometimes we chat about what we can see, and sometimes we just sit and enjoy the view together in silence.”

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time sailing, allowing him to reconnect with many of his old memories and experiences. When providing care to customers like Jim, Frances finds that outings linked to an interest or passion can be a fantastic way of stimulating happy memories and boosting mental wellbeing. She explains: “All of these trips and all of the times by the water’s edge stimulate memories for Jim of his time with his boat; he seems to become more confident and sure of his place in the world. Being near the water seems to bring a sense of calm and an expansion of possibilities for him.”

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Support to lead a healthier life OneSmallStep (OSS) is a healthy lifestyle service funded by Devon County Council that offers free support to help Devon residents to lead healthier lives through quitting smoking, being a healthy weight, drinking less alcohol and moving more. The pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on all aspects of our health and wellbeing. As we come out of lockdown, now is the perfect time to prioritise your health. Steve* lost five percent of his body weight with the support of OneSmallStep. Here is his inspiring story: ‘I wanted to lose weight because I was worried about the impact that it was having on my health, especially hearing that being overweight is a risk factor for more severe Covid-19 symptoms. I could no longer ignore that it was time to make some changes to my lifestyle. ‘I was referred to OneSmallStep by my doctor and allocated Katie as a Health Trainer. On my first appointment we agreed that I would keep a food diary and count my calories. I also decided to try the ‘Couch to 5k’ App, alongside walking in my local area. I live on the outskirts of Dartmoor, I am very lucky

to have such beautiful surroundings to exercise in. The great British weather was challenging at times, but I put on my waterproof and braved it most days. ‘Katie called me once a week. She helped me to stay motivated. Despite never having run before, I now go twice weekly and love it! I also used a calorie counting app. It was hard at times, but I gave myself short term goals to focus on. I have now lost five percent of my bodyweight, I am so proud of myself!

easily and I feel healthier in mind and body.’ Congratulations from the OneSmallStep team to Steve* for all his hard work and determination. If you would like some support from the OneSmallStep team please visit www.onesmallstep.org.uk. *All names have been changed to protect the client’s identity.

‘I will continue with my weight loss journey and I would encourage anyone else out there who is considering making changes to take those first steps. Having the support of a Health Trainer helps you to stay on track. I want to say to other people “Don’t worry about asking for help or trying out new things.”

‘Before accessing OneSmallStep I was worried that I would lose motivation. Unlike past attempts I kept going and I feel like a new person. I am able to do my day-to-day activities more

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Pointing the spotlight on prostate problems What exactly is the prostate? It’s pretty startling how common this question is, when this gland provides home to the most common cancer found in men, with 30,000 cancer diagnoses each year. Despite this, there is a surprising lack of understanding around the prostate. So where do we begin? Let’s start with what it is, shall we? The prostate is a muscle that is fuelled by testosterone. It tends to grow as men age. In younger men the prostate is around the size of a walnut, but as men age, it can grow to the size of tennis ball and sometimes even larger. What does it do? The prostate functions to assist with fertility. It’s responsible for creating the liquid that transports sperm and produces a variety of proteins that help with conception. It also filters and removes toxins for protection of the sperm. Where is the prostate? The prostate can only be found in men and is positioned in the pelvic area, located between the penis and bladder and surrounding the urethra. Are there any diseases that affect the prostate other than cancer? Yes, there are two other main conditions - benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate) and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate).

What increases your risk of developing prostate cancer? The cause for prostate cancer is largely unknown, however; there are certain factors that can increase your risk of developing this disease. Age - most prostate cancer cases develop in men aged 50 or over. Men whose father or brother have been affected by prostate cancer are at a slightly higher risk themselves. Recent research also suggests that obesity can increase the risk of prostate cancer. Men of an African-Caribbean or African descent are more at risk of developing cancer, whereas Asian men are less common to develop prostate cancer. The reasons are not yet understood as to why this is the case. Visit https://prostatecanceruk.org/riskchecker to see how at risk you are of developing prostate cancer. Are there any symptoms of prostate diseases? Symptoms of prostate problems can present themselves as urinary issues, pain in the lower back and testicles, blood in urine or semen and pain and problems with sexual activities. However, early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms and is only picked up during routine tests.

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blood tests

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GARDENING

Exotic holiday at Rosemoor

Croquet Lawn borders ©RHS/ Clive Nichols

Plants to bring foreign climes back to your garden With advice against travel to far and distant lands likely to remain in force for some time, you can get your fix of warmer climes with a visit to Rosemoor. We cannot guarantee the weather, but we hope that you will be delighted with the garden areas that have an exotic or foreign flavour. Here in the Westcountry, we generally have mild winters and warm, wet summers and even though Lady Anne’s Garden is a notorious frost pocket, we manage to grow a range of tender to half-hardy plants from warmer parts of the world. For example, in the Exotic Garden, which is sheltered from the worse of the weather, we have found that Musa basjoo (banana), Hedychium (ginger lily) and Canna will survive Rosemoor’s winters. However, plants that are on the tender side such as Ensete and Dahlia imperialis need to be lifted and kept just above 0°C

