Oke Links magazine September/October issue 2020 by Links Magazines

OKE LINKS

September/October 2020 | Issue 21

The Woodland Trust Putting trees first

Heritage Open Days Free virtual visits to enjoy

RHS Garden Rosemoor

Bumper harvest in showcase orchards

Meet the locals

Alpaca owner Helen Markou and her boys! Conservationist Matt Parkins Delivered free by your postman to EX20 1,2 & 4 and TQ13 8, postcodes. Guaranteed circulation of 10,233 homes and businesses

HISTORY

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The deadline date for any inclusions in the Nov/Dec issue of Oke Links will be October 2nd 2020. For all editorial enquiries please contact Jane via email: 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, Claire Pearce

Tim: 07450 161 929 Jane: 07772 619 808

It’s wonderful to be producing a printed edition of Oke Links after such a long time - and I’d like to extend a huge thank you to our much valued contributors and advertisers who have made this issue possible. It’s not been the sort of summer any of us will ever want to see again - yet the last few months have been truly remarkable in the history of mankind. Covid 19 has affected every one of us to a greater or lesser extent - and this quite unique time is the subject of our feature, which concerns the project to record the lockdown months of 2020 being run by the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton. Read how you can get involved on page 4. Our local people this issue have nature close to their hearts - Helen Markou left behind the home counties to raise alpacas on Dartmoor, while Matt Parkins, conservationist and dormouse enthusiast, works hard to protect the very special environment we are so lucky to have on our doorsteps. The environment is also key to the work of the Woodland Trust, the subject of this issue’s charity focus. An organisation which started at a Devon kitchen table, it’s now a major national charity dedicated to the protection of our ancient woodlands. And thinking of greenery, Jon Webster from RHS Rosemoor explains the thinking behind exotic planting and describes the type of plants you’d need to create your own little piece of jungle garden here in West Devon - see pages 28 and 29. Many of us during lockdown rediscovered the joys of walking, making the most of our exercise time and discovering new footpaths and trails in our beautiful neck of the woods. So, if you are a bit fitter now, why not try Winnie’s Walk on pages 46 and 47? It’s a steep one - but the views from the top are worth the effort! I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Oke Links - and don’t forget, if your organisation has a project to shout about, if your group is in need volunteers or you know someone who’d make an interesting ‘local people’ interview, please let me know. Additionally, if group or society meetings are beginning to be held again, I will be happy to start our What’s On Listings pages once more - fingers crossed! Jane Honey, Editor, 07971 917071

Front cover image: Adam Burton - Woodland Trust

27 44 4 Feature

25 Health

39 Music and Art

6 Local People

27 Gardening

42 Food and Drink

10 Noticeboard

30 Farming News

44 History

19 Sport

31 Business

46 Winnie’s Walk

20 Charity Focus

32 Finance

50 Trade Secrets

22 Education

33 What’s On

Delivered by the Royal Mail to the following towns and villages: Okehampton • Moretonhampstead • Chagford • Chichacott Stockley • Belstone • Bondleigh • North Tawton • Sampford Courtenay • Taw Green • Sticklepath • South Zeal • Throwleigh Wonson Lydford • Lewdown • Bridestowe • Gidleigh • North Bovey • Sourton • Meldon • Boasley Cross Bratton Clovelly • Portgate • Lewtrenchard

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

FEATURE

History in the making How can you help? 2020 has seen a momentous episode in world history in which unprecedented changes have been made to everyone’s lives. The coronavirus pandemic has affected the world so dramatically and in such a short period of time, it can hardly be compared with anything else - and the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton wants your help in capturing history as it happens. Future historians will want the breath of real life to illustrate the statistics and data of these incredible times. Therefore, people living in the area are being sought to tell their stories here on Dartmoor and the surrounding towns and villages. Museum trustees feel it is vital to record these feelings, thoughts and experiences now, in the heat of creation, not in the coolness of reflection. They will form part of the collection that tells the story, as it happens to you, your community and the local world in which we live. Trustee Debbie Pritchard said: ‘From the word go, early in March, I can remember talking to my grandchildren and saying I have never lived through anything like this - even my mother who is in her 90s says she has never lived through anything like it. ‘This is a really significant time and I 4

was aware of different feelings I was experiencing when we first went into lockdown, thinking we must take note of such a historic period. ‘My great grandmother lived through the Spanish flu which left her deaf - it had a huge effect on her life and I think this pandemic is going to have an enormous impact on all our lives. I know we are beginning to inch back now, but I suspect for a lot of people, life will never be the same. ‘We always call the Museum of Dartmoor Life the peoples’ story and this is so significant to the people of Dartmoor we need to capture it by whatever means we can, so in the future people can understand what we have lived through.’ All data and submissions received will form part of an historical record held at the Museum of Dartmoor Life and potentially The Devon Record Office. No information will sold to third parties and will be treated in accordance with the museum’s privacy and data protection policies. Memory material can be submitted to the museum in any format: photograph, video, audio recording, letter, drawing, other paper items and should include

information about the piece such as what it is, where/who it came from and date and place. As much background information as possible can be included to give an idea of context. It could reflect the natural world, shopping, feelings or work – it is all valuable in capturing life as it is lived. As an example, below are extracts from a piece written by Jo Firbank of Brightly in June 2020. She wrote: ‘We entered a kind of siege mentality. We shopped very rarely and at tea time to avoid other people. Our Amazon orders went up. ‘Our sleep patterns were disrupted and I woke up anxious in the middle of the night having had lurid dreams. ‘My town of Okehampton has a strange melancholy hanging over it. The streets are nearly deserted. People seem nervous and their eyes look unfriendly, at least as much as I can see over the mask. I go out hoping to be with other people, then find that they are doing their shopping quickly and retreating indoors as if Coronovirus is hanging in the air, a deadly threat all around us. ‘As you walk in Abbeyford Woods near us there is a heady garlic smell by the

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FEATURE

‘In these strange and sad times I have discovered silver linings. My son has discovered cooking and as well as our usual ingredients we are turning our attention to nature’. river. The garlic is called “Ramsons” and you can use it’s profuse waxy leaves, it’s bulb and even its delicate white flower to flavour food. ‘Blue bells, purple vetches, celandine and stitchwort are starting to adorn the Devon Banks and I have time to look up the names of flowers, which is very satisfying even if I immediately forget them again. ‘With no structure to the days, life and time slows down and we can consider more and be really in the moment. Every day seems like a slow Sunday but we can reconnect with Nature. We can recall what is really important to us; love, family, friendship.’ Alan Endacott of Throwleigh remembers attending Throwleigh Archive’s annual meeting, just before lockdown was instigated by the Prime Minister:

given for Christmas and we drank to each other’s future health. There was a sombre mood but one of characteristic British resolve and concern for our fellow villagers. ‘We chatted away, wavering between regular ‘business’ and concerns over the current situation and its implications. There was a certain awkwardness regarding our proximity to each other, it felt very strange not to have warmly greeted each other with hand-shakes and embraces as we would have wished, especially under the circumstances. I have to admit that I surreptitiously brought out some hand gel on more than one occasion during the evening!

‘Our meeting went ahead as it was too late to cancel and it was only a select gathering of seven.

‘Our parting felt rather surreal. We wished each other well and acknowledged that it might be a long while before we met again. Nobody said it but you could see in people’s eyes that we might not all be there the next time we met. A sobering thought to end on.’

‘We greeted each other with jocular elbow touching and Tich produced a bottle of fine red wine he had been

Museum trustees hope to reflect the changes that have happened, whether they are economic, day to day, affecting

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

peoples’ leisure, environment or their health. They would like to hear from people of all ages from all walks of life. Thoughts and memories can include all sorts of things, from the plethora of jokes that suddenly proliferated at the beginning of lockdown, the desire to bake cakes and bread, paint houses and grow vegetables to injuries sustained while following YouTube fitness classes! All submissions should be submitted with the participants’ full name, age or date of birth and a way of contacting them, preferably an email address. Stories and submissions should be made to livinghistory@dartmoorlife.org.uk or The Museum of Dartmoor Life, West Street, Okehampton, EX20 1HQ. Jane Honey

LOCAL PEOPLE

Helen Markou Raising alpacas on Dartmoor It must take an extraordinary amount of courage to give up a high-powered and well-paid job to pursue a dream even more so, when you have no real experience of the realities of that dream and are going it alone. But that’s what Helen Markou has done. She moved to Lydford in April 2019, leaving behind the home counties to take on a six-acre smallholding where she is now raising alpacas, with the idea of organising special walking trails on Dartmoor with these charming animals.

everywhere, Helen learned all she could about this South American species and did several courses in animal husbandry.

Helen, an out-and-out animal lover, said: ‘I fell in love with alpacas in 2008 when I was in Tasmania with my mum. We were told we could feed them and these two gangly creatures came careering down this steep hill towards us - they were so beautiful, they had such different personalities and characters - I got hooked!’

‘I’d finally got to the point where I was fairly senior in my career - but all I did was work, I really needed some kind of life. I found this place and it seemed perfect for what I wanted to do,’ said Helen, who first dipped her toe into the world of farming when she agreed to look after 18 Jacob sheep for a few months, not long after arriving in Lydford. The experience proved useful in advance of getting her alpacas - although she ended up so fond of her woolly charges, she kept five of them as pets!

The small seed of creating a business running alpaca walks was planted and somehow, while working up to 100 hours a week for a software company and flying here, there and

‘I never thought sheep could be so clever,’ said Helen. ‘They have quite distinctive personalities - apparently they can remember a human face for up to two years!’

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LOCAL PEOPLE

‘There’s constantly something to do, but even if I just tick one job off a day, it’s something,’ said Helen cheerfully. As social restrictions eased during the summer, she was able to take up the training again with the help of some willing volunteers and when we met, was looking forward to beginning her first, official alpaca walks from the beginning of August.

Helen’s first seven alpacas arrived in Lydford in December - within three months she had nine. Looking after such an unusual, non-native breed in the wettest of Dartmoor winters must surely have been a baptism of fire? ‘It’s been a massive learning curve,’ Helen admitted. ‘I’d cut alpacas’ toenails before but they were very well behaved; they need vitamin shots every other month throughout the winter - when you are looking at £200 a visit by a vet, you have to learn to do it yourself. And they poo much more than I thought - my God, do they poo! But poo-picking has to be done, and the animals aren’t getting parasites, so it’s got to be working.’ Training the alpacas to walk on a halter out onto the moor was going well and Helen was looking forward to launching her trekking business in March - then coronavirus hit. She was forced to take on a temporary job to pay the bills while also fitting in the farmwork. Completing the renovation of the farmhouse also had to go on the back burner as she worked.

