December 22 complete

DECEMBER 2022 60P Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team TEIGN UNITY –submissions NO LATER THAN 14th of the month 7th in December PUBLISHED MONTHLY: Price £6.00 per year or 60p per copy EDITORIAL: Michelle Frost Moorpark Bungalow, Dunsford 07896846501 EMAIL: [email protected] DISTRIBUTION: CHRISTOW: BRIONY FALCH Bryony Cottage, Christow 01647 252887 BRIDFORD: ANNE CRONIN Little Orchard, Bridford 01647 252446 DUNSFORD: MRS ANN BROWNING 01647 253135 DODDISCOMBSLEIGH: MR HUGO TILLOTSON 01647 253165 DUNCHIDEOCK: MR RAY MALLETT 01392 833351 SMALL CLASSIFIED ADS: JILL RICHARDS £2.50 UP TO 4 LINES AND £4.00 UPTO A MAXIMUM OF 8 LINES EMAIL: [email protected] ANNUAL BOXED ADS: RAY MALLETT EMAIL: [email protected] TEIGN VALLEY CHURCHES RECTOR: Rev’d Ruth Frampton 01647 253164 07772 127598 CURATE: Rev’d Eleanor Oelmann 01647 252180 CHURCH WARDENS: 01647 253040 01647 270061 ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, ASHTON 07759140768 01647 253165 ST THOMAS BECKET, BRIDFORD FRANCIS LEVERSEDGE 01392 832332 ST JAMES, CHRISTOW ADRIAN CANVIN ST MARY DUNSFORD SUSIE URSELL AMANDA MATRAVERS ST MICHAEL DODDISCOMBSLEIGH HUGO TILLOTSON ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS DUNCHIDEOCK CHURCHES ADMINISTRATOR: STEVE COOK [email protected] PLEASE RECYCLE ME

WEEKLY EVENTS BRIDFORD VILLAGE HALL MONDAY T.R SING GRP 7.00-9.00 PM Marie 07866877423 TUESDAY Cribbage 7.30 pm (last tue of the mth) 01647 252721 01647 252721 WEDNESDAY Scouts 7.00-9.00 pm Paul French 01647 252721 01647 252644 THURSDAY Beavers 5.15-6.30 pm Paul French Cubs 6.30-8.00 pm Paul French FRIDAY Yoga 5.00-6.00pm Kitty McCrea CHRISTOW TEIGN VALLEY COMMUNITY HALL Monday Yoga 7 pm - 8.30 pm Jan 01626 853236 07833 432022 Tuesday Diddi Doddi Mums 9 am -11.30 am Claire 01647 252701 01647 252653 Acorn (Fortnightly) 10 am -12 noon Mandy 01647 252731 01364 661532 Table Tennis 2.30 pm - 4 pm Richard/Jane 01647 253164 Country Club 5.45 pm - 7 pm Sue Griffin 01647 252064 01647 252064 Christow Parish Council 7.30 - 9.00 pm Carol Retallick 07803 136332 (1st Tuesday of Month) Wednesday 3 Ws 2 pm - 4 pm Ruth Frampton Short Mat Bowls 7 pm - 9.30 pm Derek Thursday Badminton 7.30 pm –9.00 pm Derek Friday Pilates 9.30 am - 10.30 am Abi Friday Available for weddings/ parties etc. from 5.00pm Saturday/Sunday Available for weddings/ parties etc Sunday Bowls 7.00 – 9.00 pm Derek/Chris 01647 252064 TVCH Bookings : 0845 3883607 or mail: [email protected] CHRISTOW TVCH CAR PARK Saturdays Running 8.30am For venue details check Diary on www.teignvalleyrunningclub.co.uk Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

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Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team TEIGN VALLEY AND HALDON HILL MISSION COMMUNITY The Teign Valley & Haldon Hill Mission Community includes the parishes of Ashton, Bridford, Christow, Doddiscombsleigh, Dunchideock and Dunsford. Rev’d Ruth Frampton (Rector) - 01647 253164 or [email protected]. Rev’d Eleanor Oelmann - 07772 127598 or [email protected]. Pastoral Care If you would like, or know someone who would be glad of, a call or “virtual” visit from Rev’d Frampton or Rev’d Oelmann, or another member of the church community, please contact the rectory (contact details above), or the Churches’ Administrator (see Getting in touch… below). Church Open Times and Private Prayer: All our churches are open daily for visiting and private prayer. Sunday Services There is a 9am telephone service each Sunday - see details below for how to join. If you miss the Sunday sermon, catch up by phone. Call local number 01647 407047 to listen during the following week. All our church buildings are open for public worship and details are provided in the separate schedule of services. Please check the “A Church Near You” website for your parish for updates (search for e.g. “A Church Near You Bridford”). Wednesday Evening Prayer There is a regular, short service of evening prayer each Wednesday at 6pm by telephone – see details below for how to join. For telephone services, you do not need internet access, just a landline or mobile telephone. Between 5 and 10 minutes before the service begins, please dial 0333 011 0616 and enter the code 334 7721, followed by the # key, when asked. The cost of the call is the standard cost for any 01, 02 or 03 number, but will vary according to your telephone contract. Christmas Services There are lots of opportunities to celebrate Christmas together over the next few weeks, and everyone is welcome. Look out for cards, posters and invitations with the “Follow The Star – The Great Invitation” logo! Make sure you make some time this Christmas to join at least one of the following: Sunday 4 December: 10:30am Christingle at Dunsford Sunday 11 December:4:00pm Christingle at Dunchideock 6:00pm Carol Service at Christow Tuesday 13 December 4:30pm Walking Nativity and Carols (starting at Doddiscombsleigh School and finishing in Church) PLEASE RECYCLE ME

