Riverside Park

A Diverse Habitat Profile

The Riverside Park "cluster" is defined by a consistent set of habitat types across its nine sites. While only ten distinct habitat types are represented, their quality is high; in nine of these categories, the cluster contains over 59% of all species recorded across the entire surveyed area.

Key Habitat Features

The landscape of the cluster is characterised by extensive grasslands bordered by scrub hedgerows, a significant tree population, and the ever-present influence of the River Sid.

• Hedgerow Scrub: An incredible 80% of all recorded hedgerow scrub species in the region are found within this cluster. This highlights the density of hedgerows across all nine sites.

• Parkland and Trees: As the primary parkland area in Sidmouth, it is home to 82.4% of all trees, shrubs, and plants typically associated with this habitat.

• Grasslands: The meadows mostly consist of neutral or damp soil. Over 70.8% of all neutral grassland species recorded in the wider survey are present here, suggesting the valley floor is shielded from the acidic or calcareous soils of the surrounding hills.

• Water Margins: Because the River Sid flows through or alongside five of the sites, a high concentration of water margin plants is found throughout the cluster.

The Human Influence

The cluster’s biodiversity is also shaped by its proximity to the town:

• Cultivated Land: Nearly two-thirds (67%) of species associated with gardens and disturbed land are found here. This is due to the history of land cultivation and the presence of housing along the western border, which introduces many garden cultivars.

• Woodland Species: Broadleaf woodland plants are well-represented, particularly in areas like Riverside Wood.