Design and Installation Waterfalls and Streams Planting and Stocking Water Features Renovation Leak Repair 34

during winter. Flowering shrubs such as Hibiscus and Fuchsia are tougher than they look and summer flowering bulbs such as Crinum and Lilium put on most of their growth later in the spring so generally avoid getting nipped by frost. We also use more robust plants that have exotic characteristics, for example large leaved Hosta, Magnolia and Trachycarpus or intensely coloured flowers including Eucomis, Agapanthus and Nerine. Other useful exotic plants such as Plectranthus and some salvias are definitely not hardy, but are easy enough to propagate by cuttings grown on in the greenhouse and planted out in late spring. Even easier are the annuals such as Cleome and Cosmos, which can be grown from seed each year. Although you might not realise it, you probably have some plants that come from the Mediterranean climatic zones

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in your garden, including herbs such as rosemary, sage and lavender. At Rosemoor, our Mediterranean Garden is dedicated to plants that come from these areas, planted among rocks and scree to provide plenty of drainage. Large terracotta pots filled with Mediterranean favourites such as pelargoniums enhance the holiday feel. When the heat of the sun brings out the scents of the leaves and flowers, the garden is filled with the aromas of a Spanish hillside. It is vital to remember that when you are growing in a container, you are providing a complete environment for a plant, so you need to be mindful of a few factors: Ensure adequate drainage, grow in a suitable medium and keep an eye on the watering. Once established, many Mediterranean plants are drought tolerant, making them ideal container specimens. The bank along the back of the croquet lawn is planted with those species found in the southern hemisphere that are suited to a sheltered sunny position with free draining soil, but will also cope with our generally cool, wet climate. The resulting mix of species such as Agapanthus, Kniphofia, Dahlia, Lobelia and Gladiolus produce a stimulating summer display to transport you to South Africa, South America or the Antipodes.

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GARDENING

Hot Garden ©RHS/Jason Ingram

The Hot Garden is a wonderful mix of predominantly North American plants including Helenium, Monarda, Coreopsis, Rudbeckia, Achillea and Calamagrostis to give a prairie feel. Other plants including Hemerocallis, Crocosmia, Dahlia, Kniphofia and Miscanthus help to enhance the feeling of being in a sunny foreign meadow. Many of our garden plants come from parts of the world we love to visit on holiday. Group them together in a sunny sheltered spot, wait for the summer to arrive, pour out your favourite tipple, fill a bowl with ice cream and you can have a foreign holiday in your own back garden without the all stresses of travel.

Top tips •

healthy tissue and destroy the cuttings (do not compost). •

Deadhead bedding plants and repeat flowering perennials, to ensure continuous flowering.

•

Pick courgettes before they become marrows.

•

Prune Wisteria by cutting back the whippy green shoots of the current year’s growth to five or six leaves.

•

Summer prune trained fruit trees and shrubs.

•

Cut out old fruited canes on raspberries.

•

Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners.

Check clematis for signs of clematis wilt. If you suspect wilt, cut out all wilted stems back to

Pruning Wisteria ©RHS/Tim Sandall

Sheila Dearing Garden Technical Services Officer RHS Rosemoor Potting up strawberry runners ©RHS/Tim Sandall

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FINANCE

Use your ISA allowance Makng the most of those tax advantages

Financial advisers and journalists always say use your ISA allowance. Why? What’s so special about an ISA that it almost always comes at the top of the priority list? The main point about an ISA is it is not an investment, it is simply a tax wrapper which enjoys major tax advantages. As a result, any capital profits and income receipts from an investment held within the ISA wrapper are free from any liability to personal tax. Where interest accruing to an ISA on corporate or government bond holdings is received with a 20% tax credit, that credit is reclaimable by the fund manager. As with any tax efficient investment, there are limits as to how much we can invest. The annual ISA allowance is currently £20,000 which can be saved in cash with one provider with the remainder being invested in stocks and shares with either the same or a different provider. A rule introduced as a result of the 2015 budget allows us to withdraw money from our ISA and repay it back into the same

ISA during the same tax year, without losing our annual ISA allowance. As an example, you could fully fund your ISA with £20,000, subsequently make a withdrawal of £5,000 and then top your ISA back up by £5,000 later in the same tax year. Finally, ISA investments can now pass between husband and wife on death, without being disinvested from the ISA itself. This means that the years of building up a tax-free investment are not lost on death, but can be transferred to the surviving spouse. Given these tax advantages, we would usually recommend maximising the amount you hold within your ISA by using your annual allowances for the current tax year. We would then suggest moving investments from outside the ISA wrapper each tax year into the ISA, a process known as “Bed and ISA”. If you can navigate any capital gains issues during this process, it will mean maximising the tax efficiency of your investments. Craig Davidson, Davidsons iFA

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SPORT

Keeping fit and active outdoors

seasons, which can be quite a challenge with the weather during the winter months! During the COVID pandemic, tennis was one of the last sports to close due to lockdown. Once restrictions were eased, outdoor tennis was one of the first sports to resume play, emphasising the healthy and social aspects of a noncontact sport. Okehampton’s tennis courts are often thought of as a ‘hidden gem’ by Okehampton and District Tennis Club www.okehamptontennisclub.co.uk . They are in a wonderful location with ample parking next to the OCRA sports pavilion, so players can enjoy keeping fit with no passing vehicles polluting the atmosphere. You do not have to join the club to play tennis on the courts - though it is thoroughly recommended if you like to play regularly - you can also book and pay online or join the OCRA family membership ocrasport.org.uk/tennis/ which also gives free use of the courts. The O&DTC has regular weekly sessions (Tuesday 6-9pm and Saturday 2-5pm) and also runs ‘Rusty Rackets’ on a Monday, 10am-11.20am. All abilities welcome, just turn up on a Monday

morning to play, for £3. As the courts have an all weather surface, rain does not always ‘stop play’, and with the recent addition of new lighting, play can continue after sundown. For junior budding players, the Saturday mornings coaching has had a ‘facelift’, with new coach Nick Bond keeping the enthusiasm and energy flowing. Membership is again not a necessity, opening the opportunity for all to have a go! Another benefit of joining O&DTC is the chance to take part in the Exeter League and the East Devon Tennis League. All competitive team members are encouraged to participate with two ladies doubles teams, a mixed doubles team and a men’s doubles team taking part. These leagues run in the two