Sunday 18 December 6:30pmCarol Service at Dunsford Christmas Eve 4:00pmCrib Service at Dunsford 6:00pm Carol Service at Bridford 8:00pm Christmas Night Holy Communion at Doddiscombsleigh 10:00pm Christmas Night Holy Communion at Ashton 10:00pm Christmas Night Holy Communion at Dunchideock 10:00pm Christmas Night Holy Communion at Dunsford Christmas Day 10:30amChristmas Family Service at Dunsford 10:30am Christmas Family Communion at Christow Stop Press – Messy Church – Saturday 14 January Don’t miss the next Messy Church at 3pm on Saturday 14 January at Teign Valley Community Hall. Scattered Church – Home Communion – Wednesday 21 December & Tuesday 31 January Rev’d Ruth and Rev’d Eleanor will be taking home communion to those who are not able to attend church. If you would like them to visit, please contact them (details above). Opportunities for Prayer There are two opportunities each month to join together specifically to pray for our world, our communities, our churches and those we know. Everyone is welcome. The prayer times, both between 5pm and 6pm, are: • Tuesday 6 December – St Mary’s, Dunsford • Tuesday 20 December – Villages’ Prayer at Stonehouse, Village Road, Christow • Tuesday 3 January – St John the Baptist, Ashton • Tuesday 17 January – Villages’ Prayer at Webberton Meadows, Dunchideock Giving It is possible to make a donation towards the general mission and running costs of each of our six churches through an online giving page on the “A Church Near You” website – see https://www.achurchnearyou.com and search for the relevant parish. The “Give Now” button will enable you to make an online donation, which can also be Gift Aided. From the registers… Baptisms: 26 November Oliver and William Hamilton (Christow) Weddings: 19 November Lewis Chambers and Alice Jenner (Christow) Funerals: 25 October Philip Smith (Dunchideock) 4 November Howard Jones (Dunsford) Getting in touch… If you wish to discuss plans for a baptism/christening, banns of marriage, wedding, funeral, interment of ashes or memorial service, or have any other enquiry, please contact Steve Cook, the Churches’ Administrator, on 01392 832332 or email [email protected] Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team A LETTER FROM THE CLERGY Cheer or not to cheer! Christmas can be one of those marmite seasons, can’t it? You either love it or hate it. The piped Christmas music in the shops either warms the excitement within you, or intensely irritates you; the presents under the tree fill you with anticipation, or you spend time calculating how much money has been wasted; the decorations and the Christmas ‘extras’ are the things which makes Christmas special, or they’re the things which tip you over the edge! You either love the razmataz or you don’t. Which end of the continuum are you on, I wonder? That is why our season of Advent is so important. It is a time of waiting and anticipation. It gives us space to prepare our hearts for the real meaning of Christmas. Not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus but we also long for a time when Christ will come again and darkness will be forever extinguished and light and love will pour extravagantly into our world. No more wars, no more pain, no more crying, no more hatred, no more death – this is the darkness we want extinguished. While we wait for that time, we light our Christingles and our candles and pray for Jesus’ light to lighten our world even now. There is a wonderful Christmas carol by Christina Rossetti which sums up God’s intense love for our world: Love came down at Christmas Love all lovely, love divine. Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign. We would love to see you in one of our churches over the Christmas season, details of times and places are included in this magazine. Can I encourage us all to use the Advent season well, to reflect, to wait, to hope and to pray for Christ’s light and love to shine in our world and in each one of our hearts. Happy Advent, happy waiting, happy pondering and happy Christmas! PLEASE RECYCLE ME

ASHTON SO we come to the end of this topsy- turvy year of 2022- a year of extremes and records and changes - not least the death of the Sovereign and the accession, after a long apprenticeship of King Charles. It is still taking some concentration to put King in front of so many national institutions. The church enters its own year change , going into December - we return to year A in the cycle - in contrast to the calendar change for us all on January 1st - we begin Advent with the churches bare of adornment and in stark contrast to the riots of Autumn colours still holding onto the surrounding trees and in our inside floral decorations - everything metaphorically holding it ‘s breath until the Christmas celebrations . Our Christmas Eve service will follow more traditional lines than the last few years, we will have a Christmas communion service at 10pm on 24th December – with the usual carols and readings and the opportunity to begin the season with this lovely candlelit celebration. The Concert at the Great Barn will , as usual , will be among the early December events on 13th at 7.30. always an inspiring and wonderful setting for some beautiful music to lead into the season. Christmas library tea on THURSDAY 15TH will be FESTIVE! so if you have never ventured into our small but perfectly formed village hall, this would be the time - we brew jolly good tea & the cake is always the best – so do join us – we also offer an opportunity to book swap – perhaps time to make room for the literary Christmas gifts to come, or maybe find extra reading material for the break – there is a very wide and comprehensive selection of books available to browse. Just remains to thank the Ashton church team for all the support over the year and to wish everyone a peaceful and enjoyable time over Christmas and if possible a calmer year ahead in 2023 . With every good wish also, to the Producers of thisTeign Unity magazine – it is much appreciated in the valley & often beyond . Thank you all. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

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Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team ASHTON WILDLIFE WARDEN UPDATE The Holly and the Ivy – Well, I’d like to talk particularly about the ivy, a much maligned plant unfairly accused of harming trees (it does not), that provides food, shelter and nesting places for so much wildlife. My attention was drawn to it in October whilst listening to an interview with Vicki Hird, author of ‘Re-bugging the Planet’ on the UK Wildlife podcast. I went straight out to take a look and sure enough, in the Autumn sunshine, the Sputnik shaped flowers were humming with insects including bees, hoverflies, and red admiral butterflies. It was clear that it is an important late source of nectar, and anything that helps insects to thrive has a positive impact on other creatures. It is thought that the flowers, berries, and plant structure of ivy supports up to 50 wildlife species. The small black berries are an important food source for many birds, helping them during the cold winter months. The dense growth of evergreen leaves provides nesting opportunities for robins, wrens and dunnocks, and shelter for bats, birds and hibernating insects. And also for us! Recent research has shown that ivy on our walls serves as insulation, cooling the house in summer, reducing heat loss and humidity in winter, rather than making the walls damp as has been thought. Neither does it damage walls – as long as mortar is in good condition, the plant protects them from the elements and keeps them dry. So celebrate ivy beyond singing the carol, knowing that, far from doing damage, it is playing a hugely important part in supporting biodiversity in our gardens and countryside. With wildlife in mind: Are you a landowner in a position to plant a new hedge? If you have a site where a new hedge could link up with a piece of woodland to create a wildlife corridor you can apply to the Woodland Trust for up to 75% of the cost through their MOORhedges scheme. The new hedge must be at least 100m long in an unbroken run and link up with an established or newly planted woodland, or it can link to woodland up to 500m away via established hedges. The details and an application form can be found on the Woodland Trust website. If you have thoughts about this or anything to do with the natural world and want to get involved, do contact me [email protected]. Shira Rüb BRIDFORD CAROL SINGING CAROL SINGING -in the village garden with mulled wine and mince pies. Then more Carol's at the Bridford Inn. Monday 19th December at 7 pm. If wet we will meet at the Bridford Inn at 8 pm. CHRISTMAS EVE- carol service at Bridford church. 6pm. A lovely traditional way to start Christmas with your neighbour's. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

