| We have a small shop, open Tuesday-Friday 10am to 3pm, selling WI literature and stationery, together with gifts and local guide books about Devon walks, places where the best cream teas are served, the range of B&Bs run by members, and much, much more.
The county of Devon is as diverse as they come! In the centre is the large and spectacular Dartmoor, while in the north you will find the delights of Exmoor. Devon is endowed with many beautiful rivers, offering canoeing, sailing, fishing and even some exciting white water rafting.
The Northern coastline has rugged cliffs and long sandy beaches; good for families and surfing grannies alike, whilst the coves, beaches, sandy inlets and harbours of the southern coast are a sailor's paradise and also ideal for holidays. Devon is a walkers paradise and most villages have picture-postcard thatched cottages and pretty pubs, and offer everything from antique shops to farmer's markets to department stores. There are also many National Trust houses and gardens including Rosemoor, Arlington House and Marwood Gardens in the North and in the South, Castle Drogo, A La Ronde, Killerton and Saltram, plus many, many more.
Rural life is alive and well, with around 250 WIs serving our villages and hamlets. Whether you are retiring down to the West County or just here on holiday you can be sure of a warm welcome from our Federation Secretary and her staff. Life in the WI in Devon is as full (or relaxing) as you want it to be. Come and make new friends, tackle local or national issues and be part of an exciting modern organisation opening doors that you didn't realise existed.
Accommodation and Hospitality Lists
There is a list of Bed & Breakfast accommodation available in Devon, and a list of WIs who will provide lunches, teas, suppers, guided walks, etc. Booklets are available for £1 plus postage and packing from the Federation office
Devon WI calendar 2008 Our calendar for 2008 (in extended A5 format) is entitled Devon Festivals & Celebrations, and contains member's photographs of the great variety of the shows and fairs which take place in our beautiful county. It has a large postcard on the bottom of each page and is still available through our Federation office for £2.40 plus postage and packing.
Events As a Federation we have many events organised by our sub-committees. Some of those coming up early in 2008 are:
Monday 14 January : "An Italian Experience" - a themed lunch with afternoon speaker, always a popular event.
Thursday 21 February : Snowdrop Walk - a 2.5 mile stroll (each way) along the banks of the River Harbourne in the beautiful South Hams. Lunch will be available, courtesy of a local WI of course.
Tuesday 26 February : South American Day - a chance to learn more about the Galapagos Islands, Bolivia and the wonders of Peru. Lunch provided.
March : a four-day trip to the European Parliament and a further day trip to Denman have both been organised, together with a Sporting Weekend at a Dartmoor hotel where a host of activities can be sampled. Further into the spring there is a walk around Widecombe-in-the Moor with a local celebrity and our Annual Council Meeting at Exeter University when the guest speaker will be Pam Rhodes, one of the presenters of the BBC programme 'Songs of Praise.'
Please contact our Federation office for further information on any of the above.
June Shephard Blandy
Chairman. |