 🌡️ Summer is sticking around a bit longer – it's set to be another warm weekend. An amber heat-health alert is in effect for the South West from Friday 27 June 2025 at 12pm to Tuesday 1 July 2025 at 6pm.
In this week's newsletter, read about these stories and more:
Daily RNLI lifeguard service coming to Budleigh Salterton
 The new lifeguard hut being craned into place. Jake Butt (RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor), and Julian Smart (Seasonal Lifeguard supervisor), in front of the new unit. Credit: East Devon District Council
Lifeguards will soon begin patrols at Budleigh Salterton, keeping young families and paddleboarders safe this summer. The steep drop-off and hidden undertow in the waters can make it deceptively dangerous at the paddleboard hotspot, particularly for children and less confident swimmers.
The joint initiative, put in place thanks to East Devon District Council and RNLI, will now see two lifeguards on duty daily from 10am to 6pm, between Saturday 12 July and Sunday 7 September 2025 (the peak summer season).
Progress on multi-million-pound Sidmouth and East Beach coastal defence scheme
 A proposed £21 million scheme will help protect Sidmouth town and seafront, especially between Jacob’s Ladder and East Beach, from flooding and erosion, for the next 100 years.
The decision on who to appoint to carry out the works, will take place after a tendering process is held inviting applicants to make a bid for the contract. The chosen contractor will be appointed by the end of 2025.
The beginning of the detailed design stage will then be carried out, including engagement with local people and stakeholder groups.
Rare grey long-eared bat discovered at Seaton Wetlands
The exciting discovery occurred after one of the team’s popular bat walks, where members of the public enjoyed observing several bat species and listening to their distinctive echolocation calls using detectors.
Identifiable by their exceptionally large ears and distinguishable from the more common brown long-eared bat by subtle features such as thumb size, grey long-eared bats are incredibly rare in the UK.
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Seaton Wetlands featured on BBC Countryfile
 Seaton Wetlands Nature Reserve, owned and managed by the council, was in the spotlight during a special episode filmed on site over two days. Presenters Sammi Kinghorn and Matt Baker joined the Countryside Team to explore the reserve’s biodiversity and learn about the important conservation work taking place.
The episode aired on BBC One on Sunday 22 June 2025 and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Keep in touch with the Countryside Team on Facebook and Instagram.
 Events in East Devon
Celebrate armed forces heroes
Join a celebration of our armed forces, both past and present, on Honiton High Street, between 10am and 10pm on Saturday 28 June 2025. Events throughout the day include food stalls, a market, re-enactors, military displays, and live music.
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THG Open 2025: come along to the exhibition launch and prize-giving
 Artwork featured above: © Mellony Taper, Trousseau
© Rachael Durkan, Plant Cell #8
© Moose Allain, Village 10
© Belinda Reynell, Gentle Leaves of Summer
© Peter Stiles, Bude Sea Pool
© Izzy Webber, Freddy, study
© Sian Cann, Blue Planet
© Cecilia Rouncefield, Smile Please!
The THG Open 2025 exhibition is a celebration of the creative talent found in the South West, including painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture and prints. All work is for sale. Join the Thelma Hulbert Gallery's exhibition launch on Saturday 12 July 2025, between 3pm and 5pm (prize-giving at 3.30pm).
This exhibition is generously supported by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX thelmahulbert.com
Discover more events in the local area by heading to the East Devon Excellence website
Keep up to date with projects East Devon has recently consulted on
 Read the June edition of the Community Engagement Newsletter for updates about:
- New play area and outdoor equipment installations
- East Devon National Landscape Management Plan
- Exmouth Beach Management Plan
- Overnight motorhome parking in Exmouth
- East Devon's Draft Housing Strategy
- East Devon's Tree, Hedge & Woodland Strategy
Share your feedback about how South East Devon Wildlife sites are managed
South East Devon Wildlife works to protect our region’s internationally important nature reserves. Complete their survey and share how you use and enjoy these spaces to help inform decisions to improve access, protect wildlife, and elevate visitor experiences.
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 Recycle your trigger spray bottles
 If you're unsure whether you can recycle something, visit the A-Z search tool on the Recycling and Waste webpages.
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Have you downloaded our free East Devon app yet?
Join more than 60,000 residents using our smartphone app and get simple personalised recycling and waste collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection. You can download the app through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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 You may be interested in
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We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 4 July 2025.
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