Latest news with #Dartington
BBC News
11 hours ago
- BBC News
Forest Garden in Devon gives insight into climate change
The creator of a forest garden in Devon, the oldest of its kind in Europe, says it is giving insights into how wildlife adapts to climate self-seeding garden on Dartington Estate is managed by the Agroforestry Research Trust (ART) and contains both native and non-native Martin Crawford said he had seen how the garden adapted to the changing climate over the last 30 years: "Some plants are doing much better than they did 30 years ago, things like Persimmons for example."He said ART was in discussions with the Dartington Hall Trust (DHT) to secure the Forest Garden's future. Mr Crawford said he began his "adventure" with the forest garden in 1994 and its success had attracted thousands of visitors from across the globe. It includes around 140 trees which grow alongside edible crops which self-seed with minimal human Crawford described it as an orchard that was both "overplanted and underplanted". It has a canopy of trees with a ground cover of perennial plants that includes vegetables and garden includes common species like apples, pears and plums and less well known ones like cornelian cherries, highbush cranberries, strawberry trees and honey locusts. It includes non-native species, like bamboo, Persimmon and Japanese pepper Crawford said wildlife thrived in the garden: "It's been fantastic for wildlife. There's a lot of birds. We had a bird survey and found 20 species in a week last summer. It's interesting because a lot of the plants here are not native." He said it was a self-regulating system: "I've seen and realised that most plants co-operate with each other. "We're taught that plants compete, sometimes there can be competition but more often in this kind of ecosystem plants are co-operating. "Some plants will help feed others. They'll attract insects to eat the pests or other plants."The future of the Forest Garden is uncertain. ART was given a year's notice to quit in March but its lease has been allowed to continue for a further three and a half years following a campaign and petition. ART said it was in discussions with the Dartington Hall Trust (DHT) to secure the Forest Garden's Crawford said: "These long term growing sustainable growing systems can be our future. "We face a very uncertain future with climate change and biodiversity loss. It's critically important to research these kind of systems."A spokesman for the DHT said: "The trust has given Martin an assurance that his existing lease, which has three years to run, is safe. We have committed to discuss arrangements beyond then in due course."
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Photo group honour member for 50 years of service
A special presentation was held to honour a man who has been a member of a photo group for 50 years. Exmouth Photo Group held the event on Wednesday, April 23, to honour John Perriam ARPS DPAGB AFIAP for his 50 years of membership. He was presented with an engraved Dartington wine glass and a specially composed poem to mark his achievements and thank him for his contributions to the club. John is currently the honorary president, having joined the group in 1975. He has held several official posts, including chairman over three separate periods. Homeward Bound (Image: John Perriam) His photographic interests cover a wide range, including landscapes, street photography, still life, and events, and he also creates audio-visual sequences from his work. Christine Chittock, chairperson, said: "John contributes a great deal to the life of the club, organising the 'Image Makers Group' which helps members to informally show their work and gain positive critiques. "John has willingly given his time and experience for many years, mentoring and helping others to improve their photography." Exmouth Photo Group welcomes enquiries from interested photographers. To see some of their work, there will be a display of members' prints in Exmouth Library from May 2 to 31, 2025. To find out more about Exmouth Photo Group, please contact Gill Stocker at
