A round-up of community news from across East Devon. Got a story to share? Email your news, photos, events and what’s on, to newsdesk@eastdevonnews.co.uk
Sidmouth
A voucher worth £50 plus a match donation to charity is up for grabs for the winner named as community hero in Sidmouth.
Hartford Care is inviting nominations to recognise a Sidmouth community hero to be rewarded for their efforts and achievements, helping others.
The community hero will be chosen by residents of Malden House, in Sidford Road, Sidmouth.
The winner will be presented with a £50 multi-retailer voucher, plus a donation of £50 to their chosen charity.
And they will be invited to afternoon tea at the care home to celebrate their success.
Nominations close on January 31 and the winner will be announced on February 7.
The Sidmouth community hero will be in with the chance to win an overnight hotel stay, plus £100 to donate to charity if they are named the care company’s overall 2025 winner.
Emma Jones, Hartford Care, spokeswoman, said: “We want to say thank you to those who make a difference in their local communities. It could be a lollipop person who helps the children arrive to school safely, a milkman who knows when to raise an alert if someone’s curtains are unusually closed, or even a neighbour who pops a newspaper undercover to stop it getting soggy. Perhaps it’s someone who’s worked tirelessly to raise money for charity.”
Nominations can be made at the care home, or online here.
Devon
The British Gas Energy Trust is offering grants to help those struggling to heat their homes this winter.
The trust currently has two energy debt support funds open – The Individuals and Families Fund and Energy Support Fund are offering up to £2,000 in grants to British Gas and non-British Gas customers across England, Scotland and Wales.
To find out more about the grants, and to apply, see here.
East Devon
A pair of fully electric recycling lorries have been added to the East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) fleet in a bid for the authority to take ‘major steps’ towards its carbon emissions net zero target.
One of the new East Devon EV recycling trucks.
Photo: EDDC.
EDDC said the lorries would be used ‘to help accommodate the increasing number of properties’ in the Cranbrook, Tithebarn, and West Clyst areas of East Devon.
While the vehicles will mainly be used in these areas, they will also be trialled across various collection rounds throughout the district, EDDC said.
The Romaquip RQ-E lorries are part of the council’s aim to use greener transport.
EDDC said the council has already achieved a 45 per cent electric vehicle (EV) rate within its white fleet, with plans to reach 50 per cent during 2025.
Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC portfolio holder for coast, countryside, and environment, said: “Adding electric vehicles to our recycling fleet is a major milestone in our journey towards net zero carbon by 2040.
“We will be working with our partners, SUEZ, and are proud to be one of the first district councils to operate fully electric recycling vehicles.”
He added: “These vehicles will help us decide if they are suited to the whole of our district.”
Devon
Responsible dog walkers in East Devon have the chance to win a ‘Dicky Bag’ for clearing up after their pet.
Devon Loves Dogs has launched a competition to win no-niff dog poo bags until March 2025, with a monthly prize up for grabs.
Bag it and bin it at Pebblebed Heaths, East Devon.
Photo: with permission.
To enter, scan the QR codes on banners around the Pebblebed Heaths, in East Devon, and Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserves. Or with postcards available from Devon Loves Dogs and South East Devon Wildlife pop-up events, and online here.
The smell-proof Dicky Bag is lightweight, airtight, washable and leak proof. It can be attached to you or your dog and safely stores the poo until you find a bin or get home, helping avoid any embarrassing moments, nasty niffs or disgusted looks.
Julie Owen, Devon Loves Dogs co-ordinator, said: “It’s so important that people pick up after their dogs, wherever they’re walking. Sometimes people think that in the countryside dog poo is less harmful, but this isn’t the case. Our message is clear, keep your dog in sight so you can see where it is, clear up any poo and carry it with you until you reach a bin, or take it home. The Dicky Bag makes this even easier.”
She added: “Please don’t leave bagged dog waste to collect later and if a dog bin is full, please take yours home, don’t add it to the pile. Livestock, wildlife and even other dogs sometimes eat poo bags left behind.
“The stats prove that people are very good at placing dog waste in bins already so thanks to everyone who does. But we can do even more! We hope the competition will encourage more people to clean up too.”
Around 40 tonnes is collected every month from district council dog and litter bins in East Devon.
There are 416 dog bins across East Devon, with 1014 collections per week.
Sparing landfill, all dog waste is disposed of at the Energy from Waste Plant at Marsh Barton, in Exeter, where the electricity produced is exported to the National Grid.
East Devon
Rare bats and baby dormice were among the ‘remarkable wildlife activity’ spotted across East Devon nature reserves in 2024.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) recently revealed the results of last year’s ‘careful site management’ across the area.
East Devon District Council’s countryside team.
Photo: EDDC.
EDDC said highlights in 2024 included:
- Baby dormice “pinks” being found for the first time at new monitoring site Knapp Copse Local Nature Reserve.
- Protected species work continues with an adult male Bechstein’s bat being discovered in a bat box at Seaton Wetlands, and a juvenile barbastelle being radio-tracked to a roost in Holyford Woods.
EDDC said these two exceptionally rare bat species, listed under Annex II of the Habitats Directive, are indicators of extremely healthy habitats.
Also recorded were:
- A dingy skipper butterfly spotted at Delderfield.
- Record numbers of ospreys at Seaton Wetlands, a brown hairstreak butterfly spotted and an estimated 150 sand martin chicks hatching from 38 nests built at the site.
Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC portfolio holder coast, country and environment, said: ‘’2024 has been an exceptional year for the Countryside team. The site management choices being made by the team, such as leaving standing dead wood and enabling sensitive conservation grazing regimes, are having a truly positive impact which is demonstrated by the diverse wildlife at our sites across the district.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to all involved, particularly the 160-strong volunteer base whose efforts enable the team to make such an impact on the landscape.’’
Seaton
Seaton seafront is in line for a facelift in a bid to ‘improve the surrounding area’ after the district council announced plans for a public consultation.
The move comes after East Devon District Council (EDDC) recently replaced an old seafront bus shelter, replacing the structure with a ‘modern, eco-friendly upgrade, complete with ‘living roof’ and an electronic ‘real-time’ information board.
The new bus shelter on Seaton seafront.
Photo: EDDC.
EDDC said it was ‘committed to involving the community in shaping the space’s future’ adding the emphasis was on ‘the need for careful planning’.
The current plan includes limiting street furniture – such as benches – to gauge how the area could be shaped.
In addition, planned coastal defence work this year could result in the area being used by council contractors.
Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC portfolio holder for coast, country and environment, said: “We will consult with the public in due course, but we need to manage expectations by ensuring that options are achievable before sharing them.”
