Family craft sessions and wreath workshops
 With Halloween behind us we can officially start talking about Christmas! Our Christmas family craft sessions will be running on Saturday 10th of December where you can use tools to make decorations and gifts to take home. Our ever-popular Christmas wreath workshops are also back, come along and make a wreath for your front door from natural materials and enjoy a mince pie and hot drink. Both of these events are at Seaton Wetlands.
Book signing & guided walks at Seaton Wetlands
Local naturalist and wildlife author, Michael Tyler, will be signing copies of his latest book at the Reedbase, Seaton Wetlands, from 11am – 1pm on Friday December 16th. The book has been produced in partnership with East Devon District Council and features over 300 species of birds recorded in the Lower Axe Valley, including Seaton Wetlands. The book covers a geological area extending from Branscombe to the undercliff, north along the river valley to the Dorset/Somerset border.
As well as meeting Michael, visitors will be able to join free guided walks - one at 11am and 12 noon from the Reedbase. Ranger James will take you for a short amble, visiting bird hides to view our winter visitors. Hundreds of birds flock to Seaton Wetlands in the winter to feed and rest before heading back to their breeding grounds in the spring.
The hardback book is £15 can be purchased from the author who lives in Kilmington mwtyler2@googlemail.com and the Lookout at Seaton Wetlands during office hours.
Walk the East Devon Way
 The East Devon Way is a forty-mile walk that stretches across the entire district, from Exmouth to Lyme Regis. Also known as the Foxglove Way, it is clearly waymarked and passes through eight villages, crosses five rivers, and gives walkers the opportunity to experience the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including three of our Wild East Devon Nature Reserves.
Walking from west to east, the way begins at our Exmouth Local Nature Reserve, with stunning views across the estuary, and an internationally renowned site for wading birds with SSSI, SPA, and Ramsar designations. At this time of year there are plenty of opportunities for bird-watching, as flocks of Brent Geese, Widgeon and other wildfowl descend on the estuary to overwinter. Be sure to take your binoculars, but don’t linger too long as there’s plenty of miles to cover!
 For all their beauty trees must also be respected for the potential danger that they present, especially around this time of year, with increased rainfall and more stormy weather. It is not uncommon for trees to drop branches, especially as they get older – they are as susceptible to the ravages of time as we are! However, at the moment there is an increased risk of branch and even full tree falls due to the prevalence of the tree disease Ash Dieback. The disease weakens ash trees by reducing their ability to transport fluids internally, meaning that over time branches become more brittle as they slowly dry out, and therefore more likely to falter under their own weight (which may be accelerated by heavy weather events).
As ash are amongst Devon’s most numerous of tree species (especially in East Devon!) this danger needs to be taken seriously – as the disease progresses over time, the more branches and trees we are likely to see fall. Unfortunately there is little that can be done to halt the progress of the disease, but work can be done to reduce danger to the human population. For example, in some areas such as Holyford Woods we have felled a number of trees that presented a particular danger as they were overhanging footpaths. However it is not possible, nor desirable, for us to fell every tree that might be dangerous (that could be any large tree, essentially) – such work itself can be dangerous and this must also be taken into account.
 Follow our guided walk on video or step by step instructions to enjoy this challenging walk.
Follow step by step instructions - link to instructions on web
- Start at the entrance to the Byes on Salcombe Road (grid ref: SY 128 878. Nearest postcode: EX10 8PR. What 3 Words: gent. cost. cuts)
- Follow the River Sid up through the Byes passing the cycle bridge without crossing.
- Cross the river on the footbridge. Continue on with the river now on your right.
- Cross a small bridge over a tributary and follow the footpath around to the right through a gate and into Margaret’s Meadow.
- Continue up a gravel path passing ‘golden copse’ and through a second gate.
- Turn right to follow the multiuser path. After a few minutes turn right at a crossroad following the sign to Forrtescue. Cross the river on the new blue bridge.
- On reaching Fortescue turn left along the road then take the second road on the right hand side (Griggs Lane) signed ‘public footpath to Salcombe Regis’
- After climbing to the top of the road turn around to admire the view before continuing steeply up the footpath straight ahead.
- At the lefthand bend continue straight on uphill through a kissing gate signed ‘soldiers hill’
- Continue straight on ignoring the sign to ‘Milton Lane’
- Go through a kissing gate and cross a field (with bracken on your left). On meeting the road turn right passing a war memorial on your left and then a Scout hut on your right.
- After the Scout hut’s field turn right on a footpath signed ‘Public bridleway. Sidmouth via Milton Lane’
- Continue down hill through beech trees. Go straight on passing steps on the right hand side.
- At a marker post follow the blue arrow to the left then continue through the woods for several minutes until you reach the road.
- Turn right onto the road (take care as cars come down quite fast!)
- Follow the road (Salcombe Hill) down until you reach a T junction. Cross straight over through a small gate back into The Byes close to the start of the walk.
Free online event: The wonderful world of Lichens
 Join Saving Devon's Treescapes and lichenologist April Windle (BLS) to learn about lichens and how to record them. Brought to you by Devon Wildlife Trust, this is a free online event on 16 December, 7-8pm
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