Tavy Links February/March issue 2021

WALKS | ARTS | EVENTS | PEOPLE | HERITAGE | LOCAL FOOD & DRINK | HOMES | BUSINESS

TAVY LINKS Feb/Mar 2021 Issue 46

THE HEN HOUSE FARM

Helping people connect with nature

THE GLASS CEILING

A new online magazine

by Lola Francis

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ROTARY ACTION GROUP AGAINST SLAVERY

YEARS

In this issue:

Modern slavery on our doorstep

MUSIC & ART: ‘SHOW UP’ - IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH DRAMA

COM

CHARITY FOCUS

BUS I NESS

ITY

JOBS

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Our tenth year!

This year it will be ten years since Lizzie Watt asked me if I would write a few articles for a new local magazine she was setting up. Little did I know what it would turn into when the first Moor Links was published in 2011. Since then, the Links magazines have expanded to include Tavy, Oke and Plym, evolving over the years but still retaining Lizzie’s basic concept of local magazines for local people.

The deadline date for any inclusions in the April/May issue of TavyLinks will be 26th February 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

We find ourselves in lockdown once again, with much of the UK going through difficult times. We are all ready to see an end to Covid-19, and the restrictions to our freedom and way of life. However perhaps our recent experiences have also given us a unique insight into the adversity others encounter all the time. Modern slavery is probably not something you associate with Devon, but in our feature article Geri Parlby explains there could be currently up to 136,000 victims in the UK. While Harriet Davis describes how her husband’s suicide following mental illness led her to found ‘Show Up’, supporting better mental health in young people through drama. As we move towards the end of winter and vaccinations are being rolled out, Dr Jo Coldron explains some of the science behind the vaccines, and Helen Dobby of the Environment Agency, shares details about a pilot trialling more natural techniques to reduce flood risk locally. We also hear from some enterprising local people: Paul and Sandy McEvoy of The Hen House Farm are helping people enjoy their own freshly laid eggs, while Lola Francis completed her A-levels last year before launching a new feminist online magazine.

Rosemary Best

Editor

Tim: 07450 161 929 Jane: 07772 619 808

Front cover image: Nightwatch by Marielle Ebner-Rijke – see more of her work at Wildwood Arts, wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk

Contents 6 Local People

38 Music & Art

10 Feature

42 Food & Drink

13 Health & Wellbeing

44 Business

16 Charity 18 Gardening

48 O utdoors & Active

23 Naturalist

50 Local authors

24 Farming News

51 Book Review

25 Education

52 History

26 Law

54 Tech Help

27 Community News

58 Directory

18

47 Trade Secrets

6

24 5

34 What’s On

@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.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Challenging the glass ceiling Lola Francis completed her A-levels last year looking for a worthwhile outlet for her creative talents, she came up with the idea of a new feminist online magazine, The Glass Ceiling, which was launched in September 2020.

As a young person, life sometimes feels as if it’s already mapped out for me. From the national curriculum to UCAS, I was beginning to feel restricted. Though I am immensely lucky and privileged to have received an education, I had also wanted to feel part of something meaningful and creative for a long time, and I knew that many other people I have met in my life felt the same.

And so, in the middle of the first lockdown with the culmination of BLM protests, political crisis and an everlooming climate crisis like a dark cloud above the world, I ran into my sister’s bedroom and said: “How about an online intersectional feminist magazine. I’ll be the editor, you can do the website and let’s get loads of writers and artists from all different backgrounds to work together to publish something badass.”

“Nice,” she replied.

Our first issue was published in September 2020, with topics ranging from body image, immigrant family dynamics and ethnicity in a predominantly white county, as well as comic strip style feminist art and a portrait to celebrate a local charity ambassador. It received over 1000 downloads - and we even went on BBC Spotlight! After months of working so hard we pulled it off! I had never felt so lucky to have collaborated and worked with such amazing creatives and friends. So, obviously, we are now creating Issue 2.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

Members of The Glass Ceiling team,

by Arna Kristjánsdóttir

I do think that being a feminist, and immersing myself in feminist culture, politics and relationships means that I see inspirational women all around me, and that truly energises me. I also see young people challenging the stereotype that they are apathetic. We are not apathetic, though often frustrated. There is much evidence to show that young people can be powerful and fiery. Our idols consist of young women like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Florence Given, and our friends, sisters and mothers… who constantly show us that every action you take means something. I hope that the magazine demonstrates that although we may feel disconnected, and look like we are addicted to technology, something as simple as internet access and a bit of creativity can empower you.

Emboldened, I’ve started training for a marathon, with a route mapped out on Dartmoor. I decided that this would be my next challenge (after completing Tour De Moor last year, and a half marathon the year before) because of my inspirational cousin

Nina, and my mum.

Nina is an ultramarathon runner who recently spent a whole year of her life running every single day. My mum is a badass yogi and likes to relax by cold water swimming. Nina and mum show me that endurance is good for your mental and physical health, and demonstrate the different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Training over winter, alongside a full-time gap year job, means that investing in a head torch and fluorescent gear is a very good idea. And when it’s chucking it down and pitch black, I can still go out.

Once you start to do something, it becomes easier to do something else. There are people you meet along the way who take you with them, and there are people you know or meet, who you can take along too. My mum now does half marathons to support me to do my run. I am excited for the future; I hope it’s filled with action and creativity. This year has taught me to take nothing for granted and, though the world is sometimes a difficult place in which to thrive, you can live meaningfully and make a positive contribution.

Lola Francis

You can read the magazine Lola started at www.theglassceilingmag.co.uk

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LOCAL PEOPLE

The chicken or the egg?

Paul and Sandy McEvoy of The Hen House Farm have come up with a simple yet very effective concept, helping to demystify the secrets of raising hens and enable people to enjoy their own freshly laid eggs.

Watching a newborn enter the world is one of the most amazing feats of nature you can witness. The ethos of The Hen House Farm has grown out of a desire to share such experiences with others and help them take time out of busy schedules to reconnect with the wonders of the outdoors.

Paul and Sandy have put together a range of hire packages for incubators, coops and hens, allowing the complete novice to dip their toe in the water and find out whether this taste of The Good Life is for them. If it isn’t then they just hand everything back, but if the experiment goes well and they decide to invest in their own coop, then the farm offers a discount on a starter kit, including a bespoke coop from Piers’ Sheds & Animal Housing, along with everything else needed to get going. They also sell a large range of beautiful, vaccinated hens in large and bantam varieties all year round.

Paul and Sandy have been together for 20 years, and until recently they were both pursuing mainstream professions: Paul as a PE teacher and Sandy as a nurse. However, the call of the outdoor life has become harder and harder to resist - Paul has been keeping hens for ten years and running The Hen House Farm business part-time for the last five years. The catalyst for this change of direction was when Sandy arranged for Paul to go on a smallholder’s course for a week at South Yeo Farm East, run by Ian and Gillian Dixon. Looking to escape the paperwork and get back to nature, Paul realised an outdoor, hands-on approach was just what he needed, and offered to continue labouring at the farm one day a week, in return for learning farming skills. The couple continued their professional careers, while exploring farming life; initially they rented land in Cornwall as part of a collective, but quickly realised the scheme and the commute weren’t working in their favour.

Closer to home near Bere Ferrers, they rented a few acres which had formerly been used as a flower farm in the heyday of the Tamar Valley’s market gardening industry, and following that as a venison farm. However, 30 years of disuse had taken its toll and the weeds and vegetation had taken over.

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LOCAL PEOPLE

the business. Although they have had to progress slowly it has also given them the chance to learn as they gradually built up a viable business. Taking inspiration from the ground’s previous usage, Sandy also started growing her own flowers on a scale large enough to supply weddings. Her natural flair has also recently inspired her to retire from nursing and take on a role as a professional florist at Morrisons in Liskeard, in the first of their new instore florist stations.

As a teacher Paul understood the value of bringing the ‘outside’ into the classroom and was able to organise classroom incubation hire with local schools so that children could watch the eggs hatch in front of their very eyes. He was also proud to take part in Farm Wise each year at Westpoint in Exeter, helping to educate children on the ‘farm to fork’ concept through hands-on activities. The Hen House Farm incubation hire-packages quickly became popular with families, and even care homes, arousing huge interest as residents gathered round to share stories from their youth about keeping hens.

Paul and Sandy gradually grew the business, building a reputation for guiding people through the process so they could make the most of their new hobby and avoid the pitfalls.

When covid-19 arrived though, it forced Paul to step aside

from supply teaching at Tavistock College and focus on the business. He normally sold hens and equipment through Mole Valley and Mole Avon, but with shops closed he needed a new approach. His brother Neal helped him set up a website and as people sought to reconnect with some of the more fundamental aspects of life during lockdown, demand for mailorder hatching eggs soared. As restrictions began to ease over the summer Paul and Sandy came up with ‘cluck & collect’, allowing people to buy their hens online and collect them at a covid-safe pick-up point. Paul has also been able to restart incubation hire with schools, although he now leaves the kit with detailed instructions so the schools benefit from working through the whole process themselves.

The Hen House Farm has had to adapt in recent times, but Paul and Sandy have found a way through it, and adversity has even encouraged them to streamline their offering. They love the life they have created together and are immensely grateful to the many people who have helped them along the way, especially Fran Davies of FD Garden Machinery, whose grandfather used to farm their land and has been invaluable in keeping their equipment up and running. They still feel as if they are on a journey, but with a larger, professional housing system waiting in the wings for the hens (pardon the pun), as well as a new school portal, their journey is definitely going places.

Rosemary Best

The Hen House Farm is taking bookings for one/two-month incubation hire for the spring; it supplies hens and coops for sale or hire all year round and also offers hen boarding (hire periods: 10, 20 or 30 days). For more information visit thehenhousefarm.com.

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FEATURE

Modern slavery on our doorstep It’s easy to think that slavery is a thing of the past but, sadly nothing could be further from the truth.

Centuries after slavery was officially abolished, thousands of people are still being exploited and sold as slaves from Asia to Australia and Europe to the Americas - even here in the UK right on our own doorsteps. In fact, without realising you probably see people trapped in slavery on a regular basis. It might be someone working in a private home on your street, the man working in the car wash in town, or the cleaner who empties your office bin every night. It can be difficult to spot the signs. Modern slavery in the UK can take many forms, including forced sexual exploitation, domestic slavery or forced labour on farms, in construction, shops, bars, nail bars, car washes or manufacturing. The number of people identified as victims of modern slavery has been rising year on year.

According to the Global Slavery Index it is thought there are up to 136,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK.

So how do people get trapped in slavery?

According to the world’s oldest international human rights organisation, British based Anti-Slavery International, vulnerable people often take big risks in order to provide for their families. Typically, they can be offered an apparently good job in the UK. Often they take a loan from the traffickers in advance. However, when they arrive in the UK, the situation is completely different. Their passport might be taken away and they’re told they need to pay off the debt before they can leave. Violence and threats are common. They are trapped here with no possessions, no means to return and totally reliant on their traffickers. Vulnerable British people are also targeted,

Image by Pexels via Pixabay

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especially children from disadvantaged backgrounds, to be groomed into drug criminal gangs in so-called ‘county lines’ trafficking. A prime example of how slavery can exist in plain sight is the case of the Rooney family who ran a slave ring right under the noses of a UK town in Lincolnshire. By taking advantage of vulnerable populations such as the homeless, the elderly, and the mentally ill, the Rooney family slave ring managed to run under the radar for over two decades, netting the family a huge profit while sending their victims through unspeakable injustices. In all, 11 Rooney family members ended up in prison. These horrific crimes have even inspired recent episodes of Radio 4’s The Archers which has helped to raise awareness of the evil pervasiveness of modern slavery.

