Pastures New ... and Old

More Than Just a Green Patch

To the casual observer, Sidmouth is a town defined by its verdant charm. From the rolling hills of the Sid Valley to the manicured expanses of public parks, the landscape is undeniably green. However, there is a profound distinction between a simple patch of grass and a true, functioning habitat. As the Sidmouth Nature project has revealed, much of what we perceive as "nature" in our seaside town is actually an ecological illusion. Understanding the difference is the first step toward appreciating the complex, fragile ecosystems that still survive amidst our coastal beauty.

Your Lawn is an "Agricultural Brownfield"

It is a counter-intuitive reality: a perfectly mown green lawn is often closer to a "brownfield" site than a natural habitat. In ecological terms, "agricultural brownfield" is a specific classification for species-poor land—typically nutrient-poor or overly manicured spaces like the edges of sports pitches or the heavily mown amenity grass that makes up the bulk of The Byes.

While these areas are pleasant for a Sunday stroll, they lack the biological richness of "old style grassland" or "rough meadows" found in sites like Margaret’s Meadow, Gilchrist Field, and Livonia Field. When we prioritize a human-centric version of "tidiness," we strip away the diversity of species like Pignut and Hogweed that thrive in more traditional hay meadows.

"Classifying these sites in Sidmouth as grassland is not purely based on the presence of an area of grass!"

Sidmouth is One-Third Wild (By Design)

While mown lawns may dominate our parks, they are only one part of the story. The town preserves significant wild fragments that serve as a bridge between the urban environment and the wider valley. Data from the Sidmouth Nature project shows that of the 50 "Sites of Nature Interest" surveyed, 18 sites—representing 35.3% of the total—are primarily grassland.

These are not accidental patches of weeds; they are significant fragments of land that managed to escape both urban development and modern "agricultural improvement." These sites are often nestled within a protective mosaic of scrub and hedgerow, acting as vital refuges in a landscape that has been heavily modified over the centuries.

The Secret History Beneath the Cemetery

One of the most valuable habitats in Sidmouth is also one of its most somber. Sidmouth Cemetery, managed by the local Streetscene team, serves as a rare wildflower meadow. However, its value doesn't come from being "pristine" or untouched; in fact, the ground has a history of disturbance.

The ecological magic here is found in the power of recovery. Over time, the older sections of the cemetery have regained the characteristics of ancient grazing pasture, becoming a sanctuary for rare fungi like waxcaps and fairy rings. There is a moving irony in the fact that a place of rest for humans has become one of our most vibrant "living" habitats, but this richness is a result of time and patience. The research notes that:

"...only the older areas of the cemetery which date back well over 100 years have regained characteristics of grassland habitat."

The Unlikely Heroes on the Roadside

Biodiversity does not always require large-scale nature reserves; sometimes, it simply requires us to do less. Road verges, such as those at Bowd and the former council offices in Knowle, act as essential corridors for rare species.

By implementing a strategy of "reduced mowing," these strips of grass are allowed to function as passive restoration sites. This shift in management—cutting less frequently—allows wildflowers to set seed and provides a consistent food source for pollinators. It is a powerful lesson in sustainability: by stepping back and allowing nature to dictate the schedule, we can transform "species-poor" remnants back into thriving grassland habitats.

Living Fossils of the Sid Valley

While parks and cemeteries are being restored, certain sites in Sidmouth represent the "gold standard" of habitat—remnants of the ancient grassland that once covered the region. The Knapp Nature Reserve, the cliff tops of the Sidmouth to Beer Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and local gems like Delderfield and Sid Meadow are the true "living fossils" of our valley.

These sites are remarkably species-rich compared to the "species-poor" parks and road remnants mentioned earlier. They support a specialized cast of residents that have survived here for generations, including:

• Meadow grasshoppers

• Common field grasshoppers

• Roesel’s Bush crickets

These insects, along with a dense tapestry of flora, distinguish these ancient sites from the simple mown grass found elsewhere in the town.

A New Way of Seeing Green

The health of Sidmouth’s environment depends on our ability to distinguish between a mown lawn and a species-rich meadow. While tidiness has its place, the "rough" and "unmown" spaces—the verges, the century-old cemetery plots, and the ancient reserves—are the true engines of local biodiversity.

As a community, we must decide how we value the "roughness" of nature. You can start in your own backyard: try leaving a "wild corner" of your garden unmown this season to see what returns. The survival of these 100-year-old ecosystems depends entirely on our willingness to choose active management and intentional "wilding" over the simple, sterile convenience of a short cut.