Devon residents urged to become 'bat detectives'

Wildlife enthusiasts are being encouraged to take part in one of Devon's biggest citizen science projects

The Devon Bat Survey returns this year with opportunities for nature lovers to get involved in one of the county's biggest citizen science initiatives. 

The Devon Bat Survey has run since 2016 and has clocked up millions of sound recordings of the flying mammals, contributing to conservationists' knowledge of bats and their habits. This vital information helps understanding about the health of Devon's environment which can then be used to help protect the bats. All UK bats eat insects, so they need conditions in which insects thrive including clean rivers, wildflower rich meadows, healthy woodlands and hedgerows.

This year, the Devon Bat Survey is especially keen to hear from people in North Devon, Torridge and the Blackdown Hills – areas where it has fewest records.

Lindsay Mahon works for the charity Devon Wildlife Trust and is the Devon Bat Survey coordinator. Lindsay said:

"The feedback we get from our bat detectives is amazing – people enjoy being involved and discovering which bats are living near them.  I am delighted that we have been able to open the survey more widely this year and offer more people an opportunity to get involved in helping these protected species.

We are looking for surveyors in Devon who have gardens or their own land in which they can safely put one of our digital bat detectors. The detectors themselves are small and come with full instructions. The survey is free to take part in, and people can sign up via the Devon Wildlife Trust website.

Taking part in the survey involves borrowing one of our bat detectors for a few nights, setting it up outside and letting it do the rest. Participants then upload the digital sound recordings to an online system. This then tells them which bats have visited their garden.

The survey is usually very popular, so my advice is to book early as the spaces fill up fast. We are extremely grateful to everyone who takes part, including the host centres which act as the collect and return points for the bat detectors. We simply couldn't run a survey of this scale without our host centres and citizen scientists."    

During its previous seven years the Devon Bat Survey has identified 13 different species of bat in Devon. Some of these are relatively common such as pipistrelles, but others, including greater horseshoe and barbastelle bats, are considered rare and under threat.   

Tammy Falloon, Managing Director of St. Bridget Nurseries, is acting as a Devon Bat Survey 'host centre' – one of the places across the county where detecting equipment can be borrowed. Tammy said:

"Being a host centre attracts new visitors to our garden centre and we are always looking to encourage people to find ways to attract wildlife to their gardens. The process of taking part is very simple, I did it myself with my family and the results are so detailed and interesting. I knew I had bats in my garden, but I had no idea there were so many different types!"

This year, the bat survey's data will again be helping the vital work of the Saving Devon Treescapes project.  This partnership project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Devon Ash Dieback Resilience Forum, and is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.  The initiative is working with local communities to plant new trees to replace those lost to the destructive fungal disease known as ash dieback. The Devon Bat Survey is an important part of the project's citizen science activities providing vital insights into where bats fly and feed locally will help the project target its work most effectively.

Devon residents can find out more about taking part in this year's bat survey at https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/devon-bat-survey-2023.

The Devon Bat Survey runs from now until 6^th October.

Devon Bat Survey. Common Pipistrelle bats. Photo copyright Tom Marshall (All Rights Reserved)

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county's leading environmental charity, with more than 38,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Pet owners urged to help keep wildlife and livestock safe this spring

Devon Wildlife Trust asks the public to keep dogs on leads to protect nature 

The leading local charity Devon Wildlife Trust is urging dog owners to keep their pets on short leads now that birds are nesting, species are emerging from hibernation and to protect grazing livestock. 

Experts say dogs off leads are one of the biggest causes of wildlife disturbance – this is particularly problematic when many species are breeding and vulnerable either on or near the ground. 

Ground-nesting birds such as curlew, corn bunting and skylark, are particularly at risk. Research shows that 66% of ground-nesting birds are in decline in the UK, compared to 31% of other species.  

Dogs can also be a threat to sheep, cows and other grazing livestock, with regular problems reported on land owned by Devon Wildlife Trust. Dog waste is dangerous for wildlife too, as it can carry diseases, scare away animals and fertilise soils, affecting the natural balance of fragile habitats. 

