Reconnect 33 oct 2014

Making connections at the heart of YOUR community OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE 33

Pleas

FREE! e tak

e one

the green living magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and South Devon

Who, when & where...

Arts and crafts events for your diary

Learning environment Thinking outside the box

The young ones

Youth on land, sea... and guitars

Drink responsibly

Local beer, cider and wine makers

PLUS

Move into wellbeing The healing power of dance

Community build project l Organic gardening l Local energy l Land projects

Explore the new Reconnect archive www.reconnectonline.co.uk... local people local events local foodat local health local environment HOLISTIC MEDICINE

EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS

WIDE RANGE OF TREATMENTS

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

THE PRACTITIONERS:

Exeter Natural Health Centre Holistic healthcare in the heart of the city Here at ENHC we offer a wide range of complementary therapies provided by experienced and highly professional practitioners. The centre, which has been established for over 10 years, is also renowned for its excellence in training courses.

Conveniently situated in the city centre, we have full reception cover and beautiful spacious treatment rooms for therapists to hire or, for bigger workshops, courses and classes, we have a well appointed large training room.

Please call for more details.

The Devon School of Reiki Providing High Quality Usui Reiki Training & Treatments

Reiki training, Courses for Children, Massage, Meditations, Reiki Shares, Pregnancy Reiki

Contact: Samantha Goddard, Principal

07870 167701 / info@devonschoolofreiki.co.uk

www.devonschoolofreiki.co.uk www.reikirascals.com

The Devon School of Reflexology Training in Professionalism and Excellence.

Spring & Autumn courses 2014.

For more details: www.devonreflexology.com Email: devonreflexology@hotmail.com

SCHOOL OF BODYWORK Professional Massage & Myofascial Release Training Fantastic range of CPD workshops available including: Deep Tissue Massage Hands Free Techniques Advanced Techniques Special Needs Massage Remedial Massage Sports Injury Massage

www.schoolofbodywork.com info@schoolofbodywork.com 07711 656 011

01392 422555 Centre Manager: Ali Morrish

MO MORRISH RSHom Homoeopathic medicine www.thehomoeopathicpractice. co.uk MO MORRISH INDEPENDENT FUNERAL CELEBRANT Authentic Ceremonies www.authenticceremonies.co.uk ANNA PARIS Ac.M.MBAC Taditional acupuncture, Toyohari 5 element & Manaka styles email: amparis1@btinternet.com SUSAN QUAYLE Maternity reflexologist, fertility, ante natal, labour, post natal & baby, aromatherapy, massage Tel: 01626 862469 RUTH BAKER BSC HONS PSYCHOLOGY, MA, Dip SW, Adv Dip Couns, Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Coach, Facilitator & Supervisor. http://ruthbakerpsychotherapy. co.uk LISA TATE Remedial, pregnancy and therapeutic massage, Myofascial release. www.lisatatetherapies.co.uk SARAH HENDERSON Remedial and Therapeutic Massage Therapist APNT Dip, BCMA reg, www.renewmassages.co.uk LESLEY HARPER Nutritional Therapy www.lesleyharper.co.uk TANYA DESFONTAINES MCSP SRP RCST BCST Craniosacral Therapy, Baby and Child specialist www.fifthworldcranial.co.uk SAMANTHA GODDART Reiki, Reiki Massage, Pregnancy Reiki, Hope Ear Candling, Stress Management. 07870 167701.

Exeter Natural Health Centre, Queens Walk, 83/84 Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RP e: info@enhc.org w: www.enhc.org

Find out more about us on facebook and follow us on twitter @ExeterNaturalHC 2

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

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www.facebook.com/Reconnect

Magazine

Inside this issue

The power of video 7 We talk to local film maker Emilio

Brought to you by...

Pete Hardy 01392 346342 Withall’s Gardens Lympstone EX8 5JH

How to advertise...

THE DEADLINE The deadline for the Dec/Jan issue is Friday, November 7 - but call us now and let’s get the ball rolling!

Local energy 14 More community energy news Eco homes 16 Including exciting Atmos news Looking is not seeing 17 Phil puts us in the picture Going out diary 18 Events we think you’ll love

Employee buy-outs 20 Could this be your future?

The young ones 20 Youth projects across Reconnectland Living on a little land 22 Great land-based adventures

Embercombe education 23 Jo Clark thinks outside the box

PAY MONTHLY Book six issues and you can pay monthly by direct debit - and you still get a 10% discount). A 1/8page advertisement is just £41.85 a month; a 1/4-page is £66.60 a month; a 1/2-page is £140.85 a month; and a full page is £234.90 a month.

AD DESIGN Just call and we’ll help with words (free of charge) and design (for between £10-£50).

EDITORIAL Get the FULL message across in a FREE editorial written by our professional journalists.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS See page 36 for details.

Call Pete or Martin NOW!

Hunt’s - page 8

Wellbeing 24 Our natural health pages

The classifieds 36 Small ads and workshops diary

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Welcome...

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Naturally nourishing 13 Jane Hutton’s out to lunch

And finally... 38 Foster’s new page - and big news Making connections at the heart of YOUR community OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 ISSUE 33

PlEasE

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onE

the green living magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and South Devon

Who, when & where...

Arts and crafts events for your diary

Learning environment Thinking outside of the box

The young ones

Youth on land, sea... and guitars

Drink responsibly

Local beer, cider and wine makers

PLUS

Cover images clockwise from main picture: Embercombe education - page 23; Jo Hardy’s 5Rhythms - page 34; School of Frock - page 20; New Lion Brewery (pic by David Thurston) - page 9; Indian dancer Vibha Selvaratnam - page 4.

School of Bodywork page 33

EDITOR editor@reconnectonline.co.uk Martin Foster 01803 868455 45 Punchards Down, Follaton Totnes TQ9 5FD

Down the local 8 Downing local cider, beer and wine

Barbican Theatre page 21

...and the latest news at

to the Oct/Nov issue.

It might be a little strong to say there’s an educational theme to this issue - for a start it would suggest we planned it and in fact it just fell neatly into place the way things sometimes do.

But we do have a number of stories about great educational projects.

Actually we did plan Jon’s piece on youth projects (see page 20) and also Jo’s feature on Embercombe (see page 23). But then we also heard from Bicton College (page 15), the Barbican Theatre (page 21) and Occombe Farm and Duchy College (page 22).

All great opportunties, all on sustainable and arts subects and all very encouraging. Get stuck in!

Look out too for a bumper local produce section (pages 8-13), which includes a special feature on local cider, beer and wine (hic).

And finally... check out ‘And finally...’

Yes, my old Living on Less page has undergone a few changes. And the very first one tells the story of yet more changes to come - all very exciting (except the bit that’s very sad).

Got you intrigued? Turn to page 38 and all will be revealed...

Martin

Move into wellbeing The healing power of dance

Community build project l Organic gardening l Local energy l Land projects

The small print PUBLISHED BY Reconnect Publishing, 2 Withall’s Gardens, Lympstone, EX8 5JH PRINTED BY Kingfisher Print, Wills Rd, Totnes www.kingfisherprint.co.uk WEBSITE Visit our website at www. reconnectonline.co.uk. And visit our Facebook page at www.facebook. com/reconnectmagazine

ECO ETHOS Reconnect is written, designed, printed and distributed locally, using materials from sustainable sources.

It is printed using vegetable-based inks and biodegradable fount solution. The paper is 75 per cent post-consumer waste and 25 per cent virgin fibre (from a sustainable source), chlorine-free and FSC Certified (www.fsc-uk.org). All by-products of the production and printing processes are recycled.

Please recycle this magazine by passing it on to someone else after you’ve read it

COPYRIGHT © Reconnect Publishing.

All rights reserved. No part of Reconnect can be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. But do ask – if you’re genuinely spreading the word, we’ll try to help.

The publishers, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services advertised or referred to in this issue, or any errors, omissions, mis-statements or mistakes in any advertisements or references

consciousdancespace.com classes - WORKsHOPs - ONGOING GROUPs - WITH JO HaRDY

Craft market, organic cafe, puppet show, stalls, raffle Evolutionary Presence: Alchemy of 5 Rhythms Dance: A weekend of Mondays, 7.30 - 9.45, Awakening: Conscious Dance.

The Civic Hall, Totnes. An ongoing group, Oct 2014 - May 2015 Oct 17 - 19 £10/£8. johardy@freeuk.com / 01803 849199 / 07905 493956 consciousdancespace.com

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Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

3

Have you got news for us?

What will stop the Killer Pumpkin?

Mama Tokus - the creative force behind The Killer Pumpkin shadow puppet show.

Last two films of the season THE last two movies of the 2014 season will be screened by Follaton Community Cinema in Totnes in October and November.

Alan Partridge - Alpha Papa (15) on Saturday October 25 sees the local radio anti-hero come to the rescue at a seige.

And on Saturday November 29, there’s Your Sister’s Sister, described as a ‘romcom for people who don’t like romcoms’.

Doors open at 7pm both nights and the films start at 7.30. Watch the trailers at www. follatoncommunitycinema. co.uk.

Day of justice SUSTAINABLE Crediton is running a festival in a day called The Justice Event starting at lunchtime on October 18.

As the farmer’s market closes, the festival will start with stalls and activities including the Unfair Funfair and an evening show with music including new protest songs, drama, story telling and more.

Venues will include The Square and the Congregational Church.

Visit www.sustainable crediton.org.uk.

Learn mosaics MICHELLE McQuinn Farrand, who co-ordinated the Kingsbridge Community Mosaic Project, is to run a mosaic workshop at the beginning of October.

The workshop is being held at Harbour House in Kingsbridge on Saturday October 4 from 10am4pm priced at £40 to include materials.

To book a place call 012548 856057 or email: mcquinn.farrand@ btinternet.com

4

SONGS and intrigue, magical imagery and folklore are all part of the hallowe’en faery tale of The Killer Pumpkin written and performed by Mama Tokus for all ages.

Using shadow puppetry the tale tells of a farmer who makes a deal with the devil to magic up new vegetables to be fed into the gruesome pulping machine by the demonically-bewitched Killer Pumpkin.

Will the farmer and the Killer Pumpkin find enlightenment or will they be snuffed out by the forces of evil?

The show goes on stage on Monday October 27 at South Brent School Community Centre and on October 28 at Bogan House, Totnes; Tideford British Legion Hall on October 29; Jellyfish Productions in Buckfastleigh on October 30; The Barbican Theatre on October 31 at 2pm and the Highwayman Inn, Sourton near Okehampton at 8pm.

For details of times and to book tickets, call 07786 808807 or email mama@ MamaTokus.com.

Top young Indian dancer leads classical dance classes in Exeter EXETER’S Phoenix is offering the chance to learn classical Indian dance with workshops and demonstrations run by India Dance South West (IDSW).

Bharatanatyam is an internationally-popular style of classical dance which is a beautiful and traditional art form.

The classes are led by Vibha Selvaratnam, who is not only one of the company’s most gifted dancers, but is also recognised as one of the top young dancers in the UK. The Bharatanatyam style of dance derives its origins from the Temples of South India.

The dance style has two main aspects; Nritta (abstract dance movements) and Abhinaya (a portrayal of the feelings and emotions of the performance).

While Nritta excites and energises, Abhinaya reaches out to the hearts and minds of the audience. The history of this ancient dance style is embedded in the religious culture of Hinduism.

Nearly 2,000 years ago the principles of this precise dance technique, gesture language and presentation style were documented in a text called the “Natyashastra”.

This text is believed to have documented art forms that had already existed for many generations.

India Dance South West is a branch of India Dance Wales that has been enchanting audiences with the art of classical Indian dance since 1983.

The company has made its mark as the driving force for creating and establishing an interest in Indian dance in Wales with its regular class schedule across South Wales and the West, and its numerous workshops, community work and productions across England, Wales and India.

The company has enjoyed remarkable growth over the past 3 decades to become one of the

Vibha Selvaratnam, one of the top young Indian dancers in the UK, is leading classes in Exeter. foremost classical Indian dance organisations in the UK. The company’s innovative touring productions, including Tempest, Puranic Visions, Evoking Rasa and Life have won the company great acclaim.

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The dance classes take place at the Exeter Phoenix on Wednesdays between 6.30 and 7.30pm.

For information email vibha@ selvaratnam.co.uk, or call 07909 330780.

Inspired by his love of geology THE Chinese say art should be ‘a fusion of the eye, the hand and the heart’.

For David Hamling, what is felt is every bit as important as what is seen, and “to see with the heart” is what gives work its value and its meaning.

His new body of work is inspired by a life-long love of geology, with a focus on the weight, tension and the dynamics of form intrinsic to the landscapes of Dartmoor and the South Hams coast.

The collection ranges from the photo-real to pure abstraction and often uses materials taken from the landscape itself, including silver sand, granite dust, slate dust, carborundum and bronze powder.

His exhibition, The Eye of the Heart, is running at the Harbour House gallery in Kingsbridge until October 12.

A number of local artists will display their work there in an open exhibition from October 25-November 8. The Warmth of Shape and Colour will feature all-original works.

Artist Jolanta Bogdan has called her latest exhibition, which runs at the gallery November 12-23, Peregrination, and describes it as “a journey through life, collecting unforgettable memories.”

Janette Jaggar, whose work takes over the walls November 25-30, uses her naïve style of painting to capture scenes from around the world – and across the South Hams, where she lives.

Visit www.harbour house.org.uk.

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...email details to us now at

editor@reconnectonli

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Workshop launches collective THE gallery at Birdwood House is hosting the launch exhibition for a new group of makers known as the Pottingshed Collective.

The exhibition will showcase emerging makers in the South West and includes work by students and associates of the Pottingshed workshop.

With 15 of the collective displaying their work, this is a celebration of pottery, an exhibition of sculptures, pots, bowls, tiles and mugs.

The opening times are Monday, November 24 to Friday, November 28 10am-4.45pm and Saturday, November 29 10am to 3pm.

Visit www.pottinghshed workshop.com.

A scene from Of Horses and Men - part of the Scandiland film festival.

Festival’s smorgasbord of Scandinavian films CINEMA fans will be taken on a bus deep into the woods of Haldon Forest to watch the Norwegian fantasy thriller Troll Hunter.

As darkness descends on November 8, they will be greeted with a Rekorderlig cider and a smorgasbord of tasty Swedish canapés before entering the bespoke cabin cinema.

The very special screening marks the launch of Scandiland, a season of Scandinavian and Nordic cinema.

On November 11, Surf Cinema presents an evening of cold-water surf films charting some of the individuals who brave the roughest of conditions to get their fix, followed by live music from Finnish folk punk band Slack Bird.

The following night sees a dark and comic bill offering a humorous and unusual insight into the Nordic countries with Of Horses and Men and In Order of Disappearance.

On November 16, Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist will be screened in a taxidermy-filled cinema hut in Heavitree and accompanied by music from a Swedish musician and storyteller.

And on November 17 Exeter Phoenix will screen Oscar-nominated Norwegian comedy Elling and Kitchen Stories, and two new Nordic noir titles, Tommy and Hour of the Lynx, on November 22.

On November 24, food historian Dr Annie Gray will introduce a screening of Babette’s Feast and Exeter Central Library will host an evening of Scandinavian storytelling by performer Emily.

For full screening details, visit www.

Exeterphoenix.org.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Roots artists visit church KINGSKERSWELL Parish Church is the venue for a series of musical events staged by World Unlimited during October and November.

World Unlimited is a voluntary not-forprofit organisation formed 25 years ago to bring the best in international roots artists to Birmingham and Devon.

Three dates in October and four in November are planned featuring emerging new artists and new music from all over the world.

For information about dates and artists visit the website, www. worldunlimited. co.uk or email world. unlimited@o2.co.uk, or callthe church on 01803 875527.

AUTUMN COURSES ! Futurebound - Sustainable Development L1* NEW n£250 06/10 - 22/12 Mondays 3:30 - 6:30 i Held s Sustainable Development L2* e Totn £350 06/10 - 22/12 Mondays 9:30 - 2:30 Garden Planning, Fruit & Veg Growing RHS L2* £490 16/09 - 30/06 Tuesdays 9:15 - 12:45 Practical Horticulture - Organic Veg Production L1* £415 16/09 - 30/06 Tuesdays 9:30 - 4 Practical Horticulture L1 & Sustainable Hortic L2* £1515 10/09 - 01/07 Wed - Fri 10 - 4:30 Creative Craft Floral Design L1* at d l e H ton £550 19/09 - 12/12 Fridays 1 - 5pm g n i t Creative Craft Fibrecraft L1* Dar £550 09/10 - 22/01 Thursdays 9:30 - 1:30 Radio Production L1Award* £250 22/09 - 01/12 Mondays 2:30 - 4:30 Radio Production L2 Extended Certificate* £450 15/09 - 29/06 Mondays 10 - 2pm Radio Production L3 Diploma £940 17/09 - 02/07 Weds 10 - 3 & Thurs 2 - 5pm Event Planning L2 Award* £250 16/09 - 09/12 Tuesdays 10 - 1pm

Call now! 01395 562408 *Free for JSA/ESA admissions@bicton.ac.uk Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

5

Have you got news for us?

Makers come together for fair

Taiko concert EXETER’S Northcott Theatre is hosting a traditional Taiko drumming concert from Kamo Tsunamura Daiko from Sendai in NorthEastern Japan, at 7.30pm on Sunday, November 17.

