November 2016

WOODBURY NEWS

NOVEMBER 2016

ALL BUILDING JOBS CONSIDERED

Woodbury Village Hall 2

R. Miller & Son Painters and Decorators THORNS COTTAGE, WOODBURY

Tel: Woodbury 233773 All work expertly carried out under personal supervision.

Woodbury Salterton Village Hall Hall –Tables and Chairs, Well equipped kitchen with cooker and fridge, crockery and cutlery inclusive in hire.

Modest Rates.

For bookings please contact:

Pat or Gill Bricknell 01395 232463

Hall and two Meeting Rooms, Fully equipped Kitchen Available for: Dances and Parties Wedding Receptions Meetings and Classes Jumble Sales and Craft Fairs Badminton, Plays, Business Lettings For bookings please contact: Robin or Marian Lennox Tel: 01395 232126 email:- woodburyvh@gmail.com www.woodburyvillagehall.org.uk

NOVEMBER 2016 3

EDITORIAL We hope that children have been busy over the half-term break, and that entries for the December cover competition will be sent in to the Editor by Sunday 30 October (see page 16).

As the year draws to a close, it seems appropriate to remember that the process of producing Woodbury News is due to the concerted efforts of very many people, who all deserve a vote of thanks for their efforts. Whilst the job of secretary is quite rightly a paid position, everyone else gives voluntarily of their time: being a member of the Board of Directors, writing copy, taking photos, editing and distributing. So a big thank-you to all these people for the part they each play.

I hope that readers will agree that the magazine has represented good value for money, not only in keeping everyone up-to-date with past events, but also by promoting future happenings. Please note, however, that as from January 2017, the annual cost of Woodbury News will be £6 - which, at 50p per month, is a bargain!

December Woodbury News will allow space for readers to record Christmas greetings in lieu of sending local cards (closing date 15 November). There will also be the customary information about practical arrangements for the Christmas and New Year period. Clubs and Associations should please submit annual reports of their activities for this edition.

The cover photo and those accompanying the article about apple juicing on page 9 were provided by Chris Sheppard.

We hope to be able to distribute the Holiday Issue of Woodbury News before Christmas, so the closing date for copy is 6 December.

Woodbury News is a Private Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5263356 Secretary: Karen Squires, Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT. 233299 Registered Office: Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT. Tel: 233299 Chairman: Peter Payne, ‘Harsley’, Toby Lane, Woodbury Salterton. Tel: 232394 Editor: Mrs Sue Bury, Mayflower Cottage, 37 Greenway. Tel: 233753 Deputy Editor: Mrs Val Arndt, Castlehaye, Castle Lane, Woodbury. Tel: 233175 Subscriptions: Mrs Anna Crafer, 15 Haymans Orchard, Woodbury. Tel: 232007 Circulation: Mrs Beverley Simcox, 2 Beeches Close. Tel: 232858

ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH, WOODBURY Vicar: Reverend Karen Spray. Tel: 01392 877400 4 email: church@Revdkaren.org.uk Associate Minister: Reverend Christopher Cant. Tel: 01395 488178 email: chriscant@tiscali.co.uk SERVICES - November 2016 Sunday 6 November 3rd Sunday before Advent, 11.15 - All Age Eucharist with Baptisms. Sunday 13 November Remembrance Sunday 10.55 Eucharist, 14.45 Remembrance on the Green. Sunday 20 November Christ the King 11.15 - Eucharist, 18.30 Evensong. Sunday 27 November Advent Sunday 08.00 - CW Said Eucharist, 11.15 Mission Community Service to mark Revd Chris Cant’s retirement, followed by a Soup and Ploughman’s lunch. 18.30 Mission Community Advent Carol Service at Farringdon.

Wednesday 30 November St Andrew’s Day 09.30 - Patronal Eucharist at Exton followed by breakfast.

Morning Prayer every Monday at 09.15.

NEWS AND EVENTS Lych gate stall in church, 5 November, 09.30-11.00.

Woodbury PCC Monthly Draw September’s winner - Mrs Margaret Batten. Draw made at the Charity Coffee Morning third Tuesday each month. Prize each month ranging from £25 to £500. Details from Donoveen Tel. 239363.

FLOODLIGHTING ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH (dusk until 23.00) 14 September Celebrating 53rd Wedding Anniversary of Margaret and Clifford Marks. Many congratulations.

18 October In memory of darling Ivor, with much love from Pam Stuart and family.

22 October Happy Birthday to Pam Rose-Casemore and her twin sister Brenda, with best wishes from John, family and friends.

1 November All Saints Day, To celebrate the birth of a granddaughter Florence, and a grandson Dylan, for Lin and Colin.

For your special event, contact Mike Jeans 01395 232544, or see the details and book it online at our website: www.whitecrossdevon.org.uk/woodburywith-exton/flood lighting-form.php.

CHURCH ALTAR FLOWERS - NOVEMBER 6 - Mrs C Keep. 13 Remembrance Sunday. 20 - Mrs B Hill. 27 - Advent (no flowers). Many thanks to everyone who helped to decorate church for Harvest Digest available in church or from website www.white crossdevon.org.uk.

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FoSS (FRIENDS OF ST SWITHUN’S) FoSS organised the Autumn Concert in Church on Thursday 6 October, when they were pleased to welcome back 6Exeter Singers directed by Tony Yates.

This was a wonderfully varied concert with 50 members and friends in the audience. Carolyn Keep provided the following review: “The audience at the FoSS concert were promised ‘a varied programme of unaccompanied music and poetry’. The promise was amply fulfilled and gave great pleasure. Conductor Tony Yates held the eight part singing together with his effortless skill and also contributed a delightful 17th century solo.

Matthew Wright’s main task was to give the choir their opening notes and then slot back as a singer, but he found an attractive harpsichord setting to provide suitable accompaniment for Tony and was allowed to demonstrate his expertise on the keyboard in the second half with three short 1937 pieces by Matyas Seiber. Three Hungarian folk-songs by this composer featured in the first half.

The choir pieces ranged through from the 16th century to the 20th and included madrigals, renaissance and romantic works as well as modern jazz and ‘pops’; indeed something for everyone. The accurate and beautifully controlled singing of the choir was particularly evident in a piece for two choirs by Heinrich Schutz. This was also one of many items sung in a language other than English; translations from French, Latin, German and Russian, provided in the programme by Ted Neather, were a great help for a full appreciation of each text and the choir’s interpretation of it. A set of three poems was read by choir members in each half, providing welcome breathing space for them and an enjoyable change for the audience. With a convivial interval for conversation, everything combined to form a delightful evening, as well as raising funds for FoSS.”

WOODBURY NEWS CLOSING DATES 2016 15 NOVEMBER To include details of events planned over the Christmas period, Christmas wishes, Church services etc.

6 DECEMBER Holiday Issue - To include annual reports from Clubs & Societies.

ALL MATERIAL FOR THE MAGAZINE SHOULD BE SENT TO KAREN SQUIRES, WILLOWFIELD, OAKHAYES ROAD by 19.00 on the closing date, with a name and telephone number, or email to karensquires100@gmail.com

WOODBURY CAMERA CLUB CALENDAR

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The Woodbury Camera Club Calendar for 2017 will soon be on sale, containing this and other interesting photographs of Woodbury. Copies are available from Sue Hudson (232203 email suejhudson@btinternet.com), Mike Jeans (232544 email mike@jeansy.org) or any member of the Camera Club.

We expect the price will remain the same at £6 per copy and it might be an idea to pre-order, contacting the above members.

OPENING UP TO GOD This course of Quiet Prayer draws on a range of Christian traditions.

It is open to anyone wanting to develop their relationship with God in the company of others. · Learn new ways of listening to God. · Explore and practise different modes of prayer. · Find and refine your own style of spirituality.

Sponsored by the White Cross Mission Community.

19.30 to 21.00, Woodbury Church Rooms 1 November, 6 December Open to all, free of charge.

For further information please contact Carolyn Keep 01395 232318.

WOODBURY CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS After just over two years the Charity Coffee and Cake Mornings celebrated 8 a cake, which was shared amongst raising £5,000 for local charities with those in attendance. On the same day, we also raised £156 to 'Help Izzy Walk'. Although Izzy doesn't live locally, John, Janette and Andy Bennett, who are all related to her, live in the village.

Izzy has Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia which results in pain and difficulty with leg movements, co-ordination and balance. This means she cannot walk or stand unaided. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a life-changing complex spinal operation that permanently reduces or eliminates stiffness and spasticity in the legs. This should improve her range of movement and, with intensive physiotherapy, strengthen her muscles and hopefully give her the opportunity to walk. Unfortunately, SDR is not currently available under the NHS. In order to pay for surgery, travel and accommodation costs, prolonged intensive post-op physiotherapy rehab and equipment to build a mini home gym, over £80,000 is required. Andy recently cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End to help raise funds towards this target, so we thought that a coffee morning was the least we could do. When our donation was included on their JustGiving page, we pushed the total above the £70,000 figure.

