The Exe Valley: 2011

Friday 16 December 2011

Exe Valley - Stats - Rainfall

Rainfall figures for November 2011 in the Exe Valley

Below average rainfall for Nov 2011 but no snow!

All figures are in mm and collected in the Exe Valley using a standard rain gauge.

Profile: Adrian Gray runs his company Viewshed Ltd from his home in Silverton, Devon. He's a trainer, software and web developer specializing in Ordnance Survey maps, Pitney Bowes MapInfo and Open Source development for the web, desktop and mobile platforms. He can be contacted at www.viewshed.co.uk

Friday 19 August 2011

Bampton Town Open Day - Aug 29th 2011

The Bampton Town Open Day is on Aug 29th and sees some great events like:

Teddy Bear Parachuting
Duck Race on the river Batherm
10km Run
Craft Stalls
Hog Roast
Dog Show
Click here for the programme

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Darts Farm launch Bike Hire

Darts Farm the 'Best Local Food Retailer' - BBC Food and Farming Awards 2010, between Topsham and Clyst St. George has launched a fantastic bicycle hire scheme.

"Discover the stunning Exe Estuary cycle trail, world famous for its birds, beautiful scenery and of course our delicious Darts Farm picnic.

Choose from a selection of traditional and contemporary bicycles from quality British manufacturers, including Pashley, Isla Bikes and Dawes, providing you a blend of British heritage and great performance.

We also have a range of accessories, including baby seats, trailers and tag-a-longs to provide a fun day out for all the family."

Friday 22 July 2011

Mid Devon Show

The best one day agricultural show in the west! The Mid Devon Show offers a fun day out for all the family - visit http://www.middevonshow.co.uk/ to view the full line up, which includes farm demonstrations, arts, rural crafts, food & drink and entertainment, including the Rockin Horse Stunt Team!

For more information see the website http://www.middevonshow.co.uk/ or the visit devon website

Monday 16 May 2011

Nutshell Photography win Devon Camera Centre March/April Photo Competition

We are very pleased to announce that Kate West of Nutshell Photography, and regular contributor to the Exe Valley Views section of this blog, has won the Devon Camera Centre March/April 2011 photo competition. She beat off tough competition with this fantastic image of striped deckchairs at the top of the Lundy Lighthouse.

.Well done Kate!

Here's links to some of Kate's other contributions to this blog:
http://theexevalley.blogspot.com/2011/02/exe-valley-views-early-lambs.html
http://theexevalley.blogspot.com/2011/02/exe-valley-views-snow-drops.html
http://theexevalley.blogspot.com/2011/03/capturing-northern-lights-in-norwegian.html
http://theexevalley.blogspot.com/2011/05/exe-valley-views-capturing-majesty-of.html
Keep an eye on the Exe Valley blog for more contributions from Kate or check out here website http://www.nutshellphotography.co.uk/

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Richard Maunder - SWCP Walk for ELF - Update

Back in February we told you that we would be offering IT and back office support to Richard Maunder who was going to walk the South West Coastal Footpath in aid of Exeter Leukaemia Fund. Well Richard is doing very well and has had some amazing weather, he's passed half way and has been keeping his blog updated with some cracking pictures and stories.

His 630 mile journey started at Sand Banks in Dorset on Friday 15th April and he has aimed to cover approximately 15 to 20 miles per day and by the sounds of it consume a pint of real ale at every pub he passes. Here'e just a few of the images and stories he's posted and links to the originals on his blog:

Day 2 was tough.

The first full day brought reality that this challenge was no stroll. Hips and shoulders sore, and back ache. And no campsite available.
But then a farm cafe, steak dinner and after another mile or two wild camp.
Sleep disturbed by some mad 12 hour night runners.
But up with sunrise and going well.
Beautiful morning and not another walker in site.

Beautiful Lulworth Cove on a sunny day.

Fairly tough walking stretch from Kimmeridge but views have been breathtaking. MOD need to tidy their shrapnel up from the ranges. What a mess......but thanks for access to this stunning bit of coast.
Just finished best all day breakfast ever in cafe. Now on to Osmington Mills where pub pint and bath await after 2 nights of wild camping.

Durdle Door

Jurassic Coast

This part of the walk has been hard work, but the views have been simply stunning.
A picture to prove that I haven't paid someone else to walk it for me.....

Torquay Marina.

Just on from here I was gifted a mini egg and prayed for. I mentioned it was my blister on my right foot that actually needed some divine intervention , so an extra prayer and we shall see how it is tomorrow.

Gammon Head and Black Cove.

Great little quiet spot with a little wave rolling in. Now nearly 6pm and last ferry at 7pm from East Portlemouth.

Engine Houses.

It was a damp, grey and rainy morning as I left Porthleven, but it started to brighten as I came across the first of probably many mining engine house ruins. These were Wheal Prosper and Trewavas and once worked for copper. This section through to Marazion is very attractive coast line.

Early Doors Sennen Cove.

Out the door just after 6.30. Not particularly big mileage but hard walking ahead. Beautiful morning and excellent surf coming in to beach. Cup of tea before I left and made a flask (top advice Kev ).

Carved Mermaid.

