People’s Millions – Calvert Trust Exmoor need your help!

November 22, 2013

People’s Millions – We need your help!

On the 25th of November 2013 Calvert Trust Exmoor will be competing in The Big Lottery People’s Millions, with a short film about us being aired during the ITV evening news. Throughout the day we will be going head to head against another project in a public phone vote to win £50,000. Voting opens at 9am, closing at midnight and the winner takes all.

Calvert Trust Exmoor will use the money to do two things; firstly to provide bursary funds to assist families with a disabled child to take a break with us, and secondly to improve our water sports facilities to be even more accessible.

We won’t know the number people need to phone to vote for us until the morning of the 25th of November; although the film is not aired until early evening, voting opens at 9am and closes at midnight. We need as many people as possible to vote for us, as many times as possible, from as many phones as possible. (There may be as many as 10 votes allowed from any one phone number).

How you can help

Tell your friends & family all about it, get them ready to vote on the 25^th of November, tell them you will let them have the voting number on the day. Why not download our poster and put it up on the notice board where you work, in your local shops, pub and school?

If you have an email address; please email exmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk to make sure you are on our list. We will send you an email on the 25th of November with the voting line number that you can send on to friends and ask them to vote too.

If you are on Facebook; please like the CTE facebook page (www.facebook.com/ctexmoor) and start sharing our posts about the Peoples Millions.

If you are on Twitter; Please follow the CTE twitter feed (@calvertExmoor) and start re-tweeting our tweets about Peoples Millions.

If you have a mobile phone; Please let us have your number; text 07790 591058 or phone 01598 763221. We will send you a text message on the 25^th that you can send on to people you know. (There is no text voting, but you can text people the number and ask them to phone and vote).

Pledge your support: Pledge your support of our project on the peoples millions website, which will encourage others to support us too.

If you can volunteer your time on the 25^th of November;

Please email josh@calvert-trust.org.uk telling us how and where you can help on the day. We are going to need as many people as possible in all sorts of locations across the South West to hand out leaflets asking people to vote for us.

The People’s Millions is a grants programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Winners will be decided by public vote.

Beach Without Breach, part 3

November 21, 2013November 10, 20131 Comment

Canadian Canoeing on the River Barle

November 20, 2013

We think that this really looks like a lot of fun. If it’s something you would like to try out, then get in touch with Exmoor Adventures (special discounts for Exmoor Club members available)

Accessible Exmoor

November 20, 2013

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

‘People can feel more confident about attending the many accessible events that take place on Exmoor’ –was the key theme at a workshop jointly hosted by the Exmoor National Park Authority and the Heart of Exmoor scheme recently at the newly opened Lynmouth Pavilion.

The event was attended by range of organisations and individuals including both event organisers and those with expertise and personal experience in accessibility issues. There were presentations from Richard Pitman of Taunton based Compass Disability Services and an update on recent work on developing “Phototrails” in Exmoor.

Interpretation and Education Manager at Exmoor National Park, Ben Totterdell said: “Every year hundreds of events take place on Exmoor, from guided deer walks to village fetes and art exhibitions. However, for many people with disabilities there is often not enough information about these events for them to feel confident about coming along – or simply not enough events that are planned with the needs of people with disabilities in mind.

“It was great to have so many people there who are all committed to working together to ensure Exmoor can be enjoyed by everyone. I certainly learned a lot and will be looking at how we can improve our events programme and information for next year.”

Comments from other participants include: ‘Thanks for an excellent day’ Wendy Mills (National Trust)

‘A very refreshing day. Made us realise that access is not just about wheelchairs. The workshop will definitely make us think differently about our events in 2014’ Ruth Hyett (Exmoor Natural History Society and Porlock Visitor Centre)

‘I thought it was a really good day and was pleased to be invited. There were certainly lots of light bulb moments for participants as they came to understand accessibility in its wider sense’ Richard Pitman (Compass Disability)

David Rolls, Heart of Exmoor Outreach and Education Officer said: “Exmoor has a host of wonderful opportunities for everyone and I thought the day was very constructive in highlighting many of these. The event was part of the wider “Access for All” project which Exmoor National Park and the Heritage Lottery Fund have been financially supporting.”

Recipe: Naughty winter treats

November 20, 2013November 20, 2013

Seriously simple stewed apples

Reblogged. Posted on November 17, 2013 by Sarah Howells in her blog, The Gluten Free Blogger

Soft, sweet apples in a sticky, toffee-like sauce with creamy vanilla ice cream melting through – sound like heaven? Trust me, this warming dessert will leave you feeling content on even the coldest winter night. Smelling the cinnamon wafting through the house as Mum made a non-gluten-free apple tart earlier, I knew I had to make something equally delicious.

Apples to me are the epiphany of autumn, be it in a comforting apple crumble or a fancy upside down cake. I don’t really like eating apples just on their own but I love cooking with them. So if you fancy something a bit naughty to eat which is a bit like a giant hug in a bowl, give these seriously simple stewed apples a go.

Seriously Simple Stewed Apples

(Serves two – or one very hungry person…)

2 apples
2 tbsp dark brown or demerara sugar
Enough cold water to just cover the apples
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Peel and core the apples and chop into bite-sized chunks
Add to a pan, pour over the water and add the sugar and the cinnamon
Bring to the boil
Simmer for approximately 5 minutes
Turn up the temperature so the mixture is boiling – keep on a high heat until the moisture boils down into a syrup
Pour into a bowl, add a dollop or ice cream or clotted cream, and enjoy…

Memories of Exmoor: The Exmoor Bug

November 20, 2013November 20, 2013

Annette Strauch kindly shared her memories and photos of Exmoor with us:

Nine years ago I visited Exmoor for the very first time with Mark. He had been there many times as it had been a family tradition for him since he was a little English boy with his red hair ready to explore with his boots on and sticks in the hand what he could find next.

It was in the autumn of 2004 – and even back then we stayed in Holy Tree Cottage – in Exford when we came together and stayed for a week. We did many walks then as we did on any visit (the rain never put us off), went to see Dunster, including the castle, of course. On the cobbled stones we even met a giant!

Every time I have visited Exmoor, it was in the autumn. A mysterious time when it gets dark quite early and the local people celebrate Halloween. We’d see some deer in Horner Woods as well and notice the hunting. This last time Mark brought his binoculars.

Then we came again two more times until 2009. Afterwards we were busy working and committed to other things. On all those occasions when we were in Exmoor we had always found new places to explore. One time we did a long walk to Dulverton along the river which Mike, Mark’s Dad had recommended (as well as another walk to Withypool, the place with the beautiful bridge) where this October we visited Gallery Number Seven and bought a book, had a Cream Tea with the tasty clotted cream. In one of the shops there we spoke to two locals who had not walked to Tarr Steps for years and were inspired. They were two elderly ladies but happy to see us so active. One time we went to Bampton Fair which is close to Exmoor and really worth experiencing. Culbone Church is always great to walk to. We have done it twice or even three times now, this autumn from Porlock Weir. Oh, Porlock! I do love the cottages there. Mentioning houses, one needs to write about Selworthy with the lovely buildings there. Wherever you go it is lovely to come back to Exford, seeing Dunkery Beacon (we walked there once, too!!) or maybe a deer or a few – then going out to the White Horse Hotel, having a pint of traditional cider and maybe a venison baguette which seems to be very popular.

So romantic (in a nice way) indeed!

One time we walked in the Lorna Doone Valley with the rucksacks on our backs, fully prepared for a picnic. Along the river we walked – and the characters of the Lorna Doone story became alive. The moorland is breathtaking! In our rucksacks we also had fudge from the fudge shop in Dunster. My favourite is the maple and walnut one.

Watchet plays a role in the Lorna Doone story – and we were looking for fossils there once. If you look long enough you might find an ammonite.

Next time we’d like to bring our bikes and come in spring or in the summer. I’d like to see the heather when it is purple!

And the Exmoor Beast? Well, that is still a mystery!