The group hosted the Newton Abbot-based Kagemusha Taiko during their tour of Japan last year and now Devon is returning the favour.

To book tickets go to www. exeternorthcott.co.uk/kamotsunamura-taiko.

Passion play REMARKABLE stories of The Great War and the recent withdrawal from Afghanistan are now part of a gripping new play with live music.

Passion, five stories of love and war 100 years apart, is on tour throughout the West Country and will be at the Cygnet Theatre, Exeter on Thursday November 6.

The play is staged by AsOne Theatre Company and is the result of many interviews with families across Wessex.

Call 01392 277189.

THE Crux Craft Fair has earned itself a well-deserved reputation for bringing together some of the best craft makers from across the South West.

The fair, now in its 19th year and still in the superb Rattery Village Hall venue, will include ceramics, textiles, ironwork, jewellery, knitwear, wood, furniture, tableware and more.

But a simple list like that doesn’t do it justice – think highly original and top quality. Now you’re getting closer.

It’s open 4-7pm on Friday November 28 and 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday November 29-30 – and it’s the perfect source of Christmas presents if you’re organised enough to be doing it then.

Or not so organised that you’ll already be finished.

There’s an equally high quality café there too, run by Two Good Cooks (www. twogoodcooksdevon@gmail.com.

Visit www.cruxcraftfair.co.uk - or, even better, visit the fair.

Amazing map-covered cases

by Marshall and Fuller, a wonderful ceramic tile by Fran Bennatt below that and, bottom, a bag by Helen Round and jewellery by Deborah Jones.

Mucky pup MUCKY Pup is leaping on to the stage of Exeter’s Phoenix in November as a family treat from Theatre Alibi.

Mucky Pup is a warm, funny and moving show written by Daniel Jamieson and aimed at children from five to 11 years of age.

The show goes on stage on Saturday and Sunday November 22 and 23.

Call 01392 217315, visit www.cygnettheatre.co.uk.

Justice Event SUSTAINABLE Crediton members are once again staging their Justice Event from lunchtime on October 18 and into the evening.

As the farmers’ market closes, so The Square and Congregational Church will come to life with stalls and activities including the Unfair Funfair and music such as new protest songs, drama, story telling and more.

Visit www.sustainable crediton.org.uk.

6

TTT film fest THE team that has brought you Transition Town Totnes film nights over the past years is staging the first Transition Film Festival in October.

The programme will be centred around the key Transition themes of climate change, local economies and declining resources with an upbeat look at solution-based topics including food, economy and community spirit.

The Film Festival will have a diverse line-up of films to attract all ages and all levels of understanding of what Transition is about and the programme will include hands-on workshops with local film makers, children’s matinees and film discussions with film directors – all centred around the Totnes civic hall.

The monthly post-film discussions have been very revealing about how people respond to the strong messages and visual images in films and documentaries; views that the TTT Film Nights team will reflect in the choice of films for the forthcoming festival.

Visit www.transitionfilm festival.org.uk.

Hive art show A GROUP of Devon artists is crossing the border into Dorset to show off their work.

The 2013 RAMM Art Prize winning group Hive Art are exhibiting their paintings, prints and drawings at the Courtyard Gallery in The Town Mill, Lyme Regis between 10.30am and 4pm from September 30 to October 20.

Hive, which is made up of Ian Harbour, Sam Harrison and Su Scotting, has called the exhibition Menagerie a Trois.

Visit www.hiveart.co.uk and www.townmillartsguild.com.

Doing some Funky-bizness for the sheer joy of it then the Funky-bizness ASK anyone who sings - it’s Community Choir could not only fun it’s good for your be for you. mind and body.

It runs in Exeter at the Choirs could soon be seen as Barnfield Theatre (Clifford the new yoga, helping you Room) every Tuesday breathe better and releasing evening from 7.30all those everyday tensions.

9.15pm.

So rather than just humming to yourself in the bath or The choir is run by Pete while washing up, there are Scott, who plays guitar, places you can go to join in saxophone and djembe with others who are singing as well as singing and Pete Scott for the sheer joy of it. writing his own material for the Hothouse Band.

If it’s a friendly atmosphere you are looking for and you want to sing But he loves the old songs too - soul, classic songs that make people smile, R&B, Reggae, Pop - the ones that light

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people up and create instantaneous smiling.

He began to write arrangements of them to sing with friends and so the first Funky-bizness choir was born in South Brent.

Said Pete: “The point of the music is the sheer joy it creates. It is completely infectious. A whole load of soul and loads of laughs. Come join us. Your first session is free. What have you got to lose?”

For term dates and costs go to www.funky-bizness.co.uk or call Pete on 07896 276577 or email: peterscott8765@gmail.com.

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editor@reconnectonli

ne.co.uk

Soft on your skin. Soft on the planet.

Stills from just a few of Emilio’s recent videos: Schumacher College (above) and, below, E-cocars and the Local Entrepreneur’s Forum.

Emilio will find your story WE’RE constantly being told how a good video can spread the word about our business or event – and we only have to think how often we watch a short film on a website or follow a link to YouTube to know that’s true.

But even when you’ve decided to take the plunge and invest the relatively large sum of money to have a video made, what next? Who can you trust to tell your story?

You will probably have seen South Devon film-maker Emilio Mula at any number of Transition and green social and business events across the area – or maybe you haven’t. Emilio has that uncanny knack of being right there with his camera, in the middle of the action, but somehow managing to fade into the foreground, which allows him to capture some wonderfully candid images.

But then Spanish-born Emilio isn’t interested in being the star.

“It’s so important that the film-maker’s ego doesn’t get in the way,” he explained. “Everyone has a story and it’s my job to develop a collaborative dialogue to allow people to discover their own story – and then to capture it on film.

“There are stories everywhere. I go into a place with ‘clean eyes’ and help individuals and businesses to see things in a new light.”

Emilio has made films for Transition groups, Schumacher College, E-cocars, Gro-Cycle and many others, and working in this sector often means the subject is abstract or esoteric, not always an easy thing to portray with visual images.

“My job is not to sell stuff,” says

Emilio. “I approach a new project with humbleness and work to show the love that people have for what they do – that’s the positive message that will sell it.

“I find the simple, small things that make up the whole complex structure.

The beauty is always in the detail.”

And Emilio can even do something about that cost issue.

He says: “I can produce a basic 2-3 minute video, for crowd-funding or online promotional use, for around £500, which includes one day filming and one day editing.

“And although I do need to make a living, I am happy to trade. I recently studied for my diploma in permaculture and work to apply those principles to my work – I want to help the local economy to grow, not to take the energy out of it.”

Visit www.nu-project.org or call 07870 483298.

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varenne ensemble heading here

Centre hosts classical concerts ASHBURTON-born clarinettist Elaine Cocks is joined by fellow professional musicians, cellist Robin Michael and pianist Dan Tong, as the Varenne Ensemble for a concert on October 31 in Newton Abbot’s Courtenay Centre.

Robin is principal cellist with the Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique and Dan is known locally having played in a previous concert staged by the Newton Abbot and District Society of Arts (NADSA).

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

The Courtney Centre will also play host to the Hungarian Ensemble Marquise, which consists of male and female sopranos, recorder, harpsichord and cello players.

Ensemble Marquise will be in Newton Abbot on Friday, November 21 at 7.30pm.

Tickets for both events are available from the Newton Abbot TIC or Arnold’s in Town Hall Place, Bovey Tracey or on the door.

Go to www.nadsa.co.uk for information.

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

7

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A stunning place to eat!

Set like a jewel in the heart of The English Riviera, away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre is One World Cafe & Bistro.

WE all want to consume as much local produce as possible, right? So how about local cider, local beer and local wine? MARTIN FOSTER does his best to drink responsibly by keeping it local.

Keeping it pure and simple THOSE of us who look for more resilient and sustainable ways of doing things often find the answer in the past.

It’s not about fashion (well, ok, sometimes it is a bit) and it’s not about doggedly sticking with tradition and refusing to move forwards (yeah, it can be a little bit of that too), but it most definitely IS about recognising the value and importance of keeping things pure and simple - without all the tricks and ‘improvements’ designed to make a product more convenient and/or profitable, but which often compromise its quality in the process.

Things don’t come The apple picking begins for this year’s pressing much purer, or simpler, than Paignton, where they also raise sheep traditional cider making. You juice the and beef cattle, grow barley and run a apples, store the juice, drink the cider. camping and caravan site.

In fact, of course, simple is only simple Their cider apple orchards (made up when you know what you’re doing of predominantly Devonshire varieties and having been making and selling such as Brown’s Apple, Sweet Alford the stuff since 1805, Hunt’s could be and Tremletts Bitter) cover just 18 of said to have really got the hang of it. their 400 acres, but produce 80% of “I’m an eighth generation ciderthe apples they need, with the rest maker,” says Richard Hunt, proudly. coming from local orchards.

And he and his sister Annette are “We’re not registered organic,” ensuring cider-making will help secure explains Richard, “but all our apples the future of the family business well into the future. are unsprayed and hand-picked from ancient sheep-grazed orchards.”

The cider-making operation is based on the family-run Higher Yalberton The fruit is picked when fully ripe, Farm, in a quiet valley on the edge of to ensure all the natural sugars are

Twitter: @newlionbrewery

Facebook: NewLionBrewery

A licensed Cafe with great coffee, award winning gardens and the perfect destination for drinks, dining and live music with an emphasis on honest, home-cooked food, a fantastic range of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes.

An independent, family friendly destination for something different in the Bay.

www.oneworldcafe.org.uk Abbey Park, Belgrave Road, Torquay, TQ2 5HP

Telephone: 01803 297797

Email: oneworldcafe.torquay@gmail.com

8

New Lion Brewery, Totnes. Try something New!

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Around a third of their output goes to farm gate sales.

year they look set to up it again by 50%. And all that from a wonderful, photogenic but you’d think highly inefficient, ancient barn, so things will really take off when they move to their new building, complete with new press and equipment, which is nearing completion just up the road at Stoke Gabriel.

Their new operation is supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, for which Defra is the managing authority, part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.

Says Annette: “It has been 40% grant funded through the REG Programme, delivered by Devon County Council on behalf of Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership.

“We’re very excited. We’ll still be using traditional techniques but the new press and roomier work area will allow us to increase production to meet demand.”

And the demand is growing. They still sell around a third of their production at the farm gate (the new building will also include a shop and visitors’ centre), and the rest goes through online sales, and local farm shops and pubs (get in touch if you fancy serving real draught cider in your bar).

Find out more and place your order at www.huntscider.co.uk.

fully developed, from late September through to early December and the juice is pumped into fermentation tanks where it ferments in its own yeasts and sugars.

“We don’t add any extra sugars or yeasts,” says Richard proudly, “so it’s a completely natural product.”

The fermentation process can take up to nine months, by which time all the natural sugars in the juice will have been converted to alcohol.

“At this point we pump the cider out of the tanks in which they have fermented into barrels and casks,” explained Richard. “This leaves behind the spent yeasts which will have settled in the bottom of the tanks and gives us a clear, crisp cider.”

The cider matures for a few months but can be stored for up to two years.

The result is what is sometimes called scrumpy or, in Bristol, ‘natch’ and in its driest form is a drink for the dedicated cider drinker.

For the less hardcore, they also produce medium and sweet versions, and a bottled sparkling variety called Heritage, which is more like the mainstream mass-market brews (“But still proper cider,” says Richard).

The future’s looking rosy for Hunt’s cider. Last year they made 50,000 The traditional belt-driven press still used by litres, twice their 2013 Hunt’s - soon to be supplemented by a new production, and this electric unit in a new building.

Mat Henney, right, with assistant Jacek Ziegler. PICTURES: DAVID THURSTON

Lion roars back into town EVEN by craft brewery standards, The New Lion Brewery in Totnes is based on an unusual recipe.

The original Lion Brewery, long since closed down, was based in the heart of the town and in its heyday owned 26 pubs in the area and employed many local people.

Inspired by Harvey’s brewery in Lewes, the Transition movement’s Rob Hopkins could see potential for a modern counterpart and to make it happen joined forces with other local enthusiasts: Bay Horse pub landlord Rob Alexander and former New Yorker and current beer enthusiast Ann Monroe.

The new brewery is based in a commercial unit close to the railway station and uses brewing plant on loan from Hannah’s at Seale Hayne in Newton Abbot.

Head brewer Mat Henney, formerly of the Dartmoor Ale brewery, said: “We have developed two classic ales, Mane Event session bitter and Pandit IPA, and are now creating short runs of bespoke cask and bottled beers, which support and document community businesses and events.”

A perfect example was the Circular Stout created for this year’s Local Entrepreneurs’ Forum (LEF), a Transition event that allows any member

of the community to support local sustainable businesses.

Fungi Futures is a community business that grows mushrooms on spent coffee grounds and pitched for support at the 2012 LEF. Before the 2014 event, the New Lion Brewery gave spent grains to Fungi Futures, who grew mushrooms on them – and then dried the mushrooms and gave them back to the brewery, which produced mushroom-flavoured Circular Stout to sell at the forum.

Mat and his assistant Jacek Ziegler are now working with The South Devon Chilli Farm to produce a spicy ale and with forest gardener Martin Crawford on a chestnut beer.

The brewery also supplied the beer for the recent Hillyfield Woodland Olympics – see page 22.

New Lion ales are currently sold in pubs in and around Totnes (and always in The Bay Horse at the top of town) and there are plans to sell direct from the brewery door.

Longer term, Rob would like to see the brewery become part of the Atmos community development project on the old Dairy Crest site – but a community consultation will decide that one.

You can keep up with the latest developments at The New Lion Brewery on Facebook and Twitter.

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9

Local produce

English wines challenge French

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ENGLISH wines are flourishing and finding success when challenging their French counterparts according to local wine producer Sharpham.

Production of Sharpham sparkling wines has increased following their international trophy success at the Bollicine del Mondo competition held in Verona, Italy, and the more recent International Wine Challenge and Decanter competitions.

The Sharpham estate near Totnes has been producing wines for 25 years and is now considered to be bottling some of England’s most outstanding wines. The estate produces 15% of sparking wines each year from a total production of 100,000 bottles.

According to Duncan Schwab, wine maker and trade manager at Sharpham, English wines owe a lot to the hobbyists who got the ball rolling by establishing vineyards back in the 70s and 80s.

Said Duncan: “More recently the industry has become much more professional and sometimes you feel it is on a runaway train with the amount of new planting taking place.

“Most new plantings are concentrating on the sparkling wine varieties but I

feel there is still a good market for well made still wines too.”

Duncan said the industry had been accused of growing too quickly but the average annual yield of 2.5 million bottles is still tiny compared with vineyards in other parts of the world.

Last year the UK produced 1 million bottles of sparkling wine, whereas France produced 300 million bottles.

Sharpham grows Madeleine Angevine, Phoenix, Dornfelder and Pinot Noir Precoce varieties which were chosen from trial sites it established 33 years ago.

Right through until Christmas, visitors to Sharpham can join a Trek and Taste tour of the vineyard where guides take guests on a beautiful walk alongside the River Dart before returning to the winery.

Duncan says he has seen the number of visitors increase exponentially over the last five years.

He added: “English wines are punching well above their weight in terms of publicity and international awards we gain for such a small, young industry.”

Call 01803 732203 or visit www. sharpham.com.

Devonport hosts beer festival

01803 782422 • enquiries@huntscider.co.uk Hunt’s Farmhouse Cider huntscider

www.huntscider.co.uk

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ALL you beer lovers in Plymouth and around will be delighted to hear that the Devonport Guildhall is hosting a beer festival in partnership with Summerskills Brewery.

The event takes place on Saturday, October 4, and visitors will be able to taste a range of local beers, ciders and ales all produced in Devon and brewed using locallysourced ingredients.

The Guildhall’s onsite artisan bakery, Column Bakehouse, will also be open from 12noon to 10pm giving you somewhere to sit and enjoy some delicious handmade seasonal and locally-sourced food.

Top entertainment in the evening is provided by blues vocalist and

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guitarist Vince Lee plus blues musician Russell Sinclair and his full band, the Smokin’ Locos.

Tickets for the day running between noon and 6pm are £5. The evening session, running from 6.30pm until midnight, costs £10.

To buy your tickets email guildhall@ realideas.org or call 01752 395028. www.devonportguildhall. org/events/beer-festival.

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GROWING vegetables on a small scale is fine for the home, but on a commercial basis it can become a labour of love.

In Buckfastleigh vegetable and fruit growers have joined forces to combine their sales to two local outlets to make their efforts worthwhile.

The Buckfastleigh Growers Group is made up of 13 passionate growers from 3-4 miles of Buckfastleigh who sell their produce to Nature’s Round veg boxes and The Seed shop.

Speaking for the group, Alan Armitage explained that the association prevents overlapping where similar crops are being grown and can find a balance of what is required by the shop and box schemes. More importantly it is also a forum for support and the airing of wider issues.

Said Alan: “We all know growing fruit and vegetables is currently a work of love which is commercially non-viable. Jeremy Weiss at Velwell gave up trying to sell his crops because the price did not justify his efforts; instead he now

Growers’ group grows has a system whereby he gives his produce away and receives donations in return to support his work at Velwell Orchard.

