I’m always taken aback by the unique garden landscape Keith Wiley created at Wildside, starting with nothing but a field and a bulldozer.

His garden “risk-taking in action” is a fusion of ideas from around the world and rejects traditional and rigid gardening rules.

What was 3-acres of bare earth 20 years ago now has something different and surprising at every turn.

The next open days are today (Thursday 29th May) to Sunday 1st June, from 11am to 5pm.

Flowering will be azaleas, Japanese maples, wisterias, iris, and candelabra primulas.

More dates later in the year are here.

Adult £12.50, Child £5. Pay on entry, no booking. Green Lane, Buckland Monachorum PL20 7NP

P.S. I’m excited Plymouth is putting down a marker as a venue for an important new boat show for the UK, and wish the organisers every success in establishing a successful annual event. See below.

Plymouth’s new boat show

Southampton and London have the biggest and most famous. Could Plymouth create a boat show to rival them?

We are about to find out at Plymouth Boat Fest, which aims to deliver all things boating free to visitors on Saturday 21st June.

Climb on board paddleboards, step aboard classic wooden craft and gin palaces, ponder your budget for a new or used boat, or just wander around taking in the maritime buzz.

There will be activities and demonstrations, local food and drink stalls, live music and water sports displays.

10am to 5pm. Plymouth Yacht Haven, Shaw Way, Mount Batten. More details.

The biggest free arts festival in the South West, and the most sustainable ever

This is singing, dancing, music, food and merry-making in the most sustainable way.

Exmouth Festival 2025 organisers are redoubling their focus on lowering carbon footprint.

So expect sustainable packaging, plant-based menus, reusable cups, free water points, recycling bins, compost toilets and a power supply from a renewable energy tariff.

The line-up is yet to be announced but one highlight is Argentine band Negra Santa who are bringing their latin punky ska to the festivities. Video

Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th July.

Exmouth Festival is free but consider making a donation to cover costs.

Rhythm of the Dance, Queens Theatre Barnstaple

The ever popular Irish dancing comes to Barnstaple for 1 night on Thursday 10th July.

One of several shows that spawned from Michael Flatley’s Riverdance concept, Rhythmn of the Dance has been touring for 26 years in more than 50 countries.

The 2025 version features modern takes and musical interludes which, as you’d expect for a classic and proven concept, always receives positive reviews.

Audiences love the energy, rhythmns (obviously!), sharp choreography and the combination of Irish dancing with swing and jive, which although it breaks the continuity, provides variety.

Tickets from £31.50 (website says last few available)

Easy beekeeping, hopefully without any stings

Meet Ashley Tod, who has turned 10 years as a teacher and a love of bees into a business.

He set up Dartmoor Beekeeping in 2021 to make learning beekeeping simple and easy for beginners, using docile and easy-to-handle honeybee colonies.

Try a beekeeping experience for £45. It’s 2 hours of learning about honey bees in a small group, how to suit up, go through a hive, read the bees and spot the queen.

• Includes tea and cake on the farm afterwards

You might want to graduate to a beginners beekeeping course for £165: 6 hours of building your knowledge about bees with practical hands-on experience.

• Covers all the basics you need to start keeping your own bees, and a beginners beekeeping book, plus tea and cake

Bittaford, Ivybridge. More details and booking here.

Devon Curiosities #60: Penrose Almshouses

Here at Go Devon! we love the old and the curiosity-inducing.

Penrose's Almshouses in Barnstaple more than fit the bill, being built that long ago they have bullet holes from the English Civil War.

The Grade 1 listed buildings are a monument to the generosity of charitable benefactors, who provided basic but sturdy free accommodation for the poor.

HISTORY: The almshouses were built in Litchdon Street in memory of John Penrose (1575–1624), a prominent merchant and Mayor of Barnstaple.

• During the English Civil War Barnstaple changed hands 4 times. War damage in the form of bullet holes are in the door of the entrance gate.

The entire complex is protected for posterity, with the courtyard pump and the garden allotment walls both Grade 2 listed. More on Wikipedia.

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

North Devon events May to October

🐬 South Devon

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: 🏖️ A 3-night coastal escape for 4 people in a 2-bedroom apartment at Byron Woolacombe, including use of indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym (31st May)

♨️ A lodge break with hot tub at Lady's Mile Holiday Park, Dawlish, for up to 6 people, including pets, with entertainment and access to the swimming pool (3rd Jun)

✈️ 3 pairs of flight tickets from Exeter Airport with KLM, Ryanair or Blue Islands airlines including to Spain or Jersey (15th Jun)

🌊 A 3-night stay in a Wembury cabin for up to 6 people and 2 dogs, a few minutes from the beach and the SW Coast Path (17th Jun)

🌟 A mid-week 1-night rejuvenation break for 2 at the 5-star Boringdon Hall, including breakfast, spa treatment and dinner (19th Jun)

NEW!  🏝️ A night for 2 with dinner, bed & breakfast at Burgh Island Hotel, one of Devon’s iconic locations, worth £900. (25th Jun)

NEW!  🆓 A competition bundle of free holidays, free days out, a Dartington Crystal hand or paw print, and a £100 shopping voucher (30th Jun)

🏰 A 2-night stay for 2 at the 5-star Bovey Castle, including a Land Rover Defender tour, a free activity of your choice, dinner and 2 breakfasts (24th Jul)

NEW!  🍎 A summer bundle of BBQ, cooler and 4 cases of Devon Red or Red Zero Cider. Plus 50 runners-up win a case of cider (25th Aug)

NEW!  😀 A 1-night wellness break at Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plymouth including dinner, spa membership and breakfast (29th Aug)

❓️ Have you won a prize from a link you found here? Let me know.

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🍀 Revenge of the Ottery pixies

🌈 Cherry Poppin and the pride of Torbay 

🐴 The hunt for the Earl of Rone

🌲 Why is a man covered in leaves parading through Ilfracombe?

That’s all for this week.

Thanks for being a member.

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team