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26 minute read
WOODBURY SALTERTON NEWS
from February 2023
Holy Trinity
Village Lunch
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A bring-and-share lunch was held in the village hall on 14 December. It was decided to turn this into a celebration of Biddy Lagus’s 90th birthday and she was surprised with a gift and a birthday cake, made by Terrie Neman, topped with a large blazing candle. A raffle was held to cover the cost of the hire of the hall. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by seventeen friends and ended with a profit of £52. It was decided to give this sum to Exmouth Food Bank.
Choir
The church choir was invited to sing carols to the residents of Halsdon House, Exmouth. Their singing was much appreciated by the residents, one of whom said they were ‘a bunch of angels’! We were joined by new choir member Erin Keery.
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Holy Baptism
Revd Sid Humphries baptised Arabella Autumn Wright at the Family Service on 18 December. A large number of family and friends came to the service. The choir sang their usual song of welcome and Arabella was given a Baptism Bear to remember the occasion.
The School Christingle Service took place in church. Revd Bill Lemmey gave a short talk and said special prayers for Ellen Tout, who has taught at the school for 17 years and latterly has been Head of Learning, responsible for the day-to-day running of the school, and for Esther Brace, a much loved Class 1 teacher, both of whom left at Christmas.
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Carol Service
It was good to be back in church for the carol service, which had a lovely atmosphere with the only lighting provided by candles in lanterns, Christmas tree lights and the light from the screen. When it came to Away in a Manger, only two girls out of the many children in the congregation were brave enough to come to the front and sing the first verse - Luca and Panka. Their courage and sweet singing was applauded. Revd Margaret Scrivener kindly led the service. cont’d/...
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Carol Service cont’d/...
At the end Churchwarden Debbie Jung thanked the organist, Katharine Wheeler, the choir, the PCC members and the ladies who had decorated the church so beautifully. She also thanked Revd Margaret and Revd Sid who took so many of our services while our vicar Revd Bill Lemmey was ill. Margaret then thanked Debbie for the hours of work she puts in to keep the church going.
Mulled wine and mince pies were served after the service. Thanks to those who gave mince pies and to Jill and Nigel Dupain for making the mulled wine, and also to Clinton Devon Estates for their gift of the Christmas tree.
Carol Singing round the Village
Twenty people went round the village on Wednesday 21 December singing and collecting for The Children’s Society. The group included several small children and the boys enjoyed knocking on doors and holding out the collecting tins. They especially enjoyed the kind gift of sweets from the Clarke family. As usual, William Olney was an invaluable help accompanying the carols on his trumpet. The evening ended at The Digger’s Rest, which reopened the week before.
Organiser Debbie Jung was pleased to say that the sum of £123.54 was raised. The collection at the school Christingle service, which totalled £27, will be added to this, so our church and village will be sending a donation of £150.54.
Midnight Communion
This service was conducted by Revd Bill and the organist was Judy Reeves.
In Memoriam
The funeral of Joan Mary Auton took place in our church on 29 December and was conducted by Revd Jean Burrows. Joan married Horace Auton in Holy Trinity Church on Boxing Day 1956 and always regarded it as her church, even after she moved to Poltimore and then to Exeter. The red carpet in church was her gift. Joan and Horace made their home at Bridge Farm and raised their family of three daughters and a son there before moving to Poltimore in 1970. Joan took a very active and often leading part in the communities in which she lived – as District Commissioner of Guides, Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union, a Parish Councillor, School Governor, Churchwarden and many others. She continued as a member of Woodbury Salterton MU until it went into abeyance. She achieved her wish to reach her 100th birthday in October and received a card from the King. She was buried in the churchyard.
Stopping Free Delivery of Clyst Valley News
The cost of Clyst Valley News increased during last year from 10p a copy to 22p, due to rising printing costs. With 230 copies being distributed free of charge throughout the village, this has meant a bill of £607 for last year. A refund of £82.80 was received later but the cost is still high. At a time when we are struggling to keep costs down in an effort to reduce our deficit, the PCC has decided that we can no longer afford free delivery of this magazine. Clyst Valley News is available online, and the church will buy a few copies which will be put at the back of church for anyone to read.