“Largely hand grown, small scale, mixed crop cultivation is very different from large scale, single crop, machine cultivation, but there is virtually no discrimination when it comes to pricing the produce.

“As a growers’ group we are now looking at ways to raise our profile and clearly advertise how our food is grown and where it comes from.”

The association is now looking at funding to help with education of the public about food production and to encourage more people to access the land for events, volunteering and education.

Call Alan on 01803 812750.

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TUCKERS YARD, CHULEY ROAD, ASHBURTON TQ13 7DG www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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11

Local produce

local people local events local food local health local environment

Taste the Experience!

Julia Ponsonby, head of food at Schumacher College and author of The Art of Mindful Baking.

Fine English wine & cheese, produced from our Estate on the banks of the River Dart.

Tours are available which include a wine tasting.

01803 732203

www.sharpham.com

Putting your mind to baking A NEW book by a local author and food expert provides an insight into how the act of baking is, “by its very nature, a practical meditation that provides a wealth of physical, mental and social benefits.”

The Art of Mindful Baking is the latest book by Julia Ponsonby, Head of Food at Schumacher College and author of the bestselling Gaia’s Kitchen (Green Books).

In her new title she looks at what it means to use our hands and how kneading promotes wellbeing, exploring “the true and enduring

value of eating real food – from the mental focus instilled when judging proportions and cooking time, through to the sense of accomplishment felt when taking the finished bake from the oven and sharing among friends.”

Eighteen recipes are woven into the text, each accompanied by a brief history and insight into its chemistry - simple spelt bread, brown rolls and scones lead into more complex bakes, such as stollen, sourdough and soufflé.

Published by The Ivy Press, The Art of Mindful Baking is £8.99 from all the usual sources.

Fermenting for health and taste thrivecafe.co.uk

The Totnes Health Oasis

Thrive Cafe is now one year old!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new Cafe Manager, Rob King.

Introducing our new menu for the season...

Toasted Organic Wraps & Pitta Sandwiches A world of continental flavours to delight your palate - toasted to perfection!

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SPRING SPECIAL £2.50 takeaway Call in and check out our fantastic menu & grab a 10% discount when you’re on the move and need a healthy, hearty takeaway.

Thrive Cafe Bar, 47 Fore Street, Totnes TQ9 5NJ 01803 840202

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FERMENTATION is at last making a comeback having been forgotten during the heyday of the supermarket and the fridge.

At one time families had to make the most of each season’s harvest to ensure a good supply of food through hunger gaps and winter months. Fermentation was a huge part of Winter preparation.

As a food ferments, natural bacteria feed on the sugars and starches in the food - a process called lactofermentation. This also creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics.

By adding fermented foods to your diet you are promoting the correct balance of gut flora which can help your body absorb more vitamins and nutrients from the foods we eat.

If you want to know more about creating ferments at home, there’s a workshop at the International Macrobiotic School on November 1.

In the meantime, the school has provided Reconnect readers with a simple recipe for making your own pickles at home: Make a brine solution by adding two teaspoons of salt to one pint of

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warm water. Thinly chop carrots, cabbage and onions. Put the veg into a container or jar and cover with the salt water. Make sure the veg is submerged in the water by placing a stone or saucer on top. Leave for seven - 10 days. When you try it, the raw taste should have been replaced by a slightly sour-sharp taste. Eating a small portion every day will boost your immune system, helping you to fend off the winter colds and tummy bugs.

For more information go to: www. macroschool.co.uk.

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local people local events local food local healthnourishing local environment Naturally Toast the season with local apple juice THERE’S a chance to celebrate apples and the season’s variety and richness at Sharpham’s Apple Pressing and Autumn Festival.

You can try fresh apple juice straight from Orchard Link’s Apple press or you can take along your own apples to juice (but please no windfalls from orchards grazed with animals in the last six weeks).

In exchange for bringing the fruit, you will be given half back as freshly-pressed apple juice in new plastic bottles - the other half will be sold to help support the work of the Trust.

There will be small charges for

some activities and there will be a café at the house and refreshments on site.

The festival is on Sunday October 19, 10.30am-4.30pm. Entry is free but if you go by car there will be a £4 charge for parking and the organisers ask you help reduce the impact of car use by filling it up with your family and friends.

Bob the Bus will run a free shuttle service from Totnes to Sharpham all day and there will be an organised bike ride with Sharpham’s partners Sustrans, starting at Dartington. Find out more at www.sharphamtrust.org/ Whats-on.

Seasonal fare on menu at Embercombe ON top of all the fun and feasting to be had at Embercombe’s Apple, Pizza & Pumpkin Day, there’s also the chance to meet your perfect gardening (or life?) companion at their first Weed Dating.

“Find love among the lettuces and companionship among the carrots,” says Embercombe’s Becks Scarrott.

The annual Autumn celebration is free and has something for the whole family to get involved in: apple pressing, tractor rides, games for kids and adults plus plenty of opportunities to learn a new craft.

The Embercombe team will be firing up their wood-fired pizza ovens, barbecuing venison burgers and creating all kinds of delicious seasonal dishes from their gardens.

The Apple, Pizza & Pumpkin Day is on October 19 from 11am. Visit www. embercombe.co.uk.

THE kids are back at school and the great lunch debate resumes - but Reconnect food columnist JANE HUTTON thinks she might just have the answer...

SUMMER’S over, and school’s back in. Cue sighs of relief from parents, as life returns to normal! I used to enjoy the flurry of shopping (pristine shirts, razor-creased trousers, unscuffed shoes) although the issue that taxed my brain during term time, more than homework or lost PE kit, was food.

Ensuring well-nourished kids with brains and bodies fuelled for the day’s educational rigours can be challenging. Do you trust them with money to buy snacks or lunch? Do you opt for school meals, and the unknown factors of someone else’s cooking? Do you cross your fingers and hope they make sensible choices? Or do you run the gauntlet of producing varied, tempting and healthy packed lunches every day?

Changes to both the school meals provision, and the curriculum, mean that the food and nutrition landscape is changing at last, and changing where it really needs to – in early childhood. Cooking and nutrition are now compulsory across primary and secondary education with food education given a higher profile than ever before, central to the School Food Plan.

What really excites me is the clear focus on wellbeing, healthy eating, cooking techniques, ingredient knowledge, seasonality and understanding where food comes from, including practical experience.

The ‘farm to fork’ concept of living and eating should, in my view, be a given, with sustainability, health and local economy so clearly linked. We can only hope that planting the seed in sprouting minds will allow healthier habits and attitudes to flourish, growing over time to see sustainable

Food for thought

Co-op stall to rescue THE closure of Healthy Pulses in Plymouth city centre left a void in the city’s ethical trading and health food market - and prompted a group of caring individuals to put together a co-operative to fill the gap.

In March last year Fairport began trading part-time in Plymouth City Market and went full time the following May. The project’s initial driving force came from Bernadette Chelvanayagam, Chris Deacon and Mark Gardiner. Both Marc and Bernadette were experienced in the world of co-operatives having worked for 16 years in the Zebra Collective (www. zebra.coop) of which Marc was a founder. They chose the co-operative model for Fairport because it is consistent with all they stand for and they plan to use all their profits to build the business and to further other similar projects.

Said Marc: “We wanted this new venture to have a high and broad ethical bar, reflecting our commitment to cruelty-free living, fair trade, sustainability, small shops, keeping money in the local economy and more.”

In November last year, thanks to a collaboration with the Column Bakehouse at Devonport Guildhall, Fairport extended to two stalls and now sell their range of additive-free breads.

There is a growing range of foods in stock, sourced primarily from Essential Trading, the 30-year-old wholesaler and worker co-op in Bristol. All the stock is vegan, to avoid any animal welfare issues, and they also sell a range of toiletries and household products, mainly from Faith in Nature and Bio D. In June this year the shop achieved Highly Commended in the Plymouth Food Awards in the Community Foods Section. Fairport currently runs entirely on voluntary input from a 15 member team.

They hope soon to employ a part-time worker.

Visit www.fairport.coop.

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food production and real food become the norm. Imagine a world where salad is chosen over sweets in the school canteen! A little far-fetched, but we can dream….

Until that fabled day, what do we send our bundles of joy off to the educational coalface with? A good breakfast is a must to spark the metabolism, and get the brain working – make it a balanced carb, protein and healthy fat combo to steady energy release and boost mental function. The same goes for lunch: slow burn carbs with good quality protein, and a healthy fat element will keep blood sugar steady.

Sugar, refined carbs, or processed foods have all been shown to affect performance, focus, memory and even IQ. Try the Brunchfast Tortilla recipe below for a balanced brekkie boost or luscious lunch. The rest of the time, try making wraps from lettuce leaves, pots of fruit salad, yogurt and nut/seed granola, crudites and dips, homemade fruity protein bars - the possibilities really are endless.

Have a happy, healthy term!

Breakfast tortilla - ideal for lunchboxes Fabulous for breakfasts or lunches – cook the night before to have breakfast ready made; use leftover slices for packed lunches. Perfect!

Ingredients: 500g good quality sausage meat (as meat or from peeled sausages); 1 large sweet potato, diced; 1 bag fresh baby spinach, chopped; 1 green onion, diced; any other veg of choice; 1012 large eggs; seasoning.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 190 and grease a 9x13” glass baking dish with coconut oil, butter or rapeseed oil. Heat a large frying

pan; cook the onions and sausage meat until browned and cooked through. Remove, and drain the fat. Drizzle a little rapeseed oil into the pan and add sweet potatoes, cooking until tender, adding other veg (except spinach) as the potatoes cook. Remove, add to the sausage, mix in the spinach and season. Spread the mixture over the bottom of a prepared 9x13 glass dish. Whisk eggs, and pour evenly over the mixture in dish.

Bake for 25 minutes or until set.

Cool slightly before serving cut into squares.

Naturally Nourishing is written by Jane Hutton, who describes herself as “a nutritionist and confirmed foodie”. Find out more about her consultations, workshops and blog at www.trinityholistics.co.uk.

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

13

Local energy Grants towards external insulation for city homes FOLLOWING on from our community energy special in the last issue, Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), a members’ cooperative set up to reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions, have even more to shout about.

The co-operative has launched another campaign to help Plymouth residents stay warmer for less.

PEC are working in partnership with Plymouth City Council and British Gas to help private properties receive up to £5,400

towards installing external solid wall insulation, which will renew the look of homes, keep residents warmer and stop people wasting money and heat through their walls.

Said a spokesperson: “This opportunity is limited and to ensure as many eligible properties are reached as possible, installations are being carried out on specific streets in targeted areas during a certain time period.

“The programme is working in synergy with Plymouth Community

Homes’ programme of insulation installation on their properties. All eligible households will receive a letter offering the opportunity.

They then book an assessment and receive a quote and funding offer. “ This scheme is funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Green Deal for Communities fund.

To find out more about PEC, the solid wall insulation programme and opportunities to get involved, call 01752 477117 or visit www. plymouthenergycommunity.com.

A house during (above) and after (below) the installation of external solid wall insulation.

Volunteer award winners PLYMOUTH Energy Community (PEC) and its volunteer director Barbara Hampson have won volunteer of the year at the UK Community Energy Awards.

“I’m delighted to have won the award as it reflects the amazing things that PEC has done since it started up last year,” says Barbara.

PEC was also finalists in the Community Energy Start-up of the year category and Plymouth City Council had its support for the co-operative recognised as finalist for Local Authority partner of the Year.

PEC will soon be providing a programme to train and support volunteers in an energy advice service scheme supported by Nesta’s City of Service, which helps mobilise volunteers to Barbara with Philip Wolfe of RegenSW. target the needs of the community.

Roofs ready for ECOE’s PV panels EXETER Community Energy (ECOE) is moving steadily towards the share offer for their first solar PV project with plans for panels across five sites.

Shillingford Organics Farm, Willowbrook School, Wonford Community Centre and St James’ church hall have all been surveyed and they offer scope for over 200kWp of installed capacity. Talks with Exeter College about their technology centre are also under way and the two large flat roofs are being surveyed soon.

ECOE are talking to Western Power Distribution about the proposals because the total installed capacity at each site has to be within the district network operator’s local limits.

The next step towards securing the sites will be to sign a heads of terms contract – an agreement in principle to lease the roof space for community owned solar panels over the 20 year period that the government feed-intariff will be in place.

“There is still work to do and much that can derail the process but so far things are moving forward steadily,” said ECOE’s Joe Smee. “An October launch is still feasibly possible, but as the share offer would need to run for at least six weeks that would go very close to, and possibly over Christmas – not a good time for people to make investment decisions – so it may have to wait until the new year.”

Returns to investors will depend on the final portfolio of roofs that make

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ECOE at the Exeter Green Fair. up the project, says Joe, and will match the amount of money put into a community fund. This is expected to include eligibility for the Enterprise Investment Scheme, where investors can offset 30% of their investment against income tax, topping-up the 4% return ECOE are expecting to be able to offer.

On November 11, ECOE are running an event on the Exeter and East Devon Low Carbon Task Force’s plans for a district heating system. It will be held in the Meeting Room at Stephens Scown solicitors, Southernhay, from 6:45pm.

Visit www.ecoe.org.uk.

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editor@reconnectonli

ne.co.uk

Intimate gigs are Haven for top talent AFTER launching the new season with an amazing sell-out Martha Tilston gig, the Acoustic Haven continues to attract amazing talent and appreciative audiences to a church in Totnes.

Fraser Anderson (www. fraseranderson. com), who appears on Bob Hillary and the Massive Mellow October 31, has talented,” says Doug. been likened to Nick Drake and John Martyn and The intimate concerts, held in St John’s organiser Doug King-Smith says he’s Church in Bridgetown, help to raise “a real soul-feeding treat of beauty funds to care for The Hillyfield, ancient that touches the heart like no other.” woodland on Dartmoor. Buy tickets at Sacks Wholefoods in the Totnes Also on the same night is Bob Hillary Narrows or at www.wegottickets.com. and the Massive Mellow (www. fraseranderson.com). l THE Acoustic Haven is a fundraiser for The Hillyfield, an ancient woodland “And it’s all about the love for Bob on Dartmoor and there’s some serious Hillary,” says Doug, “sunshine music work to be done there over the Winter to warm up the Winter, with gorgeous (HUNDREDS of trees to be felled), rhythms, voice, guitar, sax, and which means Hillyfield owner and percussion.”

Acoustic Haven organiser Doug KingOn November 28, Sam Walker and Smith will be super-busy.

Truffleshack are on the bill.

And that means that without some Sam has just come back from a world people stepping up to take on some tour and is set to lift-off into stardom organising roles, Acoustic Haven will a one man orchestra and should not have to close. Yes, close! be missed.

Do the right things - visit the Acoustic And Truffleshack is a very unusual Haven page on Facebook and get duo featuring violin and accordion involved. Your local live music scene “relatively unknown but exceptionally needs YOU!

Students study sustainability NEW courses at Bicton College offer learners a new perspective on sustainability – both in business and on a personal level.

Short courses in Sustainable Development (Levels 1 and 2) based in Totnes have been launched this year with students praising their originality and inspirational nature.

Held in conjunction with The Totnes REconomy Project and The Living Projects (see page 20), the courses go beyond classroom thinking to handson practical projects that help people plan, start and evaluate projects of their own.

Led by lecturers Hal Gillmore and Laura Denning, the courses teach an introduction to sustainable development for entrepreneurs, leaders in the community, and anyone wishing to make the most of the innovative environment that Totnes provides.

A featured module within the last course intake was permaculture, where students got the opportunity to visit the Landmatters permaculture project near Totnes.

Learner Rebecca Scarrott said: “Futurebound (Sustainable

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Organic gardening LOOKING for something to go in those empty areas in your garden or allotment? Reconnect’s organic gardening expert Joa Grower has just the thing...

AUTUMN is the perfect time to give your allotment or veggie patch a much needed tidy up – and doing it now will also help expose some of those dreaded slugs for the birds to eat.

First, take down your bean canes and store them in a dry shed or garage. Also put away any nets, pots or trays.

There will be areas that have nothing growing in them and rather than let the weeds take over, why not try sowing some green manures?

These are crops grown for the sole purpose of adding fertility to the soil or to produce bulky green waste to add to your compost bin.

There are quite a few to choose from including vetches, tares, clover and my favourite, rye grass. Many seed companies sell these and a few other varieties but it can work out quite expensive - a bag of organic rye grain from your local health food shop works just as well. Simply sow by broadcasting (sprinkling) all over the area and then raking it in. It’s a good idea to put a few bird scary things up, like old CDs, just while the grain germinates.

Then, when it gets to late Winter or early Spring, you simply cut the rye grass down and either dig it into your beds or put the grass in your compost bin and dig the roots and stumps into the soil. This must be done at least a month before sowing any vegetable seeds directly into soil.

Of course, the other thing you can

Rye comments do with your empty beds over winter is cover the ground with something that cuts out the light to stop weeds growing. Carpets are no longer recommended for this purpose, but you can purchase black ground cover material - try to buy a professional type that can be reused next year.

Before piling more garden waste into your compost bins, check them to see if you have any compost ready - you may need to dig down about 25-30cm to find some, but now is a great time to add it to your beds.

