Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

It's been an event full year. Thanks for visiting hope you drop by in 2016.

Don't forget to feed the birds and wildlife over the festive season.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2016 is from 30th-31st January

Charity wins top green award

The environmental achievements of a Devon-based charity have been recognised with a top international accreditation.

In the past year Devon Wildlife Trust has targeted the impact it and its 80 staff have on the environment. As a result the charity has been able to reduce its gas consumption at its Cricklepit Mill headquarters in Exeter by 55%. Its electricity consumption across all its properties has also been reduced by 20%. A hydro-turbine installed at the Mill is also helping The Trust generate 40 kilowatts of its own clean, green electricity each day from water power - equivalent to around 50% of the building's total supply.

The Trust has also substantially reduced the amount of waste which goes in its dustbins, increasing its recycling rates from 45% to a whopping 89%. These positive changes have brought recognition with them. After a rigorous audit, Devon Wildlife Trust has just seen its top international accreditation for Environmental Management Systems, called ISO14001, renewed by the British Assessment Bureau. Stuart Hodgkiss has led the charity's drive to reduce its carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. Stuart said:

"Because of our work with wildlife we need to be an organisation that minimises any impacts on the local environment. Over the last two years we've reviewed every area of our work. The changes we've made have often been straightforward but they have made a good deal of difference. Our energy consumption is something we've worked especially hard to reduce and by turning down the ambient temperatures in our buildings, fitting 'smart' meters and installing low energy computers we've made real progress." Stuart added:

"Getting recognition with the award from the British Assessment Bureaux shows we're heading in the right direction. We're now looking to other areas where we can do better. For example, in March 2016 we're opening a visitor centre in East Devon. Seaton Jurassic will have a café and shop and in both we're putting in place a sustainable procurement policy. This will mean that our visitors can buy with confidence in the knowledge that their food and gift purchases will combine high ethical standards with low environmental impacts."

Another area of The Trust's work which will come under the green spotlight will be its use of vehicles. In 2015 staff trialled a number of electric vehicles and the charity now has a plan to begin to replace some of its conventional petrol cars with zero-emission models.

'Staff at Devon Wildlife Trust have increased recycling and composting to a whopping 89% of all waste.'

North Devon's nature feels benefit from Biffa Award

Some of North Devon's most stunning and wildlife-rich nature reserves have benefitted from £500,000 of Biffa Award funding as a Flagship project - money made available through the Landfill Communities Fund.

The support has allowed the charity Devon Wildlife Trust to make vital improvements at 11 of its nature reserves in North Devon. Sites at Meresfelle, Volehouse Moor, Mambury Moor, Stowford Moor, Veilstone Moor, Stapleton Mire, Ash Moor, Dunsdon, Vealand, Meeth Quarry and Ashmoor have all seen work undertaken to make positive changes for local wildlife.

Among the highlights Biffa Award has helped The Trust to restore and recreate nearly 50 hectares of 'species rich' grassland - an important home to wildflowers including orchids, ragged robin and birdsfoot trefoil. 250 further hectares of existing grassland is now in better long-term management. Five kilometres of traditional Devon hedgebanks have also been rebuilt, restored and replanted with trees including hawthorn, blackthorn, ash and oak. Wildflower seeds have been harvested from 50 hectares of existing Culm grassland to be spread on sites elsewhere. The project also saw 300 metres of the historic Bude Canal restored and re-watered at The Trust's Dunsdon National Nature Reserve, near Holsworthy. The canal is now home to frogs and dragonflies.

Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve Officer Steve Threlkeld has worked on the project for the past three years. Steve said: "Funding from Biffa Award has made a crucial difference. For some time we've had a long list of improvements that we wanted to make to our North Devon nature reserves but without help we would have struggled to undertake them. Now it's very rewarding to see the positive changes that the work has made for local wildlife. To see wildflowers growing where they were once lacking, to see dragonflies flying over a new stretch of canal that you have created and to see a new Devon hedgebank planted up and growing, is very satisfying."

Local people have benefitted from the funding too. Much of the work carried out has been done by Devon Wildlife Trust staff in conjunction with local contractors, bringing money and work to the rural economy. Local volunteers have also played a key role, while The Trust has also organised a series of 16 public events showcasing the work done, its techniques and the benefits it can bring.

Matt Boydell, Devon Wildlife Trust's Land Manager said: "Our work under the Biffa Award is now in its final phase but its legacy will last. It's helped us improve our North Devon nature reserves and we believe it's been an example of positive land management for wildlife. We've learned a lot of lessons which will shape how landscapes are managed in the future."

Gillian French, Head of Grants, Biffa Award said: "We're really proud to have been a part of this incredible habitat restoration project across Devon. Over the past three years we have enjoyed our visits to Devon Wildlife Trust's Meeth Quarry nature reserve, and others to see how Landfill Communities funding has helped restore this unique landscape. "

Harvesting wildflower seed at Vealand nature reserve near Holsworthy

Clearing the bed of the historic Bude Canal at Dunsdon National Nature Reserve with the re-watered canal after work was completed 

Photos copyright Devon Wildlife Trust (All Rights Reserved)