BRIDFORD PARISH COUNCIL Refurbishment of the Bus Shelter When the Parish Council asked for a volunteer to paint the bus shelter, Cllr Pippa Marriot’s offer was gratefully accepted and with Cllr Judy Topley’s assistance with cleaning and rubbing down and the aid of Teignbridge District Council’s Clean Up fund to purchase the necessary materials, work commenced. Obviously it was hoped that a good clean, rub down and a coat of paint would make a big difference, but what a difference! Pippa’s hidden talents have come to the fore and a wonderful mural is emerging on the interior walls of the bus shelter with local residents stopping to chat and admire her work. Many of the village children, catching the bus to school have also commented on how bright and cheerful it now looks. When the painting has been completed it is planned to add a small notice board, an information notice about the mural and possibly some plants going up the outside wall. “Thank you Pippa, your time and skill is transforming our old bus shelter into a work of art.” Village Garden Also having been hard at work and to whom thanks are extended, are Alan and Kathy Fitzjohn who kindly agreed to take on the task of repainting the railings at the Village Garden. The Clean Up funds received from Teignbridge District Council has enabled paint and materials to be purchased for this project to be undertaken as well. 20’s Plenty for Devon A ‘20’s Plenty for Devon’ project kindly undertaken by Cllr Judy Topley has now come to fruition and nine road signs, designed by local children, have now been installed at strategic points in Bridford in an effort to reduce speeding through the village. These road signs were purchased thanks to a grant from our local County Councillor Jerry Brook. Gritting Machine Volunteers It is that time of year again when our thoughts turn to the approach of the colder weather and how we are going to get in and out of the village when Pound Lane becomes icy. Anne Mayes, our Snow Warden has been trying to contact her volunteers who turned out to grit the hill last year. Unfortunately, one of last year’s volunteers who has now left the village was a driver who now urgently needs to be replaced. It is not necessary to have a four wheel drive vehicle, just a car with a tow hitch that can tow the grit spreader. If you would like to join the team of volunteers who keep the hill safe, either as a driver or operative, please do get in touch with the Clerk now (tel. 01647 252805 /email: [email protected]) and your details will be passed on to the Snow Warden. Remember, the more volunteers that are available to be called upon, the less often you are likely to be required to go out and your time and help will be appreciated by so many. Bridford Coronation Celebrations Bridford’s Coronation Party next year will take place on Sunday May 7th either in the Woodland Park or the Village Hall, being dependant on the weather. It is planned to hold a draw with the proceeds going to the local Parish Church. More details nearer the time but any help will be appreciated. 2023 District and Parish Elections The current term of office for District and Parish Councillors comes to an end next May. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team Elections will be held on Thursday 4th May which may seem a long way ahead, but it is not too early to be thinking about whether you would like to be nominated for election and what you could bring to the table as a Parish Councillor for Bridford. The Clerk or any of the existing members of the Parish Council will be happy to talk to you. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting The next meeting of Bridford Parish Council will be held on 5th December at the Village Hall commencing at 7.00pm. All are welcome to attend. BRIDFORD WIVES We had a fun and creative evening last month with many thanks to the talented Pauline Fox who demonstrated how to make gorgeous Christmas table decorations. She then let us loose with fresh foliage and an assortment of glittery flowers, berries, ribbons and florists’ tools to have a go ourselves. Sylvana won the raffle. We are looking forward to our Christmas dinner at 7 for 7.30 pm on Thursday 1st December at The Bridford Inn where we can give our best frocks and glittery footwear an airing (if we wish!) and are assured of having good food and a fun time, including a Secret Santa. Looking further ahead, our January meeting will be on Tuesday 3rd in the lower room, Village Hall. This is our usual post-Christmas catch up and a chance to use up any surplus mince pies, chocolates, posh biscuits, Prosecco, wine, cheese etc. which might otherwise go to waste, so please bring along anything you wish to share. Happy Christmas! Lorraine 252377 BRIDFORD CHAT IN 8TH DECEMBER A huge thank you to Francis, Daphne, Rosemary and Hilary for providing a splendid lunch in November of Savoury tarts, salads and delicious dessert's. It was great to see Valerie and Kath who have just moved into the village. This month on Thursday 8th December we will once again be in the village hall, 12 for 12.30, for our usual Christmas lunch where everyone brings a sharing plate. So that we don’t have duplicates a list has been prepared of suggested food to bring. If you weren’t at the November lunch and haven’t put your name on the list and want to come, please contact Tessa (253239) or Melinda (253541) to discuss a dish to bring. Don’t forget your homework - the 12 days of Christmas! If Anne can be persuaded to organise us all again! Looking forward to seeing you all! BRIDFORD VILLAGE HALL DRAW –NOVEMBER 2022 1st £25 - No. 174 Mike Headly 2nd £15 - No. 147 Ivy Turner 3rd £10 - No. 204 Bob Jones PLEASE RECYCLE ME

BRIDFORD WILDLIFE WARDEN In last month’s Update we asked for your views on our “Ecological Management Plan” for Bridford’s grass verges which was adopted by Bridford Parish Council in January 2022 and is up for review in January 2023. Well many of you did respond and we received 11 responses, 10 by email and one Facebook comment. We were delighted that positive responses outnumbered negative ones by 10:1. It is very encouraging to know that there are many people in the village who are aware of the difficulties facing wildlife and who recognise the need to take action now to help even in small ways to redress this. However we are also aware that although we only received one negative response, there will be others who also struggle to see the benefit of such a scheme in the countryside where we are surrounded by farmland and where we have some fantastic natural resources such as the Woodland Park and Rowden Valley Wood, and wonder what the point of it all is. To them we would say that the biodiversity crisis that we currently face is not restricted to more built up areas and is being felt throughout the countryside also, due to a combination of factors including the intensification of agriculture. Historically, farming would have allowed for hay meadows which are a nectar rich source for insect pollinators and food source for birds and small mammals, but since the 1930s 97% of these have gone and for this reason the margins of land and what we do with them is important. Here in Bridford people who have lived here a long time have told us of a depletion in species such as hares, yellowhammers and house martins. Though this will be due to numerous causes, one of these is the lack of traditionally managed meadows. Though the Bridford verges may seem like a small area, they can support a huge number of pollinating insects and will be part of a much larger patchwork of wildlife friendly areas. Many species struggle to travel far, so wildlife corridors are vital in fighting species depletion. We envisage the verges working with the Woodland park, wildlife friendly farms and gardens, creating corridors throughout the area. So, thank you again to everyone who responded, and to Bridford Parish Council for their ongoing support. We would also like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas as we look forward to 2023 and continuing to work with you all for the benefit of wildlife in Bridford. Contact us: [email protected]. Our Christmas picture is an original drawing by talented wildlife warden Lucy Smerdon. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

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Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team WASSAIL 2023 A date of the diary: Wassail 2023 14th January 2023, 5pm - 8pm at The Bridford Woodland Trust. Come along to help the Green Man and Wassail Queen bless the Wassail Tree thereby ensuring another ample apple harvest in 2023. As part of the festivities, you can chase away the evil spirits by making lots of noise with pots and pans. Of course there will be a magical lantern parade and plenty of spiced local cider for all (spiced apple juice for chil- dren). See you there. (NB. If the weather is ghastly, the festivities will be transferred to the Bridford Village Hall.) HORSE & HEART CHRISTMAS WHISPERS, Festival of Light – a family & community event at Horse & Heart! Sunday Dec 18th To all people, little or old! Come and join us for an afternoon of Christmas & Solstice Magic followed by a Procession of Light lead by a Christmas pony. We will start with Storytelling to warm the heart and share the Orange Ceremony of Love & Light together. The ponies will whisper to us the secrets of Christmas and we will learn the song of Light. Then we will make some lanterns and paint our faces – ready to follow a pony who knows the magic to bring Light and warmth to the hearts of people through the village. A family event to reconnect to our hearts among the horses, for little people and grown- ups alike. Children under 15 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Entry: Suggested donation £25 per family group – £10 minimum donation. To book your place: www.Horse-and-Heart.com/events PROCESSION OF LIGHT in BRIDFORD – some time between 4 and 5pm on Dec 18th – Look out for the Christmas Pony leading this procession, sharing blessings, songs and Light! TEIGN RIVER SINGING GROUP Sharing Evening Monday Dec 12th at 7 pm Bridford Village Hall Entry: Donation at your discretion Bring food to share! The Teign River Singing Group is delighted to invite you to our cosy gathering for the end of term. We have been meeting for almost a year now, sharing songs, laughter, proud new achievements and warm and fuzzy camaraderie in the Bridford Village Hall, welcoming some who think they can sing and all who thought they couldn't. And we would LOVE to share our songs with you, as well as some of the fun and love from the group. So please do come and join us for an evening, sharing lovely food and maybe have a go at learning a song with us too if you like! PLEASE RECYCLE ME