And it seems as though the boys, as she calls Batman, Penfold, Macca, Bubbles, Barney, Mr T and Mr Sharps, are already becoming locally famous, as they race to the fence of their field right opposite the entrance to Lydford Gorge, eager to say hello to passers by and dog walkers. Two of her foster charges have gone back to the breeder to spend the summer on stud duties, though she hopes Bubbles’ much loved brother will return in the autumn. They are charmingly inquisitive animals and Helen said they love walking out on the moor, being able to see the views - as mountain animals, they love the lofty heights, even if the Dartmoor tors aren’t quite as majestic as the Andes! Despite the enormity of the task Helen has set herself, and an unexpected world pandemic to contend with, she remains optimistic for the future, with plans for chickens and a dog to add to the menagerie by Christmas. ‘I love it here - I can’t imagine anything else now,’ she said. Jane Honey

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Matt Parkins Wildlife enthusiast and conservationist Sitting on the rather damp grass in Okehampton’s Old Town Park, Matt showed me a stunning photo of a butterfly he’d just seen. There were just a few families enjoying this lovely spot by the river - which Matt explained was part of a pocket landscape gem in terms of biodiversity. ‘There’s a nice network of wildlife in and around the Okehampton area,’ said Matt. ‘There’s a line of connected woodlands all the way from the Castle, to the golf course, across the A30 even the verges of the A30 are quite a haven for dormice, as they don’t get bothered by cats, dogs or people!’ Matt has been monitoring dormice in the Old Town Park for about ten years now. On this particular day he’d just checked the dormice boxes - he didn’t see any of these tiny nocturnal

creatures as they’d have been in natural nests, high in the woodland canopy, but he’d found three different small mammals including a pygmy shrew - he’d also seen a tiny bank vole. ‘We record data of nationally declining species, although in Devon, they are hanging on in there, particularly round here with these connected woods and landscapes,’ said Matt. ‘Dormice are protected as they are declining so much, but they are an indicator of a healthy woodland. Monitoring dormice I do for fun, but the knowledge I get from it is experience that helps the conservation management I do.’ Matt was brought up in Warwickshire. He went to university in Bradford where he studied environmental management and previously lived in the Lake District and the Brecon Beacons, before moving to Okehampton in 2004, where he now lives with his wife and teenaged daughter.

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Wildlife has always been his hobby - but in the last seven years it’s also become his work. He is an adult education tutor, running wildlife learning sessions and woodland education courses. He’s also keen to support people’s mental health through outdoor learning. On behalf of the Woodland Trust, he’s closely involved with the ecological management of the ancient woodland restoration at Fingle Woods near Moretonhampstead, and Bovey Valley Woods near Bovey Tracey. In these beautiful areas, he’s been carrying out flora surveys, dormouse habitat assessments and an archaeology mapping exercise. It’s work that Matt loves being part of, explaining that it was important to look at the landscape as a bigger picture from a conservation point of view. ‘There’s been a really interesting project about preserving the peat bogs on Dartmoor to prevent erosion and increase carbon capture, holding water back on the moor to improve the bogs and mires. The water that filters down to the rivers is actually then of better quality, which then affects the whole of the river catchment. ‘Dartmoor is a pretty unique area. It’s a very special place, a kind of refuge where many species are safe for the time being, but not necessarily forever and we need to be working at connecting it all back up.’

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LOCAL PEOPLE

One of Matt’s hobbies is growing trees - which he’s been doing since the mid 1990s: ‘It’s a lovely thing to do, going back years later and seeing them still growing away!’

food chains corrected through the re-introduction of certain species while recognising such a move would have to be carried out in a cautious and holistic manner.

I am always learning and finding out something.’

And tree growing is something we are all being encouraged to do. As Matt said: ‘If you think about oaks, they are supposed to support hundreds, possibly thousands of different plants and species, from plants, lichens and insects to small mammals - they are vitally important trees.’

‘Personally I’d love to see a few things like pine martens around in the woods but I can’t see us getting wolves and lynx back yet!’

‘I just get fascinated with whatever I am looking at at the time,’ he said. ‘Red squirrels - they would probably be my favourite - and dormice are endearing - I try to pretend I look at them in a scientific way, but in truth, they’re just really cute!’

Matt would be keen to see the ‘huge gaps’ created by humans in wild

‘Humans have knocked the balance of nature out quite badly and we really need to think about our biodiversity.

So does Matt have a favourite species he likes to see or photograph?

Jane Honey

‘The more you watch and observe wildlife the more you learn the complexity of it and how clever it is.

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NOTICEBOARD

Reaching out to the community

It provides meals on wheels in the Okehampton area seven days a week, 365 days a year. Made-well runs the day centre at Castle Ham Lodge, Okehampton on Wednesdays

to hire including its café and The Pebble - a unique ellipsoid shaped dome built from sustainable and fully recyclable materials.

Made-Well provides a community resource for the public including growing fresh seasonal vegetables, a milk kiosk, plants for sale, cafés in Okehampton and Hatherleigh, gardens, pick your own vegetables, friendly animals, children’s events, activities and a play area.

Then there’s Mobile Made-Well and its community outreach services offering help and support in the community even a hand in the garden!

Made-Well’s facilities are also available

For more information contact Laura on laura.feaver@made-well.co.uk, call 01837 810584. Or come and visit - you will receive a warm welcome.

HAMPTO N

Services Made-Well offers include support and enabling for individuals with a learning disability or mental health condition individually or in a group. Sessions are available in farm and sheep work, animal care, café work, woodwork, horticulture, life skills, cooking, arts and crafts, music, the Made-Well Band, computers, maintenance, trips, community events and activities, sports and exercise, market days, supported employment opportunities and Made-Well enterprise.

between 11am and 2pm. Transport, light refreshments and biscuits are on offer as well as a two-course lunch plus social activities.

Made-Well is a not-for-profit community interest company established in August 2007 providing positive and purposeful opportunities. It reaches out to all people, especially those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities mental illness and loneliness.

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An eclectic range of independent retailers providing everything from fresh produce to local services Due to COVID 19 Please see Facebook page for up to date opening times/days of individual shops. Alternatively visit individual shops pages.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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NOTICEBOARD

Okehampton and District Ladies Probus Club The Okehampton and District Ladies Probus Club was founded over 40 years ago. It is for retired and semi-retired professional and business ladies, hence its name, and meets fortnightly at the Conservative Club in Kempley Road, Okehampton. Meetings provide a social gathering and there is usually a presentation by a visiting speaker. Topics in the last year have ranged across the Dakar Challenge, Peat, Powder and Power on Dartmoor and The Life of Dickens, pausing for our Christmas Lunch in December. During recent months we have kept in touch via our ‘ring around’ arrangements.

These were originally put in place to be able to cancel a meeting at short notice if there was an unexpected heavy snow fall. Now we have used them to maintain contact during the Covid-19 pandemic while our meetings have been suspended - we’re nothing if not adaptable! Our meetings remain suspended until the committee reviews the state of things in mid-October, with the aim of being able to meet again from Monday, November 2nd. Like so many other organisations we will hold our postponed annual meeting and return

to our more usual programme from then onwards. Speakers have been booked and we look forward among other things to hearing about A Pilgrimage to Greece and the work of Medical Detector Dogs. New members are always welcome. For further information ring 07989 797296. Elizabeth Passmore Okehampton Ladies Probus

Orphans in the Wild While the Covid 19 pandemic has affected everyone, in all walks of life, charities in particular are having a hard time. Orphans in the Wild was set up by Vicky and Geoff Fox in Tanzania to help children orphaned through HIV/Aids in the rural area in which they operate a safari business. Currently there are 51 orphans and a further 35 older children supported in the surrounding villages with funding for foster homes and education. But like many charities, Orphans in the Wild is suffering a marked downturn

in donations. Generous donations by safari guests have dried up as the safari is currently closed due to Covid 19. A previous benefactor agreed to support the village for ten years - but this has now reached its term.

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Geoff, who comes home to Dartmoor every year, said: ‘It’s a desperate situation. If we don’t generate sufficient funding, our children will be homeless. These are the silent victims of Covid 19 and they desperately need our support.’ A donation of just £200 would cover the majority of a child’s accommodation and education fees for one year, however any donation is gratefully received. Donations can be made via the following link orphansinthewild.org For more information call Geoff Fox on 01822 612259 or email geoff@safaricamps.info

Call us for your 1 hour FREE consultation 12

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NOTICEBOARD

Can you help? Sampford Courtenay had a village school until the early 1950s. When it closed, the building was purchased for the residents by a group of local people for use as a village hall. Over the years a wide variety of memorable activities and events have taken place in the hall, with a hard-working committee of trustees ensuring that the hall continues to act as a community centre in the spirit in which it was established. Through much fundraising the hall interior has been updated and transformed and now offers has a new foyer with disabled access and amenities, a spacious kitchen and a meeting room extension with online access. These improvements have been a great success and have enabled the hall to be able to offer enhanced facilities to existing events and hirers, plus more activities for local people.

Two years ago the roof was damaged in a winter storm. Investigations during early repairs clearly identified the need for major works on the roof and exterior of the building. The trustees are currently investigating available grant funding but it is clear that a great deal of additional fundraising will be needed. They are appealing to Oke Links readers and contributors for help and ideas on ways to achieve their target and save this valuable parish resource. Help could be: fundraising ideas, offers to organise activities or events, knowledge of other individuals or organisations that could help or even making a personal or business donation. Contact Joy Tucker (Chair) on 07749 522996 or email bobandjoytucker@gmail.com if you can help.

Community solar energy At Tamar Energy Company (TEC) we’re delighted to announce the launch of our Community Share Offer for our Community Solar Roofs portfolio. In 2016/7 TEC installed 327kW of rooftop solar with six host sites across the Tamar Valley area. The sites, our community energy generators, are Abbey Garden Machinery Holdings, Mount Kelly Senior and Prep, Plymstock School, Carbeile Junior School (Torpoint) and Tesco Callington. •

TEC’s Community Solar provides an important way in which we can:

•

put money back into the local economy through replacing spend which might otherwise be going to nationally and internationally owned energy companies

•

use any surplus locally to tackle fuel poverty and energy efficiency through TEC’s Community Hardship Funds to help those most in need.

