Habitat Exploration

A habitat is more than just a location; it is where an animal or plant makes its home.. If we care about biodiversity, we must care for the specific environments where these species live. While we often think of these spaces as "wild," there are no truly natural habitats left in Britain. Human activity, from Neolithic farming to modern development, has profoundly shaped every corner of our landscape.

Recapping Our Progress

Before diving into specific habitat types, it is helpful to look back at the foundations of habitat management and our understanding of habitats:

• Managing Habitat: We previously explored succession (the natural tendency for land to revert to woodland) and the intervention required to maintain diversity.

• Environmental Factors: Soil composition, relief, and climate are the primary drivers of what vegetation—and therefore what animals—will thrive in a site.

• Connectivity: Ancient habitats are often isolated. We must look at how biodiversity networks, including private gardens, can reconnect fragmented natural areas.

Understanding the Essentials

To effectively identify species and observe nature, we must understand the "ingredients" of a habitat. A habitat is shaped by:

• Essential Needs: Food, shelter, light, and minerals.

• Indicator Species: Certain plants and animals act as "nature’s detectives," revealing the specific characteristics and health of a site.

Exploring the Habitats of Sidmouth

In this series, we focus on the primary habitat types found specifically in the Sidmouth area. We use the Phase 1 Habitat Classification system to map and analyze these environments. While ten primary types exist in this system, six are prominent in Sidmouth:

• Woodland & Scrub: Areas dominated by trees or woody shrubs.

• Grassland: Open areas dominated by grasses.

• Heath: Specialised environments often created through ancient grazing.

• Freshwater: Rivers, streams, and ponds.

• Coastal: Habitats influenced by the sea and shoreline.

• Brownfield: Modern sites with unexpected ecological value.

The Challenge of Classification

Nature rarely fits into neat boxes. During a survey of 50 sites of natural interest in Sidmouth, most sites contained a mix of two or three habitat types.

Example: The Byes

The Byes is a perfect example of this complexity. While it is classified here as Brownfield (due to its managed amenity grass and introduced trees), it could also be argued to be Woodland or Freshwater because of the river. However, this classification provides a standardised framework that allows us to compare ecological values consistently across the region.