Church Quiz - On the Map
Thank you to everyone who supported this quiz by buying a copy and especially to Lin Ashby and Liz Whittaker, who sold copies in their churches, and to Carol Rowe who sells to friends in Exmouth. Thirty entries were submitted but only one person got every answer right so the prize goes to Ann Steventon, a member of our church choir. Carol Rowe and Ros Pollitt were joint second with one answer adrift. Ann kindly donated her £10 prize back to the church, so at time of going to press the quiz has raised £502 for our church funds. The next quiz will be out in the spring.
Farewell Tony
Our love and best wishes go to Tony Appleton as he leaves the village to live in a care home near to his son Marcus. Tony has been so much part of this village life for nearly forty years. He and his wife Lis were members of our church congregation, Lis being a founder member of our choir and Tony serving as churchwarden. Tony supported most village activities, often with his trumpet! Now in his 95th year, he leaves this village as a reluctant necessity. With his friendly nature and love of a good conversation, we are sure he will soon make many friends. Our love and prayers go with him.
Katharine Wheeler
Woodbury
History Society
2 MARCH, 19.30, WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL
A talk by Kate Ponting, Countryside Learning Officer and Charlotte Hodgson, Archivist of Clinton Devon Estates on The Lower Otter Restoration Project
All very welcome, members free, visitors £4 at the door.
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Woodbury Salterton Crafters
We had a fun afternoon in Woodbury Salterton village hall making a Christmas table decoration, and enjoying mince pies, coffee and wine. It was our first attempt at this craft, but it was agreed that we could be a bit more ambitious next time and make a door hanging.
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The crafting afternoons will continue on the last Wednesday of the month. The afternoon is very informal so we welcome everyone, even if just for coffee and cake.
A very special thank to Louise Lee for providing the most delicious coffee and walnut cake. Gill
Sausage And Mash
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Bricknell
SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY, 19.00
WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL
Tickets available from Chris Lear 01395 232772 / 07941045918 chrisalear06@gmail.com
Proceeds for Woodbury Handbell Ringers. Tickets limited.
Editor’s Note : In order to maximise submitted copy and photographs into Woodbury News, it may be necessary to reduce the size of some items. The Editorial team will attempt to do this as carefully as possible.
FEBRUARY SERVICES FOR ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, EXTON
Sunday 5 February, 18.00, Evening Service. Revd Roz Harrison.
Sunday 12 February, 09.30, Holy Communion. Revd Margaret Scrivener.
Sunday 19 February, 09.30, Lay-led Service.
Wednesday 22 February, 11.00, Holy communion and ashing. Janet Atkins
Christmas 2022 In Exton
Carols at St Andrew’s Church
‘In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan’, and so it did on the evening of 14 December. Thank goodness the heating at St Andrew’s was up to scratch! And what a treat to have the choir and organist of St Swithun’s church to lead the singing at this year’s village carols. By the end of the first carol, even the most shy and reluctant singers were joining in with gusto and apparently enjoying themselves. The service, led by Trevor Perkins, followed the traditional path of carols for all to sing, interspersed with readings relating the birth of Jesus, the visit of the shepherds and of the Wise Men. St Swithun’s choir took the Christmas story one step further with their thoughtful and sincere performance of ‘Thou must leave thy lowly dwelling’ from Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ, a reflection on the holy family’s flight into Egypt.
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It was so good to see a completely full church, including visitors from around the parish as well as Exton locals. A retiring collection raised £225 for the Children’s Society, and to round off a very happy occasion, mulled wine and mince pies were served in the village hall – just the thing on such a chilly night.
Christmas Morning at St Andrew’s A near-capacity congregation attended Holy Communion with Christmas hymns, led by Revd David Ireson. Once again the church had been beautifully decorated with poinsettias and seasonal greenery, and of course a fine Christmas tree and the beautiful Christmas crib scene at the back of the church. The final candle of the Advent wreath was lit and people were appreciative of the chance for quiet reflection amid all the excitement of Christmas Day.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer comes to Exton
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For the second year running, Rudolph has graced the Murrin’s courtyard, arriving just after the end of the school term, to greet local children with chocolates and cakes, and departing on Christmas Eve for ‘essential duties’. This year, sporting a fine new red nose, Rudolph took delivery of several letters from children to Father Christmas, with claims that they had been good ALL YEAR, and requests for presents. One can only hope that Rudolph-Mail was more reliable than the usual postal service in these parts, and that Santa wasn’t contemplating industrial action.
