Events and Projects
We run a variety of events which are open to everyone including: our popular repair café; visits to local wildlife, conservation and rewilded areas; visiting speakers; wildlife walks; bird nest box building and checking; plant hunts; coffee mornings and many more.
At any one time we are also involved in one or more community projects such as rewilding areas and tree planting.
Scroll down or use the drop down menu to see all that we are involved in.
Events Diary
Summer/ Autumn 2025
| Saturday 19th July |
Summer Gathering at Cadbury Cottage: talks, tours, books, birds, invertebrates and bats.... |
| Sunday 20th July |
Sustainable Chulmleigh will be at Taw River Dairy Open Day - more details soon. |
| Wednesday 23rd July |
Sustainable Chulmleigh stall at Chulmleigh Old Fair |
| Sunday 31st August |
Nature Choir Worskhop at Cadbury Cottage with Rebekka Rosa from Wren Music |
| September/ October 2025 |
Repair Cafe, 1pm till 4pm, Town Hall |
| Friday 12th September |
Speaker: Peter Smithers: Carnival of Invertebrates -Town Hall |
| Sunday 14th September |
Sustainable Chulmleigh will be at the Eco Fair, South Molton |
| Friday 3rd October |
Speaker: Chantal Lyons: Ground Breakers - Wild Boar - Town Hall |
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The Relaxed Sanctuary at Cadbury Cottage
Jack and David are, with the help of Sustainable Chulmleigh, 'wilding' their ten acres at Cadbury Cottage and the land is now being used for Sustainable Chulmleigh events and projects. We have been awarded a grant from the National Trust to help us cater for visiting groups to take part in a wide variety of activities from pond dipping to moth trapping to surveying the flora and fauna. Thanks to Keiran, Devon Wildlife Trust, Devon County Council, The Trees Trust and Tamar Trees for supplying us with upwards of 1400 trees (all free via a variety of schemes and grants) and for their invaluable advice.
Please scroll down to see what has happened to date and/or see their website for more.
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Pond Dipping 2 with Chulmleigh Guides - June 4th 2025
After their first visit to us last month when we had a fab pond dipping session, Chulmleigh Guides were asked what they wanted to do for their second session here at Cadbury Cottage. They were given quite a variety of choices from making bee bricks to building habitat piles.
And they opted for....
.... MORE pond dipping.
We gave them the task of seeing what they could find in all the newest ponds on the land - many of which didn't look as though they contained that much life (although we knew different!!).
In a mere half hour or so, most groups had found a good 10-plus species.
We them had a very happy half hour looking at them under microscopes and hand lenses!!
Another great session from a wondrously engaged group of young ladies - all 21 of them!!!
Thanks to Mandy, Lesley, Claire, Amy and Nick for all their help
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Pond Dipping with Chulmleigh Guides - May 14th 2025
What a totally stunning pond dipping session with Chulmleigh Guides today - what a totally amazing group of young people they were.
We dipped in our established garden pond and in one of our new bigger ponds (dug just last September) and discovered LOADS (full list coming soon) including whopping Great Diving Bettle larva, and zillions of froglets and newts.
Huge thanks to Amy Roberts, Claire Withers and Julie Yeo from Sus Chulm.
So much chatter and engagement and learning going on. These youngsters were a credit to their Guide group. Thanks to Mandy and her helpers for bringing them over.
We are looking forward to another session with them all in June!!
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A Second Plant Hunt - April 27th 2025
Another abulous Plant Hunt here at Cadbury Cottage this afternoon - huge thanks to Amy Roberts, Lynda Pons and Dorette Eli for all their help and support as well as plant and cake contributions.
Fran (from the Wren Choir that some of us belong to) turned out to be a bit of an expert botanist. She found EIGHTY species in an hour and a half - which is almost HALF of the total species we found on our Plant A Day mission last year - lots are ones we haven't found so we now need to find them and get them photographed, recorded and added to the website
The weather was perfect, everyone was relaxed, some fabulous new friends were made AND we took just under £100 for Sustainable Chulmleigh which will enable us to put on more events over the coming months.
And if you missed it, we will be holding another one later in the year. Keep an eye on the website for news of this and all the other events we have planned.
 
