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Run by Anne Ashford with associates 

Public relations: marketing: press relations: strategic communications

Third sector: tourism: public realm: public sector: commerical

Est:1990: Based in the South West of England

Incorporating Ashford Carter Communications Ltd

  • Anne Ashford

    Anne Ashford
    Principal

    Anne Ashford is a journalist, broadcaster, PR consultant and trainer. She worked for BBC radio as a journalist, news producer, editor, radio presenter and commissioner primarily responsible for news and current affairs.

    Anne is a Northcliffe-trained journalist who started Ashford Media in 1990 where she applies her journalistic and management skills to provide PR and marketing services for business.

    She works closely with clients and their strategic partners to deliver integrated communications campaigns and a range of media and marketing services. Her approach is straightforward, method-based and honest.

    The scope is wide – from changing public perceptions (about healthcare provision to cuts in public services amongst others), engaging public support for controversial projects (leading to new hostels for ex-offenders), to creating a raft of materials to garner affection for Devon’s largest annual event (and attract sponsors, exhibitors and ticket sales!).

    Also, she edits magazines and commissions services from design, website creation to film making.

    A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
    A member of the Association for Healthcare Communications & Marketing
    An Associate of Bristol Business School, University of the West of England
    Evidence Ambassador for Sense About Science

     

  • Josh Beadon

    Josh Beadon
    Design Associate

    Josh Beadon heads up a creative agency and works with Anne and the team in all areas of branding, brand identity, website design and digital development.

    His mantra is that in a competitive world, conventional thinking is not enough and that ideas have the power to bring a brand to life – making it visible, tangible and compelling. He works with our clients to develop intelligent, commercially viable design solutions that help to build loyalty, authenticity and reputation with their customers.

    He is a former lecturer in Graphic Design, has held posts at The University of Plymouth and the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, and continues to lecture on an occasional basis.

    As a Brand and Creative Director he is responsible for ensuring that creativity and innovation is maintained and that standards are consistently of the highest quality. His main focus of expertise is in branding, strategic planning and business development.

  • Anthony Gibson

    Anthony Gibson
    Rural Associate

    Anthony Gibson retired from the NFU in 2008 after 36 years with the organisation which included an eventful 14 years as South West Regional Director and a final two years as Director of Communications. He is probably best known for the prominent part he played in the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak.

    He now enjoys a busy and varied semi-retirement, which includes agricultural journalism, several charity directorships (including Farms for City Children and the Royal Bath and West Show), a leading role in water management on the Somerset Levels and cricket commentary for the BBC.

    He has published a number of books, including “Of Didcot and the Demon”, an edited collection of his father, Alan Gibson’s, writing on cricket for The Times, which won the MCC and Cricket Society’s award for Book of the Year in 2009; and “With Magic in My Eyes - West Country Literary Landscapes”, which explores the relationship between well-known West Country authors and the landscapes which inspired them. His most recent variation on that theme - “The Coloured Counties - Literary Landscapes of the Heart of England” will be published in the autumn.

  • Richard Austin

    Richard Austin
    Photographer

    Richard Austin has been a professional media photographer for more than 30 years working in the  regional, national and international press. Diversity, creativity and capturing the pictures that people want is what separates professional photographers from the rest.

    During the 1990s he photographed Premier League and European football for Independent Sports Publications Ltd, being the official club magazine photographer for Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham & Tottenham Hotspur as well as magazines Football Italia, World Football and Rugby Weekly.

    He has published four best selling books on photography, as well as appearingon television, culminating in 2007 with his own award winning six part TV series ‘Richard Austin’s Animal Magic’. He also publishes greeting cards and calendars across the UK, USA and Canada.

    Press Awards: 1986 Winner, N.U.J. Regional News Photographer of the Year 2001 Nominated British Picture Editor Awards 2004 Winner, C.E.P.A. News Photographer of Year 2005 Winner, UK Regional News Photographer of Year 2005 Winner, UK Regional Sports Photographer of Year 2006 Winner, British Press Photographer Association News Photographer of Year 2007 Winner, EDF Energy, Regional News Photographer of Year 2012 Runner-Up, EDF Energy, Regional News Photographer of Year Television Appearances: 2001, ITV ‘Hold The Front Page’ Six Part TV Series 2004, Channel 4 ‘Water Stories’ Photographing wildlife on UK rivers 2006, Discovery Channel TV ‘Hot Shots’ with Amanda Lamb 2007, ITV ‘Richard Austin’s Animal Magic’ Six Part TV Series 2010, BBC ‘Country File’ Emperor Stag. 2011, ITV Super Tiny Animals Books Published: 2003 ‘Richard Austin’s Animal Magic’ 2004 ‘Richard Austin’s More Animal Magic’ 2005 ‘Horses and Ponies’ 2006 ‘Dogs and Puppies’ 2009 ‘Lyme Regis’ 2013 ’Storms’

    Television Awards: Winner: 2007 Royal Television Society Award for Best Regional Family
    Entertainment Programme.

  • Jane Blanchard

    Jane Blanchard
    Film Associate

    Jane Blanchard is an award-winning TV programme maker, journalist, media and PR consultant and trainer. She worked for ITV for more than 25 years as a journalist, writer, director, producer and commissioning executive, responsible for every genre from current affairs and factual to light entertainment, politics and sport. Her own programme credits include a similarly wide slate, from consumer, archive and travel series to subjects as diverse as ballet, football, folk music and barbershop singing.

    A Mirror-trained journalist and a bestselling novelist with Time Warner,  combines all her filming and PR skills to make creative films for business. She loves helping companies to promote their key messages with eye catching visuals.

    Awards include the much coveted Royal Television Society award of Personality of the Year 2008 in recognition of her TV career. She was voted Woman of the Year by the YWCA for her services to television. She has been a finalist at the New York, Houston and Celtic Television Festivals with her programmes.

  • Paul Newman

    Paul Newman
    Media-buying Associate

    Paul has years' of experience operating at Director level in the regional press and niche magazine market. He uses his expertise and contacts to buy relevant media at the best prices.

    Member of the Chartered Management Institute

Marketing - Stakeholder communications - Press relations - Crisis communications

Media training - Social & online marketing - Websites and e-newsletters

  • Public Relations

    Anne joined a Ministry of Justice team to lead the communications for a pilot drug rehabilitation project for ex-prisoners. She achieved essential engagement - and support - from magistrates to offenders, neighbours to private sector providers. As a result five new hostels were opened and the strategy became a blue print for similar projects.
    This short film was made to encourage prisoners to volunteer for the pilot.

    Public Relations
    Propsects - Ministry of Justice
    Clients include:

    Ministry of Justice
    Home Office
    NHS Trusts
  • Marketing

    We worked extensively for the wonderful Devon County Show and held the marketing contract for eight years. One of our challenges was to ensure the Show appealled to its many different audiences. The multi-strand campaign ranged from a full digital campaign - website, online sales, social media, e-newsletters - to branding, design and print, press engagement and media buying to running a press centre. In 2018, we produced this cheerful TV advert. 

    Marketing
    Devon County Show
    Clients include:

    Taunton Park & Ride
    British Red Cross
    Age UK
  • Press Relations

    Anne and her associates have exceptional contacts in the UK press and media; they work with traditional and new media day in day out, placing stories, running campaigns, developing story ideas and themes with TV production companies etc - all to raise the profiles of the clients they work with. All our writers are  journalists and many are published authors. And here’s a five-star review from ITV Westcountry to prove we know what we're talking about!

    Press Relations
    Devon County Show
    Clients include:

    Balfour Beatty Living Places (Herefordfordshire)
    St Margaret's Somerset Hospice
  • Strategic Communications

    We conducted an audit exercise for Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay to provide the organisation with an accurate and comprehensive picture of itself. We carried out an in-depth review of the Hospice, its brand, market position and relationships with staff and external stakeholders.

    The communications audit informed the extensive rebranding work undertaken by Josh Beadon and his team at Toucan.

    Strategic Communications
    Rowcroft Hospice
    Clients include:

    Devon County Council
    Somerset County Council
    Local authorities
  • Media coverage

    Ashford Media works extensively with the media: articles, features and stories all feature in the traditional press including TV, radio, newspapers and magazines as well as with online influencers and social media channels. 

    Media coverage
    Clients include:

    Devon County Show
    Devon County Council and Devon Tourism
    Somerset County Council
    St Margaret's Somerset Hospice

Community

  • I'm a founding member of a new pressure group - Honey Authenticity Network UK (HAN UK) – in response to concerns about counterfeit honey imports.

    We’re raising awareness of honey fraud and calling for better honey labelling as a way of starting to tackle the issue. In November 2021, we made our first media splash in The Observer.

