Elections to Dartmoor Commoner’s Council
See attachments for details
Wild flower seed sowing at the cemetery
/in Climate & Environment, News/by Paul ReidIf you would like to help with ground preparation and sowing wildflower seeds at the Mary Tavy Parish Cemetery tomorrow between 10am and 11am please feel free to wander down. A sturdy rake, gloves and a small fork would be useful items if you have some or all of them, but if you don’t, come along anyway.
Mary Tavy Parish Cemetery Biodiversity Project
/in Climate & Environment, News/by Paul ReidVisitors to our cemetery may have noticed a strip of black matting running along a section of the fence. Please see the attachment below to see what we’re up to.
Mary Tavy Parish Council & Biodiversity
/in Climate & Environment, News/by Paul ReidBiodiversity – what does it mean I hear you say and why do you need to know? A definition from the Oxford dictionary says it is…
“the variety of all life on Earth, encompassing all the different plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems they form and the genetic differences within them”.
Also, under the 2021 Environment Act, Parish Councils must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity,
so here at Mary Tavy we are now beavering away with plans to do this! In the spring, we plan to engage the community to help
with, bio-blitzes, planting and animal homes to name just a few of the projects we shall be starting.
We have a policy, that can be found on the website, where our aims and actions are set out. Hopefully, if you are reading it, you
will notice that some of our projects have already begun.
If you are interested in taking part in any of our projects, please
do look out on the website and social media for more information
on how to get involved!
How To Report Livestock In Danger Or Distress On Dartmoor
/in News/by Paul ReidPlease follow this link to report livestock in danger or distress on the Moor
Hedges & Ditches
/in News/by Paul ReidDevon County Council has produced the attached information relating to responsibility for hedges, ditches, etc.
Staying Safe In Stormy Weather
/in News/by Paul ReidThe following advice has been issued by Devon Council Council:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDEVONCC/bulletins/378cf6e
How To Report A Pothole On Roads In Devon
/in News, Traffic & Transport/by Paul ReidWith winter not too far away it’s a good time to report any potholes that meet Devon County Council Highways Dept intervention criteria.
If a pothole is on a road maintained by Highways and is over 40mm deep, over 300mm wide and has a steep side then Highways should put it on their list for action. A full description of potholes that meet their criteria can be found at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/report-a-problem/report-a-pothole/
If you think a pothole meets these criteria you can report it at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/report-a-problem/map/map_src/poth/ . Once on this website, you can drag the map to centre over the area with the pothole and then zoom in until the map is expanded sufficiently to drop a “pin” at the location of the pothole. You will then be asked to provide details, including photos if available. By entering your contact details on the report, you will be kept up to date on the assessment and any action that is scheduled. Should you find the pothole has already been reported by someone else, you can still add your contact details & so be kept up to date on any actions.
SAFETY NOTE: PLEASE do not endanger yourself or other road users when gathering details of any pothole. It is better to estimate the size of a pothole from a safe location and report it without photos than to risk an accident, injury, or worse by being on an active highway.
Hedges and Ditches in the Parish
/in News/by Paul ReidNow that the bird nesting season is over, August is a good time to tidy and cut back hedges where needed and to clear ditches ahead of autumn and winter rains.
Parishioners are reminded that it is generally the landowner’s responsibility to keep hedges cut back and ditches clear of debris and blockages. Guidance issued by Devon County Council can be found here (ditches) and here (hedges) and in the attachments below
Mary Tavy Parish Cemetery: Headstone Inspection Programme May 2023
/in News/by Parish ClerkNotice is hereby given that all headstones in Mary Tavy Parish Cemetery will be inspected for stability during May 2023.
This will involve a basic hand test to determine if there is movement in the headstone and to what extent. The test will be carried out by a trained staff member who has completed the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management’s (ICCM) course in memorial inspection.
Grave owners will be notified if a problem is found.
The staff member undertaking the assessment will make a decision on the memorial’s overall safety based on a dynamic risk assessment for which they have been trained. Once inspected, each memorial will fall into one of three categories- 1, 2 or 3. For more detail on the category system that will be used, please download the Memorial Management Policy below.