John Bennett is shown receiving the cheque from Vicki Weatherburn and Anna Crafer, who is holding the '£5,000' cake.

WOODBURY COMMUNITY ORCHARD Woodbury Community 9 Orchard held their annual apple juicing weekend on 8 and 9 October. As ever, we are very grateful to Bryony Giles for the use of the family barn and orchard to hold the event. This year we had lots of support from new members and villagers who brought boxes and bags of apples to crush - the weekend was mostly sunny and it was great to see so many children, harvesting and helping crush the apples, then enjoying the juice. Our new press can be hired out for a small fee, and if you want to see more beautiful images of the event, please look at our Facebook page. It was very special this year to be able to use a good amount of fruit harvested from the new trees planted in the Community Orchard on Town Lane - such a huge variety of shapes, sizes, colours and flavours.

Another twist of taste was added by Ken Crundwell who made an excellent grape and apple juice this year.

Our next event will be the winter wassail, and the AGM (dates to be announced).

1ST WOODBURY GUIDES

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On Saturday 15 October girls from the village Guide Unit joined another 30 Guides from Exmouth Division for a trip to Bristol. In the morning they had a fantastic time at ‘Airhop’ which is a huge indoor arena of trampolines where they could bounce around to their heart’s content. They also played dodge ball on trampolines, had fun in the foam pits, competed on the battle beams and attempted the Wipeout zone.

In the afternoon we visited At-Bristol Science Centre which was a very hands-on experience; the animation zone, where they were able to create their own video, was a great hit.

WOODBURY LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY The History Society held an exhibition in the Village Hall on Saturday 15 October in which were displayed pictures and documents of over 50 buildings in the parish. Recent laminated photographs of the properties as well as the oldest ones available were shown in A4 size. Folders held further pictures and copies of documents, as well as concise histories of the houses and cottages (which included the three churches and two schools of the parish). The photographs were laminated and compiled by Roger Stokes, and the folders and histories by Gill Selley.

Small models of cottages in Woodbury Salterton, made by the schoolchildren, were also on display. A variety of books and booklets were available for sale with some free publications also, as well as copies of Pippa Thompson’s beautiful map of the parish (the original of which hangs in the Village Hall).

Cont’d/...

The Society would like to thank all the volunteers for their help on the day, and also members of the Camera Club who took several of the pictures. And finally, a special thanks to Woodbury 11 Park, the Maltsters, the Diggers Rest, and Darts Farm for their very generous raffle prizes of vouchers for meals.

All the photographs and folders will be stored in the Reference Library and Archive room in the Village Hall, so that anyone who was unable to come to the exhibition and is interested in looking at particular ones will be welcome to do so. This library is open to all parishioners to look at maps, books and documents – if you wish to visit it please contact Gill Selley on 232208.

Photo left - Gill Selley and Roger Stokes

Congratulations to Gill and Roger for a really interesting exhibition. Editor.

SEE WOODBURY ONLINE

www.woodburydevon.co.uk

WOODBURY GARDEN CLUB While it would be nice to have our own orchard, most of us have only a 12 of space however doesn’t mean you small patch of garden to plant. Lack can’t grow fruit, as David Rawding proved to us at our September meeting.

Most soft and tree fruit will clamber up walls or grow in miniature form, so that even the smallest garden can produce fruit. Almost anything can be grown in a pot, even a few raspberry canes attached to a support. Dwarf fruit trees are brilliant in pots but do need extra feeding at certain times.

Most fruit trees are grown on rootstock and dwarf fruit trees are those grown on rootstock that restricts growth to around 2m. When choosing a tree to plant, make sure you know your soil, because the quality of your soil will ultimately determine the size of your tree. By using dwarf trees you can make use of walls, trellis and fencing and all trees can be coaxed into various shapes to save space. We were given much detail on rootstocks and how to achieve fans, espaliers, cordons, dwarf pyramids and stepovers. By 'nicking and notching’ (not enough space to explain!) any shape can be achieved.

Bush fruit can be dotted through borders. Establish a good framework and the tree will reward you with fruit.

To maintain that good framework, you must prune regularly, both in summer and winter. Some simple advice would be to take out the dead and diseased twigs or branches and all those that cross over. We were given advice for pruning from a ‘whip’ (an unbranched young tree up to about 3 feet in height and 2-3 years old, ready to be planted out) to a well established tree. During all the advice David gave, one felt that 'practice would make perfect'. It is a skill that needs to be learned! Our evening ended with advice about how to deal with diseases and some slides to illustrate. This was a comprehensive talk from someone who has had years of experience working in agriculture.

Our next meeting is on 8 November when Chris Britton will be talking about High Garden Nurseries Trees and Shrubs, 19.30 in Woodbury Village Hall.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COFFEE MORNINGS 10 & 24 NOVEMBER. 8 & 22 DECEMBER. 10.00 - 11.30, RBL ROOM behind WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL * Please note 24 NOVEMBER IS TO BE HELD AT HEATHERDENE, BROADWAY * All are invited to join us on alternate Thursdays.

SEE WOODBURY NEWS ONLINE - www.woodburynews.co.uk

WOODBURY TENNIS CLUB The Tennis Club is still operating. Club sessions take place on Sunday 13 and retired folk on Wednesday mornings, ladies on Tuesday afternoons mornings. In addition the Mixed Winter League team is playing in the East Devon Winter League Division 5. So far five matches have been completed: two wins, a draw and two losses. At time of going to press the team was in second place. Helen Ryland, as captain, has managed to select a good number of members to play in the team, providing them with valuable experience.

New or returning members are always welcome; please contact Pat Browne (232805) (ruthandpatb@aol.com) or Jackie Clarke (232832), or come to the courts on Sunday 10.30 when club sessions take place. Occasional use of the courts can be arranged, key from Pat or Jackie, £4 per court per hour + £5 key deposit; however for regular players it is cheaper to become a member.

WOODBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER, 10.00 In the RBL Room.

Tea/coffee and biscuits available.

Followed by the placing of the World War I commemorative plaque by the tree on the village green.

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER, 11.00.

At the War Memorial on the Green With Woodbury Church of England Primary School ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE SERVICE ON THE GREEN SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER, 14.45 Followed by a short service in St Swithun’s Church.

WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION PROGRESSIVE SUPPER SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER £15 members. £18 non-members.

Contact Nita Goffron on 232314 or Jan Owen on 232694

WOODBURY SCOUT AND GUIDE HUT In July, a busy year for our popular and enduring Woodbury Scouting and Guiding groups came to a close, and 14 a busy summer at the Scout and Guide hut kicked off. Rapidly increasing subsidence in the floor levels of the kitchen and adjoining store room since the previous winter led to the discovery of a serious rot problem in an ageing and decaying building due for replacement. So our poor old hut had to undergo some major repair work over the summer, to keep the building running until it can be replaced.

These works were made possible through the co-ordinated efforts and contributions of a number of people, businesses and Woodbury Parish Council, including a £3,000 grant from Devon County Council’s Investing in Devon fund – special thanks go out to Councillor Bernard Hughes for his support of our application!

Day 1, first section - where the builder’s foot went through…

Some of the kit

and all the caboodle

Chris Pope of Woodbury Property Maintenance undertook the works, lifting and clearing all the rotten timber, investigating the extent of the rot and damage below, rebuilding the affected foundations with timber and blockwork, shoring up the internal wall between the kitchen and store, and laying new floors.

Graham Joyce removed and disposed of the mass of rotten timber, trimming the cost of landfill fees from the final bill.

Everything was finished to a high standard using materials purchased with monies available from the Small Change Fund Raising to which the Scouting and Guiding groups have been contributing, as well as donations of materials from local businesses. Paul Gover made contact with Bradfords, Buildbase, and Market Carpets of Exmouth asking for their help, and all were happy to contribute.

The hut committee acknowledges their generosity and thanks Bradfords and Buildbase, and particularly Dean Jones of Market Carpets (the model of customer care and helpfulness, charitable15 donation notwithstanding).

Contact with the Par is h Cler k regarding the overgrown state of the grounds to the rear of the hut brought a rapid response in the shape of Charlie, handyman for the PC, along with Councillor Pat Bricknell, strimming away the thick growth of nettles and brambles.

This allowed a committee member to sever and remove the ivy from that face of the building (and the rear of the Scout store). After Chris Pope had finished the initial survey and part of the repairs, it was very clear that the nature, age and location of our building isn’t helping its survival. Removal of the kitchen units showed that the rear walls are also becoming damp through and through. The ageing and porous timber construction is without a proper damp course all round; on one side, during winter and spring, it effectively sits in a puddle at the bottom of a wet slope; there is regular overgrowth of vegetation to the rear, including ivy running up the rear of the building: this all holds and generates damp, damp, damp.