•

generate more energy locally from renewable sources and help tackle the climate emergency

•

enable ‘co-ownership’ for the community by purchasing community shares with a fair return

Pete Hamlyn, headteacher at Carbeile Junior School, said: ‘Our community solar has enabled us to save 50 tonnes of CO2 to date and provides an everyday example within the school of the benefits of renewable energy. We work with our students to encourage them to save energy and have a thriving Eco Committee. We’ve been able to invest the savings on our energy bills into other areas of the school.’ Find out more about Tamar Energy Community, energy advice services and the Community Solar Roofs Portfolio at tamarenergycommunity.com

Community Solar Share Offer Putting the ‘Local’ back into ‘Energy’. An opportunity to invest in West Devon’s and South East Cornwall’s carbon-free future.

Launching

Summer

2020

Tamar Energy Community has installed 325kW of solar PV on six sites across the area for community benefit. To find out more visit:

tamarenergycommunity.com/community-solar | Find us on: Tamar Energy Community Limited is a social enterprise for community benefit. Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as a Registered Society, number 32455R.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

NOTICEBOARD

Youth charity seeks treasurer trustee Tor Support (TS) is a local charity providing free, confidential counselling to five to 25-year-olds from Okehampton and surrounding parishes. With mental health services over-extended nationally, particularly for young people, and a rise in numbers seeking support, this charity delivers an invaluable service to local young people. Right now, TS is looking for a volunteer with financial expertise to join their board as a trustee treasurer. This person will oversee finances, working with the charity’s service manager and board of trustees. For more information,

please contact Kathryn Vile on k.vile@ torsupportservices.org.uk. TS was established ten years ago and is based alongside Okehampton College. The ten counsellors and three admin staff supported 207 young people in the last year, predominantly secondary school age but with a growing number of younger children. Young people face issues including depression and anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, bereavement, suicidal thoughts and abuse. After counselling almost all feel more able to understand and cope, while family relationships and school performance improve.

Throughout the Covid19 lockdown, TS maintained unbroken support for their clients. The team swiftly moved to online counselling which continues now, alongside a return to some face to face sessions. Every year Tor Support must raise funds to continue helping local young people in crisis. To meet rising demand, they aim to increase counselling sessions in the coming year. To donate please go to: www.justgiving. com/torsupportservices.

Belstone Cricket Club Belstone Cricket Club was founded to provide facilities for Belstone Village and the surrounding parishes. Rew meadow has a maintained cricket square - possibly the only one in the BCC Constitution area serving an adult population of 3,000, add children - about 5,000. There was a good attendance at the All Stars 5 – 8 year training last year. 2020 offered a repeat plus Dynamo training for 8 – 11 year olds, if conditions allow training may still occur. The first match played this summer was on July 12 under Covid 19 restrictions. Belstone hosted Hatherleigh Cricket Club on a beautiful sunny day, a series

of family gatherings made for a good crowd who were entertained with some excellent cricket and had the benefit of far reaching views to Exmoor. Matches against North Devon League teams may be arranged but mainly friendly games have been played, under strict hygiene rules, with the pavilion closed and players arriving changed. No refreshments have been provided and the ball sanitized regularly. Sadly, funding events towards the development of the new pavilion had to be cancelled. The Club does however, have a Justgiving Crowdfunding page.

To access log on to the opening page and put Belstone into the search, ignore the 1st Belstone item. The club would welcome new members, male and female, so anyone interested please contact the Secretary - chris. walpole@mypostoffice.co.uk or Tel: 01837 840234.

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NOTICEBOARD

Have your say! Lydford is a village which is steeped in history, with archaeology dating back to the Dark Ages. Through the year this picturesque village greets thousands of visitors who come for its natural beauty, its history or as a convenient gateway to Dartmoor. Yet even though so much of the life of the village is based – in one way or another - around its past, Lydford is a village that is trying to look to its own future and to that of its wider environment. The lead in reducing Lydford’s carbon footprint has been taken by the two pubs in the village and the village shop, all of which serve locally grown food whenever possible. Prior to lockdown, the National Trust were offering discounts on the entry price to visitors who arrived by public transport or bicycle.

The parish council is looking to guide its community towards make the next steps in decarbonizing the village. Like so many communities, in February 2020 the council produced its own declaration of a Climate Emergency, but refrained from publishing the declaration until clear objectives could be set. The Covid crisis interrupted the council’s environmental work soon after, but councillors are keen to pick up the eco-baton now that the initial scare is receding. One option the council is currently exploring is installing a charging point for electric cars. Councillors are keen to receive suggestions from their community on the next steps in reducing the Lydford’s carbon footprint. Please contact the council on clerk@lydfordparishcouncil.com with your ideas.

Slow down - beware of ponies in town! Wild ponies have taken a liking to wandering through Chagford recently and there can be quite a number of them at times! Although they look lovely and people like to see them, they can be quite a worry with all the traffic in Chagford - the two pictured were involved in a near miss with two cars which had not slowed down. Please be aware of your speed when driving through the town. DESIGNER PAINTS • FABRICS • WALLPAPERS • BLINDS & WINDOW ACCESSORIES • BESPOKE CURTAINS TM

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NOTICEBOARD

CAB answers your employment queries Can I be made redundant if I’m pregnant or on maternity leave? You can be made redundant while pregnant or on maternity leave, but there are strict rules that must be followed before this can happen. You can’t be made redundant because you’re pregnant or on maternity leave. If you are this counts as “automatic unfair dismissal” and discrimination.

Can I be made redundant while on furlough? You can be made redundant while you’re furloughed, but there are still rules your employer must follow. In a genuine and fair redundancy, employees who are made redundant are entitled to statutory and contractual redundancy payments, notice of their redundancy dismissal and any wages and holiday pay.

What are my rights if the business I work for is closing? You can be made redundant if the business where you work is closing

down. Hopefully your employer will have enough cash to pay all its workers all of the termination payments they are owed, such as notice pay, redundancy payments, and wages and holiday pay owed. If not, the government’s Redundancy Payment Service may cover some of what you’re owed under statutory rules, which is the minimum you’re entitled to under the law.

Am I entitled to redundancy pay? You’re entitled to statutory redundancy pay, which is the minimum the law says you’re entitled to, if you’ve been an

ARE YOU MOVING HOME? Planning to buy or sell property is exciting, but there’s a lot to it! Be as prepared as you can be by getting conveyancing advice early. We offer face-to-face appointments every Wednesday afternoon in Okehampton. QualitySolicitors Charlesworth Nicholl

Call Andrew Luxton to book in.

Changing the way you see lawyers. 01363 774706 mail@charlesworthnicholl.co.uk www.qualitysolicitors.com/charlesworthnicholl 31 High Street, Crediton, Devon, EX17 3AJ 16

employee for two years. The amount you will get depends on your age and how long you have worked for the company. You won’t get statutory redundancy pay if you’ve worked for the company for less than two years, are self-employed or are in certain professions such as the armed forces or police.

How much notice will I be given if I’m being made redundant? If you’ve worked for your employer for at least a month you’re entitled to a paid statutory notice period. If you’ve worked there for more than a month but less than two years, you have to be given a week’s notice. For two years or more, it’s a week for each full year you have worked, up to a maximum of 12 weeks. You may be entitled to a longer notice period as part of your employment contract.

For up-to-date advice, visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call Adviceline on: 03444 111 444.

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NOTICEBOARD

Angling association nets bumper boost A local fish and river conservation project is celebrating after being awarded a grant of £243,100 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Led by Teign Angling & Conservation Association (TACA), this four year project aims to increase the numbers of salmon and sea trout returning to the River Teign and its tributaries. Roger Furniss, chairman of TACA, said: ‘Thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund we have the opportunity to work with our partners to reverse the long-term decline in numbers of iconic wild salmon and sea trout. We will also help people’s understanding of the environment of the Teign, its fish and the rich angling heritage they support. We’re doing this for the future.’

Stuart McLeod of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: ‘Caring for and having access to our heritage and our natural world will be ever more important as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will engage a wide range of people in recording the history of angling on the River Teign and in creating a healthy future for the river and its wildlife.’ Project partners include the National Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust, Environment Agency, MED Theatre and the internationally renowned artist Peter Randall-Page. The project will start work in earnest in January 2021. Working at a catchment scale the project will establish a volunteer workforce to help improve the habitat for migratory fish;

raise awareness in the importance of the river for wildlife and the key pressures causing fish declines; capture oral histories associated with the rich cultural heritage of angling on the river; inspire local people – young and old – to take an interest in the river; produce a local book and community play and encourage more people to participate in the healthy pastime of angling. An exciting opportunity exists to become TAVA’s Project Officer. The association is looking for a suitably experienced individual who is able to inspire a small army of volunteers and who can work on a self employed contract basis. For further information on this role contact David West via email west@beara.plus. com or phone 07534 862714.

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NOTICEBOARD

Virtual Dancing! Isolation, quarantine and social distancing all help keep us safe from spread of infection, but we are becoming increasingly aware that removing the physical, mental and social benefits linked to everyday activities such as shopping or walking the dog are can also have a significant impact on mental and physical health. To help combat this, patients at Moretonhampstead Health Centre will be invited to take part in virtual dance classes from September, designed to build strength and balance from the comfort of their own homes. This project, run by Dartmoor-based charity Wellmoor, will trial the use of Facebook

Portals to deliver group sessions to vulnerable, elderly people with the aim of boosting both health and wellbeing. Run in partnership with social enterprise All Dancing, the sessions will utilise a wide range dance styles from ballroom to ballet focusing on building confidence and enjoyment in moving, underpinned by core strength and balance exercises that support Daily Living Activities (DLA). These will be complimented by virtual ‘Club Sessions’, a chance to with the chance to socialise and connect with others in the group. Project Manager Camilla Rooney said: ‘Social isolation and loneliness is already a big challenge in rural

communities like ours so we are really excited to see how this project will help people connect digitally, especially those who may not normally use technology.’ Contact camilla@moretonhampstead. com to find out more.

Beware rogue traders West Devon residents are being urged to be on their guard after reports of rogue traders in Devon claiming to be tree surgeons apparently targeting elderly and vulnerable residents unable to carry out tree works themselves.

