Nature reserves pick up boost from landfill tax

A leading South West conservation charity has this month been awarded £10,000 to help fund work at two of its flagship nature reserves. The Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) has been awarded the money by Pennon Environmental Fund. It will go towards conservation work at DWT's Old Sludge Beds nature reserve near Exeter and Halsdon nature reserve near Dolton in north Devon. The work at the reserve in Exeter will help fund new visitor information boards for the Old Sludge Beds which is a small 5 hectare wetland site adjacent to the River Exe. The work will also include installing new sections of boardwalk to help visitors get around the site more easily and a leaflet to describe all the wildlife which people will be able to see there. At the 57 hectare Halsdon site situated on the River Torridge, the money will go towards putting in new fencing along the 1 mile stretch of river edge. The fencing will prevent the cattle that graze the meadows from damaging the riverbank. The money will also help with extending the ponds adjoining the meadow. DWT will also be sowing green hay over an area of around 1 hectare to improve the biodiversity value of the grassland. Matt Boydell, DWT's Land Management Manager said: "This is a significant boost for us and will help us improve these important reserves in Exeter and North Devon. Managing nature reserves for the benefit of wildlife is an expensive business and we welcome this new funding that will allow us to add major upgrades to these hidden gems." For more information about these sites visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Halsdon Nature Reserve, near Dolton