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New status for Moretonhampstead
Moretonhampstead has joined over 600 communities across the UK that can call themselves ‘Fairtrade’ Towns’. In doing so, Moretonhampstead is helping small producers across the globe to achieve a fair price for their goods. Since 2008 Devon County Council has supported this initiative, and Exeter has been a Fairtrade Town since 2004. Tavistock, Okehampton, North Tawton, Bovey Tracey and Chudleigh are also in the scheme. There are over 6,000 fairly traded products from tea coffee and bananas to wine, beauty products and even gold. All have the Fairtrade logo to prove it! Lionel Holmes, who has spearheaded the campaign in Moretonhampstead, said: ‘Many local businesses have thought carefully about how they can make a difference by sourcing quality products that are also fairly traded. ’St Andrew’s Church has sourced and used Fairtrade products for a number of years, as has our local Co-op which currently has Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar available in the store. After canvassing for local support, many Moretonhampstead businesses, organisations, accommodation providers have been keen to offer, use and promote Fairtrade goods. The support of our parish council has been key to the success of the initiative and Cllr Penny Simpson has attended our meetings.’
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Greg Brown Manager of Moretonhampstead Co-op, Pic by Lionel Holmes
Fairtrade fortnight, held annually at the end of February, has inevitably been a low key affair this year, but by talking about the benefits of Fairtrade and offering an ever increasing range of Fairtrade products we are helping to make a difference to the lives of farmers and workers around the world.
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Could your churchyard be a winner?
During the pandemic, Devon’s residents have appreciated the green spaces around their churches like never before - now Devon CPRE is inviting churches of all denominations to enter this year’s competition to find the ‘Best Churchyard’ in the county. Following a year with little to celebrate, Devon CPRE applauds volunteers helping to maintain and ‘green up’ Devon’s churchyards. During the challenging months of lockdown, many churchyards have become real sanctuaries for the local community - not just churchgoers. The judges are not seeking the most pristine or manicured churchyards. They are looking for those which are wellmanaged to provide a peaceful haven for people and wildlife. Each entry is visited by the judges and assessed on a range of criteria, including the measures put in place to increase biodiversity. Penny Mills, Director of Devon CPRE, said: ‘Devon has hundreds of beautiful churchyards and they’ve really come into their own during the challenging circumstances of 2020. We want to really celebrate these special places in 2021.’ CPRE Devon trustee and fellow churchyard judge Ivan Buxton praised the standard of entries year on year: ‘We were particularly impressed by the careful management South Tawton churchyard, 2018 winner of these ancient burial grounds to create sanctuaries for the living. Measures have included bug hotels, mini-beast trails, ponds, bird boxes, composting areas, wildflower meadows and even gardens producing fruit, vegetables and herbs for parishioners to enjoy.’ Because of Covid-19 restrictions, last year’s competition had to be run differently. The judges waited until after lockdown to begin their on-site inspections. There was no official prizegiving ceremony, but the winner and runner-up were presented with their trophies in person, observing strict social distancing. This year’s competition will be conducted along similar lines. There’s a top prize of £200 and a beautiful oak plaque, made in Devon from sustainable wood, for the winning churchyard. The deadline for entries is March 31st. For information and to enter go to www.devoncpre.org.uk
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Moretonhampstead-Chagford Greenway
New cycle path project
Campaigners are delighted that more than 1,000 people have completed a questionnaire regarding a proposed extension of the Wray Valley Trail to Chagford – with a 98% positive response. Respondents were asked to suggest a name for the extension and ‘The Greenway’ was the overwhelmingly popular choice. It was very clear from many comments that safety is a huge issue – especially to parents. It is simply too dangerous to allow children to bicycle, walk or ride ponies along single track roads with many blind corners. Cllr Nicky Heyworth, who is spearheading The Greenway Campaign, said: ‘We have seen how popular the traffic-free multi-use Stover Way/Wray Valley Trail has become. Over 515 people a day enjoy fresh air and exercise in beautiful, peaceful surroundings. Bringing The Greenway through to Chagford will allow families to bicycle or walk or ride safely between the towns for leisure, health and work.’ Nicky and Claire Ash Wheeler will join Iain Stewart of SUSTRANS to ask Devon County Council to lead a transformational expansion of the multi-use trail network across the South West.
Nicky said: ‘We are all aware of the desperate need for safe, outdoor exercise and meeting spaces. The trails will help us meet the target of 68% reduction in emissions by 2030, boost tourism and help our businesses to recover.