For the police, modern slavery and human trafficking is a challenging crime to investigate. The complexity of cases, the variety of crimes, the multi-national and multi-ethnic background of participants, the multiple occurrences of abuse, the different forms of deception and coercion used to control victims and the way offences are interwoven with other forms of criminality, sets modern slavery apart. This led to the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme being set up in 2017 to help support and train the police in how best to tackle this problem and share intelligence both regionally and nationally. In fact, Devon & Cornwall’s Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer is the police lead for the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit, based in Exmouth. Last year they unveiled new figures showing that despite Covid, investigations into modern slavery-related offences were at

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FEATURE

Forced labour in cotton industry, Uzbekistan - image

by Simon Buxton for Anti-Slavery International

their highest ever level. More than 2,000 cases were live in September alone.

“Modern slavery and trafficking are cruel crimes that see perpetrators target some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Perpetrators range from international and national serious and organised crime networks, through to single individual exploitative relationships. This is arguably the most pernicious crime type of our generation,” says Chief Constable Sawyer.

Throughout the UK, many different organisations are working alongside Anti-Slavery International to prevent slavery, promote identification of victims, provide support services to survivors, and ensure that slavery cannot flourish. The Salvation Army has its own anti trafficking and modern slavery unit providing specialist support to all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales via safehouses or through outreach support.

Bonded labour, India - image by Bharat Patel for Anti-Slavery International

Working with Anti-Slavery International, the Chair of RAGAS, 75-year-old Rotarian Simon John, is embarking on a 1,000-mile Freedom Ride, a speaking/cycling tour from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery. The ride is a homage to abolitionist Thomas Clarkson who in 1791 rode on horseback to towns across Britain, raising awareness of the horrors and suffering in the transatlantic slave trade and, raising support for the 19th century antislavery campaign. Little did Clarkson realise that 230 years later, the horror of slavery would still be with us.

Geri Parlby Rotary Club of Tavistock Rotary Action Group Against Slavery

For more information please visit antislavery.org; salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery; ecpat.org.uk; unseenuk. org; hopeforjustice.org; ragas.online.

ECPAT UK is a leading children’s rights organisation working to protect children from trafficking and slavery. Bristol-based Unseen provides safehouses and community outreach, as well as running the modern slavery and exploitation helpline, 08000 121 700. Hope for Justice works in the UK and internationally, helping to rescue trafficking victims, assist in aftercare, hold traffickers accountable, and campaign on a wider level to improve awareness and legislation.

The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery has been working both internationally and in the UK, helping to raise awareness in the community and fund anti-slavery charities while working alongside them to protect the vulnerable from slavery and its consequences.

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Cocoa farm, Ghana -Image by Nile Sprague for Anti-Slavery International

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

The Covid-19 vaccines Dr Jo Coldron explains how the new Covid-19 vaccinations work.

As I write this at the start of 2021, much of my time is spent thinking about and facilitating the Covid-19 vaccine roll out. After months of our communities being trapped and threatened by this disease, the chance to actively fight it on a huge and life-changing scale by vaccinating as many people as possible feels like a gift and a task I, and all my colleagues are throwing ourselves into. As you can imagine we have been answering many questions about the vaccines and I hope that this article will help explain the science of them a little more.

At the time of writing, we have three vaccines we can use: the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Vaccine (AZV), the PfizerBioNTech Vaccine (PBV), and the Moderna Vaccine (MV) which has also just been licenced for use. It may be that by the time you read this there will be others. The way all of these vaccines work is to show a bit of the spike protein of the coronavirus (the outside of the virus that attaches onto our cells) to the immune system of the body, so that if we come in contact with the actual virus we can immediately destroy it. Although the initial immune response to the vaccine then fades we are left with an ‘immune memory’ so our immune system very quicky reacts to any coronavirus exposure. The PBV and MV introduce this on a little bit of synthetic RNA, the AZV on a harmless chimpanzee adenovirus (common cold virus). Neither of these vaccines contain any harmful virus that can infect us and cause us to be ill. We can’t infect anyone else after the vaccination. It’s also safe to have the vaccines even if you have underlying health conditions or are very frail.

All the vaccines quickly break down in the body and have degraded and gone within a few days.

All the vaccines are extremely effective – around 90-95% however it’s not complete cover and they do not reach full strength of response until about 2 weeks after the vaccination.

Until this pandemic is fully controlled, we will still need to continue with all our social distancing, masks and hand hygiene. A booster sometime between 3 (PV) or 4 (AZV, MV) and 12 weeks after the initial vaccination strengthens our immune response. We are not quite certain how long we retain this high level of immunity and it is certainly possible

that we will need yearly vaccinations – just like the annual flu vaccination that we are all familiar with.

There are some possible side effects, again just like the flu vaccine, but they tend to be mild and short-lived. An achy arm is the most likely result of the vaccination, and some people experience viral like symptoms for 24 hours or so, which is not an infection but our immune system responding to the vaccine, just as we want it to. All three vaccines are very safe and effective with very few occasions where they can’t be given.

There won’t routinely be a choice of vaccine, as it depends on what vaccine is available at the time you are offered it.

It seems that these vaccines have been developed very quickly and this certainly increases the anxiety surrounding having them. However, it is more reassuring when you look at how they have been developed by these incredible scientists working tirelessly around the world. These vaccines aren’t completely new but are all based on existing vaccine technology and design which has been developed over many years. In addition, a lot of the time taken to develop a new vaccine is spent on seeking funding for development, getting study participants for trials, reviewing the evidence and approving the vaccine and then getting it into national vaccination programs. The roll out of these vaccines is so critical for the whole world that money has been plentiful, many of thousands of people were enrolled in trials very quickly and the evidence has been reviewed thoroughly but critically without any delay.

I don’t know what 2021 is going to bring, but with our first vaccination clinic in mid-December I became a lot more hopeful that it is going to be a better year for a lot of us.

Dr Jo Coldron Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

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Since Covid-19, the number of unpaid carers in Devon has increased by almost 50% to approximately 130,000 (source: Devon County Council). It has never been more important to identify and support carers than now and Devon Carers is passionate about helping those who support others. A carer is someone who provides unpaid support to family, friends or neighbours who could not manage without help on a regular basis. Anyone can become a carer at any time. It may happen gradually as a person’s health deteriorates or instantly, as a result of an accident or unexpected health condition. Quite often a person does not recognise themselves as a carer, even though they have a caring responsibility. No matter who a person is caring for and whether they have the same condition as somebody else, their situation is unique to them.

• An excellent information resource at devoncarers.org.uk • A quarterly magazine with the latest news, carer stories and training courses • A helpline and webchat available Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm on 03456 434 435 • An alert card and emergency plan if a carer is unexpectedly unable to carry out their caring role • Training opportunities to learn skills to assist with their caring role • Peer Support, connecting carers to mutually support each other • A personalised assessment of how caring affects your health and wellbeing and how we can support you.

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15

CHARITY FOCUS

Colebrook Support Services Improving lives - putting people first Colebrook has been supporting vulnerable adults for over 35 years. Over the years, like other charities we have had to respond to local need, take opportunities as they’ve arisen and adapt to a changing world, so we look quite different now than we did then!

What is Colebrook Support Services?

We are a local charity which supports vulnerable adults to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Some people find managing a home, having relationships and being healthy and happy quite challenging, so at Colebrook, we aim to teach everyone the skills needed to live as independently as possible. Our clients are usually people who have a severe and enduring mental health condition, a learning disability, or are vulnerable in some other way - maybe they have experienced trauma in their lives or were never quite taught the skills that are needed to manage in everyday life.

How we do this?

We find out what area a person may have difficulties in – initially, we all need shelter, food and warmth. We then

get to know the person better and aim to teach people the skills to meet other needs, while developing a plan with our clients to address other areas: for example, do they have any debt? Can the client look after their home and keep safe? Are they meeting their nutritional and health needs? Can they understand any medication and manage any symptoms? But life isn’t all about paying the bills and running a home! We also support people to improve their quality of life through their friends and relationships. Hobbies, recreation and spiritual needs are addressed and of course, meaningful activity and good citizenship, such as work, study and volunteering. Throughout all this we support our clients emotionally and signpost them to other services as appropriate.

Fulfilled living

in later life

Bethany Christian Home offers wonderful care for older people, inspiring and encouraging fulfilled living in later life.

For Christian care in Plymouth call 0300 303 8440 or visit pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/Bethany

CHARITY FOCUS

Where do we do this?

We have eight supported living projects in Plymouth – but some people receive support in their own home.We have many success stories – here’s a letter of thanks from one of our clients: ‘When I first moved into a Colebrook accommodation, I was a complete mess, and without any direction. But in time, I started a journey to get my life in check a journey my support workers were with me on. They believed in me when I did not. It was enough to spur me on and to fight my battles and demons. Very early on I knew my support workers were with me, and not going to do it for me - I had to do it for myself. They of course encouraged me.

‘At first, I did start slipping back, but I spoke to all my support workers and started to believe in myself. I found strength and the fight I never knew I had, but with thanks to Colebrook, I knew I could do it, I just had to put my mind to it. So, I worked hard, and I made a commitment to myself to never hurt myself ever again, to never give up like I did in my past – giving up is not an option!! Today I am finally free from my past affecting me like it did. Life is to be cherished and lived to the full, with my dog I never thought I would have. Thank you to you all for being with me on my journey.’

Then and now When we opened in 1983, our organisation only provided the direct support services described above. Now we have many other teams and services

including the Healthwatch service for the whole of Devon, the Headspace and Headscount, community centres, a Wellbeing Hub, self-help groups funded by the lottery, and a gardening project.

We have been working with individuals, communities and organisations in and around Plymouth for more than 35 years now and pride ourselves in putting people at the heart of everything we do.

Our mission is to inspire and empower people and communities to achieve their independence and aspirations. We will achieve this by supporting people to achieve skills, realise goals and improve independence, support community independence and sustainable growth and involve people, providing them with a voice to help shape our services.

If you are interested in receiving a support service from Colebrook, you would usually need a social worker to refer you – but some people also pay for their own support. We do not provide any personal care and support is a

minimum of two hours – contact us via email on referrals@colebrooksw.org for more information.

We are currently looking for board members who volunteer some time to help steer our organization; we also have other volunteering opportunities available. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us via enquiries@colebrooksw.org or call on 01752 205210.

Finally, we are always interested in hearing from supportive and passionate people with the right ethos to help us achieve our mission and join our fantastically dedicated staff team. If you think this could be you please have a look at the vacancies on colebrooksw. org/jobs and see the wonderful and varied work our colleagues do at colebrooksw.org/colebrook-services.

