Pastures New ... and Old

The History of Sidmouth’s Grasslands

When you walk through the rolling green fringes of Sidmouth, it is easy to succumb to the "green halo" effect—the assumption that because a landscape is verdant and open, it is "wild." We see swaying stalks and a dash of colour and assume we are looking at a timeless piece of English nature. However, the secret history of these fields is far more industrial than it appears. Almost all of Sidmouth’s primary grasslands have been "improved" at some point in their history.

In the world of agriculture, "improvement" sounds positive; it refers to the process of adding nutrients or fertilisers to the soil to increase crop yield or support more livestock. To an ecologist, this "improvement" is often a detriment. It creates a nutrient-heavy environment where a few aggressive grass species choke out the delicate wildflowers and specialised invertebrates that thrive in leaner soils. What we see today in Sidmouth is not just a collection of fields, but a living timeline of ecological recovery—a slow, deliberate journey away from human "improvement" and back toward biological diversity.

Nature is a Spectrum of Recovery

The grasslands surrounding our town are currently in various stages of a long-term regeneration process. To understand where we are going, we must first categorise where we are. Based on local observations, these sites fall into four distinct categories: Stable, Recovered, Recovering, and Maintained.

It is important to note that this classification is not the result of decades-long academic peer review; rather, it is born from "casual observations" and boots-on-the-ground monitoring. In the realm of environmental science communication, we call this "Citizen Science." This perspective is often more valuable for local conservation than abstract data because it is responsive and reflects the immediate, visible state of the land. It allows local councils and community groups to make real-time management decisions based on how the land is actually responding to our presence.

"Stable" Doesn't Mean Untouched

The sites we call "Stable" (Group 1) are our ecological benchmarks. These are areas that have possibly remained stable for many years, often because they were lucky enough to escape the most intensive agricultural "improvements" of the last century. This group includes sites like the Community Orchard, East Cliff, Farway, Lincombe, and Peak Hill.

However, the term "stable" is a bit of a misnomer if you assume it means "left alone." In a landscape as heavily influenced by humans as East Devon, keeping a site in a species-rich state requires active, intentional intervention. Without management, many of these grasslands would eventually revert to scrub or woodland, losing the specific biodiversity that makes them special. For instance, the sheep grazing on Peak Hill is a calculated management tool used to keep the grass short and allow smaller, more delicate flora to see the sun."These are sites where nature has recovered from previous human interventions and are species rich, not just with plants but also invertebrates."

The "Ghost" of Agriculture Lingers

The speed at which a field returns to its natural glory is dictated by its "ghost"—the lingering impact of its agricultural past. We can see this clearly when contrasting "Recovered" sites (Group 2) with those still "Recovering" (Group 3).

The Recovered sites were historically used for livestock grazing rather than intensive crop cultivation. Because the soil was never fully overturned or heavily saturated with crop fertilisers, these sites have returned to health with remarkable speed. Today, they are managed much like traditional hay meadows: the vegetation is cut late in the season, and crucially, the cuttings are removed. This removal of organic matter keeps soil nutrients low, preventing the "thug" grasses from taking over and allowing a dense, specialised flora to flourish.

"In high summer these sites are a wonderful sight with their array of flower species which support a vibrant invertebrate population too."

In contrast, "Recovering" sites are those that have faced more recent "improvement" or soil disturbance. Here, the agricultural heritage is still identifiable in the soil chemistry and plant communities. They require more time and more "assistance"—sometimes through the sowing of wildflower seeds—to rebuild the herbal communities that once existed.

Recovered Sites (Group 2):

• Delderfield

• Peasland Knapp and The Knapp

• Sid Meadow

• Soldier's Hill

Recovering Sites (Group 3):

• Alma Field

• Combe Wood Farm

• Gilchrist Field and Margaret’s Meadow

• The Knowle

The Beauty of the "Mosaic" Habitat

Finally, we have the "Maintained" sites (Group 4), such as Salcombe Hill, the Donkey Sanctuary, and West Hill. Here, the goal is not necessarily to create a "perfect" wildflower meadow. Instead, the focus is on maintaining a "mosaic" habitat.

A mosaic is exactly what it sounds like: a patchwork of different environments. You might see dense patches of scrub and bramble transitioning into open grassland. While a uniform field of flowers is aesthetically pleasing to humans, "messy" habitats are often superior for nature. These transition zones—the edges where the bushes meet the grass—provide a wider variety of ecological niches. They offer nesting sites, hunting grounds for birds of prey, and shelter for mammals that a flat meadow simply cannot provide. By managing these sites for a variety of habitats, we ensure that Sidmouth remains a sanctuary for more than just plants.

A Question for the Future

The story of Sidmouth’s grasslands is a testament to nature's resilience. Almost every hectare of our primary grassland has been modified, tilled, or fertilised by human hands, yet almost all are now on a determined journey back toward diversity.

As we watch these sites evolve from "Recovering" to "Recovered," we face a fundamental question about our role in the environment. Is our goal to eventually step back and let nature take the lead passively, or must we accept that in a post-industrial world, "wildness" is something that must be actively curated and defended? How we choose to "assist" these grasslands today will define the landscape our children inherit tomorrow.