Exton Village Events Christmas Party
The evening of Friday 16 December saw the village Christmas party at the Puffing Billy. About 70 cheery party-goers, many suitably dressed to impress, descended for a three-course meal, complete with Christmas crackers. A paper hat, a silly joke or two and a few drinks – even the worst party-pooper was soon converted. Disco dancing until midnight made for a very happy atmosphere and a suitably upbeat end to the celebrations. Grateful thanks must go to Theo and his team at the Puffing Billy for a great evening. Definitely a date for your 2023 diary!
Puffing Billy Christmas Quiz
Held on the evening of 28 December, this quiz proved to be an extremely popular event. The Puffing Billy was filled almost to bursting point, and that was even before the amazing prizes had been announced. Fortified by the pub’s own winter stew (with vegetarian option) and a fair amount of alcohol, eager quiz participants grappled with questions ranging from Rugby’s finest moments to Christmas songs sung apparently by a cat. Our knowledge of Christmas movies was put to the test, likewise Christmas history, though in places the connection with Christmas did seem somewhat tenuous.
Thanks must go to Theo in his role as Grand Quiz Master, patiently repeating questions for the increasingly cheerful crowd and generally managing to keep control over the proceedings. Thanks also to the Puffing Billy for hosting the event, and of course to those organizations which donated such generous quiz prizes. Liz Williams
Roundandabout
Welcome
Welcome to Alex and Nicky Helliar of Cofton, Town Lane. Alex and Nicky were married in Woodbury church not long ago. Alex is local to the area and his sister already lives in Woodbury.
Farewell
We are sad to be leaving Woodbury, but life sometimes serves you a curved ball and difficult decisions have to be made. We will be joining family and friends in mid-Wales in a small town where people greet you in the street and where we feel we can make a new life. To all the people who have played a part in making our time here so happy, we thank you. We will take fond memories of the village with us and we hope that 2023 will be a good year for everyone – wherever you may be.
Pauline and Paul Wratten
Death
Susan (Sue) Weylan Reader (25.3.1942-18.12.2022)
Though her family home was in Newark, Notts, Sue was born to William (Rikki) and Brenda (Shirley) Hobcraft in Farnborough, as her father had been posted to Aldershot. Sadly, at 18 months old, Sue lost her father in action in Salerno, where he is buried in a war cemetery. Sue and her mother returned to her mother’s home in Newark.
Sue’s son, Simon, writes: ‘At the end of the war when Sue was three, they piled into the car and set off from Newark to Bournemouth to start a new life, where Shirley had been offered a job in a commercial estate agency. Within a very short time, she became senior negotiator, buying and selling hotels in Bournemouth. As it proved difficult for Shirley to balance work, motherhood and have any form of social life, Sue recalled being sent away to children’s homes during weekdays.’
In 1948, Sue’s mother re-married - to Frederick Lewis, and they had a son, Nicholas, who became a much loved brother to Sue. Sue was educated at Lowther College at Bodelwyddan Castle. When she was about 17, the family moved to Exmouth and bought a number of properties. After a while Sue moved to London, living with three friends and working as personal assistant to the chairman of a steel company.
Sue married David in 1966 and Simon was born the following year. The family then moved to Zambia for a few years, before returning to the UK, where Kate was born. After living in Plymouth and Abbotskerswell, the family came to Woodbury, where they have lived for the past 40 years. Sue was the owner of the Retreat Boatyard in Topsham; she was a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Guild of Shipwrights.
Sue had a lifelong love of horses, taught many children to ride and competed several times at the national carriage trials at Windsor. Simon sums her up as a ‘woman of singular determination, a touch oldschool, with a strict sense of fairness. She loved social events, music and dancing, and had a wonderful sense of mischief. Though, in the background were stories she rarely shared, and obligations she shouldered. She could mix with convicts on one side, and royalty on the other. Always fair and kind – but as can be noted – you did not want to get on her bad side … she was loved by her children and family, and also by her friends, and in turn was respected by others.’ Lin Milsom sums up Sue’s involvement in Woodbury village: ‘Sue’s smile was infections and will be greatly missed; she made any gathering an occasion, brought humour into many lives, never taking herself seriously but always there for others with offers of lifts and help. She was a very special friend who we feel honoured to have known and who we will miss.’
