LOCAL businesses got together to show off the Start Bay area.

Sarah Gillespie who painted the Slapton Ley Nature Reserve and Caroline Curtis of Eden Designs who designed the make-over of the field centre's grounds, opened the show.

A variety of stalls provided information on activities and products from Start Bay .

A range of have-a-go activities were available such as pizza making, bug hunting and wildflower spotting. Canoeing and kayaking were offered as a one off.

They also put on a Secret Slapton Walk which took visitors to parts of the nature reserve the public doesn't normally see. The walk ended with refreshments in the recently opened Stokeley Barton Farm Shop.

Rebecca Crookshank from South Hams Art Collective directed a number of young actors in an interpretation to mark the 50 year anniversary of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There were talks on beekeeping, asking how green is your garden and looking at changes in the community over the past 50 years, and a look at the future of Slapton Line.

Head of the field centre, Andy Pratt, said: "There was a buzz all day despite the weather. The event proved a fun way for locals and visitors to take part in and find out more about the diversity of activities and products available in Start Bay."

The Slapton coast road is a site of great environmental interest and the event brought in an estimated 1,500 visitors.