Salcombe Ecology Network

To the east of Sidmouth, the landscape rises toward Salcombe Hill and the village of Beer. This area hosts a cluster of eleven ecologically significant sites. These sites form a vital network where each location shares a border with at least one other, creating a contiguous corridor for wildlife.

Ownership and Protection

A high degree of protection exists here because ten of the eleven sites are managed by conservation-minded organisations. The National Trust is the primary landowner, managing much of the coastal strip with dedicated plans for habitat improvement. These are the core and most connected sites within the network:

Site Name Managing Organisation Total Connections

Page Wood National Trust 4

Salcombe Hill National Trust 4

Combe Head Wood National Trust 4

Lockyer Observatory EDDC / NLOS 3

South Combe Farm National Trust 3

Note: The Lockyer Observatory is transitioning from East Devon District Council (EDDC) to the Norman Lockyer Observatory Society (NLOS) through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) to secure its environmental assets.

Connectivity and Migration Barriers

While the network is highly connected, two primary barriers exist:

1. Salcombe Hill Road: Runs the length of the network, acting as a small barrier for arthropods and small mammals.

2. Dense Woodland: Page Wood’s thick mix of conifer and beech can be "impenetrable" for grassland species like butterflies. However, surrounding grasslands at East Cliff and South Combe Farm are large enough to sustain these populations.

The Bigger Picture: Landscape Recovery

This network is a "strategic link" in a much larger conservation effort:

• SSSI Status: The coastline is protected as part of the Sidmouth to Beer Site of Special Scientific Interest.

• The Wildbelt: The area is a key part of the Sidmouth to Dorset Coastal Wildbelt, recognized for its mosaic of grasslands and shingle beaches.

• Heaths to Sea Project (2025–2045): Salcombe Hill serves as the "coastal anchor" for a 20-year plan to create a nature highway from the Pebblebed Heaths to the Jurassic Coast. This includes creating "butterfly corridors" and 100 hectares of new woodland.