FUNDRAISING - Carols Round Woodbury
We were a small but determined group who gathered on the night of 22 December to bring our singing to various households. Thank you to all those who so generously donated to Save the Children. The village raised the very pleasing sum of £300. Thank you also to all of those who turned up to sing and to the wonderful trio of Cathy, Joyce and Paul who provided us with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.
19.15 FOR 19.30
Julia Whyte
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Woodbury Village Hall Visitors welcome - £3
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Family Vickery
My father Herbert William Vickery was a shopkeeper and taxi proprietor in Woodbury for many years. He lived in Fernlea, Flower Street, until his death in 1967. We planted a tree in his honour at the Community Orchard in 2013, a Sturmer Pippin. During a visit to the orchard while on holiday from Australia, we met with Alex, who showed us around the orchard and confirmed where my father’s tree was planted. The orchard is a lovely addition to village life and I congratulate those who tend it and attend the special occasions long may it survive. We are intrigued to see that there is a Vickery Cottage in the main street of Woodbury, near Flower Street. If anyone knows why the cottage is so named, we would love to hear from you.
Penny Phillips (pennyphillips1@bigpond.com)
WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION
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Visit to Norman Lockyer Observatory
WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY AT 19.30
Visit includes a Planetarium Show and a chance to look through the telescopes. Numbers limited to 30.
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Cost: adults £10, children £5. Contact: Nita nitagoffron@live.co.uk or on 232314.
Advance Notice
Woodbury, Woodbury Salterton and Exton residents
We are holding two days of celebrations on SATURDAY 6 AND SUNDAY 7 MAY for the upcoming coronation of King Charles III
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Letters To The Editor
From Ken Perry
Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan
Readers of Woodbury News will recall my letter written exactly a year ago relating to the slow development of the Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan. Woodbury registered its intent to write a Neighbourhood Plan in 2013 and good progress was made in the first couple of years with much community involvement. However, since 2014 little has been done by our Parish Council to complete the process. Despite numerous requests for updates on progress, we are still being assured that it is nearing completion and that there will soon be a referendum for its approval by us, the parish residents. Since my last letter, East Devon has published its draft East Devon Local Plan 2020-2040 with the proposal of 189 new homes in Woodbury and 55 more in Exton, a total of 244 new houses in the parish. Even the draft Local Plan (page 94 item 6.95) comments on the woefully long time Woodbury has taken in developing its Neighbourhood Plan which, if it had been completed, might have provided some level of defence against this amount of new development.
How many Woodbury residents have seen the latest proposals for an outline planning application for 70 houses on Broadway (https:// www.broadwaynewhomes.co.uk), or taken the opportunity to respond to the consultation (closed 12 December)? In the draft Local Plan this is site Wood-16 allocated for 67 dwellings – already a 5% increase! If we had a Neighbourhood Plan maybe we could have some influence over such developments. If we continue not to have a Neighbourhood Plan the parish will lose out on the allocation of 10% of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on such developments. With a Neighbourhood Plan the parish would get 25% of the levy; without a Neighbourhood Plan it only gets 15%. By their own calculation the developers estimate this loss to the parish would be about £70,000 which could be spent on community benefits. When the Neighbourhood Plan does eventually get published, will it be so out-of-date that it is irrelevant, or will we have our backs to the wall with no option other than to accept whatever it says? Neighbourhood Plans are supposed to be community developed visions, policies and aspirations for the future, not documents dictated by the parish council and accepted by residents who have little option but to accept them.
From Gill Selley
How lucky the people of Woodbury are to have a well-stocked village shop, post office and cashpoint machine. Thank you Vinny and Anu (and their staff) for providing such a well-run business and good service throughout the period of Covid, and also during the present time with all the problems that the country is experiencing.
