49-559: Exminster is a village west of the Exeter ship canal and River Exe in Devon , England, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Exeter , with a population of 4,379 at the 2021 census . Exminster is an ancient village associated with a Saxon minster or religious community, founded here in the 8th century. and left by King Alfred the Great to his youngest son Aethelweard in his will of 889. In
98-769: A Royal Charter in 1904 from Edward VII , just 15 years after its founding, and was instrumental in petitioning the Parliament of the United Kingdom to introduce laws banning the use of plumage in clothing. At the time that the Society was founded in Britain, similar societies were also founded in other European countries. In 1961, the society acquired The Lodge in Sandy, Bedfordshire , as its new headquarters. The RSPB's logo depicts an avocet . The first version
147-407: A better knowledge on bird population trends in gardens in Britain. The Big Garden Birdwatch was launched as a children's activity in 1979, but from 2001 it encouraged adults to partake as well. In 2011, over 600,000 people took part, only 37% of whom were RSPB members. This event usually takes place in the last weekend of January. From the start of this annual survey records for house sparrows showed
196-619: A cargo of timber in December 1973. However, the ship Countess Weir continued to use the canal. It had been built in 1963 as a sludge carrier, and was used to take sewage sludge from the Exeter sewage works out to sea, where it was dumped. It was originally named SW2 , but became the Countess Weir in 1974. It was operated by the city council, who owned the treatment works, and had to be modified slightly in 1975, as it would not fit under
245-490: A century. Bird Notes and News ( ISSN 0406-3392 ) was first published in April 1903. The title changed to Bird Notes in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year (one for each season, published on the 1st of each third month, March, June, September and December). Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years. For example, volume XXV (25), number one was dated Winter 1951, and number eight in
294-725: A decline of 60%, while starling populations declined by about 80% from 1979 to 2012. In 2022, nearly 700,000 people took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, counting more than 11 billion birds. BirdTrack is an online citizen science website, operated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) on behalf of a partnership of the BTO, the RSPB, BirdWatch Ireland , the Scottish Ornithologists' Club and
343-564: A gym, an IT suite with web access, and daytime family and toddlers' groups. Exminster also has a primary school; several parks for children including a skate park; and three pubs – The Stowey Arms, The Royal Oak and The Swan's Nest. The Topsham and Exminster Brewery, which produces Ferryman Ale, is located at a former RAF GCI (Ground Controlled Interception) radar station in the midst of the Exminster Marshes RSPB reserve. The Exeter Canal cycle path leads from Exminster into
392-431: A mix of Georgian and Victorian buildings, repurposed for modern use, including the custom house which dates from 1681. The basin has seen a lot of redevelopment, including residential buildings in a mock warehouse style, with the older buildings finding new uses as antique shops, cafes, restaurants and studios. The canal basin itself is popular for a range of water sports, including canoeing, rowing and kayaking. Throughout
441-449: A partnership with UK housebuilder Barratt Developments in 2014. The RSPB maintains over 200 reserves throughout the United Kingdom, covering a wide range of habitats , from estuaries and mudflats to forests and urban habitats . The reserves often have bird hides provided for birdwatchers and many provide visitor centres , which include information about the wildlife that can be seen there. The RSPB confers awards, including
490-464: A quarter miles (5.2 km) from just below the Countess Weir to the centre of Exeter. This navigation was not very effective; it could not be entered at all states of the tide, and the double transfer of cargo over such a short distance made it uncompetitive with road transport. The weir that maintains the water level in the quay is still named "Trew's Weir" after the canal's builder. In 1677
539-462: A view to transferring responsibility, but the talks were ended in December, with the council unhappy about the cost and likely outcomes of the action. They have since been looking at ways to increase the volume of boat traffic using the canal, but the major obstacles to this are the lifting bridge and swing bridge at Countess Weir, which carry separate carriageways of the A38 road over the canal. Opening
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#1732773119943588-710: Is a Grade I listed building and was built in the late 14th and 15th centuries in the Perpendicular style . It was heavily restored in 1841 and again in 1852. It has a large three-storied tower with a polygonal stair turret. Inside, the Peamore chapel has a plaster ceiling dated 1633, depicting the Twelve Apostles and the Four Evangelists , scenes of the Nativity , Christ carrying the cross and