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

With the country coming out of lockdown, the O&DTC committee is looking to hold its long awaited annual meeting. There is always the need for keen members to get involved, support and run an enthusiastic club - just contact one of the members for further information www. okehamptontennisclub.co.uk With the summer months here the committee is looking to run some inter-club competitions, reinstate Family Sunday sessions and restart the friendly tennis sessions with other local clubs. With a new look sports pavilion on their doorstep, joining the O&DTC can be a healthy and social step for coming out of the current lockdown. It will be an exciting year to be involved as tennis play for all resumes in the local community.

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FARMING NEWS

Hard work and determination Stuart Luxton reckons it’s a formula for success Hello again everyone. While I’m sat here writing, late as ever, I hope that you are reading this while enjoying a great summer. Normality seems to have returned and I have a feeling we are all due a fantastic spell of weather. I can’t ever remember a spring as bad as this one, dry cold weather with frost after frost where nothing grew. We were all praying for rain, then obviously when it started it never knew when to stop. At last we now have what the farmers call growing weather. Just remember that when your lawns go mad the animals will have plenty to eat, when your lawns are bare livestock farmers have a problem on their hands. The spring lambing and calving season has now finished and we have had a good crop of healthy animals with no major dramas, even with the poor weather conditions. Time is rolling on and we will soon be shearing, silage making and putting the bulls to work. I was always told as you get older time goes by much more quickly and this is very much the case now.

businesses re-open, I kept thinking that the shop would become quieter, but we are fortunate that it just seems to keep growing. We have made good progress on the café extension, a bit slower than I would have liked but I would rather have it right than quick. The enlarged restaurant should be opening in early July and is getting very exciting now. The photo with this article has mum and dad in the background, this is the centerpiece to the café extension, I think this is very fitting, as without them, there would not be a Farmer Luxtons. Dad was from a farming family who rented a farm near Okehampton in the 1940s. When he was four years old, his father sadly passed away - his mum, Hetty, and grandparents could no

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I wanted to open a farm shop for many years before we did, but my dad said that I couldn’t as we supplied another local butcher with animals and we would be staying loyal to them. After some years the situation changed and at this point my dad allowed me to put the wheels in motion to open Farmer Luxtons. It has not been easy but I feel that on the eve of opening the latest extension the shop has become a very successful business. (Hard work and determination might have helped.) If you visit the shop and the coronavirus situation allows you might meet them. Dad likes nothing more than to park his Landrover in the car park, have a coffee and meet the customers.

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longer run the farm, so they moved into Okehampton. Years later he met and married mum, a tradesman’s daughter from Okehampton, they borrowed some money to buy a small farm. Through hard work, determination and some clever moves they gradually expanded until they purchased the original family farm, which is where I now live with my family in the house where my dad was born.

Thank you for taking the time to read this - have a lovely summer everyone. Stuart Luxton

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WHAT’S ON

July 3

Positivity in the Park! Following its award of ‘Much Loved’ status by Fields in Trust UK in 2019, Simmons Park has proved to be an essential lifeline for physical and mental health over the last two years for all that use it. As part of the award a celebration of the park was planned to take place in conjunction with Fields in Trust, Okehampton Town Council and OCRA. The pandemic put paid to last year’s event, so a double celebration has been planned in the Park for Saturday, July 3rd. The family event aims to provide activities and opportunities to enjoy what the park has to offer so fingers crossed for dry weather! Ian Blythe, OCRA general manager, said: ‘This national celebration of green space and parks allows us to showcase the benefit it provides to our community as well as the opportunity to bring the people of the town and surrounding areas together safely, in what has been a difficult time for all things social.’ Fields in Trust champions and supports parks and green spaces by protecting them for people to enjoy in perpetuity. This ethos fits well with the joint ambitions of Okehampton Town Council and OCRA in promoting the positive use of the park to provide a healthy and active place for the inhabitants of and visitors to Okehampton.

Last year’s record breaking sale. Picture by Chris Walpole

July 10

Car Boot Sale Last September’s car boot sale at Belstone Cricket Ground was the most popular ever, with 63 ‘boots’ and over 200 ‘buyer’ cars. On Saturday, July 10th the next sale at the ground gives a chance to get rid of all the stuff you’ve sorted out during this year’s lockdown. As usual, sellers can arrive from 9am to set up, price £5 for cars and £6 for vans. Please note the following new entry arrangements for all buyers which will bring the sale into closer agreement with other venues: anyone arriving before the official opening time of 10am pays £2 as before; everyone else arriving after 10am pays £1 to enter (£1 per car or £1 per walking group of up to four). For more details please phone 01837 840498.