Rainfall Report For November
November was an extremely wet and record-breaking month: 199mm, (7.8 inches) of rain fell here at Ebford, the greatest amount for an individual month for at least the last 22 years. Three of the four weeks saw over two inches of rain.
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However, 2022 was still a very dry year, as interestingly only 16 inches fell in the period January to September to be followed by 12.5 inches during October and November.
Gardening has been somewhat challenging, but a recent bonus for me has been the appearance of autumn raspberries even in December, on canes that seemed to hibernate during the drought of July, August and September, and only moving once their environment had been well soaked.
Rainfall Report For December
The month started in complete contrast to November with 2.5 weeks of dryness and very cold conditions, sometimes reaching –6C or –7C at night. However, from Sunday 18th through Christmas to the end of the year we, here at Ebford, received 103mm (4.1 inches) of at times very heavy rain. This was very similar to the amount for December 2021 of 97mm; both values being in line with the previous ten year average of 98mm.
Interestingly, the total amount for the year 2022 was only 766mm (30.2 ins), the driest since 2016; the previous 5-year average (2017-2021) was 897mm (35.3 ins) here at Ebford. So in conclusion, 2022 was still a dry year.
Norman Cann
Globe Hill
Newcomers to Woodbury may not be aware of the reason that the road which leads from Broadway out of Woodbury toward Exeter is called Globe Hill. The answer is that on the left-hand side of the road, at the crossroads, once stood an inn known as The Globe. Sadly the inn, which was run by an appropriately named landlord, Ernest Beer, was burnt to the ground in 1916. Luckily many documents have survived which enable one to compile a brief history of the inn. The house was built after 1650 as it does not appear in the list of properties of the Rolle Estate of that date. The first mention of it is in 1714 in the Quarter Sessions papers when Robert Cooke, inn-holder of Woodbury, was examined before the Justices of the Peace on a charge of a felony. He appears to have been innocent as there is no mention of any punishment. Five years later though, he and his wife, Elizabeth, were charged with keeping a disorderly alehouse and disturbing the peace of Woodbury not unusual at this time when an evening in the local inn was the only entertainment for parishioners. The survey of the Manor of Woodbury in 1729 shows that Robert was living at the inn which was described as ‘a cottage at Okeys Cross’ – this was valued at £1 and he paid the rent of 1s 6d. This did not include the field behind the cottage as this was part of Cooks Venmore Farm. This area of the crossroads was normally called Okeys Cross and presumably was an area covered in oak trees – the road was probably known as Okeys Lane, which is why the Reverend Filmer, when he built his mansion house, named it Oakfield, later changed to Oakhays. In 1731 Robert was once more in trouble with the magistrates and again accused of keeping a disorderly ale house. The indictment named drinkers, swearers, tipplers and games players - the illicit games they played were recorded as cards, dice and ‘Keales’ (a sort of skittles or ninepins) and ‘Charlie Pitcher’; also card sharping games such ‘seven or over seven’, ‘red, black, leather and star’ or inveigling the unwary with ‘three little thimbles and one small pea’. This gives quite an insight into what went on in the alehouses apart from drinking. Seven years later the house was reported to the steward of the Lord of the Manor as being in need of repair – not surprising with all the activities going on! Robert Cook died in 1760 and was followed by a succession of lessees of the cottage, not all of whom were the licensees. It was the individual who held the licence to sell beers and spirits, and these were applied for at the Devon Quarter Sessions, so there is a record of who these men were. The house was known as an inn, but it was leased as a cottage, not an inn, by the Rolle Estate. By the 19th century the Globe and the White Hart were the two rival inns in the village – there were two other cottages occupied by beer sellers (evidently a full licence was not required for the sale of beer only), and the Maltsters was still a malt house until the latter part of the century when it became a brewery too (as was the White Hart).
As the population of the village increased and its social habits changed, the two inns extended their premises to include large dining rooms and skittle alleys. Dr Brent, who had a finger in every pie in Woodbury, was the treasurer of the Clyst Valley Agricultural Society, and after the annual ploughing match the farmers would meet for a grand meal and entertainment usually at the Globe. Not only were the farming community entertained at the inn, but Brent also arranged political and military dinners there. From 1850 the local newspapers regularly described these celebrations. In 1860 the Ploughing Match Dinner was held in the skittle alley at the Globe – the description of the room decorated with ‘evergreens and flowers woven into various ingenious and interesting devices, concealed the rough aspect of the building, and a festoon of very large turnips hung in front of the chairman, together with the head of a South American sheep (whose valuable life had just been extinguished by its owner, Dr Brent), placed over the head of the President, Sir Lawrence Palk MP, seemed to exhibit with appropriate effect the agricultural character of the festive occasion.’ The company sat down to eat at 3pm. Dr Brent usually invited a leading political figure to attend the dinner. The most interesting change for the Globe was in 1859 when the county of Devon was divided into 22 divisions for the Petty Sessions. Woodbury was chosen as the place where the surrounding villagers would be brought before the magistrates, and it was ordered that a Petty Sessions Room should be provided. The room chosen was in the Globe Inn. Fortunately Devon County negotiated with the owner of a strip of land on Globe Hill to purchase it in order to build a Court House. An architect from Bicton was chosen to design the courthouse and a builder from Exeter was engaged to carry out the work. The Court House was used for the first time on 10th June, and so the Globe was free to return to its normal routine. Dr Brent was again a supporter of the Globe when he founded the Woodbury RA Volunteer Corps in 1859. After various military exercises or celebrations the doctor (Captain Brent) would preside over a dinner held in the skittle alley at the Globe. cont’d/...
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The possible reason that Dr Brent supported the Globe, rather than the White Hart, was because the landlord (John Searle Lindsey) was one of his sergeants in the Volunteers as well as being a freemason and supporter of a ‘free church’ in Woodbury – Brent was the man who was responsible for the building of Christ Church in 1851, and in 1870 for the building of Brent Masonic Lodge in Topsham.
The bill (on the left) was for the dinner to celebrate the marriage of Roger Stokes’s grandparents in 1905 at the Globe, whilst it was still a very popular and busy inn.
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Gill Selley
(With thanks to Roger for the two cover photos - the Globe Inn about 1900, and its skittle alley)
Woodbury And District Royal British Legion Open Event
To raise awareness of the charity RV-ONE and to showcase the Royal British Legion in Devon and beyond.
SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY, 12.00 - 15.00
THE WHITE HART, WOODBURY All welcome.
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Rspb Aylesbeare Reserve
December brought with it colder temperatures and although the colourful leaves of autumn had largely left the reserve, the frosts provided some wonderful views across the landscape. Not to be perturbed by the cold snap, our volunteers continued with the programme of winter scrub management. Focusing on the Harpford side of the reserve, several areas have changed dramatically. On the main track from Hunger Hill to Outerhanger, two areas of tall gorse have been removed. A mixture of tall gorse and birch encroaching onto the Heath were also removed up the hill from Outerhanger. The steep slope down towards the stream has been opened up through gorse removal and provides a great view across to the Aylesbeare side of the common. A further site by the track to Benchams gate, which had been taken over by birch growth, has also been tackled. These actions will allow gorse and heather regrowth, providing better habitats for our target species (such as the Dartford warbler). Thanks to Bicton College Countryside Management students, who joined us for a couple of days of scrub management, we covered a larger area than we would otherwise have managed.
We have continued to move our grazing ponies back to Aylesbeare from other reserves. Four Exmoor ponies from Manor Common (the first to graze there since 2018) have joined those already on Aylesbeare, bringing the total to 17 including the Dartmoors. A further four Dartmoor ponies on Venn Ottery Common will soon join the Aylesbeare set. Moving the ponies around provides us with the opportunity to carry out other tasks to ensure the health of the ponies, such as worming and checking the condition of their hooves.
Prior to the Christmas break we had our Christmas work party at Venn Ottery Hill. This site is an ex-quarry which has recently achieved a Sustainable Development Award in the category of Restoration. Volunteers descended on an area where birch had encroached on the heathland and spent the morning felling trees and trimming back brambles. Lunch of vegan ragu was cooked by one of the volunteers over a firepit which we all crowded around and discussed plans for the holiday season. After lunch we returned to work, though possibly with slightly less gusto after such a hearty meal!