‘We are also campaigning to take The Greenway on to Okehampton - connecting with the railway to Exeter, the Granite Way and Tarka Trail would be a huge, strategic leap forward for active, integrated travel.’ ’To support this campaign with a donation go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/thegreenwayproject-feasibility-study
I have an idea for a cycle/shared way between Sticklepath and Okehampton, which is a very popular idea amongst those I’ve asked. Eventually a path for active travel could run across the whole of West Devon from Moretonhampstead to Tavistock if we join up our existing and planned paths. The link between Sticklepath and Okehampton is in the early stages of development at the moment. I have asked for a feasibility study from Sustrans, the national cycleway development charity, which will look at the various options and give guidance and detailed plans. An initial report is due in the next couple of weeks and then the work to get permissions and funding will begin. The scheme has a grant from Okehampton Primary Care Group towards funding the feasibility study. A working group is forming to further this project. Anyone interested can contact me on cllr.Lynn.Daniel@westdevon.gov.uk
Lynn Daniel
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Let’s Get Connected!
The Moretonhampstead-based health and wellbeing charity Wellmoor is setting up an online social and activity group, called Let’s Get Connected.’ The group is for local residents who are receiving domiciliary care at home and who have been socially isolated due to the pandemic or other factors. The group will meet online weekly for 12 weeks starting in March and will involve activities such as art, gentle chair-based dance and music, led by Devon-based professionals. The aim of the project is to help the elderly get connected, both to other isolated individuals in their community with which to have regular social contact, and quite literally connected to the internet if they don’t already have the means of doing so. In consultation with tech experts, the charity will set up an internet connection and provide video calling devices for people who don’t have them, and use the group as a way for them to trial the new connectivity. What’s more, it is totally free for all participants! If you have someone in mind to take part, email Camilla on camilla@ moretonhampstead.com or call 01647 440692.
Local dance instructor Clare Parker is pictured demonstrating moves during an online session.
Time to enjoy Dartmoor - and follow the Ranger code
I am hopeful that by the time this edition of Oke links is published Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and we can all enjoy Dartmoor responsibly together again. When restrictions were lifted last year we saw huge pressures placed upon both the farming communities and the very fabric of the fragile moorland landscape. It’s times like this we really appreciate having such a wonderful landscape on our doorstep - however, please help us maintain Dartmoor’s special qualities by following the Ranger code: • Please take you litter home • Keep your dog on a lead during the lambing and bird nesting season (March
1st – July 31st) • Please don’t feed the ponies • Please use a campsite or check our website • No open fires • Please remember that the roads and bridleways are a shared space Due to the Covid-19 restrictions we had to suspend all volunteering days and activities but as restrictions are lifted, we will be looking for volunteers to join us again. If you are a regular volunteer or would be interested in trying, please go to www.Dartmoor.gov.uk for more information. I hope you all enjoy Dartmoor this spring.
Simon Lee Dartmoor Ranger
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Delicious drink helps Buglife
Moretonhampstead-based Papillon Gin has launched a fascinating new product in collaboration with Chagford resident and TV wildlife presenter, Nick Baker. The new gin is called Carabus in recognition of the Blue Ground Beetle, a nocturnal insect found in the ancient woodlands of Dartmoor - and the distillery is donating to the Buglife charity to help protect it. Blue Ground Beetle adults can grow to 3cm long and have long wiry limbs to help them climb up trees to find their prey. They have large protruding jaws to capture slugs and suck out their insides! First discovered in 1811, it was presumed extinct until 1985, when it was rediscovered on Dartmoor. It is estimated Dartmoor represents over 80% of the Blue Ground Beetle population in the UK.
Claire Hyne of Papillion Gin said: ‘Not content with just reading about the beetle, we joined Nick one night to explore a local woodland with John Walters, the Blue Ground Beetle expert, to seek out this elusive bug. We were lucky enough to spot a few. ‘In honour of this rare Dartmoor beetle, we have chosen woodland botanicals for our Carabus gin. Instead of the
Pictures by Nick Baker
traditional citrus we have used rowan and hawthorn berries which give a fruity roundness to the flavour. Nettles and wood sorrel provide fresh notes. Roasted hazelnuts and a hint of vanilla leave a lovely pearly, lasting finish.’ To help protect the Blue Ground Beetle, Papillon Gin is donating £2 from every 70cl Carabus bottle sale to Buglife, the UK invertebrate charity. Claire added: ‘It is no surprise that we have teamed up with Buglife because we already donate to Butterfly Conservation with our other two gins; Papillon and The Admiral. ‘Nick has been very enthusiastic to be involved in our new product and was delighted when we chose the Blue Ground Beetle to focus our gin around.’ Nick said: ‘Every delicious sip is putting money into a local conservation project to help secure the woodland habitats of this local hidden Dartmoor jewel. It’s perfect.’