CHRISTOW THE CHRISTOW WI Hello to you all as we approach Christmas remember the past, celebrate the present and look forward to what the future might bring. Members will be gathering at the Bridford Inn on Thursday 8th December for our meeting and Christmas lunch. The menu looks delicious – What to choose? Hibly has offered to entertain us with a poem and the liquid refreshment will once again be provided by the WI funds. As always at this time of year we will be thinking about those women fearing for their lives and seeking solace and shelter in the women’s refuge who state they are busier than ever this year. Members, please bring along your wrapped gifts containing toiletries, toys, or festive sweets, labelled for boy, girl or woman and we will see that they are deliv- ered. Our members theatre group is now up and running and on 14th December several of us are going to Teignmouth to see “Christmas Gothic” performed by Rebecca Vaughan. This show has had rave reviews following an international tour. It promises to entertain, illuminate, and chill in a ghostly way! As a member of the WI you can join us for monthly lunches and meetings with speakers. We have a summer outing, Autumn gathering and Christmas lunch for members only. Ac- company us to the theatre transport can usually be provided. You can vote to influence Government policy affecting women. You will meet likeminded women, make friends, and have fun. Why not give us a try. We look forward to meeting you. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and happy new year Anne Rice For more information or if you wish to join us email [email protected] MOBILE LIBRARY TIMETABLE 2022 Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team CHRISTOW PARISH COUNCIL Merry Christmas from Christow Parish Council Next Parish Council Meeting This will be on Tuesday 6th December November at 7.30pm in the Bowden room at the TVCH, details from previous meeting Minutes and Agendas can be found at www.christowparishcouncil.gov.uk. Avian Bird Flu High level of the Avian Bird Influenza are being reported in the country, and number of cases have been steadily climbing. From Monday 7th November owners are encouraged to adhere to the legislation requirement and protect their birds. All bird keepers (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard) are now required by law to take a range of precautions to protect their flocks. (Jeyes fluid is a Defra approved disinfectant for Avian Influenza). There are minimum requirements for all bird keepers to follow. If your birds are not housed, they must be kept in fenced / enclosed outdoor areas. Precautions include (amongst others): feeding birds under cover where wild birds cannot access, preventing access by captive birds to ponds and watercourses, and effectively cleansing and disinfecting any hardstanding surfaces in areas where birds are kept. Further enhanced measures apply for premises with over 500 poultry or other captive birds. Full details of what is required can be found on the government website - www.gov.uk/ guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#AIPZ You can find a self-assessment checklist at the above link to help you put the measures in place, as well as more information about the virus. You can keep up to date by regularly visiting the avian influenza section on the government website, and by registering for email or text alerts - www.gov.uk/guidance/ apha-alert-subscription-service Remember that if you have poultry/captive birds it is your responsibility to keep updated on any outbreaks and an easy way to do this is by signing up for text notifications – register with the APHA alerts service. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, you should promptly speak to your vet. The risk to public health from the virus is very low, however it is important that people don’t pick up sick or dead birds. You can report finding dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or other dead wild birds, such as birds of prey, to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 335577. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

Grants The councillors approve the grant application from the Teign Valley Committee Hall to improve the Wi-Fi coverage on the recreation field. Along with donations from the Show committee and the Tennis Club this will give better coverage and may be essential in the case of emergencies. Allotments The council have a few vacant plots – If you fancy growing your own vegetables, please contact the clerk for more details at [email protected] or call 01364 661532 Speeding vehicles through the village Again, it has been brought to the attention of the council that there are more concerns to the speed some vehicles are travelling through the village roads. The parish Council have tried to seek solutions to these problems in the past but the highways authority, and the Police cannot help. The roads do not meet the criteria for speed limit restrictions, given the villages rural location and plenty of natural obstacles which would slow vehicle down. The accident record does not show incidents that could add weight to speed restrictions being applied. Therefore, the only solution would be for volunteers to set up their own Community Speed Watch Group, there is training available, and support will be given to the group by the Police. More details can be obtained from the clerk. ROADSIDE HEDGE AND TREE MANAGEMENT Who is responsible for their maintenance? Many hedges and trees grow on the edge of the highway and mark its boundary with private property. In such cases it is the responsibility of the adjacent landowner or occupier to properly maintain them. This also applies to trees that overhang the highway or those which may fall on to it. Legal Requirements for Maintenance The Highways Act 1980 (Section 154) empowers the County Council, as the Highway Authority, to protect the safety of highways users by ensuring that owners and occupiers carry out their legal duties in respect of roadside hedges and trees. Owners and occupiers are required to: ▪ Trim hedges and trees to ensure growth does not obscure the view of road signs ▪ Trim roadside hedges to maintain visibility for road users, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends ▪ Trim and hedge that directly abuts a road, footway, cycleway or public right Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team of way so that growth does not prevent the passage or affect the safety of the highway user, including cyclists and pedestrians. ▪ Remove dead or decaying trees and other growth that may fall across the highway. ▪ Remove branches and other growth that may prevent the passage of high sided vehicles or obstruct light from a public lamp (street light). ▪ Ensure the highway (including the footway and drainage features) is left clear of debris from the cutting operations (Section 148, Highways Act 1980) Who undertakes the work? It is easier for all concerned if landowners/occupiers maintain their own trees and hedges to a good standard. What if the landowners/occupier fails to undertake work? The County Council makes every effort to encourage owners and occupiers to cut their hedges, and will work closely with Parish Councils and local people to identify occupiers who neglect this work and to remind them of their responsibilities. Where roadside growth is becoming a problem the County Council may serve a notice on the owner/occupier requiring the necessary work to be completed within a stated period. Failure to comply may result in the Council undertaking the work and claiming back the cost incurred. For further information about hedge and tree management go to https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/factsheet/hedges-and- verges/maintaining-hedges-and-trees/ Report a Highways Problem If you notice a defect on or near the highway no need to wait for the next council meeting. Please report it directly to DCC via their website or use the link https:// new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a- problem/ Jubilee Mugs We do still have some limited-edition Jubilee mugs that are £7 each, please contact the clerk to order yours. COMMUNITY POLICEMAN Our community policeman is PC 3114 David Hawkins and he can be contacted by email at [email protected] or telephone 101 and leave a message. PLEASE RECYCLE ME



