plained - Ina Garten’s Engagement roast chicken - pages 42/43 plained - Prince to King - page 44
plained - Love’s first flush - page 46
Kids Page - page 49
plained - Australasia - page 50 plained - True love for You - page 54
perience - The National Trust - page 56 perpl Just for Fun - page 59
The Cats n t door - Rascal & Ziggy - page 60
perience - What’s On - page 61 ind of Advertisers - page 62
Braunton Travis Perkins For all your building & landscaping projects Open for trade & non trade
Monday to Friday 7.30am - 5.00pm Saturday 8.00am - 12.00
BRAUNTON & DISTRICT U3A
Monthly meetings in the Parish Hall, 1st Tuesday of the month. Next meeting 4th February 10.30am. This months speaker is Braunton u3a member Karin Hewlett “My Life in Photography” Entry £2 includes tea/coffee and a biscuit. Members only, new members welcome, sign up on the day. For more information on U3A activities check the Braunton U3A website.
BRAUNTON LIBRARY
Every Monday, Under 5's, Mini Readers, read a story and have a sing song and craft, term time only 10.30 - 11.45.
Every other Monday Crochet & coffee 2 - 4pm, enquire in library for details. Tuesdays Lego Club 3.30 - 4.30.
Wednesday 10.30 - 11.30. Little Ones Stay & Play
Creative Writing second Wednesday of the month 1 - 3pm. £2 Thursdays 9.30 - 11am - Stay & Play
1st Friday of the month Art Box 3.30 - 4.30. £1 Saturdays Playmobil 10.15 - 12.00 - for 4 year olds plus Reading Groups - please ask for details Volunteers required to help with Library extra opening, 2 hours a month would make a difference. Other activities and events are all advertised on our Facebook page and website. Did you know that we have a free service delivering books to your door (Braunton area) if you are unable to get to the library? If you think you or someone else would benefit from the Devon Libraries Home Library Service then please contact us on 01271 812808
CHRISTCHURCH, BRAUNTON
Saturday February 1st - 10am – 12 Coffee morning at Christchurch. All money raised will go to Mary’s Meals - a simple solution to world hunger. Everyone welcome. Home made cakes, raffle, books and more. Community Café meets every Thursday at Christchurch 2.30 - 4.30pm. Come along and enjoy a warm welcome, a cuppa and home made cake - all for just £1.50. All ages welcome. See you there.
THE BRAUNTON MUSEUM AND INFORMATION
The museum will reopen from Monday 17th February until Friday 21st February for mornings only 10am- 1pm, then close until 17th March.
BRAUNTON FUNDRAISING GROUP FOR CANCER RESEARCH UK
Our next fundraising event will be a Quiz Night in February
BRAUNTON PARKINSON’S CAFE
Second Monday of the month at the Vivian Moon Centre, Chaloners Road, Braunton, EX33 2ES - 10.30 -12noon. A Parkinson’s Cafe is specifically for people with Parkinson’s, their partners, carers, family and friends to meet together for a cuppa and a chat in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. It is organised by volunteers from Parkinson’s UK and the Rotary Club of Braunton Caen. Please join us for a chat and the opportunity to make new friends. Contact Sarah on 01271 816150 or just turn up.
THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAUNTON CAEN MEMORY CAFÉ
Last Wednesday of the month at the Vivian Moon Centre, Chaloners Road, Braunton, EX33 2ES 2-4pm
A memory café is a friendly and informal café with a warm Rotary welcome in a relaxed atmosphere, for people with memory problems. Please come and join us for a chat, fun and refreshments, as well as making new friends. It is free of charge. Just turn up or contact Geoff on 01271 815377.
- 07561
Beat those January blues with an evening of music, fun and dancing at a Ceilidh evening in Braunton.
All proceeds from the event will go to local charity Amigos.
When: 22nd March 2025, 7:30pm - 11pm
Where: Braunton Parish Hall
Tickets : £10 per person in advance or £14 on the door (subject to availability)
All ages are welcome and no dancing experience is necessary as there will be a caller to teach all the dances.
There will be a paid bar at the venue and a raffle (cash only)
For more information and tickets contact:
Email: ticket22march@yahoo.com
Text: (Laura) 07776 181 329
Unit 20 Farm Road, Caddesdown
Be scam savvy
A never ending issue we all face are the constant stream of scams going around. It may be by way of a phone call, text, email, post, or via social media but we can be sure that fraudsters are busy trying to steal your money. Scammers take many forms, from posing as police officers asking for your bank details and cash, to rogue traders selling goods and services. Some of the most common scams involve online shopping, social media messages and texts offering bargains, and parcel delivery texts.