Mix any unrotted material in with the new waste. The rotting process can always be speeded up by turning (mixing up) your compost regularly to add oxygen. Never jump up and down on your bin to squash more in because this will just defeat the object and you will end up with a slimy mess. Try to add different ingredients in different layers and always avoid masses of grass clippings!

Plant broad beans now for an early crop

Development Level 1) has given me an excellent grounding in ‘transition thinking’ – an understanding of how our current economic system works and how we can change the model at a local level to ensure communities are more able to sustain themselves.”

Both courses start again this October, and run to fit with school term times.

Funding is also available for job seekers. Visit www.bicton.ac.uk.

NOW is a great time to plant broad beans. You still won’t be picking them until the Spring but they will produce beans earlier than Spring-sown ones and will also be more resistant to attack from blackfly.

Plant 10-15cm apart in a row or a block. They probably won’t need much protection but they will need support as they get bigger. I simply put a stake in each corner of the bed, or at each end of the row, and run some strong string from one post to another. This should prevent the whole crop from just collapsing under the weight of the lovely beans you will grow.

They will also appreciate a feed of something like seaweed meal or chicken manure pellets at planting time and maybe a liquid feed when they start to flower around February/March time.

What ever you get up to this Autumn in the garden. Enjoy!

Those of you who use our stall at Totnes Market, please note I will be finishing probably early October and returning early in February next year.

Thanks for all your custom over the last year!

Reconnect’s Organic Gardening column is written by Joa and Charlie Grower of Growers Organics. Meet them at Totnes market on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit www. growersorganics.com, or call 01752 881180.

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

15

Eco homes & building New HQ for project IT’S been a moving experience recently for Refurnish, the community household recycling project.

Its headquarters has moved from Bittaford to a unit at Anna Mill in Wrangaton – which will open in the week commencing Monday October 6.

And its Newton Abbot store has moved from its old home at the end of the Brunel Industrial Estate to the former A1 Signs building, just on the right as you enter the estate.

As well as housing its HQ, where all that important admin stuff gets processed, the new Wrangaton unit also has sales areas where its huge range of furniture, white goods and other household items is displayed.

There’s plenty of parking, with disabled bays right next to the door, and easy access to the ground level sales floor. And in the spirit of recycling, walls from the new Newton Abbot centre have been used to create walls at Wrangaton.

There’s also plenty going on at Refurnish’s other stores. At Tavistock, a new staff kitchen, workshop, stores area and reception have all been built – using recycled materials, of course.

And plans for a new Crediton branch are still moving forward – if you’d like to be involved in that, or in any other area of Refurnish business anywhere across the region, call David Banks on 01364 73206, email davidbanks@refurnish.org.uk, or visit www. refurnish.org.uk.

Sustainable home news

Community plan for Atmos THE former Dairy Crest site in Totnes, a prime area right next to the train station, is to be developed under ground-breaking legislation that will give the community the power to decide what is built there – and how and to what standard.

The unique agreement means that the site, closed seven years ago, will be split into three parts: Part One will be purchased by McCarthy & Stone and used to develop homes for older people – but they will work with the Totnes Community Development Society (TCDS) and plans will have to be approved by a community referendum.

Part Two will be purchased from Dairy Crest by “the community of Totnes” for the sum of one Totnes Pound – this area includes the historic Brunel building.

Part Three of the site “is more complex”, but ultimately will again be designed through community consultation. TCDS have an Option Agreement for this part of the site and, once planning is approved, will probably opt to purchase the site.

The Community Right to Build Order (CRtBO) is part of the 2012 Localism Act. It allows communities to design the development they wish to see and gives them a new route to planning.

Said a spokeperson for TCDS: “To

the best of our knowledge, this has never happened before, anywhere.

“From the beginning of next October, TCDS will be engaging the community in creating a masterplan for the whole site, including our proposals for a development of specialist housing for older people on this site.”

The expected timescale for the project is: October 8 - a public meeting about Atmos at St Johns Church in Bridgetown. This will be an opportunity to hear more details and to ask questions.

May 2015 - Masterplan will be complete and the Community Right to Build Order submitted.

Autumn 2015 - Community referendum is held.

March 2016 - Assuming a positive result in the referendum, work begins on site.

TCDS would like to thank: McCarthy & Stone “for engaging with such openness and integrity in what will be a groundbreaking process”; all their patrons; Sarah Wollaston MP “for her unfailing support”; and “the community of this remarkable town for supporting Atmos Totnes over the last seven years.

“May a thousand brilliant ideas flourish.”

Visit www.atmostotnes.org.

A cleft chestnut gate Alastair crafted recently to match a short run of fence he’d made previously.

Gate ideas in cleft wood WHEN the growing season nears its end, scythe expert Alastair Inglis picks up his froe and side axe and turns his hand to making bespoke garden fencing and gates from cleft chestnut, oak and ash.

Garden structures are another speciality and so far he’s made supports for fruit espaliers and step-overs, rustic wigwams from hazel and willow, and larger structures like lean-to log stores.

He’s currently working on a small log shed in roundwood, with a turf roof, which he describes as “Hobbity.”

For enquiries and commissions call Alastair on 07796805453 or email al.inglis@yahoo.co.uk.

Tell us about your own eco build project 16

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Sustainable Build Weeks at Embercombe - your chance to learn, help out and have fun.

Embercombe work weeks in new year REGULAR Reconnect readers will remember reading updates on the Linhay at Embercombe – the amazing land-based learning centre, being built to a traditional design and using traditional, and mainly locally-sourced, materials.

The build is now nearing its end and the Embercombe team is looking forward to ‘hand-over time’ but there are still jobs to do.

With that in mind, Embercombe is developing a series of events so as many people as possible can get involved in this ambitious community project.

These Sustainable Build Weeks will be in full swing from December onwards, when volunteers will be invited to offer their skills or learn from experts specialising in techniques ranging from rammed earth, cob making and lime rendering through to fine joinery.

The full story of The Linhay is in the Place and People section of the Embercombe website at www. embercombe.co.uk.

The official launch of The Linhay is planned for late Spring 2015 watch this space!

WE want to feature more South Devon eco build projects in Reconnect, so if you have worked on a project (for yourself or a client) using traditional materials and/or techniques, get in touch. Email us now at editor@reconnectonline.co.uk.

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We know how to look but we learn how to see LANDSCAPE photographer Phil Hemsley says his work allows him to really ‘see’ the world around him - and he encourages us all to do the same...

THE majority of people today live in villages, towns and cities, yet still many relish the opportunity to escape to the great outdoors, ‘to get away from it all’. This life we lead with all its creature comforts is somehow not enough on its own.

We can allow ourselves the opportunity to embrace the landscape and chance the delight and sensation of focusing on the beauty of wildflowers growing near moss-covered rocks as we amble alongside a moorland stream. On the beach we enjoy the sensation of sand under our feet and the sight of the sun on the sea.

It becomes a metaphysical journey if we allow ourselves the freedom and time to experience, understand and focus, rather than let such things of significance pass us by. These ideas beckon us towards the connection - be it emotional or visceral, with the wonders of the world beyond our own homes. The more we absorb through keen multi-sensory observation, the deeper we become immersed in such pleasure. And because of these connections, we can experience a more enjoyable way of understanding our Earth in a rewarding and numinous way.

In my photography of the natural world, pastoral landscapes and the transitional rural fringes, I try to distil the essence of my visceral feelings into something that conveys my responses - the very thing I want to ‘say’ about a place… a moment in time that has been captured.

The words ‘see’ and ‘look’ are often regarded as being synonymous, but they are very different activities. ‘Looking’ is based on merely allowing ourselves to acknowledge something visually.

But what we ‘see’ depends upon our personal perception of the world.

If you engage with all the natural beauty of a seascape or landscape, the outcome can be rich and rewarding because you will have ‘tuned-in’ to the wonders and powers of Nature in all its glory.

So reach for your camera, easel or sketchbook and make use of your five senses: feel the textures of mosses, rocks, fallen leaves; see and listen to the running-water of a brook, as you stand in the shallows; study the light; smell the wildflowers; absorb the resonance of the ‘keeow’ sound of a buzzard gliding through the trees. With such an appreciation of the outdoors, we can allow ourselves to make pictures about something rather than just of something.

Phil Hemsley l FIND out more about Phil, his photography and his courses at www.philhemsley.co.uk.

A NEW five year plan for the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been unveiled at Wigford Cross, Loddiswell, at the site of the new orchard and processing plant for Heron Valley Drinks.

The plan was launched

by Dr Sarah Wollaston MP with the AONB Partnership Committee.

Among the projects due for support are the wood fuel from hedgerows initiative to help address rural fuel poverty and development of the activity providers group South Devon Outdoors.

Dads juicing NOW in its sixth year, the apple pressing and cider making day near Dartington is probably the most popular event in the history of the Dangerous Dads group.

The event takes place on October 11 and is paid for by donation.

Start saving those empty plastic bottles.

For information call 01803 840990 or go to www. dangerousdads.org.uk

Poetry gig The tumbling waters of the River Avon, also known as the River Aune, as they make their way over the granite bedrocks of Dartmoor National Park, in early Autumn. The name Aune is derived from the Old Norse word au(dh)n, meaning ‘wasteland’, or a ‘desolate place’ - which describes perfectly the source of this river in a bleak and boggy mire to the west of Ryder’s Hill, high on the southern side of the moors.

Meditation RetReats in the Buddhist tRadition

www.gaiahouse.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

AONB plan

DEVON poet and performer Matt Harvey is appearing at Studio 3, Dartington Hall, on Thursday, October 23 as a guest of the Friends of Dartington.

Tickets are priced at £5 for members and £7 for non-members and are available from Dartington Box Office on 01803 847070 or online at www. dartington.org.

Empowering families across Devon & Cornwall since 1999

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

17

Events diary

Planning a gig, show or festival in December or January? october

Alan Partidge - Alpha Papa October 25

Wednesday 1

Until Nov 9 Home Ground - celebration of home-grown making with showcase of contemporary craftmakers who use materials locally distinct, natural or recycled, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, 01626 832223, www.crafts.org.uk.

Until October 12 The Eye of the Heart - exhibition of mixed media work by David Hamling, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, www. harbourhouse.org.uk.

See page 4.

Saturday 4

Beer festival, with Summerskills Brewery, 6.30pm-midnight, Devonport Guildhall, tickets from guildhall@ realideas.org. Tickets from 01752 395028, guildhall@realideas.org Powderham Food Festival - feast of outdoor cooking, Powderham Castle, Kenton, Exeter, www. powderhamfoodfestival. com.

Mosaic workshop with Michelle McQuinn Farrand, who coordinated the recent

Show of Hands October 8 Taiko Drumming November 17

Jeff Sleeman Coaching and Training Life Coaching, Career Coaching, Business and Executive Coaching

Kingsbridge Community Mosaic Project, Harbour House, Kingsbridge, 10am-4pm, £40 including materials.

Book on 012548 856057 or email mcquinn.farrand@ btinternet.com.

Tuesday 7

Tuesday 14

Poetry Conversation - Rumi’s words with stories from his life story and musical on clarinet

by Victoria Cornet Loram, Octagonal Room, Sharpham House, 7.30pm, www. sharphamtrust.org/ Whats-on.

TTT Film Club - watch trailers from film festival (see Oct 24), plus shorts, plus help choose films for next eight screenings, 7.30pm, Totnes Methodist Church, edap.totnes@ transitionnetwork. org, www. transitiontowntotnes.org

Wednesday 8

Show of Hands - acoustic music gig, 7.30pm, www. exeterphoenix.org.uk.

Friday 10

Transition Walks on Friday - walk around Transition Town Totnes projects, 2-6pm, beginning and ending in the TTT office, 43 Fore St. Suggested donation of £20 for visitors and £10 for locals, www. transitiontowntotnes. org, 01803 867358.

Saturday 11

Pocket Neighborhoods - Creating Small Scale Community in a Large Scale World with Ross Chapin from Seattle, Washington, 7-9.30pm, Methodist Church Hall, Totnes, www. transitiontowntotnes. org.

Out to lunch - Food in Community’s community lunch, 12.30-2pm, Methodist Church Hall, Totnes, www. transitiontowntotnes. org.

Corporate Training and Teambuilding

07977 272174 • 01392 811168

www.jeffsleeman.com

celebration and apple pressing, Great Hill Wood, Chillington (Woodland Trust), Discover Forest Foods (Trees for Health) and forest and beach, 10.30am-4pm, www. treesforhealth.org.

Sunday 12

Until November 23 Peregrination exhibition of work by artists Jolanta Bogdan, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, www. harbourhouse.org.uk.

Autumn harvest -

Friday 17

Nature walks - Nigel Pinhorn from Devon Nature Walks leads a guided walk around Organic Arts, West Town Farm, Ide, Exeter, 01392 811080, christine@organicarts. org.uk, www. organicarts.org.uk Saturday 18

The Justice Event festival with stalls, plus music, drama, storytelling and more.

From lunchtime in venues across Crediton including The Square and Congregational Church, www. sustainablecrediton. org.uk.

Sunday 19

Exeter Canal Clean up Event - paddle in canoes to Turf Locks and cycle back, picking up rubbish on the way.

Meet 11am at Piazza Terracina (opposite the Quay climbing centre), 07527422055, email@ kayakhub-exeter.co.uk, www.kayakhub-exeter. co.uk.

Apple, Pizza & Pumpkin Day - Embercombe, from 11am. See page 13.

Cockington Couty Apple Day, 10am-4pm, www.cockingtoncourt. org, 01803 607230.

Apple Pressing and Autumn Festival

- Sharpham, Ashprington, 10am-4pm, www. sharphamtrust.org/ Whats-on. See page 13.

Wednesday 22

Anna Coote - talk as part of Adventures in New Economics series, 7.30-9.30pm, Totnes Methodist Church, jtompt@ yahoo.com, www. transitiontowntotnes. org.

Friday 24

Until Sunday 26 TTT Film Festival - festival of films on TTT themes of climate change, local economies and declining resources plus upbeat look at solutions, Civic Hall, Totnes, www. transitionfilmfestival. org.uk.

Until Sunday 26 Dartmouth Food Festival - events, and demonstrations across the town, www. dartmouthfoodfestival. com.

Saturday 25

Until November 8 The Warmth of Shape and Colour - open exhibition of work by local artists, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, www. harbourhouse.org.uk.

Until November 30 Janette Jaggar exhibition of work by local artist, Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge, www. harbourhouse.org.uk.

Alan Partridge - Alpha Papa (15) - movie plus shorts and refreshments, Follaton Community Centre, Totnes, 7pm, www. follaton communitycinema. co.uk, 01803 868455.

Monday 27

The Sharing Economy Economic liberation or 21st century serfdom?

– part of the Adventures in New Economics series, 8-9.30pm,

The weird and the wonderful...

Robin would be delighted for you to check out his ceramics - and buy one if you really like it! You can see the ‘Weird and wonderful’ ones on his website at www.robincurrie.co.uk - and some aren’t even terribly ‘weird’!

Tel: 01392 22 11 29

18

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Send us the info for our next issue - email editor@reconnectonline.co.uk Strawbale Room, Craft Ed Building, Schumacher, www. transitiontowntotnes. org.

Killer Pumpkin!

Hallowe’en shadowpuppet faery tale, written and performed

by Mama Tokus, “for kids aged 8 to 80”, 4pm, South Brent Old School Community Centre, Totnes Road, South Brent, www.

MamaTokus.com.

Tuesday 28

Killer Pumpkin!

Hallowe’en shadowpuppet faery tale, written and performed

by Mama Tokus, “for kids aged 8 to 80”, 7pm, Bogan House, 43 High St, Totnes, www.MamaTokus.com.

Wednesday 29

Jonathan Dawson of Schumacher College – talk as part of Adventures in New Economics series, 8-10pm, Strawbale Room, Craft Ed Building, Schumacher, jtompt@ yahoo.com, www. transitiontowntotnes.org.

Killer Pumpkin!

Hallowe’en shadowpuppet faery tale,

written and performed

by Mama Tokus, “for kids aged 8 to 80”, 4pm, Tideford Royal British Legion Hall, Church Rd, Tideford, Saltash, www.

MamaTokus.com.

Thursday 30

Killer Pumpkin! !n Hallowe’en shadowpuppet faery tale, written and performed

by Mama Tokus, “for kids aged 8 to 80”, 3.30pm, Jellyfish Productions, 34 Bossell Road, Buckfastleigh, www.

MamaTokus.com.

A Company of Wolves.

Outdoor promenade theatre adventure for runners and walkers, 7pm, The Sharpham Trust, Sharpham House, Ashprington, Totnes.

Tickets from www. burnthecurtain.co.uk.

Killer Pumpkin!

Hallowe’en shadowpuppet faery tale, written and performed

by Mama Tokus, “for kids aged 8 to 80”, 2pm, Barbican Theatre, Castle Street, The Barbican, Plymouth, www.

MamaTokus.com.

Classical music concert - Varenne Ensemble, Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot, www. nadsa.co.uk.

NOVEMBER Saturday 1

Louise Parker sings Nina Simone, 8pm, The Flavel, Dartmouth, theflavel.org.uk Hot Club of Cow Town - hot jazz duo from Austin, Texas, 8pm, Exeter Phoenix, www. exeterphoenix.org.uk.

