Oke Links magazine May/June 21 issue by Links Magazines

OKE LINKS May/June 2021 | Issue 25

COM UN ITY

BUS I NESS

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Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Providing vital respite and support

Have your say Referendum time in North Tawton

Meet the locals

A jockey from Lewdown

LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN A REGULAR REGULAR SERVICE SERVICE A IS RETURNING RETURNING TO TO IS OKEHAMPTON OKEHAMPTON

A former head teacher from Exbourne

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Three cheers for optimism! As I write, the morning of March 29th, the grey Dartmoor mist is lifting and there’s a glimmer of sunshine. The improving weather reflects the national mood, as lockdown restrictions are finally being relaxed - I do so hope that by the time you sit down to read Oke Links, this optimism has continued and life is improving all around.

The deadline date for any inclusions in the July/ August issue of Oke Links will be May 28th, 2021. For all editorial enquiries please contact Jane via email: jane.honey@linksmagazines.co.uk

THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Jane Honey Design: Sara Venner, Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard,

Tim: 07450 161 929 Jane: 07772 619 808 Contact Jane Honey, Editor on 07971 917071 jane.honey@ linksmagazines.co.uk

Contents

6 Feature 10 Local People 14 Noticeboard 22 Charity 25 Education 29 Health 33 Farming 34 Gardening 37 Sport

✆ 07450 161929

Positivity is certainly on the up at Okehampton Station, which has been featured on national news broadcasts recently due to the return of a regular train service to Exeter - the subject of our feature in this edition. Sport is something the local people I interviewed for this issue have in common - though in very different areas. Former professional jockey Rosemary Henderson became the darling of the tabloids in 1996, when she competed in the Grand National at the age of 51, successfully completing the course and finishing in fifth place. And PE teacher Daryll Chapman, who retired from his role as chief executive of Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust last year, has been involved in sport all his life, initially in professional football before passing on his love of football and rugby through education. This spring marks the 35th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear accident, when Reactor Four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station exploded, causing toxic radioactive elements to fall across a wide area of Belarus and the Ukraine. The poisonous fallout continues to affect the health of people living in the area and is likely to do so for generations to come. The subject of our charity focus is the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline (CCL), which provides recuperative breaks in the UK for children from the area. Read about CCL on page 22 and see how you can support the charity’s life-saving work. May and June are definitely my favourite months of the year and a brilliant time for visiting gardens. There are quite a few ‘open gardens’ in the area that you can go to see and by doing so raise money for charity - see a selection of them on page 39. It’s also the time of year that Moretonhampstead holds its wonderful flag festival, always a joyful sight to behold. This year the town has also marked the fact that one of the UK’s most influential engineers hailed from its streets. The fascinating story of George Bidder - ‘the calculating boy’ - is on page 54 - happy reading!

Jane Jane Honey, Editor

38 Finance 39 What’s On 46 Music and Art 52 Food and Drink 54 History 56 Winnie’s Walk 59 Business Directory 62 Trade Secrets

12 56

@okelinks

Delivered by the Royal Mail to the following towns and villages: Okehampton, Moretonhampstead, Chagford, Chichacott Stockley, Belstone, Bondleigh, North Tawton, Sampford Courtenay, Taw Green, Sticklepath, South Zeal, Throwleigh Wonson Lydford, Lewdown, Bridestowe, Gidleigh, North Bovey, Sourton, Meldon, Boasley Cross, Bratton Clovelly, Portgate, Lewtrenchard Disclaimer: Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Olijam Communications Ltd the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by such material. The opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. All content is fully covered by copyright laws and reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

FEATURE

Letting the train take the strain Campaigners who have long worked to see the reinstatement of a regular train service from Okehampton were jubilant at the announcement in March of a two hourly, seven day a week service between Okehampton and Exeter commencing later this year. Dr Michael Ireland, chair of OkeRail, takes up the story... Railways are about arrivals and departures. The Okehampton to Exeter line, known as the Dartmoor line, departing from Exeter Central and St David’s stations, has had significance for the community over its 150 year history. The first train from Exeter arrived at Okehampton in 1871. The last departure was the service to Exeter marking the line’s closure to regular services on June 5th, 1972, just over 100 years after its opening. This date has a personal significance for me - my 24th birthday. In the intervening years, the line has been keep alive by a number of community initiatives to provide ad hoc passenger services, freight and aggregate trains. Freight in the form of agricultural fertiliser and feed continued to be delivered to the goods sidings (now the site of the Okehampton Youth Hostel) until the 1980s, a decade after the cessation of regular passenger services. The line has been ‘saved’ from being dismantled by carrying stone for track ballast from Meldon quarry until those trains ceased in 2008. The station itself fell into disrepair until renovated by Devon County Council in the 1990s.

Keeping the railway alive The renovation was followed by the introduction of Sunday ‘Rover’ services to Okehampton from Exeter; with connecting bus services to Dartmoor and the Tamar valley line at Gunnislake. 6

Numerous attempts have been made to realise the potential of the line through tourists and leisure services. The Dartmoor Railway was borne out of a partnership between Aggregate Industries, the owner of the line from Coleford Junction to Meldon, Devon County Council, Dartmoor National Park and RMS Locotec. Janet Carpenter - past Mayor of Okehampton - remembers working on the trains to Exeter from 1997 to 2007 as a guard and ticket inspector. Since 2004, rail services have been operated by leaseholders, first Ealing Community Transport and then IOWA Pacific Holdings. Their UK subsidiary, British and American Railways (BARS), planned to operate a freight and passenger service on the line. When stone traffic from Meldon Quarry ceased, the railway continued to operate special events trains at Christmas and a limited service from Meldon to Sampford Courteney Station. What were successful were the summer Sunday service to Exeter, run by GWR with support from Devon County Council. These services were complemented by special trains run by GWR and OkeRail, to London, Stratford-upon-Avon and Weymouth. The importance of these services were that they made the case for the reintroduction of the railway on a seven day a week basis, the fantastic news which was announced on March 19th this year.

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FEATURE

The benefits of a regular service The railway returning to Okehampton will provide opportunity for growth in incomes and employment through inward investment in the town. The cost of reinstating the line for daily use and building an Okehampton Parkway (off the A30, near new housing and the industrial estate) will be relatively cheap. The line will also generate an economic uplift of £4.2 million per annum based on journey time savings and a line speed of 60 mph. The money spent on capital costs will give an excellent return on the initial investment.

This point was supported by Sir Peter Hendy of Network Rail, who at a recent meeting of Travel Watch South West argued that railways create wealth, bringing economic growth, jobs and houses. Okehampton already has another 900 houses under construction or planned on the hamlets/town boundary. With the potential of more cars heading into Exeter, a new ‘Park and

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FEATURE

Ride’ and daily train service would alleviate traffic problems and benefit the environment. Research undertaken with the local business community supports this point. Nigel Wayne, a local businessman explained: ‘My business is definitely held back by the lack of rail infrastructure. I have a few clients in other parts of the country, London and the home counties mainly. I often get referrals from them, but the sheer impracticality of the travel times to visit these potential clients loses me these opportunities. To drive to an appointment in London would mean an entire day, plus fuel costs, plus parking, probably for a two hour meeting. Even driving to Exeter adds two hours, fuel costs, parking costs.’ There is a clear business case for the line already in existence to Okehampton; and it must be stressed this will benefit an area of the South West Peninsula far beyond the town, to the North Cornwall coast.

Looking to the future What is needed is cross-border cooperation between Devon County Council and Cornwall Unity Authority to establish Okehampton as a rail hub for North Cornwall and West Devon. In the meantime, Connect Bude, a rail action group is pressing for better connectivity between North Cornwall and the national rail network, through the establishment of a bus link serving Bude and Holsworthy to Okehampton station. This initiative would, if successful ,be a tremendous benefit to the tourist industry in this area. A similar argument can be made for Tavistock and Launceston, which are only 20 minutes’ travel time from Okehampton. Trains to Okehampton will commence in late 2021 with a 2 hourly service to Exeter, comprising eight trains a day, Monday to Saturday and seven trains on Sundays. In 2022, GWR will launch an hourly service.

Tavistock to Okehampton Re-opening Scheme A proposal to ‘close the gap’ between Okehampton and Tavistock has been put forward to the ‘Renewing our Railways’ government-funded scheme by ToRs (Tavistock to Okehampton Railways ) group. Andrew Roden of the Northern Route Working Group believes rebuilding the railway through Dartmoor could be transformative to Devon and Cornwall. Andrew said: ‘If the team of experts behind this proposal are right – and we wouldn’t have given months of our time freely for a flight of fancy – this railway will unlock a major regeneration of a huge part of Devon and Cornwall, improving the environment, access to work and education, reducing road congestion and helping our young people to be able to remain in the area they grew up in. ‘There are challenges and there will be concerns about the impact of the railway on the environment and on property; about noise and vibration; and about the impact on priceless treasures such as Meldon Viaduct. It is vital everyone with a view for or against is treated decently, kindly and with respect, so the process would involve detailed studies to define potential routes before presenting the options at a public consultation, followed by a review period to address concerns, and find solutions for areas of difficulty.’ ‘For too long, the South West has been the poorest relation in terms of transport investment. For a tiny fraction of the cost of High Speed 2 or Northern Powerhouse Rail, we believe this railway will make more of a difference than any other comparable scheme. ‘If the Prime Minister truly wants to ‘level up’ the South West, we believe this is by far the best transport intervention to achieve that. Increasingly, the region’s MPs are also coming round to that view. In our opinion the ToRs project simply has to happen.’

Dr Michael Ireland Chair, OkeRail

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Rosemary Henderson Jockey and author At 78, Rosemary Henderson has crammed an astonishing stack of experiences into her life - even if, at the time we spoke in March, she was somewhat stuck doing not a lot, thanks to Covid restrictions. Brought up in Gloucestershire, she has always been animal-mad, a keen rider and lover of dogs and cats. She started racing in point to points and national hunt races at the comparatively mature age of 31 and it was the racing world that brought her into contact with equine vet Bill Henderson, himself a jockey and 15 years her junior. She remembered feeling quite annoyed the practice had sent out ‘this newcomer’ to see her horses, but they hit it off, spending time riding and competing together. ‘We ended up getting married in 1986 - I was 43, he was 27,’ said Rosemary.

Bill’s intention to set up in practice on his own saw the couple move to Folly Gate the same year. The couple had five horses by this time and Rosemary was competing regularly, doing well in national hunt events and relishing the thrill of racing. Then Fiddler’s Pike came into her life - or Magnus, as she called him - who was given to the couple after Bill had spent much time treating his bad back. After a boozy meal with neighbours Noel and Helen Edmonds, Rosemary was persuaded to enter him into the Grand National. ‘I’d never wanted to ride it but we’d done quite a lot of good races. Jimmy Frost, a local trainer, rang up and offered to ride him in it and I thought: “If that horse is going to run, I’m going to be the one to ride him”,’ said Rosemary, who was 51 at the time.

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‘I was walking the dogs two weeks before the race and thought: “What the hell am I doing?”!’ Rosemary said Magnus was a neurotic starter - if not ‘led up’ he’d whip around, ending up facing the wrong way when when the flag went up. However, once he got going, he was a very strong galloper and great jumper: ‘We made a good pair,’ she said. They certainly did that day in 1996, when Rosemary, tagged in the press as ‘the galloping granny’ (completely erroneously; she has no children), finished fifth out of 40 starters, remaining for many years the highest placed woman jockey in the world famous race. She later wrote a book, Road to the National, based on the experience. Life for Bill and Rosemary took a completely new turn when they accompanied his parents, his father having suffered a brain haemorrhage, to New Zealand in 1998. After a short period travelling they settled on the North Island, where most horse eventing takes place. Bill established a new client base, while also gaining a pilot’s licence. Flying to see clients gave the couple more scope to move further afield, eventually re-building a house on the beach at Golden Bay on the South Island.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

‘I loved the Caribbean - you can do a different island every day. When you think I didn’t leave Gloucestershire until I was 43, I’ve been very lucky!’ laughed Rosemary. They returned to Australia in 2010 but incredibly sadly, Rosemary lost Bill to a brain tumour in 2014, following a two year fight with cancer.

