Hattie Mccann

Devon farmer Mark Walter has vaccinated 1,700 sheep against bluetongue after the virus caused serious illness and fears that up to 40% of his lambs could be stillborn or born with disabilities. Devon and Cornwall have recorded particularly high numbers of infected premises, with warm conditions encouraging the midges that transmit the virus. Deputy chief veterinary officer Ele Brown said vaccination uptake was only about 10%, leaving too few animals protected. NFU president Tom Bradshaw called for faster vaccine distribution, compensation for disposing of dead livestock and a simpler system for reporting vaccinations.

Campaigners for the restoration of Plymouth’s former Reel cinema are marking its 88th anniversary with a public pavement party. The Save The Royal group aims to revive the Art Deco venue as a community-focused music and arts space, including cinema screens, performance areas and a rooftop bar. Campaign chair Karl Parsons warns that the building faces the risk of demolition if action is not taken soon. Volunteers are collecting residents’ memories as part of an oral history project, while the event will feature a film quiz and a free gig as part of efforts to highlight the cinema’s cultural legacy.

A group of volunteer historians in Buckfastleigh is restoring parish grave records lost in a 1992 arson attack at Holy Trinity Church. More than 600 graves have been documented so far, with volunteers cleaning stones or using rubbings to recover inscriptions. Their findings are uploaded to FindAGrave.com to help people trace family histories. The project has strengthened community ties and aligns with a wider global interest in genealogy, noted by historian Todd Gray. The group aims to complete the entire graveyard within several years.

A Devon-based charity, Force, has supported cancer patients for two years by offering loaned wigs to help them manage hair loss during treatment. Founded by volunteer Shelley Boult, the service provides more than 300 pre‑loved wigs and teaches patients how to care for them. Users, including patient Emma Davies, describe the fittings as confidence‑boosting and emotionally supportive. Donations from borrowers fund the service, keeping costs low during a period of financial strain.