THIS year is the centenary of the first Women’s Institutes in Devon and to mark that, Tedburn St Mary members decided to tidy and plant a scruffy corner in the village.

This is the walled triangle opposite Fry and Son on the road down to the Village Hall. This patch had become overgrown and, members felt, a real eyesore. The plan was to tidy the area and the notice board and put in a new bench.

Tedburn WI President Sue Macpherson explained: “The whole purpose behind this was that each Institute was asked to do something for this year and there was to be a mega party party not now going ahead this year.

“We felt this was something that was needed and something we could do in lock-down. "We began by contacting the parish council clerk early this year.”

Four volunteers armed with chain saws, shovels and lots of elbow grease cleared the area over the summer.

Since then a lot of well rotted manure has been dug in by more volunteers.

Sue added: “Teignbridge District Council has said it will move the litter bin for us to the far end facing the road, it is now almost beside the bench.

“The bench was donated by the family of a couple who had lived at Tedburn but nothing lasts for ever and we have been given permission to replace it.

“It was going to cost much the same to repair as to replace. Our next job is to put down topsoil and compost. We plan to paint the walls and would like to put a trellis there, then it is planting. We hope to include lots of bulbs,” Sue said.

Their biggest problem had been the overgrown cotoneaster bush which needed attacking and the rubbish. “We found all sorts of rubbish including boots and cans. We took away two trailer loads. It was quite a performance,” said Sue.