Latest news with #Torrington
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Barking up the wrong trees: RHS visitors left howling over trial that lets in dogs to garden
Royal Horticultural Society chiefs have been hounded by members – over opening its gardens to dogs for the first time. Visitors of RHS Rosemoor in Torrington, Devon, are now able to walk their pet on short leads three days a week. But at the annual general meeting held at Rosemoor, top brass were dogged by complaints about the trial being a stepping stone to introducing the same policy across other RHS gardens. Members' misgivings included accounts of children being licked by dogs and wildlife such as dormice being killed. An outraged member said: 'I am not against people having dogs but... we have a lot of vulnerable people and children who come here.' She added that providing bags and scoopers for dog poo would 'change the atmosphere'. Another member said: 'I have unfortunately come across dead dormice where I have actually seen the dog ahead of me kill it. 'We are guardians of these grounds and every plant, animal, insect and that's why I am concerned about these dog days.' One member has also threatened to cancel her membership if dog days are made permanent at the end of the trial. RHS president Keith Weed told the AGM the trial would be closely monitored until September before any decision is made. He said: 'The great thing about a trial is to learn from it. We had this debate at the last AGM and it was a bit noisier from those in favour of dogs.' Dogs are not currently allowed in most RHS gardens, except for at planned 'walkie' events. Under the trial at Rosemoor, dogs under the control of owners on a short lead are permitted on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in specific areas. But there is a strict 'paws on paths' policy and restricted zones such as the children's play area and the vegetable gardens. The six-month trial comes after the RHS commissioned Monty Don to create a dog-friendly garden for the Chelsea Flower Show – the first time the BBC Gardeners' World presenter had designed a space at the event. Don took his beloved golden retriever Ned to try out his garden's features for dogs, including a lawn, water to wallow in and trees to cast shade. It also followed a National Trust plan to install 'wee poles' to prevent dogs from urinating on trees and historic buildings at some sites. High amounts of dog urine can increase the acidity of the soil and affect plants and the surrounding environment, the Trust said.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Alberta's stuffed gopher museum turns 30 years old
Stuffed gophers on display at the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in central Alberta is marking 30 years of presenting its local history in a wacky, albeit memorable, way. 'I don't know what's wrong with people,' joked director Laural Kurta when asked in a recent interview to explain the museum's popularity. Between May and October – while only offering daily hours during July and August – the museum of stuffed gophers in Torrington counts about 15,000 visitors. Anthropomorphic taxidermy is the official name for the dioramas depicting the history of the hamlet. 'I think part of it is that people just don't have enough to laugh at,' Kurta speculates. Scenes from the community and its past become comical with the stuffed rodents taking the place of humans, be it in church, on a sheet of curling ice, or working at long-closed businesses. World Famous Gopher Hole Museum Torrington Stuffed gophers on display at the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) 'At one point, there were three stores, three restaurants, a comic book store, arcade (and) pool hall. It was a busy, busy little place. But after the railway lines were lifted, the grain elevators went down, people had to take their grain to further markets outside of this community and everything here started to close,' Kurta explained, noting it's a story familiar to many agricultural communities across the Canadian prairies. 'For us in particular, it's left us with virtually nothing. Yet, thousands of people come every year for this ridiculous gopher museum, and we're glad that we're able to give them some kind of joy that way.' The museum was created in 1995 with a $9,000 grant from the provincial government to develop a tourist attraction to boost local business. Since then, it has been fully funded by admission profits. World Famous Gopher Hole Museum Torrington The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta., on July 30, 2025. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) Its opening made international headlines due to protests by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) over the use of the dead animals – but that is precisely the museum's draw. 'We've been, for three years, talking about this place,' said one museum visitor, Tom Higdon. His partner, Karen Leonhardt, added, 'I don't know how many gopher museums there are in the world, but certainly there aren't a lot. … It was just a chance to do something very unique and very local.' Higdon said the museum saw a steady flow of people on the day they visited with their grandchildren. 