U E DA G L & HO IV IL SU U E Y RR T O R O KE IE U H S N A D M S P TO

Several members of the public and their families contacted the trees team at South Hams District Council recently, after they were cold-called by traders claiming to be tree surgeons. The traders offered to do garden and tree works for cash, and also advised residents that they could legally carry out works to protected trees and provide a certificate to submit to the Council to avoid prosecution.

No such certificate exists – any works to a tree subject to a preservation order or a tree in a conservation area require permission beforehand from the Council. As the Trees team cover both South Hams and West Devon councils, they wanted to make sure the warning was repeated across both areas. Unauthorised works to protected trees can be punished in some cases by an unlimited fine and a criminal conviction, so homeowners could potentially find themselves in trouble for unauthorised works.

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SPORT

Ronin Taijutsu at Okehampton’s Parklands Leisure Centre The words ‘living in strange times’ has certainly been used more than at any other time that I recall. The Covid 19 epidemic has caused much difficulty to businesses and society as a whole. We are of course all hoping that life will return back to normal as soon as possible - for us, we are excited at the prospect of re-opening the Okehampton Ronin Taijutsu Club at the start of September, should the lockdown ease and it is safe to do so.

we have plans in place for exciting and new training techniques for students to keep them safe, fit and active while learning practical self defence techniques for all ages.

We are fortunate in that our self defence system for the most part enables us to make minimal contact and

Our dynamic Martial Art uses natural body movements and avoidance techniques to evade or escape a wouldbe attacker. Applying simple techniques,

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Ronin Taijutsu Building Confidence, Fitness and Self Protection Together.

the students is shown to use their natural weapons eg feet, hands, elbows and knees to effectively take control of the situation, with minimal damage to themselves and render the aggressor incapacitated to escape. Taijutsu is geared towards self defence - it allows for a smaller or weaker person to effectively defend themselves against a larger or stronger opponent! Ronin Taijutsu is a Japanese fighting system which uses a wide range of striking methods and jujitsu techniques to overcome an aggressive attacker. This comprehensive fighting system is great for both adults and children looking to improve co-ordination and to protect themselves - and is a fun way to get fit too, while learning a life saving skill. If you are interested in learning a self defence-based martial art, please do visit our website on www.ronintaijutsu. co.uk or contact us on 07857 871870. Clare Gunning

Parklands Leisure Centre, Okehampton - Fridays www.ronintaijutsu.co.uk Tel: 07857 871870 See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

CHARITY FOCUS

The Woodland Trust Putting trees first ... Like many good ideas, The Woodland Trust came into being around a kitchen table, when a group of like-minded friends banded together to save a local woodland. The kitchen table in question belonged to Kenneth Watkins, who was so concerned at the loss of an ancient site in Devon, he decided to do something about it. Now, nearly 50 years later, The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, with half a million members, a national network of volunteers and more than 1,000 sites of its own, ranging from short lengths of hedgerow, to a mountain in Scotland. It has a head office in Grantham plus a network of regional offices - quite a journey from the kitchen table! Essentially, The Woodland Trust stands up for trees. It aims to see a UK rich in native woods and trees, for wildlife and for people. Its workers create, restore and protect these vital natural resources. The Woodland Trust creates havens for wildlife by planting millions of trees every year, also helping to combat climate change. The UK’s woodland cover currently stands at just 13%, but the charity is aiming to bring this figure closer to the EU average of 37%.

Image credit: Ben Lee - Woodland Trust

Since 1972 the Trust has planted an incredible 47 million new trees - and planting new trees is one of the most effective ways of combatting climate change. Trees are the ultimate carbon capture and storage machines. Woods and forests absorb atmospheric carbon and lock it up for centuries. They do this through photosynthesis. In fact, the entire woodland ecosystem plays a huge role in locking up carbon, including the living wood, roots, leaves, deadwood, surrounding soils and its associated vegetation. And trees do more than just capture carbon. They also fight the cruel effects of a changing climate. They can help prevent flooding; reduce city temperatures; reduce pollution and keep soil nutrient-rich. The Trust also campaigns for new laws to protect ancient woodland. A vocal opponent of the HS2 project, the charity believes more than 100 ancient woodland sites are under threat from the proposed rail link - there are also many smaller developments which impact woodlands throughout the

country which the Trust is actively fighting to protect. It recently celebrated the news that a proposed motorway service station at Smithy Wood will now not go ahead after a six year battle, saving an 850 year old woodland site. Another ancient woodland has been saved near Pontypool, following a successful campaign by the charity. A large part of the Trust’s work concerns the restoration of ancient woodlands. This type of cover, developed over hundreds of years and supporting rare wildlife, makes up just 2.4% of the woodlands in the UK. Many ancient woodland sites were planted over with non-native trees, damaging their unique biodiversity by throwing deep shade onto the woodland floor. Non-native plants like rhododendron, Himalayan balsam and snowberry are also encroaching into woodlands, competing with native plants. Restoration is the careful process of removing these threats. This enables natural regeneration of native trees

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CHARITY FOCUS

Image credit: Ben Lee - Woodland Trust

and plants, and helps wildlife to thrive. Managed well, restoration can bring ancient woodland back from the brink and provide other benefits, such as income from timber. The Trust not only carries out this work in its own sites, but works with landowners and managers of privately owned woodland, to date committing more than 34,000 hectares of damaged woodlands back into a process of recovery. Fingle Woods, on the northern fringes of Dartmoor in the steep Teign Valley, is one of the largest woodland restoration projects the charity has ever taken on. The site is made up of eight different woods, which the charity jointly owns and manages with the National Trust. Carefully reclaiming the ancient site for nature, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a treasure for people to enjoy

too, with 28 miles of new trails in which you can take in stunning views and enjoy wonderful wildflowers. Wildlife is making a comeback at Fingle Woods. Some 36 species of breeding birds have been recorded here, including red-listed rarities. There are otters along the river, 12 bat species and threatened butterflies, including dingy skippers and pearl-bordered fritillaries. You may be lucky enough to spot fallow deer or kingfishers - and the protected hazel dormouse is also to be found in this wonderful woodland. Smaller sites in the Okehampton area owned by the Trust include Blackaton Copse at Gidleigh, Dishcombe Wood at South Tawton, Tramlines Wood at Okehampton, Riverbed Wood at

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Drewsteignton and Westcott Wood at Moretonhampstead. And to ensure that everyone in the UK has the chance to plant a tree, doing their bit for the environment, The Woodland Trust is giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities. There are a variety of different packs that can be applied for, from a hedge or copse pack to a wild harvest or year round colour pack. The next deliveries will take place in November - to apply, go to /www. woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/ schools-and-communities/ For more information about The Woodland Trust, go to www. woodlandtrust.org.uk Jane Honey

EDUCATION

Community eduction with the co-op Harvest Workers Co-op based in Okehampton runs the Harvest Farm Shop in Red Lion Yard and regular community education projects and events. All its work Is based on growing an understanding and involvement in the production and use of local, seasonal, organic food. It has been interesting responding to the challenges of COVID. The Co-op has been learning to create online content and video editing alongside the supply of fresh organic produce to the community!

Cooking workshops Recipes are being collected that use simple and seasonal ingredients in interesting ways. Katie’s Mother Hubbard’s Hash Browns are really tasty way to use calabrese stalks! www. harvestworkerscoop.org.uk/site/growing-plot-to-cooking-pot/ hashbrowns/

Seasonal family workshops These are a mix of gardening activities, creative, seasonal cooking and storytelling. Usually based at the wonderful EcoHub next to Okehampton College, they are now being presented online through words, images and video.

September’s workshop will be about Autumn Apples. The details will depend on the guidelines that time but keep Saturday, September 26th free! There is a growing online storytelling collection taken from the family workshops at www.harvestworkerscoop.org.uk/site/ seasonal-tales/ The co-op hopes to offer face to face family workshops in the autumn. Please keep an eye on social media or email for information.

Farm walks Martin and Sara will be running these during Autumn - look online for details and dates! Visit www.harvestworkerscoop.org.uk/site/education-andcommunity-workshops-on-line-and-active/ for all the latest information. Harvest Workers Co-op is very grateful to Learn Devon who support the Family Workshops and Growing Plot Project and to Okehampton United Charities which supports the whole program.

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School creates a life-defining experiences If you like the outdoors, have a sense of adventure and are keen to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way then Mount Kelly is the school for you. Our spectacular location means that we are well known for our strong commitment to co-curricular activities and we encourage all pupils to take part whether it be camping out on the moor, paddling a canoe, riding the waves on a surf board or enjoying an overnight sail in our 50 foot pilot cutter ‘Olga’. We call it the ‘Mount Kelly Spirit’ an attitude to life that develops here, one that allows pupils to really experience the life-defining educational experience that we promise. With a high standard of academic schooling and a proven track record in public examination results, over 85% of our pupils gain places at their first choice of university. The school has an internationally recognised coaching facility for swimming with a four-lane 25m pool and an eight-lane 50m pool and has had alumni at the last five Olympic and Paralympic games. In 2020 Mount Kelly won the prestigious Arena League, confirming our place as the top school for swimming in the UK. Our swimmers board and are taught alongside their contemporaries.

The College Chamber Choir is the flagship ensemble of the School. The group perform a wide range of challenging music from all periods and in a huge variety of styles, but mostly a cappella. They won the Barnardo’s School Choir of the Year Competition in London in 2020 and compete internationally every year. The success of our swimmers and singers create a culture in which the level of commitment and dedication required to excel are not considered out of the ordinary, but are qualities to which everyone can aspire. The school was selected as a finalist for the Independent School Parent Magazine’s Independent School of the Year Award in 2019 and this year is a finalist in the Performing Arts category.

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Scholarships Available | Find out more at www.mountkelly.com Mount Kelly | Parkwood Rd | Tavistock | PL19 0HZ 01822 813193 admissions@mountkelly.com See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Helping your mental health and wellbeing Advice from Dr Emma Chapman Every year one in four of us will have a mental health problem, according to mental health charity Mind - and we know that there may be many people who are struggling with their mental health especially in light of recent events with COVID 19. We would like to offer a few simple ideas to help you improve your mental health and wellbeing. Sleep Sleep is important for physical and mental health. Sleep helps to regulate chemicals in our brain which are important in managing our moods and emotions. If we don’t get enough sleep, we can feel depressed or anxious. Try to have a sleep schedule, this means going to bed and waking up at the same time every day even at the weekend. Create a relaxing bedtime routine, this could include taking a bath, reading or trying some meditation or yoga. Avoid electronics before bed and during the night. Don’t take work material (papers, laptop, and files) into your bedroom.

