A series of films described as “visual and verbal poetry” have been released which show landscapes of Devon and Cornwall. The films, named Wild Westcountry Odyssey, have been co-funded by Natural England and made by Plymouth-based filmmaker Simon Willis. Contributions have also been made by the University of Exeter and National Trust. The first film...
PA Media People are being offered the chance to surrender ninja swords at local police stations People who own ninja swords are being told to hand them in before the end of July. Devon and Cornwall Police said it was part of the national ninja sword surrender and compensation scheme, which will run from 1...
Two new animals have arrived at Paignton Zoo as part of a conservation breeding programme. A female red panda, an endangered species, and a female brown spider monkey, a critically endangered species, have been transported from zoos in France to the Devon site. Brown spider monkeys were added to the International Union for Conservation of...
BBC The government hopes its new Planning and Infrastructure bill will speed up house-building A new bill which the government says aims to speed up housebuilding has been described as “catastrophic for wildlife” by a nature charity. Devon Wildlife Trust’s chief executive Nick Bruce-White has said it will give developers an open door to pay...
A former police sergeant has been dismissed for gross misconduct. Devon and Cornwall Police said this week a panel found Tim Perrin had breached standards of professional behaviour relating to his reply to a notice of intended prosecution after a speeding offence in his private vehicle. After a two-day hearing, a gross misconduct panel found...
Hundreds of people have welcomed the summer solstice from a lido. Organisers said about 400 swimmers watched the sun rise at 04:45 BST from Tinside Lido in Plymouth on Saturday. The summer solstice marks the beginning of the astronomical summer and is the longest day of the year. Stephanie Lewis of Plymouth Active, the council-owned...
Joshua Smith Joshua Smith was given the Nigel Queree Environment Award Two students studying for doctorates have been awarded grants for their natural history work. Societe Jersiaise has given the Nigel Queree Environment Award for 2025 to Joshua Smith for his project assessing grazing practices. The study group gave the Roderick Dobson Award to Rees...
A water firm has asked the public to be more careful of what they flush away after a “bizarre collection” of items were found washed down drains. Engineers from South West Water (SWW) said they had found various items in the sewers including a toy car in Hayle, a plastic Iron Man model in Penzance...
Festival goers will be able to try virtual reality (VR) nature experiences that researchers say can help with mental health and pain relief. Dr Sam Hughes of the University of Exeter is to exhibit the benefits of nature though VR, art, sound and film at Glastonbury Festival later this month. The director of Exeter Pain...
Lisa Young BBC News, South West The Dog Squad on the Roseland The RSPCA encouraged owners to walk dogs early in the morning and later in the evening during the heatwave Animal welfare experts have reminded pet owners and farmers about the “huge risks” high temperatures pose to animals. The RSPCA said owners should learn...
A Devon and Cornwall Police officer has been charged with rape. Sgt James Rawlinson, 36, was postal requisitioned over one charge of raping a woman aged 16 or over, said Devon and Cornwall Police. The force said it related to an alleged incident while he was off-duty in Exeter in August 2018. It said Sgt...
“I’m really looking to being part of the project and I’m over the moon to finally get it done,” Randell said in a statement. “The aspirations of the club very much align with mine. They’re building something here that I want to be involved in.” Randell had a spell on loan at Torquay United in...
A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering his one-month-old son. Tony Bartlett, 38, is accused of killing Atticus Bartlett in Chard, Somerset, in July 2022. Mr Bartlett, from Axminster, Devon, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday. Judge Julian Lambert fixed a trial date of June 11 next year, with a trial estimate of...
Guy Henderson Local Democracy Reporting Service Georgina Barnes BBC News, South West BBC NHS Devon said it would develop a broader cardiology strategy for the region Plans trial changes to overnight heart attack services in south Devon have been scrapped. NHS Devon said it would not be going ahead with the proposals to drive out-of-hours...
George Thorpe BBC News, Devon BBC Police said some of the packs washed up on Westward Ho! beach A warning has been issued after vacuum-packed chicken washed up on beaches across part of North Devon. Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were first notified at 01:40 BST to about five packs of chicken washed up...