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WHAT’S ON

July 18

Okehampton is throwing a party! Following a year which has been devastating for live music, music fans, businesses and let’s face it, the mental health of the population, local musician Dave Rich has organised a day of live music and celebration in Okehampton on Sunday, July 18th. Dave said: ‘The idea was to have a music day using great venues we already have in the town. I want this to be a success for everyone involved and the local support for Okey Music Day has been amazing, with local residents, organisations and businesses donating to make it happen – a massive

heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated!’ There are currently five stages – The King’s Arms Mike Rice Memorial Stage (Mike was a very loved musician in the town who sadly succumbed to Covid this year), The London Inn Stage, The Music & Bean Stage, The St James Chapel Stage and the Okehampton Museum Stage. All stages will be free entry and will feature bands such as The Hummingbirds, The Dockneys and Rushwood & Co, through to folk acts

and more traditional music. The event is being supported with a £2,000 grant from Okehampton United Charities, for which the organisers are very grateful. For a full line-up see okeymusicday. co.uk.

July 18, 24 & 25

Open Gardens Two very different gardens are open for charity in July - Pangkor House near Hatherleigh, and Hotel Endsleigh near Tavistock. Pangkor House is a quirky and highly personal garden with sculptures and random artefacts hidden within the borders. It has a freeform lawn with a series of grass paths with spectacular views over Dartmoor. There is also a wild meadow, wild garden, Zen garden, courtyard garden and a pond area with a waterfall. The garden is open on

Saturday, July 24th and Sunday, July 25th from 1.30pm to 5pm. Home-made teas available, admission £5. The gardens at Hotel Endsleigh are designed in three parts; a formal garden around the house, a picturesque dell with pleasure dairy and a rockery plus arboretum. The formal gardens have the Long Border, grass terrace, croquet lawn and a unique Shell House, plus a 100-metre rose arch, and the arboretum includes some wonderful Champion trees. The garden is open on Sunday,

July 18th between 11am and 4pm. Admission £8. Both gardens are opening for the National Garden Scheme which raises money to support Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Hospices UK, Carers Trust and other nursing and caring charities. Pre-booking is available. Please check www.ngs. org.uk for up-to-date information and current Covid restrictions.

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WHAT’S ON

July 19 - 25

Sports Week is Back for 2021! The benefits of sport, fitness and leisure pursuits has never been more important and Okehampton Community and Recreation Association (OCRA) is ramping up the opportunities for people to be active and positive in Simmons Park, Okehampton. OCRA is running its hugely successful Sports and Fitness Festival again to showcase the opportunities on offer to the people of Okehampton, its Hamlets and the surrounding areas, culminating in its popular Super Sporting Sunday on July 25th from 10am. The day provides a family activities and the option to try new things including archery, fitness sessions, swims, tennis, putting,

July 17

fencing, runs or walks, badminton, table tennis, putting, trampolining and even a climbing wall. Refreshments will be provided by the Pavilion in the Park and the event has been supported by key funding partners Okehampton United Charities as they continue their mission to support positive projects for all residents of Okehampton and its Hamlets. Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council have also provided funding support for the event, while key sports clubs for hockey, running, football, tennis, fencing and gymnastic and trampolining are also providing support to showcase their sports and clubs.

Ian Blythe, OCRA general manager, said: ‘We have previously hosted this event for more than 800 people and we hope families and people of all ages are enjoying the benefits on body and mind of physical activity. ‘We hope by providing the opportunities and facilities, Okehampton College, Fusion Lifestyle and OCRA empowers and inspires all to stay active and healthy.’

Transport Group Coffee Morning A charity which provides a vital service in the Okehampton area will be holding a fundraising coffee morning in the town’s Charter Hall on July 17th. The event, run by Okehampton District Community Transport runs between 9am and noon - there will be plenty of stalls in addition to tea, coffee and Pete’s Homebake - all welcome! In addition, the transport group is hoping

to recruit a volunteer driver with D1 on their licence to drive its 15-seater minibus for the regular lifestyle trips. These are all-day trips in which people are picked up from their homes at 9am, to be returned by around 4pm. Recent outings have included visits to Homeleigh Garden Centre and Sidmouth - trips being planned include some to Tavistock, Ikea, Barnstaple, Topsham and Trago Mills.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Group manager Sue Wonnacott said: ‘We will soon put on some extra midweek trips, perhaps some just for lunch out, as some clients can only be away for short times due to their doggy pals! We also welcome suggestions for new outings.’ If you are interested in finding out more, please ring Sue on 01837 55000.

WHAT’S ON

July 24 - August 13

Fingle Woods Exhibition Stories from people who have lived, worked in or loved this iconic Dartmoor wood including old photos, film or audio recordings, letters, postcards, or memories and quotes form the basis of a fascinating exhibition being held at the woods this summer. The exhibition will feature events, artwork and sculpture, photography and entertaining re-enactments by a living history group, as well as online videos and resources plus activities taking place along the river path and at the hill fort.

on a one-legged charcoal burner’s stool, designed to topple over if they fell asleep.’

The exhibition celebrates the end of the five year National Lottery Heritage Fund’s project that kicked started the Woodland Trust and National Trust’s collaboration to restore 825 acres of ancient woodland in the Teign Valley.