Dog owners can help wildlife if they: 

• Keep dogs on short leads on nature reserves and the wider countryside 
• Clean up after animals and dispose of dog waste in bins or at home 
• Avoid using nature reserves if walking large groups of dogs  

Many of Devon Wildlife Trust's 59 nature reserves welcome responsible dog walkers but instances of loose dogs disturbing wildlife, livestock and people have led it to act. Now the charity, which manages many of Devon's best-known beauty spots including sites at Dunsford (Dartmoor), Bystock Pools (East Devon), Warleigh Point (Plymouth), Meeth Quarry (North Devon) and Andrew's Wood (South Devon) is issuing a public plea with spring fast approaching.

Penny Mason, Director of Wilder Living at Devon Wildlife Trust, says:

"I am a dog owner myself, and I know that exploring the countryside with your dog is a way that many people connect with and enjoy nature. But Devon Wildlife Trust and many of our partners are experiencing increasing issues linked to dogs on our nature reserves. Dogs off leads routinely disturb ground nesting birds and other wildlife. They have attacked livestock that we use to support conservation grazing and dog fouling is a perennial problem that spoils enjoyment of our sites for staff and visitors alike. Fear of dogs is also a big barrier for some people visiting green spaces where they run free.

Wildlife has been increasingly squeezed into smaller and more fragmented places. Where we have established nature reserves, we do need to make sure wildlife has the space and peace to thrive. This is why we ask dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead and clear up after them. By following this simple request wildlife and people will benefit."

Jenna Kiddie, head of canine behaviour at Dogs Trust, says:

"A countryside dog walk is understandably popular, especially as we move into the warmer months. But owners have a responsibility to keep their dog under control, including around livestock and wildlife, to ensure they do not worry other animals or stray onto neighbouring land for everyone's safety and wellbeing.

"This can be managed by ensuring dogs are kept on a short lead, and close to their owners, whenever livestock are nearby, within seeing, hearing or smelling distance or whenever their presence is likely to be expected. It is important to remember that chasing is normal dog behaviour, and that any dog is capable of chasing, irrelevant of breed, type, age or size."

The impacts of dogs off leads in wild places include trampling nests and scaring adult birds away from their young. Vulnerable chicks can perish if left alone for too long. Disturbances can also affect feeding and foraging behaviour – wildlife is less likely to breed and feed in areas where dogs are encountered. 

The law states you must keep your dog on a lead no longer than two metres between 1^st March and 31^st July when on any open access land to protect ground-nesting birds.  

The Countryside Code outlines that dogs must be controlled to avoid disturbing farm animals or wildlife. Farmers are, by law, entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals. 

Jenna Kiddie, Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust, continues:

"Training has a crucial role to play and at Dog School we teach owners how to ensure their dog walks nicely on their lead around distractions – such as the sights, smells and sounds of other animals. We would encourage dog owners to visit our Dog School website for more information on training techniques, or to book onto training classes. 

"For dog owners living in rural areas, we emphasise the importance of habituating young puppies to livestock. This should be done gradually and considerately so the dog and livestock alike are able to feel positively and safe in close proximity to each other, again with the dog always on a lead and under control.

"As a responsible dog owner, you can also ensure that everyone is able to enjoy countryside walks and protect wildlife by ensuring you pick up after your dog and dispose of dog waste appropriately."

Responsible dog owners who keep their dogs on leads during nature's busy season will also be helping wildlife by:  

• Lessening the negative impacts of dog poo and urine.
• Preventing dogs jumping in ponds, which can disturb aquatic wildlife. Insecticides found in dog flea treatments also pollute waterways. 
• Reducing risks to other animals, including farm livestock.  

Oystercatcher photo copyright Amy Lewis (All Rights Reserved)

Meadow Pipit  photo copyright Mark Hamblin (All Rights Reserved)

--------------------------

Dog ownership increased during the Covid-19 pandemic 

The Pet Food Manufacturers' Association reported in 2021 that 3.2 million households in the UK acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic. In 2022, it was estimated that 34% of households own dogs. It was reported that 59% of new pet owners were 16-34 years old. 

 

European bird declines: Do we need to rethink approaches to the management of abundant generalist predators? 

