http://www.beautifulbritain.net News for Beautiful Britain | For everyone who loves Britain en-gb Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:32:10 +0100 Copyright: (C) This England Ltd 15 1294 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:32:10 +0100 The South Devon coast is full of pretty coves, cliff-top views, sandy beaches, fascinating historical sites and natural wonders. Let Beautiful Britain be your guide as we introduce you to just some of the highlights, and provide a listing of all sorts of events to keep you and your family occupied this summer. Read all about it: The Sunshine Coast Robert Yarham explores the geography and history of the South Devon coast, click here (reproduced from Beautiful Britain spring 2007). Towns Our guide to the top things to see and do in Plymouth, Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Dartmouth. Plymouth You can put Plymouth’s mainly bland modernity down to its importance as a port for centuries, right up to the Second World War, when it was heavily bombed. The sense of history has not been swept aside, however, as you can experience by standing on the Hoe, where Francis Drake payed his famous game of bowls, and where you can survey the magnificent view of Plymouth Sound, where great ships set sail to explore the furthest corners of the globe. You can wander around the Barbican, where you can still experience something of what remains of Plymouth’s Elizabethan heyday. Tourist Information 01752 306330. Crownhill Fort – Massive Victorian hidden defences built to protect Plymouth and now in the care of the Landmark Trust. Displays, live gun firing some weekends. Tours by appointment only. Telephone 01752 793754. Barbican Glassworks – Next to the Barbican Steps, this unique centre also features a shop stocking Crystal and Wedgwood. Telephone 01752 224777. Plymouth Gin Distillery, The Barbican – Guided tours around a 200-year-old distillery, home of the famous Plymouth Gin. Telephone 01752 665292. National Marine Aquarium, The Barbican – Enjoy a fascinating journey through the oceans of the world in this spectacular new facility, including close encounters with 400 species of underwater creatures. Open daily. Telephone 01752 600301. Kingsbridge – A historic market town situated at the head of the Kingsbridge Estuary. There are small traditional shops in the mainly Elizabethan Fore Street, great pubs and an excllent museum. Cookworthy Museum of Rural Life – Housed in the Old Grammar School, the museum contains nine galleries of collections documenting the social history of Kingsbridge and the surrounding area. Telephone 01548 853235. Salcombe Salcombe’s picturesque streets are so narrow that motorists are persuaded to leave their cars in the car parks at the top of the town and walk down the hill to enjoy its waterside splendours. At the height of summer, however, it can get very crowded, as there are lots of small shops, restaurants, galleries, and waterfront pubs for visitors to enjoy. You can also take a ferry ride across the estuary to East Portlemouth with its delightful, golden sandy beach. Tourist Information 01548 843927. Ferries – Salcombe-Kingsbridge Rivermaid (May-September) 01548 853525/853607; Salcombe-East Portlemouth from Ferry Pier (Easter-October) and Whitestrand (November-Easter) 01548 842061/842364; Salcombe-South Sands from Whitestrand (Easter-October) 01548 561035. Salcombe Maritime and Local History Museum – Local museum featuring exhibits of local maritime interest, shipbuilding, wreck and rescue. Local history in photographs and artefacts. Dartmouth With its winding narrow streets, medieval and Elizabethan buildings, and harbour full of cheerful, bobbing boats, Dartmouth should be on the itinerary of any visitor to the area. The town’s medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan heyday is celebrated by its naval history, as discovered at the Dartmouth Museum, Bayards Cove and Dartmouth Castle. The town also boasts a good collection of fine restaurants and delightful shops. You can also take a nostalgic trip from Kingswear – across the harbour – on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway. Don’t miss the spectacular Royal Regatta, held at the end of August, or the Food Festival in October. Tourist Information 01803 834224. Dartmouth Museum – The museum is situated in a former merchant's house of around 1640. Charles II entertained in the main room in July 1671. The museum has fine displays on local ships and the town’s history. Telephone 01803 832923. Britannia Naval College – A two-hour Historical Tour through over 100 years of naval history, taking in the extensive College grounds, Chapels, Quarterdeck and impressive gilded ceiling in the the Senior Gunroom, Parade Ground and Flagstaff, and the Britannia Museum and gift shop. Our experienced Guide team will lead you through more than 100 years of Dartmouth's Royal Naval history and heritage for a unique experience. Booking is essential. Telephone 01803 677787. Newcomen Engine House – A museum celebrating the life and work of Thomas Newcomen, born in Dartmouth, who invented the Atmospheric Steam Engine which heralded the industrial revolution of the 18th century. Telephone 01803 834 224. Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway – Steam trains run between Kingswear and Paignton from March to October. Telephone 01803 555872. History Fascinating places to visit to discover the history of the south Devon coast, including Burgh Island, Slapton Sands, Dartmouth and Berry Head Smeaton's Tower, Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth – One of the world's most famous lighthouses built by John Smeaton in 1759 on the Eddystone Rocks. Moved to the Hoe in 1884. Telephone 01752 304774. Royal Citadel, Plymouth Hoe (English Heritage) – 17th-century fort overlooking Plymouth’s waterfront. Guided tours only throughout summer. Telephone 01752 304849. Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth City Centre – Partially re-opened with two temporary exhibitions. Further galleries set to re-open during the summer. The refurbished ground floor is due to re-open in late autumn 2008. Telephone 01752 304774. Elizabethan House, The Barbican – The home of a Tudor Sea Captain. Telephone 01752 304774. Burgh Island, near Bigbury-on-Sea – The small tidal island is home to the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel (with its Agatha Christie connections) and the infamous hideout of smugglers, The Pilchard Inn. Burgh Island Hotel 01548 810514. Dartmouth Castle (English Heritage) – 600-year-old castle with Victorian gun battery and exhibition. Shop and refreshments. Telephone 01803 833588. Berry Head, Brixham – A Napoleonic fort built in 1793 to guard against invasion by the French with gun batteries added in 1803. Telephone 01803 852861. Beaches The low-down on the best beaches in South Devon, including Slapton Sands, Blackpool Sands, and Hope Cove. Bantham, near Kingsbridge – A fine sandy beach in an AONB at the mouth of the River Avon. 01803 862002 Bigbury-on-Sea, near Kingsbridge – A stunning sandy beach joined by causeway to Burgh Island. 01548 843558 Blackpool Sands, near Dartmouth – The famous, privately owned crescent of golden sand in a sheltered bay. 01803 770606 Bovisand – A sheltered bay of yellow sand with cliffs either side. Hope Cove, near Kingsbridge – A sheltered sandy beach, popular with families. Mill Bay, near Salcombe – Picturesque, privately owned beach, within reach of the ferry from Salcombe. Slapton Sands – Three-mile stretch of sand and shingle bar between Torcross and Strete. Wembury, near Plymouth – A National-Trust-owned Area of Natural Beauty. Wildlife The South Devon coast has some great places to see spectacular wildlife. Find out about what to see and when at Prawle Point, Slapton Ley and Berry Head. Prawle Point (National Trust) The most southerly point in Devon, Prawle Point is the departure and arrival point for many migrating birds (in spring and autumn) and butterflies. During the summer months you can see butterflies such as painted ladies, red admirals, and clouded yellows flitting over the lanes of hedgerows. The local fields are rich in wildflowers, and are a haven for many birds, including the extremely rare cirl bunting, which now only breeds in a few spots in Devon. Rather like the yellowhammer, the cirl bunting is a small green and brown bird with a distinctive yellow and black striped face. The rockpools along the coast are home to the colourfully patterned cones of topshells, and the spiral whorls of winkles, with their purple or yellow shells. Out to sea, you may be able to see seabirds such as gannets, seals, and very occasionally dolphins and basking sharks. Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve Slapton Ley is an important wetland. The freshwater Lower Ley is the largest natural lake in south-west England. Surrounding marshes, reed-beds and woodland add to the variety of habitats. These provide excellent feeding and breeding grounds for a rich and varied wildlife. Here you can see migrant birds in the spring and autumn, including passing osprey and harriers. The rare Cetti’s warbler is an important breeding resident, and otters are known to be attracted after dusk by the multitude of freshwater fish. Summer is a good time to see butterflies and dragonflies, and even glow worms at dusk. The secretive bittern and flitting bearded tits often come to the reedbeds during the winter, joined by large numbers of wintering wildfowl on the water. The reserve is accessible by a public footpath. Berry Head National Nature Reserve Berry Head to Sharkham Point is a haven for several nationally rare and threatened species which are dependent upon the thin limestone soils, mild climate and exposed conditions of the headland. Caves at Berry Head are home to the endangered greater horseshoe bat. The guillemot colony that nests on the cliffs below the Southern Fort in summer is one of the largest on England's south coast and can be closely watched live on CCTV in the Visitor Centre. Berry Head also acts as an important staging post for migrant birds, and is home to the nationally rare cirl bunting. You might even spot dolphins or basking sharks passing by in the sea in the summer months. Gardens Gardens are the perfect places to relax and enjoy the warm Devon sunshine. Here are just a few for you to visit. Saltram House, Plympton (National Trust) – Beautifully appointed 18th-century mansion set in 500-acre landscaped park and period garden. Property features work by Adams, Chippendale and Reynolds. Shop and restaurant. 