Salcombe Ecology Network

To further your learning about the Salcombe Network and the ecological principles mentioned in this topic, here are ten practical activities ranging from field-based exploration to digital mapping.

1. Conduct a "Ancient Woodland Indicator" Survey

Using the topic’s mention of Milltown Lane and Bluebell Wood, visit these sites with a species ID guide. Look for "indicator" species like Yellow Archangel, Wood Anemone, or Townhall Clock. Finding these confirms the "Relict Forest" status mentioned in the text.

2. Map the "Barrier Effect" of Salcombe Hill Road

Walk the length of Salcombe Hill Road where it bisects the network. Observe the height of the banks and the density of the traffic. Note where "wildlife bridges" or hedgerow gaps could realistically be placed to help small mammals cross safely, as suggested in the management plans.

3. Identify "Garden Escapees" on the Cliffs

The document warns about Hottentot Fig and Spanish Bluebells. Visit the coastal edges near East Cliff and practice identifying the difference between the deep violet, drooping native English Bluebell and the upright, paler Spanish hybrid. Removing these (with permission) is a key conservation task.

4. Practice "Bio-Logging" at Alma Field

Use a citizen science app like iNaturalist or Seek at Alma Field. Record the 12 types of grasses or any pollinators you see. This data contributes to the "Community Nature Lab" mentioned in the report and helps track the success of the "nectar bridges."

5. Observe "Halo Thinning" in Practice

Visit the National Trust woodland areas (like Combe Head Wood). Look for large, older "veteran" trees where smaller, competing trees have been cut back to create a ring of space. This is the "halo thinning" described in the document; observe how much more light reaches the forest floor in these spots.

6. Compare Soil and Flora on the "Sandwich" Geology

Because the area sits on Greensand over Mudstone, the soil chemistry changes rapidly. Bring a simple pH testing kit and take small samples (where permitted) from the heathland at the Observatory versus the neutral grasslands of the farms to see how the geology dictates what grows there.

7. Track the "Cirl Bunting" Coastal Path

Since the Sid Valley is a stronghold for the rare Cirl Bunting, walk the "coastal anchor" section of the network. Look for them in the gorse scrub and over-wintering stubble fields. Understanding their habitat needs will explain why "low-density cattle grazing" is so vital for this network.

8. Use Satellite Imagery to Trace "Butterfly Corridors"

Use Google Earth to look at Page Wood from above. Try to identify the "impenetrable" blocks of dark green conifers mentioned in the text. Map out a potential path of least resistance through the fields of South Combe Farm where a "butterfly corridor" of wildflowers could be planted.

9. Monitor the "Dark Sky Corridor" at the Observatory

The topic mentions the Norman Lockyer Observatory as a key site. Light pollution is a major threat to nocturnal biodiversity, such as the bats and moths that inhabit the network's "relict forest."  Participate in a "Star Count" (often organized by CPRE) or use a mobile app like Loss of the Night. On a clear, moonless night, stand at the Observatory and count the stars visible within the constellation Orion. Compare this to a count taken from Sidmouth town centre.

10. Conduct a "Phase 1" Habitat Mapping Walk

The report highlights the "cluster" effect of the 11 sites. To truly understand how they connect, you can perform a simplified version of a professional ecological survey. Download a "Phase 1 Habitat Survey" handbook (available from the JNCC) or use the UKHab app. Walk the public footpaths connecting Page Wood, Salcombe Hill, and South Combe Farm. Use a map to colour-code the habitats you see: Green for broadleaved woodland, Yellow for neutral grassland, and Orange for scrub.