Education

evidence of their presence in the form of discarded nut shells and fi r cones. In early spring birds are often located by their song - with a pair of binoculars handy, it soon becomes possible to identify the songster and with practice most of the tits, fi nches and especially the nuthatch can be recognised by sound alone. The rare and elusive nightjar can also be heard or if you are really lucky, seen in the woods on summer evenings. But it is the bats that are one of the star turns of the Tamar Valley, with over a dozen species having been identifi ed. Most are nocturnal, emerging in the evening from their roosts amongst the old mine-workings. They are often seen skimming over the surface of the river and around the trees lining the banks, navigating their way using ultrasound. Each species emits a unique call, catching the refl ected echoes in their over-sized ears to ‘picture’ the locality. At the heart of the woodland around the post-industrial wastes of the 19th century Devon Great Consols Mine workings, plants still struggle to colonise the dry sandy residues over a century later. These still carry traces of copper, tin and poisonous arsenic extracted from the rocks below. However, on the fringes of this area, a heath-like fl ora has developed and where conifer needles carpet the ground red wood ants colonies, with a level of sophistication which matches that of the hive-bee, construct extensive ant-hills in which to raise their brood. At the time of writing, there is some concern for the future of the estate with both the ownership and management of the woodlands under discussion. Our hope should be that its value in terms of landscape, protected habitats and species, its history and public accessibility should be taken into consideration for all who live and work in the area. n

Pete Mayston

Family Mediation

Online mediation sessions available Separation and divorce, especially when you have children, is always an emotionally stressful time.

Woollcombe Yonge Solicitors are specialist family lawyers and mediators. We help couples avoid expensive court battles in a non-confrontational solution-based way. Saving time, money and stress for all.

We offer experience, knowledge and a modern approach. For a free, initial discussion on mediation and how we could help you resolve your issues more amicably Call Will Giles on 01752 660384 Woollcombe Yonge

Solicitors 63-65 Bretonside Plymouth PL4 0BD wg@wysolicitors.co.uk woollcombeyonge.co.uk

Providing ‘Plymouth’s best-kept secret’...

Plymouth-based charity Hearts Together is due to celebrate its 20th Anniversary this coming summer. Over the past two decades, the charity has provided in excess of 200,000 patients, carers, relatives and healthcare professionals with accommodation and support - and they are set to continue for at least the next 20 years, as the need for these services grows year on year. Often described as ‘Plymouth’s best kept secret’, Hearts Together’s Hospital Hotel is primarily called upon by patients, carers and relatives who live outside of Plymouth, but who are required to travel to the city from areas such as North Devon, Cornwall, The Scilly Isles, Torbay and further afi eld, to access the care and treatment that they need at our local specialist healthcare centres. People often ask ‘how long do people stay?’, ‘what sort of people stay with you?’, ‘why would someone stay with you?’ ‘who pays?’ and what is the diff erence between Hearts Together and other ‘normal’ hotels?’ So let’s take it from the top! People stay with us for varying lengths of time; some overnight before an early start at the hospital the following day, others for a week or two while their loved one receives treatment and recovers before returning home. Some people stay with us for much longer periods such as parents of neo-natal babies, transplant and cancer patients and individuals undergoing treatment at DDRC Healthcare (hyperbaric centre), these guests may be with us for three months plus. When it comes to answering, ‘what sort of people stay with us?’ the simple answer is all sorts of people, from all over the country and further afi eld. It is important to remember that while a patient may be local, their loved ones may live in other parts of the UK or abroad and patients and their relatives/friends are of all ages young and older, people stay as whole families or alone, some guests are friends off ering moral support daily visits, in short everyone with a health-related need is welcome. So why would someone stay with us? If a patient lives in North Devon (as an example) and they are required to undergo treatment as an out-patient three times a week, it is often more benefi cial for them to stay at Hearts Together than to have to travel the long