Our top tips for keeping your money safe:
• Be suspicious of ‘too good to be true’ offers and deals. Delay and seek advice first.
• Never send money to someone you don’t know or trust.
• Buy securely – only make online payments if there is a padlock symbol in the browser.
• Always log on to a website directly rather than clicking on email links.
• Safeguard your details – never divulge passwords or PIN numbers.
• Delete any suspicious emails and block telephone calls if necessary.
• If you spot a scam, please report it. Don’t be embarrassed to report it if you have fallen victim to a scam; these criminals are cunning and can be easily believable.
You may make it more difficult for them to defraud others. If you have been a victim of fraud, please contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk You can also report information to us online or by telephone on 101.
Donate your Unwanted Christmas Presents to Age UK and Help those Most VulnerablethisWinter
Christmas time may have come to an end, but you can still continue the season of giving by donating any unwanted gifts to the Age UK shop in Barnstaple.
Age UK shops offer a wide range of pre-loved items, all of which are sold on to be loved again, raising funds for the Charity’s work, as well as helping to reduce waste and recycle. Each of the shops is reliant on the generous donations from the local community and with winter set to once again be tough for older people, the Age UK Roundswell shop is calling on residents to help.
Loneliness and social isolation are year-round problems for older people, but winter can be particularly tough. Not only can cold temperatures seriously affect older people’s health but the darker days can make it harder to get out and about and stay connected, leaving many feeling isolated and lonely. Eye-watering energy bills and the everincreasing cost of living also mean that many older households are struggling to afford the essentials, and getting by on a low fixed income is incredibly challenging.
Donating any unwanted gifts can help change how we age, allowing Age UK to continue to run its much-needed services for those who have no one else to turn to, such as its Telephone Friendship Service, The Silver Line Helpline and Advice Line. These services can be a lifeline to older people by providing friendship, support and advice to those who are vulnerable and struggling this winter.
Cathy King, Manager at the Age UK shop in Barnstaple, said: “It can be difficult to know what to do with gifts that will never be used, or that you don’t want. That’s why we’re asking local residents to donate them to the Age UK shop in Roundswell (based on the Sainsbury's site next to Boots Chemist). Whether it’s a board game you already have, or another jumper you may not need, every unwanted gift donated will make a huge difference to the lives of older people.”
When donating people can make their donations worth an extra 25% for the Charity by signing up to Gift Aid. Simply filling out a basic form when dropping off donations means Age UK will receive an extra 25p from the Government for every £1 that is raised from donated goods.
Age UK has over 250 shops across England and Wales, which are reliant on the generous donations of the local community to keep the shelves stocked and are supported by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers. To find your nearest Age UK shop visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/shops
Important
Notice for Dog Owners
Following the installation of new play equipment at the Recreation Ground, the Parks and Gardens Committee have had to reconsider whether they should allow dogs on leads in the Recreation Ground. This is following a number of complaints received from users as well as staff regarding a few owners allowing dogs off leads and of dog waste not beingremoved.
We realise that most dog owners are responsible and do respect the policies in place. No decision has yet been made but we would like to advise that if those who ignore the signs and continue to let their dogs offleadsorallowtheirdogstofoulin
Braunton Parish Council
Clerk’s Office
Chaloners Road
Braunton Devon, EX33 2ES
Phone: 01271 812131
Email: info@brauntonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Web: www.brauntonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Facebook.com/BrauntonParishCouncil
Twitter: @brauntonparish
Hours: 09:00 - 12:00 Monday - Friday
Tracey Lovell, Clerk to the Council
Angela Corner, Senior Council Officer
Julie Spain, Admin Assistant
the recreation ground the council will have no alternative but to consider banning dogs from the rec. completely. The area would then come under the Dogs Public Space Protection Order where dog owners could be fined for allowing dogs in the rec. For further details on the PSPO please visit https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/environment/ dogs-in-north-devon/dog-controls
Of course we don’t want this to be the case and would like everyone to be able to continue to cut through the rec. when walking their dog on a lead. Please pass this information on to other dog owners. Thank you foryourcooperation.
Meetings Calendar 2025
Full Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber and additional meetings, to primarily consider planning applications, are held virtually. Councillor Surgeries are held in the Parish Hall on the first Saturday of alternate months.
North Devon Ramblers’ Winter Walks Programme.