Eat well A balanced diet is good for our minds and bodies. Certain mineral deficiencies, such as iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, can contribute to a low mood. Try to eat lots of fruit and vegetables, cut out excess sugar and caffeine. If you would like more information on a balanced diet the NHS website can provide you with information and meal plans.

Exercise Activity and exercise help us maintain good mental health. Being active boosts the chemicals in your brain that help put you in a good mood. Exercising can

help eliminate low mood, anxiety, stress and feeling tired and lazy. You don’t need to run a marathon or play 90 minutes of football - any exercise is better than none! Even a brisk 10-minute walk can clear your mind and help you relax.

Manage stress Stress can often be unavoidable, but learning ways to cope is key to good mental health. Try to manage your responsibilities and worries by making a list or a schedule of when you can resolve each issue. Try to tackle problems face on. If you find you are having trouble sleeping, thinking about all of the things that stress you out, write them down and reassure yourself that you can deal with them in the morning. Try to take control of the situation or ask someone for help.

Avoid excess alcohol, smoking and drugs Some people drink to help deal with feelings, but any change in mood is only temporary. When you’ve had a few drinks you can feel more depressed and anxious the next day and it can be harder to concentrate. Excessive drinking for prolonged periods can leave you with a thiamine deficiency which can lead to severe memory problems, co-ordination problems and confusion. If you smoke, between cigarettes your body and brain go into withdrawal which makes you irritable and anxious. Other drugs will often leave you in withdrawal and can cause low moods and anxiety. More severe effects of drugs include paranoia and delusions.

Doing something you enjoy Try to make time for doing the things you enjoy. If you like walking, dancing, playing an instrument or watching your favorite TV show, try to set aside some time to enjoy yourself.

Reach Out Don’t forget you can reach out to your family and friends or someone you trust. Having a chat can make you feel better and more in control of the situation. You can ask for help from your GP and there are lots of online sites with help and advice on ways to improve your mood. The NHS also has a selection of wellbeing audio guides which can be found on the NHS website www.nhs.uk/ conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ moodzone-mental-wellbeing-audioguides/). Dr Emma Chapman Okehampton Medical Centre

GARDENING

Spectacular flowers and cracking crops at the gardens The gardens at RHS Rosemoor saw a unique explosion of colour this summer, creating the most dramatic spectacle seen in years. The warm, wet winter followed by the sunniest May on record and then a bout of rain in June produced an exceptional crop of summer blooms. Stronger, bigger buds and more prolific flowering created abundant displays of early blooms such as lilies, rhododendrons, irises, roses and hydrangeas, then midsummer flowers such as verbena, rudbeckia, heleniums and geraniums. And the weather conditions weren’t only favourable for the flowers. There was an abundance of apple blossom, indicating there will be a bumper fruit harvest this year. The new Heritage Apple Orchard at Rosemoor contains some 45 different varieties of rare Devon apples - which this year are producing their first fruits. Would you dare try a Pig’s Nose? A Sugar Bush? Or even a Grand Sultan? Any of these apples would make a welcome break from the ubiquitous Braeburn or Cox and yet, it would be almost impossible to track them down today. Since the 1960s, two-thirds of our nation’s orchards have been lost, and with them many apple varieties have dwindled or even disappeared. For hundreds of years, apples were part of the South West’s industry, and this unique new ‘mother orchard’ is both a tribute to the region’s heritage as well as a type of insurance policy; to ensure that these diverse old varieties don’t die out and remain available for future generations.

years, the trees will carefully be trained and pruned by RHS horticulturalists as they grow into wide canopied trees. Jim Arbury, RHS apple tree specialist at RHS Garden Wisley, said: ‘We grafted this heritage collection of apples, as new trees grown from seed will not come true to parental type – and it is the unique, quirky tastes, colours and sizes we want to preserve. ‘Since the 1950s our collection has been at RHS Garden Wisley, which now has 700 apple cultivars, together with 120 pear cultivars, over 100 varieties of dessert plums and gages, plus quinces, medlars and nuts. It’s exciting to have a new heritage orchard in the West Country, the spiritual home of British apple growing.’ RHS Members helped raise over £16,000 towards the establishment of the new orchard, which has helped both in paying for the grafting and will towards the long term care and maintenance of the trees and surrounding area.

The gathered apple collection was grafted onto robust root stock and planted in February 2017. Over the next ten

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IN FU SU LL RE Y D

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GARDENING

Think exotic . . . Jon Webster explains jungle styling Exotic plantings are all about boldness and striking foliage. The idea is to create a lush jungle effect and, although this style of planting has only become very popular in the last few years, it is not a new idea. It was very commonly practised during the late 19th century, when such plantings were called ‘picturesque’ or ‘subtropical’ and in 1871, William Robinson wrote an excellent book entitled ‘The Subtropical Garden’. As foliage is a prime element in these displays they have a good long season of interest and, as Robinson’s book illustrates, the principle is still followed today, more than 100 years on, but nowadays with a much wider selection of plants to choose from. At Rosemoor we have a typical exotic planting scheme by Rosemoor house. The plants originate from all over the world, and have been artistically combined to create the desired effect. For this type of planting there is a wide choice of hardier trees and shrubs that will provide you with a permanent structure, provide shelter and also winter interest. With our milder climate in the South West we can rely on many more tender plants as being reasonably hardy, and the plants mentioned below are a ‘must’ for an exotic planting scheme.

Chamaerops humilis AGM, the dwarf fan palm from the

western Mediterranean, has a bushy habit and big, fan shaped leaves. Growing to two to three metres in height, this is an ideal subject to grow in a large container.

Musa basjoo AGM. The hardiest of the banana palms,

this suckering perennial has huge, architectural green leaves. It originates from Japan and is quite hardy with us. Again the larger the plant, the lower the temperature it can tolerate. Leave it tall, as the new growth will start from that point the next spring, giving you instant height. Banana palms can reach four metres in height.

Phormium tenax AGM, of New Zealand flax, is an evergreen perennial with sword shaped leaves. Many cultivars are available, offering variations of both size and foliage colour. The true species reaches three metres, but many cultivars are smaller than this. Most are hardy with us, although coloured leaved cultivars are less so, and therefore will do best when planted in a sheltered, sunny position. Trachycarpus fortunei AGM, the Chusan palm, is one of the few hardy palms. It is a single stemmed evergreen with fan-shaped, dark green leaves. Growing up to 20 metres, but slow growing, it is a great plant for year-round interest. Once it gets taller you can raise the lower leaves and plant underneath it. Cordyline australis AGM. The cabbage palm, grown for its spiky rosettes of foliage, will age to form a trunk 1.8 metres in height. The original species is green in leaf but many coloured cultivars are available, although these

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GARDENING

may be less hardy. The cabbage palm will flower when mature, bearing huge panicles of sweet smelling white blooms in early summer. Tender perennials are used to further enhance the plantings, a diverse group of plants which come from the warmer parts of the world. In our climate they are best used as summer bedding so, with their frost tenderness in mind,

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ENDSLEIGH GARDENS NURSERY

don’t forget to propagate or lift them before the first frost, and over-winter them in a frost free greenhouse. Cannas are grown for their huge, exotic leaves and colourful flowers. Foliage varies from purple, through green, red, silver and variegated forms, and flowers come in a range of flamboyant colours including orange, yellow, red and pink. Cannas are easy and worthwhile to grow; and should be planted in full sun once the last frost has gone. Once autumn frosts blacken the foliage, either cut them back and cover them with a thick mulch, or pot them up, and keep them frost free over the winter months. Cannas are also great for growing in large pots, but remember to feed and water them regularly.

September and October gardening jobs •

Buy and plant your spring bulbs

•

Think about which tender plants you want to protect in a glasshouse over winter, lift before the first frost

•

Harvest apples and autumn raspberries

•

Collect seeds of annuals ready for next year’s display

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FARMING NEWS

Good for bull sales - bad for forage Stuart Luxton reflects on the ups and downs of farming Hello again everyone. Since I last wrote things have started to return to normal, but this definitely the new normal rather than the old normal. Now I stop to think, farming must be one of the few industries that has seen little change since this virus situation arose. The animals have no idea what has been going on, they still have to be cared for, crops still need to be harvested so they can eat in the winter. Plans still need to be made for next year not much different to any other year. It has been yet another good year for bull sales, demand has been so strong that we have sold some of next year’s bulls too, it looks like we will need to increase our bull production. The hot weather in May caused problems with a poor amount of forage. Last year we broke records with the amount of silage and hay we harvested, this year the low rainfall and high temperatures caused poor grass and

we still have a large shortfall in feed supplies for the upcoming winter. We would buy some, but most livestock farmers are in the same boat. We are cutting some fields a second time but the knock on effect of this is that we have smaller area available for grazing than we normally would have in July, there is also the cost of extra fertiliser and contractors. However, it could have been worse, since the end of May the regular warm rain has kept grass growing and the cattle and sheep haven’t seemed to notice.

All of our staff have been superb especially when you consider that my senior butcher Lester has stayed at home to remain safe.

The spring born lambs and calves have fared very well this year. They are all looking fantastic. Perhaps it has the warm weather, but touch wood, everything has been very healthy and relaxed.

If there is anyone reading this that would like a local delivery of quality produce please give us a call and we would love to help - I could even deliver it by bike just like the old days!

Things at the shop have gone from strength to strength. There seems to be a real move to shopping locally which is fantastic.

Trade has been so good that I haven’t had much time for farming - the first time in 30 years that this has been the case. I really miss the farm - and I am also finding that due to the lack of physical work, my fitness has declined dramatically! To rectify this I have parked up my car and now travel as much as possible by bike.

