Arts, Life & Culture in the Heart of the Southwest
Across the rolling hills and craggy coastlines of Devon, a quiet revolution is bubbling away in converted barns and repurposed farm buildings. A new generation of craft distillers is transforming local botanicals into world-class spirits, putting the Southwest firmly on Britain's drinks map.
In village halls and care homes across Devon, a quiet emergency is unfolding. The distinctive dialect that has shaped local identity for centuries is vanishing faster than anyone imagined, and a dedicated group of linguists and volunteers are fighting to preserve what remains before it's lost forever.
They arrived with romantic notions of rural inspiration and creative freedom, but what happens when London's artistic refugees discover that Devon's creative paradise comes with its own unique set of challenges? We speak to the artists, writers and musicians who made the leap.
While most of us check our phones for the weather forecast, a dwindling band of Devon fishermen still read the skies like an ancient text. These coastal oracles possess knowledge that's been whispered from father to son for centuries, and now researchers are racing to preserve their wisdom before it vanishes with the tide.
In an age of corporate chains and gastropub franchises, a handful of Devon families continue to pour pints in the same buildings their great-grandparents once called home. These are the stories of the bloodline keepers—the landlords who've chosen heritage over profit.
In workshops tucked away behind Devon's ancient stone walls, a handful of artisans still wield brushes loaded with gold leaf and vermillion, creating the swinging masterpieces that have crowned our pubs for centuries. But as these last guardians of a uniquely British craft reach retirement, the question looms: who will paint the stories of our communities tomorrow?
In weathered sheds along Devon's coast, a handful of fishermen still cure their catch using methods unchanged since medieval times. As modern chefs rediscover these forgotten flavours, the ancient art of salt-curing fish is experiencing an unexpected renaissance.
In the shadowy corners of Dartmouth's oldest harbourside pubs, something precious is slipping away. The impromptu musical sessions that once brought together fishermen, locals, and wandering musicians around shared pints and weathered fiddles are becoming memories. We explore why these organic gatherings are vanishing and meet the quiet guardians fighting to preserve them.
Across Devon's rolling countryside, an intricate network of living boundaries tells the story of a thousand years of agriculture. But as these ancient hedgerows face unprecedented threats, a dedicated band of craftspeople are working to preserve both the skill and the landscape that defines our county.
In an age of takeaway dinners and solitary scrolling, a quiet revolution is brewing across Devon's villages. From centuries-old harvest feasts to fishermen's farewell suppers, the Southwest's tradition of communal dining is staging an unlikely comeback.
In an era of satellite navigation and automated systems, a dedicated band of volunteers still tends to Devon's historic lighthouses and beacons. These modern guardians preserve maritime traditions that span centuries, but their numbers are dwindling as fast as the structures they protect.
In harbours from Brixham to Salcombe, a generation of fishermen carries centuries of coastal knowledge in their bones. As digital navigation takes over, these maritime elders race against time to pass on wisdom that no app can replicate.
Before most of us have had our morning coffee, a dedicated band of photographers are already perched on clifftops and riverbanks across the South Hams, cameras ready to capture those fleeting moments when Devon's landscape transforms into pure magic. We meet the obsessive community turning sunrise into an art form.
For seven centuries, a simple passenger ferry has connected Dartmouth and Kingswear across the River Dart, surviving wars, storms, and the relentless march of modernisation. Meet the dedicated souls who keep this floating bridge between communities alive in an age that's forgotten the value of human connection.
From converted fishing boats to historic naval vessels, Dartmouth's musicians are taking to the water for intimate performances that blend maritime heritage with cutting-edge sound. We explore the floating venues revolutionising live music in the Southwest.
For centuries, women have been the unsung heroes of the Dart estuary, operating ferries, managing waterside establishments, and keeping river commerce flowing. Today, a new generation of women are rediscovering and reclaiming this forgotten maritime heritage.
From dawn patrols to midnight emergencies, Devon's harbourmasters navigate the complex waters between tradition and tourism. We meet the dedicated professionals preserving centuries of maritime heritage whilst managing modern pressures from superyachts to sustainability.
In workshops scattered along the Dart estuary, a quiet revolution is taking place. Master craftsmen and eager apprentices are breathing new life into centuries-old boatbuilding traditions, proving that heritage skills have never been more relevant in our sustainable future.
While London and Edinburgh grab the headlines, the South Hams has quietly assembled one of Britain's most diverse festival calendars. From waterside Shakespeare to underground music venues, Dartmouth's cultural revolution is finally earning national attention.
From converted village halls to restored Victorian picture houses, a passionate network of volunteers and cinema lovers are fighting to preserve independent film culture across Devon. These community champions are proving that sometimes the smallest screens can create the biggest impact.