The Biosphere beach clean
weekend demonstrates the potential for the Biosphere
Reserve to bring people together.
This e-newsletter includes other examples of
community activities together with other news of
interest.
If you haven't already
done so, join over 200 hundred others and show your
support for us by registering as a Biosphere Reserve
supporter on our website . We want to turn our map
green with supporter labels. It is easy and only
takes five minutes!
The more personal support
we have, the more influential we can be in ensuring that
north Devon remains a special place long into the
future.
Matt Edworthy -
Biosphere Reserve Outreach Coordinator
Big Biosphere Beach
Clean - A huge success
29 beaches between Lynton
and the Cornish border. Over 650 enthusiastic volunteers
from the local community. More than 650 bags of rubbish
collected. A fantastic effort and a truly exceptional
event. Thanks to everyone that took part.
Click here for more details, images, quotes,
maps and a mini-movie.
North Devon Journal coverage
(25/03/2010)
Sustainable seas -
working together is the key
The Biosphere Strategy
makes the link between sustainable resources and
economic development, but finding the right balance
isn't easy. Apparently simple decisions are often more
complicated than they may seem. To most people,
offshore renewable energy is a 'good thing' and a
sustainable fishing industry is too but experience from
North Devon's Biosphere Reserve shows that having both
can be more complex than the sound bites suggest.
RWE NPower Renewable Energy has this
year been awarded the contract to develop an offshore
wind farm in the Bristol Channel; the so-called Atlantic
Array. This has huge potential to contribute
renewable energy to the south west, but could have
significant impacts on the viability of a productive
fishery in the Bristol Channel. Add on protected areas
for wildlife (Marine Conservation Zones)and possible
aggregate dredging and the picture becomes even more
complicated. The Biosphere Reserve has set up a working
group to look at marine issues and develop Biosphere
wide approaches, and is developing a position statement
on the proposed Atlantic Array wind farm
development.
Lundy becomes the
UK's first Marine Conservation Zone
On January 12th this
year, the waters around Lundy Island off the north Devon
coast have become England's first Marine Conservation
Zone. This is a direct result of last year's Marine
& Coastal Access Act that aims to protect England's
most important marine habitats and species. More.
The Biosphere Reserve has
set up a working group to look at marine Conservation
Zones in the Biosphere. The Group's discussions will
feed into the national Finding Sanctuary process through the
Andy Bell.
On 3rd March, John
Butterwith, one of the fishing representatives on the
Finding Sanctuary Steering Group and a member of the
Biosphere Partnership joined the Minister for the Marine
and Natural Environment, Huw Irranca-Davies on a boat
trip to Lundy. More
Last December's tree
planting
4000 native trees, more
than 400 volunteers, more than 24 sites and significant
media coverage. Tree planting day was a great success
and convinced us that these cross community
participation events in the Biosphere are powerful and
popular ways of engaging people.
As part of a BBC Breathing Places campaign to plant
over 1 million trees in one hour throughout the UK, over
20 community groups and landowners in the Biosphere
Reserve Area planted trees on December 5th.
More than 1000 trees were
planted at the Big Sheep near Bideford, 477 at
Pathfields School in Barnstaple and 200 at WINGS in
Abbotsham. Trees were provided free by the Northern
Devon Coast and Countryside Service at 20
sites.
Bideford People article
North Devon Gazette article
Parish Councils on the
map
NDCCS, on behalf of the
Biosphere Partnership has contacted all the parishes in
the Biosphere Reserve to try to strengthen their
relationship with the Biosphere, build increasingly
strong partnerships and understand more about how parish
councils are contributing to the Biosphere Reserve's
objectives. If you think your parish council might be
interested contact Matt Edworthy who has been giving
talks to a number of them and collating information.
Sudden Oak Death disease
found on the Tarka Trail
Clinton Estates' forester
John Wilding has discovered this disease in trees
alongside the trail. He is the Forestry Commission's SW
Regional Advisory Committee's lead member on
Phytophthora (sudden oak death) and advises us that the
disease is likely to become become a Biosphere
Reserve-wide issue this year. Latest Forestry Commission guidance on
this condition.
