sid vale association past • present • future Magazine N umber 85 November 2016 £2.50 – free to members The Association promotes conservation and heritage, the museum, and facilities for recreational and cultural activities in the Sid Valley www.sidvaleassociation.org.uk Sid Vale Association A word from the Chairman… Executive Committee Officers The Magazine President Rev Handel Bennett 01395 514211 [email protected] In the July issue I mentioned something of the history of Chairman this publication and its original name. You will notice Alan Darrant Trent Cottage, Kestell Road, Sidmouth, EX10 8JJ that we have now decided to rename it again, this time 01395 519848 [email protected] as our ‘Magazine’, which better reflects its nature and Vice Chairman contents. This has prompted me to look in a bit more Ed G. Harrison Idene, Lower Wheathill, Sidmouth, EX10 9UA detail at its history. 01395 514430 [email protected] Honorary Treasurer The first issue of the ‘Information Sheet’ was in October P Neville Staddon 79 Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth, EX10 9XD 1973 (see photograph), followed in the next few years 01395 516158 [email protected] rather spasmodically by issues in January, October, September, June and July – Secretary sometimes once a year, sometimes twice – until settling down in 1978 to the July Liz Warren 01395 576998 [email protected] and November pattern it has since followed. These early editions were, of course, typed on to a stencil then duplicated on a Roneo machine, but in 1982 Points of contact came the first issue with cover printed on coloured Conservation and Planning paper and bearing a line drawing in what Richard Thurlow 01395 513171 [email protected] became a series of attractive local views. Footpaths That issue was printed by Axminster Di Fuller 01395 576669 [email protected] Duplicating and Photocopying Service, and Heritage Centre/Museum it contained ‘an imaginary letter’ to Gert Nigel Hyman 01395 579815 [email protected] from Daisy. (Those who don’t remember l l i History Group Elsie and Doris Waters are younger than I!) H Prof. Brian Golding 01395 578474 [email protected] The letter begins, ‘As soon as I moved to s r e l Keith Owen Fund Grants Sidmouth a neighbour got me to join the SVA. t u Chris Woodruff 01395 597780 [email protected] It really is a cheap set-up. What else can you C Meetings join for 35p?’ I am not sure I like the ‘cheap m o r John Ridgley 01395 579819 [email protected] set -up’, but 35p is a sign of those times! f y Brendan Lee 01395 513102 [email protected] e l In November 1983, the publication was renamed ‘NEWS – LETTER No. 21’ (on l Membership a the right in the photograph). There were experiments without the hyphen, and V Andrew Scott 01395 519797 [email protected] e with or without a space between the two words, before it settled on ‘Newsletter’ in h Newsletter t 1990. n Val Huntington 01395 519350 [email protected] w o Publications From 1984 to 1989 the printers were C and D Chapman of Colaton Raleigh, then, d John Dowell 01395 568681 [email protected] until 2013, Speed Print of Exmouth took over. Since then, our own John Dowell g n i River Warden has been responsible for the very professional production of our Annual Reports k o Peter Brookes 01395 597461 [email protected] o and Newsletters, including this first ‘Magazine’. L Walks : o A final point from the Information Sheets: issue No. 2 in January 1974 dealt with t Elizabeth Cotton 01395 514690 [email protected] o the Sidmouth Outline Plan, and carried a strangely familiar message: ‘Industrial h Woodlands and Estates p Development. We are resolutely opposed to setting aside land to the North of r Richard Huntington 01395 519350 [email protected] e v Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Sidford …’ which brings us up to current planning issues in 2016 and Sidford o C Brian Hall 01395 515787 [email protected] comes under the spotlight again. 