Rare bird seen in Devon prompts rule breaches
POLICE have handed out fines to birdwatchers who breached lockdown restrictions to catch a glimpse of a bird rarely seen on UK shores.
Chris Biddle tweeted about the sighting of a northern mockingbird in his garden in Exmouth earlier this month, prompting a flurry of excitement for birders.
It is thought to be only the third
British record of the bird, normally found in North America, and the first for more than 30 years.
News of the rare visitor prompted some enthusiasts to head to Exmouth to see the bird, in breach of Government guidelines that people should not travel outside their local area during the latest coronavirus lockdown.
Devon and Cornwall Police said they were contacted early last Saturday morning over potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations in the coastal town.
In a statement, the force said: “It was reported that a number of individuals, suspected to have travelled from outside the area, were trying to photograph a rare bird which had been seen in a garden.” Fines were issued to five people for breaching the regulations, it added.
The sighting of the grey, longtailed northern mockingbird came after two accepted sightings in the UK in the 1980s, at Saltash in Cornwall in 1982, and at Horsey Island, Essex, six years later, experts at BirdGuides said.
CORNWALL Council is urging residents to take extra care following a series of cliff falls around the Westcountry coast.
Among the recent incidents, a dog died when it became buried under a landslide at Whipsiderry Beach, near Newquay, and there have been several cliff falls in East Devon, including a dramatic collapse at Orcombe Point, Exmouth, just a week ago, which prompted warnings from the National Trust for people to avoid gathering beneath cliffs in the area.
In the incident near Newquay, the dog’s owner narrowly escaped injury after he was warned by a member of the public that the cliff was about to give way for a second time.
In recent weeks, there have also been cliff falls at Charlestown, Par Sands and Pentreath Beach on the Lizard peninsula. Part of the beach at Portwrinkle was also closed off after a landslide last week.
During lockdown, residents should stay local to their area for daily exercise, and this week – the school half-term holiday – Cornwall Council, the RNLI and HM Coastguard are urging those who do live by the coast to take extra care if venturing out.
Councillor Rob Nolan, Cabinet member for environment and public protection at Cornwall Council, said: “We don’t know when and where rock falls or landslides may occur, and we don’t know if they will be small or large-scale events. But we do know that they can be deadly.
“Please keep away from any cliff edges and keep clear of the bottom of the cliff. We don’t want anyone to get hurt and we don’t want to put additional strain on our emergency services at this time.”
Tom Mansell, RNLI regional lifesaving lead for the South West, said: “With schools closed over the halfterm and a break in online learning, it is likely we will see people lucky enough to live close to the coast using it to exercise. We are encouraging everyone to follow Government guidance on what they are able to do and where they are able to go during lockdown. The school holiday will look very different this year, but, for those able to use the coast for exercise, we would urge them to familiarise themselves with local risks and be as safe as possible.”
James Instance, coastguard controller based in Falmouth, said: “We’ve had plenty of rain lately so it’s important that you take plenty of care near cliffs, as some cliff tops are unstable and could easily collapse. Our advice, as always, is to stay well back, wear appropriate footwear and ensure that you check tide times and the forecast before setting out.”
APROFESSIONAL freelance chef whose family have been farming on Exmoor for over 500 years will now be able to further her blossoming catering career on home soil thanks to funding from a local charity.
Caroline Westcott has been named as the 2020 winner of the prestigious Pinnacle Award, set up and run by the Exmoor Society.
Established by the charity in 2011, it offers up to £5,000 to applicants – individuals or groups – with an Exmoor-based business start-up or development plan, helping bright young entrepreneurs to remain on the moor when they enter the world of work.
In response to the severe impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the rural economy, the Pinnacle Award in 2020 was raised in value from £3,000 to £5,000, with the applicants’ age range also extended to between 18 and 35 years old.
Speaking after being told that she had won, Caroline said: “When I heard I had won the [Pinnacle] award, I was absolutely thrilled and grateful to the Exmoor Society for enabling me to develop my new business.”
First taking the plunge back in 2018, Caroline decided to embark in a new career in catering by training at the Ashburton Chefs Academy, based on Dartmoor, which gave her the confidence to prepare and serve food at a professional level.
Through the winter months she earned a living cooking for guns at local shoots, and for the rest of the year working for private clients employing people on an ad hoc basis. However, the pandemic has had a huge impact on her newly fledged business, with restrictions resulting in a loss of income. Applying for the Pinnacle Award, Caroline’s business idea was to become more flexible and resilient to ever-changing circumstances by enhancing cold food storage through acquiring a refrigerated trailer. This will allow her to cater for a greater number of people – including at outdoor events – and further her brand, publicity and range of menus, with dishes including pan-fried scallops, fillet of beef, wood pigeon salad, pheasant au vin and lamb cutlets served with a madeira jus (pictured). Judges of this year’s Pinnacle Award said Caroline demonstrated her desire to make use of Exmoor’s excellent source of food, showed potential for employing other people and offered a service for both the local community and visitors to the Exmoor National Park.
Rachel Thomas, chairman of the Exmoor Society, which was founded in 1958 and acts as a champion for Exmoor, added: “As a conservation charity, we wish to demonstrate that living or working in or near one of England’s finest landscapes can encourage local employment and economic activity.
“By focusing on Exmoor’s special qualities, the old canard ‘national parks versus jobs’ need no longer apply.”
The announcement of the 2020 Pinnacle Award winner comes as Exmoor businesses, communities and stakeholders are being invited to help shape a future vision for rural enterprise within the National Park as part of the Rural Enterprise Exmoor (REE) Network.
Exmoor plays host to more than 1,200 businesses, many of whom contributed to a major survey last year aiming to identify the unique challenges and opportunities they face. The development of a shared vision is the next step in the journey.
Dan James, sustainable economy manager at Exmoor National Park Authority, set up the REE to create a network of partners who are interested in sustainable economic development. He said: “Exmoor’s communities and businesses, like its landscapes, are resilient and strong and together we want to be ready for the next 15 years or so, ensuring those aspirations are in harmony with the special nature and status of the National Park.”