Rural communities face “significantly higher” costs and earn “much less” than their urban counterparts. “The government must overcome policy silos and develop an integrated approach… Read More »Rural cost-of-living emergency

… what to do with left-overs at home . It’s easy to blame supermarkets for wasting food:  Supermarkets wasting 200,000 tonnes of food that could… Read More »Supermarkets helping out with food waste

“Claims we intend to go back on our commitment to the environment are simply not right. A strong environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand.”… Read More »Changes to farming subsidies proposed – or not

Insulate, insulate, insultate. Upgrade your home. Reduce electricity demand. Bring in universal basic energy: free energy for normal use and a premium above that. . There… Read More »How to bring down our energy bills

“The government is considering scraping the ‘Brexit bonus’ which would have paid farmers and landowners to enhance nature – and replacing it with a yearly set… Read More »Changes to farming subsidies proposed

“Increased environmental standards” promised. Or is this an “attack on nature”? . The government intends to bring in a bill to replace current EU regulations… Read More »Changes to environmental regulations proposed

“… could protect humanity against the worsening impacts of climate change, such as flooding and heatwaves, while helping to restore biodiversity.” . We need to… Read More »Nature recovery in our urban environments

“The effects of exposure to pesticides on humans and the environment are a continuing concern.” . The UK and EU regularly report on pesticide residues… Read More »Pesticides in our food

What would happen to livestock farming communities? “… particularly now we are starting to see what can be achieved with regenerative farming.” . There has… Read More »How would plant-based farming impact the South West?

Wild deer eat the leaves, shoots and bark of trees and 100 adult fallow deer can munch their way through 500kg of vegetation a day.… Read More »“Eat wild venison and save some trees”

Scores of job vacancies in the Sid Valley. . The BBC’s series on the world of work has regular pieces looking at the state of… Read More »The ‘great resignation’ still at work in Sidmouth

“Most burial grounds are kept tidy, and can be rather depressing places. But in old churchyards and Victorian cemeteries it’s often a different story, and… Read More »A cemetery garden

The problems and the proposed solutions to the ‘broken housing market’ in the county. . Last month, the i-newspaper interviewed a Devon MP on the… Read More »Housing in Devon: locals vs tourists?

“The RSPB will be holding a consultation event on Thursday 22nd September in the parish rooms in Sidbury between 2pm and 6.30pm.” . Fire Beacon… Read More »Power lines on Fire Beacon Hill

“Giving back is good for the mind, body, and spirit, as volunteering in the community has been shown to increase happiness, reduce stress, and boost… Read More »11 ways to help community members from near or far