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She now divides her time between Australia and her home in Lewdown, although thanks to Covid she’s been unable to return ‘down under’. Still as active as ever, she is planning a sponsored cycle ride in May on the Tarka Trail, to raise funds for research into dementia.

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‘He was only 57 - I always thought he’d be looking after me when I got old,’ said Rosemary.

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‘We’d always had sailing boats but we wanted to live on a boat for a bit. We started looking at these amazing cruisers, very slow but with amazing range and very stable, big enough to get all our kit in,’ said Rosemary. With no horses of their own by this stage, or dogs, there was nothing stopping them -

she and Bill bought the good ship Levity and spent three years on her, exploring the Caribbean and east coast of America, wintering in the West Indies.

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‘It’s a lovely area, a beautiful place to live,’ said Rosemary. Living by the ocean developed their love of sailing and sparked a desire to see more of the world - in 2008 they upped sticks and relocated to the north of Brisbane in Australia, an easier country from which to sail.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Daryll Chapman Teacher and sports enthusiast Daryll Chapman is just beginning to get used to a different pace of life. Having retired as CEO of Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust last September, after working at Okehampton College since 2001, he’s enjoying learning new skills on the building site! Born in Kenilworth, Daryll spent his formative years in Derbyshire. A lover of sport from an early age, he spent a year under contract to Derby County FC - ‘a great experience’ - and later played semi-professionally for Crewe Alexandra before making the decision to study PE and become a teacher. His wife Jill was also a PE teacher - not surprisingly, their three children share their parents’ love of sport, his two daughters both competing at national and international level. Daryll came to Okehampton from a position as deputy head at a school in Aylesbury. ‘It was a tough school in special measures,’ he said. ‘It was very challenging, but very rewarding. But we’d started coming down to this neck of the woods, I suppose as respite from the job, and we decided to think about getting a post down here. Chris Powell appointed me to be his deputy at Okehampton College in September 2001.’ Daryll remembered his first year as being difficult for the school - and the community. The college had suffered flooding, foot and mouth had hit the area badly and a couple of students sadly lost their lives. The way education is provided has seen huge changes since Daryll arrived in Devon - first there were federations 12

and now the college now is part of a 17-school academy encompassing primary and secondary education, covering a large, rural area. Daryll said: ‘I still think that’s one of the appeals of federations and trusts, there’s a lot we can learn from each other. ‘At one time we had the money to be much more creative, more imaginative. In recent years it’s been very much documented how schools down here have struggled financially. Devon was languishing towards the bottom of the table, one of the worst authorities in terms of funding for education - it shouldn’t be a postcode lottery and we went through a time feeling it very much was, so we in schools have been very active in pressing for fair funding. ‘We have been very lucky and successful with a lot of self-help projects, things like the skills centre at the college, the development of the science labs to name but a few. It’s been tough at times but incredibly rewarding for the majority of time.’ Daryll said he had ‘absolutely loved’ teaching and drew huge satisfaction from it. ‘Every child develops but just at different times. You see some youngsters that aren’t quite ready at 16 or 18 but go on to do wonderful things and I’ve seen

youngsters whose practical prowess is spectacular - they just aren’t cut out for the classroom. ‘You don’t see the outcome of your job until afterwards. It’s not an immediate reward, it comes back years after, when you bump into these youngsters when they’ve developed and matured.’ Daryll may have left Okehampton College but he’s still involved in education, providing support to headteachers through the Devon School Leadership Service. And a world away from this, he’s helping a friend on a housing development project. ‘I’m really enjoying learning new practical skills and it’s so different to anything I’ve done before,’ said Daryll, who has recently become chair of Okehampton United Charities (OUC), having been a trustee for many years. OUC distributes around £380,000-worth of support to schools, organisations and individuals in Okehampton and its hamlets every year and Daryll is keen to promote the charity as widely as possible.

‘As a town we are very, very lucky have a charity of that size. So many organisations and individuals are able to apply

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LOCAL PEOPLE Athletes Becca and Katie Chapman

to it for support and I would encourage them to do so.’ Injuries and metalwork in his ankles mean Daryll’s days of playing football and rugby are over - these days he and his wife are doing a lot of walking they’ve got as far as Portland on the

South West coast path; he’d like to do the Saint’s Way and perhaps Hadrian’s Wall. And maybe having retired from teaching he will find time to learn to play a musical instrument or master a foreign language - both of which he wishes he’d done when younger.

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‘As I always say, don’t lead a life of “I wish I had” - lead a life of “thank goodness I did” - it’s about engaging in opportunity,’ said Daryll. Jane Honey

NOTICEBOARD

North Tawton referendum - have your say! Residents of the parish of North Tawton can vote on their Neighbourhood Plan on May 6th. If the plan is endorsed by a majority in this referendum, the Neighbourhood Plan will be considered in future planning decisions by West Devon Borough Council.

The referendum to be held on May 6th will ask residents a single question: ‘Do you want West Devon Borough Council to use North Tawton’s Neighbourhood Plan to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’ People can vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

The plan has been put together over several years, involving hundreds of townspeople in questionnaires and consultation events. It puts forward a vision for the town from 2016 until 2034 covering housing, employment, community life, transport, commerce and the environment. It is available online - a leaflet outlining its contents and how it was developed has gone to every address on the electoral register.

Jean Trewhitt, chair of the Neighbourhood Plan steering group, said: ‘Communities were given the power to produce Neighbourhood Plans in order to have a say in the future development of their localities. A strict process of statutory consultation is laid down and must be followed before a plan can be drawn up. ‘In North Tawton, some issues raised fell outside the scope of planning

regulations, these have been noted as community actions to be taken forward in different ways. ‘The final stage for a Neighbourhood Plan is a referendum, so now the people of North Tawton have the final say on whether the plan should be used in planning decisions made about the town in the future.’ The plan can be viewed at www. northtawtonneighbourhoodplan.co.uk - if you can’t access the internet and want to see the plan please phone 01837 880121. For further information contact North Tawton Town Council on 01837 880121 or Jean Trewhitt at jean.trewhitt@northtawtontowncouncil. gov.uk

Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association (DRSA) is the all volunteer organisation dedicated to preserving the heritage of Okehampton station and the Dartmoor Line. The group is currently working in partnership with Network Rail, GWR, Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership and other stakeholders towards the re-opening of daily trains from Exeter to Okehampton.

Its volunteers have helped maintain and look after the station for many years, including providing a museum and railway themed shop. If you’d like to get involved, or for further details, please see the DRSA website or Facebook page at www.dartmoorrailway-sa.org or www.facebook.com/ dartmoorrailway.sa

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NOTICEBOARD

The Beacon Shared Path Sticklepath is a small village with few buses and roads and lanes busy with motor vehicles. Very few have verges or pavements, making walking, cycling, horse riding and buggy use risky, especially for school children walking between villages to school or using the main road. A group of villagers have got together to try and get a dedicated shared/cycle path from Sticklepath to Okehampton, about five kilometres away. We also want to link the path to the primary school in South Zeal. We have a vision of safe, active travel for everyone across our area. Many more people would walk or cycle if it was safer to do so. Enabling children and young people to get to school and college other than by car or bus would enhance health and wellbeing. Reducing

traffic congestion associated with schools would be beneficial also. A shared path would provide a route onto Dartmoor for walkers and cyclists from Okehampton and train users too, so has potential for tourist businesses. We have had an initial report from Sustrans - the next stage is raising £6,500 for the full feasibility study. We have had a generous donation from Okehampton Medical Centre and have a crowdfunder to raise as much as we can.

When we reach our target the project funding will need to come from government, local and national. Ultimately we would like to see a joined up shared way encircling Dartmoor. To support this project go to crowdfunder. co.uk/beacon-shared-path Cllr Lyn Daniel

Story bags at Okehampton Library Friends of Okehampton Library have successfully secured a £500 grant from the local county councillor’s Locality Budget to fund story bags for families. Staff have been able to purchase enough books, puppets and wooden characters to put together 18 story bags, available for loan to families in the community. Families have been missing their weekly story time sessions in the library, a time when staff read to the children and include props and story sacks to enhance the experience.  Unfortunately, due to social distancing measures, this valuable activity is not currently available.

Using props with stories brings the story to life and helps to improve a child’s imagination and ability to make and tell stories of their own, in addition to developing social and emotional skills. For these reasons, staff at Okehampton Library were keen to find a way to help local families enjoy story time at home.

Reading together helps to develop many skills including listening, language, communication, empathy, and reading, while also helping to build bonds between adult and child.

Each story bag contains a picture book and either puppets or wooden characters, plus hints and tips on reading with your child. Contact Okehampton Library on 01837 52805 for the list of story bags available for loan.

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What Rotary means to me Having spent a 35-year career as a lecturer in London, I took early retirement and moved to Okehampton ten years ago and set up my own educational consultancy company. What struck me first about the South West and especially Okehampton, was the sense of community - around this time four employers closed with a loss of jobs, but the community rallied around and supported those affected. When attending a Rotary May Fair I was impressed with the professional set up, and made enquiries on how I could make a difference, and put something back into the community that had welcomed my family. So eight years ago, I joined Okehampton Rotary, part of Rotary International which has Rotary Clubs in almost every country in the world. The overriding principle of Rotary is ‘service to others before oneself’, a simple principle which is not connected to any religious organisation, although a lot of members from all faiths are members. When the WHO declared the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, Rotary Okehampton decided we could best serve the community by supporting the Covid-19 Support Group and the Food Bank, as a means of identifying those most in need. To date we have supplied food vouchers, gardening and craft tokens, freezers, washing machines, beds and computers via

the response team. This year in conjunction with Okehampton United Charities and Oaktree Occasions, we supplied and delivered Christmas dinners to some of the most vulnerable on behalf of the community. If you feel you would like to know more about Rotary, contact us at rotaryokehampton@outlook.com. Alternatively, if you would like to support our efforts, we can collect donations towards our dwindling funds through: www.easyfundraising. org.uk , Amazon Smile and Crowdfunding on JustGiving. Further details will be available on the club website and Facebook page. Donations can also be made directly via BAC’s to the Rotary Club of Okehampton: Sort Code 54-21-14 Account 22093400. We are now gearing ourselves up for the number of requests for support that will inevitably come in post-Covid, so any assistance would be gratefully received. As part of this process, we shall be selling raffle tickets for a family day at Harry Potter World, for two adults and two children under 11. Further details will be available soon. Thank you Okehampton for making our work possible. Hugh McPhillips Rotary President

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News from Belstone CC In mid-March, work started on the longplanned new pavilion, with a morning’s hard toil with picks and shovels and a mechanical digger. A 10-metre long, one-metre deep trench was dug, later filled with concrete, as the first stage of the foundations at the back of the building. Hopefully, this summer normal service will be resumed on the cricket field. At Belstone a full program of Division One North Devon League Sunday afternoon fixtures are in place. There will be fewer teams in the mid week evening T20 Buckley Cup than previously so, giving the opportunity to arrange more friendly games against old friends like Yeoford, Spreyton and Tedburn. If you are a regular player new to the area, or fancy playing for the first time in a while for a friendly, we’d love to hear from you – contact Club Secretary Chris Walpole on 01837 840498 or email chris.walpole1@ outlook.com. In 2019 Belstone joined the All Stars Cricket initiative for five to eight year olds organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board – it was great fun for the 35 youngsters who got involved, and for the adults who helped run it.