Winter also involved a change to our bird survey activities with monthly hen harrier roost watches and winter bird transects (where a defined route is walked and birds are identified by sight or sound). The transects offer a great chance to see some heathland specialists including Dartford warblers and snipe and for the volunteers to improve their bird identification skills.
Fiona Daggett, aylesbeare.common@rspb.org.uk
Woodbury Living Advent Calendar
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The Living Advent Calendar provides a lovely run-up to Christmas and beyond, and there were some especially imaginative windows this last year. Themes included the traditional stable and crib with Mary and Joseph, the three Kings, sheep, camels and a guiding star, to views of the village, snowmen, Father Christmas and Peter Pan, as well as a stunning reindeer and a beautiful white dove. As ever, card and tissue paper were widely used for some of these wonderful window decorations, and also stickers and items such as vegetables, stuffed toys and record sleeves.
Many participants also offered festive refreshments for neighbours, friends or family, contributing to the community ethos. There were also more lights than ever before, so it seems that - along with the windows - the idea of lighting up Woodbury for Advent has really become cemented in the village calendar. There were 33 participants overall, including the churches, school, outlets and pubs, and many more villagers who walked some or all of the Trail.
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We made almost £200 from the sale of Trail Maps, to be shared equally between Woodbury Primary School and the Pre-School.
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Next year, Ruth Bagwell and Jules Hester will be taking over the organisation as we move into the sixth year of the calendar. Many thanks to all those who have participated to date and hopefully the scheme, originally started by Ruth along with Emma Taggart, will continue for many years to come.
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Elisabeth Dunne
Forthcoming Events
27 Jan. FNF Friday Night Flix. 19.00 for 19.30. WVH.
1 Feb. Woodbury Craft Group. 10.00-13.00, Christ Church.
1 Feb. Tennis Club AGM. 19.30, Church Rooms.
2 Feb. Woodbury History Society AGM. 19.30, WVH.
7 Feb. Hospiscare coffee morning. 10.00-12.00, Church Rooms.
9 Feb. Woodbury WI. Myths & Legends of Dartmoor, 14.00, WVH.
14 Feb. Woodbury Garden Club, AGM and Bring-and-Share Supper, Quiz. 19.15 for 19.30, WVH. Visitors welcome - £3.
15 Feb. Woodbury Twinning Association visit to Norman Lockyer Observatory. 19.30.
18 Feb. Sausage and Mash, 19.00, WVH. In aid of Handbell Ringers.
18&19 Feb. Tree Planting, Woodland Trust (see p.21).
22 Feb. Woodbury Craft Group. 10.00-13.00, Christ Church.
24 Feb. FNF Friday Night Flix. 19.00 for 19.30. WVH.
25 Feb. RBL Open Event, White Hart, 12.00-15.00.
28 Feb. Woodbury Residents Association AGM. 19.30, Church Rooms.
2 March Woodbury History Society LORP. 19.30, WVH.
4 March H4K Barn Dance, 19.30, WVH.
8 March Woodbury Craft Group. 10.00-13.00, Christ Church.
9 March Woodbury WI. Beekeeping. 14.00, WVH.
14 March Woodbury Garden Club House Plants. WVH, 19.15 for 19.30. Visitors welcome - £3.00.
22 March Woodbury Craft Group. 10.00-13.00, Christ Church.
24 March FNF Friday Night Flix. 19.00 for 19.30. WVH.
9 April FoSS Spring Concert. 19.00 in St Swithun’s Church.
13 April Woodbury WI. Glass making and design. 14.00, WVH.
28 April FNF Friday Night Flix. 19.00 for 19.30. WVH.
29 April FoSS Concert.
4 May Woodbury History Society talk by Robert Hesketh on Curiosities to be found in Devon Churches. 19.30, WVH.
6&7 May Two days of celebration for coronation of King Charles III.
7 May Exton Festivities to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III starting at 13.00.
11 May Woodbury WI. 14.00, WVH.
26 May FNF Friday Night Flix. 19.00 for 19.30. WVH.
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The Woodbury News accepts no liability for:- i) Any claims made by the advertiser; ii) Any errors or omissions in the advertisement as submitted by the advertiser; iii) Any legal action as a result of the advertisement.
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