    In January, we’re calling on the British Beekeeping Association at its Annual Delegates' Meeting to get behind the campaign.

    If you’re interested, join our Facebook page. 

    HAN-UK
    HAN-UK
  • I'm a board member of Bee Diseases Insurance Limited, a registered community benefit society which is regulated by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and supervised by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority.

    My role is a particularly interesting one; I spearhead BDI's interest in bee research at universities and other institutions. Currently BDI is supporting a number of PhD studentships and other research projects which are looking into a variety of bee pests and diseases. We’re fortunate that bee research attracts many excellent academics who are involved in ground-breaking work.

    Bee Disease Insurance Ltd
    Bee Disease Insurance Ltd
  • I'm hugely fortunate to work with many wonderful beekeepers and to share a passion for these fascinating pollinators with others.

    For Somerset Beekeeper's Association, I'm press officer and joint events officer and, during COVID-19 times, am involved in running a series of popular webinars and online study groups. 

    When it comes to the written word, inevitably I let myself down by using as many bee and honey puns as I can. So, if you see something along the lines of ‘sweet success’, ‘creating a buzz’ and ‘waxing lyrical’ - you’ll know some 'honeyed' words have been flowing!

    Somerset Beekeepers' Association
    Somerset Beekeepers' Association
  • As a passionate beekeeper I launched and edited Buzz, the beekeeping magazine for Taunton & District Division of Somerset Beekeepers' Association for four years (2015-2019). 

    With the talented Josh Beadon and his team at Toco Creative, Exeter, we produced four magazines a year focusing on what was going on in the club as well as the triumphs and trials of keeping honeybees more generally.

    Beekeeping magazine
    Beekeeping magazine
  • I am delighted to be part of UK charity Sense about Science's national Ask for Evidence programme. Ambassadors help ensure evidence is at the heart of discussions about issues that matter to their communities.

    In my new role, and pre-COVID-19, I've been out on the hustings drumming up interest in the honeybee killer - the yellow legged Asian hornet. My aim is to enable beekeepers and the public to recognise and report this highly destructive non-native insect.

    www.askforevidence.org

    Ask for Evidence Ambassador
    Ask for Evidence Ambassador
T: 07971 275840

Ashford Media
Gwyon House
Church Road
North Curry
Taunton TA3 6LH
  • Posted 17.08.2023 by Anne Ashford/Pike
    Waxing lyrical about the joys of beekeeping
    Beekeeping, Environment, Charity
    0

    Waxing lyrical about the joys of beekeeping

    “We have chosen to fill our hives with honey and wax: thus furnishing mankind with the two...
    read on
  • Posted 06.12.2021 by Anne Pike
    Bees at The Newt
    Beekeeping, Environment, Business
    0

    Bees at The Newt

    Luxury hotels are getting in on the beekeeping trend and many have beehives on their rooftops,...
    read on
  • Posted 01.05.2020 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Learning the language of honey
    Beekeeping, Environment, Food & drink
    0

    Learning the language of honey

    Ask a beekeeper what their favourite honey is and the answer is likely to shoot back ‘My...
    read on
  • Posted 10.10.2019 by Anne Ashford (Pike in beekeeping circles!)
    Autumn buzzin'
    Beekeeping, Environment, Charity
    0

    Autumn buzzin'

    I edit a magazine for Taunton beekeepers and this is our latest issue!
    read on
  • Posted 26.09.2019 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Honeybees get their own stage at Glastonbury Festival 2019
    Beekeeping, Environment, Events
    0

    Honeybees get their own stage at Glastonbury Festival 2019

    Anne's article about the sculptor Wolfgang Buttress's latest installation appears in the...
    read on
  • Posted 27.08.2019 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Local resident becomes Ask for Evidence Ambassador to hold the powerful to account
    Beekeeping, Environment, Charity
    0

    Local resident becomes Ask for Evidence Ambassador to hold the powerful to account

    UK charity Sense about Science has recruited 20 members of the public, including Somerset...
    read on
  • Posted 10.07.2019 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Ashford Media's latest magazine is out now!
    Beekeeping, Environment, Charity
    0

    Ashford Media's latest magazine is out now!

