Multi award-winning Cofton Holidays, located near Dawlish, has boosted its environmental credentials following a £200,000 investment in 11 electric vehicles for its housekeeping and maintenance teams. The move follows on from a string of sustainability initiatives that have been implemented by the family-run holiday park, including the installation of 24 public electric vehicle (EV) charging points to meet demand from increasing numbers of guests visiting with EVs. Research from HeyCar shows that EV registrations in the UK were 76.3% higher in 2021 compared to 2020, and numbers of EV vehicles in the UK are only expected to rise. Four EVs are now in operation within the housekeeping team. Three vehicles have been introduced to the maintenance team. A further two EV buggies and two minivans are also in operation across the site. In keeping with their commitment to reducing environmental impact, all five of Cofton’s Directors have also switched to electric vehicles. This investment is the latest in a series of sustainable initiatives undertaken by Cofton Holidays. This includes a two-acre rewilding project, the introduction of wildlife corridors, and the installation of solar panel units on the park’s 12 luxury lodges and toilet blocks. Earlier this year, Cofton also invested £17,000 in 16 e-bikes for guests to hire. With miles of cycle paths on its doorstep, Cofton guests now have the option to explore the Exe Estuary with the power of electric, giving further reason for visitors to leave their cars behind. Available to hire from £40 per day to those aged 14 and over, the e-bikes allow guests to visit and support other local businesses, whilst helping to protect the local environment.   Chris Jeffery, Director at Cofton Holidays and a driving force behind sustainable projects at the holiday park, commented: “For us, sustainability is the future of tourism. It’s why we’re investing heavily in green initiatives. “As one of Devon’s leading holiday parks, we’re encouraging other South West businesses, and those who live in and visit our beautiful region, to become more environmentally aware. We need to practice what we preach, which is why we’re adopting electric vehicle alternatives. These not only reduce emissions on site, and lower our fuel costs, but they are quieter, which means our team can work efficiently whilst keeping noise to a minimum.” Chris continued: “Introducing EVs into our daily operations is all part of our drive towards becoming one of the country’s leading…

There is a significant amount of variation in the quality of walnut wood. Density is a significant factor when it comes to the quality of the materials we can utilize to manufacture furniture. The furniture can withstand termite attacks for decades because of its high density. Walnut wood is an excellent example of a species of wood that satisfies the requirement for having a high density. For example, individuals in North Africa, Asia, and the United States utilize this wood for home furniture. Europeans hardly ever use this wood to make furniture because it is hard to find in their country and usually costs a lot to buy. It’s essential to know about walnut wood if you plan to buy wood furniture and its benefits and drawbacks. The Characteristics Of Walnut Wood In comparison to other woods, walnuts have some distinct qualities. People frequently inquire about walnut wood usage, upkeep, and how it is used in furniture. Walnut is an exotic wood that is both attractive and easy to work with in the realm of wood furniture. Aside from the fact that it has a deep and rich color, it is highly prized for its density and hardwood properties. Walnut wood is a favorite among woodworkers because it can be used to make everything from mid-century modern furniture to traditional office furnishings. Walnut wood’s imposing beauty will be too much for furniture aficionados to refuse. Eastern Black Walnut, American Black Walnut, or American Walnut are only a few of the many types of walnut wood that are native to North America. This variety is the most common sort of walnut used in furniture and other woodworking projects. Listed here are some of the many characteristics of walnut wood. Durability
Walnut wood isn’t the hardest type, but it is still considered strong and solid. It may be used for everything from Bed frames, headboards, wardrobes, accent tables, dining sets, bureaus, and many more. The item will last long because walnut wood is resistant to degradation. The wood’s light weight makes it an ideal choice for furniture because of its strength and durability. The shade
The dark brown color of walnut wood is well-known and elevates whatever place it is used in. Depending on the heartwood, walnut wood can be pale or dark brown in hue. To further enhance its beauty, the heartwood may have…

They’re back – Burn the Curtain return with their rambling alfresco museum-experience in Green Circle Parks Mincinglake, Riverside and Ludwell Valley this September and October.  They’re inviting you to step outdoors into a fantastical experience and discover a side to your local park that you’ve never seen before! Burn the Curtain believe that any space can be magical, and that any one of us can create magic moments, and this is what ‘The Imaginarium of Us’ did last year.  They’re thrilled to be able to continue that work, building upon those magic moments and creating new ones with the local communities around Exeter.  The ethereal Curiositors (rather strange other-worldly visitors) enjoyed their visit to Exeter, Earth so much in 2021 that they’re preparing to make another journey across time and return very soon.   They’re powered by discovery and creativity, so as long as they keep finding more intriguing items their curiosity levels will stay high – and it seems that the new artworks that Exeter earthlings have been making have really got them super-charged! Joe Hancock, co-producer of the project is thrilled to be bringing the Imaginarium back to Exeter; “We took a big risk creating the Imaginarium in 2021, without having any idea what the people of Exeter would make of it…turns out they loved it!  They were so enthusiastic about it that we decided to bring it back again this year, with new artwork, all of which relates to the city in some way… Come and join us, it is a fun way to explore the beautiful green spaces nearby.” The Imaginarium will be opening its doors to audiences on September 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th and 1stOctober.   Walking performances are for 1 hour 20 minutes and you can book your slot between 6 and 9pm by clicking on this link  https://www.tickettailor.com/events/burnthecurtain  Photo: Theo Moye Fans of Burn the Curtain will be aware that they have a remarkable knack of mixing creativity, theatre and physical activity.  Many of their visitors last year commented that it was wonderful seeing their children running ahead rather than grumbling at the back!  Live and Move, the Exeter and Cranbrook Sport England Local Delivery have supported the project as well as our funders from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery and Exeter City Council James Bogue, Live and Move Programme Lead…

