Plym Links June/July 21 issue by Links Magazines

PLYM LINKS SAILGP

June/July 2021 | Issue 10

YEARS

Beryl & Brian spearhead a rewilding project

P LOC

Gr n Minds

LISHI

comes to Plymouth

MAGAZ

NATURE The wonder of warblers

GARDENING Plants to soothe and stimulate

HEALTH It’s hay fever time

MEET

the locals

A Glenholt couple loving life on the park A Plympton nurse and talented artist

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE

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ITY

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Make the most of summer

The deadline date for any inclusions in the August/ September issue of Plym Links will be July 2nd, 2021 For all editorial enquiries please contact me via email at: jane.honey@linksmagazines.co.uk or by phone 07971 917071. THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Jane Honey Design: Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard

To promote your business to 16,100 readers call: ✆ 07450 161929 ON THE COVER: Sail GP © Bob Martin for Sail GP

July looks like it’s shaping up to be quite memorable for the Plymouth area - we have the incredible Mayflower 400 Four Nations ceremony and the spectacular Sail GP events to look forward to, then August will see an spectacular outdoor performance on Plymouth Hoe in the shape of a giant dragon puppet. The Hatchling promises to be something quite special - so watch this space! The subject of this edition’s feature is Plymouth’s Green Minds project - a pioneering movement aiming to re-wild areas in and around the city, which is responsible for re-introducing beavers Beryl and Brian to the Forder Valley. It’s an inspiring story that is encouraging people from all walks of life to enjoy the mental and physical benefits that nature can provide. Thanks to the relaxing of covid restrictions I actually got to meet some of our local people for this issue, instead of using Zoom. Tom and Linda Bunker from Glenholt Park do a huge amount of work to boost social life in their community and are now gearing up for their biggest event of the year, the party on the park. And Emma Taynton-Young was able to meet the artist who painted the beautiful cover picture for the April/May edition of Plym Links, Ali Cragg - get to know Ali on page 10. This time our charity focus is the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline - an organisation that provides

FROM THE EDITOR life-saving respite for youngsters suffering the ongoing effects of radioactive fallout following the devastating nuclear accident at Chernobyl Power Station 35 years ago. The health of anyone living in the area will be compromised for generations - see how you might be able to help the charity by reading the article on page 26. While most of us love the summer, it can be a nightmare for anyone who suffers with hay fever. Dr Rachel has some advice for these unfortunate souls on page 33 - and if you are thinking longingly of soaking up the sun with a glass of chilled wine, turn to page 35, where Dave Anning explains how that quintessential summer tipple rosé is made. Hopefully we will be enjoying good weather over the next few months - if you are inspired to head out into the fresh air for a walk, why not take a leaf out of contributor Ron Smith’s book and make for the Anthony Woodland Garden - read about this beautiful estate on pages 42 and 43.

Jane Jane Honey Editor, Plym Links

✆ 07971 917071 jane.honey@linksmagazines.co.uk

Contents | June & July 2021

5 Feature 8 Local People 13 Noticeboard 22 Education 24 Nature 26 Charity 28 Gardening 33 Health

PLYM LINKS SAILGP

June/July 2021 | Issue 10

P LOC

Gr n Minds

LISHI

10 YEARS

Beryl & Brian spearhead a rewilding project

comes to Plymouth

Delivered by the Royal Mail to the following towns & villages: Roborough, Woolwell, Widewell, Shaugh Prior, Bickleigh, Wotter, Lee Moor, Sparkwell, Glenholt, Derriford, Derriford Hospital, The Plymouth Science Park and selected outlets.

² @plymlinks

✆ 07450 161929

35 Food and Drink 36 What’s On 39 Music and Art 42 Walk 44 History 46 Tech Help 47 Directory 50 Trade Secrets

MAGAZ

NATURE The wonder of warblers

GARDENING Plants to soothe and stimulate

HEALTH It’s hay fever time

MEET

the locals

A Glenholt couple loving life on the park A Plympton nurse and talented artist

COM ITY

JOBS

BUS I NESS

BUY LOCAL & SAVE

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE

Providing vital respite time

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FEATURE Project volunteers undertaking a butterfly survey

PLYMOUTH’S BUSY BEAVERS Part of the pioneering Green Minds Project

lymouth has its fair share of celebrities with in October last year, Green Minds is a partnership prominent actors, artists and sports people all hailing project, funded by the European Regional Development from our fair city. Fund under their Urban Innovative Actions Programme. But can any of them build a dam in a river? Do any of Its main aim? To rewild places and people. It is rewilding them have orange teeth? Well, until recently, no. And urban parks, streets, gardens, and verges, creating more then along came Beryl and Brian, Plymouth’s famous spaces for nature. It is also working with businesses, new beaver duo. communities, and decision makers to put nature at the In case you missed it, Plymouth is now the proud heart of the city. Crucially, it’s encouraging more people home of two Eurasian beavers, from all walks to life, to enjoy the a male and a female called Brian and physical health benefits Green Minds will organise mental and Beryl. They have risen to that our wonderful nature spots training days so local people provide. The more wild spaces fame on local and national news, featured on the BBC’s Countryfile can learn practical ways to around the city, the better for wildlife, programme and have even and for the people of Plymouth, too. encourage nature become social media stars. Green Minds will organise training Safe to say, they’ve certainly days so local people can learn captured the hearts of local residents but why beavers practical ways to encourage nature.The project’s work and why in Plymouth? will trial new ways of involving communities and social It is all part of the Green Minds project, based in enterprises in co-stewardship and be supported by Plymouth and led by Plymouth City Council. Launched apprenticeships, education and engagement programmes.

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Research by Plymouth University will evidence the impact of the investments on behaviours and attitudes towards nature and the creation of ‘green mindsets’. Five areas of Plymouth are being enhanced for nature. A large wetland area is being created in Central Park, providing homes for wildlife and helping to alleviate flooding in the park. A re-naturalising programme is taking place on the Saltram estate, a network of green spaces and wildlife friendly habitats is being created at Devonport and Stonehouse and urban wildlife corridors are being established in the North Prospect and St Budeaux areas, including tree planting and management of verges to benefit wildlife. And then of course, there is Beryl and Brian’s new home at Derriford Community Park.

enclosure, which covers 600m of river in a wooded valley. While setting this up, Plymouth City Council kept the welfare of the animals of paramount importance by working with partners including leading beaver experts at Devon Wildlife Trust, rewilding specialist Dereck Gow, and Roisin Campbell–Palmer, the UK’s top beaver ecologist, to ensure the beavers are healthy and happy. As well as being charismatic, beavers are fascinating creatures with an important job to do. They are top engineers who change their surroundings by felling trees, damming sections of river, and creating a network of canals. They also create soggy wetland spaces, great for birds, fish, amphibians, and bugs to live and feed in. They also ‘slow the flow’ of water during and after

Brian and Beryl are an integral part of the project and were part of the first ever urban reintroduction of beavers in the UK. After many years of planning and preparation, the male beaver, Brian, moved to his new home last November and was joined by his female friend, Beryl, in January. The beavers came from Scotland and were introduced into a specially-built rewilding enclosure near Poole Farm. The enclosure was built through an amazing joint effort between the council’s street services and environment planning teams. It may seem odd to take the beavers from the wild and bring them to a Plymouth enclosure but there’s a sound reason to it. These beavers were trapped in the Tay catchment in Scotland. There, beavers have been in the wild for some time and as a result, where there are conflicts with farmers, farmers can get a licence to cull them. Beryl and Brian were rescued from this fate and will now live a very happy life in their 3.5 ha rewilding

rainfall, helping reduce flooding downstream. As part of the project, monitoring two very similar rivers – Bircham and Seaton – will take place to see how the beavers make positive changes to their environment and the surrounding areas. That way, a comparison can be made between what’s happening at Bircham (Brian and Beryl’s home) with what’s happening at the Seaton stream, to understand more about the impacts the beavers have on waterways. Not only do beavers help reduce flood risks, and make a home for lots of wildlife, but they also improve water quality and help store carbon in a really efficient way. Storing carbon, keeping it locked in the ground, is really important in tackling the climate emergency. So what else is interesting about them? Beavers were once a common sight across England, Wales, and Scotland until 400 years ago, when they were hunted to extinction for their fur, meat, and a special oil they produce called ‘castoreum’, which was used in perfume