Care services for your loved ones

Shelley Sanderson Senior Support Services Manager

¸²

Devon and Cornwall Care Services A community care provider serving the local area since 2002

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Email: samantha@daccservices.com/pauline@daccservices.com Caring for People in the Community 5 Canal Road, Tavistock PL19 8AR • www.daccservices.com

17

GARDENING

Late winter gardening As winter draws to a close, this year it is more vital than ever to steal a march on the year and get ahead in the garden. I’m not talking about the usual jobs of weeding, soil prep and sending the mower for servicing – although these are always worthwhile.

This year, a combination of stock shortages and delays due to Covid, along with increased demand (almost 3 million people discovered gardening in lockdown) mean it’s a very good idea to get your skates on with advance planning and ordering, with everything from seeds and plants to materials for garden projects. So, have a think about what you’d like to do this year.

Adding features is a great way to make your garden more useable and attractive, such as a paved seating area, surrounded by raised beds to create a more intimate feel: make wide tops to the beds and they can double as informal seating and somewhere to park a glass or plate. In a sunny spot, add a beamed pergola or arbour, planted with wisteria or a grape vine to cast leafy, dappled shade and recreate that feeling of the Med. A pond or water feature brings a whole new dimension to the garden and can be made to almost any size to match the site and your garden style. A simple submersible pump creates the soothing splash of moving

water, which not only focuses attention on the feature but also helps mask intrusive background noise. Water is wonderful to attract wildlife of all kinds too.

A covered area for growing is a real asset, so if you’ve been debating whether to get a greenhouse, now’s the time to treat yourself – especially as some manufacturers are already quoting lead times of months rather than weeks.

Greenhouses come in many shapes, sizes and designs, from space-saving little lean-to models (a bit like a large cupboard) to walk-in houses from 6 x 4 ft upwards, in metal or wood. Do go as large as your site and budget permits as once the growing bug bites, a small one will soon be outgrown; also add into your budget accessories like staging (benches) and automatic roof vents.

With indoor socialising likely to remain out of bounds for some time, making the garden more decorative and personalised is a big trend. If your budget permits, a piece of garden art from one of the many talented artists in this part of the world will give many years of pleasure. For a cheap and cheerful garden facelift, use coloured wood stain to transform wooden furniture and features, and recycle all kinds of throwaway items into plant containers. One cause for optimism in 2021 is that increased awareness in sustainability is becoming a way of life, not just a trend.

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GARDENING

Easy ways to grow your own veg Vegetable growing soared in popularity during lockdown no. 1, and with more months of restrictions, it’s a great way to do something positive. There’s the delight of sowing seed and watching a crop grow to maturity; the incomparable taste of produce picked and eaten in minutes; the knowledge that what you eat is packed with nutrients with no harmful chemicals; food metres rather than miles… the list of positives goes on. Many gardeners are keen to expand their veg growing this year and by far the easiest way is to grow on a no-dig bed system which involves far less work,

is easy on the back and good for the environment too, as the soil structure is undisturbed, and carbon remains locked in the soil.

The principle of no-dig is that beds are a maximum of 1.2m (4ft) wide and worked from a path either side rather than being trodden on and compacted, plus the organic matter (garden compost or well-rotted manure, ideally) is spread in a layer on top to be taken down by worms and soil organisms. Beds can be made at ground level, but if you want to ease wear and tear on backs and knees, or want to convert grass into veg beds,

the simplest and most labour-saving way is to go up. Use a wooden frame – from 15cm high and upwards depending on your budget – and cover the grass with flattened brown cardboard boxes (there are lots of them around with all the current internet shopping). The grass underneath is killed by the cardboard which then rots down and adds more structure to the soil. Then simply fill the bed with soil mixed with organic matter, and get sowing and planting. Garden centres and nurseries remain open at the time of writing so there should be plenty of seeds and ready-grown plants to choose from.

Sue Fisher GARDEN DESIGNER & HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST

Inspirational ideas to transform your garden Advisory visits • Planting plans Complete designs tel: 01822 841895 • email: suefisher@talktalk.net www.suefishergardens.co.uk

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GARDENING

Gardening jobs for the season Order bare rooted plants as soon as possible as they can only be supplied whilst dormant, during the winter months. Trees, shrubs, roses, hedging plants and fruit are cheaper and often bigger and better than container grown plants, and more sustainably produced too without plastic pots.

up and started into growth under cover; perennials like Michaelmas daisy can be divided to make more plants for free.

Boost bulb displays for next year by feeding with a general fertilizer. Remove dead flower heads and do allow the leaves to die back naturally as this is how the bulb builds up energy for next year.

Many veg and flower seeds can be sown now, in a propagator if you have one, or on a well-lit windowsill if not.

Reuse old plant pots but wash first in hot water to avoid pest and disease problems. Food containers like yoghurt and margarine pots, or mushroom punnets are great for growing seeds, so long as holes are made for drainage.

Grow a patch of flowers for cutting and never again feel guilty about raiding the borders to fill a vase. Annuals like sweet peas and cosmos can be sown now and dahlia tubers potted

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21

GARDENING

Can a garden be both beautiful and low maintenance?

Gardens offer a natural escape and a haven from the pressures of life. However, ‘I love my garden, but not the work!’ is a common complaint amongst householders. For some people life is just too busy to fit those precious gardening hours into a hectic weekly schedule. For others, whilst passionate about gardening, they find that keeping on top of the mowing is getting too much.

So what are the options for a beautiful but low maintenance outdoor space?

One increasingly popular option is artificial grass. Latest manufacturing technologies mean that modern, fake grasses are very realistic with brown thatch woven into the root zone to resemble real biomass. Artificial grass provides the perfect lawn without the mowing, mud and maintenance hassle of natural grass, and by retaining plant borders, the overall effect looks very natural. Artificial grass is both pet and child-friendly, and is an ideal solution for sloping, smaller, unusual shaped lawns or tricky-to-access areas with a lawn mower. Front lawn installations are just as popular as back lawns, since artificial grass can give a property instant ‘kerb

22

appeal’ – looking tidy and well-kept all year round. Decking is an attractive option for creating a social space in your garden.

There are some fantastic natural-looking decking boards which are anti-slip and eco-friendly, made from recycled materials.

These decks look amazingly like wood but come without the maintenance headaches and they will outlast wood by many, many years.

Yelverton-based family firm, Green Scheme has been creating low maintenance, outdoor spaces for over 10 years for both domestic and commercial customers. For expert advice and a free quote contact 01822 855427 or visit: greenschemegrass.com

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NATURALIST GARDENING

Tavistock Woodlands On the Devon bank of the Tamar, south from Horsebridge to the parish boundary of Bere Ferrers and upriver on the Tavy as far as Shillamill, on the Crowndale road, the landscape is dominated by the trees of the Tavistock Woodland Estate. It is part of the Tamar Valley AONB and includes many artefacts that belong to our industrial past, a key part of the World Heritage Site. Visitor attractions at the Tamar Trails Centre and Morwellham Quay are surrounded by the estate, a commercial woodland owned by the Earl of Bradford.

I first explored the woodlands exactly 50 years ago when I began my career teaching science locally. It was truly private in those days, but access was allowed to interested individuals - I still have my typewritten permit! A ground-breaking system of arboriculture had been developed after the Second World War, the Bradford-Hutt plan, which avoided clear-felling whole hillsides, replacing it with selective use of individual tress in rotation, and allowing native hardwood trees to become established. Loss of the soil and the life within when forests are cleared is now a major concern worldwide.

Mixed woodlands of this kind, rather than the dark serried ranks of many commercial conifer plantations provide a wider variety of habitats for wildlife and a far more interesting environment for human visitors too. These are the places where our larger mammals hide away during daylight hours, so early mornings and evenings are when they are most often sighted. Roe and fallow deer are commonly seen while red deer pass through while travelling between resident herds in other parts of Devon and Cornwall. The woodland badgers were commonly seen until recently, crossing roads at night-time or sadly ending up as roadkill victims. I assume the government’s culling programme has probably been responsible for the current absence of these sightings.

Smaller mammals and birds are well catered for, especially where a dense undergrowth has been allowed to develop.

Rodents remain hidden from view leaving evidence of their presence in the form of discarded nut shells and fir cones.

In early spring birds are often located by their song; with a pair of binoculars handy, it soon becomes possible to identify the songster and with practice most of the tits, finches and especially the nuthatch can be recognised by sound alone.

The rare and elusive nightjar can also be heard, or if you are really lucky, seen in the woods on summer evenings. But it is the bats that are one of the star turns of the Tamar Valley with over a dozen species having been identified. Most are nocturnal, emerging in the evening from their roosts amongst the old mine-workings. They are often seen skimming over the surface of the river and around the trees, lining the banks, navigating their way using ultrasound. Each species emits a unique call, catching the reflected echoes in their over-sized ears to ‘picture’ the locality.

At the heart of the woodland around the post-industrial wastes of the nineteenth century Devon Great Consols Mine workings, plants still struggle to colonise the dry, sandy residues over a century later. These still carry traces of copper, tin and poisonous arsenic extracted from the rocks below. However, on the fringes of this area a heath-like flora has developed and where conifer needles carpet the ground red wood-ant colonies, with a level of sophistication which matches that of the hive-bee, construct extensive ant-hills in which to raise their brood.

At the time of writing, there is some concern for the future of the estate with both the ownership and management of the woodlands under discussion. Our hope should be that its value in terms of landscape, protected habitats and species, as well as its history and public accessibility should be taken into consideration for all who live and work in the area.

Pete Mayston

23

FARMING NEWS

Hoping for better times ahead A bit like the first Star Wars movie - A New Hope - we all entered the year 2021! I think everyone was looking forward to the new year and hopefully a light at the end of a dark 2020 virus-shaped tunnel. Despite lockdown three (worst trilogy ever!) the vaccine has arrived and is being administered with haste. Let’s hope by the time this magazine arrives at your door the lines on the BBC graphs are all heading downhill fast and we can get back to the new normal, whatever that may look like.

The pandemic has affected us all, but once again I would like to personally say a massive thank you to all the NHS staff and key workers. You have all been a shining beacon of hope with your shoulders to the wheel for such a long period of time. I would also like to give a shout out to all the local businesses and their teams of staff who have sacrificed so much this year. It seems ironic that the only winners have again been the big boys. Local businesses, shops, pubs, restaurants are on their knees whilst the likes of Amazon has cashed in, shipping the profits to whichever tax haven is fashionable this week. I dearly hope that once the dust settles, we all have a time for reflection and realise the value around us and in our communities. Our small towns and their thriving small businesses are the beating heart of our

community and going forward they will need us!

On the farm we have endured a very wet autumn again with springs rising all over the place, even in the middle of our lane. But Christmas came and we had some relief with a lovely cold snap at the start of the new year.