The final steps in the last two weeks before the autumn school term began were to lay the new flooring vinyl donated by Market Carpets (Sandra Joyce and Emma Taggart); reinstall the store room fixtures and fittings (Guide and Brownie dads Graham Joyce and Paul Stevenson); refill these with the unit supplies and equipment (unit leaders helped by committee members and parent helpers); refit the kitchen units and appliances (Chris Pope); refill the kitchen cupboards and drawers; reconnect cooker and fit new extractor fan in kitchen (Baker Electrical Limited); and finally give the whole place a thorough clean (thank you committee member Julie Owen) before the children and their unit leaders came back for the new term. PHEW! Cont’d/‌

WOODBURY SCOUT AND GUIDE HUT Cont’d/...

The next pressing works must be 16 to replace the leaking and increasingly vandalised Scout unit store to the side of the hut as soon as possible, before more damage makes it completely unviable as a secure and weather-tight store.

The metal roof leaks regularly, due to vandals running around on it, and the prefabricated walls are being regularly broken and kicked (?) in.

In theory both these buildings and the football and tennis pavilions will be replaced within the next decade by a ‘super-building’ to house all of these concerns and potentially Maytree Pre-School as well. This needs the final part of the WCPF plans to come to fruition in the next five to ten years. In the meantime it’s going to take regular fundraising and TLC involving a mix of volunteers and professionals to keep the hut running and up to scratch.

Scouting and Guiding is alive and well in Woodbury, and deserves facilities to match. The home base for all the units also needs parental interest and support.

These organisations do offer a lot to our children at a personal and social level, and it is all done through the goodwill and time-consuming efforts of dedicated volunteers. So if you have a son or daughter involved in one of the groups - or even if you don’t, but remember your time in scouting or guiding with affection - then giving a little time, energy or money towards the maintenance and running of the hut when needed would be a valuable and appreciated contribution to our community.

Sandra Joyce

CALLING ALL CHILDREN IN WOODBURY, WOODBURY SALTERTON AND EXTON You could win a book token by designing the cover for the December 2016 edition of Woodbury News.

Please submit your design on an A4 sheet and deliver or post it

by Sunday 30 October to the editor, Mayflower Cottage, 37 Greenway, Woodbury EX5 1LU The Competition is open to any child living in the Parish.

WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION On 10 September, the Exmouth Archers hosted a group of Twinning Association members for an archery 17 session. It was a lovely day which everyone enjoyed very much and which brought out the inner 'Robin Hood' and 'Maid Marion' in all of us! After a few false starts, we soon got the knack of it and became more confident. After a coffee break halfway, some members were even able to hit balloons which had been pinned to the targets, raising cheers from everyone else! The session was followed by lunch in The Salterton Arms in Budleigh, rounding off an altogether enjoyable morning.

We will tell you all about our Dad's Army event next month. Please make a note of our next two events. The first is our Progressive Supper on 19 November, followed shortly afterwards by a group visit to The Norman Lockyer Observatory on Thursday 1 December. To come to either or both of these events please contact either Nita Goffron on 232314 or Jan Owen on 232694.

Editor’s Note : In order to maximise submitted copy and photographs into Woodbury News, it may be necessary to reduce the size of some items.

The Editorial team will attempt to do this as carefully as possible.

WOODBURY WOMEN’S INSTITUTE In the absence of the president, Pauline Jackson led the October meeting, when Bill Lodge, Pat Atkinson and18 Fiona Cotter gave us an interesting and informative talk on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. They described it as 'the charity that saves lives around the coast of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man as well as on some inland waterways’. The charity was started by Sir William Hilary. He went to live on the Isle of Man and, being aware of the treacherous nature of the Irish Sea, was instrumental in setting up in 1824 the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. The look-out tower, completed in 1832 in Douglas Harbour, still stands today. In 1854 the institution’s name was changed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution when Prince Albert added his support in 1849.

The first lifeboat to be stationed in Exmouth was established in 1803 and a boathouse built near Passage House. This was washed away in a storm in 1814 and it wasn’t until 1858 that a new one was established near the beach.

The first motor lifeboat at Exmouth arrived in 1933 and a tractor was provided to take it across the road to the beach. The current station, close to Maer Rocks, went into operation in 2009 and houses a Shannon Class all-weather boat and a D Class Inshore Lifeboat. The ramp is wide enough for both boats to be launched at once. The building is very environmentally friendly. The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat and powered by water jets instead of traditional propellers. It is therefore very agile and manoeuvrable.

The RNLI plan to build 50 more of the Shannon class lifeboats and put them into operation around our shores. All the boats are named after rivers.

The Exmouth lifeboat and shore crew consists of about 30 volunteers. The minimum age is 17, with parental consent, and you have to live within one and a half miles of the station. Bill, Pat and Fiona gave us a very detailed picture of life at the station. There is training for navigators, coxswains, first aiders and mechanics. They stressed the importance of the shop and its visitor centre.

Bill Lodge, Pat Atkinson and Fiona Cotter

The shop raises important funds, but there is also a Fundraising Team, a network of volunteers, who raise funds through flag days, coffee mornings, 19 open days and many more activities. Altogether about 90 people work at the station in various ways.

Coastal safety and the work of lifeguards was discussed. Sea safety, use of lifejackets and keeping children safe is all part of the activities covered by the RNLI and there is a wealth of practical, informative and interactive material available. The RNLI is also expanding its international work, in partnership with other organisations which are aware of local conditions, to provide equipment and skills to save lives.

Bill, Pat and Fiona gave us many impressive statistics to illustrate how invaluable the work of the RNLI is for our coastal waters and how many people owe their lives to its existence. Book today, and go and watch one of its exercises or visit the RNLI Museum in Salcombe.

Visitors and potential members are always welcome to our meetings, which take place on the second Thursday each month at 19.00 in Woodbury Village Hall.

FRIENDS OF WOODBURY SURGERY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER 14.30 IN THE CHURCH ROOMS Refreshments available after the meeting

Woodbury Music Hall presents: The Follies THE SHOW MUST GO ON! THURSDAY 24 - SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER WOODBURY VILLAGE HALL, 19.30 Thursday: £8, Concessions £6. (Tea and cake on the night £2) Friday and Saturday: All-inclusive ticket £15 includes cold meat platter and new potatoes or vegetarian option, followed by apple cake.

Tickets available from The Church Rooms only on SATURDAY 5, 12 AND 19 NOVEMBER FROM 09.00-10.30 All proceeds donated to local good causes.

WOODBURY SALTERTON NEWS 20 HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Family Service Fiona Vessey conducted the September Family Service.

Anna Taylor read the story of Noah from Genesis and Fiona then narrated the story from Noah’s point of view. Esme Taylor and Eliza Rooke read prayers they had written.

Chris Cant's Last Woodbury Salterton Service Harvest Festival Family Service at Woodbury Salterton on 16 October was Chris Cant’s last Holy Trinity service before retiring at the end of November.

Chris’s final service before retiring full time will be at St Swithun’s, Woodbury on Sunday 27 November.

Chris with his wife Joanne at the Holy Trinity font

Wedding Dean Bridle and Joanna Priestly were married in our church by Revd Karen Spray on 8 October. We wish them a long and happy marriage.

WHIST DRIVE 15 NOVEMBER, 19.30 WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL

Dean and Joanna Bridle

Quiz Our church annual quizzes are now available. The adult quiz this year is entitled Transportation. After much consideration I have decided to increase the cost to £2 – this is in line 21 with other quizzes I buy for myself to support other charities. This is the 19th quiz I have done and the initial cost 19 years ago was £1, so overall not a bad rate of inflation. I hope people will still be willing to support it. After the costly floor repairs and kitchen renovation we are still almost £500 short of paying for it all so every little helps! The Children’s Quiz, The Christmas Alphabet, will remain at £1 and gives free entry to the Colouring Competition. Quizzes will be available from me or from school or friends who help sell in other churches in our Mission Community.

Katharine Wheeler Remembrance The annual Act of Remembrance will take place at 10.50 at the lych gate on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November, followed by a short service in church.

November Coffee Morning Saturday 5th from 09.30 until 10.30. Come and enjoy a chat and a bacon butty and admire the refurbished kitchen where Geoff Jung will be cooking the bacon to order.

Coffee Morning for Hospiscare Jenny Kemp hosted a coffee morning in her home on 21 September in aid of Hospiscare. Friends, including WI members, supported the event which raised £170 for the Exeter Hospice.

WOODBURY SALTERTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Members were transported to a completely different world at their October 22 about the two and a half years she had meeting when Rosemary Hayball talked spent as a teacher in Papua New Guinea. Arriving at a girls’ boarding school in the jungle in the early 1960s, when she was aged 23, Rosemary and Jan, an Australian, found the challenge of turning what had become virtually a brothel into a school. First they had to keep the native men out! After months of harassment and police who were supposed to guard them but ran away when intimidated, they were given a rifle, ammunition and then a dog. No wonder that, before they started their employment, they had to go to court and swear an oath not to let anyone outside know what was happening in the school.

Education was highly prized among the native girls and they were very keen to learn with the aim of becoming nurses or secretaries. Rosemary and Jan eventually succeeded so well that when the time came for them to leave, parents came to the airport and camped on the runway, moaning and crying, and had to be moved by police. Rosemary told stories of native customs and showed many interesting artefacts.

Thanking her, Brenda Randle echoed the feeling of the meeting that they would like her to come back again and give another talk on such a fascinating subject.

During the winter months the WI will again hold a series of games afternoons Scrabble, Rummikub and Bird Bingo – at the home of President Jenny Kemp.

The first will be on Wednesday 16 November at 14.00 and then on 21 December.

The November Coffee Morning at The Diggers’ Rest will be on Thursday 17 November from 11.00.

The speaker on 9 November at 19.30 in the Village Hall will be Tony Burges on the subject of The City of Exeter Through The Ages. As always visitors are welcome to join us for the evening.

WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL Good and Bad News The bad news first – from December, we will be losing one of our most valued bookings when Little Acorn Preschool prepare to move to their new premises within the Main School. We wish them well. The good news is that the hall now becomes available for daytime rental. New opportunities for the village! Maybe a fitness class? Coffee mornings? Yoga?

Classes? The hall is large enough to seat 60+ people. Over Christmas, we hope to modernise the heating system, renovate the toilets and put in new curtaining. Booking enquiries to Pat or Gill Bricknell 232463.

Stop press: the next always-popular Bangers and Mash Supper date is 14 January 2017.

To all those residents in Woodbury Salterton who will be 70 and older

by Christmas 2016.

23 TRUST THE KERSLAKE This Trust was created on the death of Celia Elizabeth Kerslake on 19 September 1939. Under the terms of her will some shares were left to the Trustees of Woodbury Salterton Church, with the instruction that the income received from them should be distributed among “the old people over 70 belonging to the Parish at Christmas time”.

The Trustees are currently reviewing the list of beneficiaries to arrange this year’s distribution, and will be pleased to hear from anyone permanently resident in the Parish who has NOT received a payment in previous years and who considers they now qualify for such a payment.

Please advise Nigel Dupain, Trustee, on 01395 232953 by 1 December 2016.

CHARITY BINGO WOODBURY SALTERTON VILLAGE HALL WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER AND MONDAY 12 DECEMBER Doors open for the WESC fundraiser evenings at 19.00.

Admission is £10 and includes bingo book and refreshments.

The profits from the bingo evenings will help us fund a new minibus for the All Year Round students and the Adult Day Centre clients to use.

Having the freedom to travel and visit friends or family is something most of us do without a second thought. However WESC’s young people need a specially adapted vehicle to take them for a trip to the beach, horse riding, sailing sessions, ten tors camping, Calvert Trust breaks, church groups, bowling, disability swims, or to visit a friend or join in music and sports groups - in fact so many life enhancing opportunities are only possible with access to specially adapted vehicles and this minibus will enable our students to travel safely to so many more stimulating activities.

Pat Bricknell WOODBURY NEWS to your door …

If you are a new resident to the area, or would like your Woodbury News to be delivered to your door monthly, just call Beverley Simcox on 232858 and she will put you in contact with your local deliverer.

WOODBURY SALTERTON C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL Local Pre-school and Early Years Provision We have officially begun our consultation to lower the age range24of our school from four years to two years old, creating a Foundation Stage Unit from January 2017. As many of you will know, the Little Acorns Preschool is not in a position to continue to operate. As a school we have decided to ensure that the village continues to have local pre-school provision. We will be offering a number of pre-school and nursery places from two years old as part of a new Foundation Stage Unit. Please visit the school website for more information. This is an exciting opportunity for everyone and we will be holding a number of meetings to outline our plans in November.

Before and After School Clubs We’re delighted to offer a comprehensive programme of before and after school clubs this year at school. The children have been enjoying after school sport, Beading Club and Film Club - The Wrong Trousers proved very popular with all ages. We continue to offer a sports-based breakfast club from 08.50 every morning with our partners Premier Sport.

What a team! Our boys’ football team have been out playing really well with lots of passing and good defending. They may not always win games, but they keep positive. Well done team – we’re proud of you! Thank you to Mr Haggerty for supporting the team too.

Farmwise visit Our key stage 2 children attended the Farmwise exhibition at Westpoint Arena. This is a fun event for children to find out more about farming in Devon and learn where their food comes from. The children got to use all their senses to touch, feel and even smell how farms work!

Learning how to be Pet Friendly As part of their work on animals and pets, Class One enjoyed a visit from The Dogs Trust.

They learnt how to look after dogs and how to behave around them. They also practised stroking a dog correctly with the help of life-sized Midnight, the toy labrador.

Let’s Changes Lives with Every Slice This term we are continuing to focus on the value of Generosity and as part of this value the children have been raising money for a good cause. 25 Our year 6 team were excellent hosts for the Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning fundraising event held at school. It was well attended by parents and members of the local community, supporting people affected by cancer. The morning’s event raised over £160.

Cross County Success Well done to all our children who participated in the Bicton Cross Country Race. Our fantastic runners included Brooke, Jonathan, Megan, Sam, Joanie, Libby and Lucie. Well done also to Lucie who won her race.

Bicton Cross Country runners, and Lucie with her medal and certificate

PTA Events on the Horizon Our new PTA committee are busy organising school and community events. Dates for your diary include: Coffee Morning - 17/11/16; Bags2school - 29/11/16; Xmas Fayre - 08/12/16.

If you are interested in finding out more about our school, please visit our website http://www.woodbury-salterton.devon.sch.uk or find us on Facebook: Woodbury Salterton C of E Primary School.

Alternatively, please call our administration team to arrange a visit as we still have places available this year.

Do email your photos of local people or events to Karen at karensquires100@ gmail.com The editorial team still needs a wider spread of news, particularly about our younger people. What are you all up to? Why don’t YOU write an article or send in a photo?

WOODBURY SALTERTON – DUMBUTU LINK Charity no 1088632 Many local supporters have helped 26 at past events so we are asking for some volunteers to help with a bucket collection at Exeter City Football Ground at one of their Saturday afternoon matches. Obviously you need to be able to move around within a designated area and collect before, at half time and at the end. Collecting buckets and tabards are supplied and the Football Club share takings equally between their football charities and WSDL. We have not yet got a date but need to muster enough volunteers to make it viable (up to 20 allowed). Most people cannot commit for an unknown date, but as you can watch the match for free, we hope we will hear from possible collectors, and be able to raise enough help on the day. Every penny collected for WSDL will help impoverished children to get basic education.

Leo Wilson (Chair) wilson.email@tesco.net HOLY TRINITY CAROL SERVICE Advance notice for those of you who like to book the date in your diaries: our Candlelight Carol Service will be on Sunday 18 December at 18.30.

WOODBURY TWINNING ASSOCIATION VISIT TO NORMAN LOCKYER OBSERVATORY THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER, 19.15 AT THE OBSERVATORY £8pp, £4 children.

Contact Jan Owen 232694 to reserve your place.

WOODBURY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER, 12.00-15.00 Stalls available for hire £10.00 each.

Contact Steve 07950 469898 CAROL SINGING AROUND WOODBURY This year this will take place on one evening, 15 DECEMBER STARTING AT 19.30 AT THE ARCH All welcome to sing with the Community Choir or collect for Save the Children.

EXTON NEWS ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, 27 EXTON SUNDAY SERVICES 1st Sunday - 6 November, 18.00 Evening Service.

2nd Sunday - 13 November, 09.30 Eucharist Service. 3rd Sunday - 20 November, 09.30 Lay Led Service. 4th Sunday - 27 November, 11.15 Community Team Eucharist Service at Woodbury, Chris Cant’s farewell service.

Wednesday 30 November is St Andrew’s Day when we shall be celebrating with a special Eucharist service followed by breakfast. Our friends in all community churches are very welcome to join us on this special occasion.

We shall be finally saying goodbye and thank you to Revd Chris Cant and Joanna.

EXTON GARDEN CLUB At the first meeting after the summer break we welcomed Denis Balsdon back to talk about Carnivorous Plants. I’m sure when we think of a carnivorous plant probably the only one we can recall is the Venus Fly Trap. It was surprising how colourful a display the plants he brought made, and there is such a variety not just in colour but in size and shape. The large North American pitcher plants sarracenia were the big dominant ones and by contrast the butterworth plants pinguicula are no bigger than alpine plants.