 
 
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Final Tree Planting - April 10th 2025
Stunning afternoon with The Amber Foundation, planting the last of our trees here at Cadbury Cottage (The Relaxed Sanctuary). Despite the lack of rain, the ground was still damp once we got the spades in (although that was hard work at times 😅).
We now have around 1400 on the land - so looking forward to seeing how they grow over the next few years.
HUGE thank you to the residents who came - loved our tea and biscuits in the barn afterwards discussing whether it was jam or cream first and how to mix up butter and marmalade and 'then' spread it on your hot toast!! Yum Yum...
 
 
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Tree and Hedge Planting - January 4th and 5th 2025
A totally fabulous weekend planting trees and hedging at Cadbury Cottage. 19 species (Beech, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Buckthorn, Crab Apple, Dog Rose, Downy Birch, Elder, Guilder Rose, Hawthorn, Hazel, Hornbeam, Lime, Oak, Rowan, Spindle, Sweet Chestnut, Wayfaring and Wild Cherry) and around 1200 ish individual plants. Seven mini copses of around 50/60 trees each and four new hedges were created.
HUGE thanks to all the volunteers who came to help: Nick, Claire, Mike, Felix, Julie, Andy, Dennis, Ellie, Viv and Kelly and Amy and her seven Ashreigney volunteers.. The weather was kind as despite heavy rains on both Friday and Saturday nights, it stayed dry during the day.
We are planning a fair few events at Cadbury Cottage over the coming year: Pond days, Plant Hunts, Summer conference, Moth trapping and more.... keep an eye on the website for further details....
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Pond Day - November 3rd 2024
When many hands make light work !!
We had a great turnout for our pond margin planting day at Cadbury cottage, for Sustainable Chulmleigh.
David and Jack are slowly rewilding their former smallholding… and in return for a couple of hours labour rewarded us all with delicious home made bread, soup and cake.
Some of the tasks we helped with were removing a redundant wire chicken coop in preparation for planting willow, and planting perennials around the outside margin of the pond. A shallow shelf was dug within the pond itself to allow easy access / exit points for wildlife.
All in all, a great days work.
 
 
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Plant Hunt - September 8th 2024
Despite the weather we had a good turnout for our plant hunt today generously hosted by Jack and David.
A walk around their lovely small holding followed by delicious cakes and refreshments in the barn.
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday… another event is already being planned for spring!
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Visits and Walks
| We are lucky enough to be able to organise a variety of visits to local wildlife, conservation and rewilded areas as well as nature walks to local rivers, woods and more. The aim is to inspire and educate everyone about the importance of nature recovery. |
Walk and Chalk - May 9th 2025
What a great wildflower walk and chalk.
Thankyou Chulmleigh Primary School
For letting us start at the school!
And thankyou to all the families who joined us.
Please have a look at what we found starting outside the school gates, down beacon rise , four ways drive, land park and back lane.
 
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Broadbridge Farm - April 30th 2025
What a lovely afternoon spent at Broadridge Farm learning about rewilding, beavers, and habitat creation. The farm, along with its neighbouring farms, is creating a huge oasis for wildlife, and is incredibly inspiring to see.
Huge thanks to Dorette for hosting this event for Sustainable Chulmleigh.
 
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Community Allotment
| Sustainable Chulmleigh is delighted to have one of the new allotments in the town. The plan is this for this to become a community allotment for anyone who is interested in helping to grow food for themselves and others. No previous experience is necessary. We hope to establish areas of soft fruit as well as growing seasonal vegetables in the spring and summer. There will also be activities for young children.
If you would like to be involved, please email nickwithers2012@gmail.com. |
Compost - May 25
Planting has begun
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Compost - March 25
Work has started on our new allotment. Ready for spring planting soon!
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Strimming - March 25
Sustainable Chulmleigh allotment should be up and running soon. Strimmed this morning. Compost coming for raised beds w/c 17/03. If anyone would like to give us a hand with this exciting new community space please shout!
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Films and Speakers
| Each autumn we host a series of speakers and films on a variety of subjects to inspire, educate and hopefully encourage more sustainable and wildlife-friendly thoughts and actions. |
A great evening screening of 'Balancing the Scales' and 'Farming the Flood' with a lively Q and A session afterwards.
We were lucky to have such a good panel with Nick Viney, farmer, artist and co-director of Farming the Flood, Tim Budden, local organic farmer and Dorette Engi, local rewilder and beaver expert, chaired by one of our committee, Amy Roberts. My small role was organisational and managing the tech and I am glad to say everything went swimmingly! We were all so grateful to everyone who attended, friends old and new, that made this event a great success. Thank you all.
 