Barry J. McMahon, Susan Doyle, Aimée Gray, Seán B. A. Kelly, Steve M. Redpath 

20 July 2020 - link here 

Details of local training workshops offered by The Dog's Trust through its Dog School can be found at https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/dog-school/search/

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county's leading environmental charity, with more than 38,000 members. The charity manages 59 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Project to explore return of wildcats to South West of England

A project is underway to investigate the possibility of bringing wildcats back to the South West of England after an absence of more than 100 years.

Devon Wildlife Trust has announced that it wants to appoint what is believed to be England’s first ‘Wildcat Project Officer’. The successful candidate will lead a feasibility study which will judge whether wildcats could be reintroduced successfully to the region.

European wildcats look very similar to a large tabby cat, but the animals are stockier with a fluffier, blunt tail. Distinct banding on the tail and markings on the body also distinguish the animals from their domestic cousins.

Wildcats were once found throughout the UK but were hunted to extinction in most of England and Wales by the 18th century. Today, wildcats are on the verge of extinction in Scotland and are subject to urgent action to save the species.

The South West was one of the last strongholds for wildcats in England and there is evidence that a small population may have survived in Exmoor until just over a century ago. Conservationists are now keen to explore the animal’s reintroduction, stressing that they once played an important ecological role in our countryside and could do so again.

Peter Burgess is Devon Wildlife Trust’s Director of Nature Recovery. Peter says:

“With the appointment of our first ever Wildcat Project Officer we are at the beginning of a process which will explore the return of wildcats to the South West of England. There’s a lot for us to do before this becomes a reality. Much of this will involve working with local communities to see if reintroduction is feasible. As yet we have no scheduled date for any animals to be released.

Wildcats are the UK’s rarest mammal and are on the verge of extinction in Scotland - their last refuge. They are now subject to urgent species recovery action – we want to investigate the possibility of the South West being part of this.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the World. The reintroduction of key species, such as wildcats, is part of our wider work to see wildlife and wild places restored.”   

Devon Wildlife Trust’s decision to explore wildcat reintroduction follows a preliminary ecological feasibility study carried out by Vincent Wildlife Trust. This report concluded that there are regions which warrant further exploration for wildcat reintroduction, including the South West of England, and especially Devon. Other places highlighted as possible reintroduction areas included the North and West of Wales.

The role of Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wildcat Project Officer will be to assess the suitability of different localities for the animal’s return. They will lead scientific assessments, a social feasibility study, as well as a comprehensive public engagement programme. At every stage of its work the South West Wildcat Project is following best practice guidelines established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on the reintroduction of species.

Further details of this unique job are available on the Devon Wildlife Trust website www.devonwildlifetrust.org/jobs

European wildcat Photo copyright Elliot Smith (All Rights Reserved)

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with more than 36,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Vincent Wildlife Trust’s study ‘A preliminary feasibility assessment for the reintroduction of the European wildcat to England and Wales’ is available to download here: https://www.vwt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/WildcatFeasibilityReportFeb2020FinalCompressed.pdf

Want to make your life a little ‘wilder’? Charity can show you how

A leading local charity is launching a series of free on-line talks aimed at getting people, community groups, schools and businesses across Devon to turn their gardens and green spaces into havens for wildlife.

The talks are the idea of Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Communities team – which exists to help inspire and support people from neighbourhoods, towns and villages in Devon to make where they live greener, wilder and richer in nature. 

The series of six free on-line talks begins in early November and then take place once a month into spring 2023. Together they cover a range of key practical topics which include: going without pesticides, ‘wilding’ school grounds, wildlife gardening, raising funds for community wildlife projects, and boosting local nature in churchyards.

Katie Wilkinson, who is Devon Wildlife Trust’s Project Lead for Wilder Communities, says:

‘’Our aim with these talks is to inspire people to take action for nature on their doorstep and to help people make their local area greener and richer in wildlife.

We hope they will be informative and useful for those that are already taking action and for those that are just starting out. Saving and nurturing our local wildlife can be achieved through a joint effort; together, we can create wilder communities across Devon.’’

The seminar series starts on Wednesday 9 November at 7pm when Nick Mole of Pesticide Action Network will be giving tips and advice on gardening without pesticides and herbicides.

This is followed on Wednesday 7 December at 7pm with ‘Top tips for funding your community project’ given by grants and major giving expert, Amanda Strowger.