Here are the details of our upcoming Winter walks . They are open to anyone to try out (for up to 3 walks) before joining the Ramblers’ Association. If you do decide to join, you can walk with any Ramblers’ group and also pick up walks in other areas.
Sunday 26th January- Meet at 10am at Beaford village hall car park for a 5 or 10 mile figure of 8 walk in the countryside around Beaford. Sunday 2nd February- Meet at Ashcombe Car Park, Simonsbath at 10.30 for a slower-paced winter walk on Exmoor (7.5 miles).
Tuesday 4th February- A bus and Tarka Trail walk from Landcross to Instow with a coffee stop at Bideford Station, 6 miles starting at 9.45. See our website for details of bus times.
Saturday 8th February- Meet at Baggy point NT car park at 10am for a 6.6 mile circular walk to Putsborough and back.
Wednesday 12th February- Meet at Petrockstowe Station car park at 10.30 for a 5.5 mile walk to the old quarry at Meeth.
Sunday 16th February- Meet at Lapford train station (the 9.37. from Barnstaple arrives at 10.09) for a 10.5 mile walk to Coldridge and beyond.
Wednesday 19th February- Meet at Hillsford Bridge NT car park at 10.30 for a 7.5 mile walk to Watersmeet, Countisbury and Lynmouth.
Saturday 22nd February- Meet at Braunton Academy car park at 10.00 for aa 10 mile walk around Braunton. (please book with Martin for this walk)
Sunday 23rd February- Meet at Lowdwells Lock car park near Holcombe Regis at 10.30 for a 10.5 mile walk taking in the Great Western Canal.
Wednesday 26th February- Meet at St John’s Garden Centre at Ashford for a 6 mile leisurely walk to Ashford and Bradiford Mill.
For further details on any of these walks please go to our website northdevonramblers.org.uk
Betsy is a gorgeous two-year-old Greyhound looking for a home at Dogs trust Ilfracombe Rehoming Centre.
In the short time that Betsy has been in our care, she has come on leaps and bounds with her confidence. It has been lovely to see her affectionate side shine as she gets to know her carers.
Betsy is shy initially but enjoys a fuss and ear rubs as relationships build with her human friends. She is happy to jump in the car and go for walks. She plods along gently on her lead and in these cold winter months, she loves to wear her coat. She likes the company of other calm dogs and has made lots of canine pals here at the rehoming centre.
As an ex-racing Greyhound, home-life will be a new adjustment for her. However, she has already decided that she likes to snooze on a duvet and take a soft toy to bed with her.
Betsy is looking for a quiet home environment with patient and understanding adult adopters. It would be beneficial for her to live with a calm, confident dog. She will need a home without cats or small pets. She is super adorable and for whoever adopts her they will be rewarded with a loving best friend if they give her the time to adapt and find her paws.
For more information visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/ ilfracombe.
I have been in the building industry for over 40 years. I offer a professional & personable service. My trade is bricklaying & stone laying but my wealth of building experience and expertise means I can lead on all design and build projects through to construction. I also work on smaller projects and can help you with those jobs around the home & garden.
Garden Walls / Patios Fencing Minor renovations General building support/works Extensions
R J B Building Services
Mobile: 07976 679 747
COMPUTER REPAIRS
No Fix, No Fee. Repairs from £40. New PC’s set-up. Wireless problems solved. Networking issues. Virus removal specialist. Documents rescued. Free friendly advice Business Services to Domain Level
JUST FOR FUN
HIDDEN MESSAGE
Love and Romance
December’s answer was: My idea of Christmas, whether old fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Bob Hope
CATS OF THE MONTH - RASCAL & ZIGGY
Meet eight year old brothers Rascal and Ziggy, much loved pets since kittenhood who sadly due to no fault of their own now need to find a new home.
Both gentle, playful souls, they love human company, always greeting you with enthusiasm and lots of face rubs and purrs. Great mates, they are always together, often sharing a cat bed, and we have decided that they should not be separated after all this time.
We are now looking for somewhere they would be the only pets in a quiet home with no children. Importantly, due to the location of their past home they have so far always been indoor cats. However we believe it is now time for them to enjoy a new life somewhere they can be safely introduced to the great outdoors.
With no experience of any traffic this would need to be somewhere quiet, and they would always need to be able to have access to their home should they feel the need. As with all CP cats, they've been vaccinated, vet checked and are neutered. Right now they're both raring to go. Could you be the one to give this lovely pair a second chance of a loving home?
For further information please contact: T: 03453714203
