North Devon's nature lands half million pound boost.....

Wildlife havens across north Devon will see the benefit of new funding secured by a leading local charity. Devon Wildlife Trust has secured half a million pounds to help its work for the future of some of the region's most valuable natural habitats. The funding from Biffa Award's Flagship Scheme, which will be paid over three years, is set to fund the charity's Working Wetlands project in its work to restore, re-create and re-connect the precious Culm grasslands of north Devon. The money was won under fierce competition as Biffa Award's Flagship Scheme funds only two, regionally significant projects each year throughout the whole of the UK. Devon Wildlife Trust's Land Manager, Matt Boydell, expressed his delight at the news: 'We have a track-record of working in north Devon's wildlife-rich Culm grasslands which stretches back more than 20 years. This funding will help us build on this. Our targets are ambitious: we plan to restore 780 hectares of grassland to make it better for wildlife including species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly and the lesser butterfly orchid. We plan to re-create more than 60 hectares of wildlife-rich grassland in places where it is now absent. We'll also be restoring more than a mile of Devon's hedges.' The funding is also allowing Devon Wildlife Trust to 're-wet' 400 metres of the historic Bude Canal at its Dunsdon and Vealand nature reserves, near Holsworthy. The canal's new water-bodies will then act as a vital wildlife resource for dragonflies, frogs, toads and grass snakes. Matt added: 'The funding is allowing us to do work for wildlife which would otherwise have remained beyond our reach. It will give us the opportunity to work with local volunteers, with local farmers and land managers, both on our nature reserves and across the wider north Devon countryside. It's very exciting news for us and for north Devon's natural environment.' Gillian French, Biffa Award Programme Manager, said: 'The Biffa Award Flagship Scheme is a unique opportunity for regionally significant projects to win vital funding. With only two Flagship grants available each year, competition is fierce. We look for truly inspired projects which aim to have a real and lasting impact, and which are either culturally pioneering, or, as in this case, are aiming to make significant progress for biodiversity. Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project will play a vital role in recreating and protecting native Culm grassland and rare associated species in Devon, and we are delighted to help it come to life through the Biffa Award Flagship Scheme.'  

Marsh Fritillary Butterfly - photo copyright Chris Root