The sarracenia are best grown in an unheated greenhouse but can also be grown in a bog garden or on a sunny windowsill during the summer; they need sun to make good colour and should be stood in 1-2cm of rainwater if possible. In the winter months they should be in a cold greenhouse. In March and April these will flower and produce new pitchers, if outside this will be later. The petals will fall in about two weeks but the pitchers will remain until the autumn. These attract their prey by coating the lip of the pitcher with nectar, most of it on the lip which is slippery, so they fall in. For most insects there is no way to escape; bumble bees are one exception. The smaller plants like the pinguicula trap their prey, mostly flying insects such as fruit flies and gnats, by secreting a sticky substance onto the surface of their leaves - hence the common name butterworth and the botanical name which means little greasy ones. These are rather like small house leeks and increase by making little plantlets; they have small flowers similar to violas which are produced on and off throughout the year. The best place for these is on a north or east facing windowsill and again should be stood in half an inch of rain water but must be allowed to dry out for a couple of days before topping up.

Our speaker at the meeting in November will be Neil Lovesey to tell us about A Year at Picket Lane, his nursery.

EXTON LADIES GROUP October 2016 As we enjoy these last days of summer we can feel ourselves slipping into autumn; we anticipate28the sharp cold of winter and know that even those who enjoy the short days followed by cosy evenings will be looking forward to spring. The seasons change, the climate changes and so it was tempting to look at the title of our October talk, A Change in Climate and think ‘twas ever thus’! But of course what our speaker Nick Ricketts was actually talking about was the warming of our world, not the rhythmic seasonal changes we are used to.

Climate itself varies, being influenced by a range of factors including latitude and maritime or continental environs. Nick described to us how radiation from the sun can have a variety of fates all of which must be finely balanced. Increases in water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, ozone, nitrous oxide and CFCs all affect the atmosphere to reduce the amount of heat lost from the earth - this is known as the Greenhouse Effect.

Nick provided a snapshot of the evidence that has accrued to show that this Greenhouse Effect is real, is a major cause of global warming and is probably the direct result of human activities.

Bores of ice taken in Antarctica contain trapped air bubbles which can be analysed for CO2 content. This technique has shown that over the last 60 years there has been a 30% increase in CO2 and this directly correlates with increasing temperature trends. Photographs of glaciers around the world demonstrate a reduction in the amount of ice. The area of ice in the Arctic Sea has been determined using satellite imagery and has reduced significantly, particularly since the late 1990s. Other indicators of the veracity of global warming include measured increases in ocean temperatures coupled with an increase in acidity, these having direct effects on the growth and development of corals, shellfish and fish larvae. Autumns seem to be later and springs earlier; someone in our group noted that they actually seemed to merge last year with little evidence of winter. There also seems to have been an increase in severe weather events in recent years: more storms, heatwaves, prolonged droughts and extensive wildfires.

Nick didn’t come up with any answers to what is obviously a global problem requiring international policy decisions and implementation. A major contribution to reducing global warming would be to reduce CO2 output but how many of us would be prepared to give up our cars and our gas-fired central heating? And even if we do use more renewable energy how do we get other areas of the world to do the same? There are no easy answers. The challenge is whether there actually are any answers or is it already too late?

Dates for your diary: 10 November James Cobley will talk about The Work of ShelterBox. 29 Puffing Billy.

8 December Christmas Lunch at the Please book with Pauline Sturtridge.

12 January 2017 TBA More details about the Exton Ladies Group can be found on the Exton village website http://www.extondevon.org.uk/. We usually meet in Exton Village Hall at 14.15 on the second Thursday of the month and you would be most welcome to join us. Please just come along.

EXTON CRAFT GROUP ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, EXTON THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER, 14.00-16.00 with tea and biscuits

EXTON EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY 31 October Halloween Village Walk.

4 November Bonfire Night Celebrations.

14 December Carols Round the Tree.

FILM SHOW WITH FISH AND CHIP SUPPER 11 NOVEMBER IN ST ANDREW’S HALL, EXTON AT 18.30 A most enjoyable evening.

Tickets at £15 each from David Elphick 01392 876909.

ST ANDREW’S CHRISTMAS FAYRE 3 DECEMBER IN THE CHURCH, 14.00-16.00 There will be festive stalls containing something for all ages, a raffle and tombola with many exciting prizes and other interesting activities.

Following these you can rest your feet with an enjoyable afternoon tea.

WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL Greenside, Greenway, Woodbury EX5 1LP 01395 233791 30 woodburyparishcouncil@gmail.com http://www.woodbury-pc.org.uk/

REDUCING THE RISK OF FLOODING IN THE PARISH OF WOODBURY Following the flooding of a number of properties in the Parish in Dec 2015 the Parish Council, through liaison with and assistance of officers at Devon County Council, the Environment Agency and various landowners, has carried out a study of the flooding within the villages to examine the reasons for the flooding and to ascertain if measures can be put in place to prevent properties from flooding in the future.

Who is responsible for what?

Within the Parish of Woodbury, both the Environment Agency and Devon County Council have permissive powers to reduce flood risk to properties.

They both also have responsibilities for consenting to works in and by watercourses. Who is responsible is dependent on the legal status of the watercourse concerned. As the streams flowing through Woodbury and Exton are designated as a ‘main river’, the Environment Agency is the lead flooding authority for the villages of Exton and Woodbury (including the

existing flood defence scheme). The village stream in Woodbury Salterton is designated ‘non-main river’ and Devon County Council is the lead local 31 flood authority in this situation.

Proposed Works at Exton Engineers from the Environment Agency are putting the final touches together for a scheme to help prevent flooding downstream at Exton. A meeting for Exton residents is to be held 10 November (to be confirmed) with work starting hopefully shortly after, and is being funded by the Environment Agency.

Proposed Drainage Work in Woodbury South West Water are responsible for foul water drainage (sewage) and they have proposed a new drainage scheme for various roads in Woodbury to start in the New Year.

Modern developments now keep surface water drainage and foul water (sewage) apart. Unfortunately, previously some developments used the same pipes and the plan is to separate the road (surface water) drainage from the sewage in Summerfield, Parsonage Way, Culvery Close, Mirey Lane and Flower Street. This will prevent rainwater during a storm event mixing with sewage and blowing manholes in the lower part of the village and thus contaminating the outflow into the Exe at Exton.

This exercise may overcome some of the surface water run-off cascading down these roads, but not all.

Proposals for Woodbury Salterton It is recognised that Devon County Council, which has the whole of the county to manage, is under-resourced to establish and manage the numerous elements of a flood scheme in Woodbury Salterton. To enable a cohesive response to the challenge of increasing flood events and to prevent further dwellings being flooded, it has been proposed that a Woodbury Salterton Resilience Group be set up.

It is accepted that the two culverts at the exit of Stony Lane and Honey Lane onto Village Road are unable to handle the volume of water during a flood event, and discussions continue with Devon County Council about widening these culverts, but the costings are at present prohibitive.

It has been identified that the village stream could benefit from various works. A key problem is the ancient law of the ‘Riparian Owner’. The owner whose land is contiguous with a watercourse (which can include drainage ditches) is normally deemed to own up to the centre of that watercourse. They are responsible for maintaining flows and not increasing flood risk. If they need to do any works beyond simple clearance, they should talk to the relevant flood authority for advice.

Cont’d/...

REDUCING THE RISK OF FLOODING IN THE PARISH OF WOODBURY Cont’d/...

32 This piecemeal archaic system of responsibility will never successfully remove the ongoing problems in Woodbury Salterton, as generally the riparian owners are not the victims of the flooding but residents downstream.

Therefore, to harness the willing volunteers and to assist riparian owners and help vulnerable local residents, they have set up a Resilience Group.

An Early Warning It was also identified that some sort of early warning of a possible flood would help residents prepare. Due to the nature of the land it will not be possible to give more than 15 to 30 minutes’ warning, but experience elsewhere has demonstrated to the Environment Agency that this is a worthwhile option.

It has therefore been agreed to fund a rain gauge, to be positioned to automatically warn the vulnerable residents and resilience team members of a possible flood event. The cost of the fitting and maintenance of the unit will come from the Environment Agency at no cost at all to the Parish Council. It is hoped that this unit will be fitted shortly.

SEPTEMBER WEATHER I was surprised to come to a total of 40.7mm (1.60ins and 90% of average) of rain when I did the sums; this came in bits and pieces of drizzle and light rain and did not seem to relate to the condition of our flower beds, how little I had to mow or to the trickle of water flowing down the Gill Brook. Once again the weather systems made land in the West of Ireland and then headed NW to Scotland, just clipping W Cornwall and Wales on the way. Light winds were mainly from the West and temperatures were typical for September with max/mins of 23C/8C. As usual grey squirrels have devastated nature’s crops of sweet chestnuts and hazelnuts with carpets of fruit with pinhead sized kernels now on the ground weeks before any chance of ripening properly; these little critters are nearly as indestructible as us!

PJH The Woodbury News attempts to represent a variety of views within the Community, but does not accept responsibility for anything but Editorial comment. While it may publish unacknowledged material, nothing is included unless the Editor knows the name and address of the author(s).

WOODBURY SALTERTON RESILIENCE GROUP STREAM CLEARANCE 33 Over 30 residents turned out to help clear the debris and undergrowth along the banks of the village stream in Woodbury Salterton on Saturday 24 September. “Woodbury Salterton Resilience Group� was recently set up to help manage the flood elevation measures within the village of Woodbury Salterton, which last December saw two properties damaged severely by surface water run-off.

One of the areas identified is the village stream between the culvert exit at Sages Lea to the culvert at Stony Lane and then onto the bridge on Honey Lane.

The Resilience Group is open to any local resident who wishes to lend a hand in the prevention of flooding or to help out during a flood event. In the future sand bins for sandbags will be provided within the village; further equipment and safety-wear are being ordered and training will be provided for the use of equipment and working on the highway.

If you wish to get involved please contact Geoff Jung (email geoffjung2@gmail.com or phone 01395 232328) who is acting as coordinator for the group during the setting-up of the group.

Woodbury Salterton residents at work on Saturday 24 September

WOODBURY PARISH COUNCIL Agendas for future meeting, and minutes of meetings can 34 be found on http://www.woodbury-pc.org.uk/ ITEMS FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING - 10 OCTOBER A busy meeting with planning issues taking up the bulk of the time available.

Councillors Burgess, Edwards and Pattison were unable to attend.

Planning: A vigorous discussion on a number of these applications, with a reminder by the Chairman and District Councillor Ingham of the PC’s role as consultees. · Darby’s Cottage, Woodbury: Rear Extension. Supported. · Jubilee House, Woodbury (formerly Green Door Restaurant): Retrospective over change of use. Parking concerns. Not supported. · Greendale Business Park Units W. Salterton: Changes to operating hours to start noisy operations as early as 05:30 and as late as 19:00 on units closest to the village. Not Supported. · Meadow Rise, W.Salterton: Lawful Development Certificate. A very long discussion as this site is restricted to use by gypsies and travellers. Change of status may mean that up to three additional gypsy and traveller sites have to be provided within the Parish. No Comment.

District and County Council EDDC Councillor Jung presented plans for boundary changes brought on by population changes in East Devon.

EDDC District Councillor Ingham agreed with his proposals.

DCC Councillor Bernard Hughes advised of a £3000 grant for Woodbury Scout Hut, and £1400 will be made available for play equipment replacement at Exton.

Neighbourhood Plan Cllr Pyne reported that the Built-up Area Boundary consultations had been successful and the majority of residents had accepted the proposals put forward.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR From Gill Selley I would like to congratulate the members of the Garden Club and Royal British Legion on all the work they have done in planting up and maintaining the lovely display of flowers on the Arch, which have given great pleasure.

Thank you.

ROUND AND ABOUT 35 DEATHS We are sorry to report the tragic death of Betty Chambers who died in Derriford Hospital on 17 September aged 79. Betty was crushed between two cars while cleaning hers in Park Close on the 15th. Her funeral was at St Thomas, Exeter on 5 October. We send our condolences to her children, Patsy, Chris and Peter and their children and grandchildren.

A moving Memorial Service was held at St Margaret's, Topsham for Elizabeth Kate Trump (nee Walker), who died in Canberra, Australia on 1 August aged 48. Ellie lived in Gilbrook as a child and attended Woodbury playgroup and school.

THANK YOU To John Allen, who has been our postman for the past twenty-five years at Woodmanton, Woodbury, through thick and thin and personal adversity.

He has been unfailingly helpful and has never once complained about the long wet grass leading to our front door or the rusty gate which for so many years defied easy opening! We shall miss him and we wish him a full and very happy retirement.

Dawn and Ian Perkins Nancie Grist wishes to express her appreciation and grateful thanks to everyone who has sent cards and good wishes following her accident, and the many offers of help. Particular thanks to Peter and Christine for all their loving support.

LOST AND FOUND Two children’s scooters, left in the playing fields, near the tennis courts.

Please contact Ruthie on 232260 for further information.

ST PETROCKS, EXETER I am still collecting men's and women's clothes for the homeless, plus sleeping bags, flasks, blankets, toiletries, toothpaste, toothbrushes, nonperishable food etc.

I am pleased to pick up if necessary, but it can be dropped at Greenside, Greenway, Woodbury. If I am not in please put in carport. It would be nice if you put your name on so that I can thank you.

Chris Lear 01395 232772

WILD WOODBURY - LOOKING AFTER OUR HEDGEHOGS The enigmat ic litt le 36 hedgehog is one of our most popular wild animals. They are a common character in many children's books and are part of country folklaw.

At a recent talk about WildWoodbury's work in the parish he lp ing loca l wildlife, I asked how many peop le had se e n a hedgehog.

I think that everyone present put up their hand. I asked the same question of the children at Woodbury Salterton School and only four of the children had ever seen one. The sad fact is the numbers of these lovely creatures are in rapid decline.

There is much disagreement on the exact figures however; it is estimated that in the 1950s there were more than 35 million of them. A survey in 1995 estimated that numbers had dropped to less than 1.6 million and it is estimated that numbers have fallen by a further 30% in the last decade. If the decline continues at current rate hedgehogs could be extinct within the lifetime of the children currently at school in our parish. Imagine that - the only place that your grandchildren will see hedgehogs will be in storybooks.

There is no single cause for the decline in hedgehog numbers. Loss of hedgerows and the use of pesticides, particularly slug pellets, are undoubtedly part of the problem. Many manufacturers claim that their slug control products are hedgehog-friendly; they are not. Hedgehogs may not eat slug pellets but they do eat slugs. The toxins within the slugs will build up within the hedgehogs and as slug numbers decline so does the available food supply.

Badgers have been blamed for declining numbers; however, it has been shown that the two creatures can co-exist if food is plentiful. They have lived happily side by side for millions of years and so that is unlikely to be the main cause of their decline.

The trend of having fence panels between our gardens rather than hedges has probably been a major part of reduction in hedgehog numbers. They would normally forage over a huge area each night but most of the best habitat and food (the slugs on your vegetable patch) is no longer accessible to them.

Putting a 125mm/5 inch hole in the fences on each side of your garden will encourage frequent visits. Putting out a dish of cat food or dog food will help them feed up for the winter hibernation.

Wild-Woodbury have a special hole cutter and we are happy to put a small hole in the fence of anyone who is willing to have one.

37 ready to hibernate. They should At this time of year hedgehogs are getting have put on lots of weight during the summer and that extra body mass will hopefully see them through their winter sleep. Surprisingly, cold winters are better for hedgehogs than mild ones. In cold winters the hedgehog’s metabolism slows down and they use very little energy - sleeping right through to the spring. In mild winters they can awake early and start looking around for the limited food that is available for them. They use far more energy at this time and will not have enough fat reserves to see them through to the spring. If you find a hedgehog walking around in the daytime it has problems! Pick it up with a blanket and put it in a box in a warm room with some dog or cat food and some water and get in touch with us.

To help hedgehogs right now put food out for them each night so they can have one last feast before they hibernate, but do not give them bread or milk as this is very bad for them. You can also provide them with shelter.

“Hedgehog hotels” provide a secure place for them to use as occasional shelter as well as a place to have a litter or to hibernate. They should be sited in a secluded part of your garden where they will not be disturbed by people, badgers or pets. The structure needs a 127mm or 5 inch entrance hole and a corridor so the hedgehogs can get in but predators such as dogs, cats, foxes or badgers can’t.

Hedgehog homes can be constructed from plans that we can supply, or they can be purchased from retail outlets such as Amazon or the RSPB website. If you have holes in your fences and signs that you have hedgehogs visiting your garden and would like to provide them with the accommodation they need please get in touch with us at info@wild-woodbury.org or call Tony Bennett on 07971 082384 and we may be able to supply one for you.

PS. Don’t forget to check under your bonfire for sleeping hedgehogs before you light it.

Please join our Facebook group Wild-Woodbury and check out our website http://www.wild-woodbury.org to find out more about what we are doing to help our local wildlife.

Tony Bennett

MARY, THE AYAH OF DR FURNIVALL With reference to my article last month about the Furnivall family and their 38 servant Viagoula Mary (Black Mary), I received the following vivid recollection of her from Anna Ayres: ‘I worked as a home help for ‘Black Mary’. She was a kind grateful lady, but worried that I would wear out her brush with too much brushing. She was quite poor and very religious. She had a wooden cross and a small Virgin Mary statue in her bedroom which I was not allowed to touch.

All the blankets on her bed were hand-knitted. She was extremely well-kept and tidy and meticulous. Her ornaments in the sitting room were an old tin clock and some small plastic ‘free gift’ animals (mostly orange lions) from Kellogg’s cornflakes boxes, which I dusted with as much respect as if they were Crown Derby.

I asked her about her family and all she said was that they were ‘all gone, all gone, but together’.

