Tavy Links October/November 2021 by Links Magazines

TAVY LINKS October/November 2021 Issue 50

WHAT’S ON

DINNER FOR TWO at The Bedford Hotel

EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF SONGLINES MURDER AT TAVISTOCK LIBRARY!

HALLOWED TURF?

TAMAR ENERGY FEST

Dartmoor’s precious peat

DRAWN TO MAKE

TAVISTOCK STREET PREACHERS Caring, listening, helping

LOCAL PEOPLE Rhiannon Spurgeon: manager, mentor & author

COM

ITY

BUS I NESS

Alli Cragg: nurse & talented artist

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FARMING

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GARDENING A ‘greener’ lawn

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What can we do better?

The deadline date for any inclusions in the December/ January issue of Tavy Links will be 28 October 2021. For all editorial enquiries please contact Rosemary via email: rosemary.best @linksmagazines.co.uk

THE LINKS TEAM: Publisher: Tim Randell Editor: Rosemary Best Writers: Nichola Williams, Kaye Rogers Design: Sara Venner, Julian Rees Advertising: Jane Daniel, Olivia Breyley, Joanne Mallard Tim: 07450 161 929 Jane: 07772 619 808 Front cover image by Chris Bunney, bunneyphotography.co.uk – see Community News for an update on Chris’s ‘biggest Dartmoor challenge ever’

As the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow approaches at the end of October, the world’s attention will focus on measures to limit global warming. In advance of The Dartmoor Society Autumn Conference, our feature article explores the importance of Dartmoor peat and its ability to hold water, as well as its use as a source of fuel in times gone by and its present-day importance for storing carbon. Pete Mayston presents ‘the real value of our woods’, in terms of climate change and biodiversity. This is his last article for our Links Naturalist page and I would like to thank Pete enormously for sharing his wealth of knowledge on numerous fascinating topics over the last eight years. Sue Fisher provides everything you need to know about creating a ‘greener’ lawn where wildflowers have the upper hand. A local showing of ‘Thank you for the Rain’ offers an insight into the realities of the climate crisis, while Tamar Energy Fest provides fun activities and advice on energy efficiency. Our two inspirational, local people are nurse and talented artist, Alli Cragg, and Rhiannon Spurgeon, manager of Tavistock Enterprise Hub, founder of the Totally Awesome Women’s Network and author of a new book - Grief without Guilt. While Jo Wright and Gareth Jones from Tavistock Street Pastors explain how their patrol teams help vulnerable people, provide first-aid, or simply listen. In addition, Tavistock Library has a weekend of murder, mystery and crime, concerts are back, bonfire season gets underway - plus exhibitions, markets and gardens to enjoy. We would also welcome our readers’ views about Links magazines, so please take a few minutes to fill in our survey on page 58 and maybe win dinner for two!

Rosemary Best

Editor

Contents 6 Feature 8 Local People 13 Health & Wellbeing 18 Charity Focus 20 Gardening 24 Farming News 25 Naturalist 26 Law 27 Community News 34 Charity Focus 36 Kids’ What’s On 37 What’s On

47 Music & Art 52 Food & Drink 55 Trade Secrets 56 Business 58 Reader Survey 59 Book Review 60 Local Authors 62 O utdoors & Active 64 History 66 Tech Help 70 Business directory

5 20 18

@tavylinks Delivered by Royal Mail to: Brentor, Grenofen, Gulworthy, Horndon, Horsebridge, Kilworthy, Lamerton, Mary Tavy, Milton Abbot, Moortown, Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Whitchurch. 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

Hallowed Turf? From Ritual to Restoration

Dartmoor upland peat towards Teignhead Farm © Caya Edwards

Dartmoor peat has been our source of fire and water for millennia. Walk up on to the high ground on Dartmoor at any time of year and the going gets more difficult with each squelchy footfall. Standing in this open landscape surrounded by miles of blanket bog, thoughts turn to the people of the past and what brought them here. In many cases it seems to have been the peat. This material is made up of layer upon layer of partially decomposed sphagnum moss and one of its qualities is the ability to retain water. Traversing this wet mass is very difficult for humans and animals and it is why a number of peat passes have been constructed over time to allow access to more remote areas.

Peatland Partnership has carried out work on high Dartmoor to restore areas of degraded peat, with the aim of ensuring that it can fulfil the function of holding water and storing carbon into the future. Therein lies a problem - how do we safeguard the wildness and remoteness of Dartmoor and at the same time carry out work with heavy equipment in remote areas of formerly untouched blanket peat? How do we plan for work that must be carried out within delicate ecosystems and world-renowned archaeological landscapes, and how do we know the extent of the degraded peat or the best way to identify and conserve damaged areas?

Watery landscapes have been valued and exploited by humans for thousands of years. Dartmoor’s world-renowned archaeological sites, Bronze-Age stone circles and stone rows, and the well-known White Horse Hill burial cist, are situated within the peat, and the entire upland is a prehistoric landscape containing subtle remnants of past human activity. More prosaically, peat has been cut and dried for hundreds of years to keep hearths burning across the moor and beyond, preserving life and warming homes against the harsh winters. It was used extensively in the Dartmoor tin industry; turned into charcoal, it burned as fiercely as any coal and remarkably it was even exported to Cornwall, when Cornish tin miners recognised its excellent quality! For more information on the peat cutters and the uses of peat, see Tim Sandles’ article on his website: Legendary Dartmoor.

The Dartmoor Society Autumn Conference looks at this restoration work.

Fast forward to the present day and the blanket peat is valued for very different reasons. Digging peat for fuel is no longer allowed and the water that falls on Dartmoor is ultimately our drinking water. Increasing awareness of climate change has turned the international spotlight on peat uplands for their ability to store carbon, and since 2015 the South West 6

Caya Edwards The Dartmoor Society

Hallowed Turf: Perspectives on the Conservation of Dartmoor’s Blanket Peat Friday 12 November at Charter Hall, Okehampton The Dartmoor Society is a charity well-known for hosting events that bring together experts to discuss subjects relating to Dartmoor and this year the focus is on how best to conserve blanket peat. How do you conserve peat? What restoration work is planned and how is it carried out? Water companies, farmers, archaeologists and nature conservationists have differing priorities. Can they find ways to achieve the same goal of conserving the peat and protecting the landscape? This conference features speakers who are directly involved in the project or who have specialisms that can contribute to our understanding of an undertaking on this scale.

FEATURE

Naturally formed peat bog with sphagnum, upper reaches of the East Dart © Chris Chapman

Tinners’ mould stone Dartmoor © Caya Edwards

Richard Brazier heads the University of Exeter research team behind the Peatland Partnership’s project and will talk about the science that has informed the restoration programme. Adrian Colston reflects on how different stakeholder interests make the project so complex and sometimes controversial, and Morag Angus from SWW will talk about the logistics of this complex work and how it is carried out on the ground. Kevin Cox is chairman of the UK RSPB and will talk about the impacts on birds and nature conservation in the areas subject to re-wetting. Martin Gillard, Environment Officer for the South West Peatland Partnership, will give the audience some insights into how archaeological sites are considered and the potential for new finds in the peatland restoration programme. Geoff Eyres, a farmer and agricultural businessman from the Peak District, has for 30 years, on his own initiative, developed his own methods to regenerate peat and associated flora on his land. It will be interesting to hear how one person’s initiative has persisted and what the results have been. Could his ideas be of use to us on Dartmoor?

Grey Wethers Stone Circle Dartmoor 2021 @ Caya Edwards

All are welcome to attend this event which includes refreshments and a buffet lunch. For more details and to book, see the Dartmoor Society website: dartmoorsociety.com/events

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Grief Without Guilt Rhiannon Spurgeon’s conversational approach to her first book ‘Grief Without Guilt’, makes it hugely readable, as she guides people through grieving the loss of a loved one in the aftermath of a difficult relationship. With courageous honesty, Rhiannon reveals the story of her life with and without Oliver, exposing emotional turmoil and challenges with demons, interwoven with touches of humour and practical advice on rebuilding your life step by step. This is the book she wishes she could have read to help her through the process, but whether you relate to the whole experience or elements of it, it offers a compelling insight into dealing with grief and might even prompt a re-examination of your existing relationships. As you can tell from the title, Rhiannon and Oliver’s life together wasn’t a traditional fairy tale or even a crossed-wires romcom with a happy ending. Nobody sets out to have a complicated relationship, but when one partner

dies and the other is left with a 10-day-old baby, everyday life becomes challenging in the extreme. Rhiannon started drafting Grief Without Guilt three years ago, putting it aside during the hands-on requirements of pandemic home-schooling. When

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Rhiannon is all the proof you need that ‘It gets better if you let it’. she later revisited some of the earlier chapters, she realised how cathartic and hugely beneficial writing had been, allowing her to fully process feelings she thought were resolved. Rhiannon’s father served in the Royal Australian Air Force and met her mother on his tour of Europe, when she was in the RAF. Her mother moved out to Australia and Rhiannon was ten by the time the family relocated to England. Following university, Rhiannon based her career in London and her last job in the capital was at The Prince’s Trust, where she spent three years helping young people, some of whom had escaped gangs or war zones. Giving people the tools they needed to make a fresh start in life was a role she could really believe in and found incredibly fulfilling. She now works as a coach and mentor. When Rhiannon first met Oliver in 2004, they experienced such strong feelings of mutual attraction, they were impossible to ignore. Despite the fact they both had issues – or perhaps because of that – they clicked instantly at the strangest job interview she had ever attended. Oliver had been through rehab at 18, and struggled with dyslexia and poor mental health, but he was what her mother calls a ‘cheeky monkey’ with a sense of humour to match. Although their seven-year relationship was on-off and both saw other people in the off times, they felt inextricably linked ‘to the death’ – she writes in her book ‘Nothing about our set-up was ideal. But it was ours’. 1st November 2021 will be the tenth anniversary of Oliver’s death, which happened ten days after their daughter Tilly was born. By then Oliver was in chronic pain and living on a cocktail of painkillers; they had also been living apart for three months, since Rhiannon’s ultimatum refusing to return until he took his health seriously and adhered to medical advice. In addition to losing the man she loved and caring for a new-born baby, becoming a widow in these circumstances left Rhiannon with the unanswered ‘what if’ scenario, as well as a situation that didn’t fit conventional expectations. Unsurprisingly it has taken a long time, the support of family

and friends, and a vast amount of inner strength to climb out of the black pit that followed. Grief without Guilt is the story of how she achieved it, and both the journey and the resulting book are incredible achievements. Rhiannon moved to Tavistock in 2011 to be near her parents and it has become the hometown where she has put down roots and raised her daughter. In 2014 she took over management of Tavistock Enterprise Hub and in 2015 she set up the Totally Awesome Women’s Network (TAWN). As a single mum, breakfast and evening networking groups were impossible to attend. Describing it as her ‘Field of Dreams’ moment, the inspiration came to her for a daytime group for female business owners, providing an opportunity to talk and support each other. A Facebook post inviting women to join her for a lunch meeting produced a concept-proving response. TAWN has become well established over subsequent years and continued to develop to meet the spiritual and business needs of women, even during the pandemic. Another recent venture Rhiannon instigated, is the transformation of the former Old Folks’ Rest Room, which closed in 2009. Previous funding for enterprise hubs has only focused on new hubs and never on future-proofing current buildings, so when more flexible funding became available, she was quick to put the project forward, saving the building from further dereliction and creating four brand-new offices. Rhiannon is all the proof you need that ‘It gets better if you let it’. Rosemary Best

Grief Without Guilt can be purchased from most online retailers and at Book Stop, Tavistock. For a signed copy and more details visit griefwithoutguilt.com 9

LOCAL PEOPLE

A nurse and talented artist On meeting Alli Cragg you’re struck by her nervous smile and totally unassuming nature. These personal attributes are baffling when you learn about her artistic talents and the contribution she makes to society through her work. Alli, 50, qualified as a nurse in 1999 and worked in a cardiac department for 13 years before moving to be a senior sister in discharge planning. She currently works at Mount Gould Hospital as an Infection Control Team Leader for Livewell Southwest, but was redeployed to front line duties when the pandemic hit the UK in March last year. She doesn’t class her other nursing duties as ‘front line’ and is in awe and admiration

of her fellow nurses who work on wards day in, day out. “During the pandemic people called nurses heroes, but nurses do this job every day. They’ve never not worked hard, and in my eyes, they have always been heroes,” said Alli. She found spending time with patients, while their loved ones and family members had to stay away, truly humbling. You could see the pain in her eyes when she talked about taking on a surrogate family member role, alongside that of her nursing duties. “I know I could never truly fill the role of someone’s daughter, or sister, but I could see how important it was to sit and hold a patient’s hand and read to them, while they were suffering from the awful effects of Covid.”

Alli lives with her husband and two kittens in Plympton, just ten doors down from her parents and the home she grew up in. It’s here where she admits to filling her time by making a mess! As well as being a nurse, Alli is an accomplished artist – although this is something she will never admit. Her iconic seascapes are as mighty as their creator is modest. She said: “I started painting in 2015 when my daughter left home. I was bereft and needed to do something to fill the void. I wanted to make a mess and have some fun, so I started playing with spray paints in my garage. Then one day I was in a gallery in Tavistock and saw some paintings by Rozanne Bell. I loved them and wanted

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LOCAL PEOPLE

to know what she had used, so I got in touch with her. This is where it all began. I bought a starter pack of resin and went back into my garage to play. I then took my first abstract creation, which I called ‘skinny dip’, back to the Tavistock Gallery to ask the owner, Rik, what he thought. To my surprise, he took it off my hands and asked me to paint seven more pictures for him to sell at an exhibition. This was truly terrifying as I couldn’t believe people would want my work! However, I did my first exhibition in July 2019, and as days go, it was one of the best days of my life. I felt super special. For me that day wasn’t about my paintings, it was about how other people made me feel.”

For Alli, painting is both a challenge and a release. She describes skies and seas as her nemesis, saying: “If it was easy, I wouldn’t paint them, but I like to prove I won’t be beaten and can often lose a whole day, or sometimes a weekend, on a single painting. I think I create my best art when I have had a tough week at work. It’s almost a mental release for me. My husband Kevin, plays a really important role in my art, as well as my life. I have made my fair share of mud, as I call it, and he puts up with my painting paraphernalia being strewn all over the kitchen. Not every painting works out at the first attempt, and the skill is in knowing when to stop for the day and when to go back and try again. Kevin is great at telling me when to step

away and leave something I am battling with. He also grounds me when I’m getting cocky, so he’s perfect really.” This year Alli is hoping to finish her home studio, delayed as a result of the pandemic and a couple of building hiccups and explains: “I’m looking forward to having a dedicated mess-making space, away from the mischievous glances of my two kittens. I really want to create more pieces this year and maybe have another exhibition at the Tavistock Gallery, so I have the chance to feel super special again.” Emma Taynton-Young For more of Alli’s work see tavistockgalleries.com

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Health self-resources Tavyside doctors have put together some online resources to help patients. After chatting with my 98-year-old grandmother I was struck by the fact that, although our day-to-day needs remain the same, the way we as a society meet those needs, changes, and we need to change too, if we can, to work with what the current society has to offer. For her, an online shopping delivery arranged by her relatives, and online banking and bill payment has kept her safe and supported in her home during the pandemic - the way she has adapted through her life has amazed her. General practice has changed hugely over the years, particularly since the internet came to dominate our lives, and again with the huge event of the pandemic. There is so much information out there for patients that many consultations involve directing people to resources they can access themselves to improve understanding and manage common health complaints. I thought it would be helpful to share some of our top recommended sites that can either answer questions or help you manage your health without needing to contact your GP, or allow you to have a much more informed and useful conversation during a consultation. I really hope you find some of these sites useful.