01752 333503 Overbecks Museum & Garden, Salcombe (National Trust) – A fascinating little museum with sub-tropical gardens and views over the Salcombe Estuary that must not be missed. Refreshments available. Disabled access, wheelchair available. 01548 842893 Blackpool Gardens – Overlooking Blackpool Sands, the newly restored 19th-century sub-tropical plantsman's garden with spectacular views of Start Bay. 01803 770606 Coleton Fishacre House and Garden, Kingswear (National Trust) – 24 acres set in a stream-fed valley, created by Rupert and Lady Dorothy D'Oyly Carte between 1925 and 1940. 01803 752466 Diary – summer 2008 Here are just some of the many events along the South Devon coast this summer. Plymouth Summer Festival 2008 Key highlights during the three month festival include: live tennis and open air film screenings in Plymouth City Centre with the return of the Wimbledon Big Screen from June 23-July 6; British Fireworks Championships on August 12–13; Plymouth Flavour Fest, the UK’s biggest and best free farmers market celebrating the finest West-Country produce taking place 15-17 August. There are lots more events, including a programme of cultural and artistic events being hosted by the University of Plymouth, the Barbican Theatre and Plymouth Arts Centre. www.plymouthsummerfestival.com Plymouth Beer Festival Taking place on 11-12 July at Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth Beer Festival in association with CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) is back for its fifth year with over 145 real ales and 40 ciders available. www.plymouthcamra.co.uk Newton Abbot Carnival A jam-packed week of Carnival events including Carnival Procession and the Crowning of Carnival Queen, all from 5 to 12 July. Telephone 01626 201120. Kingsbridge Fair Week A week of family entertainment for all age groups from 19-26 July. Fun-filled activities including sports, bingo, firework and live music. Telephone 07970 808950. Teignmouth Carnival Held 20-27 July, the carnival will feature lots of events for all the family. Contact Teignmouth Tourist Information Centre for more details. Telephone 01626 215666. Ways With Words Literature Festival, Dartington The 10-day festival, from 11 to 20 July, is a chance for those who read books to meet those who write them. People come together in spectacular surroundings to share the pleasure and power of language. Accommodation is available on-site. Booking is essential. www.wayswithwords.co.uk, telephone 07803 867373. Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta Held on 28, 29 and 30 August, at the Royal Regatta there will be lots of events to enjoy from barrel rolling to street fairs, pavement painting to tug of war, along with steam ships to treasure. The Red Arrows will be performing on Saturday 30. Contact Dartmouth Tourist Information for more details, www.discoverdartmouth.com, telephone 01803 834224 or visit www.dartmouthregatta.co.uk. More information For details on accommodation in this area, or visiting any of the attractions mentioned, visit the following websites: www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk www.southwestcoastpath.com www.discoverdevon.com www.englishriviera.co.uk http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1294 1293 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:25:05 +0100 In the Iron Age our ancestors picked some great places to build their homes. They had everything: huts, places to keep the animals, a great view – and ramparts! Here are just some of the best hill forts in Britain to explore with your family this summer. Maiden Castle, near Dorchester, Dorset Map grid reference: SY 669884 Wrekin Hill Fort, Wellington, Shropshire Map grid reference: SJ 630083 Cissbury Ring, near Worthing, West Sussex Map grid reference: TQ 139080 South Cadbury, South Cadbury, Somerset (National Trust) Map grid reference: ST 6728252 Mam Tor, near Castleton, Derbyshire Map grid reference: SK 128837 http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1293 1292 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:17:26 +0100 Aberdeen International Youth Festival AIYF is a unique multi-arts event, taking place between 30 July and 9 August bringing together the best young dance, music and theatre companies from around the world. There are over 70 events organised across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Moray. tel: 01224 213800, www.aiyf.org Deal Festival of Music & the Arts With ensemble-playing, recitals and chamber opera, the Deal Festival of Music and the Arts provides the best of classical music for the discerning. Held between 5-19 July. tel: 01304 381134, www.dealfestival.co.uk Harrogate International Festival Held between 17 July and 1 August, the Harrogate International Festival programme includes a wide range of music and theatre events tel: 0845 130 8840, www.harrogate-festival.org.uk Henley