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FEATURE Beryl enjoying her new habitat

Photo © Chris Parkes Photography

making. There is now a national ‘beaver fever’ as more and more places are trying to reintroduce them. Brian and Beryl’s teeth are orange because they contain iron to make them extra strong, enabling them to gnaw on trees, which they make their homes (lodges) from, and also to eat the trees. Willow trees are often their favourite thing to eat. It’s a popular myth that they eat fish; they don’t, they’re strict vegetarians. The Derriford beavers are named after celebrated local artists Brian Pollard and Beryl Cook. Plymouth’s schools were challenged to come up with the duo’s names and class 3CS at Oreston Community Academy won the vote with their arty suggestion - their prize is a trip to visit the beavers in the Green Minds rewilding enclosure at Poole Farm. So, one male and one female? Are they a ‘thing’? As much as their privacy is being respected, in February, it was confirmed that they are living together. They’ve since been spotted hanging out together on dam-building date nights and five star willow tree dining experiences . . . Of course, everyone hopes for baby beavers (called ‘kits’), in the future so, let’s watch this space! There are so many exciting opportunities to get involved in nature and rewilding across Plymouth thanks to the Green Minds Project. Why not get involved? n

More information: To find out about the rewilding taking place and to keep up to date about the celebrity beaver duo visit www.greenmindsplymouth.com, and follow on @NaturePlymouth on Facebook and Twitter.

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Loving life on the park . . . Tom and Linda Bunker

his smiley couple have lived in their home at Glenholt Park for eleven years. During that time they have become an integral part of the community as a constant procession of passers-by stopping to chat makes obvious! Tom, 78, is ‘Plymouth born and bred’. A keen rugby player in his youth, sea angler and ten pin bowler, he spent the whole of his working life at Devonport Dockyard, starting at the age of 15 and retiring early at ‘I’ve gone back quite a way,’ said Linda. ‘My grandad 51. For many years after that he had a stall in Tavistock was a detective chief inspector in the police but as a Pannier Market, where he sold glass objets d’art. ‘It was an area that I realised very few people specialised in,’ young lad he worked down the mines in Callington.’ Linda and Tom’s move to Glenholt Park came out of said Tom. ‘I really enjoyed learning about crystal and glass a desire to downsize from their family home at Beacon and the differences between old, newer and modern glass.’ Park. He admitted a park dwelling wasn’t his first choice, Linda and Tom travelled all over the South West, even but he quickly changed his mind when he and Linda as far as Birmingham, sourcing pieces to sell at auctions viewed what became their new home. and antique fairs. He had his fair share of ‘finds’ ‘We love living here. People are very friendly, we soon including a piece of Lalique glass which he sold on for ‘a got invited to get-togethers, we started going on coach bit of money’ and another mystery piece, the origins of trips, then we started to organise which he never actually discovered. them,’ said Tom. ‘This glass looked looked like coke, I really enjoyed learning It wasn’t long before they started it was in the shape of an eagle about crystal and glass and a regular skittles group, playing at flying - I’d never seen anything like it before,’ said Tom, who had been the differences between old, King’s Tamerton Social Club; they also held horse-racing evenings at keen to take it home to show Linda. newer and modern glass. The Lopes Arms in Roborough. Unfortunately it never got that far The Up Your Alley Skittles Group well, when you’re offered £100 cash provides a popular social outlet ...! there are also bingo sessions run through the same group The couple have a son, Lee, who has served 22 years which meets every second Thursday and last year, Tom in the Royal Navy, and two grandsons. Linda gave up working full time when she had Lee, but has kept herself started organising men’s lunches on a regular basis at a very busy - she enjoys decorating, she does the admin for variety of local pubs in the area. The coach trips organised by this energetic couple the hectic social programme they organise and she also loves gardening. Their garden is packed with shrubs and take park residents out for day trips as far afield as Weymouth, Newquay, Truro and North Devon. They pots overflowing with greenery, two ponds plus dozens aren’t profit making - some do make a small sum which of statues and figurines, many on a mystical theme, then subsidises the ones that run at a loss. It’s basically including an impressive-looking dragon. ‘The fairies are Tom’s,’ laughed Linda. ‘He’s into fairies all about providing a social offering for residents of Glenholt Park, many of whom are living on their own in a big way!’ and unable to drive. She has also been delving into her family tree, Tom and Linda also stage an annual Christmas party discovering that her family has a Cornish mining for Glenholt Park residents - sadly last year’s event fell background.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

foul of the coronavirus pandemic but their wonderful display of festive lights still managed to raise more than £260, which was split between the skittles club and St Luke’s Hospice. Their biggest event is the ‘Party on the Park’ which this year will take place on July 4th (see page 36) where food and drink in abundance are enjoyed by everyone dropping by and live musical entertainment is there to be

enjoyed. While Tom and Linda are obviously a driving force behind these social enterprises, they were keen to stress that none of them would take place without the help and support of other residents in the park. ‘I’d like to say thank you to all those people who help us - nothing could be done without them,’ said Tom. n Jane Honey FINEST CERTIFIED DARTMOOR WOOL

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Alli Cragg Nurse and talented artist

n meeting Alli Cragg you’re struck by her nervous smile and totally unassuming nature. These personal attributes are baﬄing when you learn about her artistic talents and the contribution she makes to society through her work. Alli, 50, qualified as a nurse in 1999 and worked in a cardiac department for 13 years before moving to be a senior sister in discharge planning. She currently works at Mount Gould Hospital as an Infection Control Team Leader for Livewell Southwest, but was redeployed to front line duties when the pandemic hit the UK in March last year. She doesn’t class her other nursing duties as ‘front line’ and is in awe and admiration of her fellow nurses who work on wards day in, day out. ‘During the pandemic people called nurses heroes, but nurses do this job every day. They’ve never not worked hard and in my eyes they have always been heroes,’ said Alli. She found spending time with patients, while their loved

ones and family members had to stay away, truly humbling. You could see the pain in her eyes when she talked about taking on a surrogate family member role, alongside that of her nursing duties. ‘I know I could never truly fill the role of someone’s daughter, or sister, but I could see how important it was to sit and hold a patient’s hand and read to them, while they were suffering from the awful effects of Covid.’ Alli lives with her husband and two kittens in Plympton, just ten doors down from her parents and the home she grew up in. It’s here where she admits to filling her time by making a mess! As well as being a nurse, Alli Cragg is an accomplished artist – although this is something she will never admit. Her iconic seascapes are as mighty as their creator is modest. ‘I started painting in 2015 when my daughter left home. I was bereft and needed to do something to fill the void. I wanted to make a mess and have some fun, so I started playing with spray paints in my garage. ‘Then one day I was in a gallery in Tavistock and saw some paintings by Rozanne Bell. I loved them and wanted to know what she had used, so I got in touch with her. This is where it all began. I bought a starter pack of resin and went back into my garage to play. ‘I then took my first abstract creation, which I called “skinny dip”, back to the Tavistock Gallery to ask the owner, Rik, what he thought. To my surprise, he took

LOCAL PEOPLE it off my hands and asked me to paint seven more pictures for him to sell at an exhibition. This was truly terrifying as I couldn’t believe people would want my work! ‘However, I did my first exhibition in July 2019, and as days go, it was one of the best days of my life. I felt super special. For me that day wasn’t about my paintings, it was about how other people made me feel.’ For Alli, painting is both a challenge and a release. She describes skies and seas as her nemesis. ‘If it was easy, I wouldn’t paint them, but I like to prove I won’t be beaten and can often lose a whole day, or sometimes a weekend, on a single painting. I think I create my best art when I have had a tough week at work. It’s almost a mental release for me. ‘My husband Kevin, plays a really important role in my art, as well as my life. I have made my fair share of mud, as I call it, and he puts up with

