18 minute read
Community News
Your library this winter
Where can you go on your own to find other people would like to play Scrabble, or take on a character in a play reading group for a morning? Where can you go to find a space to work on your laptop for the day to make a change from home-working, or to learn rhymes to sing to your new born baby to support their speech development. Join a new activity and meet new people, and even make friends. At Tavistock Library everyone is welcomed and you don’t have to be a member to come in and relax on your own or with friends. Weekdays from 9am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm, using the library space is open to everyone of all ages. If you do want to join to make the most of all the services and activities on offer though, it is free – just ask or join at devonlibraries.org.uk to start using web-based services immediately! All this is provided by Libraries Unlimited, the charity which runs all of the libraries in Devon and Torbay and we want everyone to know that Libraries are for Life – for all the ‘rough and smooth’ of life. Our services and signposting to information will help you to manage some of the problems that may make life challenging this winter. • Borrowing books for free can take you through history and help you to travel the world. • Tavy Fridge will be open, making food available for use when it would otherwise have been thrown away by retailers. • Important support for people starting up their own businesses can be explained and help with CVs or job applications can be given. • If you are struggling to understand your digital devices, come in for advice.
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As the days become darker and colder, the library will be light and warm, and with the support of volunteers from the Friends of Tavistock Library, there will be an extra open session on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 5.30pm. You can borrow books and use public access computers as well as do photocopying and read the newspapers. You will also be able to play a range of board games for families and adults; add some pieces to the jigsaw or join in with a group who talk as they knit – other groups are just waiting to be started! Refreshments will be available to help you enjoy an afternoon in a friendly place.
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Tavistock food charity makes a huge difference
A charity set up to help people struggling to feed themselves and their families through the cost-of--living crisis, has launched a Saturday FoodStore project in Tavistock. The scheme, based at Tavistock Red and Black Club in Crowndale Road, offers a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled food between 11am and noon every Saturday. Anyone can take advantage of the project. All that is asked is a donation towards the cost of running the charity, to cover electricity, fuel, rates and rent. It follows the success of the Devon and Cornwall Food Action (DCFA) charity inspired Tavistock Food Box initiative since July, which has seen more than 160 families being supported.
DCFA trustee and Whitchurch resident Graham Parker said: “People can fill a carrier bag with anything that we have on display – fruit, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, baking and confectionery – and all that we ask is a donation of £5 to the charity. Everyone associated with the Food Box Initiative is a volunteer, and we are always looking for more volunteers to help.”
The Tavistock Food Box Initiative is a partnership between DCFA, the Red and Black Club and local volunteer charity Tavi Helps. In addition to helping feed people, DCFA also focuses on minimising food waste and the food boxes help to save some of the surplus produce from supermarkets ending up in landfill. However, even after boxes have been filled and distributed, there is still surplus and that’s where the Saturday short-dated FoodStore comes in, to avoid discarding food which is perfectly good but is within a few days of its sell-by or best-by date. It is offered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis at the Red and Black Club and anything left over after that is taken to Tavy Fridge at Tavistock Library and to the nurses in the Intensive Care Unit at Derriford. As well as the Saturday FoodStore, in the past three months the partnership has provided over 300 food boxes to more than 160 local families.
The boxes contain enough food to feed a small family for a week, for a suggested charitable donation of £17. Boxes are available for collection from the Red and Black Club on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 11 and noon. On those days, DCFA’s volunteer drivers can also deliver to homes in an area as wide as Gunnislake, Bere Alston, Yelverton, Princetown, Mary Tavy, Lamerton and Milton Abbot. To order a box, contact graham.parker@dcfa.org.uk or ring Graham on 07545 075942.
Success for Tavistock
Tavistock BID held its annual AGM in October where it outlined plans for 2023. Some of the priorities will be: to develop the reach of Visit Tavistock; to encourage visitors to spend longer in the town and immediate area; to investigate a new annual event in the town; to conduct an initial survey for free town WIFI and to continue supporting the town’s businesses during uncertain economic times.