637-399: Is aimed at teenagers, and produces Wingbeat magazine, which is primarily written by young people for young people. The RSPB is a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services . RSPB organises bird record data collection in annual collective birdwatching days in Britain. The RSPB describes this as the "world's biggest wildlife survey" and helps inform conservationists to gain
686-563: Is sited on the south side of the bridges on the east bank. One of the last regular commercial uses of the canal was the tanker Esso Jersey , which served the Esso oil terminal. The ship was known as the Kieler from 1977, and was scrapped in 1984. It was the largest ship to use the canal, and delivered a final load of 244 tons of petrol in July 1971. Commercial traffic ceased after a coaster unloaded
735-636: The Resurrection . There is also a notable monument to Otho Petre of Bowhay who died in 1607. The churchyard contains the war graves of eight British servicemen of World War I - the first and highest ranking being Major General Robert Kekewich - and three servicemen of World War II . The football club is Exminster St Martins AFC . The village is intersected by the Berry Brook, a small stream that rises near Peamore and runs parallel to Days-Pottles Lane, before passing through Exminster and joining
784-545: The River Exe at Turf Lock . On a hill overlooking the Exe estuary at the north-west side of the village is the former Devon County Asylum (a " lunatic asylum ") which was designed by Charles Fowler and opened in July 1845. It featured a central administration block with six radiating arms and had a capacity of around 800 beds. The hospital closed in the mid-1980s when it was known as Exminster Hospital. After years of neglect,
833-516: The River Exe in the centre of the city where a quay would be built. Work began in February 1564, and was completed in Autumn 1566 or early 1567. The canal had three locks with vertical gates – the first pound locks to be built in Britain. They accommodated boats up to 16 tonnes. The original cut was 3 feet (0.91 m) deep and 16 feet (4.9 m) wide (0.9 m by 5 m). It ran one and three and
882-566: The UK Advertising Standards Authority were incorrect. The article claimed that the true figure was closer to 26%. The Charity Commission investigated the claims, and contacted the RSPB to get it to clarify its web statement. The RSPB complied, with the clarification that 90% of its net income (after expenses, not gross income as received) was spent on conservation, and that conservation activities were diverse, not limited to spending on its own nature reserves. This
931-513: The Welsh Ornithological Society ( Welsh : Cymdeithas Adaryddol Cymru ). The RSPB is funded primarily by its members; in 2006, over 50% of the society's £88 million income came from subscriptions , donations and legacies , worth a total of £53.669 million. As a registered charity , the organisation is entitled to gift aid worth an extra £0.25 on every £1.00 donated by income tax payers. The bulk of
980-597: The egret population by informing wealthy women of the environmental damage wrought by the use of feathers in fashion. A later 1897 publication, Bird Food in Winter , aimed to address the use of berries as winter decoration and encouraged the use of synthetic berries to preserve the birds food source. In 1897 the SPB distributed over 16,000 letters and 50,000 leaflets and by 1898 had 20,000 members. The Society attracted support from some women of high social standing who belonged to
1029-591: The 14th century, it was the seat of the Courtenay family, the Earls of Devon . William Courtenay , who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1381 to 1396, was born here. Exminster is part of the electoral ward of Kenn Valley. Exminster Marshes, to the east of the village, are a major site for birds, especially migratory ones, including the rare cirl bunting . The present parish church of Saint Martin of Tours
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#17327731199431078-545: The Friends group have been campaigning for the new bridges to be built with increased headroom. There is a possibility that this could be funded by the government's Major Road Network scheme. Development plans were given a boost in 2021, when Exeter Ship Canal and Basin became the United Kingdom's fourth Heritage Harbour, an award given by the Maritime Heritage Trust and National Historic Ships UK. Increasing
1127-531: The January–February 1966 edition. Issues were published quarterly, numbered so that a new volume started every other year. The Autumn 2013 edition, dated August–October 2013, being vol. 25 no. 7, was the last. In Winter 2013 Birds was replaced by a new magazine, Nature's Home . The editor was Mark Ward. The magazine had an ABC-certified circulation of 600,885. With the Summer/Autumn 2022 issue,
1176-535: The President's Award, for volunteers who make a notable contribution to the work of the society. According to the RSPB: The RSPB Medal is the Society's most prestigious award. It is presented to an individual in recognition of wild bird protection and countryside conservation. It is usually awarded annually to one or occasionally two people. The RSPB has published a members-only magazine for over