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I did my first exhibition in July 2019, and as days go, it was one of the best days of my life. I felt super special . For me that day wasn’t about my paintings, it was about how other people made me feel

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my painting paraphernalia being strewn all over the kitchen. ‘Not every painting works out at the first attempt, and the skill is in knowing when to stop for the day and when to go back and try again. Kevin is great at telling me when to step away and leave something I am battling with. He also grounds me when I’m getting cocky, so he’s perfect really.’ This year Alli is hoping to finish her home studio, delayed as a result of the pandemic and a couple of building hiccups. ‘I’m looking forward to having a dedicated mess making space, away from the mischievous glances of my two kittens. I really want to create more pieces this year and maybe have another exhibition at the Tavistock Gallery, so I have the chance to feel super special again.’n Emma Taynton-Young

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Social prescribing scheme launched

Save Our Sanctuary... A South Hams animal charity has issued an urgent appeal for help, as it desperately searches for a new base. Hoofbeats, which has rescued and re-homed more than 200 horses and ponies since it launched in 2000, has been based at Lower Collard Farm near Shaugh Prior for nearly ten years. But now the charity’s landlord has given it notice to move and although temporary land in four separate locations has been sourced, a new, permanent home needs to be found. Sharon Vieira, founder of Hoofbeats Sanctuary, said: ‘As a team, we find ourselves in a heart-breaking situation, this is very raw for us and we are desperately trying to find a way forward.’ The ‘Save our Sanctuary Appeal’ has raised £4,000 since it was launched in March, for which Sharon and the dedicated Hoofbeats volunteers are very grateful. But during difficult times for all charities, when fundraising has been curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, the charity still needs funds to care for its animals - and most importantly, some land they can call home. Sharon said: ‘Hoofbeats is so much more than just a horse welfare charity. Our horses have helped people along the way too. I have been overwhelmed with the messages of support that tell stories of our work, and the horses having such a positive effect on many of our supporters and volunteers’ mental health. ‘This news is such a blow for the charity, the horses, and for us all as a team personally too.’ More information: To pledge your donation to the charity’s emergency appeal, please visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-sanctuary To find out more about the charity’s work, please visit www.hoofbeats.org.uk Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts

Plymouth’s Central Park’s Community Sports Hub is set to be take centre stage in an exciting new social prescribing project. The sports hub, which opened just prior to the pandemic in March 2020, is situated in the heart of the park on the site of the old bowling pavilion. In partnership with Argyle Community Trust and Livewell Southwest, it will become a base for a green social prescribing scheme. Social prescribing, sometimes known as community referral, is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. It has been made possible through funding from the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), Arts Council England, Historic England, Natural England, NHS England and Improvement, Sport England, the Money and Pensions Service, and NHS Charities Together. The Argyle Community Trust will take on the management of the sports hub, built by Plymouth City Council as part of wider improvements to Central Park with contributions from the Football Foundation. It features changing rooms, accessible toilets and storage facilities as well as upgrades to the community hall and kitchen. The work of the Trust will support the development of annual events and initiatives such as Park Run. The hub will facilitate various programmes delivered by Argyle Community Trust including employability, education, and recreational activity as well as letting out rooms to local businesses, organisations and activity providers. To find out more email community@pafc.co.uk

Lewis Coombes, facilities manager for the Argyle Community Trust (left) and deputy council leader, Cllr Pete Smith Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 13

Working together If you live on the outskirts of Plymouth, you may be interested in a group of residents coming together to help, guide and find solutions within our local communities, becoming one voice in implementing change. Glenholt Community Hub, set-up in 2018, saw the need at the start of the pandemic for a community-led Good Neighbour Scheme. It had huge success in deploying a small army of volunteers during the past 15 months and the need for such schemes under one umbrella organisation becomes as apparent as we emerge from lockdown, as it did at the beginning. An organisation run by local volunteers has a huge advantage when producing future plans and ideas - we want to work with and listen to what our communities want and say. We will cover Glenholt, Mainstone, Leigham, Estover, Thornbury, Derriford, Southway,

Community transport for local people Ring and Ride is a lifeline for those in Ivybridge and surrounding villages who are less mobile, rurally isolated or unable to drive, perhaps for health reasons. It allows local people to visit their doctor, dentist, the hospital, or just to go out shopping. Your support will allow us to continue to provide this important, affordable service. If you would like to volunteer as a car driver using your own car, you will be paid 45p for every mile you drive, including mileage from your own home to the passengers’ home. We will always try to find an available driver closest to the client. You will need

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Tamerton Foliot, Belliver, Roborough and Widewell. We realise we will need project managers, co-ordinators and volunteers to form the following groups: • Community Good Neighbour Scheme • Compassionate Friends Hub and Network including Hub Cafés • Community Forum • Projects Team Action Group, currently working on Play Parks and Green Spaces and a Covid Recovery Plan • Social Activities • Community Fundraising Engaging with Plymouth City Council, Adult Social Care, Moorview councillors, Age UK, POP+ and St Luke’s Hospice, it is hoped to bring local MPs, various agencies, GP surgeries and hospitals together to form a much larger-scale presence, working for the benefit our mental health and wellbeing. If you would like to get involved please contact Denise by emailing dmills568@gmail.com or call ✆ 07849413125.

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NOTICEBOARD

Lifesaving equipment in Derriford In any community it is reassuring to know that potentially lifesaving equipment is close at hand. When a group of Derriford residents suggested the idea of having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device in the community, prospective local councillor Mark Shayer agreed and ran with the idea. With his wife Sam, Cllr Dave Downie, community matron Michelle Beer and local residents Marion and David Leah, the Derriford Community Group was set up. Following discussion with a number of suppliers, Mark collated options for the group to consider. The end result was funding approval from councillors Dave

Balls to Covid! Over the last year, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has created a new rehabilitation service set up to help those recovering from trauma and illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strict infection control changes, as well as restrictions on visiting loved ones, meant rehabilitation teams needed to come up with a new way of making rehabilitation fun for patients. As a result, the COVID-19 Respiratory, Rehabilitation and Discharge Team created the #BallsToCovid Challenge. Using beach balls and music, the challenge is

Downie and Jonathan Drean and purchase of a new Heart Safe defibrillator. Passanna Weragama, owner of Premier Stores at Derriford, fully supported the idea and agreed that the device could be installed on the outside wall of his shop. Michelle Beer, community matron, said: ‘At the heart of working in the community, access for all to use a community defib is essential in possibly saving just one person’s life.’ Local charity DDRC Healthcare have offered free training in the use of a defibrillator. Anyone interested in learning more should contact Mark on ✆ 07506 623982 or email markshayer4budshead@gmail.com. designed to promote activity, share moments of joy and make people laugh. Olivia Roberts and Helen White from the physiotherapy team have created a series of videos to introduce their challenge with the hope that others will join in and share their #BallsToCovid moves with the rest of Plymouth. Grab a ball, put on some music and get moving! Kate Tantam, specialist sister in ICU, said: ‘We know that rehabilitation in hospital improves both patient outcomes and patient experience - people get better quicker and feel happier. ‘Recovery is a shared responsibility for all. At the Trust we believe in the power of teamwork and we are keen to welcome the people of Plymouth to our challenge. Please join us getting active and saying ‘Balls to Covid!’’

