from Molton Monthly Magazine January 2024

Name change for natural beauty

A family who made an incredible £25,000 donation to the Caremoor for Exmoor ‘Woods and Trees’ appeal, have planted the first trees in the new ‘Kings Wood’ near Simonsbath.

The Richards family, who have a strong connection with Exmoor, wanted to celebrate the lives of Denys and Cicely Richards who lived in West Buckland for many years and loved Devon and Exmoor.

The robust chestnut guard protecting the first parkland tree, will bear a plaque dedicated to the couple and the opportunity for other families to do the same has just been launched by Exmoor National Park.

Donor Mark Richards said, “My sisters and I are looking forward to spending time here with our children and grandchildren for years to come. The trees and dedication plaque are the perfect way for our parents to be remembered and it’s wonderful to be a part of nature recovery on Exmoor.”

Donations to CareMoor for Exmoor and sponsorship of parkland trees can be made at Exmoor National Park Centres or online: exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor

Mayor’s New Year message

As we usher in 2024, Molton Monthly asked South Molton Mayor Jacqui Footman for her thoughts as we head into the New Year.

Thank you to Molton Monthly magazine for giving me the opportunity to express a New Year’s message for our community. I’d like to wish everyone reading this a positive time of peace and happiness in 2024.

I hope that as a community we can continue to unite around the values of kindness, compassion and collaboration. Thinking considerately about and caring for one another, animals, nature, the planet; knowing that when we care for others and our environment, we also are caring for ourselves in the only sustainable way - because everything and everyone is interconnected.

For our part, at South Molton Town Council, we want to enhance our community and we will be looking at the values from national community development standards of:

- Community empowerment

- Working and learning together

- Collective action

- Social justice, equality and anti-discrimination

You can see the emphasis on togetherness in the values we adopt to work to.

Warmest wishes, Jacqui

Town’s hospice funds

Bucket collections at South Molton’s annual Christmas lights switch-on raised £203 for North Devon Hospice. This is in addition to the £1,050 raised at the town council’s 2023 firework display.

Santas on bikes bring cheer to children’s hospice

Photos by Karolina Andreasova

Around 100 bikers dressed as Santas were welcomed by South Molton Mayor Jacqui Footman and hundreds of well wishers as they cruised through the town centre on Saturday, December 9th. The ‘Santas on Bikes’ annual Devon ride-out raised at least £2,300 for the charity Children’s Hospice South West, with the grand tour ending up at Little Bridge House in Fremington bringing some festive cheer to the young residents there and their families.

The charity’s fundraiser Emma Perry said, “Our families loved seeing the Santas and the amazing gifts and donations were so generous. Thank you also to our South Molton supporters, Lynda Sudlow and the team from sponsors Griffiths, who collected donations and arranged the amazing refreshments for the bikers. This truly was a community effort, thank you.”

Mayor Jacqui Footman was among those welcoming the biking Santas to South Molton

Event organiser Paul Lynham told Molton Monthly, “Everyone really enjoys the Devon ride and the engagement along the way, especially in South Molton where the crowds to welcome us have grown year on year.”

“We hope we can continue this on both our ‘Santa’s on a Bike to Little Bridge House’, and the ‘Summer Santa Cruise’ ride at the end of June, and continue to support such an important charity which means so much to the biking community.”

Jobs to do in January

1. Now is a great time to get organised for the coming gardening year and to order seeds and plan new planting schemes.

2. Plant bare root deciduous hedging plants and trees if the ground is not waterlogged or frozen.

3. Sow sweet peas, Begonias, Lobelia, Salvia and Pelargoniums in a heated greenhouse or propagator.

4. Rhubarb can be planted up to the middle of February. You can also start forcing established plants this month.

5. Carry on feeding the birds. January and February are the toughest months for wildlife in the garden. Water is also incredibly welcome when it is freezing.

As a result of the incredibly wet autumn, we will finish potting up bare root Roses, Ornamental and Fruit trees this month. The wholesalers were unable to lift all their stock from the fields before Christmas so delivery will be delayed until mid January.