Festival The Henley Festival is held between 9-13 July on the banks of the beautiful River Thames and includes an entertaining mix of world-class music, dance, street theatre, fireworks and the visual arts. tel: 01491 843404, www.henley-festival.co.uk Lichfield Festival Between 3 and 13 July, Lichfield welcomes a vast range of international artists for its large programme of music and poetry events. tel: 01543 412121, www.lichfieldfestival.org/2008/ Stamford Riverside Festival Riverside is a free music festival held on 5 July, on the meadows in Stamford, showcasing over 30 bands and artists, mostly from the surrounding area, on at least 3 main stages. Includes a beer festival and fireworks. email: info@riversidefestival.co.uk, www.riversidefestival.co.uk Buxton Festival Wide-ranging opera programme now includes two full-scale Festival productions, with concert and literature programme, from 9 to 27 July. tel: 01298 70395, www.buxtonfestival.co.uk Sculpture Park, Yorkshire A major exhibition by Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi, including a traditional Zen garden, from 18 July until early 2009. tel: 01924 832631, www.ysp.co.uk Portavilion, London Over the summer, a series of art 'pavilions' containing a wide variety of artists’ exhibitions will be springing up in parks across central London. The programme of events includes artist talks, dance performances, guided walks and workshops at each site. tel: 0207 033 3568, www.portavilion.com Angel Party, Gateshead This year marks the 10th anniversary of Antony Gormley's iconic Angel of the North at Gateshead, and to celebrate a party will be held at the site on June 22. There will be film, art, music and dance performances as well as song-writing workshops and storytelling. tel: 0191 433 6920, www.gateshead.gov.uk Folkestone Triennial, Kent Twenty-three contemporary artists, including Tracey Emin and Mark Wallinger, have been commissioned to create outdoor works for the first Folkestone Triennial, Tales of Time and Space, from 14 June to 14 September. tel: 01303 245799, www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood Set in ancient woodlands at Goodwood in the Sussex Downs, the Cass Sculpture Foundation shows over 70 large-scale works in 24 acres of unspoilt land. Exhibits change regularly: this summer, work by sculptor Eilís O'Connell will be on display. tel: 01243 538449, www.sculpture.org.uk Llangollen Eisteddfod, Wales The annual festival of music, song and dance opens on 8 July. tel: 01978 862 001, www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk National Trust Concerts Enjoy outdoor music from opera to jazz in stately home surroundings at National Trust properties across the country. tel: 0844 800 1895, www.nationaltrust.org.uk http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1292 1291 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:10:59 +0100 Britain has some of the finest seabird colonies in the world, and the summer months are the perfect time to witness one of our great wildlife spectacles. Seabirds, including the ever-adorable puffins and their close relatives the guillemots and razorbills, spend most of their lives out at sea but every summer they return to their traditional nesting sites at cliffs all round the coasts of Britain to breed and to raise their young. Here are some of the best places to see them. Fowlsheugh, near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire tel: 01346 532017 Bempton Cliffs, near Bridlington, East Yorkshire tel: 01262 851179 St. Bees Head, near Whitehaven, Cumbria tel: 01697 351330 South Stack Cliffs, near Holyhead, Anglesey tel: 01407 764973 Durlston, near Swanage, Dorset tel: 01929 424443 http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1291 1288 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:57:49 +0100 In our spring issue we spoke to Bill Bryson, the new President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, who highlighted the problem of litter in our countryside. Now the CPRE has launched a Stop the Drop campaign. The CPRE’s new campaign aims to tackle the litter and fly-tipping problems that are despoiling our beautiful countryside by encouraging people to take action. Stop the Drop will highlight the impact litter and fly-tipping has across England, and give people the campaigning tools to demand action. The charity is also lobbying for a new bottle deposit law. ‘Litter is becoming the default condition of the countryside,’ says Bill Bryson. ‘It is time that we – all of us – did something about this. The landscape is too lovely to trash. That is why CPRE is launching Stop the Drop, to make the countryside what it was almost everywhere until very recently, and what most of us still want it to be – a place of cherished beauty and sometimes utter perfection.’ The worsening nature of the litter problem is highlighted by the recent annual survey of local authorities by the Government’s own litter watchdog, Encams. Despite the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (2005), which gives local authorities and others new powers to clean up litter, the survey shows the headline statistic on local authority performance has dropped from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘unsatisfactory’. No local authority was rated ‘good’ in this field. Litter and fly-tipping are now a growing problem across England, in both rural and urban areas. ‘If you are bothered by a single piece of litter,’ adds Bryson, ‘or you’re fed up with the blight of fly-tipping, or you’re driven to distraction by the fact that litter costs a whopping £600 million and more a year to clear up, this is the campaign for you. Please join us as we fight to Stop the Drop.’ You can join in by lobbying local authorities, the Government and other bodies legally responsible for keeping land litter-free. You can also get involved in your local community clean-up activities. Log on to the CPRE’s website here for more information about getting involved. Do you agree that litter and fly-tipping are now a major nuisance in Britain? Tell us what you think. What do you think? http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1288 1287 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:57:07 +0100 The Scottish Executive has granted a licence for the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland in spring 2009. The go-ahead has been given to reintroducing beavers into the wild in Scotland. It will be the first time in 400 years that beavers will have roamed free in the British Isles. Environment Minister Michael Russell has approved the release programme, due to begin on a trial basis in spring 2009 in Knapdale, Argyll. The beavers will be caught in Norway this autumn, kept in quarantine for six months before being released. Although birds such as the white-tailed sea eagle and red kite have benefited form reintroduction schemes in the UK, this will be the first government-backed reintroduction of a native mammal into the wild in Britain. The trial will be run during a five-year period by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) monitoring the project. Beavers were hunted to extinction in the British Isles in the 1600s and many conservationists believe that their disappearance created a vacuum in the forest ecosystem. They believe that beavers are vital for the health of wetlands and riparian woodlands because they create wetland habitat and opportunities for other species. Beavers build dams in narrow or shallow watercourses, to create their burrows (called ‘lodges’), places to feed and places to keep food for the winter. This has a knock-on effect on their habitat by generating areas of slow-moving water which in turn creates new opportunities for aquatic plants and invertebrates. The numbers of dragonfly species and feeding fish increase substantially. Otters will also hunt in beaver ponds and use abandoned burrows while water shrews and the endangered water vole will also use beaver burrows. Beavers cut down old trees and branches and the dead wood attracts invertebrates while providing feeding and nesting opportunities for birds. The beavers’ dams also improve water quality in rivers by oxidising pollutants in the water as it passes through their dams. However, there are opponents to the reintroduction scheme. Fishermen and landowners say that beavers will quickly become a menace if allowed to roam free, diverting water courses, creating hazards on footpaths and roads, and disrupting woodland conservation and gardens. Do you think that beavers should be reintroduced, or do you think that they will upset the balance of the Scottish woodlands? Some conservationists would like to see other species that roamed the Scottish Highlands reintroduced, such as wolves, wild boar and elk; do you agree? What do you think? Take part in the debate by e-mailing the editor at comment@beautifulbritain.net http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1287 1286 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:56:27 +0100 The National Trust has saved a very special and rare 15th-century book, the Sarum Missal, for the nation. The National Trust has acquired the sole surviving copy of a book, the Sarum Missal, which was originally printed in Paris for William Caxton in 1487. It is the only surviving copy of the earliest known edition of the Missal, a book used for performing mass according to the ‘Use of Sarum’ – the most popular version of the Mass in use in pre-Reformation England. Beautifully coloured by hand, the Missal was the first book to bear Caxton’s famous printer’s device and is covered in markings and alterations, including signs of censorship at the time of the Reformation: deletions of the name of St. Thomas Becket and prayers for the Pope. The Missal will be placed on display in the historic Library at Lyme Park from spring 2009 and will be joined by a digital facsimile using the British Library’s award-winning ‘Turning the Pages’ technology. David Morgan, Property Manager at Lyme Park said: ‘We shall be working with outside experts to learn more about this unique survival, and to understand how it fits into Lyme’s long history. The Caxton Missal will form a new and key element in the future interpretation and presentation of Lyme to visitors.’ We will be reporting on Lyme Park and the Sarum Missal in more depth in a future edition of Beautiful Britain. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1286 1283 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:37:47 +0100 As summer gets into its stride, and we begin to enjoy longer, warmer evenings, it’s a great time to find out more about one of our most secretive and fascinating mammals, the bat. Britain has 16 species of bat, ranging from the most common and the smallest, the common pipistrelle, to one of our largest bats, the noctule. Bats hunt for small insects on the wing, such as midges or small moths for a couple of hours after dusk and again near dawn. They roost in trees or buildings – or bat boxes – and pipistrelles, for instance, will also change their roost site regularly during the summer. Bats begin to come out of hibernation in the spring, when the evenings warm up, and when there are enough insects for them to feed on. Having mated in the autumn, before they hibernate, the females will start to look for appropriate sites for maternity colonies, where they rear their young. Females will give birth to only one young bat each during June or July. They leave the young in ‘crêches’ when they fly off to hunt for food. Meanwhile, the male bats will tend to roost on their own or in smaller groups. It is well known that bats use echolocation to hunt. Contrary to popular myth, bats aren’t blind – in fact their night-time vision is better than ours. They emit calls at ultrasonic frequencies (up to 110 kHz) which they use like radar to track their prey and to navigate around objects. They also use their high-pitched calls to communicate with each other. Local wildlife societies and groups organise many ‘bat walks’ up and down Britain. To find out more about bats and bat walks in your area, contact your local bat group or wildlife trust. The Bat Conservation Trust: www.bats.org.uk The Wildlife Trusts: www.wildlifetrusts.org Bat walks this summer 25 July 2008 – Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve, Suffolk, 8.30pm to 10pm. To book, contact: RSPB, telephone 01842 863400. 31 July 2008 – Brueton Park, Solihull, Warwickshire, 8.30pm to 10.00pm. To book, contact: Amanda Henshaw, telephone 0121 704 0768. 19 August 2008 – Langold Lake, Nottinghamshire, 7.00pm. To book, contact: Willie Milne or Alvin Green, telephone 01909 472 458 or 01909 476 276. 29 August 2008 – RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Renfrewshire, 8.00pm to late. To book, contact: RSPB, telephone 01505 842663. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1283 1282 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:35:12 +0100 The Scottish Government has refused consent for a huge windfarm development on the island of Lewis. But where does this leave wind energy in Britain? It was a proposal that divided the inhabitants of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, but in April the Scottish Energy Minister announced that the 181-turbine Barvas Moor windfarm project had been rejected because of its potentially serious environmental impact. Although there were more than 10,000 objections to the scheme and only 98 letters of support, a number of the islanders, including the Island Council, believed the project would create jobs and generate much-needed income for Lewis’s failing economy. In the opposing camp, some locals and conservation organizations, including the RSPB and Friends of the Earth, believed the huge turbines and their supporting infrastructure would destroy an internationally important area of blanket peat bog and harm its wildlife, such as the majestic golden eagle. As a country we face the same difficult choices as the people of Lewis. We need to take a long, hard look before we throw away something that is probably worth saving. Is it worth sacrificing some wild places and wildlife, for instance, so we can continue to have cheap energy? Ultimately, we must consider the real cost of each windfarm, its true long-term cost-effectiveness and its impact on wildlife. There will always be disagreements about the benefits and costs and the issues will continue to be complex and not black-versus-white – or green-versus-wrong. I support the need for cleaner energy and believe that we must do all we can to change our way of life. And yet I have stood on Barvas Moor and watched an eagle swooping across the horizon where the turbines would have stood, and heard the divers and waders calling there, and so must admit to my relief on hearing the news. Something special would certainly have been lost. So it is right that we debate each case on its own merits and don’t try to hurry through such proposals or streamline the decision-making process so much that we forget that some places are special and worth keeping just as they are. After all, what kind of world do we want to save for future generations? Kind regards, Robert Yarham, Editor What do you think? Join in the debate by posting your comment below. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1282 1210 Mon, 12 May 2008 17:17:49 +0100 The new 2008 summer issue of Beautiful Britain magazine is out now.There’s nothing we Britons like half as much as messing about in boats. Or by the sea. Or on the river. So it is no accident that Beautiful Britain returns again and again to our scenic coasts and majestic rivers. And our latest summer issue is no exception – we take a look at the north-west coast of Scotland, visit that spectacle of sailing – Cowes Week – on the Isle of Wight, talk to a photographer about his fascination for beach huts and interview a fisherman with a passion for Britain’s rivers.Perhaps this love of all things watery lies deep in our blood. After all, water has been a source of protection, sustenance, transport and trade for our island nation in the past. And yet water can also be a source of heartache, as many discovered during the floods this time last year. Mark Holdstock has met some of those affected and reports his findings, including the effects of building on flood plains. On a related theme, Fiona Reynolds, the National Trust’s Director General, writes on the need to preserve our green spaces. We also visit the City of Ely, in the Cambridgeshire Fens, broadcaster Eric Robson takes us on an exclusive tour of his beloved Lake District, Libby Purves interviews the actress and writer Diana Quick, we find out about Britain’s beautiful butterflies, and Stephen Lacey takes in a delightful garden on the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales.As usual, the magazine is packed with great photographs and the best writing. So if you haven’t got your copy of the new summer issue yet, get in touch now on +44 (0)1242 537902, or order through the Shop on this website. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=1210 891 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:12:15 +0000 In the new spring issue, out now, we’ve tried to capture something of the sense of optimism generated by springtime in Britain, by exploring our magnificent countryside, by learning about nature and our heritage, and by meeting enthusiastic and talented people. Mark Tully has met the ever-popular author Bill Bryson, to talk about his life and his love of the British countryside. Tom King has been for a ride on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. Saved from destruction by locals in 1960, this glorious line is still being supported by volunteers today. Stephen Lacey has enjoyed a garden paradise in Norfolk, the result of Lynda Tucker’s many years’ hard toil. We also learn about the Historic Houses Association. Other fascinating people in this issue include: Alan Burbidge, who writes about his love of the sounds of nature; stone carver and letterer, Fergus Wessel; and architect Daniel Wright, who contributed to the design and construction of the magnificent Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff. In our regular explorations of the British landscape, we’ve visited Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the Dorset coast and many other beautiful and historic places. As usual, the magazine is packed with great photographs and the best writing. So if you haven't got your copy of the new spring issue yet, get in touch now on +44 (0)1242 537902, or order through the Shop on this website. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=891 639 Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:01:32 +0000 It seems like only yesterday that we were putting the finishing touches to our first winter issue and yet here we are again, with Christmas just around the corner. For our latest issue we’ve assembled a varied range of fascinating features to keep you entertained on the long, dark evenings. Tom King has been for a walk along the enchanting Suffolk Coast and Deborah King has been to discover the riches of an intriguing house in North Wales. We also explore the peaceful Vale of Belvoir, the varied delights of Exmoor and the dramatic beauty of the Cheviot Hills. Mark Tully has met the engaging entrepreneur, Lord Karan Bilimoria, and broadcaster Jamie Crick has toured the favourite haunts of the composer Edward Elgar to celebrate 150 years since the great man’s birth. We’ve also learned all about the work of the Landmark Trust. As usual, the magazine is packed with great photographs and the best writing to keep you occupied by the fireside. So if you haven't got your copy yet, get in touch now on +44 (0)1242 537902, or order through the Shop on this website. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=639 513 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:48:05 +0100 Subscribe to Beautiful Britain now for only £16 and we will send you a free 2008 Beautiful Britain calendar OR we will send you your first issue absolutely FREE. You decide! Simply go to our on-line Shop or call our subscriptions line on +44 (0)1242 537902, order your subscription and choose your special gift today. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=513 512 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:42:35 +0100 Treat your friends and family to Beautiful Britain this Christmas! Enter a gift subscription to Beautiful Britain for a friend or relative and you can be sure that they will think of you each time they receive a new issue. For only £16 (£19 overseas, by air) you can give them presents that will delight them throughout the whole of next year. Our extra gift to you: for each gift subscription you take out, we will send you a special illustrated card, so that you can let your gift recipients know that you have ordered the magazine for them. And your extra gift to them: in addition, we will send each of your gift recipients a FREE copy of the 2008 Beautiful Britain Calendar. Visit our on-line Shop for details. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=512 511 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:38:19 +0100 Newly-fallen leaves on a freshening autumn day are one of the magical signs of the turning of the year. In the autumn issue of Beautiful Britain out now, we visit the Cotswolds and enjoy the very best of the season's colours with a special photo feature. Autumn is also the climax of the cider-making year and we have been to visit the Heck family in Somerset. They have been making cider in the traditional way for six generations. Duart Castle has been standing on the Isle of Mull in Scotland for as many centuries. Sir Lachlan Maclean, current head of Clan Maclean, shows us around. Like Duart, the New Forest in Hampshire is many hundreds of years old. Tom King explores the Forest for the first of a major new series of articles on our National Parks. We also visit the Welsh town of Portmeirion, which didn’t exist at all before 1925, by which time The Caravan Club, featured in our Enthusiasms slot, was well into its second decade. Sir Mark Tully has been to meet Baroness Boothroyd and Simon Arron spent some time with Charles Morgan, whose family firm still makes wonderful sports cars in Worcestershire. Also in our autumn issue, Stephen Lacey visits Kathy Brown, to walk round the garden she has created at Stevington in Bedfordshire, two Scottish crofters invite us to their home on Shetland and David Else explores the wonderful coastline of North Yorkshire. Whether or not you are able to enjoy the blessings of the open air as the days shorten, we hope you will enjoy turning over the leaves of this autumn issue. Order your copy now by visiting our Shop on this website. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=511 435 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:18:15 +0100 The warehouse has now been completely cleaned and is being restocked. Orders are again being despatched and we hope to have resumed our usual rapid service for all orders by the end of August. Many thanks to everyone for their cooperation and support during this time. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=435 401 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:51:14 +0100 No doubt you will have heard the news items about the floods during July. Our autumn issue was ready to print when the rivers burst their banks. We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to the hundreds of thousands affected by the flooding. We share their present trials in the most literal sense: our warehouse in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, is under five feet of water, a great deal of stock has been lost and there are few of our staff who have not been personally affected. Please continue to send us your orders and subscription renewals but bear with us if we are a little less prompt than usual in fulfilling them! As with lots of people, it will be many weeks before things are back to normal but we will hope to count on your support in the months ahead. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=401 293 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:16:49 +0100 This month sees the publication of the summer issue of Beautiful Britain. It contains a great selection of articles and dozens of wonderful photographs from across the length and breadth of Britain. In this issue we travel to the north coast of Wales, to a charming village in Cumbria and up the rickety staircase inside the spire of Salisbury Cathedral. We visit an English vineyard that we understand is causing a little alarm in France, go on tour in Scotland with Queen Victoria, explore Wolsey Lodges (one of Britain’s best-kept secrets, in our view) and tramp up the northern half of the Pennines We also meet two people in very different jobs in London (the Director of the British Museum and a wigmaker), and hear from Libby Purves what opportunities a very little money can provide in sub-Saharan Africa (‘What’, you may ask, ‘has that got to do with Britain?’ ‘Meet Peter Ryan,’ is the answer.) As usual, there’s a lot else besides, from what must be, mile for mile, the most diverse and interesting country on the face of the earth. We hope you enjoy this issue, and the delights of summer. If you are not yet a subscriber - and at only £16 (£19 overseas) for a complete year’s issues what could be more enjoyable or better value! – why not join the many thousands who have already ensured that Beautiful Britain is delivered to them as soon as it comes off the press? Simply click on ‘Magazine’ on our home page and follow the link to ‘Subscribe online now’. We look forward to welcoming you as a regular reader. http://www.beautifulbritain.net/news/item.htm?pid=293