Month-long event to celebrate East Devon volunteers
Events planned in June by our community groups
Celebrating EDDC's work thus far
Get involved in our Plastic Free Challenge
Have your say on Clyst Valley Trail proposals for a new traffic-free route linking Exeter to Topsham and the Exe Estuary trail
News and updates:
Month-long event to celebrate East Devon volunteers
A special month-long event starts today (June, 1) to celebrate East Devon’s volunteers who go above and beyond to make a difference to the environment.
This is the first time an event of this sort has been held by East Devon District Council (EDDC) to recognise all the amazing projects happening on our doorsteps right now.
EDDC has launched a special section on our website with all the information about the upcoming events for you to explore.
Councillor Marianne Rixson tending to her own garden
Here is a flavour of the events taking place this month as part of East Devon together, find out more information by visiting our website.
Beach Cleans by Plastic Free Exmouth
Every Sunday, starting 8.30am – just turn up at the Orcombe Point end of the beach to take part. This year they have collected more than 150kg of rubbish from Exmouth beach.
Saturday, 11 June – 10am until 1pm at the Guildhall in Axminster.
Saturday, 25 June – 10am until 1pm Sidmouth Youth Centre, Manstone Lane.
Open Farm Sunday
Sunday, 12 June - East Devon farmers will open their doors and give residents a sneak peek behind the scenes, to see tractors, animals and more – visit https://farmsunday.org/ for more information.
Sidmouth Arboretum guided tree walks
Friday, June 10, 17 and 24 – starting at 10.30am outside Sidmouth Museum – £2.50 per person. Book your place through the website www.sidmoutharboretum.org.uk.
As part of East Devon Together month, EDDC is celebrating all the work which has been undertaken, by the authority, to tackle the climate emergency.
This includes:
The Lower Otter Restoration Project
This £15million project is helping a river valley adapt to climate change and create an internationally important wildlife reserve, using nature based solutions instead of hard engineering – the joint scheme is being overseen by EDDC, Environment Agency, local landowner Clinton Devon Estates, and the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust.
More wildflower meadows:
More than 97 per cent of wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s – this has had a drastic effect on our environment. EDDC are now committed to reclaiming these important areas, like at Salterton Road, in Exmouth – where the grass verge has been sown with a 5,000 metre squared wildflower meadow. By mowing less EDDC is also cutting carbon emissions by more than 50 per cent.
Planting and weedkillers:
EDDC are also now focused on perennial planting and are exploring alternatives to harmful weed killers.
Electric charging points:
The authority has plans to install 18 electric car charging points across 10 East Devon car parks by the end of the year, after a global shortage delayed works.
Upgrading and decarbonising council homes:
EDDC has installed 102 air source heat pumps and has plans to upgrade 52 more council properties, to make the properties more efficient and comfortable.
Events for supported accommodation residents to save money on energy bills
During June, supported accommodation tenants in East Devon will be able to attend three events, being held with the help of Exeter Community Energy. Residents will be able to learn how to save money on their energy bills. Contact your mobile support officer to book.
Helping council staff to reduce carbon footprints:
The council employs more than 500 members of staff – it is now using the positive adjustments, it made during lockdown, to allow staff to reduce their carbon footprints while also providing the best service it can for residents – like hybrid working.
This award-winning nature reserve recently saw the arrival of protected slow worm – the world’s longest living legless lizard. It is also the home of some of Devon’s rarest plants.
Community funding and advice:
EDDC is actively supporting communities to upgrade their building and is supporting their projects through various schemes – including the Rural Community Building Fund and through ‘Meet the Funder’ events which teach organisations and groups how to apply for funding.
There's so many ways you can make the swaps. You could:
Buy condiments in glass and not plastic containers
Buy a big bag of crisps or yoghurt instead of smaller bags/pots
Buy loose fruit, vegetables and bread
Take some Tupperware and go have a look at your refill or zero waste shop – nuts, spices and eco cleaning products are normally always cheaper!
Follow our Facebook page to find daily #SwapOfTheDay posts and all sorts of tips and tricks to help you have a successful Plastic Free week.
Who?
Everyone is encouraged to take part in the Plastic Free Challenge. It's free to enter!
We also encourage participation through social media. We'd love to see how you're getting on, so share some photos with us throughout the week. By sharing your personal experience of refusing single-use plastics and your use of eco-friendly alternatives, you'll be entered into our prize draw to win one of three plastic free hampers worth over £40.
1 of 3 of the plastic free hampers up for grabs. It contains a bamboo toothbrush, locally made soap, reusable water bottle and takeaway cup, just to name a few.
Why?
Plastic never bio-degrades so every piece ever made lasts forever! Massive quantities of disposable plastic pose a serious threat to our health and future generations, but we can make a huge difference if we come together and act now.
Thank you for standing with us. Let’s lead by example and show the world what sustainable living looks like.
How to have a plastic free picnic this Jubilee weekend
Are you celebrating the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday with a picnic?
Follow these three easy steps to make your picnic more sustainable:
1. Did you know it takes 8 gallons of water to make one paper plate? Instead of using single-use plastic cutlery and plastic or paper plates, try using regular, reusable cutlery! Just wrap them up in a napkin and you’re good to go. Plus, it’s kinder on your wallet. Win-win.
