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 Project
name:
Avocet Nature Cruise
Social Landlord’s name:
Devon & Cornwall Housing organised the day in
partnership with the Devon RSPB and the Devon
Tenant Participation Network (DTPN).
Location:
Topsham, South Devon.
Project aim:
The RSPB wished to celebrate their work and
offer a special day out for individuals and
families on a low income.
What you have done:
The RSPB had become involved in a green project
being run by Devon & Cornwall Housing residents’
and offered a free nature day including a boat
trip down the River Exe with a wildlife guide
giving commentary about the birds and sights on
the river bank. The cruise boat could take about
90 people so Devon & Cornwall Housing invited
other Devon based social landlords from the DTPN
to join their residents. The RSPB put on a
wildlife slide show, children’s workshop and
guided walk and finished the day with the
riverboat cruise. A local youth centre was hired
in Topsham and a buffet lunch (local produced
food/fair trade refreshments) was provided.
Coaches were hired to transport residents. Devon
County Council provided information on recycling
and cloth bags and the RSPB filled these with
goodies for all the children and teenagers,
things like wildlife guides, diaries, magazines
and pencils. Over 80 residents and housing staff
took part.
When did it take place:
November 2005.
Which community partners were
involved:
Devon County Council’s Recycling Team, Exeter
City Council, Signpost, Sovereign Housing, East
Devon District Council, West Country Housing.
Where did the money come from:
The RSPB covered most of the cost with the
landlords paying for their resident’s transport
and lunch.
What worked well:
The cruise was great, there was a nature guide
using a microphone and the RSPB had binoculars
people could use to take a closer look at all
the wetland birds living on the riverbank. There
was a coffee bar on the boat and residents were
offered a free drink, which was really popular
as it was a bright autumn day but got quite cold
later in the afternoon. It was lovely to see people
of all ages enjoying themselves. A Radio Devon
reporter recorded the cruise trip and
interviewed lots of people.
 What
didn’t work so well:
The publicity for the day said it would include
walking from the Youth Centre to the Quay (10
minute walk) but quite a few of the residents
found this difficult due to their age. With
hindsight we should have had a car available to
transport them.
What next:
The RSPB provided the landlords involved with
information for their residents’ newsletters,
word searches and other useful literature. Devon
& Cornwall Housing regularly run bird box and
wildlife garden workshops on their estates. A
photograph and information about the day was
posted on the RSPB website.
Contact name:
Rose Hunter, Sustainable Living
Co-ordinator, Devon & Cornwall Housing
Association. Telephone: 01392 814471 Email:
rose.hunter@dcha.co.uk
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