General health For NHS patient information leaflets on just about anything go to patient.info

Covid 20% of us will have some symptoms some weeks after having Covid-19 infection. Yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk is a useful site that discusses what to expect after infection and how to manage ongoing symptoms.

Physiotherapy You can self-refer for physiotherapy at Tavistock Hospital if you feel you might benefit from the services without waiting to discuss with a GP, at plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

physio-self-referral-form-tavistock The Versus Arthritis website has a lot of great information about arthritis and some wonderful exercise leaflets. Benign positional vertigo is very common and can cause recurrent symptoms. The university of Southampton has a balance retraining program that you can take part in at balance.lifeguidehealth.org/ For NHS information leaflets on ALL physiotherapy topics from Achilles tendon issues to bladder retraining, go to the Oxford University Hospital site ouh.nhs.uk/services/departments/ therapies/therapy-rehabilitation/leaflets

Mental Health There are lots of online resources available but these are some of the sites Tavyside doctors recommend: For self-help guides to read or listen to, go to ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp and get the free app Moodgym is an online CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) course NHS Scotland has a wonderful site with some great self-help guides: nhsinform. scot/self-help-guides Mind has a lot of self-help resources, links and advice Buddhify.com and headspace focus on meditation and mindfulness. There is a small charge for these sites.

Accidents and emergencies For any falls, injuries, wounds, bites, stings etc the NHS choices app allows you to see what services are available close to you and the waiting time for each location.

What 0-18 has lots of information and resources from pregnancy to age 18, including child mental health and maternal health links: what0-18.nhs.uk Happy Maps is a wonderful site if you are worried about your child’s mental health and pools all the resources available in one site: happymaps.co.uk

Maternity health Bumps lets you search for any medication, prescribed or shop bought, and check how safe it is in pregnancy: medicinesinpregnancy.org HANDi app maternity has lots of links to guidance on lots of different pregnancy topics

Women’s health A few incredible sites have sprung up recently to do with all things menopause and I really encourage you to look at these before speaking to your GP, so you’re aware of all your options, enabling a useful and detailed discussion. menopausematters. co.uk, menopausedoctor.co.uk, rockmymenopause.com

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Child health HANDi app paediatric has lots of guidance about the six most common childhood illnesses: diarrhoea, chesty child, chesty baby, high temperature, abdominal pain, common newborn problems - invaluable for first-time parents!

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Heal Your Pain Postural alignment uses specific posture-focused exercises to strengthen muscles, and stretch out supporting connective tissue, which in turn helps to re-align the body to be more symmetrical and therefore function better. Caroline Clarke lives in Tavistock with her husband Richard, and was previously a competitive horse rider. She trained as a postural alignment specialist after discovering The Egoscue Method, when her husband was suffering from debilitating knee and hip pain. The book sets out key “When a body is straightened, re-positioned into its correct exercises that work on the ‘neutral’ state it can function effectively and therefore most common pain areas eliminate many physical pains – such as back ache, hip pain, neck ache etc,” says Caroline. “The exercises are not designed such as the neck, shoulders, elbows, back, hips, knees, ankles. Simply select your area of to build up big muscle groups like traditional exercise, but pain and then flip to the corresponding chapter for the best work on the smaller often forgotten muscles that help to keep exercises to help re-align and strengthen that particular area. our skeletons aligned. It is common for even really fit people Doing the exercises regularly will keep you out of pain. to neglect these smaller areas which if unworked do not help support our frame and in turn cause unbalance, injury The book retails for £15.00 +P&P for the UK. For more details and pain.” about Heal Your Pain, Caroline’s Zoom classes and specific exercises visit: carolinejclarke.com; facebook. Caroline’s aptly named company ‘Heal your Pain’ offers onecom/posturalalignmentbycarolinejclarke; to-one assessments, group classes, online videos and she has youtube.com videos or contact Caroline at also written a new book helping people of all ages and levels caroline@carolinejclarke.com or 07875 537527. of fitness to straighten up and free themselves of pain.

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29/03/2021 13:37

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Making your home dementia friendly Bluebird Care offers Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘Dementia Friends’ training to its care assistants, providing specialised dementia support to customers. If you have dementia or are caring for someone with dementia, living at home can help you and your loved one feel safe and stay independent. With small changes and support from your Bluebird Care assistants you can stay safe, active and continue to enjoy your home. Here are five tips for making your home dementia friendly:

Good lighting

Don’t just rely on natural light getting into the house - try boosting it with additional lighting to help you see clearly and help make sense of where you are.

Safe floor area

Remove anything that could make you trip – rugs, mats, cables. Dementia may affect how you see colours, so bright and contrasting colours may help

you distinguish your furniture from the flooring. Avoid stripes and bold patterns though as they can be confusing!

Eating and drinking

Eating and drinking well is very important for your health. Use plates and cups in colours that contrast with the colours of your food. You could also use clear plastic containers to store food, so you can see what’s inside.

Memory issues

Place pictures or signs on cupboards and drawers so you know what is inside. Try to keep your important things in the same place.

Keeping active and engaged

A large-faced clock and a calendar can help you keep track of the day and time, and the different things you’re doing each day.

Bluebird Care gives you the option of high-quality care without moving to a care home. Our live-in care service offers the reassurance of up to 24-hour care and support in the comfort of your own home. We’ll never take a one-size-fits-all approach to care; our customers’ unique needs are considered every step of the way, meaning you always stay in control of your care and support. A member of our team will ask what is important about the way you live your life so we can provide the care you want, the way you want it. Multi-award-winning care company Bluebird Care has now opened an office in Tavistock town centre. To find out more about the services that Bluebird Care West Devon offers, please call 01822 678111 or visit bluebirdcare. co.uk/west-devon.

CHARITY FOCUS

Tavistock Street Pastors I met Jo Wright and Gareth Jones from Tavistock Street Pastors and they explained how the team provides the charity’s core values of caring, listening and helping people. Street Pastors was founded by Les Isaac and started in Brixton, South London in

2003, when a group of church volunteers went out on the streets to talk to people and try to make a difference to the volume of knife crime. The scheme’s success spread and teams sprang up elsewhere, dealing with other local issues such as anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related problems. Currently

more than 240 UK towns and cities have Street Pastor teams, with a growing number in other countries as well. Street Pastors is now one of the initiatives run by Ascension Trust, a Christian interdenominational organisation, whose mission is ‘to mobilise the Church to make a positive contribution to society

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CHARITY FOCUS

and to improve the quality of life of the disadvantaged and vulnerable’.

Bachelor of Divinity Degree. He now volunteers as a daytime street pastor

Street Pastors was initiated by Roger Bird and Graham Boot-Handford in Tavistock 12 years ago, starting with night-time patrols on Friday or Saturday nights to engage with vulnerable people, and provide help and support. Jo Wright was in the first cohort trained to go out on the streets – she is now one of the Tavistock co-ordinators and still just as passionate about the role. She explained that she was once one of the people binge-drinking at weekends, until one night she met Sam – her Mr Wright - he was a Christian and as their relationship grew, she became a Christian too, changing her life for ever. They married a couple of years later and regularly go out on street patrol together.

A typical night-time session in Tavistock starts with a prayer meeting at 9:30pm led by the prayer pastors on duty at Abbey Chapel, and then at 10pm three or four street pastors go out together to start their rounds through Tavistock Meadows and past the bars. At midnight they return to base, where the prayer pastor gives them tea and cake before they go out on patrol again, finishing anytime from 1am to 4am depending on the situation. They carry water for people who have had too much to drink, flipflops for people who can’t walk home in their high-heels, a dustpan and brush comes in handy for sweeping up broken glass, and lollipops are a key item - their many uses range from a simple source of sugar, to building up trust and even diffusing a tense scene. Street pastors never seek to preach but are happy to answer questions about their faith and will also offer to pray with people - the offer is rarely refused and regularly helps to comfort someone in trouble. They never know what they will come across and Jo has been involved in helping inebriated or vulnerable people get home safely after a night out,

In 2008, Gareth was a chronic alcoholic and was rushed to hospital with advanced cirrhosis of the liver. By chance, whilst recovering at home afterwards, he came across a TV programme which resulted in him turning to Christianity. His liver made an amazing recovery and he enrolled on an access course, followed by ten years of online study for a

giving first-aid, waiting with injured people until the ambulance arrives, or simply listening to someone and signposting them to an organisation that can provide the help they need. They never give advice, but the care they provide can be physical, mental or spiritual, and in some cases may well be life-saving. Their work brings the volunteers in contact with many young people, and over time their ‘softly, softly’ approach has built up strong rapports in the community. Before the pandemic some of the volunteers also worked as school pastors, carrying out a weekly lunchtime patrol at Tavistock College, helping isolated pupils or preventing altercations. Street pastors often see first-hand the struggles that young people can be involved in at an early age and Jo would like to find additional ways of supporting them. Tavistock Street Pastors works closely with the councils, police, Salvation Army and many other organisations, although information disclosed by the public remains confidential unless there is a legal requirement to share it. A strong Christian faith is an integral part of the role and street pastors have to have been a member of a church community for at least a year - most local churches are represented in the Tavistock branch. New street pastors take a ten-week training course covering a wide variety of topics, such as drugs, alcohol, body language, conflict management, youth culture and basic first-aid. New volunteers are welcome from members of any local church, or anyone can join a street pastor patrol as an observer. For more information go to streetpastors.org/locations/tavistock or email: tavistock@streetpastors.org.uk Rosemary Best

GARDENING

How to grow a ‘greener’ lawn How green was your lawn this year? As in terms of diversity and wildlife, that is, rather than colour –the unseasonably wet summer resulted in the lushest, greenest growth I’ve ever seen in August. Yet whilst many lawnmowers have been busier than usual, others have been taking a break. Earlier this year, thousands of gardeners embraced ‘No-mow May’, an inspired initiative from the charity Plantlife, and were enchanted by the results, with the buzz of lawnmowers being replaced by the hum of countless insects. If you discovered the delights of a ‘lazy lawn’, now’s the time to take the next steps and develop a flower-spangled meadow for next year. First, ensure the grass doesn’t get the upper hand and crowd out the flowers. Your ally is an attractive flowering annual plant, Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus major), which reduces the vigour of grass by up to 60%. Seed must be sown in autumn and fresh-collected this year, so do buy from a reputable source. At the same time, sow other wildflower seed too, like ox eye daisy, campion, vetch, and knapweed. Before sowing, cut the grass as short as possible, remove the clippings, and rake the surface vigorously to expose patches of bare soil -

www.plantlife.org.uk has lots more useful information. Autumn is bulb planting season and Narcissi (daffodils) are perfectly at home growing in grass. Do choose with care to create the right effects: while big mixed sacks of daffodils are temptingly priced, the large blowsy blooms never look at home in a meadow lawn, plus their big leaves take months to die back. Instead, select two or three varieties of smaller narcissi and stagger the flowering times to enjoy colour for months: early varieties include ‘February Gold’, ‘Jetfire’, and our native wild daffodil or Lent lily Narcissus pseudonarcissus – all shortgrowing and able to withstand the gales; then for late spring, plant the single white poet’s or pheasant’s eye narcissus, N. poeticus var recurvus which has tall stems to bear flowers above the growing grass. When planting, aim for a natural look with bulbs scattered in clumps of varying numbers. I use a spade for planting, first cutting squares or rectangles of turf on three sides to roll back, exposing the soil, then digging a large wide hole for each group of bulbs. Finally, batter the turf a bit before rolling back in place to break up the grass roots so the bulbs don’t lift the turves as their shoots grow.

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GARDENING

Seasonal gardening jobs Grow some watercress for healthy winter salads using bagged watercress bought from the greengrocer. Place shoots in water to root, then plant into troughs or pots and keep moist.

Sue Fisher GARDEN DESIGNER & HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST

Autumn is the ideal season to plant anything hardy like shrubs, roses, trees, and hedging, while the soil is warm and moist and perfect to encourage lots of root growth. Clean out the greenhouse in advance of winter before it fills with plants. Take everything out, wash glass inside and out to make the most of scarce winter light. Good hygiene, and avoiding using the greenhouse for general storage, avoids a lot of potential pest and disease problems. Pot up bedding plants like geraniums and busy lizzies, to bring indoors and enjoy on your windowsill for weeks more colour. Plant spring bedding and bulbs in patio pots and window boxes.

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GARDENING

How to make the most of autumn’s leaves Fallen leaves may be hard work to gather up, but they are a wonderful resource that can be turned into leaf mould, a superb soil conditioner to dig in when preparing ground for planting; spread on the surface as a weedsuppressing mulch; and sieve to add to potting compost. If you have lots of trees, give leafclearing an order of priority: lawns and plants first, because wet leaves form a thick suffocating blanket that keeps off light, along with ponds where leaves rot

down and can upset the natural balance. Leaves can be left to rot down in situ on bare soil between trees and shrubs, or piled up in corners and under hedgerows as snug hibernation spots for hedgehogs and amphibians. Making leaf mould is very straightforward but takes time – at least a year, often more. Because leaves take longer to break down than other garden waste, keep them separate rather than in a compost bin. This could be an open-

topped container made of mesh (which needn’t be fancy – wire mesh wrapped round four posts, for example). Other options are sturdy black plastic sacks or old compost bags, with a few holes pierced in the bottom; hessian sacks; or woven plastic ‘dumpy’ bags that building supplies come in. If the leaves are dry when gathered up, water them as you fill your container, as moisture is essential for them to break down and become wonderful, crumbly, megauseful leaf mould. Sue Fisher

Sue continues to be available for garden advisory visits and design work, operating according to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.