Much of the Fingle site is ancient woodland; it features an iron age hill fort and the ruins of a 19th century mill, both excavated as part of the project. From the 1930s the woods became the site of an innovative forestry experiment led by the Elmhirsts of the Dartington Estate, where areas of native broadleaf trees were replanted with conifers.

Community engagement officer Eleanor Lewis said: ‘Fingle Woods is steeped in history and the project has uncovered many fascinating stories and memories of people connected to the woods, whether they worked here or visited on a family holiday. One of the stories I found most evocative is of children tending charcoal kilns overnight in the woods, sitting

The Woodland Trust and National Trust bought the woods in 2013. It’s the first venture of its kind between the two organisations, which have been gradually restoring the woods and returning them to their former glory.

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WHAT’S ON

August 29

Rotary Summer Fair Okehampton Rotary Club has continued with its work supporting local charities and good causes despite the Coronavirus Pandemic as much as possible, but it had not been possible to run the usual fund-raising events. That is hopefully, set to change after June 21st if the government is able to lift the restrictions which have so dramatically affected all our lives. The first big event planned is a Summer Fair on Sunday, August 29th in Simmons Park. This is one of the Club’s biggest events and, given the green light, will go ahead. There will be the traditional duck races, hopefully a dog related event, the Ukelele band, OCRA’s sporting activities and tea and cakes provided by the Inner Wheel plus the popular BBQ and many stalls offering a variety of products and information. Other events, including a coffee morning and Christmas lunches are planned for later in the year. The money raised at

these enables Rotary to support local and overseas charities and good causes and the club is always grateful for the public’s support. For more information please go to www. rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1048 and the Rotary Club of Okehampton Facebook page or call Rotary Club president Hugh McPhillips on 07999 774224.

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WHAT’S ON

August 28 - September 5

Dartmoor Walking Festival 2021 Since the first event in 2016 the festival has been a great success - and the very positive feedback really supported the idea of it becoming an annual event, which is absolutely fabulous. Since then it has grown and grown and now regularly raises more than £1,000 every year for the Devon Air Ambulance charity. In 2021 we are again holding the Dartmoor Walking Festival, from Saturday, August 28th until Sunday, September 5th, with full details online on the www.moorlandguides.co.uk website. Being the last week of the summer holiday, which encompasses the August Bank Holiday weekend,

it will hopefully allow our visitors to stay on just the extra week to enjoy all that Dartmoor has to offer. We will be putting on several events each day during the nine-day festival, ranging from modest guided strolls and children’s rambles to full day walks and more ambitious challenges! There really will be something for everyone, including ‘accessible’ events for the less mobile in partnership with the ‘Disabled Ramblers’ Association. The week is only limited by your imagination, so come along and explore Dartmoor on your doorstep and find out much more about this incredibly special place.

Simon Dell Moorland Guides 07845 176870 Email enquiries@moorlandguides.co.uk

August 29

Chagford Two Hills Race returns! Chagford Runners are thrilled to announce the return of the event on Sunday, August 29th at the War Memorial Playing Fields. The later date gives a greater chance of being able to hold the race in its traditional format. Due to unavailability of the chip timing company and a clash with Lustleigh Show Race, the race is unable to take place on Bank Holiday Monday this year.

The committee have been working hard and now have a fantastic new logo and website thanks to local designers Matt Tanner and Anna Needham. See www. twohillsrace.co.uk This year ALL entries will be online, either via the website, or via a link on the Facebook page - The Chagford Two Hills Race.

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Early bird entry prices £5 (juniors) and £10 (adults) available until the end of July. Prices then rise to £6 and £12. Please note the race limit is 220 and no entries will be taken on the day. Entries will close at midday on Friday, August 27th, or before if the race is full. Registration opens at 9.30am, the race starts at 11.30am. There will be all the usual family fun, entertainment, refreshments, and licensed bar. Local organisations are able to have a stall at the event such as tombola, white elephant, plants, books games. If BRITand AIN’S BEST you are interested, C please get L ASSinICtouch DEST INATIOno via the contacts below. Please N food, 2018 cake or refreshment stalls.

Over 130 vintage and classic vehicles including cars, motorcycles 2018 lightTop commercials pre-1920 to2018 the 1990s Voted and in the 10 Classicfrom Destinations Now with over 150 plus motoring artefacts and automobilia vintage Over and classic vehicles including cars,motorcycles and light cars, motorcycles The committee is always looking for 130including vintage and classic vehicles including age and classic vehicles cars, motorcycles IN ASSOCIATION

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commercials from pre-1920s to the 1990s, plus automobilia

extra marshals and help - if you would and lightto3rd, commercials from pre-1920 to the 1990s ht commercials from pre-1920 the 1990s Opening Times: May18th to October 6 days a week, Tues - Sun 11:30am - 4:30pm like to be involved please contact Sheila October 6th to October 31st, 5 days a week, Wed - Sun 11:30am - 4:30pm plus motoring artefacts and automobilia Mead 07754 547448 or Kate Webber lus motoring artefacts and automobilia The Old Bus Depot, Court St, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8LG Tel:01647 440636 www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk

The Old Bus Depot, Court St, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8LG Tel:01647 440636 www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk

The Old Bus Depot, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8LG • 01647 440636 The Old Bus Depot, Court St, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8LG The Old Bus Depot, Court St, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8LG www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk Tel:01647 440636 www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk Tel:01647 440636 www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk

3 8LG co.uk

07834 999478 or email 2hillsrace@ gmail.com

The Old Bus Depot, Court St, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8LG Tel:01647 440636 www.moretonmotormuseum.co.uk

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MUSIC AND ART

Mariners Away – Dartmoor’s Shanty Singers! The current hype on shanty songs comes as no surprise to South Zeal shanty singers, Mariners Away, who have been singing at festivals throughout the South West for over a decade. Mariners Away usually perform with ten to 12 singers in the ‘crew’ at festivals including Falmouth International Shanty Festival, Lyme Regis and Dartmoor Folk Festivals, Widecombe Fair and many others. They have also sung at weddings - and funerals! Trev Munkenbeck, a a singer and songwriter with Mariners Away, said: ‘The popularity of shanties is down to the rhythm of the songs, and choruses which can be easily learned. They were work songs on the old sailing ships and each song would have related to the rhythm needed for a particular task, be

it raising the anchor or hauling up the sails.’ Mariners Away are in concert at the Sidmouth Folk Festival with one of the South West’s top folk singers, Jim Causley, and their ongoing events, and music, can be found on their website at www.marinersaway.org.uk

One of the main attractions of shanty singing is they can be sung by anyone and Mariners Away welcome anyone who wants to come along and meet them. The main qualification is to be able to give and take a lot of friendly leg-pulling! For more information call Trev on 07737 735400.

July 15 – September 18

Moth Sarah Gillespie’s exquisite mezzotint engravings, silverpoint drawings and artist’s book are a testament to her deep concern for the natural world. This exhibition has given impetus to an important new body of work which Greenhill Arts at Moretonhampstead is delighted to show, emphasising the much maligned moth’s extraordinary delicate beauty, while highlighting the vital role the species play as a necessary food source for a myriad amphibians and birds.

that comes from participation in the whole complex, entangled fabric of life, speaking to us urgently of the dark, of the earth, of all it is we cannot see. That which we know and love, we are far less inclined to destroy, and it is at the edge of a wing that love waits.’

Sarah explained that she wasn’t looking for moths when she started drawing them around ten years ago: ‘They came and found me,’ she said. ‘Their numbers are in appalling decline but for me their presence has become ever more insistent. I see in their short lives a glory See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

This exhibition is supported by Devon Wildlife Trust - a piece of Sarah’s work is due to be sold with proceeds going to the Trust.

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MUSIC AND ART

A magical story, by a lady who meant so much. Paula Gover-Simpson of North Tawton sadly passed away in February 2020, much loved by her family and friends. She was a vivacious and inspiring character, who now thanks to her family, leaves the legacy of her creative skill and imagination. Known as Paul, she and her husband moved to Devon in 2015 to be nearer family and grandchildren. Before her move to the South West, Paul had a long and varied career in the arts. Her childhood, though marked by asthma and pneumonia, was artistic - her father was a music hall performer and she was taught to sing by her aunt Mabel, a concert pianist. She always had an active imagination, even as a child immersing herself in a fantasy world, creating stories and plays for her dolls. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dance she became a member of the Scottish National Ballet. After her ballet career came to an end, Paul choreographed and directed local amateur dramatic societies. This included working with various children’s choirs, in particular ‘Giocosa Cantabile’

which won several awards for their fourpart harmony elements. She was also a founder of Artform, an amateur dramatic group in Kent. Her move to Devon was the catalyst for her to combine her passion for music and fairies - a series of stories was in the making. One of her last wishes was to be a published author, a task which has now fallen to her youngest daughter Lyssa. ‘Faye and The Music Fairies – The Clef Crystal’ is the first book of a series of six now available on Amazon. Through learning the piano, the story tells of Faye’s adventures as she transcends into another world, full of enchanted creatures.

fairy herself, we miss her dearly, this is our way of keeping her flame alive.’ Paul’s memory, creativity and wonderful imagination can now be enjoyed by generations to come, the stories of a one-of-a-kind, real-life fairy who loved to sing and play with magic.

Lyssa said: ‘It’s been a really emotional time for everyone - my family and I wanted to mark mum’s passing a year ago with something that would have meant the world to her. ‘Mum would have been over the moon for people to be able to read her stories. In many ways we believed she was a

Summer Exhibitions Dartmoor’s Art Gallery

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info@wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk www.wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Pairing wines with barbecued foods Dave Anning has some summery suggestions Much has changed since I last wrote - welcome back! But locked down or living it up, we’ll all be firing up the barbecue this summer. After all, we’re British and reducing succulent meat and vegetables to charcoal is what we do at this time of year - sadly not much pairs with carbon, so keep an eye on that barbecue! You may recall sauces are critical because they have strong flavours you need to pair with - especially trendy hot sauces. With spice, red wine drinkers should look for something fruity and juicy like Sangiovese. The easier option is a cool, low alcohol white - maybe even a little sweetness to counter the heat. With sweet sauces a smoky Rioja or Pinotage are good red choices, while the best all-round white is probably Sauvignon Blanc, aromatic and with clearly defined flavours. Meat forms the basis of many barbecues. Primitivo has deep, dark fruit that can be so intense it gives an impression of sweetness despite being dry. It has enough tannin to balance both fat and strong umami flavours in stronger barbecued red meat such

