More than four thousand visitors, plus over a hundred different contributors and volunteers joined together at a Discovery Day on Sunday 16th March to celebrate North Devon’s world class Biosphere Reserve and the coastal Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Visitors were able to meet over 50 different organisations and local groups, get creative with Appledore Arts, Exmoor Zoo, Mrs Recycle and Yarner Trust, see live performances from North Devon musicians Amy Newton, ReCyc and Babelfish, eat and purchase locally produced food and drink, watch local craftsmen and women at work, hear local experts speak, and take part in quizzes and games.

At the end of the lively event Mike Moser, Biosphere Reserve Chairman, and Richard Butler, AONB Chairman, met to reflect on the outcomes.

Mike felt that “today was a real success in terms of raising awareness across the region of the value of the AONB and Biosphere designations, and it has drawn attention to the many organisations that work hard to protect and enhance the area, including Devon County Council, North Devon and Torridge District Council’s and our many other partners.”

Richard agreed, “We are indebted to the many organisations, community groups, artists, musicians, businesses and food producers who contributed to create the full, diverse programme. It’s been a massive team effort, but we’re certain that our visitors today all went home with a greater awareness of the Biosphere and AONB, and that makes it all worthwhile.”

The Milky Way Adventure Park, with its colourful corridors provided the venue. The owners, the Stanbury family gave a huge amount of support, not least in providing the venue free of charge. Event organiser Nickie Moore felt the location was ideal, and “on a cold, misty March day we were glad to be within the walls of the Milky Way and not in a marquee! The Stanbury’s and staff were fantastic, and went well beyond the call of duty for us.”

More information about Discovery Day can be found within the AONB’s Spring newsletter. Call 01237 423655 to order your copy.

The Discovery Day also formed part of ‘Devon Rocks’, a Devon County Council initiative that is celebrating the 2008 International Year of Planet Earth. For more information about that visit: www.devon.gov.uk/devonrocks

Full Programme click here

To view the A4 Poster click here and for a Press Pack click here

This event was funded by the AONB and Biosphere Reserve partnerships and Devon County Council. Warmest thanks to the Stanbury family for providing the Milky Way Adventure Park venue free of charge for this event.