Construction has officially started on a new over 55s development of luxury new homes in Exmouth, by award-winning housebuilder Blue Cedar Homes. The new development, Orcombe Gardens, will feature a mix of 23 freehold, 2- and 3-bedroom homes each with their own garage, private parking space and private rear gardens. The collection of new homes will also offer a signature summerhouse and landscaped garden for residents to enjoy. Halsall Construction, the established South West construction firm, are now on site building the homes to Blue Cedar Homes’ high-quality specification and finish. The new, energy efficient homes at Orcombe Gardens have been carefully designed to effortlessly support homeowners’ lifestyles, drawing on years of experience in creating stylish, spacious and practical homes, and feature flexible interior layouts to meet occupants’ changing future needs. Each property’s private gardens, communal gardens, boundaries, and property exteriors will all be cared for by Blue Cedar Homes’ visiting Estate Manager. Last week, Andy Corp, Managing Director at Halsall, and Marcus Mason, Senior Site Manager at Halsall, were joined on site with David Millar, Senior Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager at Blue Cedar Homes, and Chris Fayers, Sales and Marketing Director at Blue Cedar Homes to officially break ground and celebrate having the site work commence. Andy Corp, Managing Director at Halsall said: “It’s a pleasure to be working with Blue Cedar Homes once again following recent construction works on the Company’s 1.8-acre development in central Wedmore. Blue Cedar Homes’ properties are always finished to a very high standard and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the completion of the first home.” Chris Fayers, Sales and Marketing Director at Blue Cedar Homes said: “We’re delighted to have officially commenced construction on Orcombe Gardens having appointed our lead contractor, Halsall. Chris continued: “Exmouth is a very attractive, highly sought-after seaside town in the South West. With its vibrant community life and excellent transport links to Exeter, Dartmoor, and various beauty spots around South Devon, we look forward to welcoming future residents to the view our new homes which will help them visualise what an active retirement by the coast could look like.” Blue Cedar Homes was established in 2008 and has completed 24 age-exclusive developments. Buyers can register their interest now on the Blue Cedar Homes website (www.bluecedarhomes.co.uk) or call 01392 369704 to have the opportunity to reserve a home off plan. For further information about Halsall, please call…

The second series of highly successful webinars for parents of teenagers is set to kick off this autumn, covering a range of new topics. Let’s Talk Teenagers is a series of online support sessions and an opportunity for parents and carers of teenagers to hear about the challenges young people are facing today and discover ways to help them navigate their way through them. The sessions have been running throughout 2022 and discuss the tools and techniques that can be used to support young people and their community. The latest sessions, starting on Tuesday 13 September and running weekly until 4 October, with an added session on Wednesday 5 October, cover topics such as exploring teenage relationships, mental health and emotional wellbeing, anger and challenging behaviour, bullying and online challenges including preventing radicalisation. There will be an updated toolkit available after the courses for everyone who signs up to this free event, which also covers topics from earlier sessions such as drugs and alcohol, body image, self-care and social and emotional changes. The project has been produced with funding and support from the South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership, Teignbridge and South Hams District Councils, Teignbridge Council for Voluntary Service, the Safety and Resilience Consultancy, Devon County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Safer Devon Partnership. Rebecca Hewitt, Teignbridge Council’s Safeguarding Lead and Chair of the South Devon and Dartmoor Partnership said: “The success of these courses lies in the desire of parents to find out how best they can support their teenagers through what is often the most difficult stage of their lives. “We’ve been completely amazed by the number of people who have signed up for these sessions – we had almost 800 people sign up for one or more of them – and we’re absolutely delighted with the positive feedback. “We’re hoping to attract more people – particularly fathers and male carers as well as people who’ve attended previous sessions. They’re free and easy to sign up for and are just an hour a week!” The sessions are delivered by parenting experts Emma Stephens and Chloe Hosegrove from the Safety and Resilience Consultancy. Emma said: “We were overwhelmed with the testimonies from people who’ve joined these webinars, and we’re really pleased to have developed these new sessions shaped by the…