Selworthy

Dunster

Porlock Weir

Culbone Church

The colours of Exmoor in Autumn

November 20, 2013

http://www.twitchen.co.uk

Letters from Exmoor: “Picture this. Webber’s wood, Arlington Court…”

November 20, 2013

Reblogged from Diary of an Internet Nobody, first published on 10 November 2013.

After the heavy rain of the last few days it was good to see the sun rise in a clear blue sky this morning, so Elaine and I decided to go for a stroll in the woodlands on the Arlington Court estate.

Located on the edge of Exmoor not far from Barnstaple, the sprawling estate has been owned by theChichester family for over 500 years, although the house has only stood in the grounds since 1823.

Instead of entering the National Trust-run property at the main entrance near the house however, we took the back way in via the gate that leads into the working forestry land on the lower end of the estate, the gateposts topped with the Chichester family emblem, a heron brandishing an eel.

From the gatehouse we made our way along the track that gives a great view over the Yeo river valley to the hills opposite – also owned by Arlington – where we have often spotted the resident herd of deer.
No deer today, but a noticeable change in the trees as autumn colours begin to show themselves.

All along the winding track there is evidence of forestry conservation in progress.

The most vivid autumn colours are provided by the rows of bright orange beech trees, especially when seen against the verdant green of the ferns and pines.

A giant chestnut and ancient oak trees add different shades to the landscape.

And on a smaller scale, the variety of alien looking fungus growing on fallen trunks and tree stumps is extraordinary, new forms and textures everywhere you look.

But the most obvious change in the landscape today was the level of the river and the intensity of the waterfalls that criss-cross the trail, the recent rainfall having turned some of these gently trickling streams into foaming torrents that rush down the steep sides of the valley through the woods.

The low stone bridge at the weir is almost overwhelmed by the height of the water, the arches (which I have walked through in the past) filled almost to the top…

.. and the sparsely wooded plain on the riverbank has the look of a primordial forest.

One of the newly expanded waterfalls which runs under the track after flowing down the rocky slope…

… had become so impressive that I climbed the slope above the track and filmed my walk back downstream.
(You may wish to lower the volume before playing the clip)

The age of this woodland is evident wherever you look, the rugged rocky skeleton sometimes visible just beneath the surface…

.. and some strange organic shapes too.

If you would like to visit Arlington Court and see what else this beautiful estate has to offer, then go to THIS LINK.

Raising some of Exmoor’s Rare Trees

November 20, 2013

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

The number of Exmoor’s whitebeam trees is set to increase if a new project by National Park Authority succeeds in raising some rare whitebeam or Sorbus tree varieties from seed from its own woodlands.

Woodland Projects Support Officer Loren Eldred commented: “This autumn has been such an excellent season for tree fruit and nuts that we hoped that we might be lucky with finding some fruit on some of the rare Sorbus trees this year, so we were delighted when we came across a good number of fruit from Sorbus margaretae trees at Culbone Wood and even more fruit from several Sorbus devoniensis trees at Timberscombe Woods.”

The National Park Authority is working with Tim Greenland from local tree nursery, Exmoor Trees in Exford who will be attempting to germinate some of the Sorbus seeds extracted from the fruits this winter. If this proves successful and the trees can be raised, they will be planted back into the Authority’s woodlands when they are a few years old in order to help the species to grow strongly in future.

Tim Greenland said: “I am pleased to be working with Exmoor National Park Authority on this project. Although it can be difficult to germinate the Sorbus seeds, I am hopeful that by spring next year, we will have been able to raise a number of the tree seedlings.”

Some of the Sorbus species are extremely rare in the UK, numbering just a few hundred trees or less. Exmoor National Park is fortunate to contain several of the rare Sorbus species, particularly along the steep, rocky coastal woodlands and valleys, which grow nowhere else in the world. They can be difficult to tell apart and identification in the field has to rely on subtle differences between leaves, flowers and berries. Sorbus devoniensis is slightly more widespread than some of the other rare Sorbus species and tends to grow along woodland edges and in old hedges in the west country of England, but it is still not a common tree.

Exmoor National Park Authority has more information about the rare Sorbus varieties in the Trees and Woodlands pages on their website: www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk