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Sparkwell Parish Council Wildlife Initiatives
Helping hedgehogs
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When hedgehogs are sick or injured caring individuals take them to local rescue centres where when possible they are be treated and rehabilitated. However, a few do not completely recover and are permanently disabled. Some rescue centres will release ‘disabled’ hedgehogs into secure gardens. This may be a blind hedgehog, or one that has had an amputation that would struggle to survive in the wild. These hedgehogs don’t come along very often, as the majority of the casualties can be
returned to the wild. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) advise is to fi nd permanent homes for these lovely creatures where they can be safe and live out the rest of their lives in a semi-wild environment. Sparkwell council is looking for secure gardens to release some disabled hedgehogs and hope you can help.
Permanent homes
To help in this way you will need to • have a garden totally enclosed by a wall or fence which is sunken into the ground to prevent the hedgehog digging out • provide food for the hedgehog on a daily basis • regularly check your hedgehog for health issues • make provision for the care of the hedgehog if you go on holiday • undertake not to use any chemicals in your garden • keep any resident dogs under control so they cannot worry or harm the hedgehogs • ensure the garden is safe for the hedgehog and doesn’t contain litter, mesh, wire, netting etc. Hedgehogs are good at getting in and out of gardens, so to be escape proof would mean high solid walls on all sides with no gaps and no climbing plants that they can use as a scrambling net to climb up the wall. Please bear in mind that there is a great responsibility
with caring for a disabled hedgehog in an secure garden. with caring for a disabled hedgehog in an secure garden. But if you have a problem there will always be someone who is able to off er help and advice. If you have a secure garden and are willing to take on this challenge please get in touch with Gill McEwing by emailing gill.mcewing@outlook.com
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Come and visit the South Devon Railway for a 14-mile round trip steam train ride along the beautiful valley of the River Dart. We’d love to see you!
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Cost of Living
Getting you the help you need
Council’s are taking action now and proposing a co-ordinated response throughout the winter.
The dramatic increase in the cost of living is beginning to have a signifi cant impact on residents across South Hams. Both the District and the Borough Councils know that the cost of living which is driven by the increase in energy prices are already having an impact on most households. Even before this current situation, 17% of Devon households were experiencing food insecurity (2021) and this has been compounded further by infl ation which is now at a 40-year high. Now with the proposed increase on the energy cap
expected in October, South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils want to take action and do everything they can to signpost their residents to get the help that they need. Cllr Nicky Hopwood, South Hams Executive Member for the Cost-of-living, said: ‘It is important that we act now to mobilise all of our resources to provide a co-ordinated response to this crisis. Don’t be ashamed to come forward if you think you need help, apply for grants and benefi ts that you are entitled to and also look at the long-term options for reducing your energy costs.’ So far, the council has processed the Government energy bill rebates of £150 through Council Tax, Launched a Discretionary Council Tax Rebate Scheme for those households not eligible for the main scheme, launched a Household Support fund to provide rapid, short-term fi nancial support to meet immediate needs with food, energy or water bills and other essentials. They have also made a one-off payment of £90 to householders of state pension age who are already in receipt of Council Tax Reduction and are promoting schemes that will increase the longer-term energy effi ciency of properties within the Borough. However, both Councils are aware that this may not be enough for some people and the Councils will be taking a report to their Executive in South Hams and their Hub in West Devon, setting out the steps they propose to take. If both Councils agree, a detailed plan will be brought back to both committees by November for approval.
Cllr Nicky Hopwood, South Hams Executive Member for the Cost-of-living
For more information: South Hams has set up a dedicated page where residents can go to get action, www.southhams.gov.uk/cost-of-living-help
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Plymouth NICU
achieves Bliss Silver Award
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team based at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth has been awarded the Bliss Baby Charter Silver Award. Multiple audits and a recent pre-assessment meeting found the care given to families and babies to be exemplary. Derriford’s NICU has been involved with Bliss, the charity for premature and sick babies, since 2017. After initially achieving a pledge of improvement in 2019, the team went on to be awarded the Bronze Award in 2021 and most recently the Silver Award 2022. Bliss was set up in 1979. Its vision is simply that every baby born prematurely or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life. They work hand in hand with healthcare professionals to ensure family centred care on the neonatal unit is of the highest possible standard. In 2009 the charity introduced diff erent levels of award to recognise the progress and commitment of every unit working hard to implement and improve family centred care, something that Derriford’s NICU team has done exceptionally well. Something Bliss was particularly inspired by in Plymouth’s NICU was the support given from the FAB (family and baby) team which is external to the hospital and come in twice per week. They help families who may be facing fi nancial hardship to help them to obtain things such as monetary aid and nursery support. This is not something that is standard across all hospitals and
Put people fi rst Take ownership Respect others Be positive Listen, learn, improve
the team at Derriford are honoured to be able to provide this service to parents. Roisin McKeon-Carter, Neonatal Nurse Consultant at University Hospitals Plymouth, said: ‘I am extremely proud of the team and the ethos that they have driven to ensure families are always at the heart of care in the NICU. No one plans to have a sick baby. We want to protect parents from the trauma and make their journey as good as possible to help get them through it.’ A large part of the team’s success is its eff orts to keep mothers close to their babies. Those who need postnatal care stay in the ward next to the NICU and parents who did not need to stay in the hospital are close to the hospital in free accommodation provided by the Keep Me Close appeal.
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Local families celebrate at pony show
The 30th Dartmoor Pony Moorland Show at Princetown last month was well attended and saw a local family win Supreme of the Show.
Shilstone Rocks Country Dance, bred by Mrs E Newbolt-Young and daughters of Shilstone Stud, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, took overall Supreme Champion. As well as winning the Barren Mare class led by joint owner Alona Stratton (daughter of Elizabeth and the late Rod Newbolt-Young), Country Dance went on to win the Lead Rein class ridden by Alona’s daughter Annabel, aged 6 years and also the Child Handler class when Annabel showed her skills once again! Remarkably, the pony has been Champion at this show before, as described by Alona: ‘Country Dance won the same Howard-Mercer Perpetual Trophy 10 years ago with me, when she was 4 years old and the trophy (donated by my Grandfather) was presented by my Mum and my late Aunt! ‘Today she also won back the Ian Mercer Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the best pony owned and bred in the Dartmoor National Park. Her grandmother Shilstone Rocks Country Bunch made the same claim in 1992 in the show’s infancy. I feel very proud.’ Another special success story was new local exhibitor Debbie White who won the John and Diana Coaker Memorial Trophy for the most points gathered across the classes at the event. The Supreme Championship Trophy and rosettes were awarded by Show President Colin Sturmer who was the former Land Steward for the Duchy of Cornwall and served for 44 years, before becoming President of the Moorland Show when he retired 13 years ago.
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Step back in time on Plymouth’s new free GEO TRAIL
Visitors to Royal William Yard are being invited to travel back through time to learn what Plymouth was like 380-million years ago. The University of Plymouth and Royal William Yard have joined forces to create a new interactive Geo Trail, enabling families to embark on an exciting exploration of the city’s past. They will be able to discover that Drake’s Island was formed from volcanic rock; learn about Plymouth’s once tropical climate; see evidence of weird and wonderful ancient sea creatures; and feel the fossilised remains of old coral reefs. Weaving through Royal William Yard and along the South West Coast Path, the free walking route takes visitors on a voyage of discovery into the Devonian era. Suitable for all ages and a fun family activity for the summer, a free printed Geo Trail guide will be available from the welcome suite at Royal William Yard’s Gatehouse. It includes a trail map with nine stops, each one marked by a distinctive plaque on the wall featuring a QR code. Scanning the QR codes will reveal videos of geologist Dr Jodie Fisher explaining how to spot the fossils at your fi ngertips and sharing fascinating facts. The trail turns Royal William Yard into a living museum, bringing history to life in a whole new way by letting you fi nd and feel fossils. From the natural landscape of Devil’s Point, to the building blocks used to create Royal William Yard’s grand buildings, the Geo Trail reveals remains in the rocks and stories in the stones. For those keen to fi nd out more, head to royalwilliamyard.com/geo-trail Dr Jodie Fisher, an Earth Science Technician at the University, said: ‘The Plymouth we know and love today was a very diff erent place 380 million years ago. The legacy of this fascinating period can be found hidden in plain sight within the geology of the local area and in almost every building at Royal William Yard - you just need to know what to look for. The Geo Trail will give people a new perspective on Plymouth’s past, and shows how geoscience can tell us so much about our history and our planet.’
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Friends group raises funds for gym equipment at local school
A local Friends group has worked with its school to raise over £1,500 for new outdoor gym equipment.
The Friends of Boringdon Primary School was set up in 2007 to enhance the relationship between Boringdon Primary School, parents and students. Through enjoyable events and activities, artistic and sporting activities, and by supporting school performances, the group aims to enrich the school experience for all involved. At the end of the summer term, the Friends set children the challenge of raising funds for new outdoor gym equipment by taking part in a sponsored jump. The sponsored activity, held on Friday 22 July, required the children to jump continuously for two minutes - surprisingly challenging! John Secker, Deputy Head of Boringdon Primary School, said: ‘We have spent a lot of time drawing up plans to develop our outside space recently, and are really pleased to have the new gym equipment arriving in October. ‘Funding for such things is often very limited, so the Friends of Boringdon stepped in to arrange a sponsored bounce for the children on the last day of the summer term. ‘The children had a wonderful time taking part and were each rewarded with a certifi cate, a sticker and an ice pole to cool down! It really brought our community together and was a lovely way to end the previous academic year.’ Thanks to the generosity of families and friends, The Friends of Boringdon are able to raise funds from many of their events, which are then used for projects that benefi t the whole school. They have alsready provided a pirate ship play frame, new books for the children and a bike shelter. They are now looking forward to the new gym equipment being installed later this month.
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