Phil Dennis and Barry Woods (foreground) cut the first sods for the new pavilion. Picture by Chris Walpole

This had to be cancelled last year but now All Stars is kicking off again and it will be joined by Dynamos Cricket, specially designed for eight to eleven year olds. Both all-action programmes look to get lots of youngsters involved in the game over eight Friday evenings at Rew Meadow, starting on Friday, June 4th. The activity and game based sessions are suitable for all skill levels, providing your child with the foundations to begin a lifelong love of physical activity and cricket, while making friends in a safe and enjoyable environment. All Stars kids receive their own personalised kit bag of cricket stuff

and Dynamos kids get personalised T-shirts and play a fast-paced and exciting game of 60-ball countdown cricket every week, mimicking the new Hundred professional game. At Belstone the sessions will be led by senior player Richard Drake, All Stars running between 5.30pm and 6.30pm and Dynamos between 6.45pm and 7.45pm. For more details and to register your child visit www.allstarscricket.co.uk or www.dynamoscricket.co.uk and search for Belstone. Chris Walpole Belstone Cricket Club

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NOTICEBOARD

The Dartmoor Diary Just published is a very special edition of the Dartmoor Pony Society (DPS) ‘Dartmoor Diary’, celebrating 50 years since the first black and white issue in 1971. The full colour illustrated diary is a celebration of Dartmoor ponies worldwide as well as a source of information for breeders and enthusiasts alike. The DPS is the ‘Mother’ Society for the traditional Dartmoor pony worldwide. The Diary includes stallions at stud, updates from Members and ‘Daughter’ Societies from as far afield as Orkney

in the UK to Europe and America, as well as highlighting characters of the Dartmoor pony world, past and present, four-legged and two! There are articles on pony registration and showing rules and a particular focus on rare bloodlines – including an appeal to all those interested in the breed to come forward if they know the whereabouts of any of the ponies that have these bloodlines - or their progeny. It is included free with Dartmoor Pony Society Membership (see website www.dartmoorponysociety.com)

or can be purchased separately for £12 including P&P from Viv Brown, DPS Secretary, email: secretary@ dartmoorponysociety.com or call 01269 844303.

Good news at The Toy Shop Despite recent lockdown restrictions, times are exciting for Jade OliverDeacon, owner of The Toy Shop in Okehampton. She celebrated her fifth anniversary at the shop at the end of last year and recently learned she is the recipient of a national industry award, earning ‘Super Hero’ recognition from the Toy, Craft and Hobby Association. Jade said: ‘They launched it last year because of lockdown. They went to all the suppliers and manufacturers and asked them to nominate people who had gone above and beyond to keep their businesses going and more importantly, support their customers. I was amazed and completely delighted to have won it!’

Jade is also delighted to announce that thanks to the generosity of her suppliers and customers, a charity fundraiser she ran at the end of last year raised an incredible £1,300 for Hospiscare - despite the shop being closed for November due to coronavirus lockdowns. ‘I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone - without you I couldn’t have done it,’ said Jade, who has just launched a new, easy to navigate website for the shop www. thetoyshopoke.co.uk ‘I’m trying to offer the level of service online that customers expect when they walk into the shop - the feedback so far has been really positive!’

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Thank you to Pat! Pat Sawyer joined Okehampton and District Community Transport Group (ODCTG) in 2000 when she and her husband Tony moved to the area. Tony became a volunteer driver and Pat joined the committee before taking on the role of Chairman. Pat also worked at Okehampton Library and was involved with West Devon CVS. Tony worked at Castle Drogo for the National Trust and Pat volunteered as a ‘meet and greet’ or in the office. They have now taken a much deserved retirement from their roles but will still be volunteering at the castle when it is able to re-open to visitors.

Pat recently stood down as ODCTG chairman but has agreed to stay on as a trustee. The new chairman is Cllr Tony Leech, who became a trustee after sitting on the committee for many years. Tony said: ‘I would like to thank Pat for her long term dedication to the Okehampton and District Community Transport Group. She joined the group some twenty years ago when it was in its infancy, and has helped it grow into the extremely well and professionally run organisation that it is today.

‘She should be very proud of what she has been able to do to help the many thousands of people who have used, and continue to use, our community transport services.’ Due to the current restrictions ODCTG has been unable to have a get together to celebrate but hopes to hold its annual volunteers’ cream tea in the summer.

I think I’m being underpaid I am over 25 and entitled to the National Living Wage, but suspect I am being underpaid. How can I find out if I’m being paid the right amount, and claim what I am owed from my employer? If you think you’ve been underpaid, you should act quickly. Check your payslip - you will be able to see the number of hours you’ve worked, the rate you’ve been paid at and if there have been

any deductions. Ask your employer to explain anything you don’t understand, and tell them why you think you have been underpaid. If there was a genuine mistake, ask your employer to pay you straight away. You shouldn’t have to wait until next payday. If your employer refuses to pay back your wages you can formally raise a grievance, either by writing to your employer or following your company’s

ARE YOU MOVING HOME? Planning to buy or sell property is exciting, but there’s a lot to it! Be as prepared as you can be by getting conveyancing advice early. We offer face-to-face appointments every Wednesday afternoon in Okehampton. QualitySolicitors Charlesworth Nicholl

Call Andrew Luxton to book in.

Changing the way you see lawyers. 01363 774706 mail@charlesworthnicholl.co.uk www.qualitysolicitors.com/charlesworthnicholl 31 High Street, Crediton, Devon, EX17 3AJ See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

grievance procedure. If this still doesn’t work, you can take your employer to a tribunal. Contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) on 0300 123 1100, or visit www.acas.org.uk, who will see if your employer will agree to a conciliation process, rather than go to court. Otherwise you can take your employer to a tribunal. From April 1st, 2021, the Government has announced that the national living wage will apply if you are aged 23 and over, and will rise to £8.91 per hour. Otherwise, the following national minimum wage rates apply: Aged 21 – 22, £8.36 per hour; Aged 18 – 20, £6.56 per hour; Aged under 18, £4.62 per hour; Apprentice £4.30 per hour. Further advice and information is available from citizensadvice.org.uk 19

NOTICEBOARD

New trustee for Okehampton United Charities The trustees of Okehampton United Charities, the organisation which distributes grant support to groups, schools and individuals in Okehampton and its hamlets, has welcomed a new member. Joanna Drew has lived in Okehampton for 18 years, having lived in Devon for nearly her life. She is a single parent of two children - one of whom is now a trainee solicitor, while her youngest is studying Economics at university. Her daughter was the first of her family to go to university.

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Jo said: ‘I am the fundraising manager at Gilead Foundations Charity, which provides a supported living service, giving me valuable experience helping women who have had addictions, experienced homelessness and domestic abuse. I have been involved with Gilead since I was 18, having had my last work experience from college there. I enjoyed house parenting and catering for large numbers and this led on to finding much joy in all kinds of fundraising for the charity. Some funders have paid residents’ debts, provided laptops for

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education and paid for a gardener to teach horticultural skills.’ As an active member of Okehampton Baptist Church, Jo often plays the drums or guitar and has worked with the youth at the church for ten years. She has also taken up running over the last few years, enjoying the wonderful countryside on our doorstep. Jo added: ‘It’s with great excitement and gratitude that I have been chosen to join the Trustees to serve the community of Okehampton.’

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Tips for a healthy pond this summer Now’s the time to ensure your pond is 100% fit for Summer. Fish have starting getting active again, as has sunlight.

Here are some top tips:

1. Make sure your equipment is running effectively. Check your pump, clean the impeller of sludge. Ensure filter foams are OK – if not, replace – 1-2 foams to start with, and a few weeks later the rest - this gives good bacteria time to grow. 2. Check pond hoses and fixings and replace if necessary. 3. Use a filter booster, especially if replacing foams. Live Filter Bacteria helps establish your filter and will reduce sludge. 4. Replace your UV Bulb, if not done already. With stronger sunlight, algae will grow quickly.

5. If you have sludge in the bottom of your pond use a PondVac, or a natural Sludge bomb. 6. Remove dead or rotting plants and replant with new, ensuring you have oxygenating plants. 7. Fertilise pond plants with a slow release aquatic food for maximum growth. 8. Start to feed your fish with regular protein food.

9. Test your water – this can tell you a great deal about the state of your pond. 10. Keep your fish safe from herons with netting or heron deterrents. If you have any problems with your pond that you can’t fathom yourself, visit Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre at Bow near Crediton or call 01363 82438 and one of their friendly team will be able to help you.

Hat trick of awards for Devon Yurt Devon Yurt, established in 2007, is a pioneer in the Glamping world. It remains at the peak of its game as for a third consecutive year, it has won a top award from Visit Devon, for the best Glamping business in Devon. This year, they were awarded Silver, last year, they

clinched Gold and previously, a Silver. Devon Yurt, owned by Julia Martin, are also finalists for best Glamping in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, the third consecutive year they will scoop a major title at this level - they also have a gold award from Green

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Tourism, recognising a business with a significant investment in green issues and sustainability. With just two yurts in their own private paddocks on a beautiful West Devon farm overlooking Dartmoor, guests enjoy natural surroundings in luxury. Each yurt has its own firepit and log-fired hot tub; Julia has even ordered a new barrel sauna, arriving later this season. There are rare breed animals to meet, great places to visit and a range of local food items can be delivered to the door - from breakfast baskets, BBQ packs even a pizza pack. To sample a touch of glamping luxury close to home this summer, use code LINKS21 to qualify for a free hot tub session during your stay. For further information visit www. devonyurt.co.uk or telephone Julia on 01822 870366. 21

CHARITY FOCUS

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Providing life-saving respite for young people Who are we and why we do what we do? Thirty five years ago, on April 26th, 1986 at 1.23am, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station exploded. As a consequence of the explosion, radioactive elements fell across Belarus and the Ukraine and the fallout will continue to affect the people of these countries for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Our charity, the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, was established and registered in 1992 by the late Victor Mizzi OBE to support children and their families from Belarus and Ukraine, forever affected by the world’s worst nuclear disaster. The radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear explosion has caused numerous and varying health issues for the population which will last through generations to come. As well as thyroid cancer, bone cancer, leukaemia, and other non-oncological conditions, many people continue to experience severe psychological distress directly linked to the effects of Chernobyl. This in turn often causes medical conditions which can then develop to become serious and even life threatening.

ONE

The main aims of our charity are: • To bring child victims of the Chernobyl disaster to the UK for recuperative breaks of up to four weeks - close to 50,000 children and young adults have benefitted from staying with host families since our inception in 1992. • To provide on-going supplies of multi-vitamins and basic healthcare products, school uniforms, stationary, learning aids, special needs items, clothing, shoes and toiletries to the children on their return.

• To work with our Belarusian and Ukrainian partners to locate children who will benefit from a recuperative care break. • To help children too sick to travel by providing chemotherapy medicines to Children’s Cancer Hospitals in Minsk, Gomel, Mogilov and Brest regions. Support with medicines and equipment for Baby Home No 1 in Minsk, the assisting of numerous Social Centres (temporary foster care facilities), individual foster families, and centres for children with special needs as well as several orphanages.

The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline’s reason for being is not for the relief of poverty or to provide holidays for poor children. It exists because of the difference we can make to the lives of children growing up with the long term health effects of the Chernobyl Disaster, Funeral Directors which no amount of money can correct.

