Torquay

Barton complex needs service reopens after £800k refurbishment

Westbrooke Grange, a Salutem Modus residential home in Barton, near Torquay, has reopened following a complete refurbishment and regeneration scheme.

The service provides accommodation for up to five individuals, living with complex needs in five self-contained flats. It enables individuals with needs including autism, learning difficulties or mental health conditions to live...

New partnership to help Bay’s underwater rainforest

Two local names with international reputations are joining forces to help a very special - but largely unknown - species. Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and aquarium, is linking up with Valeport, the Totnes-based underwater measuring instrumentation specialists.

The focus of their partnership is seagrass, a remarkable plant that flowers underwater and forms dense meadows in...

Circus of Horrors is on the hunt for new blood!

You don't have to be a bottle blond to join the outrageous Circus of Horrors but you may be asked to fit in a bottle.

The Circus of Horrors were looking for a new Pickled Person to join their show for their performances in Exeter Corn Exchange on the 22nd June.

All applicants thinking of auditioning will have to fit into a bottle measuring only 2' tall & 18'' in diameter...

Festive food fun with Santa

They say you shouldn’t play with your food – but at Living Coasts this Christmas, that’s exactly what kids are being encouraged to do. The coastal zoo’s Breakfast with Santa event features food, presents – and penguins.

Living Coasts spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “Children get a pancake to decorate. They can choose from things like banana, strawberries, chocolate drops, cream and...

Living Coasts - everyone's local zoo

We all love local. Local is about communities and families and neighbourhoods. Eating local reduces food miles. Shopping local stimulates the economy. Visiting local is great for attractions on your doorstep.

The weekend of 16th and 17th November is Locals’ Weekend at Living Coasts, when local people can visit Torquay’s coastal zoo for half price. On this occasion, local means anyone...

Trust announces star patrons

A major South West conservation charity has announced its patrons. Both are star names regionally and nationally.

Naturalist Nick Baker and broadcaster Judi Spiers have been unveiled as patrons of Wild Planet Trust, the charity that runs Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts in Torquay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall.

These are the first patrons that the Trust, previously known as Whitley...

Mussel in on seafood at Living Coasts

England’s Seafood Coast is hosting England’s Seafood FEAST – and Torquay’s coastal zoo has a seat at the table.

Of course, seafood is always on the menu at Living Coasts – the penguins, seals and others all love fish. Penguins eat sprats, for example, seals eat mackerel. Guests, meanwhile, can try a local delicacy – mussels.

Spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “As part of England’...

Penguins behaving badly

Zoo keepers at Living Coasts in Torquay are naming and shaming their naughtiest penguins. They’re writing the names of mischievous birds on a chalkboard for guests to see - and singling out others for their good behaviour.

The 63 African penguins and 12 macaroni penguins at Torquay’s coastal zoo mix freely with guests. But some penguins are better-behaved than others. Zoo spokesperson...

Happy bird-day at Living Coasts…

It’s an expensive time of year for birthday presents among the kittiwakes at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo. The five adult birds all have birthdays between July 17th and August 7th. And now a chick has hatched on its mother’s birthday.

The kittiwake also hatched in the same nest and to the same parents as last year, when Living Coasts recorded its first ever breeding of this...

Devon’s new nature reserve… in the South Atlantic

Living Coasts has announced a new conservation project linking Torquay with a group of islands half a world away.

Torquay’s coastal zoo’s latest project is based on the Falkland Islands – an archipelago of over 750 islands, home to roughly 3,000 people, 500,000 sheep - and one million penguins. Yes, this is a UK territory with penguins. The islands are home to some of the most...

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