WEST Devon-based environmental charity Westden held its inaugural event under new trusteeship at The Wharf in Tavistock recently.

With more than 400 visitors attending a variety of presentations, workshops, forums and films, the event proved a huge success in raising the awareness of environmental issues locally and globally.

Westden chairman Chris Jenkins said: 'Keynote speaker Satish Kumar gave an inspired talk pointing out that developers do not develop land because it is already developed by nature.

'They destroy it forever — a salient point given the pressure the town is under to buld more houses.'

Mr Jenkins thanked everyone for their contribution to such a successful event, and to The Wharf for staging it.

He said: 'We look forward to E4E next year.'

Jack Russell followed Satish Kumar with a talk on how change can be brought about throughout individual and collective action.

He said: 'We can "be the change" to quote Ghandi, and if we needed reminding that change was coming, then the US elections has proved that it is.'

The common theme from all the speakers was 'local', whether it was food, services, jobs, transport or energy.

Satish said: 'Devon is one of the finest producers of dairy products, yet we buy our butter from New Zealand — this is madness.'

Sue Fisher delivered a fascinating presentation on school gardens, emphasising once again the importance of sourcing and producing local food.