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FARMING NEWS

Clouds and silver linings This summer the Cole family set of on holiday to Northumberland. Don’t tell anyone but it was a real gem of a place! We rented a cottage in a small coastal village near Bamburgh Castle. There were beautiful, long, empty, sandy beaches around every turn, the weather was warm and sunny, castles everywhere (perfect for children into Harry Potter), lovely villages and pubs, stunning landscapes and best of all, in comparison to Devon and Cornwall, it was empty. It was great to get away and feel normal again after a very strange and challenging last 18 months! The only dark cloud was the call I received on the way up from Animal Health letting me know that an animal I had sent to ‘the big field in the sky’ a few days before I left had shown signs of TB. I was told we would have to test every animal on the farm within a month! Given I was going on holiday for nearly two weeks my relaxed persona soon turned to panic, frustration, dread, and annoyance. With the realisation that our cattle are spread far and wide on their summer pastures on and off the moor, I quicky realised the magnitude of the task and wondered if I need to turn around and go home! Fortunately, as I was away, I was able to negotiate an extra week before we tested. I spoke to my brother and the vet and between them we quickly booked in the three tests we would need to do logistically to get to all the cattle. My brother Neil and I made an action plan for gathering and I continued to Northumberland leaving him the task of rounding up all the cattle on the moor before I got home! Neil and his team accompanied by my sister’s daughter set off on horses to round up the biggest bunch of cows, grazing on the south of Dartmoor in the area around the head of the Rivers Plym and Erm, which is a seven-mile walk home. I knew this bunch would be the 24

worst to gather as they are the furthest away and they were also due to start calving any day. They certainly had their work cut out as they found not only all the cows, but 11 baby calves. It was not good for the cows and babies to have to walk that far given how young they were, but they took them as steadily as they could and managed to get them in. It had to be done to comply with TB regulations, and if we had waited any longer, there would just have been more calves to deal with and it was a massive relief to know they were in, safe and ready. We are very lucky that we are able to rely on family and a good team when we are away to look after things. This time they properly put their shoulder to the wheel for me and Gem, allowing us to enjoy our summer break. On my first day back, I had to attend my grandfather’s funeral, which is a story I will tell another day. The following day we were TB testing cattle which will continue for two days every week for three weeks. We will have to repeat

the test in two months and then test again in another two months. If we are clear we then get to enjoy a six-month interval between testing. It is such hard work for any cattle farmer, but we do it because we are bound by the law to test and protect against the spread of TB. It is just a shame that stories of Geronimo the alpaca get more prominence than real farming businesses across the country on the front line of this TB battle, losing thousands of cattle every year. On a brighter note, we had our first big sheep sale of the year at Tavistock Market selling mule ewe lambs which are a very sought-after cross breed. We managed to turn out just shy of 300 quality lambs and smash our record price with a fantastic average for the day. It is a very strong trade for sheep at the moment and the whole team enjoyed a beer in the Market Inn that afternoon! Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm

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NATURALIST

The real value of our woods There is something especially peaceful about walking in woods surrounded by trees and I like to think that humans have always enjoyed spending time in woodlands and have had a real affinity with trees beyond their economic value. But it is only relatively recently that we have learnt the real value of trees in helping to mitigate climate change by their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees, especially those which are native to Britain, also provide shelter and food for numerous insects, birds and mammals and even other plants such as mosses and lichens and so are a valuable factor in conserving the biodiversity of our countryside. Some of us may find it surprising to learn that compared with the rest of Europe the UK has a relatively low tree cover of 13%, the average for Europe being 35%. Countryfile viewers will know of Plant Britain, the initiative to plant 750,000 trees across the country in just two years; you can even record just one new tree in your garden on an interactive map on the Countryfile website which is tracking the progress of the project. There are also many organisations such as the Woodland Trust and the Wildlife Trusts which have supported and promoted tree planting for many years. Most of these young trees will take quite a few years to come to maturity and it will take even more years to establish a thriving wood with its attendant biodiversity. Recent research has revealed that individual trees are connected by an underground fungal network providing vital nutrients and amazingly it is even thought that trees can communicate and ‘warn’ each other about impending danger from pests and diseases. Travelling around West Devon it is difficult to ignore the prevalence and devastating effect of ash dieback which is just one of the diseases that can affect our native trees. And so, although it is very important to promote the planting of new trees we must not forget to value and wherever possible conserve our existing trees and woods.

is also a temperate rain forest, constantly wet underfoot and the air always humid. The trees are gnarled, twisted and stunted and famed for the mosses, liverworts, lichens and polypody ferns that festoon their trunks and branches. Many of these epiphyte species, (plants which grow on other plants but not usually as parasites), such as fleshy lobed liverworts and ‘shrubby’ lichens hanging in unkempt tresses from overhead branches, are unique to wet woodland. This wood is indeed a natural ‘time capsule’ of a previous era, a relic of a mighty forest that once covered Dartmoor and probably most of the South West. Its survival is largely thanks to the steep sides of the gorge through which the River Dart flows and the large boulders that cover the ground which made it inaccessible for human exploitation when the rest of the forest was felled for fuel, mining and agriculture and in more recent years the planting of conifers. This and other woods in steepsided moorland valleys are inaccessible to grazing animals, especially sheep, which roam the open moor, thus allowing plants such as ferns and whortleberries (bilberries) to flourish in the ground flora. Redstart, wood warbler and pied flycatchers favour this type of habitat as well as many butterfly species. In a recent newspaper article George Monbiot, the writer and environmentalist, describes old trees as ‘keystone structures’ for which there is no substitute and on which many other species depend. He thinks that ‘our tidyminded forestry and treating trees as interchangeable is devastating to wildlife’ and he illustrates his article with our own Wistman’s Wood. But there is a fear that its fragile ecosystem is currently being threatened by an influx of visitors. Let’s hope we can leave a legacy of new woods while conserving our old ones for future generations, so that they can also experience the joy of walking in woods. Pete Mayston

Wistman’s Wood, just north of Two Bridges on Dartmoor is a prime example of an established ancient wood which

LAW

legally speaking...

They apply in England and Wales only. The Mental A variety of professionals can now contribute to Capacity Act allows restraint and restrictions to such assessments and a new role of an Approved be used – but only if they are in a person’s best Mental Capacity Professional (AMCP) will be interests. Extra safeguards are needed if the created under the new legislation. To protect restrictions and restraints used will deprive a a person’s rights a pre-authorisation review person of their liberty. These are referred to as the must take place, they must meet the person Deprivation of Liberty. The current legislation has whenever there is reason to believe that person only permitted such safeguards to be used if the does not wish to stay in the proposed setting, person is in specific care settings, notably a care and in all cases where the proposed setting is an Our regular law column with home or hospital. These institutions must seek independent hospital. permission from the Local Authority in order to One key point of note is that the current deprive a person of their liberty. 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COMMUNITY NEWS

From the Lions’ Den The beginning of July saw the start of a new Lions’ year with Lion Barry Smith taking over as President from Lion Lyn Roberts. Barry thanked Lyn for her year in the chair which due to the pandemic had been somewhat unusual with all of the meetings taking place over Zoom. However, over the Christmas period between lockdowns, the club was very active with the Trees of Light, the new Christmas post delivery service and a bucket collection with Father Christmas in Bedford Square which altogether raised around £15,000 for local charities. Barry said that he hoped his year would see a return to near normality - face-toface meetings have already started and planning for future activities is now well underway. The first major event will be the annual fireworks display at 7pm on Saturday 6th November which this year sees a change in venue from Tavistock Meadows to Tavistock Community Football Club at Langsford Park. Further details will be published nearer the time on the Lions’ website and Facebook page - the Lions are very grateful to the football club committee for allowing the event to return to Langsford Park after so many years.

The club intends to run their Christmas postal service, which started last year, with the assistance and guidance of Tavistock Guides; stamps and post-boxes will be ‘posted’ around the town at various outlets and the club is grateful for the support of local traders. This proved to be a very popular service with around 4,000 cards being delivered in the week leading up to Christmas and again, full details will be available on the club website and Facebook page in due course. The centrepiece of Tavistock’s Christmas lights is always the Lions Club’s Trees of Light on the front of the town hall, so on the last Friday of November, the lights on the three trees will be switched on. For more details and the sponsorship form, see the What’s On section. Father Christmas will once again be out and about on his wonderful sleigh visiting local schools and distributing gifts from the Lions and he will also be in Bedford Square on a couple of Saturdays before Christmas helping club members with their bucket collections. So, all in all, a busy time for the Lions

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which could be even busier if the ‘powers that be’ decide that Goose Fair and Dickensian Evening go ahead - but at the time of writing this has yet to be decided. More details about the club can be found at www.tavistocklions.org.uk, on Facebook or by calling 0345 8334807.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Tavistock Library Tavistock Library was a hive of community activity over the summer with this year’s summer reading challenge about nature and our planet, plus library trike story time sessions in the park, craft sessions and animal encounters. But just because summer has finished it doesn’t mean it’s all quiet at the library – October starts with Fun Palace followed by a weekend devoted to crime! The library has a warm welcome for everyone and in addition to a wide selection of books and audiobooks, there are also lots of events and regular activities for children and adults, as well as access to computers, free Wi-Fi, printing, scanning and photocopying. For children there are Tavy Tales and Bounce and Rhyme sessions, plus staff will still be driving the library trike round the town for story time sessions and giving out children’s books. While adults can enjoy Scrabble, sewing and reading groups, as well as one-toone support with online job searches, CV writing and IT help. The bookcases have even been pushed aside for live music sessions with local artists, with plans to showcase local talent on a more regular basis.

table, and are designed specifically for people with dementia. Some U3A activities are also held in the library, such as French and German conversation and calligraphy. The Friends of Tavistock Library is an informal group which fundraises for the library and sponsors special events, such as children’s storytelling. The Friends are staging a crime weekend 21st to 23rd October, including a murder mystery event, quiz night and crime writing workshop – for more details see What’s On. If you would like to join the Friends of Tavistock Library or help at events, please email romartin@ eastcotecornwall.co.uk or phone 01822 612218. You can find information about the library’s full programme of events on Facebook @TavistockLibrary, www.devonlibraries. org.uk/web/arena/tavistocklibrary, or email tavistock.library@ librariesunlimited.org.uk or phone 01822 612218. Tavy Tales Book Group: first Monday of the month at 4pm Bounce and Rhyme: Tues 2pm, Thurs 11am

In addition, Tavistock Library has two newly refurbished community rooms and an IT area which are available to hire. As part of Drawn to the Valley Open Studios in the summer, six artists put on an exhibition and demonstrations in the Harrison Room which has been fitted with a professional art hanging system – look out for more DTTV exhibitions in due course, as well as artists’ cards on sale at the reception desk. The Harrison Room has also been recently kitted out with a new Tovertafel games console, designed for use in healthcare settings. Using infrared sensors, a loudspeaker and a highquality projector, interactive games can be projected onto a 28

Sew with Sally: Thurs 9.30am Scrabble for adults: Fri 1.30pm Adult reading group: contact the library for details Job Club Thurs: 11am-1pm, book a session tailored to your needs Craft events: check Facebook for details Creative writing: check Facebook for details

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COMMUNITY NEWS

My biggest Dartmoor challenge ever This was not a stroll across the moor, it was a gruelling challenge to test the body and mind. It didn’t disappoint! 15 days later, hiking and living on the moor, I finally rounded the corner into Clearbrook to an incredible welcome over the line. From one glorious very hot day to zero visibility, soaked to the skin, fighting rivers in full flood, and a face-off with a charging steer, this was one of the toughest challenges. There were times when I was ready to crack - if it wasn’t for the incredible support throughout this journey, I may never had made it. When the chips were down, reflecting on why I was doing this and the support I had kept me walking forward - from the social media updates and comments, to those who tracked me down providing a morale boosting chat, to the incredible generosity of everyone who has donated. But let’s not forget the purpose of such an epic: raising critical funds allowing Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Tavistock to replace an aging operations vehicle and keeping the team operational to help save lives. Undertaking this challenge has shown me a whole new perspective on how critical this team of highly skilled volunteers really is - people rarely see what goes on behind the scenes. So the fifteen days of challenge for me seemed a small price to pay, and with your help I made

it - weary, yes, but over the line! Your generosity has so far raised just over £10,000 including gift aid. Be proud of what you have achieved. There is still time to donate and see how close to that £20,000 target we can get at www.justgiving. com/fundraising/mybiggestdartmoorchallengeever I’ll end with a massive thank you to you all Chris Bunney

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A pre-paid funeral plan with Golden Charter gives you and your family peace of mind with a range of plans to suit all budgets from just £1950. Your plan will be allocated to Morris Bros here in Tavistock. We also offer bespoke plans to suit specific requests. Contact us for further details or to make an appointment. 29

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Tamar Energy Community Community Solar at Mount Kelly Swim Centre

Tamar Energy Community (TEC) has added an additional solar rooftop to Community Solar. Working in partnership with Mount Kelly Foundation, TEC has installed 100kW of solar PV on the Mount Kelly Swim Centre. This will help offset carbon as the Swim Centre is able to use power from the sun. Find out more at tamarenergycommunity.com/solar. Young Solar

TEC is gathering a lot of data from our community solar installations, but we’re not using it as well as we might. We’re working with Plymouth University’s Low Carbon Devon programme to look at opportunities for more automation. At the same time, supported by a small amount of funding from Younity’s Community Power Fund, we’re really keen to connect with young people locally, who are interested in understanding more about solar generation as well as home energy consumption. Interested? Email hello@tamarenergycommunity.com. Warmer Healthier Homes

Tamar Energy Community (TEC) is delighted to be working with West Devon CVS and other stakeholders across West Devon to deliver our Warmer Healthier Homes (WHH) programme which is funded by Redress. This pilot programme looks at how we can address fuel poverty and unhealthy homes across the area through a more

On the roof at Mount Kelly Swim Centre with Simon Earland (TEC), Matt Shepherd (ZLC Energy), Guy Ayling (Mount Kelly) and Stevie Downing & Kate Royston (TEC)

joined up approach. A key part involves setting up a village partnership in a number of villages in West Devon, including Bere Alston, Lifton and Princetown. The village partnership brings together key stakeholders including the parish council, primary care trust, and community organisations such as the foodbank, church, school etc. to share concerns about health conditions and hard to heat housing

within each village. Villagers will be invited to have an energy advice call or a visit; funding will then be sought as needed to improve insulation, heating etc. for the household. If you’re interested in being involved or would like a home call/visit email hello@tamarenergycommunity.com, and check out tamarenergycommunity.com/ energy-advice or call 0800-233-5414.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Branching Out Fund The Tree Council’s mission is to plant, care for and protect trees for our planet’s future. It has recently announced that its Branching Out Fund is now open for applications. The grant supports schools, community groups and Tree Warden Networks to plant trees, hedges and orchards. The projects must involve young people up to the age of 21.

Ideally planting should take place within National Tree Week – 27 November to 5 December 2021 – but this is not essential. The deadline for applications is Friday 17 December 2021, but please apply early to ensure availability of stock. More information and details on how to apply can be found at treecouncil.org.uk

Become a community developer Does your community need new housing for sale or rent? Maybe improved sports facilities? A local renewable energy scheme? Workspace? Schemes that need financial assistance but would still belong to the community? The Diverse Regeneration Company (DR) based in Okehampton, is working with Resonance Community Developers on a social impact fund designed to help communities meet local needs. The fund helps communities create and own income-generating assets, such as affordable homes, sports facilities or renewable energy. The Fund has already started investing in community projects across three initial areas: Cornwall, Gloucestershire and the North West. The DR company is now looking for communities across Devon to get in touch, so Devon-based

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communities can also benefit from funding to help with pre-development feasibility, land acquisition and construction costs. The fund has been created and managed by Resonance Limited which is an experienced social impact firm, accredited B-Corp and social enterprise and has been supporting the community-led sector since 2002. Its vision is a world where capital serves people and communities; all are empowered to invest in enterprise for positive social impact; and resources are stewarded for future generations. Two previous similar funding schemes demonstrated that community assets can be successfully refinanced and attract community share capital. Many of the communities who invested through these two initiatives have since gone on to initiate further community projects.

If you would like more information, please get in touch with Sophie Price at DR via admin@drcompany.co.uk or visit www.drcompany.co.uk or www. resonance.ltd.uk

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COMMUNITY NEWS

It’s all happening in Tavistock… Summer in Tavistock has been truly wonderful and we have been pleased to see so many visitors coming to the town. Local businesses have reported good footfall and we are thrilled to see new arrivals joining our thriving high street. Some established businesses have also undergone a makeover. All this activity shows there is confidence in Tavistock as a great place to do business and all our businesses are worth a visit! Don’t forget to make the most of those Tavistock Gift Cards you have been given as they expire at the end of this year. There are plenty of ways to spend them – shopping, eating out with friends, a date night or some well-earned pampering. Find out more and where to spend at: tavistockgiftcard.co.uk

At the time of going to press, we are forging ahead with plans for a Christmas light switch-on event and Dickensian Evening 2021. We truly hope that Christmas this year will be magical for locals and visitors alike. As the main tourist season comes to an end, we throw the baton to you and urge you to continue visiting and supporting the town.

We hope to bring ‘The Great Goosey Gander’ back, and after such a great response last year the town will play host to another Fiver Fest in October. Both promotions are designed to showcase our fantastic high street and give you the perfect reason to continue to #supportlocal. We will also be hosting our annual Halloween Trail during October half-term, which is sure to be fangtastic fun. Keep your eyes peeled for further details.

20 November: Christmas Light Switch-on, 4-7pm Bedford Square

13TH OCTOBER

Events: 9 - 23 October: Totally Locally Fiver Fest 9 - 16 October: The Great Goosey Gander 23 - 30 October: Halloween Trail

3 December: Dickensian Evening See What’s On for more details

20TH NOVEMBER

Goose Fair Artisan Market

Christmas Lights Switch-On

23RD - 30TH OCTOBER

3RD DECEMBER

Halloween Trail

Dickensian Evening

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

CHARITY FOCUS

Gables Dogs & Cats Home Gables Dogs & Cats Home is a noneuthanasia rescue and rehoming centre that has been helping the region’s unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats since 1907. The charity takes in and cares for up to 1000 dogs and cats every year and either rehomes them, or re-unites them with their owners if they are lost. On a daily basis the Gables team cares for around 80 dogs and over 100 cats. The majority of the animals they help are unwanted pets, given up by their owners for numerous reasons. They take in unclaimed stray dogs from local councils, and stray and lost cats found wandering the streets - some in a very poor condition and in desperate need of help. They also take animals from the RSPCA that have sadly been neglected and abused by their owners or injured in road traffic accidents. Gables provides a temporary boarding service for local councils, taking care of dogs and cats for people in difficult situations,

until their owners are in a position to reclaim them. Sometimes they are signed over to the charity’s care once it is established that the owner is unable to provide for them anymore. Most of the animals in their care are rehomed within a few weeks but some dogs and cats stay much longer than others. This can be due to them having a disability that requires specialist care, or due to their appearance, or just a case of them being overlooked, but more commonly it is because they have specialised behavioural needs that many people don’t have the time or experience to cope with. Some dogs and cats have not been socialised when they are young, so they develop defensive and inappropriate behaviours towards strangers and other animals. Others have experienced trauma, neglect or abuse in their past, which has knocked their confidence with people. It can take a long time to gain the trust of these animals to be able to

rehabilitate them so they can start to enjoy life and look for a new home. Gables believes that there is a special someone out there for every dog and cat, it is just a case of finding them. A healthy animal is never put to sleep and the team never gives up hope of finding them a new loving home, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs! Gables rehomes animals all over Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. All their animals

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are health-checked by a vet, neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms before going to a new home. Dogs are also assessed by a qualified dog behaviourist to establish what type of home they need. Gables relies totally on the generosity and support of the public through donations and legacies, as it doesn’t receive any government or other

funding. The recent times have been strange and difficult for everyone and Gables has certainly faced some challenges. The coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns have limited its ability to offer vital boarding services and the usual fundraising activities have ceased, creating a massive £50,000 deficit. Despite the difficulties, Gables has been able to hold several successful virtual events and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has got involved and supported them. Whether you took part in one dog show or every single one, bought five slices or a whole ginger cake, tried your luck in a raffle or simply spread the word, they appreciate your support and hope you had as much fun as they did! There are still many ways you can show your support and help the dogs and cats at Gables, such as taking part in online pet shows, buying homemade cakes, ordering from the Gables Amazon Wish List, sponsoring a dog or cat, setting

up a regular standing order, organising your own fundraising events and much more… They are also always grateful for any donations - and wouldn’t survive without them. Gables has supermarket collection bins in stores around Tavistock and Plymouth, and welcomes any animal food donations (not bedding) or any of the following items: laundry washing powder; heavy-duty, large puppy pads; cardboard cat scratchers; cat scratching posts; wet cat food, particularly Felix or Whiskers (adult and kitten); wet dog food, particularly Chappie or Pedigree Chum; catnip toys & balls; dog toys, the stronger the better; Olbas oil. We understand this is a difficult time for everyone and really appreciate everything our amazing supporters do. For more information and other ways you can help and support Gables, please visit www.gablesfarm.org.uk and follow our social media channels.

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KIDS WHAT’S ON

BID TAVISTOCK HALLOWEEN TRAIL 23 to 30 October Have some fangtastic fun on our annual spooky trail through Tavistock to claim your sweet reward CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH-ON 20 November Join us for some entertainment and watch the illumination of our spectacular town lights, 4-7pm Bedford Square. DICKENSIAN EVENING 3 December We hope to bring the annual spectacle back for 2021. Join us in Tavistock for late night shopping and entertainment throughout the town.

DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK TIME FOR NATURE CHALLENGE Until March 2022 Celebrating DNPA’s 70th anniversary, Time for Nature encourages people to discover, enjoy and protect landscapes. Download an activity sheet or pick one up at a DNPA visitor centre, and choose your activities. For more information: dartmoor.gov.uk. RANGER RALPH CLUB Enjoy activities on Dartmoor with our rangers as part of the Ranger Ralph Club, open to all children between the ages of 5-12 years - free to attend once you are a member: RANGER RALPH CLUB’S 21ST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS 26 October, 10.00-15.00 Bring your family for a whole day out to celebrate the Ranger Ralph Club reaching 21 years old. Activities will include bird box making, pewter casting, apple bird

feeders, bug hunts and more. Bring a picnic and plenty to drink. Meet at Challacombe Farm, Widecombe in the Moor (SX 694 797). Book from 5 October on 01626 831080 or email education@ dartmoor.gov.uk LEAFY ART – GET NATURALLY CREATIVE 20 November, 10.00-12.00 Playing with leaves is a fun and simple way to enhance our connection with the natural world. Come and capture a falling leaf to create a work of art. Meet at Yarner Wood Nature Reserve, Bovey Tracey (SX 783 793). Book from 1 November on 01626 831080 or email education@dartmoor. gov.uk

RHS ROSEMOOR WELLY WALK 4 October, 1 November and 6 December, 10.30am–12noon Join the Education Team for a Welly Walk adventure in the gardens at RHS Garden Rosemoor, followed by a craft or planting activity to take home, and a relaxed drink to finish. Activities will go ahead in all weather, so please dress accordingly; suitable for children aged under 5 years. Normal garden admission charges still apply AUTUMN CARNIVAL 23 – 31 October Find out how the autumn season is celebrated around the world this half-term, with hands on activities for all ages, including a garden trail, drop-in craft workshops and costume days. Includes Halloween Live Disco Spooktacular on 30 October, fun for all ages with a live band.

SOAPBOX THEATRE QUEST FOR THE ICE DRAGON 15 to 24 October An immersive promenade performance in and around The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park, Plymouth. Join us on an enchanted adventure in search of the Ice Dragon. Jump into your welly boots, woolly hats, gloves and scarves... pop a hot water bottle up your jumper. We’re off on a magical journey to find the Ice Dragon and nothing’s going to stand in our way, not even the dastardly sourcerer! www.stiltskin.org.uk

SOUTH WEST LAKES TRUST FAMILY EVENTS 25 October @ Siblyback 27 October @ Roadford 29 October @ Wimbleball #ItsYourOutdoors - go for an adventure at our themed ‘drop in’ family activity days across our lakes, involving a trail, environmental art, activities and outdoor cooking. £3 per child, £2 per adult. Please book in advance at learning@swlakestrust. org.uk and wear outdoor clothing and footwear. I LOVE WATER, WILLOW AND WREATHES 12 December @ Burrator Discovery Centre A firm family favourite, come and join us for some festive fun whilst also learning about the importance of water for wildlife. Please book in advance at learning@swlakestrust.org.uk; for info visit swlakestrust.org.uk or Facebook: Burrator Reservoir.

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WHAT’S ON

Sunday 10 October

Tour de Moor After putting on the brakes last year because of the pandemic, the region’s boldest charity cycling challenge is back for 2021, raising vital funds to support hospice care across Plymouth and surrounding areas in aid of St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth. It offers cyclists an adrenalin-packed, hill-filled, 52km mixed terrain route of mud, sweat and gears for those aged 12 and above! Alternatively, participants of nine years and above can take it down a gear and saddle up for 30km of tough riding over hills and through woods - there’s also the ‘mini

moor’, a gentle 11km family ride along Drake’s Trail. The money raised means the highly skilled St Luke’s team can provide not just expert medical care, but emotional, practical and spiritual support, making an important difference to families affected by terminal illness. Sponsored by Print Copy Scan, the Tour de Moor challenge departs from 8.30am at Harrowbeer Airfield, near Yelverton, and finishes there. Sign up at www. stlukes-hospice.org.uk/tourdemoor or call 01752 492626; £30 for the 52km or 30km route, £15 for the 11km route.

Wednesday 20 October

Thank You for the Rain Following its gold award by the environmental charity A Rocha UK, Tavistock United Reformed Church will show a film sponsored by Christian Aid, entitled ‘Thank You for the

Rain’. The film tells the story of Kisilu, a smallholder farmer in Kenya who has used his camera to capture the life of his family, and the human costs of climate change. Jess Hall, a campaigner for Christian Aid wrote: “When I first watched this film, I couldn’t speak for a good 10 minutes afterwards. I felt rage and I felt sadness. But I also had a profound sense of hope, I wanted to stand in solidarity with Kisilu, I needed to act.” The film is a rare and personal insight into the realities of the climate crisis and a call to action to all who care about creation. On behalf of Tavistock United Reformed Church, Mike Dennis said: “In 2021, a year when every moment matters, and every action counts, I want to invite you to watch and share Kisilu’s story, by bearing witness to his life, his struggle and his hope, and stand with him in calling for climate justice. Do join us on 20 October.” 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church in Russell Street, Tavistock. There is no charge for admission as this is part of a focus on the November COP26 gathering in Glasgow.

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WHAT’S ON

Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 October

Crime Weekend The Friends of Tavistock Library invite you to take part in a full weekend of whodunnit activities… Thursday 21 October, 10am to 12.30

Crime Writing Workshop

Bring along your crime plot ideas and Vanni Cook will take you through the process of turning them into an actual story. Vanni has successfully held a number of similar courses in the past and edited various books on historical fiction - plus she loves a good murder! £4 per person. Friday 22 October, 7pm

Crime Fiction Quiz

Come along in a team or join up with

another team to try your hand at our crime fiction quiz, with questions aimed at general knowledge rather than expert level so everyone can enjoy taking part. £4 per person including a glass of wine; additional wine available for a donation. Saturday 23 October, 7pm

Murder in the Library

This murder mystery evening promises to be a highly entertaining event not to be missed, with a play written by Frank Woodcock, chairman of Tavistock Library Friends, directed by Steph Reece of TC2 Children’s Theatre Club and performed by a stellar cast drawn from The Milton Abbot Players, The Tavonians, TC2 and

Tavistock Library staff. Frank Woodcock last put pen to paper as coauthor of the Utterly Unreliable History of Tavistock with Catherine Barnes, so you may realise this is not going to be a heavy drama…But will you be able to solve the crime and identify the murderer? £7 per person including a pasty and a glass of wine; additional wine available for a donation. Tickets for all events are available in advance from Tavistock Library.

Saturday 27 November

Festive Upcycled Eco & Gift Market We’re firm believers in upcycling, recycling, eco and hand-crafting and this market brings you a beguiling blend of all four, celebrating our talented local producers. In a throwaway society there’s so much waste. Yet there’s a growing movement towards sustainability, environmentally-friendly and giving old things a new lease of beautiful life - creating unique new pieces that cock a snoop at mass production. What’s more, the clever crafters at this market ply their trade

with a skill and passion not typically seen on your average production line. If you care about our environment and want to help support local communities, then make your Christmas an environmentally friendly one this year with a selection of gifts from this fun, fascinating and inspirational market. We’ll be at Butcher’s Hall in Tavistock from 10:00am to 3:30pm, entry is free and in case you’re wondering – we’re all Covid-safe here.

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WHAT’S ON

Autumn colour in all its glory Visitors are always keen to know ‘will this year be a good one?’; they are of course talking of the eagerly awaited annual highlight at The Garden House the strikingly spectacular Acer Glade in all its autumn hues. As head gardener Nick Haworth can attest, no two years are ever quite the same, but the Acer Glade also never fails to delight. The intensity and richness of colour, from

brilliant yellows to deep crimson reds, is always breath-taking. The view from the top of the garden onto the glade of Japanese maples towards the ornamental bridge, brings visitors (and photographers) from far afield, who all experience the same admiration for the staggering beauty that nature delivers each October and on into November. Whilst writing this in early

September, it is hoped this year will be as good as any other! The Garden House opens daily (except Mondays) until 31 October, then Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from November to 1 March. For seasonal opening times visit www. thegardenhouse.org.uk.