2 3 Industrial Development – EDDC refused outline planning permission for the Sidford industrial estate. The SVA had rigorously campaigned against this development on Woodlands and Estates grounds of destruction of the AONB, impact on traffic and flooding issues. It may be furry but it’s not a friend. SVA Fore Street Premises – Our purchase has finally been completed and work On behalf of the SVA I attended a presentation at Bicton, sponsored by the AONB on the refurbishment is making good progress. See page 10 for more details. group, which dealt with some of the problems facing woodlands. These problems included Ash die back, deer damage and surprisingly to me, grey squirrel damage. Winter Activities – The Museum is now closed for the winter – apart from the pre Christmas Late Night Shopping on 2nd December. Remember that our season of It is quite possible that anyone reading this is already aware of the large amount monthly talks is now under way, having started in Sidmouth Science Week in of damage that is caused by the grey squirrels, but for those that aren’t I would October; and monthly walks continue throughout the year. Dates for talks and like to report on some of the talk. walks are listed on the back cover. The spread of the grey squirrel, especially at the expense of the red, has been Enjoy our first magazine, and a prosperous 2017. dramatic to say the least, and this is in part due to its aggressive nature, compared to the red, and its much larger appetite. However it also carries a virus Alan Darrant which is deadly to the red and therefore they cannot co-exist. This virus does not seem to affect the grey squirrel, so it is simply a carrier. Editor’s View The diagrams show the speed with which the grey has taken over and it would be As a landowner, the SVA has to take into consideration the even faster if it were not for some intervention by humans. impact of its work on the whole environment. We work closely with other likeminded organisations such as the So what impact is the grey squirrel having on the environment? Sidmouth Arboretum, East Devon beekeepers and the It perhaps is not widely known but the grey squirrel is responsible for large horseshoe bat project. Among the problems to be amounts of tree damage. It loves to strip bark from trees, especially Sycamore considered are what to do with dead trees? With the onset and Beech. How many times have you seen a youngish Sycamore tree with of ash die back and other tree diseases, a major expense several dead branches in the Sid valley? Quite a lot, and this is most likely will be felling dead trees. Should they be left for wild bees’, caused by the grey squirrel. Similar damage can be seen on Beech, Oak, Sweet owls’ and woodpeckers’ nests or should they be felled for public safety? Another dilemma is whether to remove ivy from tree trunks – a valuable source of nectar for bees or an extra burden on the tree? Should hedges be cut or left as foraging areas for bats, dormice and bees? The wildlife and its conservation in the Valley is of the utmost importance. The report from Woodlands and Estates describes the problems of squirrels as a pest, whilst the Sidmouth Arboretum article advises which trees to plant with bees in mind. January’s talk on bees will give us more insight into this subject. The disappearance of orchards, as described in Norma Cox’s article later in the magazine, also contributes to a significant loss of apple blossom for nectar foraging. Also in this issue are articles on the Sidmouth soldiers killed in the Battle of the Somme 100 years ago, our new book on Sidmouth lace, the Museum’s rare and valuable 190 year old accordion, the Scouts Himalayan balsam bashing, the Keith Owen Fund’s contribution to local causes including the new Scout Centre, Sidmouth in Bloom, the Literary Festival, and the refurbishment of Queen Victoria’s window in the Parish Church, and news of talks and walks. If you enjoy the Sid Valley and all the work the Sid Vale Association does, then please persuade a friend (or two) to join! Val Huntington 4 5 Chestnut, Pine, Larch and Norway Spruce. So much so that it is estimated that quantities, young buds (often blamed on bullfinches), flowers and fruit. However it the country loses £10-£14 million per annum in timber as a consequence. It is is largely the number of them,and the size and appetite of the grey that causes estimated that more than 5% of trees attacked, die as a result, with even more the most problems for other wildlife. losing their crowns and in some cases, dropped branches are also caused by Another problem that was highlighted for Woodlands is Deer damage to young previous damage to the bark by squirrels. Why do they strip bark? It is not trees, but in planted woodlands this can be prevented by the use of guards in the completely understood but studies have shown that it occurs between April and early years and by appropriate fencing. For larger areas and for self seeded August and relates to the number of young squirrels in the area. The stripped bark woodland, culling is the only method. This keeps a sensible balance between the is discarded and the unlignified tissue beneath is eaten.