Places for each of the on-line talks in the series is free, but people must register for them via the ‘What’s on’ pages of the Devon Wildlife Trust website www.devonwildlifetrust.org. There people can also find full details about the topics, dates and times of all the talks in the series, plus dozens of others nature-focussed events run by the charity.

Katie Wilkinson of Wilder Communities, says:

“We hope people will join us at these events – whether it’s for one or two talks or all six. We’ve deliberately based them around the ‘hot topics’ that have come up time and again from the communities we’ve been in touch with. Providing free on-line talks allows us to reach a wide and diverse audience which is vital if we’re to help communities achieve their vision for wilder, nature rich spaces where they live, work and learn.

Want to make your life a little ‘wilder’?  Photo credit Penny Dixie

------------------------------

For more on the work of Wilder Communities visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/wilder-communities

👀👀

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with more than 37,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Public urged to defend nature as new policies threaten nature, climate and food security

Devon Wildlife Trust is asking their members, supporters and the wider public to defend nature by contacting MPs and local councillors – both online and in person – to voice concerns over new Government proposal

Devon Wildlife Trust, alongside other nature charities, is extremely worried about announcements made by the Government that pose serious threats to nature, climate and food security.

Over the last few days, the Government has:

• Announced the Retained EU Law Bill – threatening to revoke hundreds of laws that protect wild places and ensure standards for water quality, pollution and the use of pesticides

• Announced a new planning and infrastructure bill as well as investment zones as part of the growth plan, which threaten to weaken vital protections for habitats and wildlife

•  Launched a ‘review’ of the long-awaited Environmental Land Management schemes – which were meant to reward farmers for restoring nature, preventing pollution from entering rivers and climate-proofing their businesses

• Lifted a ban on fracking in England, despite there being no evidence that proves fracking is safe

The proposals have caused outrage among green charities, politicians of all political persuasion, farmers, campaigners, and members of the public – many of whom feel anxious that the Government is not tackling the nature and climate crises with the urgency required.

A recent poll by the Climate Coalition – a group of leading environmental organisations and campaigners – found that only 23% of people felt the Government is doing enough to tackle the climate crisis. Polling carried out by Unchecked found that strong regulation is supported by voters – irrespective of which way they voted in the EU referendum.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Nature is under attack from a raft of dangerous decisions by Government and we know people are furious at the new threats. Vital legal protections for wildlife are at risk, fossil fuel extraction is being favoured over renewables, and the Government is going back on plans to reward farmers for managing land in a nature-friendly way.

“The Government’s Food Security Report 2021 identified climate change and biodiversity loss as the biggest threats to food production in future – so farming in harmony with nature must be encouraged – yet the Government wants deregulation that’ll lead to yet more poo in rivers, less wildlife and land that’s unable to adapt to climate change.

“We are calling on the public to contact their elected representatives and share just how concerned they are. These actions will affect us all – the communities where we live, our wild places, food security, and our futures. The climate and nature crises pose monumental challenges, and recent proposals by this Government will only make things worse.” 

Harry Barton, CEO Devon Wildlife Trust, says:

“The recent Government announcements could put us back decades in our efforts to protect nature and the climate. Senior UK Government representatives have recently referred to environmental protections as ‘burdens’, yet our economy depends on everything that nature provides – from food protection to clean air and water, and so much more. A healthy environment benefits our economy greatly, and nowhere is this clearer than in Devon with its £2.5 billion visitor spend.”

Devon Wildlife Trust argues that abandoning regulations that protect nature and creating low regulation ‘investment zones’ with few planning restrictions could decimate UK wildlife, which is already suffering steep declines.

Since 1970, more than 40% of species have declined in abundance, with 26% of mammals at risk of disappearing altogether. Every river and lake in England currently fails chemical pollution standards and only 16% are classed in good ecological health compared to 53% on average in the EU.

As things stand, Government ambition for nature’s recovery aims to have just 10% more nature in 2042 than 2030 levels – by which time the state of our natural world is expected to have declined even further. Earlier this year, The Wildlife Trusts wrote to the Prime Minister expressing serious concern and calling instead for a 20% increase on 2022 levels.