1 to 13 November

not sure what to expect or where to start. Open Homes information will be on the internet, via social media and at the Energy Fest.

Photo by John Richmond

Saturday 13 November

Tamar Energy Fest 2021 Tamar Energy Fest returns to Butchers’ Hall in Tavistock from 10:00 until 15:00. This is a free, family-friendly event, suitable for all ages, with a mixture of fun activities, advice stands and displays. Exhibitors will provide information about how to make your home, business or organisation more energy efficient, warm and comfortable; how to reduce your energy bills; generate your own energy; and what you can do to reduce your carbon impact. A number of talks will be held through the day including the importance of whole house retrofit, dealing with traditional and listed properties, understanding heat pumps, and sustainable travel in rural communities. Activities will include an interactive smart meter display, an art activity, a family energy quiz and we hope, an activity with our community gardeners. There will also be an opportunity to buy competitively priced LED bulbs; and enjoy a drink and home-made cakes. Tamar Energy Community (TEC) looks forward to welcoming you.

Open Homes Coinciding with the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, the local Open Homes network returns - householders, organisations and businesses share the experiences they’ve had in making their own properties more energy efficient including what worked well and not so well. This can be really helpful if you’re

Find out more about Tamar Energy Fest and Open Homes at tamarenergycommunity.com or via Facebook. If you have an ‘Open Home’ you’d like to share please get in touch at hello@tamarenergycommunity.com. 39

WHAT’S ON

RHS Garden Rosemoor 9 & 10 October

Autumn Woodfest See artisans at work on traditional wood crafts, including woodturning, carving, whittling, basket weaving and spinning – with a chance to buy too. Watch Ben May’s amazing heavy horses demonstrate traditional logging; learn more about ancient trees with walks and talks hosted by the Ancient Tree Forum; or get involved with forestry school skills, survival skills, archery or even tree climbing. Sat, 10am–4pm; Sun, 10am–3pm.

13 November to 31 January

Winter Sculpture Exhibition Each year we select a number of sculptors to create inspirational pieces,

adding to the beauty of RHS Rosemoor’s landscape. In 2021, we will host numerous individual creations in a wide variety of media, by many well-known artists from the West Country and further afield. All pieces exhibited are for sale.

18 November to 30 December

Rosemoor Glow

Enjoy a magical adventure at RHS Garden Rosemoor with spectacular new lighting displays. On our longest trail yet, see your favourite garden areas, such as the Rose Gardens, Winter Garden, Lake and Cool Garden, while our hi-tech, colour-changing illuminations

light up the night with festive colour. This year, for the first time, wander along the extended trail through the Lower Woodland Walk, with majestic trees, shrubs and water features, as well as illuminated sculptures. You can also warm up with a selection of hot drinks and tasty festive treats available to buy along the trail. 4.30pm to 8.30pm Thurs, Fri & Sat 18 Nov to 18 Dec, and Mon, Tues, Wed & Thurs 20 to 30 Dec. Last entry 7.30pm.

The West Devon Club An ideal venue for celebrations, parties and special events such as weddings and wakes. Our friendly, welcoming club has a light and airy lounge, dance floor, good food with separate dining area. Two bars, cosy cellar bar with great function area, meeting rooms, and large screen TVs. We have two Snooker tables, pool room, darts room and a wonderful walled beer garden.

Interested in becoming a member? we welcome new members - please pop in and see our friendly bar staff.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ONLY 2 Oct Nightshift Band • 16 Oct Steak Night • 26 Oct Quiz Night • 30 Oct Halloween Fancy Dress Party & Baz Disco 6 Nov Fireworks Supper • 20 Nov Dockneys Band • 30 Nov Quiz Night • Bingo every Wednesday

Get online and checkout the website and facebook, look at the notice boards to see the latest events at the club.

3 Abbey Place, Tavistock, PL19 0AB • 01822 613025

thewestdevonclub.com • email: westdevonclub@yahoo.com 40

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WHAT’S ON

Friday 26 November

Trees of Light On the last Friday of November, the Lions Club of Tavistock’s Trees of Light will be switched on forming the centrepiece of the town’s Christmas lights. Bulbs on the three trees will have been sponsored by an individual or family in remembrance or celebration of a special person, occasion or memory, with all the proceeds going to three local charities - namely the children’s cancer ward at Derriford Hospital, St Luke’s Hospice and Children’s Hospice South West. Please complete the attached form if you wish to sponsor a light and post it to the address shown, or alternatively donate online through Just Giving. All sponsors will receive a commemorative card and will be listed in the Tavistock Times Gazette. Around £126,000 has been raised and distributed to local charities since the start of Trees of Light, with a single tree in 1999. For the 18th year, local funeral company Morris Bros. (Tavistock) Ltd will be the main sponsor covering all the administration costs which ensures that all the money donated goes to the nominated charities.

Lions Club of Tavistock TREES OF LIGHT SPONSOR FORM 2021 Special name(s) or cause(s) or memories to be remembered 1. 2. 3.

Alternatively, donate online through wwwjustgiving.com and select: justgiving.com/fundraising/TaviLionsTOL2021 I wish to gift aid my payment (please tick the box) Name of tax payer (including Title & First Name)

at a Number to be remembered suggested minimum of £10 each. Total amount of sponsorship

Address of tax payer (if different to above, with post code)

My name Address Signature of tax payer Post code Please send cheque in favour of ‘Lions Club of Tavistock’ to Lions Trees of Light, 3, Edgcumbe Drive, Tavistock, PL19 0ET

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Date Charity Number 1193186

WHAT’S ON

15 October to 15 February

DNP 70th anniversary exhibition A free exhibition celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dartmoor’s designation as a national park is being held at the National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown from October. Designated on October 30, 1951, Dartmoor National Park is the largest and highest upland in southern Britain. It is internationally important for its Bronze Age archaeology, blanket bogs, upland heaths and oak woods, and of national importance for its valley mires, Rhôs pasture and grass moor. It is home to a variety of wildlife and habitats, some of which are so rare they can only be

found on Dartmoor. The exhibition is being held in partnership with The Dartmoor Trust, a charity run by volunteers, which holds a rich online archive of more than 27,000 images. Rebecca Martin, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s visitor services manager, said: “We are very grateful to The Dartmoor Trust for their involvement and are really excited for our joint exhibition which will be a fantastic way for people to explore this history and learn more

photo credit - © DNPA

about major moments in Dartmoor’s timeline.” The exhibition is free, but donations will fund conservation projects. The authority is also celebrating its 70th with its Time for Nature challenge with family friendly activities in its three National Park Visitor Centres during October half-term.

Water is a precious resource! Water is a precious resource, which we must conserve to safeguard our habitats and wildlife for the future. The ‘I Love Water Project’ is a 2-year pilot project, inspired by the government’s 25-year environment plan, the goal of clean and plentiful water by using resources from nature more sustainably. Come and learn more about it with exciting opportunities for family learning, volunteering and school visits at Burrator Reservoir. To find out more about any of the activities contact learning@swlakestrust.org.

uk or visit www.swlakestrust.org.uk or Facebook: Burrator Reservoir. Sunday 12 December

I Love Water, Willow and Wreathes

Education

A firm family favourite, come and join us for some festive fun whilst also learning about the importance of water for wildlife.

Volunteering

Fancy doing something different and love fresh air? Come and join our

Join us fEoEr R

volunteering group, be it one day a week or one day a month - you will be very welcome. Please contact Nigel on NTomkinson@swlakestrust.org.uk Taster sessions for young people’s and community groups One-day school visits Mini group skills and conservation programmes Photo by Sue Rowlands

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WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER 4 October Quaker Week 2021 Tavistock Quakers invite you to ‘All you wanted to know about Quakers and were afraid to ask!’ Come and find out the answers at 7.30pm at The Print Works (Kingdon House), Plym Street, Tavistock, PL19 0AW. Refreshments available.

7-9; 13; 20-22; 27-28 October Butchers’ Hall Artisan Markets

9 - 23 October Totally Locally Fiver Fest Grab some amazing £5 deals from independent businesses in Tavistock.

9 - 16 October The Great Goosey Gander

23 - 30 October

Get offline and see what Tavistock high street has to offer.

Halloween Trail

23 October & 20 November Love Local Food & Gift Market

6 October Delicious and Delightful Cream Tea Join us in aid of Children’s Hospice South West to celebrate The Big South West Cream Tea, 2 - 4 pm at Whitchurch Community Hall, Tavistock PL19 9ED. Enjoy listening to harp maker Tim Hampson playing his harp and help us raise vital funds for this amazing charity, now in its 30th year, continuing to care and support children with life-limiting illnesses and their families in the South West. Adult tickets £4.50 including a cream tea; children free entry. Please contact 07775 844618 for further information.

We’ll be waiting for you with an array of local gift and food exhibitors, perfect for that special present. It’s always tricky finding that certain something when you want to treat a loved one, or perhaps when you simply fancy something a bit different to enjoy on a Saturday evening in front of your fave TV programmes. So, look no further than this market for a collective of local traders who specialise in offering an array of the finest wares. We’ll be at Butcher’s Hall in Tavistock from 10:00am to 4:00pm, entry is free and in case you’re wondering – we’re all Covid-safe here.

Have some fangtastic fun on our annual spooky trail through Tavistock to claim your sweet reward.

Discover Tavistock by Twilight Join Simon Dell on one of his much sought-after ‘Tavistock by Twilight’ walks where he ambles around the dark streets and back alleyways of the town, hunting out places where things exist only in the shadowy recesses. He walked the beat at night over four decades while he was a local policeman and knows what lurks around the next corner. Legends, myths, facts and history intermingle on this twilight stroll - if you have the nerve. 7:30pm at the Tavistock Visitor Information Centre (VIC). Tickets: £5 per person, available from Tavistock VIC.

APPROVED

Tavistock 01822 610222 • Plymouth 01752 869074 • Exeter 01392 401222 We have moved: Unit 2A Westbridge Industrial Estate,Tavistock PL19 8DE

info@chamings.plumbing | www.chamings.plumbing See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER 4-5; 18-19; 25-26 November Butchers’ Hall Artisan Markets

5 November Plymouth Bonfire Night Remember, remember the fifth of November! Wrap up warm to enjoy the

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blazing bonfire and sparkling firework display on Plymouth Hoe.

6 November Tavistock Arts Market Tavistock Arts Market is held on the first Saturday of each month and features a diverse group of local artists and craftspeople who fill Butchers’ Hall with a range of handmade art and handcrafted items. You’ll find many different styles of art for sale, as well as a range of jewellery, wood and textile goods, artisan soaps, pottery and much more. We are open in Butchers’ Hall from 9am until 4pm, so come on down and pick up that perfect gift for somebody, or why not treat yourself?

6 November Tavistock Fireworks Display The Lions’ annual fireworks display starts at 7pm and this year sees a change in venue from Tavistock Meadows to Tavistock Community Football Club at Langsford Park. Further details will be published nearer the time at www.tavistocklions.org.uk, and on Facebook: LionsClubOfTavistock

18 November Plymouth Christmas Lights

Not your average accountant! 44

The Christmas season officially kicks off with the switch-on of Plymouth’s beautiful Christmas lights, also marking

the start of late-night shopping in the city. Come along and enjoy free entertainment for the whole family on stage in Plymouth city centre Piazza, before watching as the city centre is illuminated by this year’s brand-new lights.

20 November Love Local Food & Gift Market See event on 23 October for market details, plus Cornish choir, Levowan XII will also be singing festive songs.

20 November Tavistock Christmas Light Switch-on Join us for some entertainment and watch the illumination of Tavistock’s spectacular town lights. 4-7pm in Bedford Square.

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A U C T I O N E E R S

VA L U E R S

WE ARE NOW CATALOGUING OUR AUTUMN SPECIALIST SALES SILVER, GOLD, WATCHES & JEWELLERY

3 December

1st Thursday of month

Dickensian Evening

Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

We hope to bring the annual spectacle back for 2021. Join us in Tavistock for late night shopping and entertainment throughout the town.

REGULARS Wednesdays & Fridays Tavistock Area Men in Sheds (TAMIS for short) is now fully up and running and meets every Monday from 10am until 12ish, and Wednesday from 2pm until 4ish at the Shed - we share the King’s facilities and car park off Pixon Lane. For full details of our group’s purpose, objectives, activities and contacts see tavistockmeninsheds.uk or email info@tavistockmeninsheds.uk

3rd Monday of month Tavy Turners and Carvers Club Tavy Turners and Carvers Club has resumed regular meetings, 3rd Monday of the month, 7.30 to 9.30pm at the Scout Den, Pixon Lane, Tavistock. New members most welcome - see tavistockwoodturners.co.uk for details.

The Princetown group will meet again from Thurs 7 October at 12.30pm in the restaurant of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princetown. If you are retired come along for a chat and a cuppa or something a little stronger. Raffle tickets available, and hotel kitchens open before and after the meeting for hot food. Next meeting on Thurs 4 November at 12.30pm in the restaurant of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Princetown.

18ct gold Cartier Panthère wrist watch £3,000-3,500

ANTIQUES & ART

CERAMICS, GLASS & WORKS OF ART

Amethyst temple dog £200-300

Dartmoor Border Morris Unfortunately, we will not be hosting a Pudsey Day of Morris this year, however we have a cracking line-up for Christmas involving Boxing Day, wassailing and mummers plays. We are now merrily practising in Meavy Parish Hall, 8pm Wednesdays, and this is the time of year we accept new members - any musician who can carry their instrument (no grand pianos), or any dancers who are physically fit - no age limit, just bring a sense of fun and adventure. Pop along any Wednesday night – more details at dartmoorbordermorris.com & Facebook.

Oriental ceramics

For free valuations

or to book a home visit please telephone (01752) 721199 or Email images and contact number to info@eldreds.net 1 Belliver Way, Roborough, PL6 7BP enquiries@eldreds.net (01752) 721199

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Friends of the Wharf Lunchtime Lectures Organised by Dr Ann Pulsford, 2-3pm at Tavistock Wharf, cost £5 (FOTW £4) 1 November: Jan Diamond

Tutankhamun – Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown Tutankhamun: possibly the most famous image in history. But who was he? What were the circumstances behind his early death, and those who inherited his throne? Pharoah Akhenaten had pitched the country into chaos and disorder; it was his 9-year-old son, ‘Tutankhaten’ who faced the challenges of bringing stability to the land, but always with powerful courtiers behind the young king. Then, at only about 19, Tutankhamun unexpectedly died. The throne fell into the hands of these same courtiers and ultimately the 18th Dynasty - the mightiest dynasty in 3000 years of empire - came to an end. 6 December: Dr Geri Parlby

From the Abbey to the Guildhall Images of Tavistock from the 18th to the 19th century. Artistic Licence or Historical Evidence? Tavistock Abbey’s ruins have been an inspiration to artists from the early decades of the 18th century to the 21st century. Who were the artists who

sketched, painted and engraved the earliest of these images? Can they really tell us what the town looked like before its 19th century facelift?

