Parish Council
West Devon February Report 2025
PC Report February 2025 WDBC
Link to PDF of West Devon February Report 2025 for download
Avian Influenza – Bird Flu
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared for the whole of England.
This means that people who keep birds must, by law, follow strict biosecurity rules to prevent the spread of bird flu.
Biosecurity measures include for example;
- Placing bird food and water under cover to prevent contamination from wild birds
- Changing or disinfecting footwear when entering the enclosure to prevent any contamination.
- Washing hands before and after tending to birds
Bird species such as parrots and budgies that are kept entirely indoors are excluded from the order, but people who keep poultry are, regardless of how many birds they keep, included. Since 2022, one in five bird flu cases were in poultry kept in the garden as pets?
What’s bird flu and how does it spread?
Bird flu is a fatal viral disease that can affect both wild and domestic birds, including chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Cases usually peak in winter due to the migration of wild birds into the UK, who can bring the virus with them, but outbreaks can occur at any time of year. It’s spread by:
- Mixing with infected wild birds
- Being exposed to faeces and feathers from infected birds
- The virus being brought into the bird’s environment, for example from dirty footwear or clothing
More information
In order to keep up to date with latest advice and developments please see the Government website for the most up to date information. It contains lots of information, such as webinars for bird keepers, and links that you will find helpful
Reporting Dead Wild Birds
Finally, it is important that if you find a wild dead bird to not touch it, but to report it to DEFRA. They test the bird to track the extent of any bird flu outbreak. You can report to DEFRA via this link or by telephoning them on 03459 33 55 77.
Mayor’s Awards 2025
Nominations are now open for the 2025 West Devon Mayoral Awards.
We’re looking for outstanding people deserving public recognition for their unpaid work or contributions to their community in the borough.
Whether an individual, group or an organisation, we want to hear about them.
The categories are:
The West Devon Mayoral Award for Under 18s
The West Devon Mayoral Award for Over 18s
The West Devon Mayoral Award for an Organisation
The Mayor’s Green Award
The Mayor’s Award for Long Service
People can make nominations online – please feel free to make nominations yourself, and share this information with your residents to make their own nominations.
Cllr Lynn Daniel February 2025
Cllr Lynn Daniel
South Tawton Ward
Email: cllr.lynn.daniel@westdevon.gov.uk
Tel: 01822 813537
Mob: 07533136469