Explore North Devon
Coast
The North Devon Coast
AONB has secured funding to create a range of web-based
resource guides that map and attractively present key
features of the AONB. The resources can be searched by
parish according to key themes and will promote new
reasons to visit and explore the coast. Clare Manning
has been appointed Project Officer and is based at
Bideford Station. The first phase of the project is a
series of consultation activities. Details on Clare
Manning's (the Project Officer) Project blog.
North Devon landscape
inspires national poetry champion
Environmental campaigner
and BBC Radio 4 National Slam Poetry Champion Ben Mellor
is creating a new piece of work based on the North Devon
Biosphere Reserve. The landscape and people of North
Devon have inspired a national award winning poet and
performer who ivisited the area last week. Ben Mellor's myspace page
Downloadable video footage
Ben said: "Beaford Arts
was interested in me developing a new piece of work in
response to the region being a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
I'm going to take a few days to meet people in the area.
The research and also the concept for my new work is
really exciting. Beaford Arts has been brilliantly
understanding and supportive." More in the North Devon
Journal.
Ben's performed some of
his initial ideas at the Burton Art Gallery in Bideford
on the 27th March.
UNESCO World Dance Day
at Clovelly Court - April 29th 2010
The power of the creative
arts to bring environmental issues to life (See Biosphere
e-newsletter issue 5 ) is further demonstrated by
this Appledore Arts, Dance in Devon and AONB project
inspired by the North Devon coastline in the grounds of
Clovelly Court. Over 70 dancers from different community
groups are working with North Devon based dance artists
to bring north Devon's coastline to life in dance. More
This event is the only
World Dance Day event in Devon to be awarded the IOC
(International Olympic Committee) INSPIRE Mark. WDD is
an internationally recognised day which was set up to
promote, support and encourage people of all backgrounds
and abilities to get involved with dance.
Joint Core Strategy
The consultation on the
"Joint Core Strategy" (the spatial planning vision for
Northern Devon to 2026), prepared by our district
councils finished on 4th March. See our Chairman's open letter in the North Devon
Journal
Adult Learning Forum and
Hawthorn Project update
One of the objectives in
the Biosphere Reserve Action plan is "to have a safe,
strong and healthy community in North Devon". One of the
projects underway that contributes to this objective is
called the Adult Learning Forum. It is led by the
North Devon Museum Service and provides cultural 'taster
sessions' for hard-to-reach groups, that don't routinely
take part in such activities that expand horizons, break
down stigmas, reduce social isolation and improve
recovery. This 6 month pilot programme ends in April and
has:
-
Funded and organised 82 free taster sessions
-
Has involved over 300 participants
-
The most popular session has been the community
choir. 
Partners involved were
the NHS Trust, north Devon Link Centres, NDCCS,
north Devon Records Office, north Devon Museum service,
north Devon Theatres Trust, the Yarner Trust, Petroc,
Royal Albert Memorial Museum (Exeter),Taw & Torridge
Metal Detector's Club and ACE Archaeology Club
Work on the Adult
Learning Forum has helped identify a number of issues
and practical solutions that can be used to support the
Hawthorn Project should the project bid to the Access to
Nature fund be successful. We expect to hear the funding
decision any day.
The UK's Most Scenic Walking Festival - 29th April to
7th May 2010 and a perfect way to explore North Devon's
Biosphere Reserve.
There are 84 guided walks
this Spring ranging from shorter 2 mile half day walks
to more lengthy 10 mile routes. You're sure to
find the perfect walk for you!
BOOK NOW
(click logo to access website) or call 01271 863001 with
your walk selection.
Barnstaple children's River of Light lantern procession
Friday 26th March 2010
Barnstaple school
children led by the famous north Devon naturalist Johnny
Kingdom created a ‘river of light' procession of
lanterns alongside the river Taw to celebrate
International Year of Biodiversity. Look out for
coverage in the North Devon Journal this week.
