Penny Dixie
Community Events
Get involved and join a local community event near you...
July
Coastwise North Devon events (May-July)
Including coastal walks, marine wildlife surveys, and training opportunities.
Harvesting Resilience – Future Food, Local Soil – 10 July, 11am–4.30pm (near Honiton)
Explore practical approaches to building resilient local food systems through healthy soils, sustainable growing and community action. This hands-on event for CAG Devon members and the wider network includes expert speakers, site visits, networking opportunities and discussions on how local food initiatives can strengthen communities while supporting nature and climate resilience.
Plant Fair: Plant Heritage
12 July, 10am-2pm, South Molton Pannier Market, Broad Street Devon EX36 3AB
On this plant fair there will be a wide variety of plants, trees shrubs and more! The local plant heritage group will also be here selling plants.
Further information jonathanwebster@rhs.org.uk
Growing Income for Communities - Wednesday 15 July (online)
This free online event explores how community organisations can generate income through green social enterprise, with speakers sharing real-world examples of environmentally focused business models and practical fundraising advice. This session is particularly suited to small community groups looking to develop sustainable income streams while supporting nature and the environment.
Find out more
Home and Allotment Composting Workshop - Saturday 18 July, 10am-1pm (Dartington)
Join Sustainable South Hams for a hands-on workshop exploring practical ways to turn kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost, including different methods, equipment and tips for common challenges. The session is suitable for both beginners and experienced composters.
Wild About Devon visit - Saturday 18 July, 1.30pm-4pm (Exminster)
Come along to visit Exminster Greenspaces, our 2025 Wild About Devon Community Group Award winners. Members of the group will introduce us to their work, with a walk around the village orchard and new community garden led by Jeremy Pyne, and refreshments will be available at the start. This event is free, but booking is a must!
Mini BioBlitz at Yelverton – Saturday 25 July, 10am–3pm (Yelverton)
Join this family-friendly wildlife survey and help record the plants, animals and fungi found around Yelverton. Guided by local experts, you'll learn species identification skills, contribute to valuable citizen science records, and explore a range of local habitats. Suitable for all ages and experience levels, it's a great opportunity to discover local wildlife while supporting conservation efforts
Woodland Surveying with Moor Trees - Sunday 26 July, 10.30am-4pm (near Loddiswell)
Join Moor Trees for a hands-on day surveying young woodlands, learning skills such as tree identification, assessing tree health and recording biodiversity as part of a citizen science project. This outdoor session is ideal for anyone keen to support woodland restoration and learn more about local habitats.
Get to Know the Local Nature Recovery Strategy – Monday 20 July, 7pm–8pm (Online via Zoom)
Discover how Devon's new Local Nature Recovery Strategy can help guide action for wildlife across the county. This free online session will introduce the strategy, explain how to use its interactive mapping tools and resources, and explore how communities, landowners and organisations can use it to support nature recovery and access future funding opportunities.
September
NDVS Managing and Supporting Volunteers Forum - Thursday 3 September, 10.30am–12.30pm (Barnstaple)
Join North Devon Voluntary Services for a free peer support forum for anyone who manages or coordinates volunteers. Share experiences, explore best practice in volunteer supervision and management, build your skills, and network with others working in the voluntary and community sector. Refreshments will be provided.
Plant Fair: Plant Heritage
6 September, 10am-3pm, RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torriginton Devon, EX38 8PH
On this plant fair there will be a wide variety of plants, trees shrubs and more! The local plant heritage group will also be here selling plants.
Further information jonathanwebster@rhs.org.uk
October
Understanding Theory of Change and Measuring Tools – Thursday 15 October, 9am–11.30am (Online)
Learn how to plan, measure and communicate the impact of your work using a Theory of Change approach. Designed for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations based in or serving East Devon, this interactive workshop covers impact planning, evaluation methods, storytelling, case studies and practical tools to help demonstrate the value of your projects.
Ongoing events
Nature Speaker Series
Various dates at St Sidwell's Community Centre, Exeter
A collection of talks and workshops celebrating the natural world, practical growing, and community connection. Alongside the talks, there will also be delicious food available and plenty of opportunity to meet like-minded people, share ideas, and spend an enjoyable evening together.