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DODDISCOMBSLEIGH DODDISCOMBSLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL The Condition of the Fir Tree at the Triangle At its last meeting the Parish Council discussed the condition of the atlas cedar at the Triangle. Some weeks ago, councillors noticed some damage at the base of the tree and decided to investigate it. A tree expert looked at the tree and at the Council’s request he did a picus tomograph, a type of scan, which shows how much solid wood is in the tree trunk. The result was very disappointing, because it showed that a big part of the tree trunk was already not solid wood. The condition of the cedar tree has been a concern to the community for some years. The tree is an iconic part of the landscape and loved by the community and visitors. Four years ago, when Devon County Council wanted to cut down the tree, the Parish Council commissioned a report, which concluded that the tree could be saved by removing the deadwood This was done by Devon County Council. The report stated that at that time the damage at the base of the tree was only a minor defect. It looks like that in the past four years the defective area has spread rapidly. The Parish Council decided to send the report to Devon County Council, who is responsible for maintaining the Triangle. It was also discussed that the condition of the soil is very poor at the Triangle. If Devon County Council decides to remove the fir tree, the soil need to be improved before anything else can be planted instead. In October a huge number of mushrooms appeared, which was identified as meripilus giganteus. This type of mushroom is not poisonous for the public, but it is harmful for deciduous trees and it needs to be removed from the soil. Winter Preparations Although the weather was unusually mild so far (at the time of writing), it is essential to get ready for winter and keep the drains and gullies clear around your properties. Devon County Council confirmed that this job is the landlords’ responsibility and the County Council will not do it. Devon County Council still repairs potholes which meet the criteria – 300mm long, 40mm deep and has a sharp edge – so it is very important that everybody reports the potholes at their website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/report-a- pothole/ Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team New Planning Application 22/01215/HOU The Barn, Shippen Barton - Replacement rear extension, extension of existing front porch Planning Decisions 22/00747/CLDE Corn And Cob Cottages, Great Leigh Farm - Certificate of Lawfulness for existing residential use of properties – approved 20/02355/FUL The Nobody Inn - Two storey extension to Inn and part demolition, demolition of dwelling (with occupation restriction) and replacement as part of extension to inn, repositioned and extended car park, and associated landscaping - refused Next Meeting The next ordinary Parish Council meeting will be on Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at Woodah Farm. Parish Clerk: Agnes Miller, 07713 918178. [email protected] DODDI 100 CLUB The winners of the Autumn Doddi 100 Club draw were: 1st Alice Stanciu 2nd Andy Utting It's not too late to join in for the Christmas Super Draw and help support Doddi School, Pre- School and Church in doing so. For more information or tickets please speak to Kate Berry - 01647 253232 [email protected] VIC’S VINTAGE TRACTOR RUN –JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this venture possible. Especially the people who donated money but also the ones who assisted with transport, allowed us on campsites free of charge, cooked meals en route and even supplied bed and breakfast. The final distance covered by the tractor was 1,016 miles and after counting all the pennies the final amount raised for Devon Air Ambulance has been confirmed as £12,052.72. Thank you all so much. Vic Brook PS. Despite reservations this turned into an amazing holiday as well!! PLEASE RECYCLE ME

DUNCHIDEOCK DUNCHIDEOCK VILLAGE HALL Film Night Dunchideock Village Hall Friday 16th December at 7:45 PM. After a strong start to this 17th season, we continue with just the film we need for this year’s Christmas. Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. “If you are in the mood for a light, feel-good story, you will definitely want to follow this film.” Says Rotten Tomatoes, awarding it a handsome 94% vote from critics and public. “A charming flight of fancy.”says The Guardian. Mrs Harris, played by the luminous Lesley Manville, is a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s Lon- don, who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and sets off to Paris to get one of her own. We enjoyed it greatly. As it’s our Christmas offering, the bar is open and party food is on the house. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team DUNSFORD DUNSFORD PTFA—THANK YOU Planning: Applications: - 1. Teignbridge 22/01588/FUL – Ford Cottage – Demolition of one agricultural building and construction of two dwellings. 2. Teignbridge 22/02018/AGR – Corridge Farm – Polytunnel for agricultural storage. The Council have made a site visit for (1) and had no objections. The Council have no objection to (2) and decided against a site visit. Decisions – None. **************** Dunsford Village Hall needs your support **************** For nearly a century Dunsford Village Hall has been at the heart of the village, for over 70 years it has been the home of DADS and the place where pantomimes and summer shows have entertained us all. But we can’t guarantee this will continue. The usage of the hall has reduced in recent years, especially during the pandemic. We are in desperate need of funds to continue to operate. The Committee has recently had to spend a considerable amount of money to rewire the hall, replace the old boiler and carry out essential maintenance. This work had to be carried out to comply with new regulations and health and safety requirements. As a result, our funds are low and so we are organising a number of fund-raising events which we hope will be supported by the Community. Details of all our events will be widely advertised as will other fundraising work. Please support us whenever you can. We all know in our heart of hearts how integral the hall is to the village, to the School, Dunsford Singers, Acorn, the various Yoga and Painting groups that use it, our Christmas Bazaar and of course the village pantomimes. We must cover our costs, and we would welcome your support in any way you can to help to keep the Village Hall operating. Get in touch if you have any ideas to help - [email protected]. (chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee) *************************************************************************** Housing & Infrastructure group – At the November meeting, the Council agreed that a leaflet drop would be made to all residents in Dunsford. This will bring the whole community up to date with the present situation. Information will also continue to be posted on the normal platforms i.e., PC and Church noticeboards and the PC website. Hopefully, you have all now received this leaflet and will have noticed that the Council would like you to respond to the questions. The Village had a good response to the original survey and it is hoped that this will be the same. The cut-off date will have passed by the time you read this but, if you have not received the leaflet, please contact the Clerk asap. Dunsford Emergency Response Team – At the same time as above, you will have received a leaflet from this group. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

A Rethink Charity run passed through Dunsford on 23/10 between World mental Health Day and World Kindness Day. It began on Exeter Quay and ended on Bideford Quay. Barry Hudson based his run on a winding, rocky path. It was a spiritual journey full of uncertainty and a test of resolve and endurance, very much like each day can be a significant challenge for anyone that may be experiencing any Mental Health conditions. If you would like to help or receive support: - https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/groups-in-your- area/ Hello from Dunsford Climate Initiative We would like to talk about the benefits of turning off your car engine when your car is stationary. • Idling can use up to 2 litres of fuel per hour (equivalent to one mile of fuel every minute) and your engine emits over 5.26kg of CO2 per hour. So, turning off your engine can save you pounds, and is more environmentally friendly. • Idling is harmful to your engine, because it strips oil from the pistons, causing engine damage. So, turning off your engine can save on repair costs. Finally, idling is against the law and can incur a £20 fixed penalty fine (this includes warming up your engine) So, our message is: ‘Save money - switch off your engine when stationary’ A message to all dog walkers – please pick up after your dog when walking in the Parish, even on the outskirts of the village. There are two bins provided, one at Butts and one in the centre of the Village. Village Green works – The fence is being repaired and it is hoped that works are completed by Christmas. The Council would like to wish all residents a Happy and Peaceful Christmas Date of Next Parish Council Meeting – Tuesday, December 6th 2022 in the Village Hall Dressing Rooms. Lynne Ogden Parish Clerk and RFO 01392 811236, [email protected] Village website http://www.dunsfordvillage.co.uk/ Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