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CHARITY FOCUS

of years to come, this is time these children do not have. All these children are affected regardless of whether they have satellite TV and a flushing toilet or a cow in the back garden and an earth closet. During a recent visit to the cancer hospital for children in Minsk, one psychologist told us: “ALL children, regardless of race, social background or education, that live in contaminated areas, deserve the opportunity for a respite break. You would not believe the difference when they return home. Their health is so much improved; it is wonderful to see.’ Just remember that while they live at home, they are constantly eating contaminated food - and Caesium or other radioactive elements may be building up in their bodies. They are all at high risk of developing cancer, heart disease or serious respiratory or digestive problems. The time they spend with a host family in the UK may help to prevent this by boosting their immune system and reducing the levels of contaminates in their system. They are not infectious in any way and no child is allowed to travel without a certificate of good health.

So, do you think you could join us?.

Lifeline - you could offer to be a host family (if you have a spare room) or to support us with our fundraising efforts, so we can offer this opportunity to as many children as possible. It’s a great thing to do and extremely rewarding, you will join a fabulous group of likeminded people. We have a number of Lifeline Links within the Westcountry, including midDevon. There’s sure to be a Link close to you.

How can you get involved? If you are considering getting involved, there are many opportunities: Become a host family, hosting a child for two to four weeks in 2022 Help fundraise – Whether it’s a sponsored Run, Walk, Swim Help on our stalls at events (all when we can safely do this again)

or call Vanessa 07706 972906 - who will only be too happy to explain in more detail what we do and what you can expect. We look forward to meeting you! Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline

Our unique home enabling service is flexible and dementia-friendly. Home-cooked meals, country walks, household admin – and much more… We provide a personalised package of support, helping you or a loved one continue to live safely, independently and happily at home. Call Claire to discuss your needs

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Make items that we can sell – New Year’s Day Dips – Virtual Balloon races and Pet Competitions - to name but a few ideas that we have undertaken. Our contact details in the first instance are: Email – Belarusness@hotmail.co.uk

There are so many ways to become involved with Chernobyl Children’s

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Are you ready to shake it up? Explore our wide range of adult courses including Access and Degree level programmes at our next Virtual Open Event on 22nd June. Register at exe-coll.ac.uk/open-events 24

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Discover your next steps with further education This past year has seen many of us having to adapt and learn new skills. Now is the perfect time to hone these new skills into new qualifications and to progress in your career. Our local further education colleges offer a wide range of courses. Whether you want to get a qualification for that new skill you have just learnt or are looking to move in a different career direction, they can help you with your next steps. Finding the right course for you There are a range of options available to you from professional courses such as Accounting, Counselling and Management and Leadership to Higher Education programmes. Apprenticeships are also an option, offering vocational training and the opportunity to learn ‘on-the-job’. If you don’t yet have the qualifications you need to study a course, then contact

EDUCATION

Award-winning choir looks to the future

your local college for advice – they will be happy to guide you. From GCSE Maths and English to Access courses to help you get on the degree you have always dreamt of; advisers will be on hand to support you with your future aspirations. Want to know more? It’s certainly worth contacting your local college if you’d like more information. And why not explore their Open Events too? This is a great way to find out more before making an application. Kathleen Hopkins, Exeter College

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Just days before the announcement of lockdown in March 2020, Mount Kelly Chamber Choir won the title of School Choir of the Year at the Royal Festival Hall in London, after a day of stiff competition from some of the best young choirs in the country. The young singers were looking forward to a year packed with concerts, especially a guest performance at the Royal Albert Hall in November, part of the competition prize. Of course, thanks to the pandemic none of this was to be though the choir have been busy rehearsing remotely and together when possible. There are two excellent online performances available on Youtube featuring an a cappella version of Katrina and the Waves’ Walking on sunshine and the beautiful meditative choral work Ubi caritas by Norwegian American composer Ola Gjeilo. The music department has recently launched a new venture in conjunction with world renowned, chart topping vocal group, VOCES8. The Mount Kelly Choral Academy is offering the opportunity for young singers to enjoy a high level of training and performing with the choir. It will be wonderful to be able to hear these wonderful young singers live again. Dates will include Calstock Arts Centre on Friday, June 25th and St Eustachius’ Church, Tavistock on Thursday, July 1st. Tickets for both events are available from: www. ticketsource.co.uk/mountkelly

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EDUCATION

Dartmoor Trust welcomes new expert New appointment to boost staff development that the whole school community is empowered to fulfil their potential.

including those new to the teaching profession.

Alongside his time at Ofsted, Professor Green brings a range of education experience, including work leading initial teacher education in higher education and as a government adviser.

He began work with the Trust on April 19th.

Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust (DMAT), which supports 17 schools across the region, recently announced that Professor Michael Green has been appointed as Associate Executive Director of People Development.

He has also carried out international advisory work and held senior leadership positions within primary schools, as well as published articles and chapters on a variety of topics, including teacher workload, primary English and learning outside the classroom.

Professor Green joins the Trust from Ofsted, where he served as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education, with the appointment reflecting DMAT’s commitment to developing its staff as well as its students, and ensuring

Passionate about supporting teachers in the early stages of their career, his job role will include overseeing and further developing the trust’s strategy for the professional development of staff,

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Professor Green said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be joining Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust, and welcome the opportunity to draw upon all my previous experience to make a positive impact on the community. It is an extremely exciting time for DMAT, and I really look forward to working with staff across all its 17 schools. ‘As has become acutely clear over the past 12 months, children and young people in our schools only get one chance in their schooling. In order for our children and young people to thrive and succeed, we need to harness the potential of our education colleagues, who are the beating heart of our education profession.’ Dan Morrow, CEO and trust leader for Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust, said:

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Endometriosis - what actually is it? Endometriosis affects one in ten women, yet there is very little awareness on what the NHS has recognised as one of the top most painful conditions. Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells, similar to the ones in the lining of the womb, are found elsewhere in the body. When a women’s body goes through its hormonal change each month, the cells behave like the lining of the womb and bleeds. However, there is no way for the blood to leave the body so this can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue. In some cases women may not experience any symptoms of endometriosis, however, many can suffer symptoms in varying degrees, which can have a significant impact on their life. When speaking to women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis, many mentioned that this condition doesn’t just have an affect on them physically, but also mentally. They also said it has a massive impact on their social life and can sometimes stop them from doing their normal day to day activities. The most common symptoms of endometriosis are: • Painful, heavy or irregular periods

• Pain during or after sex • Infertility • Painful bowel movements • Fatigue But other symptoms may include tiredness/lack of energy, depression or back and leg pain. Because these symptoms are very similar to other common conditions and endometriosis can manifest itself in a variety of ways, getting a diagnosis can be difficult and take some time. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contact your GP if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, as your GP can look into these and investigate further. When a women is under investigation for suspected endometriosis they will be offered scans, blood tests and internal examinations. Even though these methods can sometimes pick up signs of endometriosis they may also not be conclusive. If this is the case, then women will be offered a laparoscopy. This is thought to be the only definite

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way to diagnosis endometriosis, as it allows for a surgeon to look for signs of endometriosis through a camera which has been inserted into the suspected affected area. Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, a specialist will discuss treatment options. The types of treatments which may be offered are surgery, hormone treatment and pain relief. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for endometriosis, however, these treatments aim to reduce the severity of symptoms and improve life quality for women living with the condition. If you or someone you know would like more information or are looking for local support groups visit endometriosis-uk.org/ Jazzmine Squire HCA/Communications Officer Okehampton Medical Centre

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

A plant that’s been used for thousands of years ... While decades of cannabis prohibition may lead some to assume that the therapeutic benefits of CBD are a recent discovery, that’s far from the truth. The first documented use of cannabisderived medicine dates back to 2737 BC, when Chinese Emperor Sheng Nung used a cannabis-infused tea to aid with various ailments, including memory, malaria, rheumatism, and gout. Throughout history, cannabis had served as a valuable therapeutic resource; however, it was not recognized by most in the medical community during the rise of modern medicine due to a lack of scientific evidence. Interest in the therapeutic applications of cannabinoids revealed additional cannabinoids, further understanding of cannabinoid structure, and the amazing breakthrough of our body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) - a

network of receptors that interact with receptors found in cannabinoids. Milagro CBD Oil is the purest and besttasting premium CBD oil available on the market today. Milagro CBD Oil is a full spectrum, distilled CBD oil created from the best organically grown hemp in Europe, extracted with the cold-pressed method to maximize phytocannabinoids’ potency CBD, CBG, and CBN. It is then distilled, winterized, and separated to create a smooth CBD oil, a powerful dietary supplement with various health benefits. At Milagro, we are passionate about CBD products’ power, and our primary goal is to research and create innovative CBD products. We also believe CBD products should be available worldwide, specifically for their health benefits and those wishing to balance their Endocannabinoid system.

Some benefits of Milagro CBD prevention of seizures in rare forms of epilepsy; reduction of inflammation and may kill pain; has potential for autoimmunity and neurological disorders; potential to help some mental illness; reduction of nausea and increase in appetite. There are many possible benefits currently under investigation, it is well tolerated with few reported side effects. CBD has benefits for pets also, and Milagro offers a pet CBD oil with excellent reviews. Ethics and quality are what we stand for. The proof is in the pudding. Buy online at milagrosouthwest.com We are also seeking sellers. Please call Matt on 07539203911

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FARMING NEWS

It’s been flat out on the farm Stuart Luxton describes the joys of lambing Happy spring everyone. As ever I’m writing this long after the submission deadline - once again I feel sorry for the editor! It would be nice to say that it was because I have been busy socially or out bike riding but the truth is that I’ve been busy working. The last three weeks I’ve set my alarm for 4am to get to the lambing shed, from there I’ve been heading up to the shop most days. I have been meaning to write this article on a number of evenings but on every one, it seems as if something has got in the way, a call out to a sick sheep, or a calving, or paying bills. I don’t find writing easy, so when it’s a choice of some sleep or typing there was only one winner. Who would have believed that the one year anniversary of the first lockdown has passed? We have all learnt so much, some good and some bad. I still remember what a friend said to me early on: ‘Locking down is easy, it is unlocking that will be hard.’ Last year our vet student had to dash home before lockdown cut in. This year she emailed me and asked if she could come again and bring a friend who had also had a poor time. To limit contact we found a local holiday cottage for them which was fine as they were key workers. We have also had some help from another vet student whose father is also a vet. It was quite interesting, as he hadn’t seen many lambings where the lambs were presented normally and lambed easily.

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I’m not sure if it was fortunate or unfortunate, but this year I have been allowed back into the lambing shed. Vaccinations have helped, and I don’t mean the vaccinations that we have given to the sheep. The lambing this year has gone very quickly, a slow and, unusually for sheep, a timely start rapidly became flat out. Approximately half of the girls lambed in the second week, but with weather being very kind, it was a busy but successful time. What we need now is some really good growing weather to keep all the mouths fed. In the photo is one of the red hoof gang, Patch. Poppy, Rosie, Jenny and new friends Disco and Diva were being camera shy. Never work with animals or children. Or in this case, children taking photos of me with animals. The café extension at Farmer Luxton’s is starting to come together now. There is no timescale of when it will be open but we know it can’t be before the 17th May. We are watching government guidelines closely but we hope building works will be complete by the end of May. For us that might well be a final signal that things are returning to normal but after all this time we will only believe it once it has happened. Stay safe everyone, roll on summer. Stuart Luxton

GARDENING

Rosemoor’s garden in a forest. Hard work and dedication are paying dividends... In 2012, the gardeners at RHS Garden Rosemoor began the process of creating a forest garden in the newly developed grounds of the Peter Buckley Learning Centre. The forest garden is not quite what the name suggests; trying to garden in a mature forest is somewhat challenging, with light crowded out and the demand for nutrients and water taken up by mature trees. A forest garden brings together a collection of plants that mimic the developing first stages of a forest, utilising the many layers you would see naturally, to produce a sustainable array of fruit, vegetables and other useful natural by-products. In the early stages, it takes hard work and dedication to start a forest garden, requiring a lot of physical energy to clear ground, plant and weed. However, very quickly over the first few years, the system begins to take over and eventually results in a low input system with high yields of both edible produce and useful by-products. Many plants will

Prunus avium ‘Hannaford’ (Mazzard cherry) ©RHS/Sheila Dearing

have multiple uses. For example, hazel and sweet chestnut can be coppiced to provide firewood, hurdles and stakes as well as producing nuts. Bamboo will provide canes for plant supports and edible shoots. The ground where our forest garden is sited lies heavy and wet, not ideal for creating a garden. To help combat this, the initial planting was of robust trees and shrubs capable of surviving the tough soil conditions while also providing crops of fruit and nuts. The plan here was that when established, the root systems would begin to open up the soil structure, helping to improve drainage, and in turn make a better growing environment for the smaller herbaceous plants to establish in the future. Now we fast-forward nearly ten years to where we are today. Overall, most things have taken well and established quickly. The odd plant has struggled to find its feet, but there has still been

Hemerocallis ‘Luxury Lace’ ©RHS/Carol Sheppard

a marked improvement in the soil conditions; although still not ideal, they are far better than they previously were. This has enabled us to get busy introducing new species and focusing on establishing the understory planting of herbaceous fruit and vegetable crops. Japanese butter burr, wild strawberries and edible day lily flowers are just a few we have planted. We have included several Devon fruit trees and heritage varieties in the planting to display local varieties, including apples, plums and Mazzard Cherries (Prunus avium) which, historically, were a speciality of North Devon. These trees put on a lovely display of spring blossom in April and May. Over the last couple of years, we have expanded the Forest Garden further. We have been able to plant larger trees and shrub species that we did not have room for originally, but will be beneficial to the forest garden system as a whole. These

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GARDENING

Earthing up potatoes ©RHS/Carol Sheppard

include Prunus insititia ‘Shepherd’s Bullace’, Sorbus devoniensis, Corylus avellana ‘Butler’ and Ribes rubrum ‘Rovada’ AGM. This will give a wider variety of interest and, in years to come, will form a backdrop to the current forest garden. The forest garden system can be adapted to any size of garden whether it be a backyard or a field of several acres, so why not consider giving it go?

Top tips for late spring • E arth up potatoes by drawing soil around the stems to form a ridge 2030cm high. Earthing up will exclude light, preventing tubers from going green. • P lant out summer bedding from the end of May. There is a huge variety available for colourful displays in your border or pots.

• C heck for nesting birds before clipping hedges. It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. The bird nesting season is considered to run from March to August. •H oe borders regularly to keep down weeds. Hoeing is effective for controlling weed seedlings. For maximum effectiveness, choose a dry day with a light wind, so that the seedlings will dry out on the surface of the bed rather than re-rooting into moist soil. • P rune spring-flowering shrubs when they have finished flowering. This allows the maximum time for development of young growth to provide the following year’s flowers before the end of summer.

•W ater early and late to get the most out of your water, recycle when possible and install as many water butts as you can.

Black Bamboo ©RHS/Helen Feary

Sheila Dearing Garden Technical Services Officer, RHS Rosemoor

Wild Strawberry ©RHS/Sheila Dearing

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SPORT

Charity kickstarting sport in the community Adults can return to indoor activity from May 17th, fingers crossed, to give further opportunity for being active, whether that be in exercise classes, indoor bowls, bridge or table tennis. OCRA are still supporting their groups suffering from long term health conditions and those that have additional needs by continuing virtual sessions until restrictions are eased further. OCRA will continue its holiday activity programme in Okehampton in May, with a broadening of the sessions available to provide further opportunities to be active for the community. With the recent easing of restrictions and the last few steps of the Government’s roadmap to come, Okehampton Community and Recreation Association (OCRA) has been working to facilitate the re-start of grassroots sports. Okehampton has been leading the way across Devon with the reopening of sports facilities as restrictions allow, due to OCRA’s well established relationship with Okehampton College. Many clubs, schools and colleges across Devon have not been able to open up their facilities to the community since March due to the extra work and restrictions COVID regulations has had.

This quick restart has enabled hockey, tennis, football, external exercise classes, walking football and walking netball to reignite the community’s passion for sport and activity. This means local clubs and groups can enjoy both social and organised activity again. This provides a much needed release of pent up energy as well as the well documented benefits of activity on physical and mental health for participants. With indoor activities for children restarting in April, gymnastics, trampolining and badminton sessions have also got the community moving.

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To provide more opportunities for the wider community, OCRA are working in partnership with the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust and Active Devon. The Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust partnership provides activities for those who access the free school meals initiative through the Local Authority’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme. OCRA are also assisting with the wider Sport England project facilitated by Active Devon to help schools deliver extra-curricular activities and open their facilities outside of the school day during evenings, weekends and school holidays, enabling communities to access high quality facilities on their doorstep.

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FINANCE

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Step by Step

While completing an online investment for a client last week I came across this ID question: What is the source of your wealth? It is an innocent enough question. Any investment provider needs to make sure you’re not investing proceeds from illegal activities or laundering money. But it opens up a myriad of philosophical questions of how we got here. The money this client was investing hadn’t come from an inheritance or a house sale. It was built up over many years from earned income, ad hoc investments when she could afford it and some regular monthly savings. And that is true for most of us. Most of us didn’t get to where we are now in one step – unless you’re lucky enough to have won the lottery. Where we are now is a product of many decisions, some big, some small, culminating in your current position. Things happen that we can’t predict and have no control over, but by far the most important determining factor in how our lives play out is our own choices. That’s a liberating thought, because its natural extension is that we can control where we end up in the future. It’s not about relying on any one big event that may or may not happen, but rather small, daily decisions that we can control.

This logic can be applied to our savings and investments, in particular the goal of building an investment portfolio over the long term. If you don’t have a large lump sum to invest, then start by investing small amounts each month. By doing this, you will be controlling your own destiny, growing your wealth and benefiting from Pound Cost Averaging. That is the principle where each month you buy more units in your chosen investment fund. If the price of those units falls, you will see a fall in your investment value but the following month you will be buying more units than normal because those units will be cheaper than they were. You won’t see the benefit straight away, but as the price recovers, you will have more units to benefit from the higher price. Try not to worry too much about market timing and fluctuations. Any investment of this nature is there for the long term. By investing in small, regular increments, you are moving, step by step, towards your planned goal. Craig Davidson Davidsons IFA Craig Davidson, Davidsons iFA

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WHAT’S ON

Open Gardens

May 3 Picture by Fi Reddaway

There’s a chance to see lots of lovely gardens not normally open to the public, who are opening this May and June for the nursing and caring charities supported by the National Garden Scheme.

and Nepeta. Areas include perennial and annual wildflowers, naturalistic planting beds, herbs, roses, cutting flowers, vegetables, soft fruit and an orchard. Opening on Sunday, June 27th from 11am until 5pm.

Whiddon Goyle near Whiddon Down enjoys stunning views over Dartmoor. Built in the 1930s and cleverly designed to protect its two acre garden against the Dartmoor weather, it enjoys many features including a rockery, croquet lawn, rose garden, herbaceous borders, ponds, small vegetable and a flower plot along with a pair of majestic monkey puzzle trees. It’s open on Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th, 11am until 4pm.

Also open for the National Garden Scheme in May and June are: Hayne, Zeal Monachorum May 2nd; Moretonhampstead Gardens May 21st, 22nd and 23rd; Lewis Cottage, Spreyton, May 29th, 30th and 31st and June 26th and 27th and Andrew’s Corner, Belstone, May 2nd, 3rd, 23rd, 30th and 31st. Here, on May 23rd, there will also be ‘Music in the Garden’, featuring ‘Pat, Paul & Jerry’s Mando Trio’ with acoustic mandolins, fiddle & guitars.

Hole’s Meadow at South Zeal is set in a two acre medieval burgage plot. Planting focuses on gardening for pollinators, including Plant Heritage National Plant Collections of Monarda

Check on the website www.ngs.org.uk for up-to-date information on openings, booking and current Covid restrictions before visiting.

Talking nature... Moretonhampstead-based Wellmoor is holding a programme of free talks and workshops at their Community Allotment over the course of this year. The talks will feature local experts and will be on a range of topics related to the environment and nature. On Monday, May 3rd at 11am at the Community Allotment, Bundy Riley (co-founder of the Moretonhampstead biodiversity group) will give an informational talk entitled The Wildlife Garden. Bundy has established a wildlife garden area on the allotment, complete with bird feeder and pond. There are limited numbers for both sessions so if you would like to book a place for either, contact georgina@ wellmoor.org.uk or 01647 478117 as soon as possible. Keep an eye on the Wellmoor website for announcements of upcoming talks: www.wellmoor. org.uk

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WHAT’S ON

June 19 & 20

Chagford Open Gardens A Chagford Open Gardens event is planned for the weekend of June 19th and 20th, subject to coronavirus restrictions applicable at the time. A programme for the event, which is also the entry ticket to each of the gardens

will be available from Sally’s newsagent Chagford at £5 from June 5th. If there is a requirement to restrict the number of people in each garden, an ‘arrange time to visit system will be in operation. The people who are kindly

opening their gardens have all been delighted to be able to share them with the visitors especially at this time and look forward to seeing you. For more information email rosemary.bleakman@ lineone.net

May onwards

Sculptures at Stone Lane At the end of May, Stone Lane Gardens joins the Moor Otter Arts Trail displaying a DNPA Moor Otter and Cub, beautifully painted by local artist Jo Thompson. Families can follow the official trail around the park and become ‘Otter Spotters’, discovering sculptures in a number of special locations.

Selected this year by internationally known sculptor Peter Randall-Page, the prestigious Annual Sculpture Exhibition opening 1 June shows a wealth of new talent and established artists work throughout the garden landscape.

locally made cakes and Devon cream teas. For more information visit www. stonelanegardens.com ook forward to seeing you. For more information email rosemary.bleakman@lineone.net

Open on most days, the Tea Room and tea gardens offer tea and delicious

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WHAT’S ON

June

The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme Do you have a family farm on Dartmoor? Would you like to improve your farm business to maximise profitability and resilience? The Farm Resilience Programme is a series of seven workshops, focusing on different business skills. Topics include business planning, understanding accounts and budgeting, and a new environmental workshop which looks at such ideas as 25 year planning. Alongside these workshops, every farm completes the Business Health Check Tool to look at their strengths and weaknesses and benchmark costs against similar farms, as well as receiving one-to-one farmbusiness support. The first workshop is due to take place in June 2021, and the whole programme is FREE! If you’d like to know more, or reserve a place, please contact Dartmoor Hill Farm Project at hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk, or call 01822 890912.

June May 29 - June 13

Get Up and Grow

A chance for families to have fun together outside exploring the gardens at RHS Rosemoor near Torrington in all their late spring glory, finding wonderful flowers, beautiful views and spotting the abundance of wildlife. The brand new family trail is designed to show how the importance of a whole array of pollinators not just bees and butterflies, but night time moths, beetles and other insects have on our gardens. On completion of the trail, each family will receive a goody bag including activity sheets, some seeds to plant and grow at home as well as a booklet to help you garden for wildlife.

