Nature Recovery

The National Nature Recovery Plan is now in effect and it has many facets aimed at reversing the significant losses in biodiversity across the nation.  Devon is required to produce its Local Nature Recovery Plan and that takes effect in the Spring of 2026 and, naturally, as Sidmouth is in Devon it is subject to the requirements of the plan. In this topic we explore the reasons for the National plan, the features of the Devon plan and how Sidmouth fits into that plan.  We look at what 'assets' already exist, consider the work necessary in the coming years and look at the tremendous progress already made by members of the town's community.

High on Salcombe Hill, on the eastern flank of the Sid Valley overlooking Sidmouth, there are eleven sites of natural interest; all are protected through their ownership and they form a connected ecologial network, The sites are varied in habitat with the grasslands of the Alma Field, East Cliff and Soldier's Hill, the woodlands of Page Wood, Bluebell Wood and Combe Head Wood. There is recovering farmland at South Combe Farm and Coombe Wood farm and the scrubby area of Salcombe Hill itself. In amongst this are the grounds of the Lockyer Observatory where some remnants of the heath that once dominated the hill here can still be found.

The Byes Riverside Park, locally known just as The Byes, is a significant green space, stretching approximately two kilometres on the eastern side of Sidmouth running alongside the River Sid between Sidford and the Old Toll House in Salcombe Road. The park consists of separate sites, The Byes, Sid Meadow, the Community Orchard, Margaret's Meadow and Gilchrist Field however, for surveying purposes, The Byes has been divided into two roughly equal stretches with the northern end towards Sidford being referred to as the 'Upper' Byes. The wooded area alongside Margaret's Meadow and Gilchrist Field has been separated out for the survey to distinguish its very different habitat type to the two meadows. Finally, two other sites nearby but not technically in the 'park' have been added; Fortescue and Sidford.

The town centre of Sidmouth has a diverse array of sites of natural interest from coastal areas like the Seafront and Jacob's Ladder to managed green spaces such as Connaught Gardens, the town parks, and the private grounds of Powys House; they contribute to the town's ecological network. Plants and animals face challenging environmental conditions in some areas, such as the nutrient-poor, salty shingle beaches, but human intervention has shaped these "brownfield" sites to encourage some adapted species to prosper. 

The Knapp and Knowle cluster of survey sites is a significant ecology network located on the western side of Sidmouth.. It consists of eight interconnected sites, six of which have been thoroughly surveyed, highlighting their varied habitats including grasslands, woodlands, and freshwater sources. The analysis underscores the cluster's ecological importance, noting that it hosts nearly half of all species recorded in the broader survey, particularly excelling in flowering plants and insects. Analysis of individual the sites at The Knapp Nature Reserve, Peasland Knapp, Knapp Nature Pond, Sidmouth Cemetery, The Knowle, and Bickwell showcase their unique contributions to the cluster's overall species richness and habitat diversity and the vital importance of the network as an integrated ecological unit.

Whilst Salcombe Hill dominates the eastern side of the Sid Valley above the town the western side  is flanked by eleven individual sites tht connect to gether to form what we will call the Peak Ridge network. The seaward end of the ridge is known locally as Peak Hill but this network extends far inland and includes Bulverton Hill and Fire Beacon Hill.  Although only separated by the town of Sidmouth between them each of these valley crests are very different in character and  nature. The Peak Ridge is dominated by rare lowland heath  habitats and so is a vitally important part of the nature recovery programme for the area.