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Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team FROM TREVOR LAMACRAFT CECILE TRIPP BERYL WESTCOTT JENNY BURDETT NORA BRYANT ALMA LINNEY ROSE & RUSS JANE HARVEY PAULINE & DAVID CLARKE ANN SMALE ROS & MIKE TRIPP SYLVIA TRIPP JOANNA & STEPHEN TRIPP JEN WOODLAND BETTY SHORT NICK & JULIA KIRKLAND SUSIE & DAVID URSELL ANN JONES ANN BROWNING JOYCE & GEOFF DICKER JUNE & MICHAEL EVANS MIKE & ALISON NORTHCOTT SHIRLEY & ROGER HODGE LES MAY MEG & KIT SURREY HELEN & PETER CORFIELD RACHEL & JOHN WADDILOVE JANET & ANDREW SMALLRIDGE Donations made to St Marys Church ST MARYS CHURCH JOTTINGS Family Christingle Service 4th December 10.30 followed by Dunsford Singers Carol Concert 4pm Service of the Word 11th December Carol Service 18th December 6.30pm - mulled wine and mince pies Crib Service 4pm Christmas Eve. Holy Communion 10pm Christmas Eve Family Service 10.30am Christmas Morning Service of the Word 1st January. Please note there will not be a Family Service in January. St Mary’s wishes everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas. THANK YOU Howard Jones: Jocelyne, Richard and David would like to extend their thanks for the many kind and supportive wishes they have received following the very sudden death of Howard on 10th October 2022. Thank you to Rev’d Ruth Frampton for officiating the funeral in Dunsford on the 4th November and for the donations received on behalf of The British Heart Foundation. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

TEIGN VALLEY NEWS AND VIEWS THE CINNAMON TRUST “Peace of mind and practical help for people – love, care and safety for pets” The only specialist national charity for people in their last years and their much loved, much needed companion animals, with a primary objective to respect and preserve the treasured relationship between owners and their pets. Community service volunteers provide practical help when any aspect of day-to-day care poses a problem – for example, walking the dog for a housebound owner. Other services include a fostering service for pets whose owners face a spell in hospital, it also provides long term care for pets whose owners have died or moved to residential accommodation which will not accept pets. If you know of someone who you think may benefit from this service, please do ask them to get in touch. Telephone 01736 757 900 for more information Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team TEIGN VALLEY HISTORY GROUP Just a few days before Remembrance Day, the History Group heard from Mark Bailey, a volunteer from the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation. He spoke about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Over 1.7 million people who died during or as a result of the conflict in the two World Wars, are commemorated. The graves and memorials are at 23000 sites across 153 countries and territories. 12 thousand are buried at the largest such cemetery, Tyne Cot in Belgium. Those commemorated include many civilians as well as service people. The Commission is backed by the governments of six Commonwealth nations: Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It has its origins in the First World War and the driving force behind it was Sir Fabian Ware. He was aware of the deep concern among families of those who had been lost, to ensure appropriate care was taken to identify bodies and mark the places of burial. Three key principles were established: the person should be named (where known) on the headstone; the headstones and memorials should be permanent; the headstones would have a uniform design, regardless of the rank of the person. Families could add an inscription to the headstone. Mark illustrated this last point by contrasting two headstones from Bovey Tracey Cemetery, one saying simply 'RIP', another with a more extended epitaph. Mark told the moving story of Jack Sadler, who was recently found to have died at the age of 17 following injuries sustained on D-Day. He is buried in Bovey Tracey and a street on one of the new estates at Bovey has been named Sadler Green, in his memory, thanks to the work of the Commission. The work of the Commission continues, with a huge maintenance and horticultural programme. There are also frequent reburials and rededications. The Commission's archive has ten thousand items. The Commission has a searchable website at CWGC.com. The next History Group meeting takes place on 10 January at TV Community Hall and will hear Dr Kevin Dixon talk on 'Local Myths and Legends'. Before that, on 13 December, a Christmas Historical Quiz will take place. Both events start at 7.30pm and are open to all. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

TEIGN VALLEY MEN'S SHED Teign Valley Men’s Shed will be open on Wednesdays 7th and 14th December from 9:30am to 12:30pm. The Shed is located at Embercombe in Higher Ashton, EX6 7QQ – on the first floor of the large building just beyond the main car park. Coffee and tea will be available. Transport is available if required – contact details below. What would I be coming along to? “Sheds\" are kitted-out community spaces where men can enjoy practical hobbies. They’re about making friends, learning and sharing skills - and for a bit of banter over a cup of coffee or tea. The initial focus will be on woodwork, but this could broaden depending on the available skills. This might include: • continuing work to set up and improve our workshop • small-scale set projects with the potential to generate some income to cover running costs • individuals being able to undertake their own projects We have almost finished the new “rest area” and are beginning to introduce “skills sharing” sessions, which include an introduction to using particular machines and techniques and then practising these skills on small projects – more of this next year! If you have skills to share, or you have very little or no experience and want to learn, then you will be very welcome! Alternatively, if you have your own project that you would like to work on and just need space, tools, advice or moral support, bring it along. Later on we also hope to introduce a regular programme of visiting speakers who can share skills and interests. There is an annual membership fee of £10, and a session fee of £5 for each session. For further details or to register an interest, or to arrange transport, please email [email protected] If you have some good quality, unwanted wood that we could use - then please also contact us (details above) - we’ll arrange for someone to call and see if we could take them off your hands! Everyone is welcome - don’t miss an opportunity to meet new friends and learn/share some practical skills. The Teign Valley Men’s Shed has received funding from the Lottery Fund, the Devon Communities Fund and the Mid-Devon Healthcare Trust, and donations in kind from Wickes Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

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Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team BRIDFORD AND TEIGN VALLEY GARDEN CLUB On Thursday 27th October, 20 members visited Dunley House on the outskirts of Bovey Tracey. The dedicated owners, Sarah and Francis Gilbert, gave us a warm welcome, explained the history of the house with its 9 acre garden and escorted us round. Originally owned by the Buller family from Whimple, the house was built in 1862 and remained a family home until a single lady owned it, who was a recluse and lived in one room in the house. It and the garden were neglected with the garden becoming totally overgrown. In 1981 the house was put up for sale. Sarah and Francis were interested but, with two small children and one on the way, felt it was too big a project. However, in 1982 they bought it and lovingly set about transforming the garden from a wilderness into its present day mature state. It now boasts a well laid out rose garden overlooked from the house towards a horse paddock in the distance. There is also another rose garden enclosed with hornbeam hedges, which was designed and planted on the occasion of their ruby wedding anniversary. It contains 180 red roses called My Love! A sundial, given to them by their children, forms the centerpiece. A pony paddock was transformed into a lawn to host one of their daughter’s weddings with a marquee. There are two ponds, a small lily pond with a fountain enclosed by hornbeam hedges and a large, five foot deep pond with a small waterfall. The large pond was built in 2016. The garden has mature oaks, sequoiadendron and a large liquidambar also rhododendrons, camelias, over 40 magnolias, an Arboretum and a walled garden with borders, fruit and vegetables. They have a gardener, Roger Clark, who came from Kew Gardens and who works one day a week for them. He has given them many beautiful plants and trees. The tour ended with a delicious tea with homemade scones, a selection of cakes and tea. We had this sitting in a large shed. On Thursday 3rd November we had our first indoor meeting of the year in the Bowden Room in the TVCH. Eighteen members enjoyed David Price’s excellent slide-illustrated talk entitled, ‘If You Go Down To The Woods Today’ and, yes, he did include a picture of a teddy bear’s picnic! David based his talk on three local woods, Dunsford Wood at Steps Bridge, Bridford’s Rowdon Wood and Scannicliff Copse at Doddi. Dunsford Wood is well known for its wild daffodils and its wooded slopes provide a natural habitat for the Pied Flycatcher, which migrates to and from Africa. He has placed nest boxes for them and he rings the young, with one Pied Flycatcher from Dunsford Wood being reported in Spain. They eat the Winter Moth caterpillar which resides in the woods. Rowdon Wood provides a habitat for the December Moth where the female moth doesn’t fly but attracts the male moth by her scent. The female moth lays her eggs on the buds of trees and the caterpillar eats the foliage. The Scannicliff Copse provides a carpet of bluebells and wild garlic. Our December meeting is on Thursday 1st December at 2.30pm in the Bowden Room in the TVCH. This is our AGM and quiz meeting. Mince pies, wine, tea and coffee will be served. You will have the opportunity to renew your annual membership at £6 and book for our annual lunch at the Manor Inn on Wednesday 11th January 2023. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

