There are many projects which attract funding in their own right, the Middleham Gardens project has received grants from the North Devon and West Somerset Flood Relief Fund and Hollerday Hill and Valley of Rocks is funded through an ESA agreement from English Nature and Defra as a SSSI. The ‘Blue Plaque Scheme’ again has tempted some businesses to give that little bit extra. Local individuals volunteer their services, regularly deadheading baskets, weeding beds & helping with planting and in partnership with Exmoor National Park Authority and the National Trust, volunteers are available to us to help with forestry clearance and general management. This year we have had to replace the seven three tier stands which decorate the front of the town hall and together with a member of the community our council workforce did an excellent job producing very individual containers.

Our most ambitious projects over the last 5 years have been involved in the introduction of watering systems throughout both villages. The small amount of water used by these systems reduces water use by a huge amount but we are extremely lucky to have two lovely rivers in Lynmouth and underground watercourses in Lynton. For years these rivers have been used to irrigate the Manor Green in Lynmouth where we have two putting greens and water is taken from underground for our bowling greens in Lynton.

We were delighted when our council workforce helped us to extend these systems so providing river water for the bulk of our displays. The underground rivers flowing through Lynton from the Valley of Rocks are also used to fuel our Cliff Railway and hence water all their displays as well.