Exmoor The Country Magazine Summer 2011

Your locally-owned magazine for Exmoor, The Quantocks & surrounding area

EXMOOR THE COUNTRY MAGAZINE www.theexmoormagazine.com

ISSUE No. 55 Summer 2011 £2.95

TASTE OF EXMOOR

Summer Salads Veg Box Schemes Today’s Exmoor Breeds Appledore Book Festival

Exmoor

Curriculum at Dulverton

Watery Pleasures Walking at Watermouth Children’s Seashore TRAIL ATLANTIC WATERSPORT GAMES Coasteering & Wild Swimming BRENDON GARDENS Shabby Chic PAST TIMES Woodland Birds

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42 Published quarterly by: Hoar Oak Publishing Ltd, PO Box 281, Parracombe, Devon EX31 4WW Tel: 0845 224 1203 Email: hoaroak.publishing@googlemail.com www.theexmoormagazine.com facebook: Exmoor Magazine twitter: ExmoorMagazine Editor & Designer: Naomi Cudmore naomi@naomicudmore.co.uk/ www.naomicudmore.co.uk Editorial Director: Elaine Pearce hoaroak.publishing@googlemail.com Website & Distribution: Heather Holt theexmoormagazine@gmail.com Consultant Editor: Hilary Binding Colour Management: Colin Matthews Advertising Sales: Zara Media: Grant Harrison, Susie Walker. Tel: 01392 201227; email: info@zaramedia.co.uk Printing: Warner Midlands PLC, Bourne IMPORTANT NOTICE We do our best to ensure that all advertisements and articles appear correctly. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by this publication. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor.

Contents Summer 2011 4

Cover: Holdstone Down looking towards Combe Martin by David Rowlatt. davidjrowlattphotography.co.uk

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Local Pickings: Fabulous Veg Boxes Simon Dawson delves into veg box schemes at Watchet, Over Stowey, Taunton & Ilfracombe

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Profile: Oliver Edwards of Westermill

Tony James

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Farming Talk: Taking Stock of the Future

Recipes: Salad Days

Victoria Eveleigh meets farmers rearing traditional breeds today

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Keeping a Weather Eye Open

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Walking: Berrynarbor & Widmouth Head

Sue Viccars tackles the ups and downs between Combe Martin & Ilfracombe

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Country Matters: Seagulls

Trevor Beer

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Environment: The Exmoor Curriculum

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Eating Out:The Royal Oak Inn, Luxborough

Mel Roach discovers that school’s too good to miss at Dulverton

Adrian Tierney-Jones

Jane Mares explores the clouds

Bob Deville

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Copyright © Hoar Oak Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission. We welcome contributions that fit into the magazine’s general ethos but, whilst every care is taken, all such material is sent entirely at the sender’s risk.

Thanks to Endymion Beer, Hilary Binding, Cindy Cowling, Bob & Heather Deville and Malcolm Watts for help with deliveries.

In the News

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Photographer’s Exmoor: A Walk With Our Woodland Birds

Andy Stuthridge

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Active Exmoor: Wild & Wonderful Swimming

Adrian Tierney-Jones on freshwater swimming & coasteering

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Past Times: Caring for the Poor

Hilary Binding

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Property

James Green recommends a summer clearout

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Gardens with Altitude

Rosemary Lauder visits Higher Tippacott & Cranscombe at Brendon

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Interiors: Shabby Lane

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Naomi Cudmore meets Nicky Williams at Barnstaple Pannier Market

Books: News & Reviews Hilary Binding

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Appledore Book Festival

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Endymion Beer’s Family Page:

Uncle Willow the sheepdog goes exploring on the seashore

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Em’s Garden Notes

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Emily Feldberg champions the humble house leek

In the Stableyard: Sidesaddle & Cross Country Cindy Cowling

My Favourite Pony

Molly Clayton & Blue PLUS Katherine & Prudence

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Crossword

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Well Being: U3A Elaine Pearce

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Exmoor Diary

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Final Paws

Victoria Eveleigh meets Lindsay Craswell’s leaping Labradoodle Saucy Mint

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© Roy Riley Photography

Offers & competitions!

A special subscription offer and launch of our new Subscribers’ Club!

See pages 22-23.

Up for grabs – organic veg boxes from Plowright Organic & Local Farm Box. See page 29.

Win Shabby Lane goodies for your home. See page 56.

Win personalised grooming kit from TopTrottys. See page 70.

Win £20 in our crossword competition. See page 73.

In the doghouse! Win a kennel! See page 80.

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Exmoor Summer 2011 3