Dartmoor jewel becomes new nature reserve

70 hectares of wildlife-rich land close to one of Dartmoor's most popular recreation sites is set to become a brand new nature reserve thanks to a partnership between Devon Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission. The nature reserve, which is to be called Bellever Moor and Meadow, is owned by the Forestry Commission and is close to the moorland village of Postbridge and the well-known Bellever Forest picnic site. The land, which is made up of a patchwork of traditional hay-meadows, wet grassland and moorland, is set to become the latest of nearly 50 nature reserves cared for by local charity, the Devon Wildlife Trust. Bellever Moor and Meadow has been leased to Devon Wildlife Trust by the Forestry Commission under a 25 year management agreement. The Forestry Commission identified the opportunity for the land to be managed more effectively for wildlife and approached Devon Wildlife Trust to propose the partnership agreement. It will be open to the public to explore and enjoy for free, 365 days a year. And like all of Devon Wildlife Trust's nature reserves, it will be managed as a haven for local wildlife.
Devon Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserves Manager, Matt Boydell, was part of the team that worked with the Forestry Commission to agree the lease. He said: "Bellever Moor and Meadow is a stunning site and provides a wonderful opportunity for Devon Wildlife Trust to become more actively involved in the very heart of Dartmoor. The nature reserve also gives us a chance to put the skills we've gained over the last 20 years in restoring and re-creating grassland to use on Dartmoor in the restoration of nationally rare upland hay meadows."
Robert Harris, Land Agent at the Forestry Commission said: "We are delighted that Devon Wildlife Trust agreed to take on the management of this area and look forward to working with them. We will continue to manage Bellever Forest, which is also rich with wildlife as well as archaeological features, so the whole area will be managed effectively as part of the wider Dartmoor landscape." It will be the job of Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve officer Ian Chadwick to look after the new site day-to-day. Ian has more than ten years of experience managing wildlife reserves in the South West. Ian said: "This really is exciting! It's a jewel of a place. Over the next few months we will ensure we get out on to the nature reserve as much as is possible and to start to develop an understanding of the plant and other species currently found there. It will also be an opportunity to speak with local people and find out more about the history and potential of this stunning location."
Matt Boydell looked ahead to an exciting future. He said: "The wildlife value of the nature reserve is already good. Parts of it are rich in wildflowers which were once much more common across the moor. Plants such as eyebright, heath spotted orchids, southern marsh orchids, ragged robin and yellow hay rattle are all there. In other parts of the nature reserve our plan is to restore a network of traditionally managed hay meadows. In turn these will attract insects, birds and mammals including bees, butterflies, bats and barn owls. It's a very exciting project."
Bellever Moor and Meadow nature reserve is located close to the Bellever Youth Hostel, near Postbridge, Dartmoor. Visitors are welcome but paths are rough and as yet unmarked. This reflects the newness of the site and Devon Wildlife Trust's desire to keep the place as part of Dartmoor's wild landscape. 

Butterfly Orchid on the Bellever Moor and Meadow Nature Reserve - Photo copyright DWT (All Rights reserved)

Looking across Bellever Moor and Meadow Nature Reserve towards Postbridge - Photo copyright DWT (All rights reserved)

Maritime Fun and a Gun Run.

Since 1912 The Royal Navy’s Interport Field Gun Competition, inspired by the exploits of a Naval Brigade during the Boer War in 1899, took place during the Royal Tournament. In 1989, Jim Cory, then a civilian instructor with 326 Hartland Squadron, single handedly built a replica field gun out of scrap metal and old car wheels for use by the cadets as it is easy to dismantle and reassemble.

It had its first outing on the playing fields at Hartland and was an instant success with locals. In the early 1990’s a ‘Gun Run’ took place in Clovelly, with the cadets pulling the gun up the street and ‘race’ times were recorded. Last year, the cadets resurrected the tradition and are hoping to make the ‘Clovelly Gun Run’ an annual event. This year, two teams will take it in turn to manhandle this weighty gun from the Harbour to the Fountain at the start of Clovelly’s annual Maritime Festival!

Come along and support the cadets as they try and beat last year’s race time. It really is an amazing sight of hard work and dedication!

Clovelly Maritime Festival, 10th Anniversary in aid of the North Devon Hospice, 19 July 2015 at Clovelly Harbour  10 am to 5 pm Contact: Tel: 01237 431781. www.clovelly.co.uk
Photos Clovelly Gun Run 2014 copyright Hartland ATC (All rights reserved) 

'Bat cam' provides unique view of rare animals

Viewers of a very different kind of reality TV have been going batty in recent weeks. People tuning into a live webcam of a greater horseshoe bat roost have seen hundreds of the rare animals appearing on screen at one time. The bat cam is beaming live pictures around the world from an undisclosed greater horseshoe bat roost in South Devon. The camera was specially installed last winter as part of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project - a 5 year Heritage Lottery Funded initiative which is working towards sustaining Devon's population of these threatened nocturnal animals. 

Ed Parr Ferris is manager of the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project and said: 'The bat cam is playing a key role showing as many people as possible what fascinating creatures bats are. By logging on to our website http://www.devonbatproject.org and watching the live footage, people can get a unique and intimate view into the lives of these wonderful animals.' 

Colin Morris, Reserves Manager for The Vincent Wildlife Trust which owns and manages the site and is a partner in the project, said: 'The bats are very active at this time of year - people should keep their eyes peeled as the female greater horseshoes are now giving birth. While difficult to see during daytime, the new-born pups are left on their own once the adults go out to hunt at night time. The coming days should see some drama as a succession of baby bats appear on screen!' 

Greater horseshoe bats have seen their numbers plummet by over 90% in the last 100 years. Today Devon remains a stronghold of the endangered species with about a third of the UK population thought to be surviving in the county. The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project hopes to reverse the species' decline. Over the coming years it will be working with local landowners, farmers and communities across Devon ensuring that Devon remains a place which offers greater horseshoe bats the room to live and flourish. 

Ed Parr Ferris said: 'Devon still offers an important home to this rare and fascinating bat. We're lucky that we have kept some of the kinds of landscapes they love - especially the patchwork of small cattle-grazed fields, hedgerows and woodlands. It is this type of countryside which still provides flight paths and rich feeding grounds for greater horseshoes. Of course, it is also this kind of landscape which makes Devon such a special place for us to live too.' 

 A Greater Horseshoe Bat - Photo copyright John J Kaczanow (All rights reserved)

About Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project
Devon is the northern European stronghold for greater horseshoe bats whose populations have fallen by over 90% in the last 100 years. The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project is a partnership project of 15 organisations across Devon hosted and led by Devon Wildlife Trust