Flying Fish Artists, a social
co-operative based in Barnstaple has been working with
the children as part of a project to help them learn
about glow-worms, which are an endangered species but
can still be found along the Tarka Trail. The project
was Flying Fish's winning idea in a competition
organised by Tarka Country Trust to raise awareness of
North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
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To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity
2010, the UK National Commission for UNESCO has produced
an information pack for UK schools. It includes
practical suggestions for how schools can celebrate IYB
and examples of how UNESCO helps protect biodiversity in
the UK, including case studies from UNESCO Biosphere
Reserves and natural World Heritage Sites. A hard
copy is being sent to all ASPnet Schools in the UK and is also
down-loadable from the MAB -UK website.
Schools competition
There is also a competition to find the UK school -
primary or secondary - that can best devise a creative
and effective campaign that can spread the IYB messages
to their local community. The deadline for competition
entries is 28 May 2010 and winners will
be announced at the end of June. More
Later in the year UNESCO will be supporting a
biodiversity event each at North Devon's Biosphere
Reserve and Biosffer Dyfi Biosphere. Contact NDCCS if
you have ideas for that event or are interested in being
involved
Are you organising IYB 2010 events? If so, we would
like to hear about them. Contact us.
Marine and Coastal Education Conference success
Thanks to all those that took part in and attended
this successful event at RUDA holiday Park. It was a
full, interesting and involving day that brought a lot
of people together and created some new
partnerships.
The day was jointly sponsored by the Biosphere
Reserve and AONB 50th Programme.
Biosphere education days in May
The Biosphere Reserve and Devon Learning and Development
Partnership are organising 2 education days in May
2010. Contact NDCCS or DLDP for more information.
21st May, Saunton Sands Hotel - People and
Environment KS2 resources teacher training
day.
27th May, Hallsannery Centre near Bideford -
Outdoor Learning day.
Learning
in the Biosphere Reserve.
Monday 3rd May - Cycling
fun day at Rock Park
Fun days will be held in five 'cycling hub' towns
across Devon, including Barnstaple, to launch a Devon
County Council campaign to encourage people to take up
cycling.
To help promote this campaign a new website, www.cycledevon.info has now gone
live.
Wildflower
walks - Wed 2 to sat 26 June. John and Mary
Breeds.
Wildflower
wonder - Sat 12 June. NDCCS
Geology
walk - Sat 12 June. Hallsannery
Shore
safari - Wed 16 June. Coastwise North Devon
Life on the
rocks - Sun 27 Jun. Hallsannery
Appledore Visual Arts Festival June 3rd to 6th
2010.
Three workshops are being sponsored by the Biosphere
Reserve. Booking Leaflet and Form or contact Fiona on 07900
212747
A Walk on
the Wild Side (Warren Collum) Spend two days with
Warren, a highly experienced wildlife artist, on
Braunton Burrows. Draw from direct observation and
visual note taking to produce fresh, spontaneous work
which captures the moment. A night session will focus
around the Moth Trap. Saturday June 5th and Sunday June
6th 10 am - 4 pm Braunton Burrows, Adults Only. £80
Shoreline
Safari (Mark and Peter Ward) A fantastic
opportunity for all ages to combine scientific
observation with artistic expression. Dr Mark Ward from
the Field Studies Council is an expert in Marine
Biology, he will take you on a journey to discover the
wildlife to be found on Appledore's beaches. Peter Ward,
an artist and illustrator will encourage you to create
your own artworks using found materials, sketching, mark
making, collage and other techniques. Friday June 4th 10
am - 4.00 pm Blue Lights Hall, Appledore Adults £25, U18
£17.50 (Over 8 only)
Who Needs a
Camera ? (Dave Green) Experience the wonder of
watching images appear on the paper, create the most
amazing daylight prints, photograms and pin-hole
photographs from seaweed and other objects from the
beach. And all of this without a camera !. Some images
will be made entirely on the beach by a long exposure to
light throughout the day. Explore contact printing onto
photographic paper and the absolute magic of
constructing and using a pin-hole camera. Saturday June
5th 11 am - 5.00 pm Blue Lights Hall, Appledore Adults
£25, U18 £17.50 (Over 8 only)
Biosphere partnership minutes and meetings
14 May
2010. 10am to 2pm. Location to be arranged
07 September
2010. 10am to 2pm. Location to be arranged
18 January
2011. Location to be arranged
17 May
2011. Location to be arranged
20 September
2011. Location to be arranged
Click here to access latest minutes (scroll
to bottom of the
page) |