Please stay safe everyone. See you next time. Stuart Luxton

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BUSINESS

Vineyard to open new facilities Twelve years on from first planting vines as a rather eccentric hobby, the family behind a Devon vineyard at the foot of Dartmoor are gearing up to open their new purpose-built winery, shop and local kitchen. Despite the delays and challenges of COVID, Alder Vineyard are set to open the doors to their new building in August - and look forward to championing a wide range of Devonshire delights, welcoming visitors to their ‘very own little bit of heaven’. The vineyard, at Lewdown, is run by a small yet passionate family team of four - founders Sarah and Mike Hodgetts, their son Tom and Tom’s partner, Adam. With backgrounds and full-time careers in horticulture, construction, sales, design and marketing, they have filled every spare hour tending to the vines and sharing their love of wine at shows across the county. This new expansion marks the next big step for the family as they go full-time in the vineyard with one clear mission - to share a love for wine, far beyond the bottle. The new winery is also a milestone for the family as they bring all production on-site. Until this year, they had enjoyed growing grapes and worked with their friends at Polgoon Vineyard in Penzance, who made the wine. Alder Vineyard’s

‘head wine wizard’ Tom, who has been away to wine college and worked with other wineries over the past few years, is now preparing to make their first vintage on-site this year. When the new building opens, the family will be welcoming visitors to browse delicious food and drink from suppliers across the county, including Papillon gin, Sandford Orchards cider and Taw River Dairy. Their new kitchen means they can serve up a treat, with a range of local charcuterie and cheese platters plus delicious open sandwiches perfectly paired with a refreshing glass of their wines.

yet educational wine tasting of Alder Vineyard’s latest vintages. Mike said: ‘From jumping into the crazy world of English wine, we have all fallen in love with growing vines, winemaking and of course wine drinking. We can’t wait to share that experience with everyone who comes to visit us.’

As well as being able to tour the new winery, groups of up to six people will also be able to explore the vines, which overlook Dartmoor, on COVID safe tours. Plus visitors will experience a fun

Escape to Lewtrenchard and forget the past five months We are delighted to let you know that we have re-opened our doors to guests from the beginning of July Although adhering to government advice we are trying to be as normal as possible. One thing that we can assure you of is that the friendly atmosphere and the welcome will be as efficient, warm and personal as it has always been in our long history with our special hotel. Our Covid Secure Document is available on our website .

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BUSINESS

The face mask perspective Face masks are a hot topic at the moment. Some medics and scientists say there is clear evidence they reduce transmission of Covid-19, while critics argue they are ineffective and instil fear in the community. Everyone has an opinion. For our part, we can be flexible in our offices and, as well as social distancing and other measures we have put in place for everyone, we are happy to wear face masks in meetings, which some of our clients prefer. Other clients are more relaxed about it. It’s all a matter of perspective. As it is with financial advice. At the start of the pandemic the stock markets started to fall and kept on falling until March 29th. Most advisers and commentators, including us, were saying ‘stay invested, don’t panic’. The reason for that was markets always fall. They are not risk free, but they usually recover. If you sell after the fall, you miss out on the recovery, thereby locking in your losses. What’s more, in a welldiversified portfolio, you shouldn’t fall by as much as the markets, so when you

recover, you start from a higher base, thus feeding long-term gains. A diversified portfolio can benefit most investors, regardless of the amount of funds you have. It is where your investment is spread across a broader base. This can include a mix of asset classes (such as stocks and shares, property funds, bonds, cash), varied geographical areas and different types of funds or fund managers. But what if you can’t wait for the recovery? What if you need the funds in the short term? This is where perspective comes into it. There is no right or wrong answer, but as a general rule, if you don’t need the funds for five years or more then stay invested. If you need the funds within a short period of time, perhaps because you are

coming up to retirement or ready to buy that house, then you should consider moving into cash, even if that means selling while the markets are still low. That’s because we can’t predict what will happen next. We have seen a strong recovery since the end of march, and we expect that to continue, but if there is a second spike of COVID and another national lockdown, markets will almost certainly fall again. If you don’t have time to wait for the next recovery, then why take the risk? Your timescale changes your perspective. The shorter your timeline to needing the funds, the less risk you should take. Craig Davidson Davidsons IFA

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WHAT’S ON

September 4-6

Gardens open for charity Many gardens are open again to raise money for the Help Support our Nurses campaign including Marie Curie, Hospice UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, which the National Garden Scheme supports. This year, with so much fundraising badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the NGS Open Gardens scheme is an even more vital source of income for charities. Marie Curie Nurse  Tracy McWilliams  said: ‘I was amazed to discover that the National Garden Scheme is Marie Curie’s largest single funder and has given the charity nearly £10 million over 25 years. Their continued support makes such a difference to me and all Marie Curie Nurses on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis, as we continue to provide expert care and support to people at end of life.’ Opening on Friday, September 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th are two large gardens in Moretonhampstead, TQ13 8PW. One is in a wooded valley, the other higher up with magnificent views of Dartmoor. Both have mature orchards and year-round vegetable gardens,

substantial rhododendron, azalea and tree planting, croquet lawns, summer colour and woodland walks through hydrangeas and acers. Mardon Garden is four acres based on its original Edwardian design and has a long herbaceous border and formal granite terraces supporting two borders of agapanthus, plus a fernery and colourful bog garden beside a stream fed pond with thatched boathouse and an arboretum. Sutton Mead Garden is a similar size with a shrub lined drive and lawns surrounding a granite lined pond. There is unusual planting, dahlias, grasses,

bog garden, rill fed round pond, secluded seating and gothic concrete greenhouse, plus a sedum roofed summer house. Dogs on leads welcome, plant sale. Visitors will need to pre-purchase a ticket for a specific time slot, numbers will be limited and social distancing to be observed. You will be able to book tickets to gardens opening from the Monday prior to their open day. Combined admission is £6 and children are free. For more information and to book please go to: ngs.org.uk/ ngs.org.uk/product-category/ garden-tickets/

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WHAT’S ON

October 17

Okehampton Carnival While Okehampton Carnival 2020 cannot be the usual packed social family occasion that it normally is due to the restrictions of the Covid 19 pandemic, this year’s event will still aim to provide fun for all, with its aptly named theme ‘A Little Light Relief’. With the coronavirus situation remaining fluid and subject to change at short notice, the organisers reluctantly decided that the traditional procession would not be appropriate in such difficult conditions. The carnival committee is holding some fancy dress classes and hopefully a small parade in the afternoon. Details of the fancy dress classes can be found on the entry forms which will be available, as usual, from Donald’s Menswear in the high street. Sponsorship for these classes will be much appreciated. The Best Decorated Shop Window Competition will also be taking place. There’s no theme this year offering plenty of scope for the imagination. If you wish to enter or would like to sponsor one of the classes, please contact the committee through its Facebook page or telephone Karen (07434 161606) or Sally (07821 049538) As some people may still have reservations about large gatherings, some classes can be entered while being ‘socially distanced’. For logistical reasons, these classes are only open to residents of Okehampton or Okehampton Hamlets. These

classes are: Class 1 - Decorated paper plate - ages 5 and under; Class 2 - Decorated paper plate - ages 6 to 11; Class 3 - Decorated paper plate - ages 12 to 17; Class 4 - Decorated paper plate - ages 18 and over. Please use only felt pens, crayons, pencils and paint to decorate your plate, put your name and contact details on the back and bring it along to the Jubilee Bridge in Simmons Park between 10am and noon on Sunday, October 11th. Class 5 - Decorated hat - ages 5 and under; Class 6 Decorated hat - ages 6 to 11; Class 7 - Decorated hat - ages 12 to 17; Class 8 - Decorated hat - ages 18 and over. Take a picture of the hat, either with someone wearing it or on its own, and either private message along with contact details to the carnival Facebook page or send to Sally Wilson, 16 Holley Park. Okehampton EX20 1PL by October 1st. Class 9 - Decorated window. Decorate one window that can be seen from the pavement, so the judges do not have to enter your property, and either private message your contact details to the carnival Facebook page or pick up an entry form from Donalds Menswear. Closing date for entries 1st October. Judging will take place between October 10th and 14th. There will be four fancy dress classes for girls and boys aged between four and under and eleven to 15 years of age which will be judged on October 17th during the carnival. More details can be found on the entry forms available from Donald’s Menswear.

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WHAT’S ON

September to November

Days out with a difference! As part of its commitment to expanding its conservation and education programmes on the Moor, the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust is looking for new volunteers to join its wonderful conservation team helping to look after its land at Bellever, Postbridge. Opportunities range from checking the ponies to brush cutting, stone walling, fencing, putting up signs, strimming and unearthing and recording Bronze Age archaeology! Dartmoor Moorland Guide and Available by  Mon-Fri The oﬃce is open Mon, Wed & Fri, please call to arrange an appointment.

conservationist Paul Rendell will be leading work party events as follows: Saturday, September 5th; Saturday October 3rd; Wednesday, October 14th; Saturday, November 7th; Wednesday, November 18th and Saturday, November 28th. In addition, FREE guided walks at Bellever are being offered for groups of six persons or more, to learn more about the heritage, history, archaeology, flora and fauna of Dartmoor and hopefully to meet our herd of Dartmoor ponies.

Walks can be tailored for people of all ages, interests and abilities, looking for a good half-day out on the Moor. Ponies graze the land as part of the Charity’s work to reveal, maintain and manage the archaeological treasures and to keep the foliage under control! Contact the DPHT on 01626 833234 or email: admin@dpht.co.uk to find out more about joining our conservation working parties, to see how else you can get involved with preserving the Dartmoor pony on Dartmoor, or to organise a date for a guided walk.

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WHAT’S ON

The heart of

TAVISTOCK TOWN COUNCIL

WORKING FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

uring these challenging times Tavistock Town Council continues to work hard in order to deliver essential services to the local community during the Coronavirus pandemic. Staff in our Works Department have been busy keeping our cemetery open, as well as tending to parks and open spaces, including The Meadows, Whitchurch Down and the smaller local parks, keeping them neat and tidy to provide pleasant, safe havens for the community to enjoy.

Looking ahead the Council are extending the opening days of the Pannier Market to include Tuesdays, and so the market will be open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9am-4pm with Butchers’ Hall opening throughout the coming months for artisan markets and events. Due to the ever changing world we now live in we urge visitors to our thriving market complex to check our opening times on the Tavistock Town Council website or Facebook page before venturing out.

The Pannier Market is an essential part of Tavistock’s identity and Officers have worked tiresly to enable to safe opening of the market complex which includes the award-winning Grade II Listed themed market venue Butchers’ Hall.

