Work has begun on our Local Nature Recovery Strategy.  This is a requirement from the Environment Act and will set out priorities, opportunities and actions for nature across Devon.  The plan will influence funding and Local Plans and should help us all to know how best to take action for wildlife.  Defra Guidance and regulations should be out this spring. 

Whilst we wait for a Responsible Authority to be appointed, work is being led by a small team from DCC, Torbay Council,Plymouth City Council and Natural England under the umbrella of the Devon LNP.  To get things started we organised a warm-up webinar in November which featured a short video, an update from Defra, and presentations from a wide range of sectors about what they want from the strategy and how it can help.  You can watch the recording here.

Updates will be provided on the LNP website and if you would like to share any thoughts, ideas,or frustrations then please use our questionnaire.

The 2023 LNP Conference will be on June 13th and focus on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy - further details out soon - please save the date!

 Photo credit: Mike Deaton 

Wildlife Community of the Year Awards 2021/22

Wild About Devon hosted its first ever awards ceremony in December to celebrate the individuals and groups across Devon that have taken real action for wildlife.  We had inspirational talks from Derek Gow, Kevin Cox, Harry Barton, Emily Perryman and John Green. 

Winners were selected based on the steps they had taken to improve the wildlife value of an area as well as the social benefit of their activity, for example an increase in skills, social interaction, health and wellbeing.

Well done to the following winners:

• Wildlife Community of the Year- Ogwild
• Wildlife Parish and Town Council of the Year- Great Torrington Town Council 
• Wildlife School of the Year- Lydford Primary School
• Outstanding Individual- Jan Gannaway, Exmouth 
• Special LNP award- Teignbridge Wildlife Wardens

Congratulations to the runners up. Thank you to South West Water for sponsoring this event and to all those who donated prizes. 

Speakers needed 

The Wild About Devon (WAD) initiative is looking for people who would be happy to give talks to community groups wanting to take action for wildlife.  Groups are looking for advice on a wide range of themes - from habitat management to funding, surveying and species. We want to create a list of contacts on the WAD webpages so that groups looking for speakers can easily find you. If you are from a community group and would like to share what you've learnt, we'd also like to hear from you.

If interested please send Bella Birch-Hurst your contact details and subject.  

Devon Farm Advice Report

Our Devon Farm Advice Report has now been published.  This sets out the findings of a review of the current provision of environmental advice for farmers in Devon. The farming sector is going through a big transition and is under huge pressure to manage land differently for a multitude of reasons. Provision of good independent advice, particularly in relation to climate and nature, will be essential to help Devon’s farmers through this uncertain period.  We are now looking at how to take forward the recommendations and will feed this into the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, in which high quality advice to farmers will be an important output.

The Devon Tree Strategy is off to a good start

The Woodland Trust has appointed Eunomia as the lead consultants to co-create a tree strategy for Devon by this Spring, on behalf of the Devon Local Nature Partnership’s Trees for Devon Group.

The Tree Strategy will galvanise joint action to realise a vision for Devon’s woodlands and hedges to be sustainably managed and rich in wildlife through being further connected to the local economy and communities. It will form part of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and respond to the Government call for increased woodland cover in the England Trees Action Plan. 

This partnership project is being led by the Woodland Trust and supported by Devon County Council, with contributions from many stakeholder organisations including the Forestry Commission, district and unitary authorities. For more information visit the Devon Tree Strategy page. 

Saving Devon's Treescapes events and free Trees 

Devon Wildlife Trust's Saving Devon's Treescapes project has lots going on this winter. From tree planting events to online talks and citizen science surveys. You can find out more about their events on their eventbrite page. 

They're also giving away free trees via their free tree community hubs most weekends. The full list of free tree hubs can be found on their website. 

Good things come in trees  

A new tree planting project is about to start at Devon County Council. A small team are being recruited to work with partners, local communities and landowners to inspire and support tree planting, hedge and woodland creation schemes across Devon over the next two years. 

Forests, woodlands, hedges, and individual trees are integral to the character of the Devon countryside. Increasing woodland cover will create jobs and support local businesses, benefit woodland wildlife and tackle climate change – literally helping to keep Devon green.

The project is funded by Defra and the Forestry Commission’s Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund (WCAF) following a successful bid. The £300,000 of funding will be used to develop, design and organise proposals for tree and woodland planting initiatives on public and privately owned land in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth. Photo credit: Ian Bateman.

Tree planting volunteers needed 

DCC is currently looking for volunteers to plant native trees under The Woodland Trust‘s #EmergencyTreeFund with ParkLife SW. If you’d like to get stuck in with some practical, outdoor work that supports nature and climate resilience, please fill out this online form and DCC will send you a timetable of volunteer tree planting events. DCC would love your help! 

Rethinking Rainforests event at Exeter Corn Exchange

Did you know there are rainforests here in Devon? Join the Woodland Trust, Guy Shrubsole, author of The Lost Rainforests of Britain; lichenologist, April Windle and award-winning broadcaster, Adam Shaw, to explore the diverse species temperate rainforest supports and why this rare and endangered habitat is so important. 

Thursday the 2nd March, 7pm. Book your place here. 

Devon Climate Emergency update

Devon Climate Emergency (DCE) is working with environmental consultants RSK on the development of an Adaptation Plan. 

It aims to help communities better understand the risks their area might face as climate change increasingly affects the UK. It will also help them to adapt by identifying the parties responsible for ensuring community safety. 

Keep an eye out on DCE’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information about the Plan’s upcoming public consultation in spring.

Good news for Devon's Special Species

Two of Devon's Special species have been found! 

The UK's largest ground beetle, the rare Blue Ground beetle, has been found at two sites on Dartmoor, thanks to the efforts of Buglife staff, volunteers, and local naturalists. Find out more about their discovery here. 

Plus, one of the UK's most threatened bumblebees, the Brown-banded Carder Bee, has been rediscovered at Prawle Point on the South Devon coast. Buglife and the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are thrilled to announce this recent discovery as part of their Life on the Edge project. 

Devon Land Use Framework Update

There has been a wave of interest in the idea of a national Land Use Framework (LUF) recently. In December, the House of Lords released their report ‘Making the most out of England’s land’ urging the government to embrace a cross-departmental national land use framework. The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) responded supportively to this report. 

The Devon LUF pilot is now testing how a land use framework can work at a local scale. It’s important to note that the LUF is a process, and not a specific product. The intention of the framework is to draw together the existing knowledge and data available across multiple sectors to build a picture of the land use options for a given area of land. 

FFCC will be bringing together trial sites from North, East and Mid-Devon for workshops to explore the current and future land use challenges they're facing. They will reach out to the stakeholders and communities living and working in the trial areas to feed into the conversations about the competing pressures on land use. Find out more here Photo credit: iStock/Andy Roland.

Connecting the Culm film and blueprint

A new Connecting the Culm film has been launched exploring the challenges the River Culm faces and how organisations, communities and individuals are working together to make a better future for the river.

Also published online is the blueprint for the River Culm which includes a 27-year action plan for the river and interactive maps of the Culm catchment. You can zoom in and discover where tree planting, improved soils, and floodplain connection are likely to have the greatest impact and share the nature-based solutions installed on your own land.

Free marine citizen science surveys, Wembury beach

Devon Wildlife Trust is running three Shoresearch surveys at Wembury beach that are free to attend and all are welcome. The dates are Wednesday 25th January (1:00-3:30pm), Tuesday 21st February (10:30am-1:00pm) and Thursday 23rd February (1:00-3:30pm), you can book your place on their website. 

To find out more about Shoresearch and why the data you collect is so important in protecting our fragile sea life, click here. Image credit: Joy Ashford, Shoresearch volunteer 

New Network for Environmental Action in Teignbridge

Environmental organisations and groups in Teignbridge are invited to join the Wild Teign Network.