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Rescued turns rescuer! A rescued collie cross has become the latest recruit to a Dartmoor rescue group - having been rescued himself by the North Devon Animal Ambulance Charity. Catherine Goo has been a team member with North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team ((NDSART) for eight years and from early into her training was keen to become a dog handler. She came across Jack as an eightmonth year old puppy. Catherine said: ‘I had always thought there is something very lovely about a dog who has been rescued going on to be a rescuer.’ Jack is what Catherine calls a ‘Pollie’, a Pointer crossed with a Collie, a great mix for a search dog combining boundless energy and play with a strong nose. Finding the right dog is just the start, qualifying a search dog takes many years and a lot of sacrifice from a handler and supporters, involving passing modules and countless weekends of training across the country. Jack began his training back in 2018, passing registration and stock training in 2019, indication and a stage two test in 2020 and finally passed his final grading on April 25th, 2021.

The training and exams are run by the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England (MRSDE), a registered charity. Jack is an ‘Non discriminatory air scenting’ dog which means that he has been trained to find a human scent and locate onto the smell. When Jack locates a scent he gives a bark indication that draws the handler and search team onto the person. So long as Jack is downwind of a casualty then he should be able to locate them, and because he can cover a large area of ground, this massively speeds up the rescue for a team. Jack can also work in bad weather when police helicopters can’t operate, which of course which tends to be the weather that sees the team most frequently called out in. While most search dogs will perfect their bark when a casualty has been located, it doesn’t always happen like this: ‘One time Jack came back to me to indicate and opened his mouth and burped at me instead!’ said Catherine. So, while he may be out there saving lives, he is a still a little way off being invited around for dinner! North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Jack and his handler Catherine

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NOTICEBOARD

Are you struggling with debt?

Celebrating the work of volunteers

Citizens Advice South Hams is urging those who may be struggling financially with the effects of coronavirus to seek help sooner rather than later. Janie Moor, chief officer, said: ‘We know that dealing with debt can be hugely stressful and this past year has been difficult for everyone, but it’s best to seek advice early. We have a dedicated debt team that can help with all sorts of debt and money issues - you don’t have to face it alone we’re here to help.’ We can help with: • rent arrears • mortgage arrears • council tax arrears • credit cards • utility debts • bank loans • benefits advice • budgeting advice • and more

Every year June1st-7th is ‘Volunteers Week’ and South Hams CVS (Community & Voluntary Services) celebrate the fabulous volunteers who help people across our district. This year we are shouting even louder and welcoming all those new to volunteering. It could be you, whether you’ve been helping out in your street, neighbourhood or community, lots more people have taken up the call to gift their time, expertise and hands on help to other people, both strangers and friends. THANK YOU. People tell us that without volunteers, the pandemic would have been even more of a struggle and their spirits have been lifted. We look forward to welcoming back volunteers who have been shielding and keeping safe and to groups and new activities starting up again. South Hams CVS exists to help communities flourish and to help people help each other. We would love to hear from you if you’re seeking help or advice about your group, if you want to volunteer or if you have an idea which you think could help your community. Leave a message on ✆ 01803 862266 and we will ring you back, or email us at cvs@southhamcvs.org. uk. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Celebrating Mayflower 400 at Sherford Pupils from Sherford Vale School are keeping the Mayflower celebrations in full flow, planting 150 special ‘Mayflower 400’ daffodil bulbs within the heart of the community. They were planted around the base of the town’s 9-metre tall Tulip tree, the Massachusetts-native species that arrived last year to honour the historic connection between Plymouth and its American namesake. Some of the school’s youngest pupils were entrusted with the task under the expert guidance of Sherford’s landscaping team, Plympton-based YGS Landscapes, who donated the bulbs to the community. Developed especially for the Mayflower 400

celebrations, the unique daffodils will bloom each spring with a distinctive yellow and orange flower. These are the exact colours of the distinctive tulipshaped flowers of the Tulip tree they surround, which will follow on from the daffodils and bloom in the Summer. Jenna Waters, from Vistry Partnerships and the Sherford Consortium, said: ‘Many of the pupils who planted the daffodil bulbs in Sherford are from key worker families - we were pleased to give them a fun experience and help them create their own little legacy for Sherford. Susie Evans, from Sherford Vale School, said: ‘Pupils in Years 1 and 2 were so excited to be able to go into the local community for an activity; something they haven’t been able to do for months! They loved planting the daffodil bulbs, with some stating they could keep an eye on them from their own homes, whilst they grow.’ Steve Warren-Brown, MD of YGS Landscapes, added: ‘As soon as I discovered that there was actually a bulb developed to commemorate Mayflower 400, I knew where we could put them – this is the perfect location. We hope everyone will take pleasure from these beautiful bulbs for years to come.’

Boost for residents - and wildlife... Thanks to feedback and ideas from over 300 local people, Woodlands Park (The Spinney) in Ivybridge is now an even more welcoming place for people and wildlife. The improvement work, which is well on the way to completion, included enhancing the wildlife pond area, planting more trees, replacing timeworn benches, and providing an additional piece of play equipment for six to 11 year olds. Ideas on what to do at the park were gathered via an online survey at the end of 2020. This information was used to form South Hams District Council’s plan to carry out improvements in a way that truly meets local needs. What local people told South Hams District Council they want: • 93% would like to see improvements to the wildlife pond area • 85% would like to enhance the park for wildlife by leaving some areas of grass to grow longer • 78% want more seating • 78% support additional play equipment • 73% want more trees to be planted 18

This season’s tree planting has now been completed. The refurbishment of the pond dipping platform is also complete, and benches have been replaced or refurbished where needed. The interpretation board for the pond should be in place soon - consultation on the new play equipment is due to take place with installation hopefully in the autumn. The improvement project funding has largely come from the section 106 agreement made with Persimmon Homes, the firm behind the local Harford Mews development. Further funding, specifically for tree planting, has come from the Langage Landscape Fund following the development of the energy centre near Plympton. Cllr Lance Austen, ward member for Ivybridge West, added: ‘From bat boxes and bug hotels to new picnic benches, thank you everyone who shared your brilliant ideas on how we can make Woodlands Park better for the people and wildlife that use it.’

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NOTICEBOARD

Woolwell in Bloom is back!

Woolwell in Bloom could not wait for the lockdown rules to start easing, enabling the group to get back out into the community and do some gardening. 2020 was a strange year for everyone due to Covid, with so many planned events cancelled. We initially planned to enter the Britain in Bloom competition South West region. But new plans had to be drawn up due to restrictions, so we aimed for the 2021 competition. Our group was so excited when the first gardening session took place in mid April. Thankfully the gardens did not suffer too much during the lockdowns, so a few hours of work really made a big difference. We started with the Woolwell Centre gardens as their café was able to open its outside area. We soon started getting lovely comments from our residents. We then moved on to other gardens; summer planting and new signage at the Wooden Well garden was next and then the Triangle garden was finished with its new signage and bunting. All our gardens will be ready for the judging in July, with new planters in place around some of the street name signs. The feedback from our community has been fantastic, with some residents offering donations of plants, pots and money, for which the group is very grateful. During lockdown we became a registered charity, with help from South Hams CVS. To become part of this exciting community project, please contact us on ✆ 07837 532873. We would love to hear from you.

City wildflowers...

Wild flowers should now be blooming across Plymouth, following a successful trial last year in which some verges and boundaries were left to grow wilder. Some of the results were spectacular with wonderful patches of colour appearing where once there was just green - but parks and open spaces will still be managed and some areas still cut to keep roads safe. A spokesman for Plymouth City Council said: ‘Where we’ve got grassy areas that are of more use to wildlife than people, like steep banks and verges, we’ll be cutting around the edges and then leaving the rest to grow wild. We’ll then cut them later in the year to allow more types of plant a chance to grow. Cllr Sue Dann, cabinet member for street scene and environment, said: ‘This strategy is just one of a number of ways that we are trying to do things a bit differently to help the environment and tackle the climate emergency ‘In 2021, we’ll be building on last year’s success, where we began to tip the balance by increasing the grassland managed for nature from 15 per cent to 40 per cent. ‘I can’t wait to see the blooming purples, yellows, blues and pinks; a city awash with colour that not only looks beautiful, but also creates homes for the wildlife vital to our fight against climate change.’ Longer grass and flowers provide food and homes for pollinating insects like bees and butterflies – and all manner of wildlife, helping reduce our total carbon footprint.

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expedition, dubbed #LastPole, is not only a world first but a vital piece of citizen science. Ice is critical to the survival of humankind. 12,000 years ago, the last ice age sculpted much of Dartmoor. Ice has been a primary feature in our discoveries in

New beer captures the spirit of exploration England’s highest brewery, based in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, has teamed up with Dartmoor-based polar exploration project Ice Warrior to launch a new beer which captures the spirit of exploration and outdoor experience. The new Ice Warrior Ale has been launched on the back of a boom in bottled beer sales over the past 12 months and has been brewed to reflect Dartmoor Brewery’s strong association with the great outdoors. The flavour combinations of the Ice Warrior Ale are broadly based around the brewery’s original and multi-award winning Jail Ale, with some changes to the brewing recipe by head brewer Ian Cobham to create a unique, limited-edition ale brewed using traditional methods and ingredients. A percentage of each bottle sale will be used to fund Ice Warrior’s polar expedition programme. Since 2001 Ice Warrior has trained over 400 novices to be polar explorers, undertaken seven major expeditions and directly contributed to our knowledge and understanding of our changing world. Its remit is to help scientists gauge the pulse of the planet and the next

the Arctic Ocean - Ice Warrior Ale is a celebration of this contribution. Ice Warrior founder Jim McNeill said: ‘ In the “golden era of exploration” that we emulate, each expedition member was allotted a daily quota of beer that was often donated by local breweries. Having our own ale brewed for us by a modern-day, sustainable and responsible brewery, not only helps us recruit, raise awareness and funds for our expeditions but adds to the historic and modern nature of what we are trying to achieve.’ Ian Cobham, Dartmoor Brewery MD and head brewer, said: ‘Our new partnership with Ice Warrior is a natural fit with our passion for all things outdoors, and our commitment to initiatives which raise awareness of our fragile environment. Our new Ice Warrior Ale expresses our passion in our own special way – with traditional, natural beer!’ The new limited-edition beer is available exclusively online at www.dartmoorbrewery.co.uk (with free UK mainland delivery on orders of two packs or more).

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Restart grants available until June 30

From beauty salons and book shops to campsites and village halls, many South Hams businesses are eligible for a cash boost of up to £18,000. South Hams District Council is accepting applications for the Government’s new Restart Grant until June 30th, to give practical financial support following lockdown restrictions due to coronavirus. The grant is a one-off payment for businesses that mainly offer in-person services to the general public and have been impacted by closures. It is available in two strands. Non-essential retail businesses, such as gift stores or florists, are in Strand One and could receive a one-off grant up to £6,000. Hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses, covering everything from animal groomers to pubs and B&Bs, are covered by Strand Two. These business could receive up to £18,000 as they may have opened later or may have been more restricted. How much is the grant worth? For non-essential retail businesses, the following thresholds apply: • Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on April 1st, 2021 will receive a payment of £2,667. • Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on April 1st, 2021 will receive a payment of £4,000. • Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on April 1st, 2021 will receive a payment of £6,000. For hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and

NOTICEBOARD gyms, the following thresholds apply: • Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or under on April 1st, 2021 will receive a payment of £8,000. • Businesses with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on April 1st, 2021 will receive a payment of £12,000. • Businesses with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on April 1st, 2021 will receive a payment of £18,000. Who is eligible? To qualify for a grant, your business must be registered for Business Rates and have premises on the council’s rating list on April 1st, 2021; be trading on April 1st, 2021; not be in liquidation, dissolved, struck off or subject to a striking-off notice. How to apply To apply, go to www.southhams.gov.uk/businesscovid19 Grants will be paid direct to the account registered. If all the correct information is submitted, the team aim to make payments within three weeks of the initial application. Please be aware that the Restart Grant is taxable income and will need to be included in the tax return of your business. The Restart Grant replaces the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) and is being paid alongside ongoing ARG grants.

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The same great team!

Staying at the heart of the Plympton community

Sparkwell Primary School Learning to make a difference

ituated just over a mile outside Plympton, Sparkwell Primary school is in an enviable location with woods on the doorstep, lots of birdsong, clean air and a rural setting. There can’t be many schools where you can hear the lions from the Zoo nearby roaring as you arrive in the morning! We have a purpose built school that we relocated to in 2016 (from the older cramped Victorian school), with modern, airy classrooms and a large playing field. We can take 15 children into Foundation each year and classes from Year 1 to Year 6 have two year groups per class. We have a growing number of families that live within Sparkwell or outlying rural hamlets, but the majority of our children live in the Chaddlewood area of Plympton. We have 98 children in the school across four classes, which enables us to keep a family feel and know all of our families really well. We are a Single Academy Trust, which means we are not part of any large multi academy trusts and can make the

decisions that are right for our children. The school has a headteacher, four class teachers, two office staff, caretaker and cleaner, a school cook and seven teaching assistants (including two forest school leaders). We also have a school dog, Luna the cavapoo! We have a Board of Trustees who are the governors for our school and meet half termly. Children join us from a wide range of pre-school settings and childminders and we have good links with the Little Orchard Montessori Nursery in the village. At the end of Year 6, most of our children move on to Plympton Academy or Ivybridge Community College, but we also have children going onto Heles, the grammar schools or further afield to Totnes or into Plymouth. Since opening as a free school in 2015 we have had two ‘Good’ Ofsted reports - the last in 2019 stated: ‘The school environment is calm and purposeful. During lessons, pupils across the school are focused, respectful and attentive. The innovative curriculum motivates and engages pupils.’

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EDUCATION Our mission statement is ‘learning to make a difference’ and we do this by making sure children are put at the heart of all we do, while also preparing them for life in a global society. We teach the core values of respect, resilience, responsibility and creativity through a broad and balanced curriculum and ensure we give children of all ages opportunities to go out on trips and to enjoy visitors, especially artists and musicians. We enjoy PE and sports and take part in inter-school competitions and offer a range of sports clubs. We teach Forest School to children from Reception to Year 6 and were the first school in the UK to be accredited as a recognised forest school provider by the Forest School Association - we have successfully renewed this three times and we attract students coming to visit from other parts of the UK as well as international students. Research shows that time outdoors supports mental health and builds resilience and communication skills. Last year we were ready to take part in Junior Ten Tors and have fingers crossed it will go ahead in 2022, as the children have been disappointed to miss out. We believe it is important to make children environmentally aware; we were the third school in Devon to achieve Eco School’s highest award, the ‘Green Flag’ and we have the Plastic Free schools award. We have an eco committee who help plan events such as World Ocean Day or Switch Off fortnight and this term we have completed a virtual tour of the Energy from Waste plant

in Plymouth where all your non recyclable rubbish gets burned and converted into energy. As with all schools, the last year has been challenging but we are pleased to be coming out the other side and back to some normality. During lockdowns our families did an excellent job of supporting learning at home, teachers worked incredibly hard to deliver online learning and all staff worked well together to support the children of key workers who were in school. In the summer term we are looking forward to visits from a musician and an author and hopefully trips to the beach, Dartmoor and a residential visit to Dewerstone Cottage. We practised our maypole dancing for a May Day celebration, hope to hold sports day, organise a litter pick and are planning a sleepover. Although we are over-subscribed for this September we have some spaces in other year groups and we welcome enquiries from families wanting to find out more for entry to school in 2022. You can also find out more about us at www.sparkwell.devon.sch.uk or c sparkwellschool n

Moorsway Moorsway Federation Federation WhereWhere learning learning is is an adventure! an adventure!

