Devon is celebrating Naturally Healthy May, focused on encouraging people to get outside, connect with nature, and enjoy being active outdoors. The campaign is part of Devon’s Naturally Healthy initiative, led by Active Devon and Devon County Council on behalf of the Devon Local Nature Partnership.

Devon’s amazing natural outdoor spaces offer a huge variety of ways to be naturally healthy, including: walking, cycling, gardening, wild swimming, and bird watching. Throughout May, Active Devon and Devon County Council will be sharing ‘Naturally Healthy’ ideas, information, and events on social media.

Get inspired this Naturally Healthy May

Devon County Council is making funding available again this year for the Growing Communities Fund to support groups and organisations across Devon with projects that are helping people who are struggling with rising energy and food costs.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available to projects that support Devon communities wishing to build self-reliance; tackle hardship such as food and fuel inequality; improve mental health and wellbeing; or address loneliness and isolation.

Apply for the Growing Communities Fund grant

Every year, hundreds of farmers across the UK open their gates and welcome the public onto their farms for Open Farm Sunday. Managed by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), the day is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the amazing work farmers do producing food and enhancing the countryside.

Events range from tractor rides and machinery displays to practical demonstrations and nature walks. Visitors can find their nearest Open Farm Sunday event on the website. Meanwhile farmers interested in hosting an event can access a range of free resources and guidance.

Find out more about Open Farm Sunday

Applications can now be made to Devon County Council’s Locality Budgets 2024/25, with funding available for projects that benefit local communities in Devon.

Each County Councillor in Devon has a Locality Budget grant allocation of £8,000 that they can use to respond to local needs in this financial year (April 2024 to March 2025). This includes projects to address loneliness, those that increased access to healthy activities, projects to help people experiencing food poverty as well as work to enhance public spaces.

Read more about how to apply for a locality budget grant

Agroforestry Open Weekend is a chance to learn more about how trees can be integrated into farming systems. A number of Devon farms will open their gates to visitors this year including some near Dartington, Buckfastleigh, Crediton, and Honiton.

Find out more about Agroforestry Open Weekend

Join Ambios and the East Gate Bookshop for a one-day, family-friendly literary festival at Lower Sharpham Farm, Totnes, TQ9 7DX. Discover how rewilding and regenerative farming are restoring nature. The day will include walks; talks and discussions with guest authors; live music; and local food and drink.

Buy your tickets for the Restoring Nature literary festival

The next webinar from the AFN Network+ is themed around agri-food systems thinking. Prof Gerald Midgley, University of Birmingham, will introduce a framework of systems thinking skills, plus a variety of systems ideas and methods, that can help people put these skills into practice.

Register your place at the AFN Network’s Systems Thinking webinar

Join the Bioregional Learning Centre to hear how South Devon communities are adapting to climate change. The five days will be filled with a mixture of site visits informal chats, and discussions. The programme includes several food and farming related activities, including visits to the Apricot Centre, Flete Estate, and Riverford.

Take a Climate Adaption Journey with the Bioregional Learning Centre