Friday 31

Tuesday 4

Fraser Anderson (www. fraseranderson.com) in concert, Acoustic Haven, St John’s church, Bridgetown, Totnes. Tickets from Sacks Wholefoods, Totnes and at www. wegottickets.com. £8 in advance, £10 on the door. Doors open 6pm. See page 15.

Poetry Conversation poems from the Great War, poet Kevin Pyne and local historian Lawrence Green hosted by poet Alice Oswald, 7.30-9.15pm, Octagonal Room, Sharpham House, Ashprington, Totnes, www.sharphamtrust. org/Whats-on.

Thursday 6

Passion - five stories of love and war, Cygnet Theatre, Exeter, 01392 277189, www. cygnettheatre.co.uk.

Saturday 8

Until November 24 Scandiland - season of Scandinavian and Nordic cinema, venues across Exeter, www.

Exeterphoenix.org.uk.

See page 5.

Vintage Christmas Cards & Decorations - one day workshop, 10.30am4pm, £40 including hot lunch, Exeter Phoenix, www.exeterphoenix. org.uk Tuesday 11

TTT Film Club - films looking at Transition, peak oil, climate change, etc, 7.30pm, edap.totnes@ transitionnetwork. org, www. transitiontowntotnes.org.

Monday 17

Taiko drumming concert with Kamo Tsunamura Daiko from Sendai in North-Eastern Japan, 7.30pm, Northcott Theatre, Exeter, exeternorthcott.co.uk/ kamo-tsunamura-taiko.

Wednesday 19

Nature walks - Nigel Pinhorn from Devon Nature Walks leads a guided walk around Organic Arts, West Town Farm, Ide, Exeter, 01392 811080, christine@organicarts. org.uk, www. organicarts.org.uk Friday 21

Classical music conert - Hungarian Ensemble Marquise, 7.30pm, The Courtney Centre, Newton Abbot, www. nadsa.co.uk.

Saturday 22

And Sunday 23 Mucky Pup - show for children aged 5-11, from Theatre Alibi, at Exeter Phoenix, 01392 217315 or email info@ theatrealibi.co.uk.

Until January 4 MAKE 2014 contemporary Crafts for Christmas from 50 of the best contemporary designer-makers across the UK, open seven days a week, 10am5.30pm, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon, 01626 832223, www.crafts.org.uk.

South West Christmas Without Cruelty Festival

- buy unique gifts and cards and support ethical traders and good causes, veggie food, music, special guest Green MEP Molly Scott-Cato, 10am4.15pm, Exeter Corn Exchange, Markgold@ animalaid.co.uk, www. animalaid.org.uk.

Friday 28

Until Sunday 30 Crux Craft Fair - top quality craft stalls, Rattery Village Hall, 4-7pm Friday, 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday, www. cruxcraftfair.co.uk Sam Walker and Truffleshack in concert, Acoustic Haven, St John’s church, Bridgetown, Totnes.

Tickets from Sacks Wholefoods, Totnes and at www.wegottickets. com. £8 in advance, £10 on the door. Doors open 6pm. See page 15, Oct/Nov issue.

Saturday 29

Your Sister’s Sister (15) - movie plus shorts and refreshments, Follaton Community Centre, Totnes, 7pm, www. follatoncommunity cinema.co.uk, 01803 868455.

l Turn to page 36 in Wellbeing to check out our workshops and events listings l

We are Kingfisher Print & Design.

Proud to be supporting local businesses with FSC ® certified print and design since 1982

We understand that good print needn’t cost the earth

www.kingfisherprint.co.uk sales@kingfisherprint.co.uk 01803 867087 Working in partnership with Reconnect to print this magazine in an environmentally responsible way

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19

Read all Reconnect back issues on our website...

Is employee buy-out the right solution?

Peter Matthews of Capital Colleagues asks if an empoloyee buyout is the right solution for your business.

ALL owner/managed and family owned businesses will sooner or later probably face the following questions: Who is going to take over running our business? Who will own our business? How do I get my money out? What is going to happen to our employees?

For many the answer is straight forward, for others less so. Selling to a rival, letting managers buy the business, floating on a stock exchange are possibilities, but the best solution could be an employee buyout.

Employee-owned businesses There are hundreds of employeeowned businesses in the UK. They range from the well-known, like John Lewis, Waitrose, Arup and Unipart, to the less well known like Divine Chocolate and Make Architects. They have chosen to become employeeowned because they are better businesses.

So why do it?

Your business can benefit in many ways: securing the independent legacy of the business; on-going employment for a long serving and loyal workforce; more innovative, entrepreneurial, engaged and committed employees - and you can have a share structure that recognises your interests, as well as those of employees and possible external investors.

How do you do it?

Giving employees shares can be done in three ways: direct share ownership; indirect ownership normally through a trust; and a combination of both. There are a number of approved tax schemes that are attractive for employee share owners as well as additional Capital Gains Tax relief that will be of interest to selling owners. Getting your money out of the business can be tricky, but there are now funds that specialise in investing (either loans or equity) in employeeowned businesses – and they are not private equity or venture capital vulture funds.

To find out more, contact Capital for Colleagues. Email peter. matthews@capitalforcolleagues, call 07500822199, or visit www. capitalforcolleagues.com.

20

There is a huge range of youth projects in this area.

From left to right: The Blue Sound Project; Plymouth Music Zone; and School of Frock.

Young people on land, sea... and guitars YOUNG people have always complained about having nothing to do. Fortunately, some people have done something about it.

JON STEIN has been to meet some of them...

GROWING up is never easy. Whether it’s unemployment, lack of affordable housing or the addictive power of the technology, the challenges of being a young person are greater than ever. And it doesn’t help that state support for youth projects is currently being cut. Devon stands to have its annual youth services budget axed by 40% and will see 32 facilities closed, to be replaced by eight area-based youth centre hubs.

Thankfully, there are people who care sufficiently about the young to help out.

In some cases this means volunteering at existing projects, while others are thinking afresh about what it is that young people really need. South Devon boasts a number of innovative schemes in which adults and young people alike are organising their own spaces and activities.

Back to the Land ‘The Living Projects’ exists to meet the needs of young people in and around Totnes. Founded in November 2013, the group aims to address a range of social issues including homelessness. 19-yr old co-founder Charlie Burls explains that many young people lack “a sense of purpose”.

Youths in rural areas face additional problems leading them to leave home to

seek education, employment and housing in larger towns and cities.

Fresh from their recent successful ‘Jam Fest’ fundraiser, the group which runs on a cooperative model, believes young people should have “unmonetised access to the land and its resources” so they can discover their own potential. With money from The Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs, as well as a loan from the Prince’s Trust, The Living Projects has secured the use of some land on the Dartington Estate. The vision is to run courses and workshops on “life skills, leadership, and livelihood” starting with a group eco-building project next year.

Making Waves In Plymouth, the Marine Biological Association helps young people get in touch with the local marine environment (a designated European Marine Site) through its Blue Sound Project. The project leads trips to local beaches and estuaries as well as offering activities like fishing and snorkelling.

The MBA’s Communications Officer Guy Baker says: ‘We all know that being by the sea makes us feel better. It’s also good for youngsters to learn the importance of the ocean for life on this planet.’ Blue Sound offers year-round activities for young people of 10 years and older.

Also in Plymouth are the Drake Sea Cadets providing 10 -18 year olds with an experience of boating and seamanship. Part of the UK’s oldest nautical youth charity, the Devonport-based group has strong links with the Royal Navy.

For those who prefer sound waves to th ocean variety, there is Plymouth Music Z Since 1999 this award-winning charity been working with disadvantaged child young people and vulnerable adults fro the city and beyond. PMZ provide after school and community activities from its music education centre in Devonport, a as working with partner organisations o outreach programmes e.g. for the disab

Frock and role

Exeter’s brilliantly-named School of Fro is a workshop for girls who want to lear an instrument and start a band. 21 yea old founder, Lande Hekt, says: ‘The girl don’t need any experience. The aim is f everyone to learn a song and perform i in one day’.

The events take place at the Cavern in Queen Street and have already helped many girls to overcome a male bias on band scene – especially around the hea end of the musical spectrum. Says Land ‘Often girls never even witness women in bands, so the prospect of starting one themselves can be a little overwhelming

Useful links for you

www.facebook.com/thelivingproje www.bluesound.org www.sea-cadets.org/plymouthdra www.plymouthmusiczone.org.uk www.facebook.com/schooloffrock www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Left: snorkel training with the Marine Biological Association.

Far right: The Plymouth Music Zone’s HQ.

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Magazine

Groups offer arts training and experience

Staying with Exeter and music, but at a lower volume, is the Young Singer Songwriter Club. This group is for 13-16 yr olds of all genders and meets at the Phoenix Arts Centre every week during term-time. New members are welcome, though are advised to start at the beginning of a half term period to get the most out of the sessions.

Participants do not need to read music but must play an instrument or sing at a basic level. A previous participant said: ‘it’s really helped me write my own stuff and all the gigs really boosted my confidence.’

Conclusion None of these schemes alone are replacements for the youth services currently being cut. But they do show that young people are willing and able to use their own resources and those of the environment around them to stay motivated and inspired.

They also need help and support. Devon Youth Service is run by the county council and coordinates activities across the region. If you have a little spare time, why not contact them – or one of these other organisations – about volunteering? The next generation will appreciate it!

uth support and resources

ects

ake

www.devonyouthservice.org.uk (volunteering) www.devonyfc.co.uk (Devon Young Farmers Clubs) www.proud2beproject.org (LGBTQI) www.youngdevon.org (general)

BARBICAN Theatre is inviting 15-25 year olds in Plymouth to join FORCE, an accredited leadership programme enabling young people to gain skills in teaching, technical theatre and arts management.

Barbican Theatre’s Dance FORCE and Theatre FORCE groups receive quality leadership and facilitation training and learn about workshop structure, technical and artistic content, marketing and legal requirements.

Arts FORCE is a group of committed and passionate young people who share and develop their own artistic ideas and visions. They learn how to campaign for the arts they want to see and make events happen.

All of Barbican Theatre’s FORCE trainees have the chance to become accredited through Arts Award and Sports Leaders UK (completing Dance Leaders 2). They will also be mentored and supervised throughout their training by professional artists, technicians and art managers with a wealth of experience.

Dance FORCE takes place on Tuesdays, from 5-6pm; Arts FORCE is on Wednesdays 5-6pm; Theatre FORCE is on Wednesdays 5-6pm and Tech FORCE is on Thursdays 7-9pm. All FORCE sessions are held at Barbican Theatre in Plymouth’s Castle Street.

Calll 01752 267131, email info@ barbicantheatre.co.uk or visit www.barbicantheatre. co.uk/release/force/.

CRUX CRAFT FAIR FRI 28 NOV OPEN 4PM -7PM

SAT 29/SUN 30 NOV OPEN 10AM -5PM AT RATTERY VILLAGE HALL DEVON TQ10 9LD THE BEST ORIGINAL WORK FROM LOCAL DESIGNER-MAKERS WWW.CRUXCRAFTFAIR.CO.UK SUPPORTING WARCHILD.ORG.UK

Charity no. 285767

Mindfulness and Retreats Outdoor Learning and the Arts Conservation and Heritage Ceremonies and Celebrations Volunteering and Training

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21

Living on a little land

What do you do on YOUR land?

local people local events local foodEmail local health local environment editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

Venue hosts events high on the moors

Sustainable horticulture courses at Occombe Farm.

Occombe and Duchy team up on courses PAIGNTON’S Occombe Farm has teamed up with Duchy College to offer a range of sustainable horticulture courses.

The Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust farms organically on 700 acres of land across Torbay, with the base of the farming operation at Occombe Farm in Paignton. The partnership is developing a centre which utilises the community market garden, forest garden, polytunnels, conservation areas and nearby horticultural businesses.

Bill Herring, curriculum area manager for horticulture at Duchy College, said: “For many years, Occombe Farm has worked to reconnect people with where their food comes from and inspire a passion for locally produced food. Linking up with Duchy College, with its reputation for excellence in training provision, is a move which makes perfect sense.”

They say the courses, accredited by City and Guilds, aim to equip a new generation of horticultural students in techniques necessary for 21st century food production and gardening.

Call 01579 372233, visit www.duchy. ac.uk or join www.facebook.com/ duchycollege.

Compost course DO you want o know about compost? And we mean really know about compost.

The Community Composting Network is running a CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) accredited course aimed at local food growers and community food growing groups.

Community Composting for Local Food Production will teach participants to: build a hot compost heap; test soil pH and type; make the right compost mix for the job; work with and feed the soil; design a composting site; test the quality of compost; create a sustainable composting business model.

The hands-on three-day course will run at Schumacher College in Dartington, October 4-6.

To find out more, email info@ communitycompost.org or phone 0114 258 0483.

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WE’VE heard many reports of wonderful events and workshops at The High Heathercombe Centre (and attended a few of them ourselves), but for the newcomer it’s the sheer majesty of the surroundings that first strike you.

High Heathercombe is evolving as a vibrant, busy community space and it’s situated at 1250 feet above sea level, high on the Dartmoor National Park, on the dge of woodlands and offering a wide range of people access to the beautiful Dartmoor landscape.

The Centre, which can accommodate groups of up to 26 people.

Says High Heathercombe’s Mel Bambury: “We offer diverse opportunities for groups and individuals to explore themselves and the wider world, through education, positive creative experience, the acquisition of new skills and interaction with the natural environment.

“We are deeply committed to the permaculture ethics of Earth Care,

High Heathercombe, high on Dartmoor.

Fair Shares and People Care, and seek to underpin all of our work at the High Heathercombe Centre with these core values.”

In tandem with their permaculture design courses, the centre is also creating and implementing a number of permaculture designs within the grounds, including a young forest garden and medicinal herb garden.

High Heathercombe events and courses run throughout the year and include permaculture design and arts and crafts courses, non-violent communication (NVC) training and volunteer weeks.

The centre is also available for hire.

Heathercombe is also the venue for the bi-annual EDGE Sculpture Trail - the next will be held in September 2015.

Forthcoming courses include: an intermediate non-violent communication training (open to anyone who has attended a NVC Foundation Training) on October 10-12; a two-week permaculture design course from November 8-23 and a people care permaculture intensive, December 1-7.

Find out more at www. highheathercombecentre.org.uk, or call Mel on 07791 601737.

It was epic... but somehow more than that IT was crazy games (some of them involving axes), it was talks and demonstrations, it was dancing and beer and lots of happy families… but it was more than that.

The Woodland Olympics was an open-day at The Hillyfield, a working woodland farm on Dartmoor, celebrating a culture of wood on Dartmoor and raising funds to build a barn needed to store wood felled due to disease.

But it really was more than that.

“It was something ancient,” said The Hillyfield’s Doug King-Smith, “a gathering in a field to celebrate rural skills and the power of many hands on the land!”

The games were quite something: the Wood-Chopping Relay (sponsored

by Shinners Bridge Garden machinery in Dartington and won

by The Tree Fellas); the amazing and hilarious Pole-Stripping Dance-Off (sponsored by Interline in Totnes and won by the unforgettable 3yonis & a phallus); and the Bramble Bundle Run (sponsored by SCP Building Supplies and won by River).

Demonstration included horse logging by Dartmoor Horse Loggers, archery by Ben Fielding Bows, axe throwing and hand-sawing by wheelwright Mark Arnold, wild food and natural medicine by Anna Bridget McNeil, deer butchery by The Good Game Company, dowsing by Sean Ferris, Tudor oak craft by Rivers Joinery, green woodwork by Devon Rural Skills, and pods and lathe work by Rowan Stickland.

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And then there were the talks, from Moor Trees director Graham Burton, woodland management expert Rupert Land, Devon Rural Skills Trust, dowser Sean Ferries and natural beekeeper Phil Chandler – oh, and a tour of The Hillyfield Hens by Martin (yes, the Reconnect Martin) and Jenny.

Said Doug: “On the day, almost five tonnes of wood was split, by hand, in 18 minutes, 100feet of tree-trunks were stripped by hand in under 10 minutes, and the Bramble Bundle Run weeded out invading brambles from a section of wild-flower bank.

“It’s a fun way to manage woodlands - and our woodlands in Devon really do need active management to survive.

“Something like 50% of all woods

in Devon are unmanaged, which will gradually lead to their demise.

Active management is essential for a healthy woodland and biodiversity, as well as a thriving woodland culture of social, ecological, and economical benefit.”

Find out how to get involved at www.thehillyfield.co.uk.

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local people local events local food local health local environment It works for you

Growing our future at Embercombe HAVE you ever asked yourself what sustainability really means? And if we agree on a meaning, at what point in a child’s development should we start to teach them about it? Jo Clark, head of land and learning at Embercombe, near Exeter, explains how they are “growing our future”.

EDUCATION classes at Embercombe include parents with small children, school children of all ages, students training to become teachers and teachers who wish to develop their abilities to offer children outdoor learning experiences.

For the fourth year next month we run a short programme for Plymouth University masters students on a course called ‘Learning for Sustainability’. Those students are part of a growing movement of people who are engaged in exploring how we can make a positive contribution in order that the earth will cease to be desecrated beyond repair by our human presence.