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Moorsway Federation Where learningMoorsway is an adventure! Federation • Small class sizes • A broad and balancedis curriculum Where learning • Experienced teams of dedicated staﬀ • Weekly Forest School programme an adventure! • Each child is valued and known to all the staﬀ Shaugh ShaughPrior Prior Primary PrimarySchool School

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NATURALIST

The wonder of

warblers

Pete Mayston explains this garden serenade

he chiffchaff started calling in our garden on March 28th this year, and a couple of days later one settled in the uppermost branches of a nearby hawthorn. Silhouetted against the sky we were able to watch the whole of its body pulsate with each pulse of its two-note serenade - or in other words, ‘singing its heart out’. Although we may tend to think of the romance of a cock bird attracting his mate with his song, remember there is also a lot of macho posturing, territorial disputes and naked aggression towards rivals! The demands of flight require a rigid fuselage for wings and their powerful muscles to operate so you may not know that the ribs of birds cannot move up and down to pump air in and out of the lungs as they do in mammals. Anyone who has carved a chicken or turkey at the dinner table will have been cutting these muscles (breast meat) away from the breast bone of the rib cage. Instead, birds have a series of air-sacs, like bellows, that pump the air through the lungs, and the two largest are located under the wings so the movement of the wings also facilitates breathing and thereby song production too. Chiffchaffs are among the earliest singers from a large family of birds known as the warblers, small birds noted for the variety of their repertoire. The latest Collins guide lists 63 species, of which 14 breed in the UK and are the most likely to be encountered. They are all small birds (11-15 cm long) mainly feeding on insects, and with milder winters they may be extending their range from the European mainland. With a few notable exceptions most are either brown, yellow or green in colour and they are difficult to distinguish visually. As they frequent dense vegetation, with only fleeting excursions into the open, we have to rely on their songs for identification.

Warblers are very good value in terms of decibels produced per gram of weight! The next warbler to listen out for will be the blackcap whose song is introduced by a series of churring notes preceding a remarkably musical warble. Cetti’s warbler, a relatively new arrival to this country, has an even louder version though I am not sure whether I am confident enough to identify its song. However the plaintive descending melody of the willow warbler is distinctive, as is the mid volume song of the whitethroat, a species that will sing from an open position. Both were relatively common but no longer appear in our garden. I must also mention the even smaller wren (not a warbler) which can still surprise me as it rattles off its rasping staccato from somewhere nearby. Astonishingly, if a recording of this is played at a slower speed (as is often done to make the ultrasonic calls of bats audible to our ears) it is heard to compose of a ‘whoop whoop whoop’ ululation reminiscent of gibbons in a tropical environment! n Pete Mayston

Cetti’s warbler

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CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE Providing life-saving respite for young people Who are we and why we do what we do? Thirty five years ago, on April 26th, 1986 at 1.23am, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station exploded. As a consequence of the explosion, radioactive elements fell across Belarus and the Ukraine and the fallout will continue to affect the people of these countries for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Our charity, the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, was established and registered in 1992 by the late Victor Mizzi OBE to support children and their families from Belarus and Ukraine, forever affected by the world’s worst nuclear disaster. The radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion has caused numerous and varying health issues for the population which will last through generations to come. As well as thyroid cancer, bone cancer, leukaemia, and other non-oncological conditions, many people continue to experience severe psychological distress directly linked to the effects of Chernobyl. This in turn often causes medical conditions which can then develop to become serious and even life threatening. The main aims of our charity are: • To bring child victims of the Chernobyl disaster to the UK for recuperative breaks of up to four weeks - close to 50,000 children and young adults have benefitted from staying with host families since our inception in 1992. • To provide on-going supplies of multi-vitamins and basic healthcare products, school uniforms, stationary, learning aids, special needs items, clothing, shoes and toiletries to the children on their return. • To work with our Belarusian and Ukrainian partners to locate children who will benefit from a recuperative care break. 26

• To help children too sick to travel by providing chemotherapy medicines to Children’s Cancer Hospitals in Minsk, Gomel, Mogilov and Brest regions. Support with medicines and equipment for Baby Home No.1 in Minsk, the assisting of numerous Social Centres (temporary foster care facilities), individual foster families, and centres for children with special needs as well as several orphanages. The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline’s reason for being is not for the relief of poverty or to provide holidays for poor children. It exists because of the difference we can make to the lives of children growing up with the long term health effects of the Chernobyl Disaster, which no amount of money can correct. Only time will see the end of the contamination and for many hundreds of years to come, this is time these children do not have. All these children are affected regardless of whether they have satellite TV and a flushing toilet or a cow in the back garden and an earth closet. During a recent visit to the cancer hospital for children in Minsk, one psychologist told us: “ALL children, regardless of race, social background or education, that live in contaminated areas, deserve the opportunity for a respite break. You would not believe the difference when they return home. Their health is so much improved; it is wonderful to see.’ Just remember that while they live at home, they are constantly eating contaminated food - and Caesium or other radioactive elements may be building up in their bodies. They are all at high risk of developing cancer, heart disease or serious respiratory or digestive problems. The time they spend with a host family in the UK may help to prevent this by boosting their immune system and reducing the levels of

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CHARITY contaminates in their system. They are not infectious in any way and no child is allowed to travel without a certificate of good health. So, do you think you could join us? There are so many ways to become involved with Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline - you could offer to be a host family (if you have a spare room) or to support us with our fundraising efforts, so we can offer this opportunity to as many children as possible. It’s a great thing to do and extremely rewarding, you will join a fabulous group of likeminded people. We have a number of Lifeline Links within the Westcountry. There’s sure to be a Link close to you. How can you get involved? If you are considering getting involved, there are many opportunities: • Become a host family, hosting a child for two to four weeks in 2022 • Help fundraise – Whether it’s a sponsored run, walk, or swim • Help on our stalls at events (all when we can safely do this again) • Make items that we can sell – New Year’s Day Dips – Virtual Balloon races and Pet Competitions - to name but a few ideas that we have undertaken. n

Get In Touch: Email – Belarusness@hotmail.co.uk or call Vanessa ✆ 07706 972906 - who will only be too happy to explain in more detail what we do and what you can expect. We look forward to meeting you!

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline

Fulfilled living

in later life

Bethany Christian Home offers wonderful care for older people, inspiring and encouraging fulfilled living in later life. For Christian care in Plymouth call 0300 303 8440 or visit pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/Bethany

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THE BENEFITS OF THE OUTDOORS Plants to soothe or stimulate the senses

ur gardens continue to provide wonderful socialising places even as lockdown restrictions ease and hospitality venues re-open, but having somewhere quiet to relax and de-stress is equally, if not more, important. The benefits of the outdoors and reconnecting with nature has proved hugely beneficial to well-bring and mental health through the stresses of the past year, so have a look at your garden and see how best to create your own quiet and tranquil space. Plants that soothe the senses never fail to delight and relax. Listen to rustling stems of bamboos or tall Miscanthus grasses that move in the slightest breeze or bring in the sound of moving water with a little feature like a self-contained fountain. Grow your own aromatherapy, with fragrant flowers such as roses, lavender, jasmine, honeysuckle, lilies, and chocolate cosmos, as well as plants with aromatic foliage that are deliciously scented when crushed. Herbs like camomile and lemon balm can be made into calming herbal teas, too. Watching wildlife provides relaxation and fascination, and you can easily entice bees and butterflies with their favourite plants like cosmos, Verbascum, hebe, hyssop and butterfly bush (Buddleja). This latter plant is renowned for growing large, but newer varieties like the ‘Buzz’ series are compact in habit and suit even the smallest of gardens. Add a comfy seat or two for relaxation and wildlife-watching and you’ll have a perfect wind-down spot right on your doorstep. A great way to save work and encourage wildlife is to have what’s become known as a ‘lazy lawn’. If you have a lot of grass and don’t need it all regularly cropped, simply go easy with the mower, and this year you 28

could be listening to the buzz of bees and chirping of grasshoppers rather than the humming of mowers. A real win/win route to relaxation in the garden. n

Gardening jobs for the season - Start taking cuttings of this year’s young growth from plants such as tender perennials. Also, look for rooted shoots on woody-based perennials like penstemon and anthemis, which can be detached and potted up. - Lavender should be lightly trimmed after flowering to remove dead flower stems and shoot tips. - Finish planting up containers of summer flowers and water regularly during dry spells. - Focus watering on any border plants that are newly planted, and ensure fruiting plants have an even supply to give a good crop. - Sow biennial plants now to flower next year, like foxglove, forget-me-not, sweet rocket and wallflower. - Put out fresh water for wildlife in shallow dishes, bowls or bird baths, and refresh regularly. Continue to provide food for birds, but do use the correct feeders as young fledglings can choke on large items such as peanuts.