It makes our job so much easier and I would happily have cold dry weather until March if I could. The grass stops, the ground has time to dry out and gets a rest, and the hard frosts help kill off the ticks in the rough grazing which can plague the animals through spring and summer. The snow can stay away though! As usual the great unwashed descended onto Dartmoor the minute they could see a snow-capped North Hessary Tor. Snow is great fun if you are playing in it, I give you that, but the collateral damage to gates, fences and our pregnant animals is not - plus litter, dogs worrying animals, parking and traffic Armageddon, not to mention 4x4s popping up like mushrooms everywhere there is a road closed sign! I’d better stop there... But when there is snow on the ground, please try and have some consideration for the animals and us farming folk who find the invasion quite

hard to deal with during an already stressful situation.

The ewes will start lambing in March and usually we would be shouting from the roof tops about our Greenwell Lambing Live event, but once again due to the restrictions we have decided to cancel our 2021 event. We worked so hard last year to get the event ready and even had two days of visits only to cancel the event halfway through due to last spring’s lockdown. But Lambing Live will rise again for 2022, hopefully!

We will endeavour to share as much of this special time of year on the farm with you on our social media and let’s hope lambing this year goes well. It is always a very special time of year on the farm with so much new life everywhere.

Let us hope by then we can, like the lambs, have a spring in our step and move forward to a brighter spring and summer!

Stay safe and buy local!

Mat Cole, Greenwell Farm

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EDUCATION

New CEO for Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust In January 2021, Dan Morrow started as the new chief executive officer for Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, a family of 17 primary and secondary schools including Tavistock College.

Already a highly regarded education leader with a national reputation, Dan was the trust leader and CEO for Woodland Academy Trust, an educational charity serving several thousand children in the South East of London and employing 350 staff. He is passionate about removing as many challenges as possible for children to believe and achieve, following his own experience of being a free-school-meal pupil who went on to be the first in his family to go to university, reading history at the University of Oxford. Dan explained why the post at Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust attracted him: “I have spent a lot of time in Devon previously and have always been

stunned, not just by the beauty of the landscape, but also by the strength and bonds of community. I wanted to find a role that I can really invest in and one where we can make a change together - having such a strong community as a basis really is a privilege.”

Dan already has big plans for the schools within the trust, to reach out even further to the communities that they serve. His favoured metaphor for talking about the children in his care involves ‘invisible backpacks’. Inside those backpacks are all the negative experiences and difficulties children have faced which need to be unpacked - no child leaves their bag at the door when they come into school under Dan’s leadership. Dan recognises the most valuable and valued resource under his leadership is his staff. Listening to what staff teams need has ensured Dan creates a framework allowing children

to believe and achieve, while also ensuring staff can grow and develop.

Additionally, he believes that it can often be one adult or teacher that can make a difference for a child. Building on the superb support that Dartmoor MAT has given to the community throughout the pandemic, it looks like a truly exciting time for the direction of the schools within the trust and for the future of its children. Under Dan’s leadership, the trust is confident 2021 will be a much better year for everyone.

Step into Learning www.steplearning.org.uk

Never too late to learn!

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

25

LAW

legally speaking...

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Light at the end of the tunnel…

As I write this lockdown 3 has just been announced and some may find it harder this time around not being able to enjoy the warm temperatures that we were fortunate to have during last spring’s lockdown. With shorter and darker days, light and colour seem to be the tonic to boost our sense of wellbeing with many choosing to leave Christmas lights on.

Nature can also provide us with light and colour. I know just being outdoors on a crisp, sunny day watching wildlife makes me feel good. Whilst checking our reptile monitoring mats at Burrator late September, I found a glow-worm larva under one mat. I haven’t seen a glow-worm for years, so was very excited to discover that they are present at Burrator. Did you know that glow-worms aren’t actually worms but beetles!

The larvae can live for 1-2 years paralysing small snails with a toxic bite and then sucking them out. However, once they reach adulthood they don’t survive very long (just to breed) as they can’t feed. During June and July, the adult females emit a bright glow to attract males, so this summer I’ll be out at night searching for nature’s light beacons.

For me, colour during the darker winter months can be uplifting too. I’m never one for plain white walls - I have to have colour around me. Animals also use colour as warning, attracting a mate, or as camouflage. Even the smallest of creatures can be colourful.

Whilst walking an

area of cleared conifer at Burrator in early October, a brightly coloured beetle clinging to a thistle flower head caught my eye; the black and orange stripes were quite striking - it was a Common Sexton beetle. It inspired me to find out more about this species – often described as the ‘undertaker’ of the animal kingdom. Male and female are attracted by the smell of a decaying animal, pairing up at a carcass (usually a mouse or small bird) to bury the dead body and then the female will lay her eggs on or beside the buried body enabling their larvae to feed off the corpse. Fascinating!

Spring is just around the corner, when willow and blackthorn will begin to blossom attracting pollinators looking for an early nectar source, and primroses and violets will emerge bringing colour back to our landscape. Stay positive and look for opportunities in nature to uplift and inspire.

Deborah Deveney Burrator Biodiversity Officer, South West Lakes Trust

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Please continue to support Tavistock Despite missing out on the annual Dickensian Evening, Christmas 2020 saw good footfall in the town and provided businesses with much needed custom in those important trading weeks. Our ‘Keep Christmas Local’ campaign was well received, and we are very thankful to you all for supporting the high street whenever and wherever possible. The launch of the Tavistock Gift Card exceeded expectations in the weeks leading up to Christmas and will make a big difference to the businesses of the town during this period of uncertainty and beyond. The Gift Card is not just for Christmas though, with over 50 participating business, it makes a great gift for any occasion. You can purchase a card at tavistockgiftcard. co.uk or from Lawsons, Tavistock. As we are thrown into another national lockdown, we remind people that you can still continue to support local businesses. Essential businesses remain open; many others have a presence online and offer local delivery. You can find a list of how you can continue to #shoplocal at visit-tavistock.co.uk/ open-for-business-categories In the weeks ahead, BID is planning to once again adorn the windows of the town in our annual ‘Paint the Town’ event beginning on 20th March. This year, with many people facing extended periods of isolation, we recognise the increased

need to involve the wider community as well as schools in this lovely event. With the help of West Devon Art Workshops, we will also be incorporating light into the displays - we hope - to signify the easing of coronavirus restrictions. It should be a sight to behold and bring the town alive for spring. Over the Easter holidays you can expect another egg-citing town hunt!

The hunt will run from Saturday 3rd to Saturday 17th April.

See Visit Tavistock on Facebook for more details. As well as all this, Tavistock BID is working hard to continue supporting businesses and looking ahead to the coming months when the town is able to re-open fully. Please continue to support the businesses of Tavistock!

20 MARCH - PAINT THE TOWN WITH LIGHT

Local businesses, in conjunction with local primary schools and community groups, will create bright and wonderful window displays to bring Tavistock alive for spring. Activities will be taking place on Bedford Square.

28 MARCH – 11 APRIL, TAVISTOCK EASTER EGG HUNT

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COMMUNITY NEWS

From the Lions’ Den For obvious reasons, this year has been quiet for the members of the Lions Club of Tavistock with many of their fundraising activities cancelled, such as Carnival Week and Fireworks, as well as other town events the club is involved with, such as Goose Fair and Dickensian Evening; the club’s income has been sorely reduced, so in December members decided to come out of hibernation, don their red shirts and set about fundraising.

One project the club decided to take on was a low-cost Christmas postal service in the Tavistock and Whitchurch areas which Tavistock Guides provided for many years, but stopped at the end of 2018 mainly due to the lack of girl power. So with their agreement and financial support from Fairway Furniture Ltd, the Lions set up nine outlets around the town and Whitchurch, providing traders with yellow post boxes and special Lions’ stamps, sold for 35p each or 3 for a £1. The service proved very popular with club members delivering around 4000 cards.

The club was delighted when the town council agreed that Trees of Light, one of the club’s main fundraising activities, could still go ahead, only without the formal switching-on ceremony. Forming the centrepiece of the town’s Christmas illuminations since 1999, the lights are sponsored by individuals or families in memory of loved ones or special

Lyn with Lions postbox

occasions, raising to date over £110,000 for local charities. The club is grateful for continued support of the event by Morris Bros (Tavistock) Ltd, South West Lakes Trust, Tavistock Times Gazette, Links Magazines, Rob Moule of RM Builders Ltd and Tavistock Town Council, enabling the Lions to donate around £12,000 to five local healthcare charities. Lion, John Noblet, who co-ordinated the whole project, was delighted with the response which raised more than double the amount in recent years. In a final fundraising effort, the club had two Saturday street collections in Bedford Square just before Christmas and was amazed at the continued generosity - bringing December’s total fundraising to around £14,600.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Keeping Milton Abbot safe Residents of Milton Abbot have launched a campaign to slow traffic down through the village. Since lockdown, traffic speed seems to have increased alarmingly and residents felt the 30mph limit was not being adhered to. The village has many youngsters commuting to the primary school and crossing roads to catch school buses, as well as mums with prams and an active pensioner community. The aim of the new campaign is to encourage drivers to slow down through the village and keep everyone safe. In November residents took part in Road Safety Week, part of the Brake charity; they made special 30mph speed signs and a unique sculpture to remind motorists to drive safely and respect the speed limits, while children at Milton Abbot Primary School created some wonderful speed safety posters. Parents and children have also taken part in a walking school bus, meeting at the pub and walking safely in a long chain to the primary school, wearing their new community-funded, high-vis jackets. As a result, residents have reported that cars take much more notice.

The village is also preparing for a police-endorsed community speed watch campaign. Coordinators have completed online

training, and in December volunteer teams received handson training from police officers with a speed gun. The plan is for trained volunteers to carry out one-hour traffic monitoring sessions with a legally calibrated police speed gun.

Warnings will be sent to offenders, offering the chance to amend their ways, and persistent offenders may, at the discretion of the police, face further action. If you would like to get involved in the campaign, or for more information visit www.miltonabbotspeedsafety.org.

A basic income for all During lockdowns, we have become increasingly aware of child poverty with the need for free school meals during holidays, as well as the problems caused by closed businesses and job losses with many people being driven to foodbanks and forced onto universal credit, already renowned for its delays. The situation has also highlighted the historic under-valuing of carers, volunteers and other keyworkers.

The Government has provided payments to some individuals but many, particularly the self-employed and those in the gig economy, did not qualify. There have been nationwide discussions on the topic of a basic income for all citizens, with support from the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party. There have also been parliamentary committee discussions and witnesses have spoken on the topic to a committee at the Department for Work and Pensions.

The elimination of benefit claims and payment delays for the majority of claimants.

But what is a citizen’s basic income?

The level of payments and changes to tax allowances and taxation rates would need to be calculated, but with higher rates of unemployment and the associated poverty forecast, we believe the concept is worth exploring if we are to create a more caring society. If anyone would like to learn more about the topic or if they have productive suggestions, they can contact Mike Dennis at mikedennis_uk@yahoo.co.uk.

It is an unconditional, non-withdrawable income paid automatically to every individual as a right of citizenship.

There are many factors which suggest that the time has come for this idea, and grounds for support include:

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Security for the individual and an incentive to work, encouraging those on low pay to earn more as they would receive all the extra income.

Enabling choice, so citizens could feel rewarded when: caring for children or relatives; participating in voluntary options vital to society but not financially recognised; pursuing education or training; and even exploring creative activities instead of paid work.

Cost savings as it would be cheaper to administer than the current system and easy to automate.

