Budleigh Past and Present

There’s a poignant air about this photo that I took of Kimmo Evans in November 2013, a year before his death from leukaemia.  He’d come to Budleigh Salterton’s Peter Hall to give a talk jointly organised by the Otter Valley Association and Fairlynch Museum.  As Community Development Officer for East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty he wanted to explain why the AONB is celebrating its 50 years. It was an excellent talk: he radiated enthusiasm for his work. I still remember his amazement that so few of the audience had heard a nightjar, and the offer that he made on the spot to organize a night-time trip to Woodbury Common to hear its strange whirring call.  You can listen to it now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOAGUfBFcvM   At the time I noticed how frail he seemed, and later I learnt that he was ill. It was sad to learn of the premature death of such a lively, interested and much-loved man. The following appreciation of Kimm...

    Kimmo Evans with a trophy recently presented to East Devon AONB     The idea of Winter Talks arranged in partnership by Fairlynch Museum and the Otter Valley Association, first suggested in 1979, is nothing new. As OVA Chairman Nicola Daniel pointed out while introducing the guest speaker at a joint event on 4 November the two groups have much in common: both are concerned with educating people about the history, geography, architecture and natural history of the lower Otter Valley .         Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats, along with a few other types use the Beer Quarry caves to hibernate in the winter.  Image credit John Scott See  http://www.beerquarrycaves.co.uk/bats.html     Kimmo Evans, Community Development Officer for East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, had come to tell us why the AONB is celebrating its 50 years. He began by giving some background o...

    An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is an area of high scenic quality which has statutory protection in order to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of its landscape. There are only just over 30 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England , and here in East Devon we are lucky to be living in one of them. Fairlynch Museum and the Otter Valley Association have teamed up to present a talk by Kimmo Evans, Community Development Officer at East Devon AONB.    With a degree in Marine Biology, Kimmo Evans has gained most of his experience in the conservation sector - both marine and land-based. He has worked on traditional aspects of protected landscape work such as events planning, conservation tasks and media work. But he has also been involved in more innovative interpretation work linked to mobile phone technology, working with local businesses and community based renewable energy projects. He is now also Board Director on the Heart...

    The Museum garden will be the setting for the Budleigh Salterton Chamber of Commerce tea party on Bank Holiday Monday 26 August.   The event is being held to celebrate the 50th birthday of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To mark this special anniversary a series of events and activities have taken place during 2013 to raise the profile of the area, which is one of Britain 's finest protected landscapes, both rich in culture and a haven for wildlife. Cream teas will be served at the Chamber of Commerce event between 2.00 and 5.00 pm and jazz musicians will help make the afternoon go with a swing. Tickets at £2 are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Fore Street . The Museum will be open as usual for visitors and will include a special lacemaking session with Fairlynch lacemaker Sue Morgan. A TIC spokesperson said that a gazebo will be provided so that the celebration will take place whatever the weather.   ...