Penny Dixie
Community Events
Get involved and join a local community event near you...
Get involved with Naturally Healthy May!
Various dates and locations.
All month Active Devon and Devon Local Nature Partnership will be sharing a variety of events around the county, places to walk, wheel and cycle, places to breathe in and get fresh air and wildlife to spot in Devon.
Robert Darch: Uncertain Landscapes
May-June. Burton Art Gallery, Bideford
Uncertain Landscape brings together 40 photographs from two Beaford commissions, ‘æsc’ and ‘Omicron’ by Devon-based artist-photographer Robert Darch.
The English Riviera Walking Festival
Saturday 4 - Sunday 19 May. South Devon
Residents and visitors are invited to a friendly two-week celebration of South Devon’s breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The festival is organised by the English Riviera BID Company in partnership with us and boasts an exciting lineup of 25 half and full day coastal walks led by experienced and enthusiastic local guides.
National Hedgerow Week
Monday 6 - Sunday 12 May.
Free online hedge talks.
Growing Devon Schools Spring Forum
Friday 10 May, 12:00-15:30. Shillingford Farm, Exeter
Agroecology is an approach to farming which works with nature to grow nourishing food for communities and space for the rest of nature to thrive. In this hands-on afternoon at Farm School, Shillingford Organics, we will explore opportunities for schools to provide opportunities for pupils to experience how all things are connected, and to gain the knowledge and skills to engage in the positive and empowering options that exist in this sector.
Hedgehogs in need!
Friday 10 May, 19:30. Bishops Nympton Parish Hall
Bishops Nympton Gardening Club presents a talk by Stephen Powles "Hedgehogs in Need, Getting Connected" on Friday 10th May at 7.30pm at Bishops Nympton Parish Hall (shop and post office). Tickets £5 (includes cheese and wine) from the Community Shop or phone Ann 07920 854868 or at the door.
Plymouth Urban Tree Festival
Saturday 11 - Sunday 19 May. Various locations
This May join Plymouth Tree People to celebrate the second Plymouth Urban Tree Festival! People in Plymouth clearly love trees so we are joining other cities including London and Belfast for the 7th annual Urban Tree Festival to celebrate how much we value and appreciate our city's trees. We are running a wide range of mostly free, exciting events which cater for all ages and abilities. The Plymouth Tree Festival is independently run entirely by passionate local volunteers, tree experts, charities and groups.
Hedge love! An evening all about hedges
Tuesday 14 May, 19:00. Chardstock Community Hall
John Calder from the Great Big Dorset Hedge Project will join Chardstock Eco Group for an evening of hedges. Free although small donations are always appreciated. Refreshments are available.
The Big Saunton Beach Clean
Sunday 19 May, Sunday 30 June, Sunday 14 July, Sunday 15 September, Sunday 27 October, Sunday 8 December, 11:00-13:00. Saunton
The ‘Big Saunton Beach Clean’ partnership draws together a range of community and business stakeholders and many dedicated volunteer beach cleaners. Since 2018 the Saunton events have involved 3050 volunteers, 43 beach cleans and the removal of over four tonnes of rubbish.
Sustainability Event - Think Green, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Thursday 23 May, 18:00-20:30. Petroc, Tiverton Campus
Music, art exhibition, bar, art competition and fashion show, all focusing around sustainability. Entry £4, tickets can be purchased from ReFurnish.
Avon Valley Project - Landowner Advisory Drop-ins
Thursday 23 May, 9:30-16:00. Heron Valley Orchard Coffee Shop & Bar, Loddiswell, TQ7
Over the winter months DWT’s Lynne Kenderdine will be available at Heron Valley Café to help answer your land management questions. If you are a farmer, landowner or land manager in the Avon Valley and would like advice or wish to discuss any aspect of land management then you can book time with Lynne between 9:30-13:00 and 14:00-15:00 – or drop in between 15:00-16:00. Additional dates available.
Film Club @ The Eco Hub
Friday 24 May, 18:00-20:00 (more dates available). Sustainable Tiverton Eco Hub, EX16 6LU
A casual monthly film screening and discussion evening open to all. Organised by Sustainable Tiverton.
The South West Marine Fest Conference 2024
Wednesday 29 May, 9:30-16:00. Brixham Marine Lab, TQ5 8BA
This will be the second of a reoccurring annual event that celebrates marine life from the region and beyond. The day will be filled with presentations, discussions and networking opportunities and will be aimed at those who work in the marine/conservation sector, students, early career researchers, and anyone with a passion for the marine environment!
Repurposing Brown Bins: Train the Trainer Course
Saturday 8 June, 10:00-15:00. Makers Mew, Ivybridge
We will be demonstrating the best methods for repurposing redundant brown bins into wormeries, rainwater butts and compost bins at this course. Attendees will leave the course with the knowledge and equipment necessary to convert brown bins in their own communities.
There are very limited spaces on the course and we are keen to ensure that this knowledge gets spread across the South Hams. Attendees should be willing and able to use the course to educate in their own community, and we would ideally prefer to have just one representative from a parish.
Kingsbridge Nature Festival
Thursday 20 - Saturday 22 June. Kjngsbridge
Together with a range of creatives, projects and organisations in the town and surrounding area, we are busy co-creating a programme of events and workshops starting in April that culminate in a three-day festival (June 20th - 22nd) to celebrate the natural world and our place within it.
Living Churchyard Open Day
Saturday 22 June, 9:00-16:00. St Andrew's Church, Calstock
Children and adult activities throughout the day: wildlife explorers, build a bug hotel, BioBlitz, discover lost stories from the graveyard, grave and tree rubbings, meditative meadow walks, board games and bellringing. Tea, coffee, cake and savoury snacks available. Free event, donations welcome.
ACT with the Arts - call for artists now open
Saturday 22 June - 29 June. Teignbridge
Action on Climate in Teignbridge invite artists from the world of theatre, music, performance, dance and contemporary art to join them in creating a climate change themed festival across Teignbridge.
For further information on how to become involved contact Paul Wynter: paulwynter@actionclimateteignbridge.org, 07711952808.
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 for 2024 cohorts.
North Devon Coast National Landscape Spring Events
Various dates and locations.
Events include wildlife recording days, learning about plants and pollinators, BioBlitz events.
Coastwise North Devon Spring/Summer Survey Programme
Shoresearch and INNSHORE field surveys running from Tuesday 12 March - 18 October at various locations in North Devon.
Braunton Countryside Centre Events
Various dates. North Devon
There are plenty of events planned for May, hopefully along with some gorgeous springtime sunshine!
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.
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 here: