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Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK beach is Spanish resort dupe but locals say this comes at a price
Woolacombe in North Devon is a popular holiday destination for tourists, who flock to the sandy beach in the summer time. But locals say it's a different story in the winter. Woolacombe, located off the A316 in North Devon, isn't the most straightforward destination to reach. It requires careful navigation along narrow, winding country lanes bordered by towering hedges, where oncoming traffic can prove challenging. However, the journey is absolutely worthwhile. The initial panorama that greets you is merely the beginning of this magical experience. The view is simply stunning and stands apart from any other location. Multiple car parks sit at the village's base, with the two most popular ones charging £12 per day. Whilst this may appear costly, they're positioned directly beside the shoreline, reports Devon Live. One pair, Ben and Teagan, currently on holiday in North Devon, believe Woolacombe offers everything visitors could want. "Everything you need is just down the road. Once you've parked, you don't need to leave all day. It's very small roads to get here, I can imagine it can be an issue because of all the traffic," said Ben. The shoreline and surrounding territory at Woolacombe initially belonged to the Chichester family in 1133. Stanley Parkin subsequently acquired Woolacombe alongside its neighbouring village Mortehoe. His son, Ray Parkin, a village native, assumed the chairman role in 1995 and advanced the Parkin Estates company until his death in 2021. Today, substantial investment, both financially and in terms of effort, ensures Woolacombe remains remarkably pristine with thoughtfully designed amenities. The beach, the first in North Devon to be awarded the European Blue Flag, has now been recognised by The Times as one of the UK's top beaches. Lynn and Karl, who travelled from Stafford, commented: "It's just a beautiful beach, you have to travel a long way to find a beach like this." John, a tourist from Berkshire, shared: "This is my first visit, we're staying in North Devon in Ilfracombe. It's a beautiful beach, the north coast is a bit grey on sand, it's nice to see some gold." The beach is divided into two sections, one permitting dogs and the other not. Parkin Estates are making excellent use of the three-mile stretch of beach. "I love how one side of the beach doesn't allow dogs, there's so much space so it makes sense to do that," remarked one holidaymaker. "There's so much room on the beach and so there's space to sit. It's not overwhelming," added Teagan. Woolacombe boasts a variety of amenities including pubs, restaurants and cafes, and plenty of activities such as mini golf. There are also surf hire facilities and very 'tourist style' shops reminiscent of those found in Europe. The single road running through the village contributes to its European vibe. During summer months, Woolacombe gives you that Spanish beach resort sensation, yet when winter arrives, the place becomes remarkably tranquil. Will, an Ilfracombe resident employed at Steve's Surf Hire on the seafront, explained that rainy weather leaves visitors with virtually no activities. "It's not nice when it's raining, no-one comes down except dog walkers who come and have a look but then they just go," said Will. Louise, his colleague at the same establishment, shared this view but noted that residents take advantage of the peaceful atmosphere. "In the winter, it's a ghost town, the majority of pubs shut in the winter too. It's quiet because it's a seaside town. There's just shops, which are closed in the winter," she said. "Locals make use of that, to come in the winter because there's nobody here." A brief stroll from the shoreline leads to a family-run eatery called The Captain's Table. The venue has built its reputation on hearty breakfasts whilst offering an array of seafood-based lunches and evening meals. Patrons can also order sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and jacket potatoes, all sourced locally in Devon. General Manager Nigel expressed his delight in welcoming both tourists and residents to the establishment, highlighting how they witness entire family lineages returning year after year. "We have new customers but also regulars. We get some that only come here for two weeks of the year, but we know them and we quite often know what they'll be having," he said. "We see generations of people coming in. We have grandparents whose parents brought them, they bring their children, who bring their children." Woolacombe beach boasts an excellent reputation for surfing, and its reef break delivers some fantastic waves, catering to both experienced and novice surfers. The beach features numerous surf schools and may have inspired the name of The Surf Takeaway, a mobile food outlet positioned directly on the beach. Paul and Teddy, who launched their business within the past year, commend the beach for its pristine condition and express their desire to serve some of Devon's finest produce. "Parkin Estates keep [the beach] immaculate, it's clean, they look after it which is a big commitment," Teddy said. "People come to Devon because they want a pasty, we have links with local suppliers and we choose the best pasties, they might not be as cheap, but it's what we prefer." A holiday in Woolacombe is enchanting, though several tourists expressed concern about one particular issue. One tourist remarked: "There are seagulls everywhere, they have the tendency to steal food. Another, Maisie, said: "I hate them I do, it literally landed on a kid's head to get his food. I heard someone shouting that their finger was bitten by a seagull! Tourists can hire one of 70 beach huts along the shoreline. Parkin Estates construct a sandbank during the summer months at the rear of the beach where the huts are located. There's a five per cent reduction available for those booking more than seven days, which includes two deckchairs, two patio chairs, a table and windbreak. Their vibrant colours make a striking statement at the rear of the beach. Local residents and workers in Woolacombe describe it as a wonderful place to call home, praising its beauty and declaring "you can't get a better place." Yet, the surge in tourism at Woolacombe is raising concerns amongst some locals. Will explained: "Everything is expensive in Woolacombe, people aren't down for as long as they normally would be. A lot of people are moving out of Woolacombe, rich people move here, live here for a month and then rent their place out to holiday makers." Louise added: "People stay for three or four days instead of for the whole week." Despite these issues, tourists absolutely love Woolacombe and insist it's completely worth any minor hassles. Ellie and Nathan, holidaying from Essex, shared their thoughts: "We're staying in Ilfracombe and came to Woolacombe for the day. The parking is expensive, but totally worth it," Nathan remarked. Ellie chimed in: "It's unlike anywhere else I've been, there's loads of facilities, nice places for lunch. Their youngsters, Jasper and Sam, were absolutely delighted. Jasper exclaimed: "[The beach] is so big, we had a race, and I won!" Sam boasted: "We're going in the sea later, and I'm not even going to wear a wetsuit. ".
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Youth artists use their art to spark conversations about addressing child food insecurity
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP)- As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. And the artwork by our local youth speaks volumes about a pressing issue — child food insecurity. These artists are using their art to spark conversations by conveying the struggles that many children face in obtaining enough food to eat.1 in 3 people in Massachusetts don't have access to reliable nutritious food. But a group of teens is taking action to address this issue — through an art exhibit at Storrs Library in Longmeadow. Rachel's Table Teen Board put together the bi-annual youth art competition, Hunger Awareness Arts Festival. 'No one should have to go through hunger. I know what it's like to have a really bad stomach from, like, when I was really little and must've didn't know I had celiac disease. Like it was so bad,' said a student at Wolf Swamp Elementary School, Teagan. The theme of the festival is 'Beyond the Lunch Line: Kids Facing Hunger.' This year's theme is exploring the realities of childhood hunger through the eyes of 22 young artists. Rachel's Table partnered with teachers in classrooms and individual artists to get youth talking about food insecurity in and out of the classroom. Teagan explains the meaning behind her masterpiece. 'I ended up creating a lonely and hungry, boy sitting on the bench in school and the other kids around him are like running around and doing cartwheels. I used to do that same thing when I had stomach aches,' said Teagan. These illustrations become a call to action — and the effects food insecurity has on a child. 'I think all of us are having a hard time in terms of the cost of food. But when it affects young children, it affects their brain development, it affects their emotional development. And it's really an important piece, too, to look at it, to try and figure out how to stop it from happening,' said Executive Director of Rachel's Table, Jodie Falk. Through this festival, the hope is to educate and engage the community on just how vulnerable children are to food insecurity and just one example of how youth are using their talents to make a difference in the region. If you want to help support the Rachel's Table Teen Board's mission to alleviate food insecurity their always looking for both food and monetary donations. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Thousands protest Trump administration, Elon Musk in Boston
Related : 'It's time for everybody to get up from the kitchen table and say 'Hands off,'' she said. 'Hands off our government, hands off our constitution.' Advertisement Demonstrators waved signs and chanted during 'Hands Off,' an anti-Trump/Musk rally. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff A growing momentum of anti-Trump and anti-Musk sentiment spurred Saturday's protest, making Boston's turnout the largest in the city since Trump's inauguration in January. Unlike Trump's first term when public outcry hit a fever pitch, protests this time around have been fewer, smaller, and calmer — until recently. On Saturday, over 10,000 people, amid American, Ukrainian, and trans pride flags, flowed from Boston Common to City Hall Plaza. The sound of drums echoed through the air. Despite chilly April temperatures, more than 10,000 people attended the rally with many coming from places outside the city. They flocked from Framingham, Franklin, Gloucester, Plymouth, and beyond, with homemade signs and umbrellas, prepared for a rainy afternoon. Advertisement Asked what brought her out, Laurie Irwin shouted, 'Outrage.' 'Who is going to work if everybody is fired from the government?' Irwin asked. Related : The attendees were students and teachers, union leaders and laborers, first-time protesters and veteran marchers. At least one person was costumed as George Washington, another was recovering from recent knee surgery. They brought their youngsters in backpacks and strollers. Some brought their pets. 'Tax the rich,' they chanted. Reminiscent of the protest era of the 1960s, the sound of musicians strumming the folk anthem, 'This Land Is Your Land,' wafted through the air. Dave Creme and Courtney Hachey, of Waltham, came with their two children ― Rory, 9 and Teagan, 7. Creme held Teagan on his shoulders, who held a sign that said, 'Fund our schools so I can learn.' Teagan had made the sign at home. Demonstrators gathered at Market Square in Portsmouth, N.H., on Saturday. Steven Porter 'There is so much going on that you can feel helpless,' said Hachey, who works with children with autism. 'It was also an opportunity for my children to learn to speak not just for themselves, but for others.' Labor organizations turned out in force. Leaders from the Massachusetts American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, and American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts took the stage. 'I'm here to say an immigrant is not the one taking jobs from people, a billionaire is,' said Chrissy Lynch, president of Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Beth Lev, an organizer for the Massachusetts 'Hands Off' rally, said this was one of thousands of demonstrations happening in all 50 states and six countries, Canada, Mexico, England, France, Germany, and Portugal. Saturday was predicted to be the largest single day of protest since Trump took office. The biggest rally was expected to happen on Washington's National Mall. Trump was not scheduled in the nation's capitol but rather at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. Advertisement Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey joined in the march down Tremont Street. 'I believe it's the people who lead, it's the people who tell Washington what's [happening],' the senator said. At City Hall Plaza, Markey was the first of several official speakers. The finale, an acoustic set from Boston's beloved Irish punk band, the Dropkick Murphy's, came amid a downpour. Ken Casey and Dropkick Murphys energized demonstrators during 'Hands Off,' an anti-Trump/Musk, rally at City Hall Plaza. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Markey was greeted with energetic applause, whistles and chants of 'Markey!' 'This is the energy we need and Boston is going to ignite that energy across the nation,' Markey said. 'We aren't going to take it anymore.' Markey also urged the crowd to come together to accomplish three essential things: block Trump in the courts, get out and vote, and ' stand up like Senator Cory Booker.' Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was emphatic in her denunciation of the Trump administration. She led the crowd in a 'Hands off Boston' chant. 'This is about the world we want our children to grow up in,' Wu said. 'This is our city and you will never break us.' Boston mayoral hopeful Josh Kraft also joined the downtown march. 'I'm out here with all these people standing up to Donald Trump, the Trump administration, Elon Musk, DOGE,' Kraft told the Globe. In Providence, about 8,000 people marched from Hope High School to Kennedy Plaza in downtown. Wearing a hot pink pussy hat, Joyce Ward, denounced a proposed $510 million in funding cuts to Brown University as 'ill-advised' and 'retribution.' Related : 'He's saying he's going after these colleges because of antisemitism. It's not true. It's just more gangster government,' said Ward, 71, of Providence. Advertisement Rhode Island state Representative Karen Alzate, who 'The economy is for us. And we're here to tell this administration that you will not continue to tax our money to use it for your game,' Alzate said. 'You will not continue to deport my family, my friends, my neighbors.' In Portsmouth, N.H., Paul L. Gilbert protested outside of a Tesla dealership showroom. His handheld sign said, 'I didn't vote for Musk!' 'Only Congress can dictate where funds are spent and not spent, and he's overridden that,' Gilbert said, as passing motorists on US Route 1 honked their horns in support. 'It's just frustrating that the Republicans don't seem to be challenging that.' Undeterred by rain in Concord, N.H., Heidi Preuss, a 64-year-old retiree, brought her 8-year-old Great Dane, Leila, along for the protest. Both sported homemade signs. Preuss said she's stressed out about the current state of the nation, from drops in the stock market to Trump's immigration policies. 'Disappearing people off the street is just insane,' she said. 'It is absolutely the most un-American thing. It's the things that make us American that are being attacked.' Retired veteran and first-time protester, Ken Cowan, of Wilmot, N.H., said, 'I didn't fight for our country for this.' Cowan, 67, called Trump's presidency 'a coup in progress.' 'I think if we can all stand up and voice our opinions, he can't take over this country,' Cowan added. Advertisement Tonya Alanez can be reached at