For more information, see: https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/defend-nature-0

To tweet to your MP, visit: www.wtru.st/DefendNatureTweet

#AttackOnNature. Photo copyright Luke Massey/2020VISION (All Rights Reserved)

2021 Food Security Report. The report sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years. Read the full report here.

The Climate Coalition. Research commissioned by The Climate Coalition – and released on 27^th September – shows 7 out of 10 Brits are anxious about the impact of climate change and only 23% believe the Government is doing enough to tackle the climate crisis. The impact of climate change is British parents’ biggest worry for their children’s futures.

 

Unchecked – Protect or deregulate? This research seeks to explore public attitudes to regulation. Read the full report here

 

State of Nature. The State of Nature 2019 report also revealed that 41% of UK species studied have declined, 26% have increased and 33% shown little change since 1970, while 133 species assessed have already been lost from our shores since 1500. Read the full report here.

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with more than 36,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Calls for ‘clarity and urgency’ from Government on plans for beavers

A charity which pioneered the reintroduction of beavers is now calling for greater clarity and urgency from the Government in relation to its national plans for the widespread return of the animals.

Devon Wildlife Trust says it welcomes the recent announcement from Government that Eurasian beavers will be given legal protection in England from 1st October 2022, and the publication of guidance in early September which outlines how beavers might be managed in the future.

However, the charity is concerned that the proposals lack ambition and detail. It warns that, in their current form, they will not deliver the widespread reintroduction of a species which scientific studies have shown can improve water quality in rivers, stabilise water flows during times of drought and flood, store carbon and boost other wildlife.(1)  

Harry Barton is Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive. In 2015 the charity led a successful trial on the River Otter in Devon where England’s first wild population of beavers were reintroduced – 400 years after their extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. This trial was a great success and the Government subsequently agreed that the beavers on the River Otter could remain in the wild and spread naturally to other rivers. Harry said:

“A summer of record-breaking heat and drought has highlighted the urgency of making our landscapes more resilient to the unfolding climate emergency. Beavers have created green oases in our parched river valleys, because of their ability to store water through dam building and wetland creation.  And we know they can reduce peak flows in times of flood and help improve water quality. 

The Government’s recent announcements on protection for beavers and their management are good news, but they lack clarity and a sense of urgency.  We need a clear plan and timetable so these amazing animals can become part of the wildlife of rivers throughout England.”

The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust is backing this call in a letter to Ranil Jayawadena, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This asks Government to make five key actions to ensure beaver reintroductions can take place on a scale and at a pace which will bring maximum advantage to wider society. These actions include:

1. Publishing an ambitious strategy and timeline for beaver reintroduction in English river catchments.
2. Reconsidering the proposals for funding beaver releases into the wild. At present these impose prohibitive levels of upfront costs on groups wanting to reintroduce beaver populations.
3. Establishing a system of financial support which will reward the farmers and landowners who provide space for beavers and their wetlands.
4. Putting in place and then resourcing a network of Beaver Management Groups across England to support farmers, landowners and local communities as new beaver populations become established.
5. Confirming the futures of existing wild living beaver populations (including the Tamar in Devon and the Stour in Kent) outside of the River Otter, Devon. 

Sandra King, Chief Executive of Beaver Trust, commented:

“Beavers bring such an astonishing array of ecosystem services to our landscape, this truly is an historic day for the species in England. It is thanks to the hard work and determination of pioneering individuals and wildlife organisations that the recovery of this once-native animal is able to celebrate this milestone.

“It remains urgent and vital that the Government delivers a clear, ambitious policy and licensing guidance to support beaver restoration in the wild.  At the end of the day, if we are to welcome beavers back as a native animal our primary objective must be to target positive coexistence with beavers. A properly resourced, forward looking strategy will enable land managers and communities to do this.”

Ali Morse, water policy manager of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Government’s recent consultation on the future of beavers in England showed significant support for their widespread reintroduction. Of more than 3,000 responses nearly 70% were positive about Defra’s plans for the return of beavers. Even among the minority who objected the most common reason given was that the pace of Government plans for their return was too slow! (2)

The return of beavers to rivers across England has public support and is line with the Government's own commitments enshrined in its 25-year Environment Plan and the legally binding target of its Environment Act 2021 to halt nature’s decline. What we need now is action.”