Calling lovers of wildlife and nature!
Join Common Flora for monthly sessions to look at and learn about nature in fields with beautiful views in south Devon.
Looking and listening, gently walking, sitting or lying near the field edges we soak up the atmosphere and breathe the fresh air while we learn about nature and how to care for it. No regular commitment required, sessions happen about once per month. Each site has toilet facilities. Spare outdoor clothes. Delicious food and lots of laughs for free!
Travel and care expenses paid if you are on a low income or vulnerable in some way. Please contact Jane on mail@commonflora.co.uk or call 07716588749
Guided Walks
Various dates, July-September
Barnstaple and District DWT Local Group offer a series of informative guided walks over the summer months, from insights into local nature reserves, to bat & moth evening walks. Booking required, and a £3 donation is requested.
Find out more
Exeter Community Garden volunteer sessions (for all students), multiple dates
The University of Exeter Community Garden needs you! All students and staff are welcome to join for these gardening drop in sessions.
Shores of South Devon - Shoresearch Programme
Come and see how many different species we can collectively find and record. Photographic records eventually end up in the National Biodiversity Database. Shoresearch walkover surveys are citizen science projects conducted in collaboration with Devon Wildlife Trust and open to all. Bring a camera or smartphone if you have one, and wear wellies and appropriate clothing. Find out about upcoming Shoresearch events on the Facebook page and get in touch via info@shoresofsouthdevon.org.uk if you have questions.
Community events at Bowden Pillars, near Totnes
Bowden Pillars Future is a regenerative project being created on 123 acres just outside Totnes, Devon, UK. Working with nature, they will create a new community woodland, a regenerative farm, sequestering carbon and rebuilding natural systems, and a regenerative village that supports true low carbon lives. Bowden Pillars Future runs a range of community events throughout the year.
Events and workshops at The Italian Garden
Various dates. Great Ambrook Avenue, Ipplepen, TQ12 5UL
Guided tours, drawing workshops and more at The Italian Garden.
Moth and muffin mornings, various dates, Seaton Wetlands
Join us and our moth experts from Axe Vale and District Conservation Society down at Seaton Wetlands for a morning of moth ID and breakfast muffins.
Totnes Climate Hub Events
Various dates. The Mansion, 36 Fore Street, Totnes, TQ9 5RP
The Totnes Climate Hub has been created to inspire, educate and enable our community to respond to our local and planetary challenges more effectively and together. Various events are hosting each month including climate cafes, energy advice sessions, walks, talks, and more.
Conservation volunteering days at Hembury Hillfort
Devon Wildlife Trust has been working with the Devon Archaeological Society (DAS) to advise them how best to manage Hembury Hillfort with conservation in mind, and they need volunteers! DAS are keen to keep Hembury in good condition to protect the archaeology and make it easy for visitors to understand. Some of the work is being done by contractors, but the growth of scrub on the ramparts is better controlled by hand. After an enjoyable and successful event last year, they will be holding more days of clearance, socialising and tours of the hillfort in the coming year. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Hembury@devonarchaeologicalsociety.org.uk
What's on at Rosemoor.
Various dates. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH
Nestled in a Devon valley, RHS Garden Rosemoor blends formal and informal plantings to magical effect. Find your next event, course or workshop there.
Skills Bootcamp in Regenerative Land-based Systems
Free for participants, made possible by Devon County Council, Skills Bootcamps and Train 4 Tomorrow, and certified by Crossfields Institute, the Apricot Centre @Huxhams Cross Farm and Landworkers Alliance present the Level 2 Skills Bootcamp in Regenerative Land-Based Systems to introduce people to the world of regenerative farming and help them gain skills for furthering their work and becoming part of the future of farming. Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
12 sessions will take place on Wednesdays, 9am- 4pm. Dates are specified for each cohort upon application and confirmed once you are accepted on a course. You must attend 80% of the course to complete.
Applications are continuously open.
Community orchard webinar recording
Saving Devon’s Treescapes recently teamed up with Adam’s Apples Fruit Tree Nursery based near Honiton to deliver a webinar aimed at anyone interested in creating a community orchard – if you missed it, catch up on our YouTube channel.