Community news round-up from East Devon and Exeter – including Exmouth, Sidmouth, Cranbrook, Honiton, Budleigh Salterton, Seaton. Send your celebrations, photos, what’s on, event news to newsdesk@eastdevonnews.co.uk
Budleigh Salterton
Residents celebrated Burns Night trying Scottish food and drink, and discussed past holidays. Photo: with permission.
Burns Night with a difference was celebrated by care home residents in Budleigh Salterton amid an afternoon of armchair travel.
The Firs Residential Home residents strapped in and enjoyed the ride, taking a pretend flight to Scotland, enjoying the sights, sounds, and flavours on the way.
From their home in East Devon, residents tried Scottish food and drink, sang, and discussed past holidays.
A spokesperson for the care home said: The afternoon began with residents ‘boarding a flight’ to Scotland, fastening their seatbelts and setting off on a short journey north – all from the comfort of their chairs. From the rugged Highlands to historic cities, residents were taken on an immersive experience exploring Scotland’s rich culture and traditions.
“Along the way, everyone had the chance to sample a selection of Scottish treats. Butter Tablet and Irn-Bru sparked plenty of discussion – with mixed reviews – while the homemade shortbread proved a clear favourite.”
Photo: with permission.
Bagpipe music sparked residents to join in singing Auld Lang Syne.
The spokesperson added: “The music prompted residents to share memories of previous visits to Scotland, with stories of holidays, favourite places and moments that clearly stayed close to their hearts.”
Seaton
Record-breaking numbers of visitors to Seaton Wetlands were recorded over 2025, it has been revealed.
Pictured here is Seaton Wetlands in the summer.
Photo: with permission.
Some 124,850 visitors headed for the East Devon nature reserve, an increase on the year before.
The district council believes the additional visitors was the result of dry weather, planned events and being featured on BBC Countryfile.
Cranbrook
Cranbrook Education Campus pupils received certificates for helping to plant trees on National Trust farmland near their school. Photo: with permission.
Pupils at Cranbrook Education Campus have been planting trees to create new woodland on a National Trust farm in East Devon.
The youngsters were presented with a certificate in recognition for each tree they planted at Elbury Farm, near Broadclyst.
Certificates were handed out to pupils helping to plant trees. Photo: with permission.
Hannah Wickens, Cranbrook Education Campus assistant headteacher, said: “This project has given our pupils a real sense of pride and ownership.
“By working outdoors and contributing to something that will last for generations, they’re learning first-hand about caring for the environment, working together and making a positive difference in their local community.”
Pupils planted trees at Elbury Farm, near Broadclyst. Photo: with permission.
East Devon
Richard Foord, MP for Honiton & Sidmouth, has called for Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy to invest in improved flood defences for local communities, after Storm Chandra this week battered East and Mid Devon.
Pictured here is Richard Foord Honiton & Sidmouth MP, speaking in the chamber.
Photo: with permission.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (January 28), Mr Foord told the Deputy PM how “Devon is submerged, and needs better flood defences.”
Mr Foord, speaking after PMQs, said: “The storm has hit our part of Devon particularly hard, and most of the communities I represent have been affected. “Residents across the area have suffered flooded homes.”
He added: “I was particularly dismayed to see that Tipton St John Primary School was flooded yet again. I will work with local councillors to help secure the building of a new school on higher ground in the village.”
East Devon
Cold-callers claiming to be drain inspectors have been targeting homes in East Devon, police have warned.
The rural East Devon police team said ‘numerous reports’ had been received where rogue traders had called on vulnerable residents.
A police spokesperson said: “The rural East Devon neighbourhood team have had numerous reports of drainage inspectors cold-calling vulnerable residents throughout the community arranging to inspect their drains for blockages.
“We are urging members of the public to be vigilant and to check on vulnerable neighbours.”
They added: “Please do not agree to any work from cold-callers as often it will be at inflated unfair price and they will be committing fraud.”
Exeter
A woman who fell 15-foot in Alphington, Exeter, and became stuck on a platform, was rescued by firefighters.
Fire crews from Danes Castle and Middlemoor, both in Exeter, and Exmouth, were called to Alphington at lunchtime on Tuesday (January 27) where they rescued the woman after she could not reach the ground.
A fire service spokesperson said: “Crews were called to a female stuck on a platform two-metres off the ground, after falling 15ft.
“Fire crews used safety at heights equipment with a triple extension ladder to perform a rescue, and duty of care was passed to waiting paramedics.”
Cranbrook
Cranbrook Education Campus is a ‘Lead School’ for the Department for Education’s national Attendance and Behaviour Hubs programme. Photo: with permission.
Pupils in East Devon are celebrating their flagship school being recognised by the government for pupil attendance and behaviour.
Cranbrook Education Campus has been picked to lead national work on attendance and school culture.
The school has been selected as a ‘Lead School’ for the Department for Education’s national Attendance and Behaviour Hubs programme.
Stephen Farmer, Cranbrook Education Campus head, said: “We are proud to work alongside other schools, sharing what has worked for us while learning from their contexts and experiences too.”
Exeter
Pictured here are St Luke’s pupils with the shoeboxes full of donations.
Photo: with permission.
Students in Exeter donated warm clothes and toiletries for homeless people, teaming up with a volunteer support group geared up to help rough sleepers.
St Luke’s Church of England School joined forces with Smile at a Stranger – Help for the Homeless Devon, where volunteers collect and distribute donations across the county.