2. Plastic stays in our environment for a very long time. Plastic bags, for example, can take hundreds of years to break down! Instead of using single-use plastic bags or plastic film to wrap your sandwiches or snacks, try a reusable lunch box or picnic basket.
3. Throwing plastic on to the street or in the countryside can harm wildlife who mistake it for food or get tangled in it. Make sure you take your rubbish with you and dispose of it responsibly when you go.
Have your say on Clyst Valley Trail proposals for a new traffic-free route linking Exeter to Topsham and the Exe Estuary trail
A public consultation is being held on the proposed Clyst Valley Trail route between West Clyst and Topsham.
Devon County Council and East Devon District Council are in the early design stage of the Clyst Valley Trail multiuse route which will connect Exeter with nearby towns and villages to the east. This attractive route will be accessible for all users and passes through historic parkland and river valleys.
The 13 km (8 mile) route will link Pinhoe in Exeter with the Exe Estuary Trail. The path will link 12,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs in Exeter and East Devon, including Cranbrook. More than 40,000 people will directly benefit from the route.
We would like to know what you think about our proposals. Please review the scheme proposals here and then let us have your comments by completing our online survey.
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
Over the next week the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place. Any public meetings will be streamed live to the Council’s YouTube channel, and in the event of difficulties these will be streamed on our Facebook page instead.
There are no meetings taking place this week. The next meetings are:
Jubilee Bank Holiday collection changes - Exmouth update
Jubilee Bank Holidays:
Thursday, 2 June – Spring Bank Holiday
Friday, 3 June – Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday
So that our crews can celebrate the Jubilee and have a well-earned break, there will be some changes to your collection days for the Bank Holiday week and the following week.
Keeping contamination down means that we can more easily recycle the items we can collect and reduces the risk of a rejected load at the processing stage.
Stage 1
Help us to cut out the contamination by only putting the items we can recycle from the kerb-side in your recycling sack.
Your sack should only be used to recycle the following packaging items:
Mixed plastics (bottles, tubs, pots and trays)*
Food tins and drinks cans*
Foil wrap, foil food trays and empty aerosols
*Please wash and squash
Stage 2
The plastic items shown have been put into recycling sacks causing contamination. Please only use your sacks to recycle your plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
Stage 3
The metal items shown have been put into recycling sacks causing contamination. Please only use your sacks to recycle your food tins, drinks cans, foil wrap, foil food trays and empty aerosols.
Stage 4
The plastic film items shown have been put into recycling sacks causing contamination. Please only use your sacks to recycle your plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
We are currently unable to recycle film and flexible plastic products such as: bread bags, bubble wrap, carrier bags, crisp packets, polythene from the kerb-side but many retailers have front of store take-back schemes for these items.
Stage 5
Please remove food residue from your pots, tubs and trays as it contaminates the valuable plastics and foil. Your food waste should go into your food caddy for recycling.
The trays with heavy food waste contamination shown, have been put into recycling sacks causing contamination.
Join over 30,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery
Calling East Devon artists, performers, creatives and culture organisations
Please join our next Arts & Culture East Devon (ACED) meeting for an update on the findings of the East Devon culture survey and the development of a Cultural Strategy.
Make new connections with other like-minded creatives and discuss opportunities, challenges, collaborations and joint-funding opportunities.
Join artist Debs Last for a painting workshop in the THG garden.
Discover how to prepare your painting surface, select a view using a sketchbook as a tool, mix colour and keep them clean and fresh.
You will produce a number of pieces within the day and receive lots of advice and help. Debs is an experienced art tutor and has worked with adults for many years, encouraging them to find their own creative voice.
All abilities welcome. £40 / £35 THG Friends + Students.
Join artist Celia Olsson to create your own sketchbook. Using a wide range of papers, Celia will show you how to put together your own sketchbook and explore ideas to get you using it too.
Suitable for beginners and those with more experience.
Explore the wildlife of the River Axe by canoe on -
A guided paddle on the River Axe discovering the unique riverside wildlife. Led by qualified instructors from the Axe Vale Canoe Club and a Wild East Devon Ranger wildlife guide.
Riverside hot drink and refreshments provided.
No experience necessary, must be 8+ and able to swim 25m.
A 5.30pm meet to head out onto the water for 6pm.
£26 per adult, £16 per child.
There are only 6 places left, so book your tickets now to avoid missing out!
Learn all about the medicinal use of local plants on our Plant Medicine Walk at Holyford Woods
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An informative walk focusing on the traditional medicinal use of local plants in the spectacular setting of a Wild East Devon Nature Reserve.
Join Medical Herbalist Maggie Haworth on a gentle walk through Holyford Woods to explore the medicinal plants that can be found there. Hear some of the traditional stories of the plants, and learn about their historical use as medicines, as well as their current day applications.
This is part of a series of medicine walks taking place throughout the year. Each walk will offer new plants and stories as the seasons change.
To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday, 10 June 2022.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using the view it as a web page link at the top of the page.