When I am asked to describe the essence and purpose of our educational work I find myself using the terms ‘connection and relationship’. When we decide on the content of the experience offered to participants we are not seeing ourselves as teachers who have a body of information to convey. We are more concerned with the process of bringing children into relationship with their gardened and natural world.

Several weeks ago a four year old boy was collecting sheep wool from a meadow and at one point he held the treasure close to his chest and exclaimed “This is where my jumper comes from!” He gleaned the wool and that knowledge from this simple activity. Two months ago some teenagers chose to participate in the slaughter and preparation of some chickens and through this profound experience for the first time understood what is involved to enable our voracious appetite for meat.

“The review afterwards demonstrated that they had undergone a transformative experience where they had met the world and themselves in such a way that they would never be quite the same - they had grown.

When do we start to learn about sustainability? Perhaps children need to be taught it in key stage 2 geography when the government includes it in the curriculum. To what extent would this contribute to well rounded, globally conscious citizens who would care for the planet? I’m sure we agree the general intention behind the education and bringing up of our children is that of ‘growing our future’.

Part of that intention is surely to grow our children into adults who will care for the earth, each other and all beings. I’m not convinced this can be achieved by merely teaching sustainability. What is vital is that we cultivate, support and sponsor

Spring to Life

the children’s connection to, and relationship with, the living world.

This relationship, if allowed to blossom, is a deep and profound love affair and if established in our formative years will inevitably inform the way we live our lives.

Our contribution to growing our future at Embercombe will focus more on adults who intend to work in education. We don’t feel for one moment that we have all the answers but we do feel that our core work is to do everything we can to connect children to their living world.

To find out more contact: jo@ embercombe.co.uk.

VOLUNTEERING for work on the land is the perfect way to contribute to a great cause at the same time as learning new skills, reconnecting with the land, staying fit and meeting some lovely people.

The Sharpham Trust, the educational charity based at Ashprington, needs volunteers to work in their gardens, where their gardener Jesse Hammond, provides instruction and guidance on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am.

No experience is necessary; just a willingness to work outdoors doing physical tasks, and it’s a great opportunity to learn new gardening skills and gain experience.

Sharpham’s Harriet Tipping said: “Our volunteers say they feel part of a team when they volunteer and are pleased to make a useful contribution.”

The Trust also holds opens days and needs volunteers to help in the café, the kitchen and with general stewarding and workshop duties.

And that’s just the tip of it – there are lots more things you can get involved in. Contact Harriet Tipping at volunteer@ sharphamtrust.org or call 01803 731803 to find out more.

Spring to Life

feel better outdoors

feel better outdoors

We are pleased to announce that the successful Spring to Life project will be starting Wednesday 8th October!

We are pleased to announce that the successful Spring to Life project will be starting Wednesday 8th October!

starts to atLife Sharpham October Spring supportson young people8. who have experienced some form of mental health The project supports young people who have experienceddistress orsome may beofhaving a tough time of be it at home, work, form mental health distress or may having or socially. a tough time of it at school home, work,

Spring to Life supports young people who have experienced some form of mental health distress or may be having a tough time of it at home, work, school or socially.

Lower Sharpham Barton Farm, Ashprington, Totnes TQ9 7DX Tel: 01803 732747

Lower Sharpham Barton Farm, Ashprington, Totnes TQ9 7DX Tel: 01803 732747

Spring to Life

school or socially.

www.reconnectonline.co www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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WELCOME to Reconnect’s unique Wellbeing section...

WELCOME to Wellbeing, the unique, truly local guide to natural therapies and personal development across South Devon.

If you’re a practitioner and want to spread the word, get in touch.

An 1/8-page ad in the Wellbeing

section, like those at the bottom of this page, can cost just £41.85 a month when you book three issues and pay by direct debit.

And there’s free editorial too to ensure you get the full message out there.

We’ve got a small but perfectly formed

team of journalists and designers who will help you every step of the way.

Reconnect does NOT do the hard sell we simply believe in helping you to do what you WANT to do.

Call Martin on 01392 346342 to chat about gettitng your message out.

Place of peace in heart of city

Inspirational award for city reflexology teacher A SOUTH Devon reflexologist has been awarded the Inspirational Tutor of the Year Award 2014 by the Association of Reflexologists.

Sarah Jane Holt is the principal and a tutor at The Devon School of Reflexology and was voted for by students from over 60 reflexology schools across the UK. Based at the Exeter Natural Health Centre in Queen’s Walk, Exeter, The Reflexology School has been teaching courses for over two decades and was established by Sarah’s mother, Jane Holt, one of the early pioneers of reflexology in the South West.

Sarah grew up with reflexology and learnt the art from her mother. She has been practising for over 10 years, focusing on treating mental health patients with the charity MIND, and began teaching in 2009 when her

mother retired.

Sarah’s teaching style centres on making learning fun, with students being encouraged to learn in an informal and enjoyable setting.

“Reflexology is an amazing ancient therapy that is growing in popularity,” said Sarah.

“Recent research has shown it to be effective in treating many different conditions. It is a great pleasure to pass on my knowledge to students who discover the benefits not only for themselves but also for their friends and family during the course.

Being voted Inspirational Tutor of the Year is the ultimate reward for such an enjoyable career.”

For more information on courses run by The Devon School of Reflexology visit www.devonreflexology. com or call 01803 311500. Contact Sarah at devonreflexology@hotmail. com

DRAGON Bell Temple in Exeter offers a quiet place of meditation right in the heart of the city.

The Zen Buddhist temple, at 14 Albion Place, just off Old Tiverton Road is not far from Exeter’s busy High Street.

It recently celebrated its 11th year with a Temple Day, when members from as far away as Cornwall met together for meditation, teaching and a shared feast.

Rev Myfanwy McCorry (pictured above) is a Master of the Buddhist order of Contemplatives and leads the sangha community.

The Temple, which runs classes for beginners and those who have been sitting for some time in the Soto Zen tradition, is currently looking for a new home “in the Exeter/East of the estuary/Crediton area” and would be very interested to hear from anyone who might have a suitable property to rent with room enough for a zendo (meditation hall).

Call 01392 479648 or email dragonbelltemple@gmail. com.

Sarah’s teaching style focuses on making teaching fun.

Jean Netherway M.R.S.S. Shiatsu Emotional Freedom Technique Macrobiotic and Life Counsellor

Holistic Oil Massage Deep Tissue Massage Thai Yoga Massage Thai Foot Massage Tok Sen Available to teach Thai Yoga Massage

01803 525447 jean.netherway@sky.co.uk Based in Totnes & at the Ola Centre

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Get to root of health issues

Psychic iNTuiTive guidaNce aNd readiNgs

ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE (EAV) is helping to get to the root of acute and long-standing health problems in South Devon.

ITEC-certified massage therapist and reflexologist Andy Thompson is using EAV testing, which is totally painless and non-invasive, to identify the pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites) that interfere with the body’s energetic system causing ill-health.

During an initial two-hour consultation, patients are invited to share their full health history.

Andy explained: “I listen carefully and trust in my clients’ intuition to guide testing. I then use carefully tailored homeopathic remedies and drainages to gently remove pathogenic blockages and help the body return to full health.”

This technique has proved effective with many chronic conditions, such as digestive disorders, asthma, parasites, eczema and other skin conditions, candida, herpes and cystitis. It can also be helpful

Lucie Dudley Fourth generation psychic and sensitive, offering one-on-one therapeutic consultations, to bring guidance, clarity and reassurance.

Psychic and spiritual development circle starts in Totnes, from Friday, 7 November, 10am – 12 pm.

To make an appointment or for further information, please call 0797 99 88 753 or email luciedudley@btinternet.com Andy Thompson in idiopathic illnesses, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, joint and muscle pain, cognitive difficulties and fibromyalgia, as well as in supporting the body to shake off the remnants of a lingering cold or flu.

Visit www.bioenergetichealth.net or call 07503 111057.

Marie Oxley

Ayurvedic Therapist Traditional Ayurvedic Massage & Warm Oil Body Treatments

07834 354151

telephone: email:

marie@aliatherapy.co.uk

For appointments in your area and information about all available treatments please visit w w w. a l i at h e r apy. c o. u k

Helping families to find a way CONFLICT, illness, bereavement, behavioural problems, separation or relocation - most families find themselves facing challenging times at some point and, in some cases, it can be hard to find a way forward.

InterBe is a Narrative Coaching company based at Seale Hayne, near Newton Abbot, and has developed a specialist coaching service to help families facing periods of trauma, difficulty or “stuck-ness”.

Director Mo Cohen explained: “Transformational Family Coaching is aimed at families in the broadest sense, not just traditional, nuclear families. We are inviting couples, stepfamilies, foster families, oneparent families, even individuals to come along for coaching to help them find a way through whatever difficulties they are facing.”

InterBe takes a narrative approach,

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which regards everyone as the expert in their own life.

Mo said: “In a coaching conversation, we ask people to share their stories of what has happened in the past, or is happening in the present, and what might be possible in the future. We then work with them to co-author possible new stories that can help to shape a different future. The impact of this is often life-changing and families can experience a breakthrough in their current circumstances.”

InterBe is offering a free halfhour introductory session in a family-friendly environment at Seale Hayne. The cost for a Transformational Family Coaching session is £135.

Visit www.interbe.co/families, email families@interbe.co, or call 01392 346224.

The Power of Allowing

David Boldick brings his healing gifts to Hannah’s at Seale Hayne.

For over 20 years David Boldick has been transforming lives in the UK, Poland and Spain. A Craniosacral Therapist and Reiki Master, he recognises that his healing goes beyond any specific therapy and now refers to his work as “The Power of Allowing”. His gentle touch allows the release of the root trauma (often unconscious) underlying any condition, whether physical, emotional or spiritual.

In addition to his Teignmouth practice, David is now available at Hannah’s Health and Wellbeing Centre at Seale Hayne near Newton Abbot. www.discoverhannahs.org David is offering 30 minute taster sessions at Hannah’s for £15 in October.

To book a session call David on 07831 336762

boldickdavid@gmail.com

www.boldickhealing.com

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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ruthbakerpsychotherapy.co.uk

Ruth Baker BSc Hons Psychology, MA, Dip SW, Adv Dip Couns, Dip Supervision Integrative Psychotherapist • Counsellor • Supervisor & Mentor • Coach & Consultant Areas: Exeter, Totnes, Torquay, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Plymouth Individuals, Couples and Groups • Mindfulness Courses

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Jeff Sleeman with Dr Sally Hanks, senior lecturer in clinical dental education at Peninsula College who is responsible for the dental humanities.

Don’t look down in the mouth FOR most people a visit to the dentist isn’t usually a bundle of laughs but in the future you may find the process a little less daunting, thanks to a new course module being introduced at the Plymouth based Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry.

Entitled Pulling Together, the three half-day sessions will use comedy improvisation techniques to help dental students enhance their communications skills, improve teamworking abilities, be more flexible and creative in their thinking and to develop a better understanding of their patients. The course will be part of the ‘dental humanities’ programme, which aims to help students to improve their ‘soft skills’.

Actor and facilitator Jeff Sleeman, who is creating and running the course,

said: “Comedy improvisation is a great way to help people become better communicators because it requires self-awareness, an ability to listen carefully and a willingness to embrace other points of view.

“There is an increasing recognition that health professionals need to have good communication skills as well as being proficient in their clinical practice. Peninsula College places great emphasis on this aspect of their students’ education and already offers a similar module for their medical students, which has proved very popular.

“I have no doubt the dentists will find this a useful and enjoyable part of their course too.”

Visit www.jeffsleeman.com, call 01392 811168 or email contact@ jeffsleeman.com.

Gina gathers Dementia Friends DUE to our ageing sometimes need a helping hand to go society, over the next about their daily lives 10 years one in three and to feel included in people over 65 will their local community. have some type of Dementia Friends dementia. What better is giving people an evidence could there understanding of be to support the dementia and the campaign known as small things they can Dementia Friends? do that can make a Funded by the difference to people department of public living with it - from health and linked helping someone to the Alzheimer’s find the right bus to Society, Dementia Gina Awad spreading the word Friends hopes to create about dementia.” a network of a million friends across She has run numerous public sessions England by next year. across Exeter in her local health centre, Gina Awad, who is half way through library, coffee shops etc and has a six-year part-time Open University three further public sessions booked degree in Heath and Social Care, is a which will take place in October and volunteer Dementia Friends Champion November. based in Exeter. She says she is In addition she is also trekking the personally aspiring to empower her Great Wall of China in April in aid of local community in becoming more Alzheimer’s Research UK. While she aware and supportive towards this is self-funding the trek she is collecting challenging condition. donations which are going directly She became a champion after finding to Alzheimer’s Research UK and has the Dementia Friends website during already achieved £384 of her £500 her research. It offered a free day’s target. training for potential champions in Call Gina on 07941 459439 or email the region. To date there are 381,000 her at ginasfreespirit@yahoo.co.uk to dementia friends and the figure is arrange a Dementia Friends session, rising. or search for a public session in your Gina said “People with dementia area at www.dementiafriends.org.uk.

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Healer tunes into clients’ needs THE Power of Allowing is the name David Boldick has chosen to describe his unique therapeutic approach.

Having worked as a therapist, healer and teacher for more than 20 years, with qualifications in craniosacral therapy, reiki and massage, David brings a comprehensive range of different skills to his therapy sessions.

However, rather than focus on any one approach, he has developed an ability to tune into what clients need on an intuitive level.

David explained: “I have an ability to step out of the way and allow whatever healing needs to take place, hence my decision to call this therapy The Power of Allowing.

I allow the healing to take place and clients experience something profound. In fact, I frequently work with people who have health and life issues that have failed to respond to other treatments and they are often astonished at the transformation they experience in just a few sessions.

“I have used The Power of Allowing with a very wide range of conditions including allergies, arthritis, chronic fatigue, depression, frozen shoulder, insomnia, IBS, migraine and psoriasis. Because it addresses the fundamental trauma (often unconscious) that lies at the root of the problem, there is not really any limit to what can be helped with this approach.”

David Boldick David practices at his home in Teignmouth, as well as in Hampshire and as far afield as Spain and Poland. He has recently joined the team of therapists working in Hannah’s at Seale Hayne near Newton Abbott. Throughout October, he is offering half-hour taster sessions at Hannah’s for £15. Visit www.boldickhealing. co.uk or call 07831 336762. Email boldickdavid@gmail.com.

Shop: 7 High Street, Totnes TQ9 5NN 01803 840779 (24/7) Funeral Home: Riverstone, 18 Dart Mills, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0NF 01364 643522 (24/7)

The new name for Green Fuse Funerals.

Award-winning funeral director for beautiful, individual, green, contemporary and traditional funerals.

Jane Morrell and Simon Smith own and run Heart & Soul Funerals at Green Fuse, assisted by their daughter, Hannah Nutbeem and Massimo Giannuzzi.

We are the only funeral director in South Devon recommended by The Good Funeral Guide.

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www.heartandsoulfunerals.co.uk Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Find yourself time for a massage IT can be hard sometimes to do things just for yourself. Things you know your body, mind, even spirit, really need.

Like when you find it hard to make time to meditate, for example - you feel stressed, up against it, unable to spare the time. But that’s when you REALLY need to meditate.

And the same can be said of massage. So when Isha Olsen-Wells invited me along for a massage in the week before Reconnect goes to press (it’s the day before as I write this), I was hesitant. And not least because she was offering her full three hour Thai massage. Yes, three hours (shorter massages are available).

The fact that I’m writing this means I did go (it wouldn’t be much of a read if I’d stayed in my office, plugged into my Mac) and the fact that I’m feeling really good, despite all the usual deadline problems and pressure, shows just how beneficial it was.

With good massage, of course, the journey is as enjoyable as the destination, and I enjoyed every minute with Isha, the perfect travelling companion. Although in truth I was really just a passenger, and immediately felt comfortable and relaxed, putting my complete trust in Isha, whose touch and

powerful support was as gentle as it was strong.

Now, I have to admit to being a little vague about some of the detail. To fully appreciate the process and effect of the massage, I immersed myself in it fully (if you want a full move-by-move account, you take your own notes!), but I do know she started with a little oil around my face, she worked her way along the meridians and there were some quite elaborate yoga stretches that involved some almost balletic forms. With rather more grace and poise on Isha’s part than mine.

What I can say with great certainly is that by the end of the session (which actually ran onto almost three and half hours), I felt truly amazing, in a blissful ly relaxed yet also energized state.

And I’m still feeling the benefit days later – no aching or stiffness, despite some of the more difficult stretches, and still a lot more relaxed than my workload would suggest.

So if you’re feeling the pressures of life on your shoulders (or any other area of your body), invest some time and money in an Isha massage. You really do need it.

Martin Foster Call Isha on 07805 419864 or email ishahahaha@hotmail.com.

Issues may include: depression, bereavement, trauma, anxiety, selfesteem, parenting, relationships, illness, purpose and life direction.

I also offer supervision to both trainees and experienced therapists.

sensitivity, kindness, and calm, combined with “ Hélène’s her non-judgemental insight have enabled me to make immensely significant and positive personal changes. ” THE GENTLE BUT POWERFUL METAMORPHIC TECHNIQUE IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

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Anti-frackers’ call to therapists THE Frack Free Movement is calling on natural health practitioners in the South West to support its campaign.

