 Find ideas on small changes you can make on our website here
Changes to Junk Food Advertising
New UK rules now limit how less-healthy food and drink can be advertised on TV (not between 5.30am and the 9pm watershed) and online (all round the clock). The national Children's Food Campaign recognise this as a big step forward for children's health. Now they would like the rules to go further by limiting exposure in outdoor spaces and brand exposure (the new rules are for specific products only).
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South Hams Composting Groups Cut Down Waste
Turning food and garden waste into compost helps reduce carbon footprint. Homemade compost cuts down on plastic, supports healthy soil and the act of gardening itself is great for both physical and mental wellbeing.
In the South Hams there are already eight community garden waste composting sites in the area but the District Council wants to encourage more.
It has offered up match-funded grants worth up to £7,500 towards the cost of creating community composting sites, which allow people to recycle their green waste as well as providing compost to take home.
Read the full article on BBC news here (please note this is from Nov 2025)
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Rewilding Britain: grants up to £15k
Rewilding Britain is accepting applications for the first 2026 funding round of the Rewilding Innovation Fund.
From white-tailed eagle feasibility studies to coastal restoration, community engagement to drone surveying, grants of up to £15,000 are available.
Projects need to be at a scale of more than 40 hectares in England, Wales or Scotland, and adhere to Rewilding Britain’s rewilding principles.
There are typically two funding rounds per year, in the new year and in the summer. Groups must be members of the Rewilding Network to apply.
The next deadline for applications is 28 February 2026.
Find out about the Rewilding Britain grant fund here
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Salt Alert: Brits eat equivalent of 22 packs of crisps per day
Research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and YouGov finds working-age adults in England eat an average of 8.4g of salt per day - 40 per cent more than the Government’s recommended maximum of 6g.
Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which is linked to half of all heart attacks and strokes.
Dell Stanford, their Senior Dietitian, said: “Most of the salt we eat is hidden in the food we buy such as bread, cereals, pre-made sauces and ready meals, so it’s often hard to know exactly how much salt we’re consuming."
The BHF are calling on government for incentives to industry to reduce salt in food.
Read more on the British Heart Foundation website here
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Calling farmers!
Are you a farmer, or do you know a farmer, who can be interviewed for research on vertical farming systems?
Researchers at the University of Surrey are seeking farmers to participate in a project exploring how vertical farming systems can contribute to improving the UK’s food resilience. The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and aims to better understand the current landscape, opportunities, and challenges faced by stakeholders involved in the development or application of vertical farming technologies.
Participation would consist of taking part in a 45-60 minute interview, and your responses will be fully anonymised and used only for academic purposes.
Read the full invite and use the contact details to express your interest in taking part
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Orchard Tree Planting at Firebeacon Farm
📅 Saturday 7th Feb
🕓 10am-3pm
📍Firebeacon Farm, nr Tiverton, EX16 7QP
Join in planting 35 new fruit trees, explore the farm, meet the lambs and get a FREE lunch!
Suitable for everyone over 8 (must be accompanied by an adult) - no experience required, just enthusiasm!
Book your free space for orchard tree planting here
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🌾 Exeter Seed Bank’s Annual Seed Swap 2026 🌾
📅 Sunday 1 March, 1–4pm
📍 Positive Light Projects, Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6RD
Exeter's much-loved annual Seed Swap returns, bringing together growers, gardeners and curious newcomers to share seeds, learn about living soils, and be part of Exeter's growing movement.
- diverse varieties of seed for swapping with 5,000 free packets available
- a pop-up soil testing lab for community members to understand the health of their soil and by extension the health of the food and flowers they're growing
- community cafe
- demos and projects from community groups in Exeter
- find out about seed packing workshops ahead of the Seed Swap
Find out more about the Seed Swap on their website here
 Take a look at our new Resources for Food Insecurity page on our website here
Could you be our new Co-Chair?
Funding Opportunities
King Charles III Charitable Fund
Community-based organisations can apply for up to £3,000 per year for up to three years through the King Charles III Charitable Fund. Around 100 organisations are supported annually.
Themes for January applications: ✔ Social Inclusion – projects promoting inclusion for vulnerable and marginalised communities, tackling poverty, loneliness, and social issues ✔ Health & Wellbeing – initiatives improving physical and mental health, including support for people with disabilities
Other themes open later in the year: Environment, Countryside, Heritage & Conservation, and Education.
Eligibility: UK-registered non-profit organisations with annual income between £25,000 and £500,000.
Deadline: 11th February 2026
Find out more about applying for King Charles III Fund here
 Take a look at our new Resources for Schools page here
Let your local school know!
Chefs in Schools - last few free spaces for Devon
Chefs in Schools, with funding from Riverford Organics, is offering fully funded training to school kitchen teams NOW.
Unlike previous cohorts, this new model is designed for rural schools:
- 🚐 No travel – they come to you
- ⏱️ Short onboarding session in your school kitchen
- 🍴 Tailored training that fits your space and service
The School Chef Educator Programme empowers kitchen teams to create colourful, exciting meals that kids will love, all while meeting school food standards.
Email Carys Barnes carys@chefsinschools.org.uk to find out more and book your space now.
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Free Farmer Visits to Schools
Sustainable Schools Conference Success
On 25th November Devon's first Sustainable Schools Conference took place, bringing together 80 teachers and staff from primary, secondary, early years, and special schools to share ideas and create practical plans to tackle climate change.
The Co-Chairs of our Food in Schools Working Group (in the photo) delivered a presentation and ran a hands-on workshop.
It was also an opportunity for schools to come together and seek advice on creating a climate action plan - you can find out more about this on our website.
Read more about Devon's first schools sustainability conference here
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