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

Did you know that in addition to the award-winning Grade II Listed venue Butchers’ Hall being available to hire, the beautiful park located in the heart of town has a vast area available to book for events and Tavistock Town Council has various services for hire, including external scaffolding, and a cherry picker service. Please contact the Works Department for further information at: becky.hadfield@tavistock.gov.uk

PANNIER MARKET

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What’s On

TavistockPannierMarket

What’s On OCTOBER

OCTOBER

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

WHAT’S ON

September 26

Memories by Moonlight Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is inviting people to remember and celebrate the life of a loved one and raise vital funds for the charity. A Memories by Moonlight ceremony will be broadcast live on Facebook from the Little Harbour children’s hospice in St Austell at 9pm on Saturday, September 26th, giving people the opportunity to light a candle and come together virtually for a special evening of refection. The poignant and uplifting ceremony will feature readings from all three of the charity’s children’s hospices – Little Harbour, Little Bridge House near Barnstaple and Charlton Farm near Bristol. It will also include music, poems and a twominute applause to celebrate the lives of those no longer with us. The names of loved ones will also appear along the bottom of the screen. Everyone who registers to take part in the event, which is being sponsored by National Friendly, will get the chance to join the virtual memory ceremony. People can then choose

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

to simply donate in memory of their loved one, or complete a walk or activity at a time and location that suits them and ask friends and family to make a donation towards this. Participants will receive a beautiful memory pack in the post, which will include a candle bag, taillight and booklet. To sign up to Memories by Moonlight simply visit www.chsw.org.uk/ moonlight. Registration is just £10 and a memory pack, along with details of how to access the Memory Ceremony, will be sent in the post.

WHAT’S ON

September 11-20

Heritage Open Days England’s largest festival of history and culture returns in September and this year, support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery means as well as experiencing local events, visitors can participate in activities much further afield and see even more hidden places. For the first time, the Heritage Open Days (HODs) programme will comprise a mix of in-person and digital events; communities will be able to celebrate the stories of the places and spaces that are important to them while staying safe and adhering to current social distancing measures. All HOD events are free. Last year 5,700 events were organised which welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors. This autumn, some venues and outdoor spaces will open for pre-booked events and visits by small groups, while others will offer virtual tours and digital experiences. Annie Reilly, head of producing, said: ‘Heritage Open Days is about connecting people so we can share in the amazing stories of the places, spaces, nature, heritage and history around us. The last few months have shown us how online events can bring us together even when we have to remain apart. ‘We have seen some ingenious approaches to culture going digital, from virtual tours and online galleries to up-close explorations of artefacts

Hemyock Castle, Gatehouse and Credit: Richard Sheppard A series of online tours of Hemyock Castle will be launched as part of the Heritage Open Days festival. Available on YouTube, as well as the main castle site, the tours will share rarely seen historic features of the manor house and the hidden nature at the heart of Hemyock. At 5pm on Sunday, September 13th, Castle Manager Richard Sheppard will host a live online Q&A session about the moated medieval castle.

and objects, through to workshops and live-streamed debates. We’re excited by the potential for HODs, not least of all because so many more people will be able to experience the festival regardless of where they are in the country.’ This year’s theme is Hidden Nature, which offers an opportunity to discover the nature that exists on our doorsteps, as well as the built heritage. Areas of the countryside that aren’t normally accessible to the public will be opened up and events will reveal the hidden history of not just our natural landscapes, but also gardens,

green spaces, urban parks, orchards, vineyards, farms and forests. Annie said: ‘Over the last couple of months, with time outdoors being limited, access to nature has become even more important to many of us and HODs will give us all something to look forward to. ‘From socially distanced ‘netwalking’ and rural rambles, to nature-inspired art collections, scavenger hunts, food and craft events – we’re excited to see how the theme of ‘Hidden Nature’ is interpreted and used to create exciting online and offline events and activities.’ For further information visit www. heritageopendays.org.uk.

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MUSIC AND ART

September 12-27

Devon Open Studios

Visiting an open studio can be exciting and informative with a chance to see a wide range of work as well as to speak with the artists about their own creative processes. It will also be a chance to get out and about after lockdown!

September 9

Most venues will be open from 11am until 6pm each day unless otherwise indicated in the brochure. Work shown and available to buy will include ceramics, paintings using various media, prints, textiles, photography, woodcraft, sculpture, lampshades and jewellery. This year is strange due to Covid 19. After consultation with the 200 artists who signed up to this year’s event and, presuming social restrictions at the time will allow it, the current plan is to open as usual within a careful framework of hygiene, face masks and social distancing. A watchful eye will be kept on the infection rate and the event will only run if it is still deemed safe to do so.

In the Chagford and Gidleigh area there will be around 15 artists exhibiting in various studios, with a similar number in the Okehampton area, Moretonhampstead, Drewsteignton and Bovey Tracey. Entry to open studios is free and a comprehensive guide with details of each artist will be available to help you plan your own art trail. This year, due to Covid 19, this guide will be produced digitally and will be ready for you to view and download on the Devon Artist Network website from early August – www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk

Open Air Theatre

The Pantaloons present ‘Sherlock Holmes’ in the open air at The Big Sheep, Abbotsham, near Bideford. How can one socially-distanced outdoor show possibly contain so much action and adventure? Elementary, my dear! The critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company put dynamic detective duo Holmes and Watson through their paces as they tackle their most fiendish case yet in this delightfully inventive and hilarious show for all ages featuring live music, audience interaction and more

mystery than you can shake a magnifying glass at. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it! No alcohol permitted. Light refreshments and alcoholic drinks available at The Big Sheep. The show starts at 6pm. Please book online. Advance sales only! £10 per person for Families (parent/s with child/ children under 18yrs) Booking essential through www.theploughartscentre.org.uk Strict Covid 19 guidelines apply and can be viewed online.

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MUSIC AND ART

Until September 26

Hinterland

For three months Gladys Paulus’ work Hinterland was quarantined in the gallery at Green Hill, Moretonhampstead. It has, and continues to be a time foreshadowed by loss, pain and uncertainty, uncharted territory. Hinterland’s reopening is timely. In the year following her father’s death Paulus gradually found her felt-making process developed into a ritual through which she created an extraordinary collection of Ancestral Healing Costumes. Grief led her to explore familial roots in Java, the Dutch colonisation of Indonesia, and Japanese occupation in World War 2. All thread through the work. While her hands were working with wool, she reached through to historic traumas for which, until then, there had been no language other than silence within her family. The silences exerted enormous emotional stress and psychological pressure. Gladys’s work is profound, sound and moving. Hinterland holds steadfastly to principles of compassion and respect, and demonstrates the universal necessity of

October 31

Andrea Foxwell from Green Hill Gallery said: ‘If you think that the past is a distant country, think again. Hinterland speaks to us now. Many are considering what it is that makes up a fair and equitable society, how to look to and heal past, personal and cultural injustices. Hinterland does just that.’ To coincide with re-opening the Gallery at Green Hill, given the restricted opening hours, photographer Chris Chapman is currently working on a film to bring Gladys’ work to a wider audience and deepen understanding of her creative process. And to look forward to, the Winter Show opens on 16 October and runs until the

end of December. A quality showcase of jewellery, wood, textiles, ceramics, cards, paintings, willow and leather works - the perfect place to buy truly unique winter gifts. Entry is free. The Green Hill Arts Gallery, at the top of Fore Street, is initially open from 10am-4pm weekly on Fridays and Saturdays.

Baring-Gould Folk Festival 2020

Although the festival can’t take place in a real live situation, Wren Music is

undertaking the slow, painful, work of intergenerational healing.

planning a whole day of activities online for Saturday, October 31st.

Wren’s Marilyn Tucker said: ‘Safety is our main concern, so live action is going to be limited, but we are planning a whole day of online activity that mirrors the folk festival, with the added extra that it will be Hallowe’en! So there will be an online interactive choir, a music session/folk club and a concert featuring singers from around the world!’ Contact info@wrenmusic.co.uk for more details - check out Wren’s online community at www.wrenmusic.teachable.com/courses

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FOOD & DRINK

Amazing autumn wines to fall for!

Waitrose Blueprint Côtes du Rhône Villages £7.99 This gorgeous wine made by the talented winemaker Véronique Torcolacci in the southern Rhône is a characteristic Côtes du Rhône-Villages blend of grapes: 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. Rich and spicy, yet beautifully smooth, Côtes du Rhone reds can be paired with any type of meat - grilled, roasted, braised or stewed - and are also perfect paired with a wide variety of soft and hard cheese. This wine is vegetarian and vegan. Earth Vine & Sun Sauvignon Blanc Semillon £6.99 The combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon makes a wine with more depth than you’d normally expect from either variety by themselves. This gorgeous blend from the Western Cape has a lovely balance of gooseberry, tropical

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends pair well with many foods - salads, poached chicken, white fish as well as prawns, scallops or even mild curries. A Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend is a versatile wine which is also great with cheese, such as goats and other alpine-style cheeses. Summer Road Old Vine Grenache £8.49 This is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain, parts of France and the New World. This tantalising tipple from the Barossa region of Australia is fresh and elegant yet the flavours of strawberry, cranberry and bramble are still powerful, glossy and smooth. The wine finishes with notes of violets and cinnamon. Grenache pairs perfectly with grilled, stewed and braised meats like beef, veal, pork, chicken and game. Grenache holds up well to hearty dishes like cassoulet and it’s a good match for less spicy styles of Asian cooking. This wine is vegetarian and vegan. Fenaroli Pecorino Superiore £9.99 The flavours in this wine are like autumn in a glass; all sweet spice and apple the perfect middle ground between Pinot Grigio and slightly oaked Chardonnays.

The grapes are chosen from the best vineyard sites in the central eastern region. Pecorino Superiore has elegant citrus and wild flower aromas, while delicate exotic fruit flavours on the palate add lovely weight. Ideally served with risotto dishes and classic Italian tomato dishes, but works brilliantly with poultry cuisine and many types of sheep cheeses, especially the softer styles. Laurent Miquel Nocturnes Viognier £9.39 Laurent Miquel produces elegant wines in the family vineyards high in the Languedoc hills. He harvests at night when cooler temperatures ensure the grapes are gathered under perfect conditions. This delicious white made from voluptuous Viognier grapes boasts a floral nose leading to a soft and fruity palate full of peach and apricot notes. This wine is un-oaked to retain the fresh fruit character and lends itself well to mild creamy curries like kormas or spicy South East Asian curries or chicken, pork or rabbit in a rich sauce. This wine is vegetarian and vegan. Jason Mules, Waitrose Okehampton

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Spicy, subtle fruit and silky acidity is exactly what you need for autumn drinking. You don’t have to stick to red wine - a lot of the best qualities found in spicier reds can be found in some tasty white wines.

and grassy aromas while retaining subtlety.

