In 1086, the Domesday Book noted Pinhoe’s 20 acres of meadows, 100 acres of pasture and 100 acres of woodland.
The network of hedgerows and hollow ways mark well travelled walking routes through the village. Oak trees in the tall Devon hedges lining these routes are likely descendants of the original oaks from Saxon times. According to renowned historical ecologist Oliver Rackham, some hedgerows are ‘older than almost any structure in England, apart from Stonehenge, and perhaps a 5th of hedgerows in the South of England have been undisturbed since Saxon times’.
Working with the team from East Devon District Council, we commissioned local illustrator Lucy Phillips to create drawings for our map connecting some of the important parts of Pinhoe’s history in a 3 mile walk from the centre to the top of the village.
Thanks to IKEA and the National Lottery Community Fund, Pinhoe Village collaborated with groups across Exeter to create a project designed to help people speak up about the trees and green spaces that are dear to them
After several months working with cultural geographers at the University of Exeter, Gill Baker from Exeter Greenspaces Group (EGG) handed the project over to Pinhoe at the beginning of 2022. Since then, the Pinhoe Village team worked with the Art and Energy Collective culminating in a wonderful event at America Hall.
We spent the afternoon chatting with local residents, marking out the new Pinhoe map with special places and precious trees. Using leaf templates, we cut leaves from fabric squares which have been sewn onto a banner by Catherine West at Significant Seams.
We were able to serve our famous afternoon teas for everyone who came along – and even delivered some! Huge thanks to Maria for running a delicious event and Steve for all the local deliveries.
To make YOUR leaf, please contact us for a special kit which includes fabric and templates along with a survey to share your THREE WORDS: mail@portfoliofive.co.uk
UPDATE: costs are likely to have increased since these first estimates. Which design do YOU prefer?
In August 2019, local families approached Pinhoe Forum to find out what was happening with the bike bump area in Station Road Playing Fields. It was overgrown and unsafe, but still used by families who were keen to renovate it.
Exeter City Council were concerned to ensure safety and the bike bumps were fenced off and levelled as part of the pitch renovations. The park is having drainage installed to remedy the boggy area – it’s a substantial investment using money from local housing development.
The Forum found out that £45k has been allocated to develop a bike track and Exeter City Council Parks Dept mentioned that we have an award-winning track designer who not only lives in Pinhoe, but Tim Ruck designed one of their most successful facilities in the city: an opportunity not to be missed! The £45k will become available from S106 money which will be released when houses on the Taylor Wimpey development are ready for occupation.
In September 2019, Tim took a look at the site. Fencing for the football pitch drainage usefully showed the size / space available at the end of the field. Because it would be overlooked and have several safe exits, it looks to have real potential. We discussed options to pursue further grant funding to enable an integrated, holistic approach to the site, which would secure access and amenity for the whole community as well as ensuring any bike facility was ambitious, accessible for a range of ages and abilities, and had a sustainable future.
Wider community consultation is the next step and we want to hear from young people who would use this facility, to ensure we bring a vision for the whole community – dog walkers use this part of the field too and could play their part in the safety of the site!
Meanwhile, Tim has suggested a range of designs with rough ideas for budgets so we can gauge the opportunity to apply for funding. We are looking forward to the feedback.
Small basic tarmac track, approx £20-25KLarger track, compacted aggregate with tarmac turns, approx £35-50KHybrid layout, pump track features combined with skatepark obstacles (grind rail, grind block, manny pad and wall-ride) in tarmac, approx £45K +
To join the new People’s Panel please email: mail@portfoliofive.co.uk
Jane Fletcher Peters from Pinhoe Community Support, with our first 3 quizzers! Thanks to Jahcoby, Romeo and Alfie
There’s a new trail connecting all the AMAZING libraries in Pinhoe -Hill Barton Vale Little Library, Harrington’s Little Library, Pinhoe Library and Hillside Gardens Little Library (such a beautiful spot in Westclyst).
As you walk around the village, you’ll see all the beautiful trees in Pinhoe. If you feel inspired to take a photo, make a picture or write about it, we’re looking for contributions to our forthcoming book on Pinhoe’s Trees. Please contact Kate: mail@portfoliofive.co.uk
Thanks to everyone who supported our Memories of Pinhoe exhibition – with raffle sales, delicious mince pies and our special Pinhoe 2020 Calendar, we are delighted to have raised funds to support our activities this coming year.
At the end of last year, we promised a discussion of TRAFFIC CONCERNS across Pinhoe, following on from meetings with Will Pratt from Devon County Council Highways. Problems on Park Lane and Church Hill remain at crisis point and several new planning proposals are coming through, including proposals for the new Lidl which raises great concern about traffic levels for residents in Summerway.
Following the establishment of the PINHOE FORUM group, it was decided that they would host the Traffic Meeting and produce a report documenting their community consultation. They will collect all your opinions and present the report to Devon County Council Highways. This meeting is WEDNESDAY 12TH FEBRUARY in Alicia’s at 7pm and we encourage as many people as possible to document their concerns.
The PINHOE FORUM group has applied to Exeter City Council to develop a Neighbourhood Plan for Pinhoe – it’s a really exciting opportunity to shape the future of Pinhoe and we are pleased to support their vision. Everyone who lives and/or works in Pinhoe is encouraged to join the group: www.pinhoe.org as it’s really important that members from across all ages and all parts of the Pinhoe ward join the consultation.