Wild Teign works collectively to address local priorities for nature, green spaces and environment and to deliver joined-up action.

They share skills, resources and networks as well as creating partnerships which attract funding and support for species and habitats across Teignbridge. Find out more on their website. 

Teignbridge Wildlife Warden Scheme 

Action on Climate in Teignbridge’s Wildlife Warden Scheme has been running for just over two years, and now has over 100 Wildlife Wardens. The amount of interest that there is for helping wildlife to flourish in Teignbridge and across the county is amazing! They are very chuffed that the Wildlife Wardens were awarded the Special LNP Award at the Wild About Devon Awards ceremony. They would like to thank their Wildlife Wardens and their funders; Devon Environment Foundation, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Cllr Hook and Cllr Connett. 

Devon Mammal Group's Harvest Mouse Project needs your help

If you have found harvest mice nests in the last year, (see image) then Devon Mammal Group wants to know! Their Harvest Mouse Project runs from October to March, with group surveys, training sessions, and camera traps, to help them build a database of where harvest mice can be found across the county.

Click on the links below to add a record, find out more, or to be added to the mailing list. 

Email, Twitter, Facebook, Survey/incidental finds recording 

South West Coast Path news  

The South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) is celebrating 50 years of trailblazing in 2023. The charity that cares for, protects and promotes the longest and most loved National Trail in the UK, has a number of events and activities planned to commemorate this golden milestone. All details of the upcoming celebrations can be found here. 

They're also launching their Coast Path Connectors Project. The aim is to open up walking to new audiences and break down barriers for participation. There will be three hubs in Devon: Plymouth, Torbay and North Devon. For more information see their website.

Plus, the prestigious annual photography competition organised by the SWCPA is open for entries! It’s free to enter and is open to anyone who has taken a photograph on or near the South West Coast Path. There is a fantastic prize for the winning photo of a three-night stay at The Masons Inn in Branscombe, plus a £200 gift card to spend on dinner and drinks courtesy of St Austell Brewery. Entries close 31^st January 2023.

Exmouth Wildlife Refuge restrictions and improvements  

The Exmouth Wildlife Refuge seasonal restrictions officially ended on 31st December, however please continue to give space to birds while they rest and feed. On East Devon’s Pebblebed Heaths, car park improvements continue and most recently Estuary view and Woodbury Castle opened again while work is being completed. If you would like to join their volunteers, please get in touch with Ben Berkhout, or you can sign up to their newsletter here or visit their website for more information.

Devon Rewilding Network Event

The Devon Rewilding Network is for anyone with an interest in ‘making space for nature’ in whatever way and welcomes anyone with an interest in nature. The network understands that rewilding can mean different things to different people and that connecting with people in a variety of ways is vital to change the way we view our natural world. Some people may be more comfortable with other phrases such as ‘making space for nature’, 'regenerative farming' or 'ecological restoration’ (to name a few!). As a network, they focus on sharing ways to increase the abundance of, and connection to, nature across the county.

The first 2023 Devon Rewilding Network event will be an insight webinar with Devon Wildlands on Fri 27th Jan, 7 pm. A host of other in-person/site visit and online events are being run over the coming year. Find out more and join the network. Image credit: Sharpham. 

Launch of the national Green Infrastructure Framework by Natural England

The launch of the national Green Infrastructure Framework: Greening our towns and cities to deliver for climate, nature, health, and prosperity will take place from 10 am to 11.30 am on Tuesday, January 31^st, 2023, with an online webinar hosted by Natural England.  The webinar is a free event, please click here to register for tickets. 

Decarbonise Devon Free Advice 

Decarbonise Devon will offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ for businesses in Devon that wish to implement energy-saving measures, with support from local experts through the whole process of developing and implementing a project. The service is being launched by EPConnect with funding from Devon County Council and is hosted by the Devon Energy Collective. No application deadline.