'It's like that movie, Field of Dreams. Build it and they will come, right?' The museum has also sat on the bucket list of Tina Lorenz for a while, who called it 'as ridiculous and awesome as it sounds.' 'I had a blast with how whimsical the dioramas are,' Lorenz told CTV News Edmonton. 'When you look at things to do in Alberta, they talk about all the big things, like the sausage and the egg and the (Vulcan) Star Trek thing. This is iconic Alberta. You definitely want to come here.' World Famous Gopher Hole Museum Torrington Stuffed gophers on display at the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alta. (Marek Tkach / CTV News Edmonton) Although Kurta's parents were among the museum's founding members and they managed it for two-and-a-half decades, she once swore she'd never be involved with the place. Five years ago, she was sucked into managing it by circumstance and now finds herself at the helm while the museum looks for a new home in Torrington due to a wasp and maple bug problem. It took 30 years, but she has come to recognize both the museum's significance and charm. 'It's really important to represent what used to be here. So it's not so much a vanity project for us, but it is telling stories that people are no longer around to tell,' Kurta said. 'I never wanted anything to do with this place, but I can stand back to the side and just listen to people laugh, and that truly is a gift.' With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Brian Lockhart of Automotive Service Equipment Offers Guidance on Best Car Lift for HighVolume Auto Shops in HelloNation
'In shops that routinely service heavier trucks or fleet vehicles, the four-post lift holds clear advantages.'— Brian Lockhart TORRINGTON, CT, UNITED STATES, July 9, 2025 / / -- Brian Lockhart of Automotive Service Equipment Offers Guidance on Best Car Lift for High-Volume Auto Shops in HelloNation What is the best car lift for a high-volume auto repair shop? Brian Lockhart of Automotive Service Equipment answers this question in a detailed feature published in HelloNation. He outlines the specific lift types that best serve busy garages, emphasizing the importance of equipment that delivers speed, safety, and adaptability to meet daily repair demands. According to Lockhart, two-post lifts are a staple in high-turnover shops due to their compact footprint and open-center design, which allows technicians unobstructed access for routine services. For heavier trucks and long-wheelbase vehicles, four-post lifts offer the necessary stability and weight distribution to perform alignments and exhaust work efficiently. Mobile column lifts provide added flexibility in shops with changing layouts or space limitations, enabling repositioning around larger vehicles as needed. Key considerations for selecting any lift include lift speed, load capacity, and alignment with the shop's structural layout. Lockhart advises that ignoring these factors can result in operational delays, safety issues, and higher long-term costs. He emphasizes that reliable lifts, when properly installed and maintained, support technician productivity and protect vehicle integrity. The full article, What's the Best Car Lift for a High-Volume Auto Repair Shop?, breaks down the pros and cons of each lift type with practical insight for commercial garage planning. About HelloNation HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative 'edvertising' approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. Patrick MacCabe HelloNation [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Paint recycling scheme started in Devon
Tins of useable leftover paint can be taken to Devon's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) as part of a new Community RePaint scheme in the county, local project leaders RePaint is a UK-wide initiative that makes paint available to others; all they have to do is collect it. The scheme is now available at all recycling centres except in Jacqi Hodgson, from Devon County Council, said: "We are delighted to get this scheme off the ground. it's another example of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and supporting Devon's communities. "It makes sense to allow others to use your leftover paint rather than paying to dispose of it." Bosses said 1,756 litres of paint had already been distributed to members of the public.
BBC News
08-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Firefighters tackle large barn fire in Devon
Fire crews have been battling a barn blaze in Devon since the early agricultural building in the Littleham area near Bideford was full of hay, straw and machinery, Devon and Somerset Fire Service were called to the scene shortly before 04:00 BST and they found the barn "well alight".Crews from Appledore, Bideford, Torrington, Barnstaple and Illfracombe were at the scene, later joined by crews from Hatherleigh and Chulmleigh, said the service.