Social cohesion, as the current means testing only applies to the poorer members of society and is therefore discriminatory.Â

31

COMMUNITY NEWS

Natural Flood Management Helen Dobby, area director at the Environment Agency, is really keen to share with readers some of the opportunities and environmental challenges that we find ourselves contemplating as we start 2021.

I am hugely proud of the work of the Environment Agency and its partners, and this new year more than any other has reminded us of the huge responsibility we have to look after our environment. We have seen many reminders of the climate and biodiversity emergencies we find ourselves facing, and we also experienced the health and wellbeing benefits of the nature on our doorstep in 2020. We know that if we don’t stop damaging our stunning, unique and giving world we will see the impacts more frequently and more seriously each year.

The Dartmoor Headwaters Natural Flood Management Pilot is a project we are running in partnership with Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon County Council, Natural England, Highways England, Westcountry Rivers Trust and the Woodland Trust. The intention of the pilot is to trial more natural techniques to reduce flood risk than we are used to.

We want to learn how to apply these techniques to many more locations and projects in the future to help protect properties

Peter Tavy flooding

and save lives. The pilot is due to conclude in March this year, having initially secured funding in 2018. In that time we have used our £834,000 budget to identify areas that would provide the greatest learning: we have conducted surveys of land, habitat archaeology and soil condition, carried out detailed engagement with landowners and community flood groups and installed the trial solutions in a variety of locations across the moor, aiming to reduce flood risk to Buckfastleigh, Peter Tavy, Walkhampton, and Ivybridge. We have also funded a PhD at Plymouth University to help further our understanding of the hydrology of woodlands on Dartmoor.

The techniques we are trialling are more appropriate to use in a landscape such as Dartmoor than the traditional flood walls and storage reservoirs we are used to working with,

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Peter Tavy - Colley Brook catchment

they can also provide much wider benefits, helping enhance biodiversity, restore habitats, capture and store carbon dioxide and improve water quality. By the end of the pilot, we are aiming to have planted 3,000 trees, installed 500 leaky dams, and aerated soils across two river catchments. We have also been working closely with the South West Peatland Partnership team to fund an additional 75 hectares of peatland restoration. These techniques differ greatly from the flood walls and storage reservoirs we are used to building, they are often smaller scale, with many of them each storing a small amount of flood water. They are spread across the upper river catchment to try and tackle the flooding issues at their source rather than when they start to cause damage, and potentially fatalities in communities. The pilot has proven that we can use these techniques in areas which may not traditionally have been able to access government funding for more expensive engineered defences. They can also be used in areas where engineered defences already exist, enabling them to provide a higher level of flood resilience for longer and take account of climate change increasing river flows over time.

It’s fair to say that Covid-19 has impacted work significantly.

It’s been harder to carry out the works in the collaborative manner we had originally intended during the delivery phase, and it has meant we had to stop work altogether for a short period during the first lockdown. However, the learning we have generated has been very useful in helping secure a further allocation of funding to extend the partnership into a new phase of works working on the entire moor, not just the

Walkhampton Common

Buckfastleigh flooding

trial catchment, to do more natural flood management work between 2021 and 2027.

Our area team are keen to hear what you think of the schemes that are already happening in your locality, or to hear your ideas for environmental schemes for the future. The most lasting environmental changes come when we join forces to work together. Our local stories inspire new action and lasting change. To get in touch please email DCISEnquiries@ environment-agency.gov.uk Here’s to a 2021 where we work together to care, share and prepare for a greener future.

Helen Dobby Environment Agency Area Director

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WHAT’S ON

Tavistock Library online events The library is offering a full programme of online events (until further notice) with information on Facebook @ TavistockLibrary, and at www. devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/ tavistocklibrary, including a book group meeting on the first Monday of the month, weekly Bounce and Rhyme sessions, craft events and talks with

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Andrew Thompson looking at the history of Tavistock from prehistory to current times. All information about services available will also be posted on our Facebook page and on posters in the library windows for people not using social media. Contact the library via email tavistock.library@ librariesunlimited.org.uk or ring 612218 for further information.

February 1 February:Tavy Tales Book Group 4 - 5pm

2, 9, 16 February: Bounce and

Rhyme 1.30 - 2pm

March

1 March: Tavy Tales Book Group

2, 9, 16, 23 30 March: Bounce and

Rhyme 1.30 - 2pm

4 March: World Book Day - a

stories extravaganza with stories and poems being shared online by staff and friends in costume all day from 11am to 3pm Three talks before Easter by Andrew Thompson

April 12 April: Tavy Tales Book Group 4 - 5pm

6, 13, 20, 27 April: Bounce and

Rhyme 1.30 - 2pm

Three talks after Easter by Andrew Thompson

4 - 5pm

27 February, 10 & 27 March (restrictions permitting)

Bellever conservation and work parties Volunteers are needed for the regular Bellever conservation work parties held throughout the year. They take place on the second Wednesday and fourth Saturday of the month (Covid restrictions permitting). Dartmoor expert Paul Rendell leads the wonderful team of conservation volunteers on Bellever, carrying out a range of work to protect the moorland site, encouraging biodiversity and managing our treasured

archaeology. The team also maintains the stone wall boundary and non-native species of trees that spread onto the moorland, so there is always plenty to do.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering at Bellever, please email Paul on paul.dartmoor@gmail.com or telephone 01837 54727 to have a chat and find out more. All are very welcome!

BID Events 20 March, Paint the town

28 March – 11 April,

Local businesses, in conjunction with local primary schools and community groups, will create bright and wonderful window displays to bring Tavistock alive for spring. Activities will be taking place on Bedford Square. www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

Another egg-citing and free trail brought to you by Tavistock BID. Collect your sheets from Kaleidoscope, The Visitor Information Centre and the Toy Cupboard, and find all the eggs to earn yourself a goody bag. www.visit-tavistock.co.uk

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Tavistock Easter egg hunt

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WHAT’S ON

Until end of March

Hunting for Harvest Mice nests I​n autumn 2016, Devon Mammal Group began a pilot project looking for harvest mice in Devon. It came to our attention that this charismatic species is under recorded in our county. With just a handful of records we wanted to change this and we would like to survey as many tetrads (10 x 10 km grid squares) as possible in Devon. Devon is a large county, and with over 90 tetrads this is no small challenge. However, we offer training sessions for anyone who wants to learn, in the hope that the new found knowledge will be put to use and more records will come flooding in! We have been running a number of dedicated training days, as well as smaller training sessions across the county, plus Zoom training sessions during lockdown. We have also made a 3-minute YouTube video showing how to look for them, but please don’t forget to let us know

if you find any. Between now and the end of March 2021, while the harvest mice aren’t nesting, it’s a great time to look out for evidence of their nests. If you would like to take part in this year’s search and training, or sign up to the mailing list for updates on how the search is progressing, contact Sarah Butcher at harvestmouse@ devonmammalgroup.org. We also have a Twitter feed and Facebook page @ HarvestMiceDVN. How to look for Harvest Mice: youtube. com/watch?v=nhttOGQriY0&feature=y outu.be

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National Parks Fortnight

Plans are being put in place for people to celebrate National Parks Fortnight which is scheduled to take place from 27 March to 11 April. Covid-19 restrictions permitting, it is hoped people will take the opportunity to enjoy the Dartmoor safely during ‘Discover National Parks’ fortnight. Dartmoor National Park Authority is monitoring the latest coronavirus advice and responding accordingly. It is hoped

A U C T I O N E E R S

that, should restrictions lift or change, some events can be put on for people to enjoy safely within the rules. For the time being, people are encouraged to keep an eye on the national park’s social media pages and website as information will be updated on a regular basis. Alternatively, sign up to receive newsletters with the latest updates at dartmoor.gov.uk.

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Tuesday March 23rd

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WHAT’S ON

Tavistock Local History Society The society, founded in 1984, exists to advance the education of the public in relation to the history and heritage of Tavistock and the surrounding area. In normal times, we usually meet monthly on the second Tuesday from September to April, and during the summer, we organise external visits to places of local historic interest, including an all-day coach trip. However, due to the pandemic our meetings have had to go online. During 2020, we successfully used Zoom to host talks on: ‘The Victorian construction of history and the Drake Statues’ by Andrew Thompson, a society member, archaeologist and historian ‘The remarkable Lady Shelley: socialite, traveller, close friend of Wellington - and visitor to West Devon’ by Clive Charlton ‘On the Road in 17th Century Devon’ by member and leader of the Thorington Collection project Kevin Dickens

Tuesday 9th March 7.30pm (Zoom) AGM followed by ‘A History of the Census’ with Tony Vigars. The census will happen again on Sunday 21st March 2021 and will be online. The 1921 census is the next one due to be released to public view in 2022.

Tuesday 13th April 7.30pm (Zoom) ‘White Horse Hill’ with

‘The Traders of Tavistock’ by Linda Elliott, the author of two books on the past Tradesmen and women of Tavistock, and the ‘Windows in Time’ initiative

Dartmoor National Park Authority archaeologist Dr Lee Bray.

‘Tavistock’s Policing Past’ by member and former society chairman Simon Dell.

activity’ with member Andrew Thompson – heritage consultant, archaeologist and historian.

Our programme for 2021 has been planned with Zoom meetings from January to April, outdoor meetings from May to August, and (hopefully) meetings back in the Parish Centre from September to December. (There will not be a coach outing in June)

2021 programme: Tuesday 9th February 7.30pm (Zoom) ‘Understanding Landscapes

Archaeology at Calstock, Cothele & Bere Alston’ with Chris Smart who is a landscape archaeologist specialising in the heritage of Roman and medieval in Devon and Cornwall.

Tuesday 11th May 7.00pm (outdoor visit) ’The Merrivale Landscape 5,000 years of human

Tuesday 8th June 7.00pm (outdoor visit) ‘Lydford: Burgh, Mint & Stannary Prison’ with Andrew Thompson.

Tuesday 13th July 7.00pm (outdoor visit) – ‘Powdermills:

19th Century Gunpowder Factory’ with Drew Campbell, author of ‘Powdermills – The story of the Dartmoor gunpowder factory’ (2019).

Tuesday 10th August 7pm (outdoor visit) ‘Gunnislake Chapels & Church’ with member Stephen Docksey.

Tuesday 14th September 7.30pm (Parish Centre) – ‘Powdermills:

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

Its History & People’ with Drew Campbell.

Tuesday 19th October 7.30pm (Parish Centre) – ‘Turner in Cornwall & Tavistock’ with Dorothy Kirk.

Tuesday 9th November 7.30pm (Parish Centre) – ‘The Railway to Princetown’ with Brian Poole.

Tuesday 14th December 7.30pm (Parish Centre)Social & Members’ Projects Evening.

All are welcome to try out our Zoom meetings by using the ‘contact us’ link on our website tavistockhistory.co.uk and requesting a link for a particular meeting. Our membership comes from all over West Devon and beyond, and we encourage anybody with an interest in local history to join us. Annual membership is £16. For more information go to our website, or for general enquiries, contact the secretary, Tony Vigars, on 07746 577598 or tony.vigars@ hotmail.com. We have also published a number of booklets, including an index to all 27 of Gerry Woodcock’s ‘Tavistock’s Yesterdays’ and the bestselling ‘About Tavistock’. We are actively engaged in a number of local historical projects, including preserving the Thorington photographic archive, digitising the Ward and Chowen archive, and transcribing and mapping all the burial memorials in Tavistock.