WEDNESDAY ART GROUP Would you like to be part of our Wednesday art group? Do you have a passion for creativity/drawing and painting? We are a group that meets in a fun and friendly environment We are exploring subjects such as Still life/landscape/art books/ self portraits In charcoal/ pastels /acrylics/watercolours We meet Wednesday afternoons at the dressing room Dunsford village hall. At 2.00pm until 4.30pm If you think you would like to know more please contact Hilly Barclay 07902286362 LONGDOWN VILLAGE HALL EVENTS Longdown Village Hall Christmas Coffee Morning is on Saturday 10th December 10am – 12pm. Why not bring your friends and family along for a good old get together and meet your neighbours. On offer will be pots of tea, fresh cafetiere coffee, a choice of juices and if you fancy a late brekkie you could tuck into a bacon roll (cooked fresh) and there will be mince pies and cakes. Try your luck in winning a prize in the Christmas draw and there will also be some fun games and festive music. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team CAROL SINGERS REQUIRED – TEIGN VALLEY FARMERS’ MARKET! Join in the Teign Valley Farmers’ Market festivities on Friday 23 December at the Teign Valley Community Hall by coming along to sing carols – two slots at 5pm and/or 6pm. No need to book – just come along and sing! Even better, buy some local produce as well as singing… TEIGN VALLEYFILM NIGHT FRIDAY January 7th TVCH Doors open 7pm The Electrical Life of Louis Wain 2021 Cert 12 107 mins Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy star in this affecting biopic of the Victorian painter whose enthusiasms were overtaken by mental illness. Cumberbatch plays eccentric Edwardian artist and illustrator Louis Wain, a lively and argua- bly brilliant man who might today be considered neurodiverse, and who certainly suffered from depression. But for all his gifts, Wain finally became famous for just one thing: his hugely successful cute drawings of cats in jokey poses for the Illustrated London News. In Britain – and the US, where he was also popular – Wain could claim to have reinvented the cat as a lovable domestic familiar, the feline version of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit. But Wain was stricken with grief at the early death of his wife, naive about money, burdened with the need to provide for his mother and sisters and finally reduced to poverty. ‘British cinema at its best’ The Observer The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is disarmingly tender, blessed with a deep affectation for its subject that feels fuller and more romantic in its nature than straightforward respect. Wain lived a very sad life. The film doesn’t ask you to applaud his sacrifices, or to think that it was all worth it in the end. And Cumberbatch, as an actor, has stripped back a few layers of his armour and bared a little more vulnerability –in one of the best performances of his career. 5 stars from The Independent £3.50 to include refreshments. Ice creams for £1.00 on sale in the interval. PLEASE RECYCLE ME

Top Tips for Healthy Ageing Our strength and flexibility varies with age. However we don’t all age at the same rate. From the age of 60 and up there is a greater difference in the fitness, mobility level and quality of life than in any other age group. Of course we can’t stop the clock and halt the ageing process but there is a lot we can do to influence where we land on that ageing continuum. As an older yoga teacher I have taken a particular interest in learning evidence-based ways to keep healthy. Why not make 2023 the year you take control of your own health? Here are my 5 top tips for healthy ageing: Work on flexibility and mobility Make sure you are moving all of your joints to their full range. Flexibility is the pain-free range of motion we have in our joints, and mobility is how well we can move and is a combination of strength, flexibility and coordination. Flexibility reduces markedly as we age, although age is just one factor. By safely working or stressing the joints they will be stimulated to repair. Although strength is important, it is worthless without mobility. Ask yourself can you get up and down from the floor easily, can you turn your head comfortably when reversing the car, can you get in and out of the bath easily? Practice getting up and down from the floor The Sit/Rise test is a simple way to assess physical fitness and life expectancy. This tests how easily you can stand up from sitting on the floor and descend once again to sitting. If you need to use your hands to get up and down, your mobility is starting to become limited. Getting up and down from the floor requires good flexibility in the hips, spine and legs as well as strength in the legs and core and good co-ordination. Studies showed that people who struggled to get up from the floor without using their hands had a 5-6 times higher chance of dying in the period of the study than those in the highest range. You can improve your sit/rise score simply by regular practice. Work on your balance Our ability to balance diminishes quickly from our mid-fifties and the less stable we become, the greater the risk of falls as well as other adverse health outcomes. Test your own balance by trying to stand on one leg for more than 30 seconds. To start with choose a specific point to gaze at. Later on you can try this with your eyes closed. Aim to practice this skill every day and your balance will quickly improve. This exercise will also help to improve bone density (see below). Strengthen your bones As we age our bones become less dense, leading to diseases such as osteoporosis and osteopenia. These diseases make our bones brittle and easily broken, causing spine and hip fractures. For this reason it is important to stress the bones. All tissues need stress to remain healthy, including bones. Regular walking and even standing can help to improve the mineral density of the bones and makes them less liable to fracture. Studies have also shown that the regular practice of certain yoga postures notably improved bone density. Reduce anxiety and sleep better Many studies have shown that chronic anxiety and broken sleep can lead to poor health and accelerated ageing by increasing the amount of inflammation in the body. Practices such as Guided Relaxation, Meditation and Yoga help our breathing to naturally slow down and become shallower. This activates our parasympathetic nervous system which switches off the “flight or fight” response which causes stress and anxiety. Long term, this process helps to resolve inflammation at the cellular level. This is important for our mental health as uncontrolled inflammation is linked to depression, chronic pain and fatigue. For information about my yoga classes in the Teign Valley email: [email protected]. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

TEIGN VALLEY PODIATRY & ACUPUNCTURE PAULA MAY BSc.(Hons) PodMed, MChS, BMAS. HCPC No: CH26381 Professional footcare for all ages Treatment for: - Ingrowing or mis-shapen toenails - Fungal nails, athletes foot and verrucae - Removal of hard skin, corns and callus - Pain in your back, hips, knees and feet Custom-fit insoles and orthotics Acupuncture for pain relief For advice or an appointment please call Paula on 07716 635276 or email [email protected] Christow Community Primary School Building a Love of Learning Ofsted Rated ‘Good’ For more information please call: 01647 252542 or email: [email protected] Christow Community Primary School, 7 Dry Lane, Christow, Exeter, EX6 7PE