Autumn is the season of change. The wine industry also changes this time of the year as wine enthusiasts stow their crisp white and rosé wines, replacing them with bolder, richer reds that pair well with hearty autumn dishes.

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FOOD & DRINK

Ingredients list Tray bake

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

Top and bottom layer

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

Method

in carefully until everything is well incorporated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

To make the sponge, whisk the butter, sugar and lime zest until pale and fluffy and then add the eggs one at a time until they are well mixed. Add the flour, ground almonds and milk to the mix, and fold

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Once cooked and golden in colour, remove the sponge from the oven and pierce all over with a thin sharp knife. While still warm, carefully pour the syrup over the top of the sponge. Allow the sponge to absorb the syrup, then cut into squares and leave in the tray to cool. When cool, serve with a dollop of cream or a scoop of beautiful vanilla ice cream.

HISTORY

The voyage of the Mayflower More than 30 million people have ancestral links to the passengers and crew who sailed aboard the Mayflower from Plymouth UK to Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts 400 years ago this September The Mayflower left Plymouth on September 16th, 1620 to travel to America. Sadly, events planned for September 2020 to commemorate the 400th anniversary have been postponed until the summer of 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, September 16th still marks the anniversary of the departure of a group of intrepid ‘Pilgrims’ and other passengers, intent on creating a new start in what was known as the New World. The Mayflower eventually left these shores with about 30 crew members and 102 passengers on board; just under half of the passengers were English ‘Separatists’ or ‘Saints’ as they have been named, the rest were skilled tradespeople and pioneers, also known as ‘Strangers’.

Drawn from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Leiden in the Netherlands, the Separatists sought religious freedom from the Church of England. In 1608 a group of English Protestants left Scrooby in Nottinghamshire to establish themselves in Leiden in the Netherlands, where they could worship without fear of persecution. However, in time they found life there hard and with little chance of future economic return, they resolved to move again. Together with some of the remaining congregation in England, a core group decided to travel to Virginia in America where several colonies already existed. They were granted permission to establish a colony there and managed to persuade a group of London merchants to back their venture. The Speedwell sailed from the Netherlands carrying the party from Leiden, aiming to meet up with the

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Mayflower in Southampton, before the two ships set sail together for America. However, by the time the Speedwell reached Southampton it was already beleaguered by a leak, which firstly caused the two ships to change course for Dartmouth for repairs, and then to abort the second attempt at the crossing, when the Speedwell started leaking badly 300 miles beyond Land’s End, forcing a return to Plymouth. With the Speedwell declared unseaworthy, some of the Saints dropped out, but the remainder joined the passengers on the Mayflower and set sail once again. The journey across the Atlantic took 66 days, hampered by severe winter storms due to the later start date. The grim crossing took its toll on the passengers, with one Stranger lost overboard, as well as a woman giving birth. The crew sighted Cape Cod on November 9th, 1620 and started to head south towards the Hudson River where the intended settlement location lay. But rough seas forced them back and they decided to stay at Cape Cod instead, anchoring at what is now Provincetown Harbor. Knowing they had no right to colonise this part of the country, the group decided to draw up a legal document stating their aims to work together to help the colony thrive and ‘combine ourselves together into a civill body politick’ to establish laws and enable fair government of the settlement.

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HISTORY

colonists arrived at Patuxet, creating the settlement which became modernday Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first winter was harsh and almost half of the passengers and crew died between December 1620 and the following summer.

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

The resulting Mayflower Compact was signed by 41 men on board the ship. The colonists explored the area and eventually came upon a Native American village called Patuxet which had been abandoned when disease was introduced by earlier European colonists. On December 12th, 1620 the

to join them for the feast – the first Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims had settled on land which had been home to the Wampanoag tribe for 10,000 years. In the spring of 1621, two English-speaking members of the Wamponoag, Samoset and Tisquantum, showed the settlers how to plant corn, where to fish and hunt beaver, saving them from starvation. Eventually this led to an historic peace treaty between the Wampanoag chief Ousamequin and the Pilgrims. After an excellent harvest in their first autumn, the colonists celebrated with a three-day festival of prayer and invited the Wampanoag

Unfortunately, as more and more settlers arrived, tensions escalated between the colonists and the Native American tribes. There were frequent, violent outbreaks and then disease brought by the colonists decimated the Native Americans; by the 1630s, the Native Americans had become a minority population in this region, and in King Philip’s War in 1675 the Wampanoag were almost destroyed by a colonist army. Compiled by Rosemary Best

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

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WINNIE’S WALK

Walks with Winnie This walk has been kindly written (and walked) for us by Denise Horner of Dartmoor Nordic Walking with her dog, Winnie.

Finch Foundry car park is behind the Devonshire Inn. The choices here for drinks and snacks after your walk are the Devonshire Inn, Finch Foundry Café (open March - November under normal circumstances), Taw River Inn or Sticklepath shop and café. From the car park there is already quite a bit to see before you start your walk. Finch Foundry itself, founded in 1814, is named after the local Finch family of tool makers. It is the last working water powered forge in England, now a National Trust Property. There’s also the Quaker Burial Ground purchased around 1700, with the first recorded interment in 1713 of Benjamin Bellamy. With the Foundry behind you, take the five bar gate on the left and head through the small woods, along the

edge of the river, cross over the small bridge crossing the River Taw, turning right, then through another five bar gate, taking the path to the left on the corner, starting your ascent up the hill! This is quite a steep start so take it easy. The path winds uphill, through Skaigh Woods leading you to another five bar gate. Here you will see a sign pointing left after the gate, taking you alongside a stone wall and along the edge of the field. Follow this wall all the way up until you reach a gate at the top of the field. Head out through the gate - you are now on the open moors. Straight in front of you is a track, follow this, again a short, sharp uphill stretch. The path at this point is quite clear, follow it until you reach the corner of the field system on

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your left. At this point you can look up towards Cosdon Hill, where you will see a small tree, this is where we will be heading. From this point at the wall, continue with the walk on your left, where you will then meet a wider track, turning slightly right, look for a track which will then be on your left. It will start to head out into the moor where you can see trackways leading up to the tree. As you get nearer to the tree which will be on your right, stay on the track which now takes you further up the hill - it appears to be one of those climbs where the top never seem to appear! The path here is easy to follow. You will pass a cairn on your left, sorry, this is not the summit yet, but keep heading up where you will now be able to see the Beacon and the Trig Point at 550m. It will have been worth the walk as the views from the top are quite amazing. On a clear day you can see Hay Tor and beyond, Exmoor, High Willhays, Yes Tor and much more. The route back will be the way you have come and perhaps a little easier! If you have enjoyed this walk, please do let us know, you can even post your photos on the ‘Walk with Winnie on Dartmoor’ Facebook page or email us at winnie@moorlandpaws.co.uk. Stay safe. Denise and Winnie

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WINNIE’S WALK

www.dartmoornordicwalkng.co.uk ‘Dartmoor Nordic Walking’ and ‘Walks with Winnie’ are on Facebook. A there-and-back walk from Finch Foundry in Sticklepath to Cosdon Beacon - also known as Cosdon Hill. Distance: Approximately 6.5k Time: Approximately two hours. Difficulty: Not an easy walk as it is uphill all the way to the top, an approximate elevation gain of 343 m. Easier coming back down, and kinder on the knees using Nordic Walking poles. Start at Finch Foundry car park: What3words - “elbowing.goat.amplifier” SX 642:941

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TRADE SECRETS

Carol Marsh Nonsisa Handcrafted Jewellery How long have you been making jewellery? After a lifetime without pierced ears, three years ago I had my hair cut short and my ears were suddenly crying out for decoration, so I began designing my own earrings! Where are you based? Having built a career in graphics in Buckinghamshire my family and I decided to move to Devon, and we found a house we loved near Chagford on Dartmoor. Where does the name Nonsisa come from? I was working as a signwriter in a Sardinian holiday resort. On one occasion I was asked to paint a name on a boat. It was the weekend and there were few staff at the shipyard. I found someone who was able to show me the boat. I asked the name and he replied ‘nonsisa’. I did the work only to discover later that wasn’t the name afterall. Nonsisa means ‘I don’t know’ in Gallurese, the local dialect!!! Luckily the owner had a sense of humour, loved the story, and changed the boat’s name to ‘Nonsisa’! What is your jewellery made from? Its made from polymer clay, metallic flakes, glazes and Tibetan beads. Why did you choose these particular materials? Polymer clay is easy to work with, is readily available in many colours and can be fired in a domestic oven. The metallic flakes give an antiqued, industrial edge. Do you specialise in any particular type of jewellery?

I’m influenced by the colours and beauty of Dartmoor. Also the sea inspires me. The turquoise ocean, blue sky (yes, I’m only inspired when the sun shines!!!) and sparkling waves. I find I’m replicating these colours often. Which part of the creative process do you like the most? Working with clay is wonderfully tactile. I love the unpredictability of the swirling patterns created when two to three coloured clays are blended together. I love the smoothness of the flakes. I’m constantly getting excited by new ideas. Its such fun seeing a lump of clay becoming something beautiful. Can you describe a typical day? I’m not a morning person but I do try!! First thing I’ll reply to emails, then my husband and I will take the dog for a walk and get a coffee in Chagford. I can also post orders I’ve completed. The afternoons are spent fulfilling orders, updating my website and creating new designs. Do you have any plans or ambitions as a jeweller? I’d like to expand and reach more people with my website. I’m also hoping to hold a regular Craft Fair in Chagford. Details will be on my website soon.

fun to wear

the turquoise ocean

I want my jewellery to be bright and cheerful, uplifting and easy to wear.

What are you influenced by when creating pieces?

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A spacious family home located in a quiet village location. The house is set over three floors and offers a lovely garden and orchard (overall approx 1/4 acre), ample parking and a double garage. The property is offered with no forward chain.

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Oke Links magazine September/October issue 2020

Articles inside

Music and Art

History

Food and Drink

Winnie’s Walk

What’s On

Sport

Finance

Business

Gardening

Education

Charity Focus

Health

Feature