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GARDENING

Gardens to visit One of the big post-lockdown joys is being able to visit gardens again. Some have restricted hours, or require visitors to pre-book, so always check websites or phone before you travel. As well as our local favourites such as The Garden House, Buckland Abbey, Cotehele, and Keith Wiley’s plant paradise at Wildside, there are private gardens opening for charity under the auspices of the National Gardens Scheme: www.ngs.org.uk and St Lukes: www. stlukes-hospice.org.uk/opengardens. The pent-up demand for getting out and about means that gardens are likely to be bustling, so a recent project to create quiet spaces will be of particular interest to those seeking peace and quiet. The Silent Space project (www.silentspace.org.uk) encourages open gardens to offer an area that is quiet and technology-free for peace and reflection. So far there are three Devon gardens offering ‘silent spaces’: RHS Rosemoor at Great Torrington, Dartington Hall, and Stone Lane Gardens near Chagford.

The Valley Garden at Cotehele House

Plant Paradise at Wildside

The Cool Garden at RHS Rosemoor

GARDEN DESIGNER & HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST Inspirational ideas to transform your garden Sue continues to be available for garden advisory visits and design work, operating according to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines. Gift vouchers available for garden advisory visits. Contact Sue for more details.

Sue Fisher

01822 841895 | sueﬁsher@talktalk.net | www.sueﬁshergardens.co.uk

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Summer sniﬀles... How to deal with the misery of hayfever

ummer is here, and while most of us welcome the warmer weather and smell of freshly cut grass, for many, the months of May to September can spell misery. Hayfever, an allergy to pollen, can affect up to one in five of us in our lifetimes. It can start at any time of life and can often vary year to year - or disappear altogether. It is more common if you have a personal or family history of other allergic conditions such as asthma or eczema. Symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy and watering eyes. It can also sometimes cause facial discomfort, headache and fatigue. If you suffer with asthma you may also find this feels worse with an increase in coughing and wheezing. Hay fever can have a massive impact on patients’ lives – affecting their ability to work, sleep or enjoy the outdoors. The good news however, is that there are lots of things you can do to help your symptoms without needing to visit a doctor. Here are my top ten tips for dealing with the seasonal sniﬄes: 1. Antihistamines – These are the mainstay of hay fever treatment and are available over the counter in tablet and spray form. There are many such as cetirizine and loratadine which do not cause drowsiness, and are available in liquid forms for children. 2. Nasal sprays – Also available from your pharmacist. If the main symptoms you are suffering with are a runny, itchy or blocked nose then a steroid nasal spray will help enormously. Make sure you tip your head forward when using these sprays and aim towards your eyebrow, otherwise you may just end up swallowing it. 3. Eye drops – If itchy and watery eyes are your main symptom, ask your pharmacist for sodium cromoglycate drops. They will sting for a few seconds but relieve the

HEALTH eye symptoms of hay fever very effectively. 4. Start early – If you are a hay fever sufferer, prevention is better than a cure. Start regular treatment two weeks before you usually start with symptoms. 5. Treat regularly – The commonest mistake patients make with hay fever is waiting until their symptoms are severe before starting treatment - and then only using treatments intermittently . During the hay fever season, it is important to take preventative action and use your treatments every day throughout the season. 6. Stop the pollen getting in your house – Keep windows and doors closed in the summer months. 7. Stop the pollen getting in your eyes and nose – Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop the pollen getting in your eyes, and use a smear of Vaseline around your eyes and nostrils to trap pollen particles. Some people also use nasal washouts, which are available from your pharmacist. 8. Wash the pollen oﬀ – Shower and wash your hair after coming in from outdoors and especially before bed. 9. Stop the pollen getting in your bed – Put a cover over your bed and pillow and in the evening, carefully fold and remove the cover, to prevent any pollen particles getting into your sleeping area. 10. Keep the pollen out of your car – Keep the windows closed and consider buying a pollen filter for your air vents (these will need changing with every service). If you have tried all of the above for several weeks and you are still having symptoms that are having a significant impact on your life, then you may be one of the minority who need more specialist treatments. Your doctor may suggest a very short course of oral steroids for temporary relief, especially if there is an important event coming up such as exams, or refer you for desensitisation immunotherapy. Fortunately the vast majority of patients will find over the counter medication and pollen avoidance measures will be enough, so hopefully you can all enjoy the summer months, whatever the great British weather brings! n

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HEALTH

A plant that’s been used for thousands of years…

hile decades of cannabis prohibition may lead some to assume that the therapeutic benefits of CBD are a recent discovery, that’s far from the truth. The first documented use of cannabis-derived medicine dates back to 2737 BC, when Chinese Emperor Sheng Nung used a cannabis-infused tea to aid various ailments, including memory, malaria, rheumatism, and gout. Throughout history, cannabis served as a valuable therapeutic resource; however, it was not recognised by most of the medical community during the rise of modern medicine, due to a lack of scientific evidence. Interest in the therapeutic applications of cannabinoids has revealed additional cannabinoids, further understanding of cannabinoid structure and the amazing breakthrough of our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) — a network of receptors that interact with receptors found in cannabinoids. Some benefits of CBD oil may be: prevention of seizures in rare forms of epilepsy; reduction of inflammation and pain; potential to help auto-immune and neurological

disorders; potential to help some mental illness; reduction of nausea and increase in appetite. There are many possible benefits currently under investigation. Milagro is passionate about the power of CBD products, and its primary goal is to research and create innovative products. Milagro CBD Oil is a distilled CBD oil created from high quality hemp organically grown in Europe, extracted with the cold-pressed method to maximise the phytocannabinoids’ potency - CBD, CBG, and CBN. The oil is then distilled, winterised, and separated to create a smooth CBD oil, which can be taken as a dietary supplement. Milagro CBD Oil is well tolerated with few reported side effects. CBD may have benefits for pets also, and Milagro offers a pet CBD oil with excellent reviews. For more information and to buy online visit www. milagrosouthwest.com We are also seeking sellers - please call Matt on 07539 203911. n

New store opening soon in Brook Street, Tavistock, offering the full range of CBD products

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FOOD & DRINK

How is rosé made?

style - the darker the colour the more ‘red influence’ there is. Grape variety etc. makes a difference, but as a crude rule of thumb, if you don’t enjoy a rosé, try one that is paler or darker. The difficulties involved in making good rosé mean that a truly cheap bottle is likely to lack balance, so It’s as clear as mud, explains don’t be put off if you’ve only ever tried cheap rosé. Dave Anning The best way to find out what you like is to try a wine enthusiast Dave Anning variety, so why not organise a tasting? If you’ve never I once offered a friend some rosé and he replied ‘I don’t like any organised a wine tasting, what could be easier to organise than a kind of shandy.’ It took me a moment to realise he thought I had tasting of rosés - start with the palest and end with the reddest to mixed red and white wine, but it got me wondering how many fully appreciate them. Cheers! n Dave Anning people understand what rosé is - so here’s enough detail to impress friends over a chilled glass! You can make white wine from red grapes, but not red wine from white grapes. ‘Well, thank you’, I hear you mutter, ‘That’s as clear as mud - how helpful’. Actually, it’s the colour of the grape skin that matters. The flesh and juice are almost always pale yellow. Yes, there are grapes with red-tinted flesh, but if you’re going to be pernickety I could point out that skins are usually green or purple, so let’s not bicker. Rosé, or ‘blush’, is made using red skinned grapes with white flesh. They get smooshed up into a big pulpy mess, then two important things happen. Firstly, the grapes are fermented at a cool temperature, just like white wine. Secondly the red grape skins are only left in contact with the juice briefly - typically half a day to three days. Red wine often ferments with the skins for weeks. Only a limited amount of ‘redness’ transfers to the juice, and the result is pink! The process isn’t just about colour. White wine is revered for delicate flavours, often compared to white fruits such as peaches, apples or pears. These flavours are easily overpowered by stronger dark-fruit flavours, or made bitter by tannins. Making rosé wine is about infusing enough ‘red flavours’ into the juice, without introducing too much flavour or tannin. Other issues such as aroma and acidity also have to be balanced, so it’s not easy. This is why good rosé wine is nearly always delicate on the nose and in the mouth. One beauty of rosé is that its appearance offers real clues to its