MCM BUILDING CONTRACTORS Award Winning General Builders New Builds Extensions Project Management Conversions Roofing Conservatories Windows Guttering Fascia Over 35 years experience in the local area Marcus Cole - 0744 300 6975 [email protected] www.mcmsouthwestbuilders.com • Experienced, friendly and local RIBA chartered For all your architectural practice based in Mid Devon, Laundry Needs working across the South West. 07896 846501 • Specialising in the adaptation of listed buildings, residential extensions, renovations and low energy design new builds. • Call Luke McAdam for a chat about your project and how we might be able to help: 01392 459777 - [email protected] www.hmad.co.uk

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team Phew - a moment to sit and write this column. To pause and reflect on the past month and look ahead to the busy Christmas period and year to come. I’ve missed the last couple of months of Unity contributions and I’m blaming a new baby and the autumn rush to harvest and plant hardy overwintered crops like onions, garlic and broad beans. It’s been an exceptionally mild and moist autumn on the farm - seeing many of our crops growing great guns at a time when we’d expect them to slow down. Our weekly veg bags have been stuffed with brassicas and other leafy goodness, with kales, kalettes, cabbage and kohlrabi all stealing the show. The unseasonal warmth also means our mediterranean gems like courgettes, peppers and tomatoes kept going well into November. It’s a wonderful time for our mixed leaf bags too with peppery brassica salad joining tender winter lettuce and vibrant and bitter red radicchio not just tasting lush but looking amazing too. If you don’t get a veg bag from us - you can also sample our salad and other delights on the menu at the Nobody Inn in Doddi. Last week we learnt the brilliant news that we’ve been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to expand our farm volunteering programme. The extra funding will support bringing more people from the Teign Valley onto the land here in Ashton to learn about food growing and help us tend to wildlife and biodiversity as well as the crops in the ground. Watch this space for more information or check out our website for more details. On that note - we have a volunteer morning on Saturday 3rd December from 9.30am until 1pm. We’ll be carrying out winter jobs, taking stock and having fun - with plenty of time for tea and cake too! Just drop us an email if you hope to come. Although our biodiverse market garden is bursting with produce at the moment, our veg bag membership isn’t growing quite as we’d like. We currently have 74 veg share households, each enjoying their weekly supply of vegetables from us, and we have space for several more. Teign Greens is a community-owned social enterprise that relies on the support of its community to continue. If you’d like to sign up for a four week trial of our organic produce you can do so now on our website www.teigngreens.co.uk. We’re also taking bookings for one-off Christmas veg boxes, all organic, all local and all delicious too! Tim Dickens is a grower at Teign Greens, Oxen Park Farm, Ashton Email: [email protected] Facebook @TeignGreens PLEASE RECYCLE ME

Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team PLEASE RECYCLE ME

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Venn Park Garage 01647 252378 Teign Valley Road, Bridford, Exeter, EX67JZ [email protected] butlermaids Mobile butchers . Low food miles . Grass reared bespoke domestic cleaning and services Dexter Beef . Lamb . Pork . Eggs . Seasonal Venison A friendly and efficient range of services We are a local family run farm situated in the Teign Valley. Our vision is to provide by an experienced and conscientious local people with our top quality, grass fed meat, offering full traceability. Dexter beef has a delicious distinctive taste, it is high in omega-3 oils and low in saturated team you can trust fats. We also offer our delicious lamb reared on grass and finished at 10 months to give a fuller flavour, as well as our outdoor reared Landrace x Piétrain pork. Available daily, weekly, monthly or as a one off Contact Helena & Paul Seward @beardondexters Rates start at £16 per hour inclusive of Beardon Dexters cleaning materials (minimum 2 hours) 07590758577 [email protected] For further details call 01647 252380 [email protected]@idgsm.coa.iul.ckom www.butlermaids.co.uk

“The crisp path through the field in this December snow, in the deep dark, where we trod the buried grass like ghosts on dry toast.” – Dylan Thomas If you are interested in finding out more about Acorn and what we do, then please visit our website www.acorncommunitysupport.co.uk/get- involved or contact Mandy or Fran on 01647 252701. And then it was December! What happened to the year? At Acorn we have had so many activities this year it’s all passed in a blur. And now here we are in that festive season of family, friends and neighbours and perhaps the odd mince pie! Please Note Our Office will be closed from 1pm on Thursday 22nd December 2022 until 9am on Tuesday 3rd January 2023 Activities for December From Cheriton Bishop Lunch Club, at The Kings Arms - Tedburn St Mary Tuesday 6th December 2022) - contact Jean Martin on 01647 24586 to book (a couple of days in advance please.) Shopping is at Sainsburys – this has not been happening due to lack of passengers but could be arranged for 12th December 2022 if people would like. Please call the office if you would like to go. We would love to see more of you on the bus. Outing – Tuesday – 13th December 2022 – Destination - garden centre. NEW Social Afternoon Fridays 2-4pm – This started on 11th November and will continue fortnightly. 9th December 2022 from 2-4pm (due to the season may only be one this month) It’s held in the Devon Federation of Young Farmers Clubs building in the Centre of Cheriton Bishop. (What was the Mulberry Inn) Join us for Tea, Talk, Coffee and cake and a mingle with friends old and new. From the Teign Valley Shopping at ASDA/Sainsburys – Friday 9th and possibly WEDNESDAY 21st December 2022 if people would like. Outings – 5th December 2022 – Fermoys Garden Centre and 19th December 2022 – Postbridge and Warren House Inn. Please phone to book your seat. Lunch Club – Tuesday 13th December at The Union Moretonhampstead. Coffee Morning Tuesday 6th and 20th December 2022 at the Teign Valley Community Hall. Activities such as Bingo, Quizzes and much more with plenty of chatter to go with your coffee and cake! Our Memory Lane Café is also running – Just one meeting this month on the 8th December 2022. Please contact the office if you know of someone who would benefit. We have a great time. Submissions for January to be in by 7th December Many Thanks

Merry Christmas From The Teign Unity Team If you would like to book a seat on the minibus for any of our trips, lunches or coffee mornings, then please contact Mandy or Fran at the Office on 01647 252701 Remember Acorn continues with all its usual services so please do call us and if you just want a chat then you know where we are. Best wishes The A(corn) Team The next time we “speak” via this Newsletter it will be a New Year so we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy December and a wonderful start to 2023. Solstice and Gratitude Winter solstice, on 21st December, marks the end of the solar year, and the beginning of the next. The solstice has been celebrated by various cultures around the world, for millennia, as a time to reflect on the past whilst embracing what change is to come. Looking back on the past year, we have all had a wide spectrum of experiences. Some may have been joyful, and some may have been painful. All of which we can learn, grow, or adapt from. As the Sun rises again to mark the lightening of days and hearts, we can take the opportunity to feel gratitude for all that has passed and all that is yet to come. Knowing that if we take this stance most situations can be seen as an opportunity for growth and personal development. Plus, you never feel worse for expressing gratitude! Whatever this means to you, we wish you season’s greetings, a happy solstice, and a glorious new year! With love and appreciation, Joe Arnold (Doctor of Chiropractic, MChiro) Dartmoor Chiropractic Strawberry Hill, Dunsford www.dartmoorchiropractic.co.uk | 07308148159 | [email protected] PLEASE RECYCLE ME