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MUSIC AND ART

Show Up and the Edwin Davis Memorial CIC On April 28th 2018 my husband, Edwin Davis, took his own life by jumping from the viaduct in Tavistock. It was a brutal end to his lifetime battle with a form of bi-polar illness and left me and my four children devastated. Right from that first day though, I was determined to find a way of using this experience to help support better mental health in young people: to try and be part of slowing down the appalling rate of suicide in this country, the biggest killer of men under 45 with an average of 16 men a day finding this their only way out.

But how? I didn’t want to be a ‘fire starter’. One person I approached about setting something up pointed out that most charities started following a death in the family or a trauma, last

18 months on average. Whatever I did, I wanted to have longevity. Over the next year, travelling to meet people who worked in the field of mental health, who had started up their own charitable endeavours, or who were creative thinkers, it dawned on me that I was actually doing work in this field already. I have worked as a teacher in secondary schools for 35 years and seen the impact high-quality arts and drama education can have on young people, their sense of self, and their confidence which has such a profound impact on good mental health. I have also always done outreach work in primary schools. Over the last few years funding for the arts in secondary schools has got smaller and in primaries has, in some cases, pretty well dried up and so I could see a niche for providing this.

But where to get the funding? This is when the seeds of Show Up started to grow. A company that would provide the weekly workshops, the scripts and the productions - as I had done over the last decade - and another company that would provide the funding for this work: the Edwin Davis Memorial Community Interest Company.

On the second anniversary of Ed’s death – d-day as I call it – I handed in my notice at Okehampton School so that I could devote my time to achieving my goal and setting up the two companies.

It was a leap of faith, but one I had to take. I knew that a decent website was my first priority – my calling card if you will. In this digital age it is essential

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to look professional online as this is the first place most people will see you. A business acquaintance and now friend put me in touch with the design company FatCalf Media based in Tavistock, and I met Tim, the director, who immediately grasped what I was trying to do. I invested my own money in this and Tim backed me all the way, giving me a discount and providing not only the name for Show Up and its tagline - all about the drama - but also the fantastic look of the website which really captured the company’s intention.

Check it out!

We met a few obstacles starting as we did in summer 2020: making the films for the website in lockdown was pretty interesting, as for example children in one school had to balance on the edge of a sink to be seen clearly on camera, and stay two metres away; and we had to create a social distanced film studio in my kitchen! But what I learned, very rapidly, was when I reached out to past students, members of staff I was working with, parents and the students themselves, they were only too happy to help and came to support immediately.

Some of what they said about the effect of the drama work they had done with me was deeply moving. In essence, for many, they said, it was what gave them a sense of self and a confidence to be that self. This was what Ed and many like him lose, somewhere along the way, so they don’t have the inner self-esteem that builds resilience in our oftendifficult world. Their words made me

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MUSIC AND ART

more determined than ever to ensure as many children as possible in Devon and beyond would get the opportunities that the Show Up experience brings.

The website was launched on September 12th 2020 and much to my delight donations immediately came in to the linked Just Giving page set up for the Edwin Davis CIC. This money is very welcome of course, and I can’t thank donors enough, however these funds are a drop in the ocean compared with the amounts needed to keep Show Up delivering to schools across the Tavistock, Plymouth and Exeter area who have already signed up. I want to work with schools for a minimum of one academic year because the longer I am part of the fabric of a school, the more profound the impact on students.

I am also keen to expand as much as possible, for example I want to develop digital projects, and I want to train up

another teacher, who I am working alongside at the moment so we can double delivery by next year. My weeks are now spent delivering workshops for four days and seeking out funding wherever I can in the remaining time. I am not yet a registered charity so can’t apply for funding to many of the ‘big boys’ like Comic Relief and Children in Need. As a result, I am looking to local manufacturers, retailers and individuals who see the importance of what I am doing. Any contribution is very welcome and will immediately help one of the schools. These are difficult and unpredictable times for all of us but being part of a community and helping that community is one of the best ways to navigate our own mental health and wellbeing. We all need to ‘Show Up’ for our young people and for each other. I leave you with these thoughts:

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

‘The true purpose of arts education is not necessarily to create more professional dancers or artists. It’s to create more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds and who can lead productive lives.’ (Kelly Pollock 2019) ‘If you think your child’s academic studies are more important than the arts, think again. (Plato 400BC) Harriet Davis

If you are interested, know of any funding streams or just want to find out more, please go to showupnow.co.uk or email harriet@showupnow.co.uk.

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40

MUSIC AND ART

Rocky Shoreline near Godrevy by Shirley Kirkcaldy

Evening stroll, Michael Hill

March to June

Wildwood Arts Exhibitions Organising exhibitions during lockdown is difficult. However, Wildwood Arts will be holding a ‘shared exhibition’, combining a joint exhibition of Michael Hill and Shirley Kirkcaldy’s work, together with the annual Spring Exhibition.

A ‘Shared Perspective’ brings together the works of Michael Hill and Shirley Kirkcaldy, in an exciting collaboration that promises a fascinating insight.

With their individual styles bridging the gap between abstraction and realism, they both remain authentic to their subject matter, focusing on the mood it evokes and their unique perspectives.

From seascapes to landscapes, painted in oil and mixed media, the exhibition will encompass the true essence and energy of the southwest environment:

JO MADGWICK UPHOLSTERY

its changing light, alternative weather conditions and different yet common viewpoints.

Whilst the Spring Exhibition will comprise of Wildwood artists and an array of work bringing the promise of brighter times, with a spectrum of colours representing the Southwest and spring.

The exhibition catalogue and virtual exhibitions can be viewed online at www.wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk from 6th March until June, or in the gallery should Covid-19 restrictions be lifted.

You can also find details of all our artists and their work on the website. In addition, Wildwood is offering a ‘click and collect’ or local delivery service.

Horse among the seed heads, Richard Slater

Sea trout, Michael Moss

A Shared Perspective & Spring Exhibition: March 6th 2021 Featuring new work from Michael Hill & Shirley Kirkcaldy and other Wildwood artists.

View on-line from 06/03/2021 at:

www.wildwoodartsdartmoor.co.uk

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See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

41

FOOD & DRINK

Fruit Couronne Here at Dartmoor Ice Cream HQ, we have spent the winter trialling new recipes including some lovely seasonal baked goodies. We have all enjoyed this recipe, which Roz our inhouse baking guru and farmer’s wife has adapted. The original idea comes from a traditional French recipe. Couronne means ‘crown’, named after its ring shape. It is an enriched sweet bread full of dried fruit, pistachios, flaked almonds and dots of marzipan. We all found it completely delicious and it could be served as a lovely treat for Easter.

Ingredients 145ml milk 75g caster sugar 75g butter 1 egg 1 tsp salt 350g strong white bread flour 2 sachets of dried yeast 30g softened butter Zest of one orange and one lemon 100g cranberries 100ml brandy 50g shelled pistachios 50g flaked almonds 200g marzipan 2 tbsp icing sugar mixed with 1-2 tsp lemon juice

Method Steep the cranberries in the brandy overnight. In a small saucepan, warm the milk together with the butter and sugar, over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. Put to one side until the mixture is cool and then whisk in the egg.

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Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the middle. Add the yeast and milk and combine the dry ingredients into the wet with a fork. Once they are well incorporated, knead the mixture until you have a smooth dough. Put the dough into an oiled bowl and cover with a clean tea towel. Leave for a couple of hours or until doubled in size.

Tip the dough onto a floured surface. Roll out into a large rectangle, approximately 50cm x 25cm. Mix the softened butter with the orange and lemon zests, then spread over the dough using a spatula. Sprinkle with the pistachios, cranberries, flaked almonds. Chop the marzipan into approximately 1cm cubes and dot around the dough.

Roll up the dough into a long sausage and then slice the dough-sausage into two halves by cutting it up the whole length. Turn the cut sides up to face you and then plait the two halves together. Once you have plaited the whole length, create a circle with the dough and squeeze the dough from the two edges together to make a wreath shape.

Line a baking tray with either parchment or greased baking paper and move the couronne onto it. Brush the top with egg wash. Cover loosely and allow to rise for about 40 mins in a warm place.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4 and bake for 20 mins. Reduce the temperature to 160 degrees/gas mark 3, cover with foil loosely and check after a further 20 mins. Bake until golden brown, then transfer to a cooling wire. When completely cool, drizzle with the icing.

If all this is too much effort, we will be selling our own in the Tavistock Farmer’s Market and online!

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FOOD & DRINK

New look, same Arundell The Arundell is an institution and for many almost a second home, not just for locals but for sporting enthusiasts all over the UK. After sixty years in the same family, when new owners Simon Village and Arabella Monro took it on and immediately embarked on a fourmonth refurbishment programme, there was much interest, if not consternation from far and wide. To everyone’s relief and delight the result of the refurbishment is quite simply fantastic.

It’s the same Arundell, with its warmth, hospitality, worn flagstone floors, and feeling of home - only rejuvenated and uplifted with the introduction of gentle, country colours, beautiful fabrics and original yet restored furniture. The outcome is a perfect blend of old and new: simple but comfortable bedrooms each with a Roberts Radio, a stunning wood floor in the bar and the renovated rococo restaurant. However decoration was just the tip of the iceberg, as a complete overhaul of the wiring and plumbing, plus some long overdue structural work was also required, including a new cedar roof on the cockpit.

Looking ahead, the new owners plan to focus on the core ethos of the hotel as one of the UK’s premier sporting institutions providing traditional field sports, comfortable beds, and glorious food. Although the fully-booked 2020

shooting season was cut short by lockdown, guests that did manage to experience the changes, loved them.

Masterchef Steve Pidgeon is back in the newly overhauled kitchen as executive chef and his new menu, with its focus on local and wild ingredients, has been receiving rave reviews. All ingredients are hand selected with an insistence on dayboat-caught fish, wild salmon and venison, with all other meat sourced via Philip Warren. The wine list, procured through vintner Chris Piper, is wellpriced and chosen to complement the food, with a carefully selected reserve list available on request.

With the hotel’s doors currently closed, the focus has turned to the fishing season and filling all 22 miles of the fishing beats - including a new stretch of the River Lyd and membership of the Endsleigh Fishing Club. Each fisherman can enjoy wild, unspoilt fishing on his own mile-stretch of river. Complementing the sporting and culinary aspects, is the new Deli & Vintner. Located in the old schoolroom, it opened on 23 January to provide the local community, fishers and holidaymakers with delicious homemade Arundell products to cook in their own home. Breads, cheeses, charcuterie, pastas, olive oils, dressed partridge breast, venison and premarinated barbeque packs are just

www.thearundell.com See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

some of the products available, together with wonderful soups and sourdough sandwiches to take away. Arundell staff will be on hand to prepack essential holiday hampers for those passing through. While for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, the Arundell chefs will be creating delicious fourcourse dinners so people can enjoy ‘The Arundell experience’ at home.