Beaver female - Photo credit Mike Symes

Beaver kits - Photo credit Mike Symes

Beaver female with kits - Photo credit Mike Symes

------------------------------------------

Footnotes.

• River Otter Beaver Trial: Science and Evidence Report > CLICK HERE 
• Consultation Outcome: summary of responses and next steps regarding the Government’s public consultation on the approach to the reintroduction of beavers in England> CLICK HERE 

About Devon Wildlife Trust: Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with more than 36,000 members. The charity manages 60 nature reserves across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £5million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Keeping meadows in mind – and why they matter. Free online talk bu author Stephen Moss on the importance of wildflower meadows

Best-selling nature writer and broadcaster Stephen Moss is giving a free online talk to illustrate why creating wildflower meadows is important for turning around wildlife declines and helping to tackle climate change.

The 'Why meadows matter' talk, on Wednesday 3rd February at 7:30pm, focuses on a key habitat for the subject of Stephen Moss's latest book, The Swallow: A Biography. Wildflower-rich meadows are home to a diverse array of insects. That means they are important places not only for bumblebees, butterflies and other pollinators, but also for the smaller prey species hunted by insect-eating birds such as swallows.

This online event has been organised by Dartmoor-based Moor Meadows, a community wildflower and wildlife conservation group. Open to everyone, the event is free but you must register.  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR PLACE

Traditional wildflower meadows have disappeared from most of the English countryside, largely due to changes in agriculture during the 20th century. With the loss of diverse wild plants came an associated loss of insects and other wildlife.

But in recent years, techniques have been perfected to re-create wildflower-rich grasslands. As groups such as Moor Meadows have shown, wildflower 'meadows' can be restored or created on farmland, in gardens and churchyards, and on roadside verges.

Event organizer and Moor Meadows co-founder Donna Cox of Buckfastleigh said: "Wildflower meadows are among the most important wildlife habitats, as they support disproportionately high numbers of plant and animal species. Yet 97% of Britain's wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s. Meadows have a fascinating history and are a wonderful wildlife spectacle in the present – but they are important for the future of both wildlife and people."

The free talk on 'Why meadows matter' will include a Question and Answer session so attendees can quiz Stephen Moss about the wildlife to be found in meadows and the importance of wildflower-rich grasslands for reducing pollution in our waterways, storing carbon from the atmosphere, reversing the declines in pollinating insects, helping to improve people's mental health and more.

Stephen Moss said: "Wildflower meadows have such a central importance not only for wildlife, but also in our history, literature and culture. They have all but disappeared in recent decades, but Moor Meadows is now helping to bring them back."

In addition to the general Q&A session the free event will also include a conversation between Stephen Moss and Dartmoor-based RSPB Chairman Kevin Cox.

Stephen Moss - Author of  'The Swallow: A Biography'

People enjoying Brimpts meadow, near Dartmeet. Photo credit Wendy Searle

Meadow brown butterfly Photo credit Robbie Phillips

"Keeping meadows in mind – and why they matter"

Free online talk on the importance of wildflower meadows organised by More Meadows – Wednesday 3rd February at 7:30pm

Places on the free online talk by Stephen Moss - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 👀👀👀

>>READ MORE POSTS & ALL ABOUT MORE MEADOWS

More Meadow-makers plan to get Torridge blooming and buzzing

A new community group for West Devon and Torridge aims to support landowners, farmers and gardeners keen to restore or create wildflower meadows.

More Meadows West Devon & Torridge is based on the successful Moor Meadows Dartmoor community, which since its founding in 2015 has grown to include more than 800 meadow-makers, managing more than 1,000 acres of wildflower meadow to benefit wild plants and wildlife on Dartmoor and beyond.

Thanks to funding from the Devon Environment Foundation, the More Meadows concept is an attempt to replicate the original Moor Meadows group's success by supporting new networks of meadow-makers across Devon.

The new More Meadows West Devon & Torridge group has been founded by local nature enthusiasts concerned about ongoing wildlife declines but inspired by efforts to create more wildlife-friendly habitats.