AWARD WINNING GINS DISTILLED ON DARTMOOR
Vital support in emergencies
Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) has recently revealed its mission statistics for 2020, showing how vital its service is to the people of Devon, even during a pandemic and continuing lockdown periods. Throughout the year the charity was tasked to attend more than 1,500 incidents across Devon and were, on many occasions, also called to assist in neighbouring counties. Of those missions, 590 were to help patients with medical emergencies (those suffering with a medical condition) and 912 trauma-related incidents (accidents and injuries caused by slips, trips, falls, burns and collisions). Crews assisted 607 male and 261 female patients, plus 68 children who also needed their expert care. July was DAA’s busiest month of the year and Sunday their busiest day of the week. This is thought to be due to many people taking time out for t hobbies and pastimes at the weekend, as well as those carrying out home improvement plans that don’t always go as smoothly as intended. Two of the most common sporting groups they were tasked to were equestrian-related (38) and cyclists (29).
Nigel Hare, patient services operations director, said: ‘Following the initial reduction in call-outs to patients during the first lockdown, 2020 has been busy and challenging for our service. The school summer holiday period is always busy for Devon Air Ambulance, but in 2020, demand for our service remained very high from April right through to October.
‘Although November brought a brief return to normal levels, the number of patients we have deployed to in December, and so far during January, has been similar to the number we normally respond to in summer.’ Being tasked to 406 incidents, the two rapid response Critical Care cars introduced by DAA in February 2020 have made a significant contribution to the service. Kitted out with blue lights and the same medical equipment found on board the helicopters, these vehicles can provide a swift response and can sometimes access heavily built-up areas more easily than the air ambulance, which needs an open space to land safely. They also enabled the service to keep continue when the helicopters were temporarily stood down to be made Covid-safe.
Night landing sites have also proved invaluable - 207 missions took place during the hours of darkness. The charity now has over 160 landing sites in Devon providing a safe place to land away from unseen obstacles, enabling the pilot to bring a life-saving service into the heart of those communities up until 2am. DAA is not Government funded but operates thanks to the generosity of the people of Devon. If you would like to support Devon Air Ambulance, visit www.daat.org
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International entries for online show
Ladies look forward to centenary
The concept of online shows is not new but two Dartmoor pony lovers have achieved a remarkable success attracting some 100 entries across 14 classes from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and America as well as Europe, for a ‘Dartmoor Extravaganza’. The shows not only gave amateur and professional producers the chance to share photos of their beautiful ponies, it also raised significant funds for organisations representing the Dartmoor breed.
Debbie Roberts-Jones, one of the organisers, said: ‘I saw that Exmoor and Dales Pony Societies had embraced this idea to generate income and wondered if we were able to do something similar for Dartmoor ponies.’
The first online show raised £600 for the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, while a second was expected to raise more than £500 for the Dartmoor Pony Society.’ Debbie, a key worker at Morrisons who owns a Dartmoor pony plus two fell ponies, said entries poured in, locally, nationally and internationally for the shows.
‘How fantastic that a Dartmoor pony from Australia could quite literally ‘compete’ against a pony in the UK!’ she said. Sue Martin, chair of the Dartmoor Pony Society, said: ‘Twelve months ago, if you had suggested an online pony show, I would have thought that you were mad! We’re so grateful for the support and say a big thank you to Debbie and Lisa, the judges and competitors.’
Fingers are crossed for a special centenary celebration at Okehampton Golf Club this spring. On April 18th, 1921, 13 lady golfers held a meeting to form a Ladies’ Section. Ladies had played golf since the formation of the main club in 1913, but this was their first formal meeting. The first Lady Captain was Mrs Dora Milner, wife of the Reverend FW Milner, Rector of Belstone. Mrs Milner held the captaincy for the first five years and in 1925 also became Okehampton Golf Club’s first, and to date only, lady Club Captain. A handful of ladies continued playing throughout the Second World War, when the lower section of the course was made over to a potato crop. Since those early days, the Ladies’ Section has gone from strength to strength, winning many county competitions and, in 2014, member Abby Turner became Devon County Champion. The section is proud that Doris Jewell is the current Club President, only the second lady to hold this position. Plans are afoot for a year of celebrations, Covid restrictions allowing.