See the spectacular sight of cherry trees and fruit trees clothed in pink and white blossom. Members go free Your visit supports our work as a charity

Garden Centre open

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

Book online: rhs.org.uk/bookrosemoor

WHAT’S ON

June 19-July 4

Out of the Ashes Moretonhampstead Flag Festival Last August, our flagpoles (thankfully, not the flags) went up in smoke. We picked ourselves up and set about replacing them. It made me think how we take support for granted until that support is no longer there.

raging, and insurance to cover costs, Owen began again the process of handmaking making new ones with coppiced sycamore from Pullabrook. Thanks to him and the Woodland Trust. We could have just bought new poles, but that’s not the point.

Our original 130 poles, handmade by Chrissy and Owen Kebble when they lived in Stewart Woods, held particular stories, as do our flags. With Covid 19

When Veronica Gould and I hatched the idea of an Annual Flag Festival in 2010, we had no idea how the town would take them to its heart. They are all made

(and repaired annually) by people in the town. The Flag Festival sits beneath the wing of Green Hill Arts, the ‘arty’ part of Moretonhampstead Development Trust. We held the first festival in 2011. This year will be our tenth anniversary - we fully intend to fly our flags again, reminding us how we cherish this place and its people. Andrea Foxwell

April until September

Using ‘Gardens for Good’ South West charity Send a Cow, is asking individuals to use their ‘Gardens for Good’ this summer. The funds raised will be used to support families to grow brighter futures - families like Joska’s, who before joining a Send a Cow project was struggling to look after her land. She didn’t have the right knowledge on how to farm effectively. Her children had stopped going to school as she could no longer afford the fees. Joska started working with Send a Cow back in March 2018 and hasn’t looked back! Her compound is flourishing. Just outside her home, there are big patches of green peppers ripe for picking, cabbages and aubergines. Joska says: ‘I eat well now; I eat lots of vegetables and I have better hygiene practices which mean I don’t get sick anymore.’ In support of Gardens for Good, Send a Cow Ambassador Jenny Reynolds will be holding a plant stall outside her home near Bridestowe from the end of April, on the left on the old A30 about 1 ½ miles west of the village. For safety, please park in the driveway or the lay by across the road. Jenny will be selling 44

a range of flowers, vegetable, shrubs and perennials. If you’d like to use your ‘Garden for Good’, call Jenny 01837 861678 jenneo78@ gmail.com – she is available to give talks about Send a Cow to groups, clubs, schools etc. who are interested. Or visit sendacow. org/events/ gardens-for-good/

Gallery Open! From April 12th • 10.30 am - 5 pm Tues - Sat

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WHAT’S ON

May 26, May 31 & June 24

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust walks There are three Dartmoor guided walks to look forward to this May and June, which are not only interesting but are held to raise money for Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT)

many legends on Dartmoor as you wander up to Bellever Tor. A similar walk will also take place on Midsummer’s Day, Thursday, June 24th, this time starting at 8.30pm.

Bellever Moon Walk – Wednesday, May 26th (limited numbers) Meeting point: Postbridge visitor centre car park. Duration: Four miles, approx 2 ½ hrs. Starting at 7.30pm.

Bellever Through Time Walk – Monday, May 31st (Limited numbers) Meeting Point: Bellever Forest at Postbridge car park (SX646 788) Not the visitor centre car park, but across the road in the woods. Duration: four miles, 3 hours, starting at 10am.

This walk will give you chance walk in the dark on Dartmoor. You will hopefully be walking in the moonlight, so bring a touch and a drink. You will learn about

Discover the Bronze Age remains on Dartmoor, see where these people used

to live and where they were buried. Discover their way of life, a life without modern day gadgets. Just how did they survive? Find out on this walk. You can also look for some Dartmoor Letterboxes and learn about the ponies. These walks are free but donations for DPHT are welcomed. Please book at paul.dartmoor@gmail.com If you cannot make these dates but would like to go on a letter box walk or to learn about the area, if there are six or more people an alternative date may be possible. Email the above address to enquire.

May/June

Dartmoor guided walks Dartmoor Guide Paul Rendell will be leading several walks on the moor during May and June.

On Saturday, June 19th, walk the wilds of the South Moor - an eleven mile walk lasting six hours.

All the walks are bookable by 6pm on the day before the walk, each is £10 per person, payable in advance.

And on Sunday, June 27th, enjoy a five to six hour walk on Whitehorse Hill, taking in Grey Wethers, Teign Head and Sittaford Tor.

paulrendelldartmoor.co.uk

For more information and to book email paul.dartmoor@gmail.com More information is available at

Please make sure you have a face mask with you - dogs are not permitted on these walks.

On Sunday, June 6th June discover Fur Tor via Tavy Cleave, an eleven mile walk lasting six to seven hours.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

MUSIC AND ART

Until June 19

Nature Unlocked After years of travelling, Paul Moody eventually settled in Devon. Immersed in the landscape, his camera became a tool to connect, an eye to see and a way to belong. The result is a striking collection of image-moments, from our local landscape and the natural world on the edge of Dartmoor. Paul’s fascination with photography began in the early sixties. He bought his first camera from a junk shop for £2.10s on a visit to Jamaica, where his father was posted. At his ‘Blue Coat’ Liverpool boarding school he talked the headmaster into letting him turn an old laundry room

into a darkroom. He enlisted the help of teachers, built an enlarger and developing trays and started processing other pupils’ photographs, and of course, his own. He left school, became a welder, worked for a rock band, drove trucks, renovated two cottages, invested in an

ocean-going sailing boat and spent ten years sailing the Atlantic Ocean before settling in Devon, concentrating on photography. Paul’s woodland and landscape work can be seen at Greenhill Arts in Moretonhampstead until June 19.

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MUSIC AND ART

Crafts galore! Moretonhampstead has become a destination recently for those who love art and the handmade. Lockdown has provided a good opportunity for reflection and creativity and craft studios have opened up again with an exciting array of new work. All premises are Covid safe. Yuli Sømme, owner of Bellacouche in Cross Street, celebrates our wool heritage with a cosy range of useful and beautiful products for the home - felting kits, hotty covers, tuffets and more in the upstairs gallery. Part of her business focusses on shrouds and ‘soft’ coffins which can be viewed at the chapel workshop, a shared space with willow sculptor, Katherine Miles. Next door is Taja, the potter who has a range of new vases for all sizes of floral arrangements, plus his ever changing

range of teapots, mugs and larger pieces. Green Shoes have enlarged their gallery to include other works, as well as plenty of space to try on the handmade footwear. Their slippers are made with Bellacouche felt. Studio potter, Penny Simpson, has been developing new work and is really looking forward to getting more feedback on her new designs. Most studios are open for normal business hours, but please check with individuals before making a journey.

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Respect, Protect & Shop from 12 April

RESPECT When the high streets reopen on 12 April West Devon Borough Council is asking shoppers to show RESPECT, give each other space, PROTECT each other by wearing a face covering and to SHOP local. There is so much on offer locally, why go anywhere else? From 12 April, the high streets in the Borough’s main towns of Chagford, Hatherleigh, North Tawton, Okehampton and Tavistock will be open for business. With so much on offer locally and so many businesses desperate to throw open their doors and welcome visitors back – the overriding message is let’s all be sensible, respect and protect each other and enjoy the shopping experience.

Protect

Shop

Respect  Give each other space to shop and please stick to the social distance rules  Respect the people and the town you are shopping in. Let’s make this summer enjoyable for everyone

Protect  Protect everyone around you and yourself by wearing a face covering

Environmental Health Specialists for West Devon Borough Council have said: “The lockdown has been a long and painful experience for many of our businesses who would have desperately loved to have served their customers over the last 12 months, but due to the COVID 19 restrictions, have had to be closed.

 Look after our beautiful area and do the right thing with your litter

“We are all very much looking forward to the 12 April when we can kick start the recovery of our towns and our high streets. But there is a slight word of caution, we still need to be careful. If we all show respect and protect each other, we can all have a lovely, safe shopping experience.”

 There is so much on offer – please support our high streets

West Devon is so very fortunate to have beautiful countryside that we all enjoy. Let’s keep it that way please respect and protect it for everyone to enjoy this spring and summer.

Shop

 Follow these rules and we can all ENJOY shopping safely

RESPECT

SHOP LOCAL

Respect, Protect & Shop

Okehampton Okehampton Town Council tells us more...

We’re so grateful to everyone for supporting our fantastic local businesses in Okehampton over the tough past 12 months. We’re thrilled to see all our local businesses – our shops, beauty salons, cafes and more - open up again. Now, whether you live just down the road or you’re visiting us from further afield, we need you to please respect and protect each other and Take care. Take time. Take heart when you’re in and around the town. What is Okehampton doing to respect and protect local people and visitors? Whether you’re shopping, pampering yourself or are stopping to enjoy a bite to eat, we want everyone to feel relaxed and comfortable when they visit Okehampton. By spreading the message about respecting and protecting each other, we know that’s exactly how you’ll feel when you’re here. We’re lucky our streets are nice and wide for easy social distancing. Our brilliant traders in the town have taken all the necessary steps to help customers and their staff take care and stay safe. This includes offering hand sanitiser and restricting the number of people who can enter their premises at a time. We’ll also have signs up to remind people to wear masks and to give each other space, because we know how easy it will be to forget the rules when you’re relaxed and having fun. The Borough’s COVID Compliance Officers will be regularly dropping by to answer questions and guide businesses and the public on what’s safe too. By respecting and protecting

each other in this way, we can all shop, eat and enjoy exploring the town with confidence. What about food and drink? Part of the plan to safely reopen cafes and restaurants is to allow more outside seating so you can take your time in safe comfort. You’ll find tables, chairs and benches popping up around the town creating a relaxed, continental al fresco atmosphere. From fresh local apple juice and authentic Italian latte to cream teas and pies, our excellent cafes and restaurants cater for every taste and there’s plenty of space to sit and enjoy it. Any final words for local people and visitors? Please do take heart and know that your town is safe and ready to welcome you back. Our local businesses need your support now more than ever. Please do come into Okehampton, reconnect with those stores that have been closed and shop local. Treat yourself to a cake with your coffee – it’s a tasty way to do your bit to help others in our community and Take care. Take Time. Take heart!

Please also remember to respect and protect others too, so everyone can relax and enjoy themselves in our very special town.

RESPECT

Protect

Shop

Give each other space to shop and Protect Shopstick to the social distance rules please Everyone around you and yourself by wearing a face covering

Shop

Okehampton needs your help more than ever

So go on – treat yourself to a coffee or more and do your bit to help your local community!

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MUSIC AND ART

May 28

Moor Otters Arts Trail is back! Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Moor Otters Arts Trail goes live on Friday, May 28th, helping people explore, discover and learn more about Dartmoor and raise money for its ongoing conservation. Eighty-one stunning sculptures of otters with cubs, designed and decorated by local and national artists – will be placed around the National Park and places near Dartmoor. The trails are designed so people can safely explore Dartmoor on foot, bike, car or public transport and learn about

the National Park as they go. There will be four trails on Dartmoor and one in Plymouth, the Mayflower Trail, which commemorates the historic journey of the Mayflower in 1620. Otters can also be spotted in towns and villages on the outskirts of the National Park too. Before setting out on a trail, please check www.dartmoor.gov.uk/moorotters for the most up to date information. People will have the opportunity to own a sculpture when the public trail ends by bidding for one through an online auction, which also goes live on May

28th. The Moor Otters Arts Trail aims to raise £60,000 for Donate for Dartmoor, the National Park’s fundraising scheme which helps look after the moor’s cultural heritage, habitats and wildlife.

Chagford’s connection with letter boxing Using this knowledge, he would take people on guided tours of Dartmoor which often included Cranmere Pool, a very remote part of the moor. In about 1854 he left a glass jar on a small cairn at Cranmere Pool. The idea was that people who made it that far could leave a card in the jar as proof that they had been there. This was the start of letterboxing. Other letterboxes were established over the years at Taw Marsh, Duck’s Pool and now there is at least one letterbox on

most Dartmoor Tors, while letterboxing has also spread to other parts of the world. James Perrott died at the grand old age of 81 and he is buried in Chagford churchyard. In his memory, Chagford Business Association has sponsored a Letterboxing Otter by artist Christian Allen as part of the Dartmoor Moor Otters trail - it will be on display at Jaded Palates in Chagford Square from May 28th this year.

Representing the region’s finest artists

The father of Dartmoor letterboxing, James Perrott, was born at Thorn Farm near Throwleigh, in March 1815. When he grew up, he made and sold fishing tackle from a small shop in Chagford Square and became more and more knowledgeable about Dartmoor. See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Chapel Lane, Horrabridge, Yelverton. PL20 7SP

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FOOD & DRINK

How is rosé made? It’s as clear as mud, explains wine enthusiast Dave Anning I once offered a friend some rosé and he replied ‘I don’t like any kind of shandy.’ It took me a moment to realise he thought I had mixed red and white wine, but it got me wondering how many people understand what rosé is - so here’s enough detail to impress friends over a chilled glass! You can make white wine from red grapes, but not red wine from white grapes. ‘Well, thank you’, I hear you mutter, ‘That’s as clear as mud - how helpful’. Actually, it’s the colour of the grape skin that matters. The flesh and juice are almost always pale yellow. Yes, there are grapes with red-tinted flesh, but if you’re going to be pernickety I could point out that skins are usually green or purple, so let’s not bicker. Rosé, or ‘blush’, is made using red skinned grapes with white flesh. They get smooshed up into a big pulpy mess, then two important things happen.

Firstly, the grapes are fermented at a cool temperature, just like white wine. Secondly the red grape skins are only left in contact with the juice briefly typically half a day to three days. Red wine often ferments with the skins for weeks. Only a limited amount of ‘redness’ transfers to the juice, and the result is pink! The process isn’t just about colour. White wine is revered for delicate flavours, often compared to white fruits such as peaches, apples or pears. These flavours are easily overpowered by stronger dark-fruit flavours, or made bitter by tannins. Making rosé wine is about infusing enough ‘red flavours’ into the juice, without introducing too much flavour or tannin. Other issues such as aroma and acidity also have to be balanced, so it’s not easy. This is why good rosé wine is nearly always delicate on the nose and in the mouth.

One beauty of rosé is that its appearance offers real clues to its style - the darker the colour the more ‘red influence’ there is. Grape variety etc. makes a difference, but as a crude rule of thumb, if you don’t enjoy a rosé, try one that is paler or darker. The difficulties involved in making good rosé mean that a truly cheap bottle is likely to lack balance, so don’t be put off if you’ve only ever tried cheap rosé. The best way to find out what you like is to try a variety, so why not organise a tasting? If you’ve never organised a wine tasting, what could be easier to organise than a tasting of rosés - start with the palest and end with the reddest to fully appreciate them. Cheers! Dave Anning

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FOOD & DRINK

Summer Berry Sundae A tantalising treat for all the family There is no better way to celebrate the start of summer than with a decadent ice cream sundae. We’re talking a mountain of ice cream, piled high with seasonal fruit and indulgent sauces trickled over the top. We like to use locally grown, seasonal produce, so summer berries including cherries, strawberries and raspberries make the perfect addition to this sumptuous sundae. Have it as a tantalising treat or a delicious dessert, the whole family can get involved in creating this masterpiece pudding.

Ingredients (per sundae): 2 scoops of Just Jersey ice cream

Start by making the cherry compote. Remove the stones from the fruit and gently cook on the hob with the orange juice and orange zest until softened. You can add a little sugar if desired! If you don’t use it all on your sundae, it should keep well in the fridge for a week in an old jam jar and freezes well too.

2 scoops of Blackcurrant ice cream 3 tbsp of cherry compote 100g milk chocolate Handful of fresh cherries, raspberries and strawberries For the compote: 400g cherries

Next, break the milk chocolate into pieces and melt the chocolate carefully in the microwave, stirring often to make sure it doesn’t burn. Scoop the ice cream into your serving glass or bowl, pour the cherry compote over the ice cream and drizzle the melted chocolate on top. Finish by adding the summer berries and enjoy immediately!

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HISTORY

George Bidder (1806-1878) Moretonhampstead’s ‘Calculating Boy’ and eminent engineer Queen Charlotte leaned forward and asked: ‘Little boy, how long would it take for a snail to creep along 838 miles from Land’s End to Farett’s Head in Scotland if he moved eight feet daily?’. ‘553,080 days ma’am’ answered the ten-year old straight away in his soft Devon accent. George Parker Bidder had been literally ‘performing’ such mental arithmetic feats from an early age. Born into a large, poor family in Moretonhampstead, without formal mathematical education, he taught himself various calculating techniques while still unable to read or write. From the age of six his father showed him off for significant financial gain in local pubs, markets and fairs as ‘The Calculating Boy’. As his fame grew his performances spread across the country. In 1816 he was ‘commanded’ to demonstrate his skills before King George II and Queen Charlotte who, suitably impressed, gave him a watch that played tunes. Many eminent mathematicians offered to pay for the illiterate child prodigy to attend school. 54

Initially his father was reluctant to give up his source of income until Sir Henry Jardine, an eminent Scottish lawyer, convinced him that an education would equip ‘The Arithmetical Phenomenon’ to earn much more. Sir Henry’s advice soon proved correct. With his backing and support, George raced through Edinburgh University to graduate aged only 18 and went on to rapidly build a successful career as a brilliant civil engineer, becoming President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (1859-1861). George developed productive working partnerships with the pioneering greats of the age such as Thomas Telford and George and Robert Stephenson. From surveying and designing many large engineering projects, including railways, canals, harbours, piers, docks and draining marshes, he progressed to developing the extensive application of cast iron sheeting piled back by mass concrete. He first used this when laying a granite tramway in London, connecting it to steam ships at Brunswick Wharf. In East Anglia he designed the first swing bridge and opened up the area with the Great Eastern Railway. From the early 1830s to the mid1840s, George frequently advised the parliamentary committees that had to approve each new railway line. The tendering was very competitive with costings closely scrutinised; his almost

instantaneous mathematical skills enabled him to quickly spot mistakes in other engineers’ surveying and calculations. George enjoyed these debates and earned a reputation as the ‘the best witness who ever entered a committee room’. With rough and ready repartees including long strings of figures, he argued his case ‘inch by inch with a face as hard as tunnel rock, with no outward indication he had a heart within him’. He did not forget his roots, with frequent visits back to Moretonhampstead, paying for his parents move to Exeter and his siblings’ education while ‘merrymaking with the grog until 3am’ with his old Devon friends. Two brothers were found good posts in London. Bart was a bit of a dandy and wore in the new clothes that George hated to be seen in! Sam, an eminent engineer himself, partnered George in a colliery venture and lived next door. While heavily involved in the London & Birmingham Railway, George just found time to marry Georgina (‘Georgey’) Harby, noting in his diary the essential facts: ‘Day breezy & fine. Married my wife & set off for Burford Bridge’. They had time for only one day’s honeymoon, recorded as: ‘Showery at Burford Bridge.’ Eight children survived the couple into adulthood, many of them very successful in their own careers. His prolific engineering activity continued for 50 years: railways across

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HISTORY

England, Europe and India; a brewery; a flour mill; water works and mills; gas works in Denmark; polders in Holland; the world’s first electric telegraph company that gave the first ‘respectable employment’ to married women outside the home; Dolgoch Slate Quarry; and secret military projects later used in the rapid movement of the BEF to France in 1914. There is space here to highlight just one. Between 1850 and 1855 George Bidder designed and built the Royal Victoria Docks east of London in the Essex marshes. George used his multi-faceted engineering skills to build docks much bigger and deeper with his system of iron sheeted concrete for the new long and wide steamships, hydraulic systems of loading and unloading to cope with the tides, giant warehousing and railway links to London and beyond. He encouraged the purchase of land beyond the docks for later expansion that became the Royal Albert Docks. All delivered on time and an instant financial success. Bidder has long been overshadowed by Brunel. Brunel was more innovative and designed beautiful structures, but Bidder’s work was more accurate;

more often completed within budget and on time. Brunel favoured the wider railway gauge that he used in the West Country for more comfortable travelling, but Bidder’s narrow gauge eventually became the standard as it was considerably cheaper to run. After Brunel’s death, George helped to finance and complete Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge. In supposed retirement in Devon, George still worked on several projects, including steam powered trawlers. A few days before he died aged 72, George was quoted as saying: ‘It is not easy to calculate logarithms mentally up to ten places; but I think I could do a thousand a day now, if it were worth my while.’ Would that we could all say that at any age! A monument and information board have recently been erected near his birthplace by Moretonians David Cannon and John Dodds to showcase the achievements and importance of such an illustrious son of Moretonhampstead.

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Bill Hardiman Moretonhampstead History Society

WINNIE’S WALK

Walks with Winnie This walk has been kindly written (and walked) for us by Denise Horner of Dartmoor Nordic Walking with her dogs, Winnie and Scooby.

This is an open, there and back walk with no shelter. The terrain can be uneven but the views from start to finish are pretty amazing.

to Plymouth for fishermen to preserve their catch. The ‘Ponds’ were a lot deeper in the 1800s and have since been filled in for safety.

Park at Prewley Moor, but make sure to put your valuables out of sight.

Head up to the tor and Trig point, taking in the views of Meldon Reservoir, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Great Links Tor, Great Nodden (known locally as Plum Pudding Hill) with its very distinct rounded appearance and of course, Brent Tor.

Taking the widest path, head up towards the left of Sourton Tors. This is a steady climb to the Tors and Trig point. You will reach two Granite Posts known as the Iron Gate, marking an ancient track called the King Way, between Okehampton and Tavistock. At this point the track starts to level out. Notice the tor on the horizon with what appears to be an undulating row of mounds. This is the Ice Factory, yes, Ice Factory! Also known as ‘Sourton Ponds’ it was built in 1875 to collect water and store as ice for the winter. Using Bridestowe Railway Station, the ice was then taken

With the trig point behind you and facing into the moors looking across to Corn Ridge, you can clearly see a set of pathways contouring around the side of Corn Ridge to the right. This is the ‘King Way’. Head down towards the ‘cross roads’ of pathways, taking the most distinct path to your right heading around the edge of the ridge. As you approach the ‘crossroads’ of

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pathways and gully, looking to your left, you will notice a half granite ‘apple crusher’ (thank you Paul Rendell, Dartmoor News). Down the gully to your right you will find a boundary stone. Heading on the track to the right that contours Corn Ridge, continuing until you reach the embankment of Rattlebrook Peat Railway. You can clearly see the embankment, with Great Nodden to your right. The Rattlebrook Peat Railway was built in 1879, for the transport of peat for fires along the railway to Bridestowe Station. The tracks can be seen heading in both directions, right toward Great Nodden and left to the reversing circle. Take the right here toward Great Nodden, we will come back via the reversing circle. As you walk along the track you will pass over a restored railway bridge. Head up hill now to the summit, where you will see a cairn. The views from here are far reaching and worth the climb. Take in from left to right, Great Links Tor, Brat Tor with Widgery Cross on top, Sharp Tor and towards the right Brent Tor. As you head back down the hill, stay on the railway track, passing the place at which you joined it, until you reach a track joining from your right. This is also part of the Rattlebrook Railway and continues around to Great Links Tor . If you were to head this way and walk behind Great Links, you would come

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WINNIE’S WALK

across ‘Bleak House’ ruin, formerly the home of the Peat Company’s caretaker, but for now, we are heading left toward the reversing circle. Once you have reached this, look down to your left where you will see the path you came up on. Walk down to join this and head right, back toward the ‘crossroads’. Head over the gully taking the wider path to your right, bringing back through the Iron Gate (two granite posts). You can then see the carpark below. If you would like to join us for this walk on Saturday, June 5th, we will be meeting at the start point for a 10am start. To book your space please visit www.dartmoornordicwalking. co.uk Places must be booked in advance as spaces are limited. Denise and Winnie

From Sourton Tors to Great Nodden Distance: Approximately 9 km (5.6miles) Time: 2-2.5 hours Difficulty:Two uphill sections, from Prewley Moor and up to the top of Great Nodden. Start point: Prewley Moor, Sourton - What3words: hissing.lecturers. notched or SX545910 dartmoornordicwalking.co.uk ‘Dartmoor Nordic Walking’ and ‘Walks with Winnie’ are on Facebook.

