Around the Town

While individual town sites might seem low in diversity due to human activity, they collectively form a critical ecological network. Together, these eight "brownfield" sites support 44.2% of all species recorded in the wider Sidmouth survey, including nearly 70% of all bird species.

The Biodiversity Breakdown

The town’s "brownfield" sites are surprisingly productive across different biological groups:

Species Group % of Total Surveyed Species Found in Town Key Locations

Birds 69.1% Powys House, Seafront, & Lower Sid

Mammals & Reptiles 55.6% Primarily Powys House

Flowering Plants 50.1% West Hill & Lower Sid

Non-flowering Plants 46.7% Glen Goyle (Ferns/Mosses) & Churchyard

Key Ecological Hubs in the Town Centre

1. The Coastal Specialist Zone (Seafront & Jacob’s Ladder)

Despite the "hostile" environment of salt and shingle, the Seafront supports 56 flora species, including unique varieties found nowhere else in the area.

• Specialist Birds: You will find species like the Cormorant and Oystercatcher here that are absent from inland sites.

• Adaptations: Plants use waxy leaves and deep roots to survive in nutrient-poor, unstable ground.

2. The Private Sanctuary: Powys House

This five-acre private site is the town’s biodiversity "hotspot" for land animals.

• Mammals: It accounts for the majority of records for the area's 5 tetrapod species, including Badgers and Red Foxes.

• Birdlife: It records the highest percentage of bird species (38.2% of the cluster total) due to its blend of garden and woodland habitats.

3. Managed Gardens & Historical Walls

• West Hill: The most productive site for overall species count (132 species), particularly known for its variety of grasses.

• Parish Churchyard: A vital niche for lichens, mosses, and fungi. The nearby bowling green lawns are home to Waxcap fungi, an indicator of ancient, healthy grassland.

• Glen Goyle: A restored Victorian site that has become a premier location for ferns and mosses.

Note: Powys House returns high counts because it gets more attention and observations via a resident!  The point is that there are many other gardens and parks in the town that if as closely monitored would return similar high ecological indicators.