Lifton • Devon • PL16 0AA

43

BUSINESS

Communities invited to ‘take control’ In England the average house price in 2019 was £240,000 and average earnings were £30,667. However, in Devon the picture is very different. The average house price was £253,000 (5% higher) and average earnings were £26,234 (15% lower) making it much harder for the average person to afford their own home here in Devon. Rent is similarly affected. After paying rent people in Devon have nearly £4,000 per year less than people in other regions to pay for everything else.

The Diverse Regeneration Company (a not-for-profit CIC) has successfully worked with communities over the past 15 years to help meet the local need for new sports facilities, village halls, playgrounds and more. They are now working with Resonance, a social impact investment company headquartered in Cornwall, to continue this work with the launch of a new community asset fund which will put local people at the heart of the process to decide what their communities need most. The new fund is called Resonance Community Developers (RCD) and its purpose is to help communities design and deliver the assets they need, bringing local stakeholders together to address local infrastructure needs such as affordable housing, sports and leisure facilities or renewable energy generation.

Although this is a new fund with a slightly different set of parameters, Resonance has previously worked with community groups in Devon to successfully deliver affordable homes – in Holsworthy and Broadhempston– through their Affordable Homes Rental Fund (AHRF). In Broadhempston a community-led organisation - Broadhempston Community Land Trust - embarked on developing six self-build homes that were completed in 2016. Each household received a 25% stake in the property they built in return for their labour and then continued to pay rent on the remaining portion. Rents were then set at 20-25% below the open market rate for the area, making the homes affordable. A small proportion of

the rent payment each year buys further equity and means occupiers own a little more of their house. Applicants had to prove residence in the parish for the preceding two years (or for five years at some time in the past). They also had to have a total household income of less than £60,000 and commit to regular construction training, completion of their building work on time, and helping others on the site. Around 50% of the self-builders now work in the local community and a community playground is also being constructed.

The RCD is a new, follow-on initiative to the AHRF, and invests capital into community groups which will be structured as ‘Community Benefit Societies’ that can issue community shares. It aims to invest multiple times in the same community groups, with small incremental investment in the early stages leading to larger investments as groups secure land and planning consent and commence the actual construction of homes or sports facilities.

The Diverse Regeneration Company (The DR Company) is expert at working with communities across Devon; from the first initial project ideas through to turning those ideas into reality. DR Company is now encouraging communities to get in touch even if they’re unsure where to start.

Liz Abell at The DR Company says: “This is a very exciting opportunity for our local Devon communities to be a part of, allowing them a real say in the type of project they would like for their area. These projects will help communities become more self-sustaining over the longer term, whilst also supporting those in their local communities who may have little or no choice in terms of existing housing. We are very pleased to be working with Resonance, which has a strong track record both here and across the UK, for successfully delivering these kinds of projects. This is also a valuable means of independent funding, during a time when council budgets are greatly stretched. As such we are really keen to hear from anyone with ideas for their community, either great or small, so we can assess the ideas and help them move forward to a successful outcome.”

Contact the Diverse Regeneration Company by email at community@drcompany.co.uk or visit drcompany.co.uk

44

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BUSINESS

Home of the Mall It would be right to describe Jodie Gray as an entrepreneur, and this is not the first time she has set up a company from scratch. She explains how Home of the Mall came about.

I started a cleaning company when I was twenty years old in the Midlands, so I have always dipped my toes in some business project or other. I ran the business for ten years and, at its peak, employed 20 staff, all whilst bringing up my children. I also created and designed a clothing range for small babies and pregnant ladies. I relinquished these businesses when I moved down to Devon; the move was a great re-set for me. I joined Amano Technologies, based here in Tavistock and met Paul my new business partner. He is director and coowner of Amano Technologies and the technical brain for the new venture. We work well as a partnership - I am more the customer facing part of the business and Paul is the technical wizard.

Our new business is called homeofthemall.com – we wanted to create a name that would be an ‘umbrella term’ for a space where independent producers can sell their goods. It’s a website where small creative businesses can upload their products and sell online. The sales

order is processed through the website and they then deliver those orders direct to the customer. The website specialises in independent businesses that create great products. It appeals to businesses that don’t own their own e-commerce website and gives them a platform to operate from. We also find that businesses that do have their own website also want to be with us, as the traffic and volume of visitors we generate gives their products greater exposure. We wanted to create a platform that truly supports independent businesses, so we only charge our retailers when they sell an item and there is no up-front joining fee. Similar national and international platforms can be very expensive to operate from.

See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

It’s really easy for our clients to upload their products on our simple-to-use content management system, each retailer has their own login and area of the site where they upload their products. At the time of writing, we have over one hundred businesses on the site from across the UK - from Scotland through to Cornwall.

If you would like to see for yourself what Jodie and Paul have achieved go to www.homeofthemall.com, or if you know someone who is creating great quality products then let them know about the site. Jodie and Paul have had the vison to create something that helps small, local, independent retailers and producers. One can’t help wondering what the next project is for Jodie?

45

TRADE SECRETS

Gavin Ayling Senior partner, Ron’s Pet Supplies How did the business start and when did you get involved?

My father, Ron, started the business in Tavistock Pannier Market. He had a passion for pets and as a family we grew up surrounded by all sorts of pets, so after moving to Devon from London it was just a natural thing for my Dad to do to avoid commuting for work. The market was so popular that I started to help him on the busier days, as well as keeping my regular job and being a retained firefighter in Tavistock. In 1999 we opened the shop at West Devon Business Park which is now the main site of the business.

How much training is involved?

The pet business is now a huge industry and there is a lot to know and learn.

Customers rely on us, and it is our responsibility to give them the correct information and advice about the products we sell. Most of our training is done in house with representatives from the companies we buy from. There are also courses available and I would recommend to anyone wanting a career in this industry to do as many of those as they can. We have staff members that have successfully completed the level-3 Animal Management Course which is now a qualification we require if they are working with our livestock.

What products and services do you offer your customers?

We hold a huge range of products for all types of pets, which is actually just a fraction of what is available. So if we haven’t got what you require we are always happy to order it in for you.

One of the services we offer which has been a massive help for our customers is our local delivery service; we now cover a 30-mile radius of Tavistock and beyond if needed with our own vans.

Which pets do you keep at the shop?

We mainly have exotic species i.e. reptiles, fish, amphibians, snakes and sometimes spiders which I personally feel brings something different to Tavistock. It has been a passion of mine for over 30 years, and they draw in a lot of people to visit our store from all over the county.

What would you say to someone thinking of this as a career?

This is so important for those maybe seeking a career in the pet trade.

Honestly, you really need to love working with people first, be prepared to work hard and have a passion for all types of pets. It’s really not just about working with the animals as some people think.

What is the best thing about your job?

I personally love this job for many reasons. Pet retail is not like other retail shops. Our customers are the nicest people ever and have become friends to us over time because we share the same passions. I also like the feeling that we are serving and helping our community. I am certainly blessed.

Your Local Independent Pet Store Great Product Range & Prices Free Local deliveries Serving the good people of Tavistock and surrounding areas for over 30 years

Unit 5 West Devon business Park, Brook Lane, Tavistock & Tavistock Pannier Market Telephone 01822 611110 • www.ronspets.co.uk See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk

47

OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers An easy 4½-mile walk with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers, with great views to blow the winter cobwebs away.

The granite quarries around Princetown were a major source of employment up until the 1930s and a few, such as one at Merrivale, continued until the 1990s.

There was a whole community here with houses for workers’ families, a chapel and a school. This walk, mostly on old tramway and railway tracks, visits the two larger quarries whilst enjoying superb views as far as the sea.

Start at the small parking area at the end of the track to Yellowmeade Farm on the Tavistock to Princetown road almost opposite the old pump house building. (SX567750)

1. Walk along the track towards Yellowmeade Farm with views to the west towards the Cornish hills of Bodmin Moor. Soon, you see two conifers rather out of place in this moorland landscape - this was the site of a row of cottages for quarry workers.

The track to a small quarry on the right is still visible.

Pass the entrance to Yellowmeade Farm and the granite sleepers for the old tramway are obvious as the huge waste

tip (known as Big Tip) for Foggintor quarry grows closer. Opposite Big Tip and the remains of the row of cottages is one of the entrances to the quarry.

If you venture in, take heed of the warning sign as the quarry is flooded.

There are remains of more ruined buildings, loading platforms and spoil heaps before reaching another entrance to the quarry workings. The track is sometimes flooded here but only for a short distance.

Spring is on its way We’re looking forward to welcoming you again soon For more information and to book your visit rhs.org.uk/rosemoor RHS Members go free Your visit supports our work as a charity RHS Reg Charity No. 222879 / SC038262

48

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OUTDOORS AND ACTIVE

2. On a bend, just after the last spoil tip, bear right on a grassy

path towards Swell Tor. Cross a tramway siding in a cutting and then the former Princetown branch line. Continue ahead before taking the second of two grassy paths on the left (another tramway siding) that contours around Swell Tor. 3. Walk above one small quarry and then bear left on a grassy

path just before a lone hawthorn tree. (However, continue ahead for another 100m to reach a high-level viewpoint where you can look down into Swell Tor quarry. From here there are great views towards Plymouth Sound and the bridges over the Tavy and Tamar rivers). Walk down the hillside to meet a further track which bears right towards a ruined workshop building. Here is the main entrance/exit to the quarry workings.

4. Continue past more ruins and loading platforms to reach

a cutting. There is a good view of the extent of the Foggintor quarry ahead.

5. Turn left at the point where we crossed the line of the old

railway on the way out. Retrace your steps back to the start.

one of the best known relics of the quarries. On the side of the track are a row of huge corbels destined for the widening of London Bridge (the one now in Arizona) in 1903 but never delivered.

Tavistock Ramblers normally walk on Saturdays and Sundays and some Wednesdays. Usually there is variety of walks from short strolls to all-day hikes. However, with the likelihood of continuing Covid 19 restrictions there will possibly be some alterations to the planned programme of walks.

The siding meets the Princetown branch line and goes gently uphill around King’s Tor. Just after a bridge, notice the line of the original horse drawn tramway on the left. The curve was too sharp for the later steam trains but avoided the need to dig

Check the Tavistock Ramblers website at www.tavistockramblers.org.uk for the up-to-date situation and for a selection of local self-guided walks to enjoy.

We are planning to re-open as soon as possible A Family Run Hideaway in Devon

LEWDOWN, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON EX20 4PN TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 1566 783 222

EMAIL: INFO@LEWTRENCHARD.CO.UK WEB: WWW.LEWTRENCHARD.CO.UK

49

LOCAL AUTHORS

Mute of Malice by Lou Fletcher Can a tonne of gold ever be forgotten? People have a long memory where gold is concerned. A man’s body is found in a snowed-up cave at Leeden Tor on Dartmoor dressed in an odd selection of ill-fitting clothing. There is no clue to his identity.