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Funeral Directors Albery & Redstone Funeral Directors 22 Funeral Services Bellacouche 15 Garage Door Services Alliance Garage Doors 60 Garden Centres Bow Garden and Aquatic Centre 34 Endsleigh Gardens Nursery 36 Garden Machinery Sales & Service D H Services 36 South West Garden Machinery 62 Garden Services Men for All Seasons 36 Shrubbery Jubbery 36 Gardens To Visit RHS Rosemoor 43 Gift Retailers Wax Concept 45 Health & Nutrition ED Male Health 32 Light Touch Health 32 Milagro South West 31 Hearing Services Alistair Kinsey Hearing & Mobility 30 Heating & Plumbing Services Chamings Heating & Plumbing 14 & 20 DB Heating 4 Holidays & Lettings CPC Travel 17 Devon Yurts 21 Helpful Holidays 39 Holsworthy Travel 18 Taw & Torridge Coach Hire 50 Toad Hall Cottages 47 Home Improvements Realistic Home Improvements 42 Hotels & Inns Arundell Arms Hotel 37 Lewtrenchard Manor 52 Interior Services & Retailers Chic Interiors 11 Posh Paint 25 Opticians Atlantic Home Eyecare 32

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Accountants MBC Accountants 10 Arts & Galleries Kigbeare Studios and Gallery 44 Sapphire Picture Framing 25 Wildwood Arts 51 Bathroom Retailers Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles 64 Bed Retailers The Dartmoor Bed Company 7 Building & Maintenance Dave Baskerville Builders 61 Okehampton Handyman 61 Shield’s Buildings 35 Business Services Tavistock BID 13 Care Services & Residential Homes Bluebird Care West Devon 40 Day & Nightcare Assistance 30 Friendly Faces UK 23 Lakeside Residential Home 9 Sonia France Carer 20 Charities Gilead Foundations Centre 17 Cleaning Services West Devon Cleaning Services 42 Computer Maintenance ABC Service 61 Local Authorities West Devon Borough Council 48 & 49 Curtain & Blind Retailers Rochelle’s Curtains and Blinds 16 Electricians Coysh Electrical Services 60 Estate Agents Bradleys 3 Godfrey Short & Squire 63 Westcountry Homes Online 2 Farm Shops Taw River Dairy 53 Financial Advisors Charles Stanley Wealth Management 9 Davidsons IFS 38 Fuel Services & Suppliers Moorland Fuels 61

In every issue of Oke Links we promote local businesses, conversely, these businesses support and enable us to continue writing and publishing your local community magazine. If you are looking for a great local business then please choose from the list below. Next to each business is the page number on which they appear in this issue, please go and look at their advert and, if you call them, mention that you found them in Oke Links.

Oke Links Business Directory

COM

BUY LOCAL & SAVE JOBS

Osteopaths Philip Hartnoll Osteopath 32 Oven Cleaning Services Cook IT CLean 61 Pet Supplies & Services Aniimal Industries Ltd 27 Dial a Dog Wash Devon 60 Podiatrists Cannon Barn Podiatry & Foot Pain Clinic 29 Whiteley Podiatry 32 Pond Maintenance Dartmoor Pond Services 36 Private Water Engineers AquaTech Water Services 61 Residential Parks Berkeley Parks 46 Schools & Education Exeter College 24 Mount Kelly Foundation 26 Shebbear College 26 V Learning Net 28 Solicitors & Legal Services Charlesworth Nicholl & Co 19 Peter, Peter & Wright 41 Woollcombe Yonge Solicitors 28 Stove & Fireplace Retailers CBL Stoves 61 Toy Retailers The Toy Shop 18 Tree Surgeons Adam of Eden Tree Care 36 Tyre Services Mid Devon Tyres 60 Veterinary Practices North Park Vets 57 Okeford Veterinary Centre 27 Walking Walks with Winnie 56 Window Cleaners Bonds Window Cleaning 60 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Okehampton Glass 50 Orchard Conservatories, Windows & Doors Ltd 58

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FREEPHONE:

0800 328 1930

www.alliance-garagedoors.co.uk

Alliance Garage Doors Ltd • Mainbow Meadow • 1 Perry Lane • Forches Cross • Newton Abbot • Devon TQ12 6QA 60

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OOK IT LEAN LEAN Aqua Tech OOK IT Water Services Quality Oven Cleaning

Quality OvenCleaning Cleaning Quality Oven Quality Oven Cleaning forDevon Devon & & Cornwall for Cornwall for Devon & Cornwall for Devon & Cornwall

Wells • Boreholes Servicing • Breakdowns Control systems pumps • Filtration

available 7 days a week

Contact Ian on Tel: 01409 478648a / 07591 036096 available 7 days week Email: ian@cookitclean.co.uk Contact Ian on Tel: 01409 478648 / 07591 036096 Contact Ian on www.cookitclean.co.uk Email: ian@cookitclean.co.uk

Private Water Engineers 01409 478648 / 07591 036096 www.cookitclean.co.uk www.aquatechwaterservices.co.uk Email: ian@cookitclean.co.uk www.cookitclean.co.uk 09/11/2018 11:32 Clean B'Cards.indd 1 Senior Citizens Discount

B'Cards.indd 1

Tel: 01409 241312 Mob: 07825748720 Email: aquatechwaterservices@gmail.com ID ce ience V rvi O Se xper E

General Building • Extensions • Period Property Renovations Conversions • Plastering • Carpentry • Landscaping & more... Local client recommendations available at your request

07919 952207 / 01837 871542 Free Estimates • okebuilders@gmail.com

Dairy Barn • Pinnacle Farm • Thorndon Cross • Okehampton EX20 4NJ

01837 55700

Supply & installation of Wood, Gas & Electric Stoves and ﬁres throughout Devon and Cornwall

u r yo you ve d k? Ha cke tan e l ch oi

Local Reliable Service Call Us Today

• Heating Oil • Tractor Diesel • Oil Tank Cleaning • Lubricants • Coal • Oil Tank Replacement & Installation

The Showroom • Unit 5 Red Post • Bude EX23 9NW

01288 381852 MN carl@cblstoves.co.uk www.cblstoves.co.uk

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GENERAL BUILDER

Dave Baskerville

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House Maintenance Painting & Decorating Carpentry Household Repairs also... Furniture Repair & Polishing

simon109wright@googlemail.com

- Simon Wright -

07866 795914 / 01837 89171

THE OKEHAMPTON HANDYMAN

09/11/2018 11:32

Moorlands House, North Road, Okehampton EX20 1BQ

www.moorlandfuels.co.uk

TRADE SECRETS

Southwest Garden Machinery How long have you been in business? Established in 1935, in the village of Lewannick near Launceston, Southwest Garden Machinery has grown from a one-man repair operation in a farm wagon shed, to one of the largest and best regarded specialists in the area. Still owned by the same family this is truly a local business with its roots deep in the Cornish countryside, the family being farmers in the area since at least 1725.

Where are you based? Today’s premises on the Scarne Business Park at Launceston, opened in 2012, comprises a massive showroom displaying a huge range of products from all the leading manufacturers.

Do you specialise in the trade or domestic market? We cater for domestic users with gardens of all sizes as well as commercial gardeners and farmers, plus we have an on-site repair workshop with trained staff to undertake service, repair, and warranty work on all the product types we sell. In addition there is a wide range of accessories and consumables in stock, with parts for all leading makes readily available to order.

We are constantly adapting our product ranges to meet customer demand. We now have a wide selection of cordless battery products in stock, from hand-held tools to ride-on mowers, to satisfy those who prefer not to go down the traditional route of petrol engined products.

How would you describe your priorities? The business ethos has always been to offer clients the best products at the best prices, with the best backup. No product gets put into stock unless we have tested it, compared it to the competition and deemed it a good buy. Our numerous regular customers who return time and time again for our advice and recommendations are testament to the success of this policy. We are very much multi-franchise - no company has a 100% comprehensive product range and even the best brands have a few lemons in their catalogue!

How have you coped during current market conditions? The last year has been very challenging for all small businesses, but we have

SOUTHWEST GARDEN MACHINERY The Garden Machinery Professionals since 1935 • The areas widest range of new machines • Main dealers for most leading brands • Wide range of used machinery • Servicing & repairs by factory trained engineers Expert advice and old-fashioned service from a local family-owned business SCARNE BUSINESS PARK, LAUNCESTON • TELEPHONE 01566 772706

www.southwestgardenmachinery.co.uk

adapted the way we operate to suit the ‘new normal’ and have been able to continue to assist our customers throughout lockdowns etc. What we have not done is change the core operation – many businesses have moved from bricks-and-mortar retail to online trading (in many cases successfully), but that is not how we want to work. Unless you speak to the individual customer, in person at the shop or on the phone, and discuss their specific needs, you cannot make a valid recommendation and that leads to dissatisfied buyers. We still only sell from our retail shop (we do deliver, in our own van) and only to customers within a reasonable distance so we can deal with the aftersales service effectively. This may reduce the amount we sell, but we would rather have a few satisfied customers, than lots of unhappy ones. So for anyone in the Oke Links catchment area who is looking for garden machinery or repairs to existing products, give us a shout - we will do our best to assist.

To promote your business to 23,536* readers - call 07450 161 929 advertising@linksmagazines.co.uk

residential sales, lettings & property management

COMING SOON

a new development of five 4 bedroom detached, high specification, luxury homes in a private cul de sac

DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED

All enquiries to GSS Property email nick@gssproperty.com or call 01837 54504 info@gssproperty.com

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

ur Y g o AR atin RS ebr IVE Cel NN A TH 10

Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles

Amanda & James invite you to their showroom OVER 50 BATHROOM SETTINGS TO INSPIRE YOU We would like to thank all our customers past, present and future for their support

BATHROOMS • TILES • SHOWERS • WET ROOMS • BATHROOM FURNITURE MIRRORS & CABINETS • TOWEL RAILS & DESIGNER RADIATORS • ACCESSORIES Unit 8 Plymouth Road Industrial Estate, Tavistock PL19 9QN

01822 618 619 info@tavistockbathrooms-tiles.co.uk

www.tavistockbathrooms-tiles.co.uk

TAVISTOCK

BATHROOMS & TILES By amanda - james

Oke Links magazine May/June 21 issue

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