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Centenary Lady Captain Jane Warren said: ‘The ladies have been very supportive of each other throughout times of lockdown when they have been unable to play golf, but we hope that once restrictions have been lifted, we will be able to play golf and remember the ladies who started the Section 100 years ago.’ She said the section welcomes ladies of all standards, especially beginners, to join them at this friendly club and learn to play golf.
Debt management during difficult times
One in seven people have fallen behind on essential bills - including energy, water, mobile phone and broadband bills, council tax, rent or mortgage payments during the coronavirus pandemic. There has never been a more important time to get help if you are struggling to pay bills, for example your rent, loans, energy bills and council tax. Council tax is a priority debt which means you have to pay, however, you might qualify for a council tax reduction if your income has dropped or if you started claiming benefits recently. Contact your local council to see if you qualify for a reduction. If you don’t think you qualify, it’s still worth asking and/or telling them if you’re struggling to pay. It is also worth speaking to an advice charity such Citizens Advice to see if you are getting all the financial help you are entitled to. Citizens Advice’s top tips to help with your debts Work out how much you owe - Make a list and add up how much you need to pay each month. Some creditors will have special arrangements for people with Covid-related arrears.
Prioritise your debts - Rent or mortgage, energy and council tax are priority debts as there can be serious consequences if you don’t pay them. Separate these and work out how much you owe. Speak to your creditor about what support might be available during the pandemic. Work out how much you can pay - Create a budget by adding up your essential living costs and taking these away from your income. Any spare money can be put towards your debts. The Citizens Advice budgeting tool can help. Paying urgent debts - You might have to contact priority creditors quickly in urgent situations, like if you are about to be evicted. Most tenants cannot be evicted without a court order, and there are currently extra protections in place which mean that you are entitled to up to six months’ notice.
Paying non-urgent debts - If you have any money left after paying priority debts, but not enough to make your usual payments, consider getting advice about getting on top of your debts. Or contact your creditors and offer them what you can afford to pay. If you can’t pay your debts - If you’ve got little or no money spare to pay your priority debts seek advice from Citizens Advice straight away. If you’re struggling to pay for basics like food, seek help immediately to see what support might be available to you.
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Grant applications made easier
Businesses in need of financial grants within West Devon are being encouraged to come forward and apply via a new much simpler process. Since November 5th, West Devon Borough Council has paid out £865,182 worth of funding, supporting many businesses across the borough. But with at least 11 different Government grant schemes currently available, the council is very aware how difficult and confusing applications can be. To help, the council has created a much simpler process, which means that application forms will be fast to complete, process and pay. It also means that customers will be issued payments from any of the other 11 available grants, or future ones that follow the same format, which they are eligible for, with a simplified application process. The focus is to pay out as much money as possible, to as many businesses as possible, as quickly as possible, while working within the rules set out. To complete online application forms, businesses will now choose one of three categories: • You haven’t applied for any grants from November 2020 onwards, so you must complete the full application; or • You have completed one full application form since November 2020. You now need to complete the supplementary form; or • You have completed one full application form and the LRSG (Open) form, which went live in December.
In which case you do not need to do anything and you will be contacted if more information is needed.
Like all other councils around the country, there are no warnings of new grants, meaning no time in advance to prepare processes and systems. Council officers have committed to working seven days a week, to support eligible local businesses to gain their grants, so funding should be arriving into accounts very soon. Cllr Neil Jory, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: ‘We have now developed a great process, which will be invaluable to our customers who can more easily and quickly access all of the money they are eligible for in future. ‘By working out this system, which removes the risk of grant errors and automatically checks applications to decide eligibility for each grant, we will save a huge amount of time and ensure that more businesses will benefit under the right schemes. For example, a business may think they are only applying for one grant of £1,000 but could in fact, be in line to receive up to £10,000 from multiple grants. ‘f you have not yet applied for a business grant, please go to the Council’s website because there are still funds coming through from Government.’ For more information, and to apply for a grant, go to www.westdevon.gov.uk/ covid19business