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WHAT’S ON

June & July

from 10am - 6pm. Pre-booking essential. Bulland Farm near Ashburton has an old cider orchard that had grown wild, but over the last ten years has been transformed into a beautiful and productive eight acre garden. Designed with wildlife in mind, it encompasses formal areas, prairie planting, a boardwalk water garden, a woodland trail, wildflower meadows and terraced vegetable garden. Open on Saturday, July 3rd and Sunday, July 4th from 10.30am - 3.30pm The National Garden Scheme raises money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Hospices UK, Carers Trust and other nursing and caring charities. It’s likely that visiting may still be by pre-booking only and it is ESSENTIAL to check on the website www.ngs.org.uk for up-to-date information on openings and current Covid restrictions.

Open Gardens

Some lovely gardens not normally open to the public are opening this June and July for the nursing and caring charities supported by the National Garden Scheme. Foxhole Community Garden, Totnes is a community garden and orchard on the Dartington Estate, developed with the aim of tackling social isolation by providing a space for people of all ages and abilities to come together to enjoy being outdoors and garden together. There’s a nature trail and garden crafts for children, talks and walks on organic, no-dig low maintenance principles. There are raised vegetable beds, an orchard, plus herb, wildlife, wildflower, cutting flower, pond and potager planting areas. Open on Thursday, June 24th and Sunday, June 27th from 10am - 3pm. Greatcombe at Holne is a beautiful garden nestled in a Dartmoor valley, with babbling stream, swathes of colour and textual foliage. There is also an artist’s studio featuring brightly coloured acrylic paintings, prints and cards available to purchase along with ornamental metal plant supports and ‘Made by Robbie’ metal artefacts. Opening July 23rd, 24th and 25th from 1pm - 5pm. Five gardens will be opening their gates at East Cornworthy on Saturday, July 17th and Sunday, July 18th and Avenue Cottage at Ashprington, with its eleven acres of mature and young trees and shrubs, will open on Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st

July 4

Party on the Park Residents of Glenholt Park will be able to mark Independence Day with their very own day of celebrations at the ‘Party on the Park’. Organised by the Up Your Alley Skittles Club, the party takes place outside 36 Rose Gardens, starting at 2pm. There will be a barbecue, bar, live music courtesy of singer Steve Brooks, an wonderful range of home cooked food and a special prize draw. The event is free to all residents of the park - so come on down and enjoy the fun!

Summer Exhibition from June 16th Exclusives from Allin Braund RA, Richard Slater RI, Arthur Homeshaw RWA and Eric Waugh RI

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Chapel Lane, Horrabridge, Yelverton. PL20 7SP • 01822 258529 36

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WHAT’S ON

July 11

The Four Nations Ceremony Chance to win - and help the hospice The Four Nations Ceremony is the UK’s flagship Mayflower 400 event, marking the closure of the international Mayflower 400 commemorations. This impressive theatrical production with live music, song, drama and film will tell the Mayflower story from all angles, including direct from the Native American Wampanoag tribe, all taking place on the biggest stage Plymouth Hoe has ever seen. At the heart of the event will be a gigantic choir of 1,000 voices accompanied by the full concert orchestra of HM Royal Marines Band, Plymouth. Visiting dignitaries from the four nations (the UK, US, Netherlands and Wampanoag) will also be taking part, reflecting on what that historical voyage means to our world today.

For more information: Gates open at 1pm with the ceremony taking place between 3pm and 4.30pm. Free tickets are available to book at visitplymouth.co.uk/mayflower400ceremony Tickets must be booked prior to entry.

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St Luke’s Hospice is marking the return of one of its most popular annual fundraising events by inviting people to enter an online competition for the chance to win an original painting by internationally acclaimed, Plymouth-based artist Brian Pollard. Brian has donated the land and seascape painting to St Luke’s, of which he is a patron, in connection with the charity’s Open Gardens scheme for this summer. Brian enjoys visiting the gardens each year with his wife Jane. He said: ‘As a former GP, I know just how needed St Luke’s is and the important difference it makes to local families at a very tough time. The Open Gardens scheme is one of the most enjoyable and inspiring ways people can show their support for the charity and help build its resilience for the future - I’m delighted to be able to help by donating my painting as a competition prize. ‘In it, I chose to highlight the beauty of the South Hams because St Luke’s care extends beyond Plymouth to people living the rural surrounding areas, and the waves on the sea are a reminder of the therapeutic power of the water that surrounds our coast.’ To enter the competition, which closes on September 15th, go to www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/opengardens where you can also find details of the gardens opening to the public this summer to raise money for St Luke’s.

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WHAT’S ON

July 17 & 18

Great Britain Sail Grand Prix

SailGP, the most competitive racing on water, comes to Plymouth this summer for the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix – the third event in its global championships’ calendar, following opening events in Bermuda and Taranto, Italy. SailGP features eight national teams made up of the sport’s top athletes including Britain’s own Sir Ben Ainslie, the world’s most successful Olympic sailor leading the Great Britain SailGP Team. The high-speed, adrenaline-filled racing will take place on Plymouth Sound each day, alongside onshore activity throughout the afternoon in the race village where you can watch the action ‘close- up’ on big screens whilst looking out over the racecourse from Plymouth’s famous Hoe. As well as being a thrilling spectator event, plans are in place to ensure it has a positive impact and opens up opportunities for young people through its three programme pathways – Learning, Careers and Racing. Plymouth City Council and SailGP are working together on a number of inspirational programmes that will include sailing experiences and learning events focusing on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). In the week running up to the race, SailGP Inspire, the league’s

Get rainbowed up and run, skip, jog, walk, skate, ride to raise vital funds

community, education and outreach initiative, will offer a unique full day experience for 200 young people. The day will include the chance to try out sailing and hands-on education sessions inside the technical base at Millbay. The initiative will be delivered in partnership with the Mount Batten Centre, with further support from Plymouth Youth Sailing and Horizons. In addition to the on-water activity taking place in Plymouth, the Council will run a week-long STEM celebration throughout the week engaging with thousands of students aged from four to 18 years old. This will culminate in a major ‘STEM fest’ at Tinside Lido, where hundreds of young people can learn about the latest sustainable marine technology, including that used by the SailGP teams. The event will showcase marine sector jobs of the future to Plymouth students, encouraging skills development and inspiring them to explore a career in STEM subjects For more information: Visit investplymouth.co.uk/sailgp or at SailGP.com

June & July

Volunteer days at Bellever Regular conservation days are held throughout the year at Bellever on Dartmoor, in connection with the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust. Volunteers can assist with a variety of tasks that encourage biodiversity and manage the archaeology of this precious moorland site as well as maintaining stone walls and dealing with non-native trees. A helpers are warmly welcomed! There are work days being held on Wednesday, June 9th, Saturday, July 3rd, Wednesday, July 14th and Saturday, July 24th. To join or for more information: Contact Paul Rendell on paul.dartmoor@gmail.com or call him on 01837 54727 for a chat.

Plym Links June/July 21 issue

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