I had nearly waist-length hair then and I broke my hair-tie. She said I was ‘shameless, a married woman with her hair down – only for your husband’, and she gave me a piece of string to tie it up.

She also expected me to light her coal fire with about 6-8 sticks, so I used to plait paper fire lighters to help – on asking her to help one day she replied ‘no, now you are servant lady and do it’, but in a most kind way.

I too, would have liked to know more of her history.’

I have discovered a little more of her history. She appears to be the daughter of a widow called Arokiamel who later married (by special licence) a European tea planter in India called Marmaduke Manners Norman (who was incidentally related to the Dukes of Rutland). Whether Mary Viagoula was his daughter or stepdaughter is not certain, as she was born two months after the marriage and five days later baptised in the Catholic Cathedral at Coimbatore. She was Indian by birth, but it is not known how she ended up in Malaya, as an ayah, since Dr Furnivall was resident in the Straits Settlements (Malaya). Perhaps the name on her death certificate of Viagoula Mary ‘Simon’ was a mistake for ‘Norman’, which was the name on her baptismal certificate.

Gill Selley CHARITY COFFEE MORNINGS EVERY TUESDAY, 10.00-12.00 CHURCH ROOMS, WOODBURY Coffee/tea and a homemade cake on vintage china. £2. All profits to local charities.

Everyone welcome.

PEBBLEBED HEATHS CONSERVATION TRUST AUTUMN UPDATE 39 The end of summer means we’ve said goodbye to the 36 cattle who have been grazing temporary loops on Colaton Raleigh common until next season, as well as the 26 Dartmoor ponies and 9 Devon and Aberdeen Angus breeds on Bicton Common.

As well as looking after the grazing stock our Wardens have been undertaking a range of other duties including controlling bracken, pulling Himalayan balsam and ragwort, spot-treating regrowth of cleared scrub, and dealing with illegal activity such as fly-tipping. We have also been monitoring our key wildlife groups including Dartford Warblers, Nightjars, Southern Damselflies and the Silver-studded Blue butterfly. We will report later in the autumn on how these species are faring. For those of you who have not yet seen it, please do visit our website where you can view and download a copy of our Space for Nature report (www.pebblebedheaths.org.uk) which provides detailed insights into the biodiversity of the Pebblebed heaths and its conservation significance. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who have helped us throughout the season. Your efforts have really made a difference.

In the office, the Conservation Manager’s attentions have been attempting to prepare for a post-Brexit world. This has including the preparation of funding applications, and undertaking advocacy at a local, regional and national level and to ensure that the Heaths continue to be recognised and supported as a fantastic place for people and nature.

We have also been continuing to work with the Environment Agency to better understand how we might manage the Lower Otter in the future in the face of climate change. Details on the aspirations of the Lower Otter Restoration Project can be found at: www.lowerotterrestorationproject.co.uk. We are currently seeking funding to enter a development phase which would allow us to understand the hydrology and problems associated with the site, and what options are available, if any, for addressing these.

Our Countryside Learning Officer has had a busy time too. In September and October she worked with over 600 primary school children. As well as organising several heathland visits she also led river walks, showed children where milk comes from on our organic dairy farm, held workshops on sustainable forestry and on the River Otter beavers. Year 3 children from Woodbury Primary School spent a morning at Woodbury Castle to enrich their learning about the Iron Age. Teachers rated the experiences as very relevant to the curriculum and it was also great that almost every group enjoyed a wonderful sunny day for their countryside visit. After half term several foundation classes will swap their settings for the beautiful parkland at Bicton Arena enabling the youngest children to enjoy the autumnal colour and collect lots of leaves and conkers!

FoSS – THE STORY SO FAR The English parish church is a distinctive feature of both landscape and 40 place for the present community, as at townscape but it is often in the wrong Pinhoe or, as at Clyst St Mary related to the Manor rather than the village. Its tower reflects harsher times of defence and security and its layout serves forms of clerically centred worship no longer in vogue. For this reason county trusts were set up starting in Norfolk followed by Devon in 1973 to help preserve the ancient fabric. Groups of Friends were also established to help individual buildings.

St Swithun’s tower had been repaired by an effective local campaign led by John Glanvill. In 2004 a group of people decided they wanted not only to preserve the fabric of St Swithun’s but to make it fit for community use in the 21st century by installing water, toilets and a kitchen. For this they wanted an organisation that did not only consist of the faithful worshippers. Jill Whitten of Parsonage House agreed to take the chair, generously supported by Patrick, who sponsored garden parties and concerts. The first meeting was held on 8th March with Pat Browne as secretary and David Keep as treasurer and a constitution was agreed on 2nd July with the broad objective: To raise funds for the maintenance, repair, restoration and improvement of the fabric of the church building, its contents and its environs. £25 was set as a realistic annual subscription and £250 for life membership.

Nine joined for life in 2005 and four since while total annual contributions have ranged from £1,400 to £1,750. Total income has included additions like the sale of a FoSS Cookbook, Roger Stokes’s booklets, the profits of Roger Hann’s Art Exhibitions and gifts from organisations like the Music Hall and the Garden Club. Over £66,000 has been donated to the PCC so far for work on the fabric and improvements to the building.

In 2005 there were meetings with the vicar and the PCC, consultation with the village and advice from the diocese via the Rev Christopher Pidsley. In 2006 the architect Jeremy Bell was appointed to look both at providing facilities in the tower and re-ordering the east end. Progress was slow as his wife died and only in January and April 2007 were the first payments made to the PCC of £2,966.88 for fees. In October 2008 a further £2,350 was paid and in 2009 £34,000 for the bulk of the work installing water and drains. Following excavation a well-lit path to the church has been achieved as well as floodlighting, which has proved very popular as a mark of celebration. Bones were found under the tower floor and reinterred and there was a late bill from Devon Archaeology which had not been allowed for. The Woodbury News of March 2010 records the completion of the Tower for £40,000 after six years of effort, with £10,000 still needed for the servery.

The dedication of floodlighting started the following month.

Since the successful opening of the kitchen and inside toilets, coffee has been served after morning service and at concerts, and meals have been enjoyed in the back of the church. FoSS has helped41 with repairs and supported the display case at the west end which utilised the Tudor rails from round the font. In 2015 £4,500 was contributed to the PCC, £857 above income. FoSS has a healthy balance but needs more subscribers as recruitment has slowed. Not all improvements have been expensive as fresh stacking chairs came from WS Village Hall instead of costing £100 each as recommended by the architect.

As an independent charity, FoSS was able to secure grants from local and national organisations: £13,750 from Rockets (quarry) for the Tower project and £3,500 from Awards for All (Lottery) for floodlighting.

If you would like to join FoSS please contact Pat Browne on 232805 or ruthandpatb@aol.com David Keep

BUSINESS ADVERTISEMENTS CHRISTMAS TREES Locally grown Nordman Fir (low drop variety).

Convenient village pick up. Competitive prices. Available from 1 Dec. (preordering required by 25 Nov). Tel: Charlotte 233712 to reserve your tree.

A VISIT FROM SANTA and his wife, songs and stories from Lapland.

'Wonderfully authentic - they radiate festive warmth'. See video at www.bootoagoosetheatre.co.uk. To book: 01395 233874. (2/2) OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Woodbury Salterton. Private house, with room and facilities. £4 per hour, Monday to Friday. Flexible arrangement.

Tel: David 01395 233297 / davidrouse@talktalk.net. Reference required. (1/4) TOOBY SWEEPS New Chimney Sweep in Town (Former Royal Marine), NACs Member. Certificate given. From £35 Call 07803 059844. (1/2) WE ARE POSH NOSH! With over two decades of experience in the catering industry we are at the forefront of special occasion and event catering in Devon and the West Country. We are committed to providing first class cuisine with outstanding levels of service. Phone:- 01392 444877 or email: info@posh-nosh.co.uk (5/12) FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER & REFLEXOLOGIST Former RGN provides routine nail and skin care (inc corns and callus) or a reflexology treatment. Nicky Mattin (MAFHP itec RF) 01395 233222/07807603690 (2/12) PROPERTY MAINTENANCE – James Waddell Interior & Exterior, Carpentry, Flooring, Fencing & Gates, Plumbing, Decking, Bathrooms & Kitchens, General Repairs. Free Advice & Estimates 01395 263496 (6/12) FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER Nail Cutting and Treatment of Corns, Callus and Verrucas - Home Visits. Contact Lindsey Waddell MAFHP 01395 263496. (10/12)

LITERACY TUTOR Qualified teacher and specialist in Special Needs offering 1:1 private tuition for children and adults to support learning in 42 www.katecoldrick.com for further literacy and language skills. See information or phone Kate Coldrick BMus (Hons), BSc (Hons) Psych, PGCE on 01395 232472 (8/12) ROOFING Woodbury based RWI Roofing Specialising in Slating, Tiling, Re-Roof, New Roof, Repairs, Guttering. For a friendly, reliable service call Ray 232926, or 07988 691051 (As recmd in OurLocalExpert.co.uk) (5/12) SQUIRREL COTTAGE Self catering 16th century property full of character, available for weekly holidays and short breaks. Sleeps 5. Graded 5 Star. www.thecottagecompanydevon.co.uk Tel: Kay 0776 9975557 (8/12) GIVE BIRTH CALMLY - relaxed, confident and alert with KG Hypnobirthing classes. Find out more: libbyclaphamhypnotherapy.co.uk phone: 07986 157854 (3/12) BED & BREAKFAST SW Tourism 2016 Gold Award winner. Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. 16thC Devon longhouse on working dairy farm.

