North Devon Biosphere Reserve -North Devon is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve because of its blend of special landscapes and wildlife areas, rich cultural heritage and communities that care about it and want to sustain it into the future. More
North Devon's Biosphere Reserve is the first of only two 'new style' Biosphere Reserve in the UK. These have core functions of conservation, learning and research, and sustainable development and three different management zones. What makes North Devon a Biosphere Reserve?
Bideford - Some 3 miles to the North East of Littleham and nestling alongside the River Torridge, Bideford is more than a resort. It is a market town and a port, too, with an active fishing industry. Cargo ships call in to load and unload and the MS Oldenburg, which plies between Bideford and Lundy Island, is often to be seen tied up by the quayside.
The Quay was first mentioned in the history books in 1619 when there were beaches at the river's edge. As the ship-building trade boomed, the Quay was developed and there are still marker stones in the pavement as a testament to that reconstruction. Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to have brought his first cargo of tobacco to Bideford and the town soon became one of the largest tobacco trading centres of that period.
Local merchants also imported vast quantities of wool during the reign of Charles 1 and had so great a share of the trade with Newfoundland that, in 1699, they sent out more ships than any other in England apart from London and Topsham.
Tarka Trail – Braunton to Meeth
Over 30 miles of the Tarka Trail is available to cyclists between Braunton and Meeth, using the old railways of North Devon. Passing through the largely unspoilt countryside as it was described by Henry Williamson in his classic novel ‘Tarka the Otter’ first published in 1927.
NEW TARKA TRAIL AUDIO TRAIL NEW TARKA TRAIL LEAFLET Front NEW TARKA TRAIL LEAFLET Back
This off road cycle link (excluding the Meeth link) forms part of Devon’s Cycling Coast to Coast Route between Ilfracombe and Plymouth. The length from Barnstaple to Petrockstowe also forms part of the West Country Way Cycle Route between Bristol and Padstow.
The Braunton-Meeth section of the Tarka Trail is accessible from the North Devon Link Road (A39), also the B3233 and A386 between Bideford and Hatherleigh. There is also a rail link from Exeter to Barnstaple (the Tarka Line).
Great Torrington - Great Torrington is a friendly, welcoming town, approximately 6 miles South of Littleham and Landcross. It is set in the midst of rolling, unspoilt green countryside. An ancient settlement extraordinarily sited on an inland cliff top with steep drops down to the River Torridge below. This impressive situation offers spectacular views. In the very heart of Tarka Country, the wonderful landscape has remained practically unchanged since Henry Williamson wrote his classic novel "Tarka the Otter" in the 1920's.
Activities
The Milky Way - The Milky Way Adventure Park in North Devon lies just off the A39 about 5 miles west of Littleham. With adventure, live entertainment, education and even an alien encounter, it's a great day out for the whole family whatever the weather!
RHS Garden, Rosemoor - Set deep in the lovely North Devon countryside just south of Great Torrington, RHS Garden Rosemoor is a garden of national importance. Lady Anne Berry gifted Rosemoor to the RHS in 1988, since then, the original eight acres have been greatly developed into 65 acres of enchanting garden and woodlands.
The BIG Sheep - All Weather Attraction - North Devon - Visitors to the The Big Sheep at Abbotsham (2 miles North of Littleham) can learn breeds of sheep, shearing processes, watch sheep dog trials and laugh out loud at the exciting sheep races. Children and adults can cuddle baby animals including puppies and rabbits and bottle feed the lambs.
- Parish Council Audit 2021-22
The audit has been completed and the formal Notice of Conclusion can be viewed here
- Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2022/2023
- The Certificate of Exemption can be viewed here
- The Annual Internal Audit Report can be viewed here
- The Annual Governance Statement can be viewed here
- Notes to the Return can be viewed here
- The period for the exercise of public rights is 15 June to 26 July 2023. Details can be viewed here
Councillor Rosemary Gent
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death late in December of Rosemary Gent, our parish councillor . Rosemary had a distinguished career in the world of classical music as artistic administrator of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1994-99) before returning to the UK to take up the same role at the BBC Proms, whose controller Nicholas Kenyon described her as "the eyes and ears" of the world-famous festival.
After a decade at the Proms, she moved to Devon and for nine years was a full-time carer for her mother. She freelanced as an arts administrator and also brought her formidable organisational talents to bear as an active Green Party member, a candidate in district council elections, and from 2021 as a parish councillor. Rosemary was proud of, yet always modest about, her work on Littleham and Landcross PC, where - among other projects - she helped lead discussion on the Neighbourhood Plan, took part in a survey of public footpaths and bridleways, and fought tirelessly for the protection of mature trees and the planting of saplings. She also served as secretary of the community biodiversity group. The second Wilder Littleham and Landcross event held in March last year was attended by over 100 people. It was Rosemary who submitted the National Lottery bid, making the project such a success. It included talks on no-dig gardening, pond dipping and the presentation of results from a citizen-science wildlife survey.
Rosemary will be much missed by those who worked with her. Her quiet determination and commitment to climate justice made a real difference to her community and inspired others to get involved in protecting our planet. She was very involved with the Hall for Cornwall and was very active with local music groups.