Although lost from much of the countryside due to changes in agriculture during the 20th century, traditional wildflower-rich grassland can be maintained, restored or created on farmland, in gardens and churchyards, and on road verges.

This conservation work can play a crucial role in turning around the fortunes of threatened bees, butterflies and other pollinators as well as the birds and mammals that rely on insects for food.

Co-founder of the new group Jon Valters, who manages a small nature reserve near St Giles on the Heath, said: "The idea is that people in West Devon and Torridge will be able to provide each other with support and advice on how to create or restore wildflower-rich grasslands with the aim of substantially increasing the number of wildflower meadows in this part of Devon."

He continued: "Some members of the new group have already come forward with projects including a proposal to create wildflower verges in their village. We are also keen to help people who wish to create smaller areas of wildflower grasslands in their gardens or local churchyard."

The original Moor Meadows Dartmoor group has held scything workshops so meadow-makers can master this traditional grassland management technique and also very popular Open Meadow events, with invitations to view wildflower meadows on private land, chat to the owner and be inspired by what can be achieved. The West Devon & Torridge hub hopes to organise similar events and workshops in future.

The Meadow-Makers' Forum, launched online last month, encourages the creation and spread of new More Meadows groups. The West Devon & Torridge group is the first new one to form and details of the group can be found in the Local Groups section at http://forum.moremeadows.org.uk/

Supporting this process for More Meadows is Devon ecologist Tracey Hamston, who said: "New groups of local meadow enthusiasts are being formed as individuals reach out to other wildlife-friendly landowners in their area. The online forum is providing a network for people to find others living nearby, organise getting together and planning how to move forward, with the aim of creating and restoring as much species-rich meadow as possible and connecting to like-minded folk in the process."

Joining the online forum is free and offers resources and advice on managing a meadow - including where to source wildflower seeds or seed-rich 'green hay' – while forum members can help identify the wild plants and creatures in field or garden meadows.

The West Devon & Torridge More Meadows group is in the process of setting up a small steering group and is particularly keen to recruit a volunteer with IT skills.

For more information see the More Meadows forum at http://forum.moremeadows.org.uk/ or for anyone without easy internet access, co-founder Jon Valters can be contacted on 01566 784196.

Marbled white butterfly. Photo credit Mike Symes

Jon Valters of More Meadows West Devon & Torridge group

Traditional haymeadow. Photo credit Jon Valters

·        ------------------------------------------------------- 

More Meadows West Devon & Torridge group: The new group has been formed by wildflower meadow and wildlife enthusiasts in the local area, aiming to build on the success of the Moor Meadows Dartmoor group, using the group model known as More Meadows.

 

Moor Meadows Dartmoor: Moor Meadows Dartmoor is a community group established in 2015, whose aim is to help each other in conserving, restoring and creating wildflower meadows, on any scale, in the landscape of Dartmoor. Moor Meadows Dartmoor have set up the online Meadow Makers' Forum to help with the formation of new groups across Devon

 

More Meadows: More Meadows is an umbrella name for the network of new meadows groups being established in different parts of Devon, all sharing information via the new Meadow Makers' Forum. Establishment of the Forum has been made possible by a grant from the Devon Environment Foundation.

 

Devon Environment Foundation: The Devon Environment Foundation aims to protect and restore Devon's natural beauty by funding local nature regeneration projects.

SING OUT FOR NATURE. Devon Wildlife Trust's twelve special species on twelve days of Christmas fundraising campaign.

Twelve dormice hibernating, eleven willow tits foraging, ten string-of-sausages lichens hanging… the traditional carol has been given a Devon wildlife twist this Christmas.

Nature conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust is focusing on twelve special species that find a home on DWT nature reserves across Devon in a festive fundraising campaign.

Consisting of six insect species, two wildflowers, a tree, a lichen, a mammal and a bird, this ‘Devon dozen’ forms part of a wider list of species of conservation concern.

The Devon Special Species list was first created in 2017, identifying the wildlife that needed more focused species recovery work in the county.

From this list 96 species demanded particular attention because their remaining footholds in Devon were of national – even international - importance.

Earlier this year, an update on these species showed they still desperately need conservation help: they need the best habitat management on wildlife-friendly land where they are currently found. This will give some individuals the chance to move and re-colonize former sites to give each species a more secure future in Devon.