    Anne Ashford of Ashford Media is a journalist as well as a PR & marketing consultant and...
    read on
  • Posted 01.05.2019 by Anne Ashford
    Latest issue of Toco B2B magazine for Devon
    Business
    0

    Latest issue of Toco B2B magazine for Devon

    I edit and write Toco business magazine, which demonstrates how design and communication are...
    read on
  • Posted 28.02.2019 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Getting media support
    Beekeeping, Environment
    0

    Getting media support

    Thanks to the exceptionally high temperatures and still sunny conditions this month, I was able...
    read on
  • Posted 17.02.2019 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Somerset Beekeepers brace themselves for Asian hornets
    Beekeeping
    0

    Somerset Beekeepers brace themselves for Asian hornets

    Somerset Beekeepers’ Association (SBKA) is giving all its 900 members Asian hornet...
    read on
  • Posted 01.08.2018 by Anne Ashford
    Toco - the new business magazine from Exeter's Toucan Design
    Business
    0

    Toco - the new business magazine from Exeter's Toucan Design

    Launching and editing new business-to-business magazine Toco is a joy! It involves fun and...
    read on
  • Posted 29.06.2018 by Anne Ashford (Pike in beekeeping circles!)
    It's always good to get a mention in The Guardian!
    Beekeeping, Environment, Events
    0

    It's always good to get a mention in The Guardian!

    Tracey Brown's article in The Guardian reminds us that evidence is vital in public debate.
    read on
  • Posted 26.06.2018 by Anne Ashford (aka Pike)
    Addressing the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee
    Beekeeping, Environment
    0

    Addressing the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee

    It was a great surprise, and honour, to be invited by campaigning charity Sense about Science to...
    read on
  • Posted 01.05.2018 by Anne Ashford
    Devon Life previews the Devon County Show
    Farming, Charity
    0

    Devon Life previews the Devon County Show

    Ever since we coined the phrase 'Devon's BIG day out' to describe Devon's annual County Show,...
    read on
  • Posted 16.07.2017 by Anne Ashford
    Buzzing again!
    Beekeeping, Environment
    0

    Buzzing again!

    Once again Josh Beadon at Toucan Creative, Exeter has pulled it out of the hat!
    read on
  • Posted 16.09.2016 by Anne Ashford
    Martin Carter (1961-2016)
    2

    Martin Carter (1961-2016)

    It is with great sadness that I record the death of Martin Carter - an Ashford Media consultant,...
    read on
  • Posted 26.08.2016 by Anne Ashford
    Bee hives as art
    Beekeeping
    0

    Bee hives as art

    No, this isn’t about Wolfgang Buttress’s incredible structure at Kew Gardens...
    read on
  • Posted 06.08.2016 by Anne Ashford
    Waxing lyrical at a honey show
    Beekeeping
    0

    Waxing lyrical at a honey show

    Honey shows offer beekeepers the opportunity to put their work to the test and see if the...
    read on
  • Posted 29.03.2016 by Anne Ashford and Robert Bugler F.R.C.Psych., M.R.C.G.P.
    Cracked It: rewriting the text books?
    Health
    0

    Cracked It: rewriting the text books?

    I have been privileged to work with psychiatrist Robert Bugler F.R.C.Psych., M.R.C.G.P. and play...
    read on
  • Posted 10.03.2016 by Anne Ashford
    Out now -  latest honeybee news!
    Beekeeping
    0

    Out now - latest honeybee news!

    In the latest issue of the beekeepers' newsletter I edit, there's a smorgasbord of bee-related...
    read on
  • Posted 10.03.2016 by Lynne Ingram, Master Beekeeper
    A Beekeeping Tale of Woe
    Beekeeping, Environment, Farming
    0

    A Beekeeping Tale of Woe

    It was a beautiful day in mid-June with perfect foraging weather - the sun was shining and 14 of...
    read on
  • Posted 10.03.2016 by Anne Ashford
    Honey guides
    Beekeeping, Environment
    0

    Honey guides

    Dr Bob Fosbury is an astronomer who has worked on the Hubble Space Telescope amongst many other...
    read on
  • Posted 10.03.2016 by Anne Ashford
    Devon County Show - unpacked!
    Farming, Events
    0

    Devon County Show - unpacked!

    Now the Spring is here, I'm turning my attention to Devon's largest annual event, the Devon...
    read on
  • Posted 28.07.2015 by Anne Ashford
    Honeybees need all the help they can get!
    Beekeeping, Environment, Fund raising
    0

    Honeybees need all the help they can get!

    They are the Davids of the age reeling from the multiple blows of the Goliaths which stride the...
    read on