With a fracking site planned for California Quarry near Swanage in Dorset, starting on November 1, the movement is asking herbalists and therapists from the region to volunteer to help run a mobile first aid and wellbeing clinic. The clinic will go out to fracking protection sites in the South West to provide free treatment for activists on site.

A caravan has been donated and the movement is raising money to fund the clinic. Ultimately, it plans to have a physic garden growing medicines for the dispensary.

From October 17-19, the Frack Free Movement is running a herbal and conventional first aid training course by herbalist Dedj Leibbrandt (www. dedj.co.uk). The course is open to anyone who is interested in being

part of the team and is available to go to sites. It will be run near Totnes on a donation basis.

Protection camps have grown up alongside many of the fracking sites across the UK. They are made up of environmental activists and local residents, and their aim is to get fracking into the media, to raise public awareness about the issues and encourage debate, and to empower local communities to take action.

As well as therapists and herbalists, the movement is also looking for volunteers to assist with media support, awareness-raising and fundraising.

Visit https://sites.google.com/site/ herbalistsagainstfrackingsw/home, or email frackfreedevon@gmail.com For general information about fracking, visit www.frack-off.org.uk.

First offer of lifecoach courses NOW in its twelfth practice. The course fee is £1500 and payment year, Thrivecraft is plans are available. offering 10 people the chance to train to Maggie is also running become accredited her popular Thrivecraft Thrivecraft coaches. weekend workshop, It is the first time that Set Your Life Free, on founder Maggie Kay October 18 and 19 in has offered people the Totnes. Maggie said: chance to train in her “The workshop is a unique blend of life, complete life coaching business and spiritual journey, ideal for you if coaching. Successful you’d like to refresh and candidates will receive review your direction Maggie Kay an IICT-accredited and/or kick start a qualification. positive change in your life. The weekend serves as the first The six-month programme is mostly module of the Thrivecraft coach home study, along with tutorials, training programme, but is also workshops, mentoring and case open to all as a one-off experience studies. It runs from October until at £149.”

March. Optional live elements are held in Totnes.

Thrivecraft has already produced 19 practitioners and nine meditation The course will equip trainees with teachers, including Reconnect’s very skills in life coaching, as well as own Martin Foster. business/marketing know-how.

Participants will be able to set up For more about Thrivecraft and their own Thrivecraft coaching Maggie’s one-to-one coaching, practice by Spring 2015, if they meditation and products, including wish, or the programme is also guided meditation CD, visit www. ideal for people who want to maggiekaywisdom.com or call augment their existing profession or 07905 628905.

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a Lose weight without dieting a Give up smoking, even if you have no willpower a Eliminate a fear or phobia quickly and easily a Reduce your stress and anxiety and be calm and relaxed a Banish insomnia and sleep calmly and peacefully a Boost your confidence and feel good about yourself And much more - including depression, IBS, eating disorders, OCD, sexual problems and addictions.

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Join hundreds who have cured problems like yours with NCM Hypnotherapy Call 01803 812 301 now for a free, no-obligation chat about your issue, or visit www.ncmhypnotherapy.com to view dozens of client testimonials & contact me online.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

29

Read our back issues...

Michael Acton-Coles

Get expert help without leaving your home FOR many people, the idea of accessing help through counselling or therapy means travelling across town for a weekly appointment in an unfamiliar room.

But in today’s connected world, people are just as likely to be accessing help from their laptop during a work break, by picking up the landline after dropping the kids at school, or by connecting via their smartphone while moving around in their hectic lives.

While the idea of therapy outside a clinic may take some getting used to for some, it is old hat to Torbay and Exeter-based psychologist Michael Acton-Coles who has been working this way for many years.

He said: “I started about 15-20 years ago when I opened up in London and started to see A-listers, people in the public eye and people in the entertainment business.

“When they went away on location or were tied up in meetings, telephone was the only way to continue working effectively – and it was effective. Now we have Skype video conferencing, it has opened up even more doors.”

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in the same room,” said Michael, “but there is no need to travel and no limitation to the type of therapy you can have because of your location.”

Technology is not the only way therapy is changing in the 21st century.

Instead of being treated as a person who is broken and in need of fixing, a patient is increasingly being treated as an integral part of their environment, requiring a holistic treatment.

“That’s why I went on to train in systemic therapy, which looks at systems, families and environments,” Michael explains. “I realised very early in my career that I could help people in isolation in my rooms, or in hospitals I worked in, but when they went back into their own environment the change didn’t stick.

“Working dynamically and systemically with people means discovering how their relationships and experiences, in the various environments in which they live, impact on them.”

That’s not to say that therapy in the modern age produces instant results.

There is still a lot of work to be done to help people become unstuck and move on with their lives.

“Guilt and fear are the things that trap people,” Michael explains. “It’s almost like being on a hamster wheel for some people; they don’t know how to get off it. Sometimes a person needs a little bit of support to say you

are entitled to step off that wheel and there are different ways you may be able to do that.”

Michael warns people to use discretion when accessing help.

“There are people doing a two week online course and calling themselves a counsellor or a therapist,” said Michael. “It took me over seven years, and then further training, to feel competent enough to understand someone holistically “People can get stuck, trying this therapist and that practice. If it works then great, but if it doesn’t they get trapped.

Sometimes you need someone to pull you out and say, ‘This is obviously not working – let’s do it differently.’ This is my life experience over 20 years of people and soul work and over 30 years of my own therapy.”

Having said that, Michael admits that learning from life’s experiences and remaining humble can be just as important as their academic training.

“The more I see of the healing process – what works and what doesn’t – the more I realise I know very little. But if you feel you know everything, you

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can make mistakes. I guess I’ve developed the wisdom to have an open page, to really get to understand all the layers of a person’s issue and then to help them develop a pathway to healing.”

If you are interested in accessing therapy through Skype, you will need a computer and a broadband internet connection. Setting up a Skype account, downloading the software and making calls are all free.

Visit Michael’s website at www. acclinics.com or call 01395 581111.

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Ceremony marks life’s changes CELEBRATING significant moments of change in our lives is something that has happened throughout history and in all societies. A special ceremony gives greater meaning to these special moments and is particularly powerful when shared with family and friends.

Independent celebrant Sarah Chapman conducts ceremonies for weddings, funerals, renewal of vows and naming ceremonies.

Celebrant Sarah Chapman, right, with Jacob and his She has been family at his naming ceremony. asked to perform ceremonies in all wishing tree to make the event even kinds of unusual places, including more personal and special. a beach at sunset, a clifftop at “For funerals I offer families a sunrise, Living Coasts and even a ceremony that reflects their wishes, yurt. Couples and families choose beliefs and values. While not a the time, place and format for their religious ceremony as such, religious celebration, and invite the guests. content may be included, such as Sarah then spends time getting to prayers or hymns,” Sarah said. know them and creates vows and readings especially for them.

Sarah also writes and performs memorials and scattering of ashes “Many people don’t know they ceremonies. For people who want to can celebrate their vows wherever arrange their own ceremony before they want to; it is simply the civil they die, she offers a Bespoke marriage that has to be conducted Funeral Wishes service. by the registrar,” said Sarah. “I have been privileged to perform wedding There is growing demand for these ceremonies for couples from Japan types of ceremonies and Sarah and Italy who wished for a real says there is nothing better than English wedding and brought their receiving a hug or a handshake own interpreter.” and a heartfelt thank you for a job well done.

She suggests adding some ceremonial or symbolic elements, Visit www.celebrationceremonies such as lighting candles, releasing southwest.com or call 07870 balloons, or adding messages to a 763304.

Rewriting our own life stories AN innovative transformational programme is based on the idea that our experience of life is shaped by the stories we tell about ourselves - even though we are not aware of the influence these stories have on our view of life.

InterBe, Devon’s Narrative Transformation company, is launching The Genesis Programme in January.

Said InterBe’s Mike Brodie: “The programme explores the processes by which we make up our sense of meaning and reality, and allows us to develop a mastery over these processes to create new, more empowering and inspiring views of life.”

Participants have described the programme as life-changing

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

and one said: “It’s been an extraordinarily powerful experience that has left me capable of being the person I dreamed of - the one who shows up when fear and self-doubt give way to self-acceptance and love”.

InterBe is planning a whole series of follow-on programmes for people interested in personal development, training to become an accredited lifecoach or enhancing their creativity.

The next two and a half day programme runs January 16-18 and InterBe is offering a special early booking discount for Reconnect readers at £299.

Visit www.interbe.co/genesis, email genesis@interbe.co or call 01392 346224.

Handmade, Herbal, Vegan, Natural & Eco-friendly Body Care Products Made in Torquay www.greenwyse.co.uk

Herb Walks, workshops, talks & events.

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www.torbay-herbalist.co.uk Consultations with Medical Herbalist Dawn available in Torquay & Paignton

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Psychotherapy Counselling & Supervision with Lucia Capaldi (UKCP) BA Hons

Experienced and qualified psychotherapist currently offering: Confidential sessions for individuals and couples experiencing: • Relationship difficulties • Anxiety • Depression • Low self-esteem • Addictions • Bereavement • Stress

Supervision

Reduced rates for student practitioners Bridge Farm Offices, Harberton, Totnes. Tel: 07809 441 519 or 01803 840424 luciacapaldi@yahoo.co.uk www.luciacapaldi-psychotherapy-devon.co.uk

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

31

Want to advertise in Wellbeing?

Michael Acton-Coles Psychology & Counselling B.Ed.,M.Ed. (Psych.) Hons., M.A. C.Psych., P.D. C. Psych

Individuals Couples Families Do you or someone you know need help...

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of getting people unstuck and moving forward in their lives.

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A unique, solution-focused approach that cuts to the chase A highly qualified and experienced team

Anxiety . Depression . OCD . Eating Disorders . Obesity . Relationship Issues .

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Sexuality & Gender Identity If you don’t know what is wrong, we can help you work that out www.acclinics.com Torbay/Exeter: 01392 581111 info@acclinics.com

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32

Time and resources to do it right patients who get NO matter how good the NHS well when we may be at dealing have addressed with emergencies, the gut.” such as accidents Suzanne stresses or heart attacks, Nutritional the fact remains Medicine is not that doctors an “alternative” simply don’t but an integrative have the time approach and or resources to the clinic works spend time getting with and refers to the bottom patients to other of a potentially practitioners such complex set of as GPs, dentists, symptoms. chiropractors and That’s where The osteopaths, when Good Health Suzanne Jeffery necessary. The Clinic in Plymouth clinic also has a comes in. This private clinic, which pragmatic approach to conventional practises a form of medicine known drugs, as Suzanne explained: as Nutritional Medicine, looks at why “Drugs certainly have their place people become ill and what to do in modern medicine but a patient about it. suffering from a headache is not Qualified Nutritional Medicine suffering from a shortage of aspirin. practitioner Suzanne Jeffery said: Therefore we had better find out “One of the most important things I what is triggering that headache in do at The Good Health Clinic is to sit order to make him well again. A down with a patient and take a very good analogy to masking symptoms thorough case history from birth right rather than looking for the causes through to the present day. I can then of the problem is placing a piece of identify factors that have led up to the sticky plaster over the warning light unwanted condition and so create an on your car dashboard. You don’t effective strategy to move the patient see the warning light anymore but towards optimum health. We have the problem is still present under the discovered that many modern chronic bonnet!” health conditions are strongly linked to Visit www.goodhealthclinic.co.uk or gut heath. With seemingly unrelated call 01752 774755 conditions, I have witnessed many

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

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Death Cafe at Practice Rooms THE Practice Rooms in Exeter is joining forces with Green Fuse Bereavement Care to run a combined open day and death Café.

On Saturday November 8, there will be the chance to meet therapists at The Practice Rooms, enjoy a taster session and join in the facilitated group discussion on issues around death and dying led by the highly experienced Jane Morrell and Simon Smith from Green Fuse.

The Death Cafes, which encourage open discussion about death and dying with coffee and cake, will be held between 10am12noon and 2-4pm.

Find out more at www. thepracticerooms.co.uk and www.greenfuse.co.uk or call 01803 840779.

Emma Gilmore running a class at the School of Bodywork in Exeter.

Her business advice includes words of wisdom about cancellation policies - see below

Why therapists should have a cancellation policy SCHOOL of Bodywork director Emma Gilmore has a message for all complementary therapists – but it’s actually about something that concerns the rest of us too…

AS holistic practitioners we need to have our patient’s best interests at heart, but we also need to be business-minded in order that we become successful practitioners - and then remain so.

If you are paying for room hire, advertising, promotional literature, and perhaps even child care, you have tangible expenses before you start giving a treatment, without forgetting the investment you have made in your qualifications. So without a cancellation policy you are selling yourself cheap – but I only know of one therapist who, once an initial booking is made, emails out terms and conditions, which the patient has to acknowledge receipt of.

If you don’t have a cancellation policy, perhaps it’s time to start thinking about one. Will you charge the full fee if someone does not show? Or maybe half the fee? Or at LEAST your room rent. Choose your words carefully – something like this might work for you: “Please give at least 24 hours’ notice if you wish to cancel or change an appointment – remember, someone else may need your appointment.”

Make sure your policy has exactly the same wording wherever it appears - on all your literature and website. Display it clearly in your treatment room too.

If you have no cancellation policy is it because you don’t feel you deserve one?

Therapists regularly pay room rent for the privilege of not treating a patient does this seem fair to you? Do you think your patients would think it fair if they really thought about it? If you have a full

clinic a no-show also means someone else has missed out on a treatment.

There are always times when we need to be compassionate and use our discretion: a client may have a sick relative they suddenly need to tend to, or may be sick themselves, in which case we do not need to charge them.

But perhaps it is time to be kind to yourself. Be professional and get a policy in place. Respect yourself and ensure you are respected by your patients and the wider community.

We at School of Bodywork are passionate about complementary therapy AND empowering our students to be great clinicians and business people. We therefore train students in ALL aspects of bodywork, including business. Visit www.schoolofbodywork. com and www.facebook.com/ SOB2000.

Emma Gilmore

Ceremonies as individual as you are.

As an Independent Celebrant I will help you create and then conduct your unique and individual Ceremony where ever and whenever you wish.

• Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Renewal of Vows

• Rites of Passage such as Birthdays, Engagements, Coming of Age and other Special Anniversaries • Naming ceremonies for babies and children including joining families together including Stepfamilies and Adoption • Funerals focussing on celebrating and/or reflecting the life of your loved one Please ask about the Bespoke Funeral Wishes I offer for the well organised people who would like to plan their ceremony in advance.

Sarah Chapman

BA(Hons) Dip. Celeb. M.I.C.F

Tel: 07870 763304 Email: celebrationceremonies2@gmail.com Web: www.celebrationceremoniessouthwest.com

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

33

39 Devon Square, Newton Abbot TQ12 2HH 49 Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3SR

01803 814329 align.limited@gmail.com www.alignyourhealth.co.uk

HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Jo’s 5Rhythms classes - “fun, profound and liberating.”

Reconnecting through dance

Full consultation, chiropractic examination, report of findings and postural advice usually £60 but with this voucher special offer applies. Please contact our office to receive your offer.

Offer expires august 2014

DANCING can be so much more meaningful and uplifting than merely strutting the dance floor. 5Rhythms teacher Jo Hardy says dance can both be tremendous fun and help us reconnect to greater spontaneity, creativity and our body.

Her 5Rhythms dance sessions each Monday at Totnes Civic Hall are proving very popular with as many as 60 dancers at a time moving to skillfully choreographed music ranging from wild world beats, deep dance grooves and tender acoustic songs to classical and jazz.

Jo explains that no special skills are required, just the courage and willingness to give it a go.

She says: “One of the dis-eases of our times is that for many of us our minds are often super busy while our bodies are either whipped into shape and/or somewhat sedentary. We can tend to lose creativity, spontaneity, curiosity and connectedness.

Consequently we live with a compromised sense of wellbeing, less connected to our body and heart, with perhaps feelings of stress, anxiety, depression or loneliness.

“When we dance we connect to

the miracle that is our body. We discover the joy and nourishment that come from exploring the endlessly fascinating landscape between our head and our feet.

“We discover creative moves we never knew we could make, we sweat and emerge refreshed and more connected to ourselves.”

The Monday class is a great place to start. In addition Jo will offer three weekends and a closed group, called Alchemy of Awakening, near Totnes over the next year. These events will include a much deeper dive into the dance and will focus on using dance as a practice to explore some of the challenges of our times.

Jo says that dancing for an extended period, far from being exhausting, can be immensely fun, profound and liberating. The first weekend Evolutionary Presence will happen on October 17-19.

Totnes drop-in classes take place every Monday 7.30-9.45pm at the Civic Hall, Totnes. For Alchemy of Awakening events see Jo’s website www.comsciousdancespace.com, email johardy@freeuk.com or call 01803 849199/07905 493956.

How to get your message out

Wholistic, Healing, Happiness

Experienced chiropractors Ian and Sophie Doble offer you a warm welcome to their family-friendly Chiropractic centre.

“Our job is to provide you with the finest care possible in a relaxing setting and to offer you hope and guidance on your journey to greater health.”