1225-543: The RSPB lie with two groups of women, both formed in 1889: The groups gained in popularity and amalgamated in 1891 to form the Society for the Protection of Birds in London. The Society gained its Royal Charter in 1904. The original members of the SPB were all women who campaigned against the fashion of the time for women to wear exotic feathers in hats, and the consequent encouragement of " plume hunting ". To this end
1274-431: The Society had two simple rules: At the time of founding, the trade in plumage for use in hats was very large: in the first quarter of 1884, almost 7,000 bird-of-paradise skins were being imported to Britain, along with 400,000 birds from West India and Brazil , and 360,000 birds from East India . In 1890, the society published its first leaflet, entitled Destruction of Ornamental-Plumaged Birds , aimed at saving
1323-533: The air draft of the bridges to 13 feet (4.0 m) would enable many more coastal boats to use the harbour, including those catching fish and shellfish. 50°39′55″N 3°28′04″W / 50.6653°N 3.4678°W / 50.6653; -3.4678 RSPB The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB ) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales and in Scotland . It
1372-449: The bridges is only carried out infrequently, because of the disruption it causes to traffic on the A38, and each opening costs around £800 in administrative and staffing costs. The council and a support group, the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal, are looking at ways this could be overcome. The Countess Weir swing bridge dates from 1936, while the lifting bridge was added in 1972, when the A38 was
1421-408: The canal was extended and the entrance was moved downstream to Topsham. In 1701 the canal was deepened and widened to allow the passage of ocean-going ships. At the same time the number of locks on the canal was reduced to one. Floodgates were also fitted to the canal entrance. These improvements led to the canal being highly successful until demand for access declined with the end of the wool trade in
1470-411: The canal was too small to attract the sizeable ocean-going vessels and the canal was taken over by its creditors for sixteen years. Use of the canal has declined gradually ever since. In 1939 the canal was still carrying some 63,000 tons of material annually, and after the war it was still seen as a useful means of transporting goods to and from its basin at Haven Banks, opposite Exeter Quay. Planning for
1519-540: The canal. In the 1970s, the basin provided the backdrop for the filming of quayside activity in the historical drama The Onedin Line , even though the series was supposed to be set in Liverpool. In 2002 the future of the canal looked brighter when the city basin was included in a £24 million redevelopment scheme by Exeter Quay Developments, a consortium led by the construction company McAlpine . The quay area retains
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1568-467: The centre of Exeter, giving commuters in the village a traffic-free route into the city. 50°40′39″N 3°29′40″W / 50.677568°N 3.494527°W / 50.677568; -3.494527 Exeter Canal The Exeter Ship Canal , also known as the Exeter Canal is a canal leading from (and beside) the River Exe to Exeter Quay in the city of Exeter , Devon , England . It
1617-705: The city after The Blitz recommended that Turf Lock, the canal's junction with the estuary be deepened and enlarged to allow ships of 600 tons to pass. In May 1944 the Countess Weir Road bridge (present day A379) was used in rehearsals for the D-Day attack on the 'Canal de Caen' ( Pegasus Bridge ) and the River Orne ( Horsa Bridge ), by the Second Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry . A plaque acknowledging this
1666-459: The earls were able to exact large tolls to transport goods to Exeter. For the next 250 years the city petitioned the King to have the waterway reopened, to no avail, until 1550 when Edward VI finally granted permission. However, it was by then too late because the river channel had silted up. In 1563, Exeter traders employed John Trew of Glamorgan to build a canal to bypass the weirs and rejoin
1715-612: The early 19th century and later with the rise of the railways. There were many notable failures to connect Exeter and the South West to the national canal and rail networks: The Grand Western Canal linking Exeter to Bristol (1796) was never completed; the Bristol & Exeter Railway link to the canal basin was postponed in 1832 and 1844; the South Devon Railway ran services to the canal from 1867, but by this time
1764-466: The income (£63.757 million in 2006) is spent on conservation projects, maintenance of the reserves and on education projects, with the rest going on fundraising efforts and reducing the pension deficit, worth £19.8 million in 2006. It was reported in an article in The Daily Mail on 2 November 2014 that claims that the charity "was spending 90 per cent of its income on conservation" by
1813-618: The magazine has been re-titled. The RSPB has two separate groups for children and teenagers: Wildlife Explorers (founded in 1943 as the Junior Bird Recorders' Club; from 1965 to 2000 the Young Ornithologists ' Club or YOC ) and RSPB Phoenix. Wildlife Explorers is targeted at children aged between 8 and 12, although it also has some younger members, and has two different magazines: Wild Times for 0–7-year-olds, and Wild Explorer for 8–12-year-olds. RSPB Phoenix
1862-540: The main route to the West Country, prior to the building of the M5 motorway viaduct in 1977. Options being considered are to replace the two bridges with a single swing bridge or lift bridge , building a new bridge at a higher level to give much more clearance, and the construction of a drop lock, to lower the level of the waterway beneath the bridges. Both bridges were nearing the end of their operational life in 2019, and
1911-422: The name of the nearby suburb Countess Wear ). This had the effect of cutting off Exeter's port from the sea and damaging its salmon fisheries. In 1290, trade with Exeter's port was restored, only to be blocked by a new weir built in 1317 by Hugh de Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon (Isabella's cousin), who also built a quay at Topsham . Because of the blockages on the river, boats were forced to unload at Topsham and
1960-457: The newly constructed M5 motorway bridge. Ownership of the treatment works and the vessel passed to South West Water when the water industry was privatised in 1989, and dumping of sludge at sea ceased on 31 December 1998. The ship made a ceremonial visit to the canal in January 1999, after which it was sold. The fall of commercial traffic in the 1960s coincided with the rise of leisure use of
2009-437: The odd-numbered months, January, March and so on, but dated "January–February", "March–April", etc.). Volumes again covered two years, so vol. 30, covering 1962–63, therefore included nine issues, ending with the "Winter 1963–64" edition instead of eight. The final edition, vol. 31 no. 12, was published in late 1965. Bird Notes' successor Birds ( ISSN 1367-983X ) replaced it immediately, with volume 1, number 1 being
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2058-407: The railway line. The signal box remained standing on the site until September 2006, was subsequently removed for preservation to Broadway, Worcestershire . although it has since been scrapped. Exminster's amenities include a surgery, pharmacy, a village shop , a convenience store, several estate agents, a golf course, a hairdresser, as well as a community facility (The Westbank) which incorporates
2107-497: The same volume was dated Autumn 1953. From the mid-1950s, many of the covers were by Charles Tunnicliffe . Two of the originals are on long-term loan to the Tunnicliffe gallery at Oriel Ynys Môn , but in 1995 the RSPB sold 114 at a Sotheby's auction, raising £210,000, the most expensive being a picture of a partridge which sold for £6,440. From January 1964 (vol. 31, no. 1), publication increased to six per year, (issued in
2156-516: The social classes that popularised the wearing of feathered hats, including the Duchess of Portland (who became the Society's first President) and the Ranee of Sarawak . As the organisation began to attract the support of many other influential figures, both male and female, such as the ornithologist Professor Alfred Newton , it gained in popularity and attracted many new members. The society received
2205-407: The surrounding land was built upon for housing and the grade II listed hospital was converted to apartments and town houses; it is now known as Devington Park. Exminster railway station was opened by George Hennet on behalf of the South Devon Railway in 1852. It closed to passenger traffic on 30 March 1964 and to goods traffic on 4 December 1967, but its distinctive building still stands next to
2254-613: The year the Butts Ferry , a small hand powered passenger ferry, operates across the river by Exeter quay and canal basin during the day, though there is a footbridge close at hand. A ferry has been operating here since at least 1641. The canal is owned by Exeter City Council. In 2017, they announced that it runs at a deficit, losing around £110,000 per year. They began negotiations with the Canal and River Trust in September 2016, with
2303-505: Was designed by Robert Gillmor . Today, the RSPB works with both the civil service and the Government to advise Government policies on conservation and environmentalism . It is one of several organisations that determine the official conservation status list for all birds found in the UK. The RSPB does not run bird hospitals nor offer animal rescue services. The RSPB entered into
2352-466: Was first constructed in the 1560s, predating the " canal mania " period, and is one of the oldest artificial waterways in the UK. At the start of Exeter's history, the River Exe was tidal and navigable up to the city walls enabling it to be a busy port. In the 1270s or 1280s, the Countess of Devon , Isabella de Fortibus , built a weir across the river to power her mills (this weir is remembered in
2401-539: Was founded in 1889. It works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment through public awareness campaigns, petitions and through the operation of nature reserves throughout the United Kingdom. In 2021/22 the RSPB had revenue of £157 million, 2,200 employees, 10,500 volunteers and 1.1 million members (including 195,000 youth members), making it one of the world's largest wildlife conservation organisations. The RSPB has many local groups and maintains 222 nature reserves. The origins of
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