The youngsters packed their donations in shoeboxes for the volunteer group to distribute to charities and organisations working directly with homeless people.
Mr Harrison Littler, St Luke’s C of E School headteacher, said: “We are so proud of our students, staff and families for coming together to support this important cause. It’s wonderful to see our community making a real difference for people in need.”
Sidmouth
Sidmouth Town Council has voted to increase its portion of council tax it will charge residents over the next financial year.
The town council on January 19 agreed to raise the parish tax by 5.1 per cent, meaning an increase of £5.44 per year – or 10.5p a week – for an average Band D property. The annual charge for a Band D property will be £111.35.
The town council said parish tax is ‘spent entirely on services that directly benefit the residents, businesses and voluntary organisations of the Sid Valley’.
The town council promised to fund more than 30 community organisations and voluntary groups over the next financial year through its three grant pots, such as improving water quality in the River Sid, maintaining the local cemetery, advice sessions, combatting social isolation, public art projects, community music, surf lifesaving and junior football.
Cllr Hilary Nelson, Sidmouth Town Council chair, said “This budget will enable us to maintain and protect the services and assets that make Sidmouth unique, to help our residents to thrive and our community to flourish.
“The town council is in a unique position to be able to respond to the needs and wants of residents, and to tailor local services to best fit the needs of the Sid Valley. We will take every opportunity to make the Sid Valley even better and we are delighted to have been able to support many voluntary organisations which do so much to enhance and reinforce the strength of our community.”
Cllr Nelson added: “We are committed to working together to keep Sidmouth special, now and in the future.”
Exmouth
Pictured here is the Exmouth inshore lifeboat, George Bearman II.
Photo: Exmouth RNLI
A cold windsurfer whose equipment failed in the water was rescued from the rough sea at Exmouth and had a shower in the lifeboat station to warm up.
The Exmouth inshore lifeboat on Saturday afternoon (January 24) launched to Pole Sands in challenging conditions amid Storm Ingrid to pick up the windsurfer from rough surf in the estuary mouth.
The windsurfer’s friends raised the alarm after seeing him in difficulty.
He was picked up by the inshore lifeboat crew and taken to the seafront RNLI station, and given blankets and took a shower to warm up.
Liam Pessell, Exmouth RNLI launch authority, said: “There were a number of people out on the water, making the most of the windy conditions. Unfortunately, for this casualty, his equipment failed him.
“Our crew are always ready when the pager goes and we are happy that we were able to bring him to safety.
“Despite the conditions being pretty windy, the winds were blowing onshore, and this meant we could locate the casualty quickly and get him back to the warmth of the boathouse.”
Devon
Photographer Simon Horn took this photo of Sidmouth seafront amid Storm Ingrid. Photo: with permission.
Damage and flooding to homes in Devon caused by storms Ingrid and Chandra has prompted the county council to lobby the government for ‘urgent’ funding.
Devon County Council said its leader Councillor Julian Brazil has issued an urgent call for financial support to help communities hit by the storms, and urged Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds to visit the worst-hit communities.
Sidmouth seafront was battered by waves and pebbles from Storm Ingrid. Photo: Simon Horn.
Cllr Brazil said: “We are experiencing more frequent and more severe storms. This is having a significant impact on people’s lives.
“Our communities rely on resilient transport infrastructure to stay safe and to access work, education and essential services.
“Yet once again this week, the consequences of decades of under‑investment by central government in Devon is being felt across our county.”
He added: “The aftermath of this weekend’s storm and now Storm Chandra makes it clear that we urgently need national support to repair the damage, strengthen our defences and build long‑term resilience.”
Sidmouth seafront felt the full force of Storm Ingrid. Photo: Simon Horn.
Exmouth
An Exmouth woman who has proved a lifeline for breastfeeding mums has been recognised nationally with a British Citizen Award Medal of Honour for Services to Healthcare.
Jodie Wilkerson, director of Exmouth Bosom Buddies CIC, was presented with the accolade at the Palace of Westminster, London.
The People’s Honours ceremony celebrates those who go the extra mile for their community.
Jodie Wilkerson, director of Exmouth Bosom Buddies CIC, was presented with her medal by Steve Gayter. Photo: with permission.
Jodie’s award was presented in recognition of her work supporting parents through pregnancy, breastfeeding and early parenthood – resulting in the birth of Exmouth Bosom Buddies in 2019 when local authority funding cuts threatened to close the area’s only breastfeeding support group.
After receiving her medal, Jodie said: “This honour belongs to the volunteers as much as to me. They are absolutely crucial to everything we do.
“I love that we bring people from all different backgrounds into the same room, experiencing similar challenges and building friendships they might never otherwise have made.
“I’m really proud that we’ve kept this much-needed service going for our community.”
Exmouth Bosom Buddies, part of Nurture East Devon, offers free breastfeeding and early parenting support every Wednesday from 12.30pm–2.30pm. See Nurture East Devon on Facebook for more details.
Honiton
Police were called to a burglary at flat in Honiton where it was found possessions from the property were stolen.
A teenager from the town was arrested and released on bail.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: “We were notified following a report of a burglary at a flat in Northcote Lane, Honiton, overnight between 22 and 23 January.
“It was reported entry was gained and various items including clothing and tobacco stolen.
“An 18-year-old from Honiton has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been released on police bail. He was also arrested in connection to three shoplifting offences.”