11-13 North Street, Ashburton YQ13 7QJ ☎ 01364 654661 email: info@wholesomelifechiropractic.co.uk

www.wholesomelifechiropractic.co.uk Daniel, from Ashburton: ‘A very professional, friendly and effective practice. Has helped my condition greatly and it is always a pleasure to visit.’

34

ONE of the most common requests received by Kate Philbin of Soul Copywriting is for assistance in writing editorial.

Kate has put together five simple tips on writing a press release to help pracitioners improve their submissions to magazines and local press: 1 Get to the point. Editors are really busy people (yes we are – MF). Don’t make them wade through loads of information before getting to the point of the story.

2 Use plain English. When it comes to marketing themselves, people often think they have to use marketing speak. This isn’t the case. It is better to write clearly and simply using friendly, conversational language and be careful to avoid jargon.

3 Tell people what they need to know.

It is surprising how often a press release will miss out key information.

Make sure you include all the details you want readers to know – dates, times, prices, location, contact details.

4 Keep it simple. A good press release is clear and concise. This is not really the place to go into all of the intimate details of your business.

5 Get your key messages across.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Before you write anything, it is a good idea to spend a bit of time thinking about your key messages. These are the bits of information you really want people to know about your business.

Make a list of them and then check all of your marketing content against this list to ensure that you are telling people the things they really need to know.

Kate says: “When you write a press release, you are talking, first and foremost, to the editor of the magazine. S/he will edit whatever you send so it is really important to get it right so you end up with the editorial you want. Magazines like Reconnect will give you an opportunity to look at your editorial before it appears but many magazines won’t so it’s a good idea to present your information as professionally as you can.”

Soul Copywriting offers a range of writing services for ‘soul’ businesses like therapists, healers, charities and artists. During October and November, there is a 5% discount for all Reconnect readers - just mention Reconnect when you email/call.

Visit www.soulcopywriting.com, call 01803 732554/07970 107123 or email kate@soulcopywriting.com.

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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Big outdoors offers big help to young AN innovative project offering an outdoor approach to helping young people experiencing mental distress is being relaunched following a successful funding bid.

Spring to Life is run by the Sharpham Outdoors Project on the Sharpham estate in South Devon and aims to help young people, aged 16 – 25 years, who are experiencing some form of mental health distress or may be having a tough time of it at home, work, school or socially.

Christine Carol from Ambios, partner of the Sharpham Outdoors Project, said: “Spring to Life has been running for three years and over100 young people have benefitted.

“The project, a 10-week programme, combines outdoor and natural history activities with mental health support from qualified staff and peer volunteer help from people who have had direct experience of mental health distress.

“Based in the beautiful 500-acre Sharpham estate, the programme combines our specific awareness approach, called Take A Moment, with activities to allow participants to fully experience the natural world around them, which then helps them through their difficulties.”

The national mental health charity MIND says that introducing just five people with mental ill health to this kind of project (known as ecotherapy) saves the state more than £35,000 each year in medication, Jobseekers allowance and healthcare.

A survey conducted by Ambios showed that half of a group of 16 participants studied

had progressed from the project onto employment and volunteering, and still used the outdoors as part of their self supporting coping strategy.

The South Hams alone has around 78,000 people aged 18-64 with diagnosed mental ill health and this project has become recognised locally as a beneficial and positive health care referral option for young people with mental distress.

Christine added: “For one day a week over the course of 10 weeks, participants learn new skills, help conserve the natural environment or simply enjoy the surroundings and take time out by the outdoor fire with others. They work towards achieving the John Muir Award, a recognised and certificated environmental scheme focused on awareness and exploration. On completion of the programme, they are able to continue with us as wildlife volunteers.”

Visit www.sharphamtrust.org or call 01803 732747.

The power of being there WOODY Allen famously stated: “It’s not that I am afraid of dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens!”

I’d like to encourage you to contemplate your mortality, to face the existential crisis.

You may ask “How will this improve my life?”

We all know that one day we will die, we just don’t think about it - just as we don’t think about air, the colour green or our beating hearts.

Sheridan complained in 1752 that “nobody has a conscious death anymore” such was the role of the medical doctor. In the 1600s everyone would gather at the bedside during your brutishly short final illness and you’d say what you need to say and share out your few possessions. Now so often the dying lie in isolation, probably not at home, no one wanting to mention that you won’t be here tomorrow

for fear of upsetting you or themselves. How much better to be able to hold your father’s hand you haven’t held since you were 6, to soothe and to be present, to tell him you love him, will miss him, and by the way could you have that painting which has been around all your life, or his fishing hat.

Maybe then he will talk to you about his fears, his growing sense of acceptance, his being drawn toward the light. Wouldn’t that beat small talking your way around the elephant in the room?

Maybe Woody has this one wrong – I do want to be there.

Simon Smith, Heart & Soul Funerals, 01803 840779. www.heartandsoulfunerals. co.uk

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Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

35

Contact us now advertise in Wellbeing...

You can read pasttoLiving on Less columns in our online archive...

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS OUR single and double column advertisements are £55 and £98. Lineage ads, like those on this page and opposite, are 90p a word, with a minimum of 20 words. Plus a FREE photo! Call us to talk about single or double column ads, or email your classified ad to adverts@ reconnectonline.co.uk (with a phone number) and we’ll contact you about payment. The deadline for the December/ January issue is Friday, November 7.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE

TOTNES eco-renovated stone cottage, south facing, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Wood fired range, solar hot water, photo-voltaics with FiT, heat recovery system, natural insulation, green oak porch. Large sunny organic garden, parking. £495,000. oneorc@yahoo.co.uk.

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

24a Gandy Street Exeter EX4 3LS Tel: 01392 410090 Email: pat@pathoare.eclipse.co.uk Web: www.caseconfidential.com

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

adve

rts@reconnectonline. ...email us food at local health co.uk local people local events local local environment

To advertise your workshops or courses here, simply email us the words, along with your name, address and phone number and we will invoice you. The cost is just 90p a word, with a minimum of 20 words. Email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk, or call us on 01392 346342.

OCTOBER Every Tuesday

MINDFULNESS drop-in Sessions. Waterloo Wellbeing Centre, Plymouth. Call 01752 560002. www. psychotherapy plymouth.co.uk.

Every Friday

QIGONG at St Johns Church Hall, Totnes with Brad Richecoeur, 10-11.30am. Suitable for all levels, new students welcome.

01364 644040 www. qigong-southwest.co.uk.

Sat 4 & Sun 5

METAMORPHIC Technique training weekend at Dartington with Hélène Demetriades. Call 01803 868655 or visit www.helene demetriades.co.uk.

Thurs 9 & Thurs 13

MINDFULNESS Taster Sessions. 7pm-9pm.

Waterloo Wellbeing Centre, Plymouth. Call 01752 560002. www. psychotherapy plymouth.co.uk Sat 11 & Sun 12

THAI MASSAGE Practitioner Course.

At the Estuary Clinic, Topsham with Emma Cayless. £485. Contact: exeterthaimassage@

gmail.com. Tel: 07971 101 332. www.devon thatmassage.com.

Sat 11 & Sun 12

INTRODUCTION to Macrobiotic Cookery. International Macrobiotic School, Totnes. Tel: 01803 762 598 www. macroschool.co.uk.

Sat 18 and Sat 15

MINDFULNESS Practice Mornings at Crownhill Fort. Call 01752 560002. www. psychotherapy plymouth.co.uk Sat 18 Sun 19

DANCE OF THE DIRECTIONS. Learn a sacred Cherokee movement practice as taught by Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo. 10am - 5pm. £90. Andrew. broadhead4u@ gmail.com or 07813 532544.

Sat 25 & Sun 26

HUAGONG QIGONG with Master Zhixing Wang at Dartington Hall, Clarifying Yin and Yang. South Devon. 01364 644040 www.qigongsouthwest.co.uk.

NOVEMBER Every Friday

QIGONG at St Johns Church Hall, Totnes

with Brad Richecoeur, 10-11.30am. Suitable for all levels, new students welcome.

01364 644040 www. qigong-southwest. co.uk.

Saturday 1

FERMENTED Food at Home. Learn how to make your own probiotic foods. International Macrobiotic School, Totnes. Tel: 01803 762 598 www. macroschool.co.uk.

Wed 19 - Sun 23

LOOKING After Your Health. Inspiring Cookery and oriental health diagnosis.

International Macrobiotic School, near Totnes. Tel 01803 762 598. www. macroschool.co.uk.

Mon 24 - Sat 29

LAUNCH of The Pottingshed Collective.

A local cooperative whose aim is to mutually support and showcase emerging makers in the South West. The Gallery at Birdwood House, Totnes, www. pottingshedworkshop. com.

DECEMBER Mon 1- Sun 7

PEOPLE Care Permaculture Intensive.

High Heathercombe, Dartmoor, with Klaudia van Gool and Mel Bambury.

Permaculture Design for the self and our communities, supported by Nature Connection. Course fee: waged £430; concessions £310. For more information and bookings: Mel 07791 601737, high@ heathercombe.com.

Restore-me Therapies Holistic Therapies for the Mind, Body & Soul

] Body Massage (Swedish, Aromatherapy, Therapeutic) ] Indian Head Massage ] Reflexology ] Hopi Ear Candling ] Holistic Facials ] Reiki ] Special Offers ] Packages ] Mobile service Gift Vouchers available To find out more, please call or visit online

Beryl Roseblade MICHT MFHT, Brixham ▪ Paignton ▪ Torquay Tel: 01803 853605 Mob: 07753 471618

www.restoremetherapies.com

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erts in v d a n u r I’ve ocal l r u o f f o a total ions over publicat eeks and ew w f t s a p e h t have s d a e l y ALL m Reconnect come via ader g Andy Greenin

- The Tranquil

Hillyfield Hens

Organically fed, pasture-range poultry

Do you want to keep chickens in 2015?

We will be hatching these breeds from early Spring: l Wheaten Marans l Barred Plymouth Rocks l Salmon Faverolles l Dark Dorkings l Our Hillyfield Gingers

Performance by Matt Harvey, Poet

And if you want help and advice on any aspect of keeping hens, just give us a call.

Thursday, 23rd October, Studio 3, Space, Dartington Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm.

Tickets: Full £7, Friends of Dartington £5

Talk by Jonson Cox, Chair of Ofwat

‘Water: A precious public resource or an opportunity for private capital: A Dartington View’ Wednesday, 12th November, The Upper Gatehouse, Dartington Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm Tickets: Full £7, Friends of Dartington £5

Christmas Ceilidh with live music from Random

For information and to book tickets: 01803 847070 or online: www.dartington.org www.reconnectonline.co.uk www.reconnectonline.co.uk

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Let Reconnect spread the word for YOU Call 01803 868455 Email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Friday, 12th December, Studio 1, Space, Dartington Hall at 7.30pm Tickets £10

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WORKSHOPS& COURSESDIARY

www.reconnectonline. co.uk

Call Jenny on 01803 868455 or Doug on 07976 589 927

www.thehillyfield.co.uk

Editorial: 01803 01803 868455 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk editor@reconnectonline.co.uk Editorial:

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Contact us now to advertise in Wellbeing

And finally...

Sad endings and exciting beginnings NOTICE anything different about this page?

No, it’s still written by me (sorry about that) and it still has that same old picture (I’ve actually gone completely grey and then bald since that one was taken), but the more observant among you might have spotted that instead of its usual Living On Less title it’s now called And finally…

It’s quite possible that I’ll return to the living on less theme occasionally in the future but it felt like time to loosen things up a little so I can explore a wider range of subjects – and also invite other people to appear as guest columnists.

Applications (and offers of bribes) to the usual email address, please.

But this first And finally… has an important job to do.

Until now, Reconnect (and before that, Connect, as some of you might remember) has been primarily a two-hander, produced by me and my partner in crime, Pete Hardy.

But after a total of nine years or so of working together, Pete wants to move on and is leaving to work on freelance projects.

Our partnership has been a long, productive and happy one (pretty rare for a working partnership from what we hear) and I know everyone who has had contact with him through Reconnect over the years will want to join me in wishing him everything he wishes himself.

Thanks, Pete, it’s been a blast.

So how to replace someone who has done so much to make

TIMES of change... one of the Reconnect crew is leaving, some new people are joining and we want to hear from you about two special issues of Reconnect coming up...

Coming soon (well, ish) Reconnect what it is today? Well, as is often the case, this sad event has actually sparked what I hope will be a truly positive thing.

Stepping back to look at the larger picture of the magazine generally, has resulted in the seeding of some really exciting new plans which will be developed and revealed over the coming months.

But in the meantime, I’d like to introduce a few new names.

The first actually has a very familiar surname – my daughter, Beth Foster.

Yes, the super-organised, superenthusiastic and just generally super Beth is Reconnect’s new Admin Manager with a brief to handle all the ad bookings, invoicing, etc and keep me organised.

Welcome to Mission Impossible, Beth…

Also new to Team Reconnect (ok so the name needs a little work) is Kate Philbin who joins us as Wellbeing Editor, working with me to pull together the editorial in our Wellbeing section.

Kate will be known to some readers and advertisers as a copywriter specialising in working for therapists, artists, social enterprises, etc, and I am so excited that she’s also found time to work with us on the magazine.

Our food columnist, Jane Hutton, has been with us for a few months now and continues to inform and inspire, as well as contribute her superb column.

And the lovely and knowledgeable Joa Grower will continue with her hugely popular organic gardening column.

And another name you’ll have seen in recent issues, Jon Stein, will be appearing regularly from now on as he turns his enquiring eye and creative mind to a whole range of exciting subjects – local bookshops in the last issue, youth projects in this one (see page 20).

So, an exciting new team – but it’s the sum of the parts that I’m really excited about. Every one of them has enthusiasm and valuable experience and fits right in with the Reconnect ethos – but I can’t wait until we all sit down with the first issue we create together and I can turn to them and say: So what do we think of that?

AND talking of the next issue….

Happy Christmas!

I know, I know, it’s a bit early for glitter and baubles (unless you’re getting ready for a particularly camp disco), but as you read this we will be working on the December/ January issue and we’d love to hear from anyone who is dreaming of a green Christmas. Hey, we might even roll out my favourite ‘sustainabauble’ headline.

We’re planning a MASSIVE guide to buying local produce for the festive season plus Crimbo and New Year events plus unusual gift ideas plus… well, over to you.

If you make a product or offer a service that you think would make the perfect gift for a Reconnect reader, get in touch. We are the antedote to the multi-nationals publicity machine.

We’re planning a few subtle changes to the mag too, so look out for those. And I might even get a new photo…

AND really finally...

Looking forward to the following (Feb/Mar) issue, we will again be running our annual guide to Westcountry festivals - and this year we want to make it even bigger.

So if you are involved in the organisation of a festival or (music, arts, lifestyle) event you think would interest Reconnect readers (or if there’s one you just love to attend), do please send us details. Email editor@reconnectonline.co.uk.

Regain your zest for life

Holistic Juice RetReats and spa days 3, 4 oR 5 days • Retreats for 1-4 people, in friendly farmhouse near Totnes with beautiful spa facilities.

• Personalised Programme to take home.

• Life Coaching included.

• Choice of therapies available to book.

• alkaline diet and exercise facilities.

Call Kate on Tel: 01803 847674 Mob: 07779496240 Email: info@sandwellfarmhouse.co.uk www.sandwellfarmhouse.co.uk

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Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

All issues of Reconnect are online at www.reconnectonline.co.uk

LOTUS TRAINING for Counselling and Mindfulness (In association Waterloo Wellbeing Centre)

Innovative - Inspiring - Transformational THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS ✹ It lowers stress, literally ✹ It can help you sleep better ✹ It can help regulate emotion ✹ It lowers the risk of depression ✹ It can help develop self-awareness ✹ It can reduce ruminating thoughts ✹ It brings people together ✹ It can support personal relationships

We offer bespoke mindfulness courses on request to the public, private and charitable sector.

MINDFULNESS DATES FOR YOUR DIARY TUESDAY EVENINGS Mindfulness Drop-in Sessions 7pm - 8pm @ Waterloo Wellbeing Centre All welcome Mindfulness Taster Sessions @ Waterloo Wellbeing Centre Thurs 9th Oct, 7pm - 9pm Thurs 13th Nov, 7pm - 9pm Mindfulness Practice Mornings @ Crownhill Fort Sat 18th Oct, 10am - 12.30 Sat 15th Nov, 10am - 12.30 An introduction to Mindfulness Sat 6th December, 10am - 4pm @ Crownhill Fort NEW YEAR COURSES Monday 19th Jan, 7pm - 9.15pm 8-week Mindfulness-based Stress redction course (MBSR) “Mindfulness is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime unobtrusively.”

Sharon Salzberg

SHORT COUNSELLING COURSES A one-day introduction in Mindfulness-based Counselling skills Sat 8th Nov, 10am - 4pm Introduction to Counselling (CPCAB Accredited)

10-week course starting January 2015

NOW RECRUITING 8-WEEK MINDFULNESS COURSE FOR TEENS “Young people who regularly practice mindfulness; feel happeir, calmer and more fulfilled.”

For more information call 01752 560002 Or visit www.psychotherapyplymouth.co.uk Waterloo Wellbeing Centre, Plymouth PL1 5RN and Crownhill Fort, Plymouth PL6 5BX

www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Editorial: 01803 868455 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

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