as beef (umami means savoury and salty). Don’t forget - the more crispy and flavoursome the meat, the more tannic the wine can be - big Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based Bordeaux can really shine - just watch the alcohol! With lighter (or less burned!) meat such as pork or chicken (when barbecued they’re similar for pairing purposes) drink lighter reds, or whites with body. Red lovers could consider Bonarda. Overshadowed by Malbec, Argentina’s Bonarda is more obviously fruity than its famous neighbour, and is great easy drinking - Merlot drinkers will love Bonarda! White fans should consider full-bodied Viognier or fresh, zesty Chenin Blanc. Don’t forget rosés. Hints of red fruit add a dimension, especially if you’re making a sticky sauce. Fish is challenging on the barbeque hence it often ends IN the barbeque - but can be delicious. The right wine will refresh your palate to appreciate those light, delicate flavours. Zippy Picpoul-de-Pinet works brilliantly and grows overlooking the sea. Grilling adds

flavour so you can also increase body and flavour - try to find an Appassimento Grillo from Italy. Vegetables, alone or on a kebab, become deeply flavoursome when seared, so you can drink more robust wine than you might think. White Bordeaux has a wonderful combination of aromatic, nicely balanced acidity from Sauvignon Blanc and softer, honeyed Chenin Blanc. Salads often have strong sauces too. For Italian dressing think Verdicchio, a Caesar dressing deserves a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc - and blue cheese dressing needs real acidity to cut through the richness - better hope the guests haven’t drunk all the Picpoul! Dave Anning

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FOOD & DRINK

Ham Hock Terrine This delicious recipe from the chef at The Bearslake Inn is sure to impress at a dinner party!

Difficulty: Medium Preparation time: 720 mins Cooking time: 240 mins Serves: 12 1.5 kg ham hock (1 large or 2 smaller ones) 1 pig’s trotter, sliced down the length (optional) (will add flavour and natural gelatine) 2 litres water, cold 1 bouquet garni (2 bay leaves, 5g parsley, 2g thyme) 8 black pepper corns, whole 1 large carrot, cut into 4 along its length 2 celery sticks, cut in half width wise 1 onion, white, medium, peeled, cut into 6 1.5 gelatine leaves, soaked in cold water to soften and drained 40g white wine vinegar 35g parsley, flat leaf, blanched for 15 seconds and roughly chopped Place ham hocks, trotters and vegetables into a large pan and cover with water. Place onto the heat and bring to the boil. Skim the impurities from the top and return to a simmer until the meat is falling from the bones (about 4 hours). Once the meat is cooked thoroughly, strain through a sieve over a large bowl, separating the meat from the vegetables. Stir the softened gelatine and white wine vinegar into the

cooking liquor. Reserve. You will only need 400g of cooking liquor to set the terrine. Flake the meat from the hock, reserving three large pieces following the muscles of the hock. Add the rind to the flaked meat. No additional seasoning should be necessary as the hock will have natural seasoning from its cure. Mix in the drained vegetables and chopped parsley. To build the terrines you will need to line two terrine moulds with two layers of cling film. Ensure you have enough clingfilm overlapping the sides to completely cover the top. Fill the moulds with half of the flaked meat and cover with the reserved cooking liquor (with gelatine). Add the remaining meat and fold over the cling film top. Press a couple of blocks of butter or tins into the top to weigh it down and chill in a fridge overnight. Once the terrine has had time to set, gently remove from the mould and tightly wrap in two more layers of cling film so it will be easy to cut. Slice the terrine into 12 slices, laying them onto a flat serving dish, removing the cling film as you do so. To serve, place the pickled baby onions on the side of the plate and serve with a couple of slices of freshly baked crusty sourdough bread.

Moor than just a pu ... 01837 861 334 • Sourton, nr Okehampton EX20 4HQ • c f • www.bearslakeinn.com See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

HISTORY

Museum brings Dartmoor to life New film will boost education for children The Museum of Dartmoor Life based in Okehampton has recently been working in collaboration with Entertainingly Different and Autaura Productions to create five short films to educate, entertain, inspire and excite children who currently can not visit. The films were shot and edited by Matt Biggs and feature Rob Pudner, who also story-boarded and scripted the pieces. They are joined by well known Devon folk singer/songwriter, Jim Causley. Rob plays a time travelling curator who jumps between the museum and relevant locations within the Dartmoor National Park, with just a click of his fingers. Jim plays button accordion while singing traditional folk songs to embellish the stories and he also performs one of his own compositions.

engage local performer Rob Pudner who has a wealth of experience and expertise in working with children of all ages facilitating expressive arts workshops across the county and beyond.’ Museum manager Kristy Turner, who worked alongside Rob developing film ideas and identifying museum artefacts to be featured, said: ‘We want children to see how fun, exciting and important learning about our past can be. By bringing together historic objects, stunning locations, a fun character and great traditional music the team has created something really special that can be enjoyed by everyone.’ Each of the five films focuses on a different area of Dartmoor’s rich history. They look at life during prehistoric, medieval and also Victorian times as well as the importance of mining and farming to the area. Rob interacts

with the viewers asking questions and playing guessing games. Rob said: ’I have always been fascinated with museums and absolutely love everything about Dartmoor, so it has been a great pleasure and privilege to be part of this exciting project. I feel it is so important that young people understand their past as this in turn allows them to embrace their present and forge their future.’ The films have been sent out to schools all over Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset to give teachers the opportunity to use them in the classroom as an alternative to a museum visit. By the end of the month they will also be released on The Museum of Dartmoor Life Facebook page, @dartmoorlife Instagram page and on YouTube and the Museum website. The museum re-opened it’s doors on

Due to Covid 19 restrictions the museum was unable to open for most of last year. The trustees, manager and volunteers felt they needed to find new ways to educate digitally, particularly as school visits had ceased. Jan Goffey, trustee and Okehampton town councillor, said: ‘I suggested we 54

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HISTORY

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Monday, May 24th at 10am when the new Mayor of Okehampton, Bob Tolley, cut the ribbon and welcomed everyone back.