The only remaining mediaeval bench ends carved over 500 years ago.
So after day 25 the boots and I have covered 389 miles and are still bang on schedule. Gwithian tomorrow and back in the tent if dry !
Staying at Tinners Arms in Zennor tonight, but ironically no Tinners. So will be on the Doom.
The church where Mum was christened and her parents married is right outside my window.

St Ives Bay and long, long beach.

This beach went on for ever. Had a laugh looking back at my tracks which were weaving all over the place. Probably walked twice as far as I needed to.
Asked the lifeguards which campsite I should aim at. Churchtown Farm. Gwithian. Good call $8.50 and all the hot water I want.
Picked up good reception and started blog, messages and mail.
Thank you Susan and David from Barrie Ontario for your kind words (mousehole cat) and hope you have great stay in Wembury. If you walk east to Ringmore there is a great pub called Journeys End. Also suggest car ride to Bantham and visit Sloop Inn. Also Hope Cove and lunch at Hope and Anchor. Brit pubs are the best. I know ! Also visit Plymouth Barbican and do the History. Mayflower and Pilgrims.
Have strolled up the road to the Red River Inn for quiet meal, couple of pints and some tucker. Quiet....this place is pumping...turns out it is tenant's last night party. Might stay for another......it will help me sleep Jo !
NB : Thank you Allison Honoker for kind donation. Keep at the path, and hope your walking trip continued to be successful.

Thanks Richard for keeping us up to date with your progress and giving us unlucky ones who have not been able to make such an incredible journey an amazing insight into the views and history of our precious peninsular.

If you want to follow Richard or make a donation to ELF please go to http://richardmaunder.blogspot.com

Exe Valley Statistics - Rainfall

Well the Met Office have said that this was the driest April on record, so how did the lovely Exe Valley fair? Mike Gray our intrepid weather watcher has been monitoring the weather at his Upexe home for the last 14 years and is able to give us a really good insight into the annual trends as well as up to the minute figures.

All figures are in mm and have been collected in a standard size rain gauge.

YEAR	APR	AVG
1997	34	63.4
1998	116	63.4
1999	97	63.4
2000	165	63.4
2001	95	63.4
2002	42	63.4
2003	36	63.4
2004	69	63.4
2005	77	63.4
2006	16	63.4
2007	9	63.4
2008	64	63.4
2009	40	63.4
2010	28	63.4
2011	18	63.4

Exe Valley Views - Capturing the majesty of the humble Dandelion with Nutsthell Photography

I don't know if you noticed the wonderfully colourful displays of dandelions in early April, but they certainly caught my eye and lifted my spirits. Yes, I know they're considered by a weed, but they can be used medicinally, and, as guinea pig owners will testify, they make a tasty snack for these small rodents as well as many other pets! Weed, or herb, they brighten the roadside verges and provide a cheery burst of yellow for the passer by. I was so taken by one patch that I decided to stop and get my camera out and play with my f stops and shutter speeds to try and find the best way to capture the sight.

If I've lost you with that terminology, let me start again: the f number relates to the size of the aperture that opens up inside the camera lens to allow light onto the sensor (or film). It's a bit like your pupil dilating in dark room - it does this to let in the maximum amount of light available in dim conditions. With the f number on a camera this has an additional effect (and I don't know if this is the same with the human eye) which is that it reduces the 'depth of field' - the amount of the view that is in focus. The smaller the number, the bigger the aperture, and the smaller the depth of field. If conditions are bright and sunny, the camera, or the operator, can compensate for this by only opening the aperture for a tiny amount of time, so that the sensor is not over exposed, which would make the picture look too light, losing detail. This exposure is controlled by the shutter speed. Sometimes you may want to use this effect to highlight the subject of the picture, blurring anything distracting in the background. This is a nice technique to use for informal, natural looking portraits. It's quite fashionable at the moment and I think this may be because it looks more like what we see with our own eyes: when we look at something near to us, objects at a distance are out of focus. In the example below, your attention is drawn to the one 'special' dandelion among the crowd.

Kate West owns and runs Nutshell Photography from her home in Silverton, Devon. For more information about Nutshell Photography or to discuss how to contract Kate to photograph your wedding, special occasion etc. please seewww.nutshellphotography.co.uk

Exe Valley Statistics - Rainfall

March 2011 rainfall figures for the Exe Valley

All figures are in mm and supplied by Mike Gray our Exe Valley Blog Weather Watcher.

YEAR	MAR	AVG
1997	29	64.7
1998	54	64.7
1999	48	64.7
2000	28	64.7
2001	132	64.7
2002	69	64.7
2003	66	64.7
2004	59	64.7
2005	54	64.7
2006	70	64.7
2007	81	64.7
2008	106	64.7
2009	50	64.7
2010	60	64.7
2011	27	64.7

Exe Valley Statistics - Rainfall

Inspired by the recent rain, I've pulled together the Exe Valley rainfall statistics for February 2011 as supplied by Mike Gray our Exe Valley Blog Weather Watcher. The figures show the annual actual and average rainfall in mm as read by Mike's rain gauge.

YEAR	FEB	AVG
1997	61	64.2
1998	10	64.2
1999	43	64.2
2000	65	64.2
2001	44	64.2
2002	104	64.2
2003	55	64.2
2004	62	64.2
2005	27	64.2
2006	62	64.2
2007	137	64.2
2008	32	64.2
2009	90	64.2
2010	107	64.2
2011	74	64.2