Tavistock Local History Society Future events depend on pandemic restrictions at the time and also the willingness of members and others to attend the Parish Centre. Those attending may be asked to wear a mask and we are hoping to live-stream and record meetings for those unable to attend. Check for updates nearer the time at www.tavistockhistory.co.uk. All meetings are free for paid-up members, £3 for others.

Tuesday 9 November, 7.30pm

The Railway to Princetown with Brian Poole Brian previously shared with us many pictures of the building and raising of the Burrator dams. He returns to tell the story of the railway link to Princetown which skirts the reservoir and brought many Plymothians to the delights of Dartmoor. Tuesday 14 December, 7.30pm -

Social & Members’ Projects Evening With a little festive food and drink, glimpses of a few of the projects members of the society have been pursuing.

Tuesday 19 October, 7.30pm –

Turner in Cornwall & Tavistock with Dorothy Kirk Dorothy previously did a fascinating presentation for us on the artist J. M. W. Turner’s visit to the Tamar Valley. Here we will learn about his further travels in Cornwall and the art they produced. The artist appeared on the new £20 note circulated in 2020.

Care services for your loved ones

Upholstery Service (From Tavistock Pannier Market)

Custom Made Footstools Collection & Delivery Service Available

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Personal Care • Sitting Service Meal Preparation • Cleaning Service We are able to work with any type of care no matter how complex We have packages to suit your needs to enable you to stay in the comfort of your own home Free, no obligation initial meeting All managers and Carers are DBS checked and trained to a high standard Tel: 01822 610734

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MUSIC AND ART

21 October to 27 February

Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters The Box is proud to announce the European premiere of the National Museum of Australia’s award-winning exhibition, which forms part of the UK/ Australia Season 2021-22, a major programme of cultural exchange across the two nations. Featuring over 300 paintings and objects by more than 100 artists, this is the first time the exhibition has been seen outside Australia. Entirely conceived and curated by a team of First Australians, led by Margo Neale, Senior Indigenous Curator at the NMA and custodial elders from across the Central and Western Deserts of Australia, it expertly combines state-of-the art exhibition and display technologies with art, song and dance in order to share ancient stories

from the world’s oldest continuing culture. The exhibition was conceived with the ambition of preserving the Seven Sisters Dreaming stories – ancient creation sagas of the Australian continent - with contemporary artworks becoming portals to places in the deserts of the Martu, the Ngaanyatjarra and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) peoples. The ‘DomeLab’ transports viewers to places deep in the desert, including the remote Cave Hill site in South Australia – home to the only known Seven Sisters rock art in the world. Songlines are a map of the land as well as a pathway for complex

Jakayu Bilijabu

spiritual, cultural, political and historical truths or knowledges – and so much more. Songlines crisscross the land, creating a network of stories and it is through them that Aboriginal people can locate and learn from significant sites, and pass on laws, ways of living, and moral codes to the next generation. Tickets £10 (£7.50 concessions / free for under 18s)

21 Oct 2021 – 27 Feb 2022 Book Now theboxplymouth.com AU/UK

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

SEASON 2021–22

MUSIC AND ART

Saturday 16 October, 10am-4pm

Westcountry Potters Market We are absolutely delighted to be back in Tavistock to hold our second pottery market in the wonderful venue of Butchers’ Hall. In between lockdowns in 2020 we had the wonderful opportunity of coming to Butchers’ Hall for our first pottery market which was a huge success - we had lovely comments from the visitors, such as ‘great selection of potters, ‘very lovely’, ‘brilliant artists’, and ‘when are you coming again?’. Well, the answer is 16 October! 20 potters from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset will be displaying and selling their ceramics directly to visitors. This is a marvellous opportunity for potters and visitors to meet and chat about the work, their inspirations, how it’s made, and specialised techniques etc. The breadth of work and styles are fascinating to see from the 20 potters: beautiful bowls, decorated platters, mugs, sculptures, planters, jewellery - there really is something for everyone. We enjoyed the enthusiasm

Tarka Pottery

and knowledge of the visitors who came to the last market, several of whom went on to join our group, and we look forward to meeting you again. A warm welcome awaits and a perfect opportunity to purchase a gift for yourself or a friend... Christmas is coming. Westcountry Potters is a voluntary organisation which supports potters through the ongoing sharing of ideas and information through various events, gallery exhibitions, markets, pottery demonstrations, and a lively bi-monthly magazine. Find us online at westcountrypotters.co.uk; Facebook@ WestcountryPottersAssociation; instagram.com/westcountrypotters

Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 October

Walkhampton Craft Exhibition & Sale Come and see the work of local craftspeople at this year’s craft sale at Walkhampton Memorial Hall, with a wide variety of local crafts available to buy, such as ceramics, textiles, jewellery and greeting cards, providing plenty of inspiration for Christmas gifts. For this year only there will not be the usual art displays, although artists can still book a table to display artwork. Make the most of your visit and enjoy tea,

coffee, and delicious homemade cakes. Commission from sales, the raffle, and voluntary contributions will be donated to two local causes: St Mary’s Church in Walkhampton, and ‘Project George’ to fund the ongoing improvements to Walkhampton Memorial Hall.

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Opening hours: 10:30am until 5:00pm; free entry & parking available. Exhibitors can book a table for £10 by contacting

Bunty Baxter at bunty.baxter@tiscali. co.uk or 01822 853197. For further details visit www.walkhampton-arts.org

MUSIC AND ART

Friday 29 to Saturday 30 October

Drawn to Make Exhibition This festival of contemporary makers, from wood turners, felt makers and ceramicists, to mosaic and stained-glass window artists, exponents of some of the most ancient and traditional skills, showcases their work at the inaugural Drawn to Make Exhibition in Tavistock at the end of October. The 2-day festival at Butchers’ Hall is being put on by members of the Drawn to the Valley group of artists and makers who all live and work in the Tamar Valley area. The exhibition was supposed to have taken place last year but the delay has proved serendipitous, as it has given the group the chance to create five mixed media banners with 30 individual square panels, all stitched together. The squares, approximately 30cm x 30cm, reflect the lockdown experiences and emotions of each of the 25 artists who have contributed panels. Many were clearly inspired by getting out into the local environment - there are depictions of woodland walks, meadow flowers and garden birds. Some of the panels, on the James Crozier

Sally O’Neill (left) and Lyn Edwards

other hand, have a darker feel to them, representing a sense of fragmentation, isolation, and entrapment. The banners will be on display throughout the exhibition alongside the work of over 40 makers. Among those exhibiting are weavers, spinners, jewellery makers, mixed media assemblage artists and printmakers. There will also be practical demonstrations of some of the skills. “We are really putting the focus on our talented and creative members who work in 3D. The exhibition truly reflects the diverse skills of the group, so there will be lots to see. It’s also an opportunity for visitors to the event to buy something that is unique and handmade. I think we are offering something different,” said Tavistock mixed media and textiles artist Lyn Edwards, who is helping to organise the event. The exhibition is free and open 10am-5.30pm. You can view the Drawn to Make catalogue on the website at drawntothevalley.com

Maggie Lintell

Anne Crozier

Mary Toon

THE FINEST ART FROM THE SOUTH WEST Contemporary and traditional ﬁne art, ceramics, glass and jewellery from the South West of England Mckenzie Mouse by Jo Lilley

CAFE LIAISON

Situated in the heart of Tavistock, Café Liaison is a warm, friendly café serving breakfast, lunch, cream teas, excellent coffee and homemade cakes. As well as a full menu, there is a daily specials board.

Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3.30pm - WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU 3 Church Lane Tavistock PL19 8AA 01822 612225 c

Pew Tor by Rebecca De Mendona

Pheasant by Jennie Hale

Dartmoor’s Art Gallery

info@wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk • www.wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk

Chapel Lane, Horrabridge, Yelverton PL20 7SP • 01822 258529

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

MUSIC AND ART

Saturday 13 November

All Together Now! Tavistock Musical Theatre Company will be joining thousands of theatrical organizations around the globe this weekend by producing their own local production of Music Theatre International’s global event celebrating local theatre, with matinee and evening performances at Tavistock Town Hall. A fantastic selection of songs are featured in this brand new musical revue from shows including Rent, Les Misérables, Into the Woods, Matilda, Hairspray, Charlie & the Chocolate factory, Annie, Oliver, Once on This Island, Mamma Mia! and many more! Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has created this revue for theatres across the globe to use as a local fundraising event. MTI’s president and CEO, Drew Cohen said: “MTI’s All Together Now! is about bringing people back to the theatre, whether as audience

members or cast, crew and musicians. The revue features songs from the world’s most iconic musicals, so there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy. Our goal with this worldwide event is for organizations to provide hope, inspiration and excitement to their communities through the transformative power of musical theatre.” Karen Batson, chairperson of TMTC added: “The past year has been a challenging time for everyone, particularly arts organizations. We look forward to welcoming our patrons back with this truly wonderful revue.” For details visit www.tavimtc.co.uk

Sunday 28 November, 7:30pm (To be confirmed)

Plymouth Philharmonic Choir

Weddings flowers for life’s events creating georgously romantic & unique designs.

became known as the Nelson Mass. Mozart’s Mass in C is more widely known as the Coronation Mass – the celebratory music was composed for an Easter Day service and performed nearly 20 years later at the Coronation of Francis I. With much to look forward to and celebrate in the year ahead, the choir hopes you will join them to experience some sensational music. Further details available at www.plymouthphilchoir.org Details correct at time of going to print but please check website in October for updates.

Workshops & demonstrations by an Academy of Floral Arts Tu t o r w i t h m a n y workshops to choose from

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Plymouth Philharmonic Choir will perform Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Coronation Mass in Plymouth Guildhall. The Haydn mass was originally entitled ‘Missa in Angustiis’ (Mass for Troubled Times); at the time of its first performance, news that Admiral Lord Nelson had defeated Napoleon in the Battle of the Nile reached Austria. It is thought listeners associated the trumpets and timpani in the opening section and the jubilant, dramatic music that followed, with the political turmoil and ensuing military victory, so the work

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MUSIC AND ART

4 October to 13 December

Introduction to sculpture Would you like to learn the basic processes of sculpture? This 10-week course will introduce you to modelling, casting and construction techniques, helping you access this exciting area of art. After introductory exercises you will be encouraged to explore your own, independent ideas and make the most of the range of materials and tools in our specialist workshop. Mondays 2-4:30pm at Tavistock Craft & Sculpture Studio, Lakeside; £125 for 10-week course or £15 per session - to book email westdevonartworkshops@gmail.com. We will be continuing to follow social distancing guidance.

Saturday 4 December

Sunrise Mass

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7:30pm at the church of St Peter and The Holy Apostles, Wyndham Square, Plymouth, PL1 5EG. Tickets: Adults: £12 (£10 if purchased in advance); Concessions: £10; Children: Free entry. For more information and to buy tickets please visit plymouthphoenixchorale.org

CO M

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Villiers Stanford and a selection of Christmas music by John Gardner and Mack Wilberg.

Ta O IN vi O G st N oc k

Join Phoenix Chorale for a new programme of choir music this winter, featuring Ola Gjeilo’s evocative Sunrise Mass. Sunrise: Symphonic Mass for Choir and String Orchestra had its world première in Oslo in 2008. Talented contemporary Norwegian composer Gjeilo skillfully creates aural pictures within the music and weaves them into a beautiful, spiritual and contemplative journey. In addition, the choir will perform works by Gerald Finzi, Eric Whitacre, John Rutter, Charles

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FOOD & DRINK

Friday 22 to Sunday 24 October

Dartmouth Food Festival Having grown from humble beginnings in 2002 into a firstclass feast of entertainment featuring workshops, seminars, tastings, competitions, demonstrations and over 120 handpicked exhibitors (70% of which are from Devon), it truly is the very best that the South West has to offer. The festival welcomes many special guests, from internationally renowned chefs to celebrated writers and critics, to provide a huge range of exciting, informative and downright delicious entertainment. Described in The

Telegraph as a ‘heady mix of celebrity chefs, parties, food markets, tasting shacks and demonstrations’, the festival is now a landmark event on the culinary calendar. And we’re a free festival - anyone and everyone is welcome to come along and take part without being charged an entry fee.

Wednesday 27 October

Clovelly Apple Day It’s Apple season and our annual Apple Day has lots of lovely apple crafts and activities in the Visitor Centre from 11:0016:00 - watch a spinning wheel yarn demonstration and make your own apple scented bath bombs and corn dollies. Bring some apples, watch them being pressed and taste the fresh juice. Visit the farmers’ market, take part in the harvest hunt,

and watch the cookery demonstrations. Clovelly Cafeteria will be serving apple dishes and The Red Lion at the harbour has a selection of 10 different ciders. There will also be live music, apple bobbing, apple stamping and animal encounters with South West Animal Services. Normal entry fees to Clovelly apply (free for children under 7).

Murder at the Manor Saturday 6th November

Our fun filled Murder Mystery Evening returns. Start with a glass of bubbly on arrival served with canapes and mingle amongst fellow guests while the actors will start to set the scene. Dress code Black Tie. 7.00pm: Arrival with Bubbly and Canapés £85.00 per person

A Family Run Hideaway in Devon 52

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FOOD & DRINK

To chill or not to chill? Dave Anning has the answers There’s very little that’s more enticing than a delicious glass of chilled wine. But cooling wine can seriously mute aromas and flavours. We could have a science lesson here with formulas and everything, but I think you want to know WHICH wines chill well, not why - so here goes! Serving wine at the right temperature can be important, but if the weather is hot, the temperature of your wine changes as soon as you pour, so keep it simple. Part-fill a container of water and ice, put it on the table and use it as required. To chill a bottle quickly, add plenty of cooking salt - this will chill a bottle from room temperature in about 15 minutes – or you can buy a simple wrap-around temperature band or other similar devices for a few pounds if you wish.

from gamay, pinot noir and cabernet franc are delicious lightly chilled - a great solution if you’re planning a meaty barbeque. Sicillian frappato is even light enough to drink with fish. Aromas are usually first to suffer when wine is chilled. Luckily there are ‘aromatic’ white wines worth looking out for. Sauvignon blanc, riesling, muscat and viognier you may well have heard of, but there are others such as torrontes and gewurztraminer. Good quality examples of these will normally remain enticing on the nose when chilled, and open up as you hold them. Treat rosé as you would white. Examples range from dry (eg Provence) through off-dry (a touch of sweetness) to sweet (eg American ‘white’ zinfandel). The only way to find out which you like most is to knuckle down and try a selection!

some lesser-known sparklers. Cava from Spain is usually significantly cheaper than Champagne; prosecco is widely available (but buying the cheapest bottle can be disappointing); the French make ‘cremant’ outside the Champagne region (Loire, Alsace, Bourgogne, Bordeaux), and Australia, South Africa and Argentina aren’t obvious choices but make some truly brilliant fizz! In warm weather, lighter, fruitier sparklers come into their own. Asti, with its distinctive aromas of grapes (oddly not a common aroma in wine), is also low in alcohol and distinctly sweet. It is perhaps the most ‘lemonadey’ of wines and very refreshing - good job the alcohol is low! In summary the ‘rules’ are different according to the weather - keep ice and water to hand and if the wine isn’t cool enough pop it back in!

