Devonshire April May 17

The COUNTRYMAN
continued...
What's On: Apr & May 17
SPRING INTO LOVE!
Caroline Crowther is
a truly local personal
introduction agency
helping you meet
someone new in your
area. We offer a long
term personal service
until you find your
perfect match.
www.carolinecrowther.com
For a professional
and personal service
call 0800 180 4788
or 01934 744788
action first hand by using
your wits, endless patience
and some good luck. Most
importantly, get the shot and
get away without disturbing
the animal!
Usually the camera is never at
hand when something truly
memorable happens. This has
to be when I mention one of
my most enchanting times.
With the river bank heavily
overgrown and overhanging
the water, I was forced to wade
into a huge hazel bush so as
not to fall into the trench in the
bedrock of the river. Entangled
in branches and finding fishing
almost impossible, I notice
something in the corner of my
eye. There was a kingfisher,
less than two feet from my
head, perched on a branch.
I am not too sure which of
us was most surprised as we
eyed each other up and down
for a minute or more. And
then he went on his way, and
I mine. That encounter is as
vivid today as it was some 10
years ago.
Most fisherman and land
owners treat the river
environment with great
respect and one of the biggest
problems is a non-native weed
that grows in profusion against
many Devon rivers: Himalayan
Balsam. It has no natural
British insects or fungi to
control it thus, it grows and
spreads here very quickly. If
you are unfortunate enough to
have it on your land or in your
garden, it can be controlled
effectively by sprays. Before
you try them or even the
painstaking task of pulling
the adult plants try another
method, strimming these
annual plants soon after the
first true leaves come through
(and before they get 150mm
tall) will control them well.
It may need doing a week
or so later as not all seeds
germinate together and
some may get missed. Then,
if possible, try to re-establish
a grass sward to out compete
this plant. It always seems to
colonizes silt deposits on the
banks first (from seed washed
down stream) and doesn't not
compete well with our native
grasses. Chris Taylor
Marsh Tit
ISCA ENSEMBLE WITH
ANDREAS BOYDE (PIANO)
13 May - Joanna Leach
Memorial Concert featuring
the Isca Ensemble &
Andreas Boyde, ISCA
Ensemble, Sidmouth Parish
Church, Sidmouth, 7.30pm
to 9.30pm.
SHALDON SINGERS
SPRING CONCERT
13 May - Dvorak Stabat
Mater, with the Shaldon
Sinfonietta, conducted by
Bob Carter, Shaldon Singers,
St Peter's Church, Shaldon,
7.00pm to 9.30pm.
PLYMOUTH MUSIC
ACCORD FUNDRAISING
CONCERT
13 May - Raising funds to
support music and musicians
in Plymouth, Peninsula
Arts, Upper Lecture Theatre,
Sherwell Centre, Plymouth,
7.00pm.
1913-2016
Over One Hundred Years of
Service in South Devon
DAY TRIPS
LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN - Wed 05 Apr, £30 inc
TAMAR VIEW & LOOE - Mon 10 Apr, £21
EXMOOR EXPLORER - Good Fri 14 Apr, £22
TINTAGEL & BUDE - Easter Mon 17 Apr, £22
PLYMOUTH & THE GARDEN HOUSE - Wed 26 Apr, £28 inc
BRISTOL & IKEA or CRIBBS CAUSEWAY - Sat 29 Apr, £22
DORSET DAY OUT - Bank Hol Mon 01 May, £22
SHORT BREAKS
THE LAKE DISTRICT - Mon 19-Fri 23 June
CANTERBURY & THE KENT COAST
Mon 18-Fri 22 Sept, phone for details
PETER FISHER: VIOLIN &
PETER ADAMS: CELLO
14 May - Composers to
include Beethoven, Bach and
Handel, Jeanie Moore MVO,
The Duke of Cornwall Hotel,
Plymouth, 3.00pm to 4.00pm.
MUSIC FOR ORCHESTRA,
STRINGS, WIND AND
BRASS
25 May - Plymouth University
Orchestra Directed by Jamie
Dove and Jonathan Hurdle,
Peninsula Arts, Theatre 1,
Roland Levinsky Building,
Plymouth, 8.00pm.
6 Daneheath Business Park,
Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6TL
01626 833038 | bookings@greycars.com | www.greycars.com
14
Countryside, History, Walks, the Arts, Events & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk