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Applications for £2m south west nature recovery fund open

A £2m fund to support local community groups with a focus on the environment across south-west England has open for applications.South West Water (SWW) said its Nature Recovery Fund aimed to deliver "tangible, community-led improvements" to nature and water quality.The package will support and assist environmental partnerships and volunteer programmes across Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and a small area in Dorset where SWW delivers wastewater services.Susan Davy, CEO of Pennon, said the fund was "another step…

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Advice for passengers due to travel

Advice for passengers due to travel

George ThorpeChannel IslandsBBCAdvice has been issued for Blue Islands passengers after the airline ceased tradingAdvice has been issued for passengers affected by the collapse of Jersey-based airline Blue Islands.The Channel Islands-based operator confirmed on Friday it had suspended trading and cancelled all future flights to destinations including Jersey, Guernsey, Exeter, Bristol and Southampton.Airlines Aurigny and Loganair have both put on extra flights to their schedules to help passengers whose original booking had been cancelled.The Government of Jersey advised…

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Aurigny and Loganair step in to rescue passengers

Aurigny and Loganair step in to rescue passengers

George Thorpe and Frankie Golding,Channel IslandsBBCBlue Islands announced on Friday it had ceased tradingAirlines have stepped in to offer "rescue flights" for Blue Islands passengers after the company's collapse.The Jersey-based operator, which employed about 100 staff, announced on Friday it had ceased trading and cancelled all bookings.Carl Walker, chairman of the Jersey Consumer Council, said he understood more than 1,000 passengers had been displaced.Aurigny and Loganair have said they are putting on extra flights to help Blue Islands…

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Serious crash closes Devon A30 for several hours

Serious crash closes Devon A30 for several hours

PANational Highways said the road reopened at about 02:00 on SaturdayA serious crash closed part of the A30 in Devon for several hours.National Highways said a van had flipped on to its roof on the road between the A377 near Exeter and the A382 near Whiddon Down on Friday.Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency services were called to the dual carriageway at about 17:50 GMT with "significant" congestion reported.A post on X from National Highways said the A30…

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Metal replaces wood in £100k Devon playground overhaul

A play area has replaced its wooden equipment with "robust" metal as part of a complete refurbishment.South Hams District Council said the village play park at St Ann's Chapel, in Devon, had benefitted from more than £100,000 funding as one of its key priorities to "enhance the wellbeing of their communities".It said impact-absorbing rubber and non-slip surfaces had been put down to ensure facilities were available in all conditions and that the park would "remain a safe and…

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Petition triggers debate on future of Solent Meads golf course

Petition triggers debate on future of Solent Meads golf course

A petition urging a local authority not to close a golf course has triggered a council debate after gaining more than 6,000 signatures. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council confirmed the lease at Solent Meads, which has been used as a golf course for 64 years, was due to expire in November 2026 .It said this provided a "natural opportunity" to consider how the land could be used in the future and that it was "proactively working on…

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Two birds of prey stolen from Cornish rescue centre

Two birds of prey stolen from Cornish rescue centre

Two birds of prey have been stolen from a rescue centre, police have said.Keepers at the Cornish Birds of Prey Centre CIC said a gyr falcon and a striated caracara were taken between 17:00 GMT on Thursday and 07:00 on Friday.Kelly Grigg, the owner of the centre at Winnard's Perch, in Cornwall, said the bolt and padlock to one of its aviaries had been "hit with force".She said she thought whoever had stolen the birds would have had…

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Uninsured drivers targeted in Avon and Somerset Police crackdown

Uninsured drivers targeted in Avon and Somerset Police crackdown

Rachel Candlin,West of England and Charlie Taylor,SomersetGetty ImagesPolice forces across the UK have been raising awareness of the dangers of driving without insuranceDrivers without insurance are being targeted by police in efforts to crackdown on the "significant number" of uninsured vehicles on Britain's roads.The week-long operation, running until 16 November, has seen officers across the country use centrally-held data to target and stop offending motorists.Teams from Avon and Somerset Police are taking part after seizing almost 2,500 uninsured…

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Ex-offender paying back with South West court support charity

Ex-offender paying back with South West court support charity

CASS+Ex-chief executive Carole Edwards and volunteer Kelly Peake are celebrating the CASS+ 20th anniversaryAn ex-offender who now works with a charity offering support to people navigating the justice system, said volunteering had helped her "rebuild myself".Kelly Peake volunteers with CASS+, a charity offering free advice and support through court in Devon and Cornwall.She told BBC Radio Cornwall "I love volunteering" and it is about "just being of service to my community".The charity has this week marked its 20th…

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Teenager’s photo of Cornish heather wins top Eden Project prize

Teenager’s photo of Cornish heather wins top Eden Project prize

M. StanwayThe "Wild in Purple" photograph won in the Young Person's CategoryA photo of Cornish heather taken by a teenager has won a photography prize.M. Stanway was named the Young People's winner of the Eden Project's first Wildflower Photographer of the Year competition.The Eden Project said hundreds of people had entered "stunning images" from the Shetlands to Sark of British wildflowers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Wildflower Centre (NWC).The 13-year-old winner said he hoped his…

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