The Tavistock Gift Card scheme will shortly be re-defined, with new businesses joining the scheme. So far, the Gift Card has increased spend in the town to the tune of £40,000 and we are excited by its success. You can pick one up from Lawsons Tavistock, pick up a ‘Load This Card’ envelope at all participating businesses or buy it online. It really is so simple, and the choice is vast! Best of all, it directly supports the town. The perfect gift this Christmas. tavistockgiftcard.co.uk
We are extremely proud to have won a GOLD for our entry into South West in Bloom and for supporting the town’s own entry which was awarded Silver Gilt. The BID entry also came top of its class, beating other towns and cities across the region. Thanks must go to Ali Sedgewick of the Community Gardeners and Becky Rowe at Tavistock Town Council for supporting it, alongside Tidy Tavi and all the other local community groups that make this town so special.
With Christmas fast approaching, we look forward to the many events taking place throughout the town. There will be ‘free from 3’ parking on Thursdays and Fridays providing a great reason to come in and shop later on in the day! For more details on all upcoming events go to visit-tavistock.co.uk/ whats-on
Cleaning up the River Tamar
‘Sewage is discharged into our rivers on a daily basis.’ (The Rivers Trust)
I live just downstream from the Metherell sewage works and the 2021 map of sewage discharges at www.theriverstrust.org shows South West Water was given a permit for Metherell sewage works to spill sewage in exceptional circumstances 188 times over a period of 3,707 hours. (Exceptional circumstances means circumstances that could not be reasonably foreseen and for which there was insufficient time to take the necessary action to resolve the situation arising from those circumstances.) In 2021 in the Calstock area of the River Tamar there were 17 treatment plants which between them totalled 20,309 hours of discharge. This obviously cannot continue. The public use the river for gig racing, canoeing, sailing, fishing, cattle drink from the water, children play in Cotehele Weir and wild swimmers swim in the river.
South West Water has announced plans to introduce WaterFit to protect rivers and seas - ‘WaterFit will dramatically reduce our use of storm overflows, maintain our region’s excellent bathing water quality standards all year round and reduce and then remove our impact on river water quality by 2030. Working with partners and customers WaterFit will begin to deliver the change we all want to see.’
This is an admirable ambition, but the rivers need to be cleaned up now. One way of putting pressure on polluters is by achieving designated bathing water status. Currently, the River Wharfe at Ilkley in Yorkshire, and a stretch of the River Thames at Port Meadow, Oxford, are the only rivers with designated bathing water status in the UK. Calstock Parish Council intends to add the waterfront at Calstock to this list. When the designation has been confirmed, the river will be monitored by the Environment Agency (EA) and permits to discharge sewage will be scrutinised.
Water quality standards are set for bathing waters based on World Health Organisation research into the incidence of stomach upsets in people bathing in waters with different levels of bacteria. Water is tested for two types of bacteria: E. coli and intestinal enterococci. These bacteria usually get into water from sewage and animal manure. Tests are carried out regularly, usually weekly, between 15 May and 30 September in England. Currently the Tamar has NO monitoring whatsoever in the Calstock area for bacteria from sewage and animal manure. Bathing water designation guarantees that the EA will carry out bacteria sampling during the bathing season (May to September). I am optimistic that South West Water will be able to adapt their processes to enable Calstock to be proud of its bathing water status. The Calstock part of the Tamar is in a World Heritage Site, AONB and SSSI and as such should surely be a top priority.
Andrew Brown BDS
See www.theriverstrust.org for more information and how you can get involved in cleaning up our rivers. www. theriverstrust.org/sewage-map shows where sewage discharges and overflows into rivers took place in England & Wales in 2021.
Photo: Jan Simpson
Having to choose between eating OR putting on the heating this winter?
The challenges we face with the cost of living increases are going to be felt by our older people on lower incomes. Many of these will own their own properties with either a small or no mortgage at all. You should never have to…however, you could be able to release equity from your home to help yourself or your family during this difficult time. Find out more about equity release and other later life lending options with no pressure to proceed (we charge fees on completion of your loan only). We are a local trusted family firm and want to do what we can so you know all your options. If together we decide it is not for you, then at least you’ve taken the time to make an informed decision. Receiving money into your account can take between 8 and 12 weeks (on average), so it’s key to look at your options sooner rather than later. We are members of the Equity Release Council and based in Tavistock.
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Equity Release is not to be taken lightly, and is not suitable for everyone. These products are for over 55s only, may affect eligibility to benefi ts and can affect the inheritance you may leave. There might be cheaper ways to borrow money, or charities and organisations that can provide support in times of need. Dartmoor Financial LLP is an appointed representative of HL Partnership Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Equity Release includes Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Schemes. We can advise and arrange Lifetime Mortgages and will refer to an approved specialist for Home Reversion schemes. There may be a fee payable for mortgage advice.
Tavistock Rotary
Defra road test at Peter Tavy
Moving into December is a very busy time for Tavistock Rotary. Following Dickensian night, Santa and the sleigh will be seen around the different housing estates of Tavistock and Bere Alston. The teams will be collecting for President Martin Webb’s charities this year, which are: The new Tavistock Youth Café; 4x4 Responders; West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau. In December we also look forward to our Christmas party, which provides an opportunity for Rotarians and partners to enjoy a Christmas meal at The Bedford Hotel and renew friendships whilst looking forward to their own Christmas celebrations.
Over December we do not have any speakers at our meetings as there is a very busy agenda fulfilling all the Santa duties. However, in January we look forward to welcoming West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau to our meeting to update us on the work they do - in these difficult times, they must have a high demand for their services.
If you think you would like to volunteer for some of the Rotary fundraising
Farmers are getting ready to road test Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive Moorland Standard on three upland commons – at Peter Tavy on Dartmoor, the Westmorland Dales, and the Shropshire Hills. Details of the SFI Moorland Scheme can be found under the ‘Our Work’ tab at foundationforcommonland.org.uk “The work will feed into the development of Defra’s Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). And test whether proposed payments work for those who manage some of the least financially productive, but most important landscapes,” says the executive director of the Foundation for Common Land.
Julia Aglionby explains: “First enshrined in law in the Magna Carta, and once making up nearly half of Britain, now only 3% of land in England is common land. It’s incredibly important open land, with delicate ecosystems, which we can all access and enjoy. Commons give us food and clean water, absorb rainfall, and are home to important wildlife and archaeology. “Those who look after them need to be properly recognised and paid fairly for what that involves. This 12-month test and trial is a long-awaited step to proper payment. Commoners and landowners are testing a digital mapping app, developed in collaboration with the Land App.”
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Ten Tors with Dartmoor Plodders
The Dartmoor Plodders is an independent walking group and Ten Tors team for young people. Founded in 2001, the group is run entirely by volunteers – all of whom have done Ten Tors. Plodders get to make friends outside of school and although we do have a history of winning things, with several event records in the 2000s, there’s no pressure to do that. What really matters is enthusiasm and teamwork. Our training is thorough, but includes lots of fun - we can’t say for sure, but not many teams bring sofas to Okehampton Camp – or a lifesize plastic skeleton!
Whatever we’re doing seems to be working: Dartmoor Plodders hasn’t had a single participant drop out of the Ten Tors event in over a decade. The training season involves lots of walking (typically every other weekend), camping and a residential. There is then the chance to enter other local events and challenges, like Abbott’s Way and Midnight Madness. The Plodders are also one of the few groups who still train and enter a 55-mile Ten Tors team, if there’s enough interest from previous 45-milers. Beyond completing events, we help young people develop outdoor skills and understanding to see them through life: camp craft, map and compass navigation, independence and self-reliance - as well as a comprehensive knowledge of Dartmoor. Some members have gone on to become outdoor instructors, join the military or emergency services – and most continue their love for the outdoors post-school, be it hiking, trail running, mountaineering, rock climbing.
Dartmoor Plodders are currently recruiting walkers for Ten Tors 2023 in the 35 and 45-mile events (ages 14-17). If you are interested or would like to find out more, please contact us via Instagram or Facebook message @ dartmoorplodders.
New charity shop in Yelverton
Plymouth & Cornwall Cancer Fund (PCCF) is delighted to announce the opening of a second shop in Yelverton in November/December 2022. This is happening almost exactly 25 years since our first shop opened in Hyde Park Road, Plymouth. PCCF is a small local charity committed to supporting local people whose lives are affected by cancer and who are under the care of Derriford Hospital. We do this by providing small grants to people in need, perhaps for travel expenses or accommodation. We also fund initiatives to improve diagnosis, care and treatment, staff education, and research; in addition we are currently financing training posts for cancer nurse specialists. Please do come along and support this new venture in Yelverton - pick up a bargain and meet the team. And if you’re interested in volunteering either in the shop or fundraising, please get in touch on 01822 859042. Our other contact details can be found on our website at www.plymouthandcornwallcancerfund. org.uk
The dangers of sycamore
Penbode Equine Vets explain the dangers of sycamore seeds, and how horses can be more susceptible to atypical myopathy in the autumn, when the paddocks are bare and the autumnal winds blow.
Atypical myopathy is a potentially fatal disease of horses in the UK and Northern Europe which affects grazing horses. It is linked to the toxins that are present in sycamore seeds and has a seasonal prevalence, with most cases occurring in autumn/early winter and sometimes the following spring. Sycamore seeds and seedlings contain the toxin Hypoglycin A. When ingested, the toxin causes muscle damage and particularly affects the postural muscles (those that enable the horse to stand), the diaphragm (the muscles that facilitate breathing) and the heart. It is a common misconception that the disease always results in death. However, the chances of survival are 50:50 at best, so it is vitally important that treatment is thorough and starts immediately. Horses often get worse for 24-48 hours before they start to improve, so even if the signs are mild, transport to a hospital should be considered, whilst it is still possible.
Signs of atypical myopathy Treatment involves:
• Intravenous fluids to help protect the kidneys from being damaged.
Fluids are also important because horses with atypical myopathy tend to become very dehydrated
• Infusions of powerful painkillers and anaesthetic drugs
• 24/7 intensive nursing care
• Supplementary vitamins and minerals
Initially recovery is slow, but most affected horses that recover go onto make a complete recovery and return to work with no long-term effects of the disease. • Check fields carefully for sycamore leaves and seeds
• Fence off areas where sycamore seeds and leaves have fallen
• Pick up sycamore seeds and seedlings from the pasture
• Turn horses out for shorter periods
• Provide extra forage (hay or haylage), especially where pasture is poor or grazing is sparse
• Reduce stocking density so there is plenty of good grazing for every horse
Atypical myopathy is a disease that affects the skeletal, respiratory and cardiac muscles of the horse, resulting in a range of clinical signs with variable severity: weakness, trembling, recumbency (lying down), muscle soreness, stiffness, lethargy, fast or laboured breathing, reluctance to work, red or brown urine, choke, whinnying, head tossing, low head carriage, fast or irregular heartbeat, sudden death.
To prevent atypical myopathy, horse owners are advised to:
Senior Horse Evening
Caring for the Senior Horse and Equine Osteoarthritis: Managing pain for a more comfortable life
With Penbode Equine Vets Kieran O’Brien and Ellen Heddle
Thursday 15th December, 6:30-10pm
The Memorial Hall, North Road, Holsworthy EX22 6DJ
Call 01822 613838 to book your space!