Sally Glanvill, Rydon Farm 232341 www.rydonfarmwoodbury.co.uk (5/12) HOME SWEET HOME DECORATORS - Lucy Ryan Lady interior and exterior decorator. Walls, ceilings, woodwork, up-cycled furniture, garden painting and more. Professional, very tidy, competitive, reliable and friendly. Fully DBS checked. Free estimates. Phone: 07872 065890 (11/12) RUBBISH REMOVALS Domestic and Commercial. Environment Agency licensed. No job too small. Tel: 0800 335 7610 / 07979 841376. www.rubbishremovalsexeter.com (7/12) WOODBURY HOLIDAY HOME TO RENT in centre of village. Luxury accommodation for 4 people, 2 en-suites, parking, courtyard garden. Weekly holidays & short breaks. www.woodburyholidays.co.uk 01579 350365. (4/12) COMPUTER REPAIRS AND UPGRADES; Broadband and wireless connections; Data recovery and backup; Windows, iPads and Apple computers, Virus and spyware removal; No fix no fee - Evening visits to suit you. Contact: Mark Doyle 01395 233694 (4/12) FARMHOUSE BED & BREAKFAST AND APARTMENT, twin and double rooms. CL Caravan Club site. Jenny Broom, Courtbrook Farm, Clyst St George. 01392 877710. www.courtbrook.co.uk (3/12) ACCOUNTS AND TAX SERVICE Sole Trades, Partnerships, Limited Companies and Personal Tax. Full range of advice. Fixed fee plans and free initial consultation/quotation. Wheelers Accountants Tel: 233184 (10/12) MATHS TUITION: Experienced, female Maths teacher available to teach primary to GSCE level maths, 11+ and SATs preparation. Reasonable rates.

Telephone: Jane Moffatt on 01395 279952 (11/12)

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 31 Oct. 1 Nov. 3 Nov. 4 Nov. 8 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Nov. 10 Nov. 10 Nov. 10 Nov.

Exton Halloween Village Walk.

43 Opening up to God. 19.30-21.00. Church Rooms. (232318) WLHS Lecture Prof Patrick Dillon It’s all in the Map WVH. 19.30.

Exton Bonfire Night Celebrations.

Garden Club High Garden Nurseries, Trees & Shrubs WVH 19.30.

WS WI City of Exeter Through The Ages. 19.30.

RBL AGM in RBL Room, WVH. 10.00.

Exton Ladies ShelterBox. Woodbury WI: Christmas craft – card hangers, WVH, 19.00.

Environment Agency presentation Reducing flood risk for Exton.

18.00, Exton Village Hall.

11 Nov. RBL Act of Remembrance. War Memorial. 11.00.

11 Nov. Film Show with supper. 18.30. St Andrew’s Hall, Exton.

13 Nov. RBL Annual Remembrance Service on the Green. 14.45.

15 Nov. Whist Drive, WSVH, 19.30.

16 Nov. WS WI Games Afternoon, 14.00.

19 Nov. Woodbury Twinning Progressive Supper.

24-26 Nov. Woodbury Follies. WVH, 19.30.

25 Nov. Exton Garden Club. A Year at Picket Lane. Neil Lovesey. 19.30 28 Nov. Friends of Woodbury Surgery AGM. 14.30, Church Rooms.

30 Nov. Charity Bingo. WSVH. Doors open 19.00.

1 Dec. Twinning Visit to Norman Lockyer Observatory.

3 Dec. Christmas Fair at Exton Church. 14.00-16.00.

6 Dec. Opening up to God. 19.30-21.00. Church Rooms. (232318) 8 Dec. Woodbury Salterton School Xmas Fayre.

8 Dec. Woodbury WI: Seated one day at the Organ … WVH, 19.00.

8 Dec. Exton Ladies Christmas Lunch at the Puffing Billy.

10 Dec. Woodbury C of E Primary School Christmas Fair. 12.00-15.00.

12 Dec. Charity Bingo. WSVH. Doors open 19.00.

13 Dec. Garden Club Christmas Social.

14 Dec. Exton Carols Round the Tree.

15 Dec. Carol Singing around Woodbury. 19.30. The Arch.

21 Dec. WS WI Games Afternoon, 14.00.

2017 12 Jan. Woodbury WI: Have Wig will travel.

14 Jan. W/S Bangers and Mash Supper.

9 Feb. Woodbury WI: Birthday party, bring & share.

9 March Woodbury WI: Words! Where do they come from?

13 April Woodbury WI: Craft - Easter Eggs.

REDUCING FLOOD RISK FOR EXTON A presentation by the Environment Agency (EA) 44 Represented by Tom Buxton-Smith.

THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER AT 18.00, EXTON VILLAGE HALL This meeting will provide an excellent opportunity to air your views on the subject of flooding in Exton.

If you have any pre-meeting questions please call Cllr Graham Murrin on 01392 873017.

ADVERTISING RATES SMALL ADS.: (3 lines) private £2.00. (3 lines) Business £5.00 (£50.00 per annum).

DISPLAY ADS. £17 quarter page (£185 per annum).

To: Karen Squires, Willowfield, Oakhayes Road, Woodbury EX5 1JT Tel: 233299 (e-mail karensquires100@gmail.com).

The Woodbury News accepts no liability for:- i) Any claims made by the advertiser; ii) Any errors or omissions in the advertisement as submitted by the advertiser; iii) Any legal action as a result of the advertisement.

WOODBURY SALTERTON

W.S. TAXI 1 - 8 People LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE

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Saturday Receptionist Required for House-it self-storage in Woodbury, near Exeter Working every other Saturday from 9am to 1pm (4hrs) - ÂŁ9 per hour with potential for additional hours if required Job Description and responsibilities Manning the reception area, answering telephone enquiries, dealing with new and existing customers, taking new storage bookings, taking payments & updating customer records. As the role is client-facing you will need to demonstrate excellent communication skills & have a calm manner.

For more details please contact Gill on: 01395 239400 or by email: gill@house-it.co.uk Woodbury Business Park, Woodbury, Nr Exeter, EX5 1AY

PICTURE FRAMING Artwork, photos, memorabilia,etc.

40 years experience with Fred Keetch of Exeter & Exmouth local collection and delivery in this magazine area SIMON BOLT Tel: 01395 233407 or email: simonbolt60@gmail.com

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47 Are you looking for a quality bicycle to enjoy the countryside?

Does your existing bicycle need a service and some TLC from an expert?

Or do you want to embrace the future of cycling on a top of the range eBike?

Here at iBike motion, the customer is at the centre of everything we do – you can rest assured that whether you are looking for advice on an upgrade, looking for a brand new bicycle or requiring a full service on your existing bicycle, the team at iBike motion are on hand to help.

The Retreat, The Arch, Woodbury, EX5 1LL 01395 262354

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TREE SURGERY & CONSULTANCY

· Fully Insured and qualified staff · All aspects of tree work · Stump grinding · Tree survey/reports · FREE quotations Office: 01884 232911 Mob: 07703105126 24 hr call out enquiries@arboricare.co.uk www.arboricare.co.uk

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WOODBURY GARAGE

¨ MOTS ¨ SERVICE ¨ REPAIRS ¨ ALL MAKES & MODELS ¨ ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS The Arch, Woodbury, Devon, EX5 1LL woodburygarage@hotmail.co.uk T: 01395 233004 M: 07527 125956

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Woodbury Dance Studio

RAD BALLET Grades and Majors

Children from 2½ years Principal: Mary Griffiths ARAD, MA(Oxon) Tel: 01395 271249 marygriffiths@hotmail.com www.woodburydance.co.uk All classes at Woodbury C of E Primary School

James Sliman Electrical Services Reliable, Fully Qualified, Local Electrician with over 15 years experience.

All aspects of electrical work undertaken from an extra socket to a full rewire Free Estimates - No job too small All work fully insured & guaranteed All work inspected, tested & certified to current standards.

01395 276323 07866 313812 www.jslimanelectrician.co.uk Previous customers said:

“Very neat & tidy work, & a nice guy.”

“I am delighted to recommend James, he is highly competent and reliable, I trust him implicitly.’

For further references please visit: www.ourlocalexpert.co.uk

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