Kristy also paid tribute to everyone who had submitted artwork, photographs, films, diaries, poetry and prose to the Covid memories collection.

Kristy added: ‘We are very excited to be hosting one of the fabulous Moor Otters - Frida La Vida, designed by Luna Redhead. Frida can be found in our reception area and our lovely volunteers can give you lots of interesting information about her.

‘It is really important that we keep an archive of these times for future generations to learn from,’ said Kristy. ‘If anyone has anything they would like to share please get in touch.

‘In the John Young Gallery we have “From Moor to Coast”, an exhibition of mixed media work from Sue Hill, Clare Barton and Luna Redhead, which is on display until the end of July. ‘Then “Perspectives of Rural Life”, an exhibition from the children of Okehampton Primary School art club. The quality of their work is outstanding. This will run until the beginning of September.’ Any artists looking for a place to exhibit should get in touch with Kristy at the museum.

‘The museum would particularly like to hear from people who carried on with their jobs during these difficult times. Let us know how Covid affected your day to day. We would love memories from the emergency services, doctors, nurses, dentists, vets, teachers, undertakers, supermarket staff, anyone.’ During lock down archivist Paul Hambling continued to digitally help out people with their research queries - there have been enquiries from Australia, New Zealand and closer to home and he is very happy to help.

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WINNIE’S WALK

Dedicated to Winnie This walk has been kindly written (and walked) for us by Denise Horner of Dartmoor Nordic Walking. It is dedicated to the memory of Winnie, Denise’s beautiful working Cocker Spaniel, who passed away just recently. Denise said: ‘We had to say goodbye to our Winnie after a short and unexpected illness. She was our world. But her book and walks will live on.’

An undulating walk with hills, moors and woodland where bluebells abound in spring This is a circular walk starting at Belstone Car Park, taking in Halstock (the bluebell) woods, Lower Halstock Farm and Cullever Steps - a great place for a wild swim. Park at the waterworks and take the gate out onto the moors. Up and to your left is Watchet Hill with the flag pole and Belstone Common beyond. It is safe to do this walk even if the red flag is flying. Follow the gravel track along side the wall. When you arrive at the corner, take the grass track to your right to the opposite corner at the end of the wall and head straight down the hill. As you come over the brow of the hill, in front of you, you will see the East Okement River below and a track

Winnie Mae Horner: April 15th, 2012 - April 20th, 2021

crossing your path right to left. Walk over this track, heading down towards the river where you will pick up a narrow gravel track heading down to your right. Keep on this track with the river on your left. The track slowly angles closer to the river. You will arrive at the bridge and a flat area which is very popular for camping. Cross the small bridge by the ford and into Halstock Wood, where the bluebells in spring are an amazing sight.

a gate, a small field and into the yard of Halstock Farm. You will see a footpath sign on your right, pointing to your next destination on the left (not past the farmhouse which is straight on), take this track up the hill, through a few gates and onto the open moors at East Bowden. Turn left and stay on this track, heading for a small stone wall with trees (don’t take the path that forks left from this track).

After crossing the bridge, turn right and follow the track which gradually starts to go uphill. It can be a bit rough in places. Coming to a post with markers on, take the track uphill to your left, continuing through the woods and eventually through a gate and into the open. Follow the worn path along the open moor towards the right hand end of the wall. The path continues to follow the wall, which will now be on your left hand side, taking you through

Walking along you will now see the open moor and Belstone Tor to your left, with Winter and Higher Tor in front of you. The track will now take you downhill towards the East Okement River once again, the ford and Cullever steps, a natural pool, great for a wild swim!

Winnie’s NEW BOOK available to order online now Web www.walkswithwinnie.co.uk Email winnie@walkswithwinnie.co.uk

c Walks with Winnie on Dartmoor

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By Denise Horner Illustrated and designed by Sara Nunan

Mobile 07944 630677

Cross the river now, staying on the track and heading left. Continue on this track all the way back to the water works at

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WINNIE’S WALK

Belstone, passing Scarey Tor on your left. We hope you enjoy this walk, but if you prefer to walk with company, please do join us - meet at Belstone Car Park for 10am on Saturday, July 31st. Places need to be booked in advance at www.dartmoornordicwalking.co.uk

www.dartmoornordicwalkng.co.uk www.pentranger.co.uk

Dogs are welcome! For more details please phone Denise on 07944 630677 or email denise@ dartmoornordicwalking.co.uk

‘Dartmoor Nordic Walking’ and ‘Walks with Winnie’ are on Facebook. Time: Approximately 1.5 hours. Distance: 6K (3.7 miles) Approximately: 10,000 steps. Start point- Belstone Car Park An undulating walk with hills, moors and woodland where bluebells abound in spring

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Oke Links July/August 2021

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