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An evening with Professors Fiona Matthews and Tim Kendall authors of ‘Black Ops and Beaver Bombing - February 28th 2025
What a great evening: Fiona and Tim gave a great talk about the status of mammals in the UK and after a welcome bar break there was a lively q and a session. The event was very well attended by over 40 people. This was a great talk to end our Autumn/Winter lecture series.
Fiona is Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe and Professor of environmental biology at the University of Sussex, and Tim is Professor of English Literature at the University of Exeter. Black Ops and Beaver Bombing is a celebration of Britain’s marvelous mammals, and a rallying cry to save them
 
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'Six Inches of Soil' Screening - December 6th 2024
A great evening yesterday for our screening of ‘Six Inches of Soil’ co-hosted by North Devon Biosphere and Sustainable Chulmleigh. Attended by over 80 people.
A film about young regenerative farmers, it offered great insight into the challenges facing farmers in this changing climate.
Followed a lively discussion with a panel of local farmers, expertly chaired by Mike Moser. Huge thanks to the panel: Sam Bullingham,
Leica Lucas Ridge,
Tim Budden and
Amy Thomas.
More to follow on our newsletter later this month.
To sign up email info@sustainablechulmleigh.org.uk
 
 
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An evening with Maddy Harland - November 1st 2024
'Permaculture and Rewilding: uneasy bedfellows?' was the title for Maddy Harland's talk at the start of November. Maddy's deep knowledge and passion for our natural world shone through as she guided us through the relationship of growing and maintaining a healthy soil. A lively Q and A session followed, with plenty of discussion. Food for thought!
 
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An evening with Hugh Warwick - September 20th 2024
Hugh Warwick - 'Hedgehog Hugh' and author of Cull of the Wild gave a fabulous talk to a hall over 60 people at The Pavilion in Chulmleigh. His talk centered around the question 'Should we kill in the name of conservation?' and with a Q&A that lasted as long as the talk itself, it is safe to say, the event was a huge success. Hugh hopes to return next year with a talk specifically on hedgehogs.
 
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Networking and Fundraising
| Networking and fundraising are key to our work. We fundraise so we can continue to organise and host our many events and projects and at the same time, build relationships with individuals and other organisations. |
Sustainable Chulmleigh Open Gardens - Sunday 8th June 2025
Raising funds for North Devon Hospice and Sustainable Chulmleigh, this year's Open Gardens was another triumph.
26 families opened their doors to allow the rest of us to ooh and aah over their wonderful outside spaces. From wildlife meadows to maple filled lawns; from vegetable plots that seamlessly blended with flower borders to gorgeous courtyards that filled the air with colour and scent.. Chulmleigh has it all.
Another great sucess and to thanks everyone who took part. 
 
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Catkin Blooms Plant Swap and Environmental Day - Saturday 3rd May 2025
A fabulous day meeting other like-minded groups and organistions (and eating cake) over at Catkin Blooms, Winkleigh
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Sustainable Chulmleigh Coffee Morning - Saturday 5th April 2025
A big Thankyou to everyone who came along and supported our Sustainable Chulmleigh coffee morning.
We are delighted to say we raised £460 profit which will enable us to continue running our events.
An extra big Thankyou to all who baked, provided draw prizes and who gave up their time to help make the event such a success.
 
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Repair Cafés
| Our Repair Cafés are always held in the Town Hall, usually on a Saturday morning. We run them three to four times a year. Everyone is welcome to bring along broken items or clothes alterations and we will do our best to fix them!
Coffee, tea and cake always available |
Repair Café - September 14th 2024
Nish and Nick doing stirling work sharpening over 30 pairs of garden shears and secateurs.
As always, a big Thank you to all our volunteers.
 
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Workshops
| We run a variety of workshops and similar events where you can come along and learn a new skill as well as helping specific nature recovery projects. |
Pied Flycatcher nest box building in the Town Hall - Sunday 9th March 2025
What a fabulous turnout for our Pied Flycatcher nest box building: over 20 enthusiastic volunteers turned up at the Town Hall and within what felt like minutes, suddenly we had 30 complete next boxes. Over 20 went off to a local woodland (and huge thanks to the owners for funding the whole project) and the rest went to the workshop volunteers. We were especially delighted to welcome several young people from the Amber Foundation and look forward to welcoming them to future events too. Everyone was treated to tea, coffee and cake as a thank you with the blueberry cake and flapjacks being singled out for special praise. Huge, huge thanks to everyone who came.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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