Lighter wines chill best, and low alcohol wines like riesling do especially well. But don’t write off reds! Wines made

The ultimate treat is sparkling wine, and as Champagne is always expensive, take advantage of the opportunity to try

Dave Anning

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TRADE SECRETS

Melissa Bragg Chic Interiors Where are you based and how long have you been in business? Chic Interiors is located at number 3 Pepper Street in Tavistock. I have been in the furnishing business for 24 years and have been running my own business for the past five years.

switch off and there are so many hours spent still working behind the scenes even after your shop door is closed.

What do you specialise in?

I was self-taught and trained by the best when it comes to all of my knowledge and expertise - my parents, the owners of Tavy Textiles for 45 years.

We specialise in beautiful, bespoke home furnishings, helping you make your house a home. All the images on this page are of our own work, created and completed.

Do you need any special qualifications in your business?

Can you describe a typical day?

We enjoy working on all projects as I see potential in all windows and fabrics and I sure know what works best for each window dressing.

A typical day for me is opening the shop premises up for around 7am, cutting orders ready to deliver to the seamstresses, advertising on our social media pages, replying to countless emails and then uploading new content on our web page to keep it refreshed. Then it’s serving our lovely clients, sorting deliveries and paperwork and then off to home consultation services. The last stop will be to my suppliers and seamstresses for pick-ups and deliveries and then I settle at home for around 8pm ready to start the next day and do it all over again!

What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

Do you have any plans or ambitions for the future?

The most challenging aspects of having your own business are that you never

I work with an amazing team of local highly-skilled and driven members.

WE ARE NOW

Bespoke

We have so much more to offer and exciting plans to expand Chic Interiors and continue providing everyone with the highest quality home furnishings at the best prices with a knowledgeable, & COLLEservice. T friendly CLICK and experienced Keep watching this space for what we have up our sleeves future. & Cthe LLECT CLICKfor

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BUSINESS

A treasure trove for a special day Two for Joy Bridal is excited to announce the opening of Magpie Barn, behind the bridal studio, on October 22nd. In line with the idea that magpies like to collect treasure, Magpie Barn will be filled with occasion wear to include mother of the bride and groom, bridesmaids and flower girls, wedding guests and general special occasion, including cocktail, evening gowns and prom. And on top of that there will be hats, bags and shoes as well. As with the bridal gowns, all clothing will be ex-display and clearance with a small selection of pre-loved. There is also a fabulous range of gifts, jewellery and cards. A little treasure trove! The location of the barn and studio on Tregondale Farm near Liskeard, offers privacy in a relaxing and beautiful location. Magpie Barn has floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto a balcony with views over a beautiful pond and open countryside. There will be a few tables where you can sit and have a complimentary coffee or tea, or if you want to spend a little longer, cream teas will be available to buy, or you could even order afternoon tea (48 hrs notice needed). Why not book a bridal appointment in the studio in the morning and then move to Magpie Barn with your guests for some refreshment and spend an hour or so looking through the clothing and gifts for the rest of your bridal party? Or perhaps if not all of your bridesmaids or your mum are able to go to your bridal appointment then bring them along to Magpie

APPOINTMENT ONLY Ashley Meadow, Tregondale Menheniot, Liskeard PL14 3RG

Ex-display & pre-loved dresses all under £600 tel 07767646337

Not getting married or going to a wedding? Christmas is around the corner and after the last year it’s certain that many ladies will be looking forward to dressing up. Come and see what is available for those Christmas parties and family get togethers. The Bridal studio will remain appointment-only, whereas Magpie Barn will be open to drop in between 10am and 4pm every Wednesday and Saturday, and by appointment for the rest of the week. In the same vein as Two for Joy Bridal, it offers fabulous value for money, a stunning location and a barn full of laughter. Opening weekend Friday 22 October until Sunday 24 October, including drop-in between 10am and 4pm. Book an appointment on 07767 646337 or at twoforjoybridal.co.uk.

Visit our new sister business at the same address

Featuring a special selection of: Occasion wear for Mother of the Bride/Groom, Bridesmaids & Flower Girls plus Wedding Guests Also Cocktail, Evening Gowns & Prom Wear Join us for a complimentary tea or coffee

www.twoforjoybridal.co.uk 56

Barn for some retail therapy, tea and cake.

Drop in between 10am & 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays or by appointment

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BUSINESS

Making your house a home Interior trends are always coming and going which can often lead to feeling pressured to follow them. Here at Niki’s Soft Furnishings, we want to show you how you can take your timeless pieces and invest in them to create a look that feels updated and fresh. Our goal is to make you fall in love with your home and your furniture over and over again, as sustainably as possible so that we make you and the planet happy. At the end of the day your home is just brick walls until you add the softness of sofas, curtains, blinds, cushions and lampshades. We help you choose fabrics and finishes that complement your home, style and personality.  Our skilled team have solutions to dress your apex window, update your treasured chair or beautifully re-upholster your tired headboard. Here are a few ways we can help you give your home a fresh look. A well-engineered loose cover is the easiest update to make and best of all, washable, which means you can keep your sofa looking fresh. We love the recent trend of bright velvets and when paired with a neutral room, these jewel-toned sofas make the room feel like it comes straight out of a magazine.  If your sofa boasts a beautiful wooden frame then you might consider reupholstering; this can also allow us to fluff up the padding and make sure your sofa is ready to last another 20 years. We can reupholster almost any chair or sofa in need - we have been doing this for a long time and so have the expertise to make your furniture look new again.  Another important feature of course is your window coverings. We love creating the perfect blind or curtain for your space, complementing both the interior and the window itself. The

right style of window covering can make your rooms feel calm - or a pop of colour can feel exciting and inspiring. In our strides to be sustainable we also like to put your remnants to good use. We do this by making accessories, such as scatter cushions, bed runners and lampshades to complement your room. It can also be very comforting to know your beautiful off-cuts will not end up in landfill. If you want to know more about what we do, head over to our website www.nikissoftfurnishings.co.uk or call us on 01752 340721.

Niki’s Soft Furnishings Roman Blinds

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

# READER SURVEY

WIN!

DINNER FOR TWO at

The Bedford Hotel

In the heart of Tavistock

2021 Reader Survey

We’d love to hear your feedback on Tavy & Moor Links! Your thoughts and opinions are really important to us, so there follows a short questionnaire about Tavy and Moor Links magazines. Your answers will help us to make decisions on how we edit and collate future editions.

5. Would you use the magazine to find local businesses? Yes o

No o

6. Do you find the advertisements useful? Yes o No o 7. How long do you spend reading the magazine? 5 Minutes o 10 Minuteso 15 Minutes o 30 Minutes o 45 Minutes o 60 Minutes o Longer o 8. How long do you keep the magazine for? 1 Day o 1 Week o 2 Weeks o 1 Month o Many months o 9. What other content would you like to see in the magazine?

We hope you’re able to find time to give us your feedback. To thank you, we will enter your name into our Reader Survey Prize Draw to win dinner for two with a bottle of wine at the Bedford Hotel. 1. Do you receive your copy of Tavy or Moor Links magazine? Always o

Usually o

Rarely o

Never o

Continue on a separate sheet if required

10. Describe what the magazine means to you?

2. How would you rate the quality of the magazine? Excellent o Good o Average o Could do better o 3. Is the magazine helpful to you? Yes o

No o

Continue on a separate sheet if required

4. Please rate these editorial sections in order of importance to you? There are 16 sections, please number from 1 -16 depending on your preference

Community News/Noticeboard Local People What’s On Charity Focus Health & Wellbeing Education Gardening Features Farming Diary Naturalist Music & Art Walks Food & Wine History Sports News Trade Secrets 58

Your details: Name: Postcode: Email: Telephone: Please cut out and post your completed survey to: Links Magazines, The Sanctuary, Kilworthy Hill, Tavistock, Devon, England, PL19 0EP Closing date for entries is Friday 5th November 2021. The prize will be drawn on 10 November and the winner notified by email and in the next issue of the magazine.

Thank you for your time! Privacy Statement: Your personal data will be deleted after the prize draw is made. No personal data will be shared or used for any other purpose.

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BOOK REVIEW

Book recommendations for Autumn By Katya Church of Book Stop, Tavistock tale looks at perceptions of difference, ideas of humanity and transformation, and the line between myth and reality. Writing in standard prose, diary entries and poetry, Roffey immerses us in the minds of both man and mermaid and asks: what lies beneath the surface? Publisher: Vintage, £8.99

The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey David, a young fisherman, sits in his boat, strumming a guitar and singing in the sea off the Caribbean island of Black Conch. His songs attract the interest of a mermaid, expelled to the ocean for thousands of years. Their meeting sets off a chain of events which will change both of them and the island’s community more than they can imagine. Monique Roffey’s Costa award-winning, lyrical

Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here!

More recommended reads from Book Stop: The Appeal by Janice Hallett A new name in ‘cosy’ crime fiction, £8.99 English Pastoral by James Rebanks A Sunday Times Nature Book of the Year, £9.99 A Slow Fire by Paula Hawkins Brand new thriller from the author of The Girl on the Train, £20 Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake Bestselling natural history of fabulous fungi, £10.99 The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Michelle Collins Hunger Games prequel, new in paperback, £8.99

Worship at 10.00am every Sunday Halls available for hire Russell Street Tavistock PL19 8BD tavistockurc.org.uk 07982 622949

Minister: Revd Robert Weston tavistockurcminister@gmail.com

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

LOCAL AUTHORS

Tavistock Canal Poetry Trail Guide Figures in a Frame by Dan Bishop by Simon Dell

This charming little guide to the Tavistock Canal Poetry Trail starts with a brief history of the canal written by Simon Dell. This sets the scene for the poetry trail and gives valuable background information on why the canal was built by the mining engineer John Taylor. This was initially to transport uide copper ores from the G l i a r T Poetry Wheal Friendship mining complex at Mary Tavy to the port of Morwellham on the navigable River Tamar. The canal was deliberately built on an incline which generated a current, meaning that only one horse was needed to transport the ores from Tavistock to Morwellham, but two were needed to pull barges back against the flow. The current was also used as a source of power for waterwheels for agriculture along the length of the canal... Today the flowing water is used as a source of energy to generate hydroelectricity which feeds into the National Grid. The canal builders also aimed to exploit any ores, particularly copper, found while blasting out the canal tunnel. The canal took from 1803 to 1817 to complete with fourteen years spent on the tunnel. This also involved some mining operations at Wheal Crebor and Crowndale.

ck Can Tavisto

The Poetry Trail Guide chapter written by James Crowden walks you along the length of the canal from Abbey Bridge, passing Drake’s statue and his birthplace at Crowndale. The chapter also details the schools involved in generating the poetry in 2002 and 2012 from workshops led by James Crowden. It points out all the places where there are plaques bearing poetry. These poems were all written by the children and were inspired by the canal itself and the mysterious magic which it generates as it flows quietly by. The poems enrich the experience of a walk along the canal. The chapter ends with a poem by James Crowden at the point where it is no longer permitted to walk the canal and is a tribute to John Taylor. Available at Tavistock Visitor Information Centre

Having spent 40 fulfilling years performing Punch & Judy for a living, I decided it was time to ease off a little. Mr Punch has been good to me, providing the chance to meet many memorable people over the years, make lasting friendships, and travel to amazing places. So, what better subject to write about than Mr Punch? And where better to commence than in London in 1789: the time of the early days of the street Punch & Joan show, the Italian showman Giovanni Piccini, and the onset of the French Revolution? The novel is written in four parts, set in London and France in times of social turbulence, unrest and war between 1789 and 1828. The story revolves around the central character of 28-year-old Eddy Adams, and begins in Newgate Prison, where he and a French puppet showman, Henri Castillou, are both awaiting execution. Following their escape with the help of the enigmatic Calvert, and separated from Henri, Eddy initially becomes entangled with a band of highway robbers, leading to an affair with one of their number - an extraordinary woman called Rumer. He then subsequently falls in with Italian street puppeteer Giovanni Piccini… Published by United Writers on 15th October 2021: ISBN 9781852002039; £12.95 (paperback); available at Book Stop, Tavistock and at www.unitedwriters.co.uk

Princetown & the Conscientious Objectors of WW1 by Pip Barker Over 16,000 men refused to fight in World War One and became known as Conscientious Objectors. Their initial incarceration in prison was deemed unsuitable for many and they were then sent to work centres to be engaged on work of national importance. One such work centre was in the village of Princetown, Devon - home of the notorious Dartmoor prison. This book explores its change of purpose to that of Dartmoor Work Centre, and the daily life, type of work, and health of COs held there. It also looks at the impact of their arrival on the local community and the attitudes of the village

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LOCAL AUTHORS

residents towards them when the COs ventured into the local environs. This factual account, well documented with source quotes, offers an insight into the lives of the Dartmoor Work Centre inhabitants at that time in Princetown, corroborated by the CO’s own written work and accounts, government legislation, staff views, and postcards from the author’s own collection. It finishes by examining what happened to these men at the end of the war and their eventual release. Available for £8.99 at Princetown National Park Centre, Princetown Prison Museum, www.austinmacauley.com, WHSmith, Waterstones & Amazon

Hell Unearthed by Hilary McElwaine Hell Unearthed charts Dante’s journey, guided by his hero, Virgil, through the underworld. In this modern version of Inferno, the cast of sinners Dante meets includes gangsters, dictators, pop stars, sports stars, princes and princesses. These characters’ stories will be familiar to many and they sit alongside sinners drawn from classical mythology as well as the heroes and villains from Dante’s contemporary medieval Tuscany.