Many of these Devon special species find a home on DWT’s 58 nature reserves.

With the best habitat management in place, DWT nature reserves are where dormice can find plenty of food, where willow tits can use damp scrub to excavate their nest holes, where rare butterflies can find the right habitats to complete all the stages of their life cycle and where trees and wildflowers now found hardly anywhere outside Devon can continue to thrive.

DWT’s Director of Conservation Pete Burgess said: “Some of our rarest and most threatened wildlife relies on the landscapes - and people - of Devon. DWT has an ambitious plan to double the amount of wildlife-rich land in Devon in coming years. But nature reserves will remain the wildlife reservoirs needed to restore life to the wider landscape. Nature reserves are where good habitat management can help species to recover and find their way to new places. And Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves are where anyone can help Devon’s special species with a donation to this fundraising appeal.”

The twelve Devon Special Species highlighted in Devon Wildlife Trust’s festive fundraising campaign include:

1. the hazel dormouse, already lost from so many other parts of England
2. the brown hairstreak butterfly – this species overwinters as an egg laid on blackthorn stems so populations of this butterfly can be devastated by severe cutting of Devon hedges in autumn and winter.
3. the southern damselfly, a vivid blue-coloured insect lost from several heathland sites that DWT successfully re-introduced to an East Devon nature reserve
4. the Devon whitebeam, a tree that is so special to Devon it takes its name from the county
5. the sand crocus, a shy spring flower located on the golfing greens at Dawlish Warren and only found in one other place in the whole of England
6. the heath potter wasp, the six-legged artisan whose habit of constructing clay pots makes it the Grayson Perry of the insect world
   

DWT Engagement Officer Dan Smith said: “The limitations placed on our movements during this difficult year inspired many people to explore nature close to home and notice more of the creatures who share the Devon landscape with us. Some of those rare and threatened species are very special to Devon. Their future depends on the action we take now. That’s why DWT has launched a fundraising campaign to help the Trust manage the habitats on 58 nature reserves across Devon so they are in perfect condition for these species to thrive.”

Entry to Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves has not been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most Devon residents will be within a short cycle ride or car journey from a DWT nature reserve. More information on these 58 places for wildlife and people – and details on how to support the Devon Special Species appeal - can be found at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Dormouse at DWT Teigngrace Meadow nature reserve. Photo copyright Andrew Taylor (All Rights Reserved)

 

 Warren Crocus at DWT Dawlish Inner Warren Nature Reserve. Photo copyright Vicki Gardner (All Rights Reserved)

Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterfly. Photo copyright Chris Root (All Rights Reserved)

 

Full list of twelve Devon Special Species and where they can be found in Devon on DWT nature reserves – a ‘pen portrait’ of each species can be found on each PDF file at the foot of https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/devon-special-species

1. Heath potter wasp – DWT Bovey Heathfield, (near Bovey Tracey)
2. Southern damselfly – DWT Venn Ottery, (in Otter Valley)
3. Willow tit – DWT’s Culm grassland nature reserves, northwest Devon
4. Brown hairstreak butterfly – 3 DWT-managed Exeter Valley Parks
5. Sand crocus – DWT Dawlish Inner Warren
6. Bog hoverfly – DWT Emsworthy Mire, (near Haytor)
7. Heath lobelia – DWT Andrew’s Wood, (in Avon Valley)
8. Devon whitebeam – DWT’s Culm grassland sites, north-west Devon
9. Dormouse – DWT nature reserves across Devon including Lady’s Wood (near South Brent) and Meeth Quarry (near Hatherleigh)
10. String of sausages lichen – DWT’s Dartmoor oak woodland reserves such as Dart Valley and Blackadon
11. & 12. Pearl bordered fritillary & small pearl bordered fritillary butterflies – DWT Marsland nature reserve, on the Atlantic coast where Devon meets Cornwall

About Devon Wildlife Trust: Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental charity, with 35,000 members. The charity manages 52 nature reserves and six Valley Parks across Devon, including a range of beautiful landscapes such as woodlands, meadows, wetlands and heaths. Devon Wildlife Trust relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £4million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations. More at www.devonwildlifetrust.org