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.'
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| Marsh Fritillary Butterfly - photo copyright Chris Root |
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