New Season!

It’s been a long, hard, cold winter, but spring has finally sprung and with it the promise of longer days, warmer weather and blooming countryside. I’ve even taken off a layer of thermals.

Spring always puts me in mind of youth and new beginnings. And I think it’s fair to say that the ‘youth’ in our area often get a bad press. Of course there is the odd ‘bad apple’, just like there is among adults. But there is a horrible tendency to tar all young people with the same brush.

As Mike St John Cooper, the amazing man who run’s Okehampton’s Youth Club, Room 13 (page 8) says, ‘Communities often don’t like the idea of young people hanging round on the street or in the park. More than a couple of them and they’re seen as intimidating’.

It’s a concern addressed by the winner of the writing competition we ran in the last issue. Bill Clatworthy Edwards’ feature (page 21) blows apart the stereotype many have about teenagers. Meanwhile, to further improve the image of ‘yoof’, meet the inspirational Hannah O’Neill and Giles Herd whom I interviewed for this issue (page 10). They may have made me feel old and weary, but they are an enviably fresh-faced, focussed and creative couple who are forging their own professional paths.

Speaking of forging, Sticklepath’s fascinating Finch Foundry is open again for visitors this month; as is the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, which has a wonderful new exhibition exploring the history of dyeing (as in colouring fabric, not breathing your last) on Dartmoor.

In fact, it really is time to get out and about again. There is so much to see and do. Like Chagford’s Farmers Fayre; the MED Theatre’s new production; the fantastic Tavistock Festival; Craft4Crafters big craft show, which you can win tickets to (page 37) ; and no end of exhibitions, concerts and walks.

Go on…breathe in the spring air and have some fun!