Detective Inspector Frances ‘Frank’ Steadwell of Tavistock Police believes the body was arranged after death and that ‘Mister Leeden’ has been murdered. Enquiries uncover a legend about a tonne of Polish government bullion snatched in 1939 ahead of the invading Nazis, and rumoured to have been hidden at an RAF airfield at Yelverton on the edge of Dartmoor. From there it was lost when the airfield was decommissioned. Frank believes Mister Leeden was murdered in his quest to find this gold. The elderly Selena Leigh may

know more about the gold than any living person but is a sullen mute and unable to communicate, and enquiries are further frustrated by Selena’s psychologist, Professor Caroline Cory. Frank is also plagued by the scheming private-eye Abi Cantrell who has her own agenda for Mister Leeden’s corpse.

The arrival of the ruthless Colonel Kowalski of Polish military intelligence adds credibility to the horde’s existence. There are too many people interested in the gold and a race is on to find its whereabouts. Then the murders begin. Who was Mister Leeden? Did he want the gold for himself or another? Is there a key to unlocking its hiding place? Frank Steadwell uncovers the truth which leads from child cruelty, through wartime blackmarketeering, to nationalistic ambition and murder. Twisting and turning, the story ends with a startling conclusion.

Lou Fletcher served as a policeman in Tavistock in the seventies before retiring in 1997. He now lives in Whitchurch and is a member and past chairman of the Plymouth Writers’ Group. Other novels in the Steadwell series are The Drake Effect and The Trinity Key; a fourth novel, An Untouchable Silence, is also in the pipeline. For more details go to plymouthwritersgroup.uk/2014/10/09/lou-fletcher.

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BOOK REVIEW

Book recommendations for winter & spring

By Katya Church of Book Stop, Tavistock

The Thursday Murder Club

By Richard Osman Richard Osman’s bestselling debut novel is an absolute joy to read from start to finish, and the ideal companion for the chilly days and nights still ahead of us. Set in a retirement village in Kent, we are introduced to Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Ron and Joyce - an unlikely group of friends who meet weekly to discuss and attempt to solve cold cases. Their meetings have remained purely in the hypothetical realm until a murder takes place in the village, and the friends spring into action to aid and often surpass the police in their enquiries. Hilarious, clever and often very touching, The Thursday Murder Club proves Osman to be a wonderful new voice in crime fiction. Penguin, £14.99

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Guidelines permitting, we will maintain our ‘click and collect’ and mail order service throughout

Baracks presidential memoirs; £35

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Wonderful new fiction. Which life will Nora choose from the library? £16.99

Entangled Life by Merlin

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Fascinating read about the secret life of fungi; £20

The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey Recently announced Costa Novel Award Winner 2020; £9.99

The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk

by Natasha Farrant Recently announced Costa Children’s Winner 2020; £7.99

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51

HISTORY

Hallsands: a predictable disaster Hallsands was once a lively fishing village but now lies in ruins.

In the 1890s, Hallsands was a thriving village with 159 people living in 37 owner-occupied houses. The village was perched on the 25ft wave cut fossil platform backed by a cliff, protected from the sea by a wide expanse of shingle beach, where their fishing boats were beached. Tucked in to the east of Start Point, Hallsands was well protected from the prevailing southwesterly winds and storms. There was a grocer/baker, post office and pub – The London Inn. The main occupation was inshore fishing, but dairy products came from local farms, with the butcher visiting from Torcross. Even during storms like ‘The Great Blizzard of 1891’ the village suffered little damage, due to the protection of the shingle beach.

All that changed in 1897, when Sir John Jackson was appointed to construct the new Devonport North Dock Yard. He decided to source the shingle needed to make the concrete from the Start

52

Bay area, offshore between Hallsands and Beesands. Dredging commenced immediately, without prior consultation or warning. The first the villagers knew was when the dredger arrived offshore.

They protested vehemently via the Devon Fisheries Committee and to local MP Frank Mildmay, concerned at the loss of their fishing grounds and the protective beach. Sadly, the shoreline landowner Mr Cole had agreed to it, and the area below high-water mark was controlled by the government. Eventually Sir John agreed to pay the village £125 a year for the loss of the fishing, with a further £200 at Christmas. Sir John reassured them the beach would replenish naturally in time. The villagers continued to press for the dredging to be stopped, so Sir John appointed Captain Vereker to investigate - a report was made to the Board of Trade which has, suspiciously, since been lost. In all 60,000 tons of shingle was removed.

On New Year’s Day 1902, the frustrated fishermen surrounded the dredger - eight days later the licence was withdrawn and dredging ceased.

much damage. An area in front of The London Inn became a huge water-filled void. Luckily there were no fatalities but much work was needed to repair the houses and some villagers were left homeless. Besides Frank Mildmay and Mr H Ford of the Devon Fisheries committee, the villagers enlisted the help of Plymouth engineer and geologist Richard Hansford Worth to construct new sea walls. Hansford Worth made a detailed study of the whole area.

By analysing the shingle from the beach, he demonstrated it would never replenish as it was a ‘fossil’ beach from interglacial periods. To demonstrate how great the loss was, he used before and after photographs. Eventually some compensation was paid by the government. The greatest help to the villagers was a fund set up by the Western Morning News. This enabled the building of four new homes on the cliffs near the coastguard cottages. For some years, life returned to pretty much normal for the villagers, although the beach was much lower and narrower than it had been before the dredging.

However, it was too late to prevent disaster. Southeasterly storms in February 1903 and the winter of 1903/1904 washed over the village, destroying several houses and causing

On 26th January 1917 there was another violent southeasterly storm, which, although Hansford Worth’s wall held, overtopped the houses. With water pouring down their chimneys, and doors

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HISTORY

and windows caving in, many thought they would die. Some managed to escape via the rear of their houses and scramble up the cliff to safety. This time, only the Prettijohn family house, highest up the path out of the village, remained intact. Again, amazingly, no one died, but most were homeless; and their way of life was destroyed along with their homes. Help continued to come from Frank Mildmay, Mr Ford of Devon Fisheries, R Hansford Worth, and the Western Morning News, who again set up an appeal for funds.

The authorities dragged their feet over funding and building the promised Fordworth Cottages in North Hallsands.

Eventually, they were ready for occupation in 1923 but were to remain in the ownership of the local council, so the villagers had to pay rent. This was

not a good outcome, as the villagers had all owned their houses. In the six years they had waited, many lived in the ruined village or doubled up with friends and relatives. The three Trout sisters were more enterprising, and built a hotel on the cliffs, which opened to guests in 1925. The last of the sisters died in 1975, when it was sold and became holiday flats. Until their deaths in the 1960s the Prettijohn siblings lived in the last remaining house in the old village. It too became a holiday home.

Since the loss of the village, the sea has continued to erode the coastline.

Little shingle remains in the immediate vicinity of the old village, and at Greenstraight it continues to be eroded.

The road at Greenstraight was also destroyed by storms in 2014. Without the protection of the beach the cliffs are

rapidly eroding, with the area in front of the Trout Hotel badly affected. A large landslip in 2012 made the old viewing platform unsafe and undermined the outhouse of the old Prettijohn house.

Years ago, the path to the old village was declared unsafe and the South West Coast Path route has been moved further inland. With coastal erosion it seems likely the cliff-top buildings will fall into the sea. This sorry tale of coastal mismanagement arose because, for economic reasons, Sir John Jackson used dredged shingle for the concrete rather than gravel from pits. Nowadays we are better informed and understand the impact of beach loss and climate change, but once again, Hallsands may be sacrificed for financial reasons if the money required to halt the erosion is not forthcoming.

Ursula Myers

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53

TECH HELP

Tech tips from Chezvous PC If you subscribe to Microsoft 365 – what used to be called Office 365 - and you have multiple users, you will have noticed that you see each other’s documents. This is not brilliant, particularly in an office environment. In order to change this, the owner of the subscription needs to ‘share’ Office with you rather than you ‘using’ one of their installations. From their Office account they ‘share’ with you to an email address. Once the email is received, the new user needs to have or create a Microsoft Account. That will then enable you to use what they share, in your own right, but keep other files separate from each other.

Winzip and WinRAR are programs that I regularly see on computers. They are 3rd party programs that do the job of software ALREADY on your computer to compress a folder and its contents for transmission usually by email. You may even end up paying for it after a while, unnecessarily. Folder compression was built into Windows a very long time ago – simply right click on the folder you want to compress and choose ‘send to’ then ‘compressed (zipped) folder’ and

Windows will do it for you. When you receive a compressed folder just right click on it and choose ‘extract all’, then follow the wizard.

Wi-Fi printers are very useful, but really frustrating if you cannot get them to work as intended. The first issue is where it can go in the house. My rule of thumb is quite simple – same room, no problem; one room away and it will work well, but two rooms away is often asking too much of it, especially if you add in granite walls etc. Unfortunately, the transceivers in printers are never as good as they might be in our computers, so it does not always follow that ‘my computer works so why not my printer?’ You can always set it up in the same room as the router and then move it to where you would like it to be, then you will soon know whether it works. There are also repeaters and extenders you can employ to improve the Wi-Fi at distance if you really can’t change the printer location.

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Holiday Company Helpful Holidays 7 Home Furnishings / Upholsterers Jo Madgwick Uhpholstery 41 Hotels & Inns Lewtrenchard Manor 49 The Arundell Arms Hotel 43 Laundry Services The Laundry Cupboard 55 Letting Agents M&B Lettings 2 Museums The Box 36 Nursery Schools Bambinos Ltd 24 Osteopaths Philip Hartnoll Osteopath 12 Oven Cleaners Cook IT CLean 57 Pet Supplies Ron’s Pet Supplies 47 Plumbing, Heating & Boiler Services Clearbrook Plumbing and Heating 57 Pond Maintenance Dartmoor Pond Services 20 Private Water Engineers AquaTech Water Services 56 Religious Groups Tavistock United Reformed Church 53 Residential Parks Berkeley Parks 30 Solicitors Chilcotts Law 26 Curtis Whiteford Crocker Solicitors 40 Stoves & Fireplaces CBL Stoves 56 Tree Surgeons Adam of Eden Tree Care 20 Countrywise Tree Care 20 Red Squirrel Tree Care 21 The Stumpman 19 Window Repairs & Glazing Moorview Glazing 57 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Orchard Conservatories, Windows & Doors 46

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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.

Aerial Services YelTV Art Tavistock Picture Framing Gallery Wildwood Arts Auctioneers & Valuers Eldreds Auctioneers Bathrooms Easy Bathrooms Plymouth Tavistock Bathrooms & Tiles Bed Retailers Tavistock Beds Book Shops Book Stop Bridal Shops Two for Joy Bridal Building, Maintenance & Repair The Handymen Building/Construction Timber Store Uk Ltd Business Services Tavistock BID Care Homes Bethany Christian Care Home West View Care Home Carers / Home Helps Day and Nightcare Assistance Devon & Cornwall Care Services Sante Care at Home Home Instead Senior Care Carpet Retailers Tavistock Carpets Yelverton Carpet Company Chartered Surveyors Balment Keep Ltd Computer Maintenance Bere Computing IT Consultant Chez Vous PC Decorators Gemma Harvey Decorating Nick Massey Painter & Decorator Dental Practice Andrew Brown Dental Practice Dog Grooming Dial a Dog Wash Domestic Appliance Repairs G P Service

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