The tormented souls we witness prompt many questions: Do we really suffer for our wrongdoings after we have died? What is happiness? What is it to achieve greatness in life, and how it that greatness viewed in the afterlife? How should we live our lives to ensure happiness or salvation after we die? What makes society and local communities strong? The message remains the same as Dante’s original. Happiness is achieved through peace and stability in government with clear moral guidance coming from a spiritual power. We need to nurture our relationships with others in society and be mindful of causing harm. What we achieve in life, and how, will ultimately be judged by God. Hell Unearthed expands Dante’s world to show that people across geographical, cultural and religious divides can be guilty of the same human failings. Recognition of the universality of sin should be a unifying process and that was certainly also Dante’s intention with Inferno. Dante completed the Divine Comedy 700 years ago in 1320, a year before he died. It is one of the greatest works of literature of all time. As TS Eliot said: “Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them. There is no third.” Available at Book Stop, Tavistock and in various formats on Amazon

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OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers An easy 4¼-mile walk on the edge of the moor with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers. We walk over Plaster Down, following an old leat, once the water supply to the medieval manor houses of Grimstone and Sortridge, before climbing (gently) up to Pew Tor, one of the finest viewpoints for miles. A quiet lane then takes us to the pretty village of Sampford Spiney. A mix of open moorland, lanes and footpaths. Start at a small car park beside the leat at SX517719. Approaching Plaster Down from either Whitchurch or Horrabridge take the turn signed to Whimington and the parking area is 50m on the left. Walk away from the road with the

leat on the left. Keep close to the gently flowing water and notice an old milestone showing that it is 12 miles to Plymouth. Why it is here, away from the road, is anybody’s guess. Cross a lane and continue towards Pew Tor, still with the leat on the left. Splash through a ford across the leat (or step across a little further down) and turn right onto a second lane. Almost immediately (before reaching a metal gate in the wall on the right) go left on

a wide grassy track towards Pew Tor itself. At the top, you can if you wish, climb between the two main rock piles for a stunning view. North is open moorland with the Staple Tors, (Great, Middle and Little), North Hessary Tor and Vixen Tor whilst to the south Plymouth Sound and the Tamar can be seen. After taking in the views, go due south on a wide grassy path (towards Plymouth Sound in the distance). When you reach a rocky

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OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

area go left towards a pair of houses (one white, the other not) to follow a lesser path through the bracken to reach a lane. Turn left and shortly afterwards go right at a junction. Follow this lane to reach Sampford Spiney. In the churchyard is the Godden family mausoleum. John Godden made his fortune from trading guano on the Dutch island of Curaçao (off the coast of Venuzuela) and then for good measure married the governor’s daughter. There are also a number of fine slate gravestones to see around this lovely old church, one of which is a very unusual ‘double’. From the church, walk down the village green past the old village cross and the Tudor manor house. Cross the lane (and

a small stream), to go through a wooden gate signed as a public footpath. Follow the path through two fields (the second of which may be muddy) to reach another lane. Turn right and walk up the hill. When the lane reaches open moorland, turn left. Walk across the open grassy area staying close to the wall on the left to get back to the car. Before leaving, note the post with a small memorial to an RAF crew whose Liberator bomber crashed near here in 1942.

Tavistock Ramblers usually walk on Saturdays and Sundays and some Wednesdays. There are normally a variety of walks from short strolls to all day hikes. On the assumption that no further Covid restrictions have been put in place, details of all walks on offer can be found at tavistockramblers.org.uk. Check the Tavistock Ramblers website for the up-to-date situation and for a selection of local self-guided walks to enjoy.

AUTUMN It’s time to prepare your wildlife habitats, feeders and drinkers for your autumn and winter visitors We have all you need at Ron’s Pets to keep your wildlife happy throughout the more difficult months Ron’s Pet Supplies - Tavistock - 01822 611110 - www.ronspets.co.uk See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

WINTER 63

HISTORY

St Rumon’s House c.1950 (reproduced by permission of Norma Woodcock)

Teresa of Ávila by François Gérard

Tavistock’s Carmelite Convent When one thinks of monasteries and convents, one tends to think of ancient buildings and, perhaps, the Reformation. However, some have a more recent history. The Carmelite order, which traces its origins to hermits living on Mount Carmel in Israel in around 1200, did not establish itself in Britain until the late nineteenth century. Forced to leave the Holy Land, the Carmelites settled in Europe. Significant reform of the existing order took place in the sixteenth century through the efforts of St Teresa of Avila. This led to the founding of discalced convents of friars and nuns that emphasised austerity and contemplation. Discalced literally means ‘without shoes’, meaning barefoot or wearing sandals. In 1604, the first French ‘Carmel’ was founded (directly from Spain) in Paris.

In 1878, this Carmel sent seven of their sisters (two English and five French) to England, founding the Notting Hill Carmel, which still exists today. In 1883, one of these nuns, Madeleine Dupont (Mother Mary of Jesus), became prioress. Such was her success in recruiting new nuns that she was able to answer requests from Roman Catholic bishops from all over the country. Between 1907 and 1938, she founded 33 Discalced Carmelite convents, six of them in the South West of England including Plymouth, Exmouth and Tavistock. There is a cross and memorial to her in the Plymouth Road cemetery. The memorial reads: ‘In ever grateful memory of our venerated mother foundress Mother Mary of Jesus. Born Feb. 18th 1851. Professed Sept 8th 1873. Founded Tavistock’s Carmel August 30th 1922. Died March 15th 1942.’ In 1906, the Campbell family became the tenants of Mount Tavy (later to become a preparatory school) and built a small chapel on the estate for the few Roman Catholics in the area to worship in. In 1919, the Campbells moved to St Rumon’s, Watts Road, where they again built a small chapel. Following an approach by Bishop Kelly of Plymouth to the Notting Hill Carmel, it was agreed to set up a convent here. St Rumon’s was converted from a residential property to

a convent, and in 1922, seven Carmelite nuns arrived. On 30th August 1922, Tavistock Carmel was founded. On August 31st and September 1st 1922, the new Convent of St Rumon’s was open to view by the people of Tavistock and the results of the workmen’s labours were, according to the Tavistock Gazette (dated 8th September 1922), a revelation, with cells for the nuns ... a small chapel, a choir, cloisters etc. Also noticeable were the high walls, blocked driveway with a grill and spikes and a rear entrance to the convent. The ceremony of the imposition of enclosure was led by Cardinal Bourne, the Archbishop of Westminster and was attended by over a thousand members of the general public, as well as many Roman Catholic clergy from across the county and beyond. The arrival of the nuns, and their need for solitude, meant that there had to be strict segregation between them and the Catholic community. This was solved in 1923 when the latter were able to use a wooden building in Russell Street where the Carlton Cinema was later to stand. However, this closed in 1937 and the Catholics could worship only in the Carmel chapel. The number of worshippers increased significantly during the Second World War because of billeted service men and prisoners of war, and the increased numbers

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HISTORY

continued after the war. The problem of space was not addressed until 1952, when the Catholics acquired Fitzford Church, once more allowing the nuns the solitude they needed. The nuns had a large garden, enabling them to grow crops to sustain their own vegetarian diet as well as to sell. They were also skilled weavers and embroiderers. With gifts and legacies, they were able to be self-sufficient. The 1939 England and Wales Register lists 20 nuns at St Rumon’s on 29th September 1939, including the prioress, Sybil Mary Trafford. Most of these were ‘enclosed’ or cloistered nuns meaning that they could not go outside the convent except for medical or other necessary reasons. However, there were also a few ‘extern’ nuns who dealt with the outside world to allow the cloistered nuns to keep an entirely contemplative way of life. Extern nuns provided a service to the community and offered hospitality to visitors. By the 1950s, recruitment was increasingly difficult. As the existing nuns aged, the numbers dropped until the decision was taken to close the convent. By this time, in September 1995, there were only five ageing nuns. They were transferred to Upholland Carmel near Wigan (which itself closed in 2012) and the two extern sisters, Sisters Bernadette and Cecilia, who for so long had been a familiar sight around the town, retired and moved to Dawlish.

The bodies of the 13 nuns who had died and been buried in the grounds were removed and re-interred in a chained-off area in the Plymouth Road Cemetery. When Sisters Bernadette and Cecilia died, they too were buried there. After the nuns left, St Rumon’s remained empty. In 1999, the house was demolished and the site prepared for residential development. It is unclear as to the current use of the property. On street maps, 4 Watts Road is referred to as St Clare’s Presbytery (presbytery meaning the house of a Roman Catholic priest) and it still appears to be owned by Plymouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees. A neighbouring property is subject to an ‘overage’, meaning that, if any additional dwelling is built on it, the owners of the neighbouring property have to pay the trustees half the difference between the market values of the property, with and without planning consent for the additional dwelling. While the property at 4 Watts Road displays no indication of its past history as a Carmelite nunnery, there are

reminders nearby. Just down the road is a wooden bench with a metal plaque inscribed: ‘In memory of the Carmelite sisters & their presence in Tavistock 1922 – 1995.’ By the bench is a side road into a private estate; the road is called Carmel Gardens. Chris Bellers & Sue Wayman Tavistock Local History Society

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TECH HELP

A big hello to Tavistock! We are excited to be able to provide Links readers with bimonthly articles which will include general advice, issues we have seen arise over the last few months, tips, tricks and more. Alongside this our office mascot, Archie the Husky, will also have a little something to say too - he is vocal at times! For this issue we would like to take this opportunity to introduce ABC Service - we have been trading since 2009 with a dynamic young team. The first and main part of our business is computer support which includes desktops, laptops, iPhones and selected iPads. Covering Tavistock, Devon we support a wide number of home and business clients predominantly from our workshop here in Tavistock but also on-site and, if further afield, we provide remote support too. We cover everything from new computer install and setup, printer support and network installations (whether wired or wireless), Microsoft Office 365 licensing and Exchange Online for business too. Working with a wide range of branded computers and laptops we have carried out thousands of repairs over the years from overheating issues, screen damage, keyboard replacement, hinge repairs, Windows corruptions, virus removal, upgrades, custom builds and much more.

Alongside our IT services we provide: Graphic design, branding and web design solutions for a number of local clients

Printing including flyers, business cards, invitations, greeting cards, banners, stickers and bespoke vinyls plus much more Business telecoms including fibre broadband and VoIP solutions

Archie’s Corner * As the office woofer I am likely to meet and greet you – but only if you want me too. I like to sometimes inspect things as they come in to make sure they’re safe for my ‘hoomans’. Feel free to pet me, I am soft and floofy. For my fan club, don’t forget I do loooove carrots as a healthy snack. *Disclaimer: if you are at all nervous of dogs, do not worry, Archie is safely behind our reception counter and will only meet and greet you if encouraged.

Tech tip Windows 11 has a release date of 5 October and is going to be available as a free download for existing Windows users starting on that date. Note that the rollout won’t happen for everyone at once, it will be staggered over the rest of this year and into next year. Please also be aware that to upgrade to Windows 11 you will need to be running Windows 10 first. Gamers should be excited about this release of Windows - we know we are. It has a big focus on game performance!

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Decorators Nick Massey Painter & Decorator 69 Dentists Andrew Brown Dental Practice 12 Dog Groomers Dial a Dog Wash Devon 68 Domestic Appliance Repairs G P Service 68 Electricians Grifﬁn Electrical 67 Estate Agents & Lettings Kirby Estate Agents 71 M&B Lettings 2 Financial Advisors Dartmoor Financial Llp 65 Florists Amanda Randell Master Florist 50 Fuel Suppliers Moorland Fuels 68 Tricounty Ltd 69 Funeral Directors Morris Bros Funeral Directors 29 Garage Doors Alliance Garage Doors 30 Garage Services M & C White Motor Engineers 41 Garden Centres & Retailers Endsleigh Gardens Nursery 21 Tor Garden Plants 23 Garden Machinery Retail & Services South West Garden Machinery 22 Garden Services Dartmoor Pond Services 22 Hartland Landscaping 20 Hedge to Hedge Garden Services 22 Men for All Seasons 22 Health, Beauty & Nutrition Milagro South West 15 Nutonic 14 Tara’s Treatments 14 Yoga days on Dartmoor 14 Hearing & Mobility Alistair Kinsey Hearing & Mobility 12 Holidays & Holiday Lets Helpful Holidays 10 Home Furnishings Fabric and Furniture 46 Nikis Soft Furnishings 57 Rhoop Design 69

Delivered by the Royal Mail to more than 32,000 homes and businesses in West Devon, Dartmoor and North Plymouth.

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Accountants Haines Watts 38 Wings Accountants 44 Aerial Services YelTV 69 Aquatics Reef Passion 8 Arts, Galleries & Museums Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery 11 The Box 47 Wildwood Arts 49 Auctioneers & Valuers Eldreds Auctioneers 45 Bathroom & Tile Retailers Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles 72 Beer & Wine Retailers SW Bottle Shop 53 The Stannary Brewing Co. 42 Bridal Retailers Two for Joy Bridal 56 Building, Construction & Maintenance Base Property Support 61 Marcus Allen Groundworks 24 The Handymen 68 Business Services Tavistock BID 33 Cafés, Tea Rooms & Restaurants Cafe Liaison 49 Car Repairs Willis’s Garage Bodyshop 51 Care Services & Care Homes Bluebird Care West Devon 16 Devon & Cornwall Care Services 46 Home Instead Senior Care 14 Sante Care at Home 27 Carpet Retailers Yelverton Carpet Company 18 Chartered Surveyors Balment Keep Ltd 54 Cleaning & Domestic Services Cook IT CLean 68 The Laundry Cupboard 69 Community Transition Tavistock 31 Computer Maintenance Bere Computing IT Consultant 68 Buckland Computers 38 Curtains & Blinds LTB Blinds & Curtains 35

BUY LOCAL & SAVE

In every issue of Tavy 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 Tavy Links.

Tavy Links Business Directory

COM

JOBS

Home Improvements Moore & Moore Doors Ltd 67 Moorview Glazing 67 Realistic Home Improvements 54 Hotels, Inns & Clubs Bedford Hotel 37 Lewtrenchard Manor 52 Market Inn 32 West Devon Club 40 Interior Services Chic Interiors 55 Gemma Harvey Decorating 69 Kitchen & Bathroom Fitters Charles Gray Kitchens 3 Osteopaths & Chiropractors Philip Hartnoll Osteopath 14 Pet Supply Retailers Ron’s Pet Supplies 63 Plumbing & Heating Services Chamings Heating & Plumbing 34,43 Clearbrook Plumbing and Heating 68 DB Heating 4 Pre Schools & Nurseries Bambinos 36 Print & Design Services ABC Service 66 Religious Groups Tavistock United Reformed Church 59 Residential Parks Berkeley Parks 62 Solicitors Chilcotts Law 26 Curtis Whiteford Crocker Solicitors 30 GA Solicitors 7 Tree Surgeons Adam of Eden Tree Care 22 Countrywise Tree Care 22 Red Squirrel Tree Care 23 The Stumpman 23 Water & Sewerage Engineers AquaTech Water Services 68 GWT Ltd 67 Windows & Glazing Sash Windows Renovated 67

To make sure your business is featured in the next issue of Tavy Links magazine, call us today on 07450 161 929 or email tim.randell@linksmagazines.co.uk

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Tavy Links October/November 2021

Articles inside

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Book Review

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Food & Drink

Farming News

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Kids’ What’s On

Naturalist

Charity Focus

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