Around the Town 

Nature recovery in Sidmouth is not about "wilding" every space until it becomes overgrown; it is about balanced management. By shifting away from the Victorian ideal of "perfectly tidy" landscapes, the town is creating high-biodiversity niches within functional public spaces.

The "Living Churchyard" Model

The grounds of St Giles and St Nicholas (Sidmouth Parish Church) serve as a leading example of urban biodiversity management.

• Wildflower Wealth: Recent surveys (2024–2026) recorded 60 distinct wildflower species here, including the unusual Water Figwort.

• Three-Tier Mowing: To balance accessibility with ecology, the grass is managed in three zones: Short for paths, Medium (~10cm) for small flowers like speedwells, and Long (uncut until late summer) to support pollinators.

• Vertical Ecosystems: The limestone walls host Wall Rue ferns that have been documented in the same spot for 175 years.

• Stone Protection: A strict "no-cleaning" protocol protects slow-growing crustose lichens and Silky Wall Feather Moss on older gravestones.

Specialist Garden Strategies

Different parks use tailored protocols to protect their unique ecological features:

• Blackmore Gardens (The Waxcap Protocol): The lawns near the bowling green host rare Waxcap fungi, which indicate ancient, undisturbed soil. To protect them, chemical fertilisers are banned, and mowing heights are strictly controlled in autumn.

• Connaught Gardens (Climate Resilience): Due to its exposed cliff-top location, management has shifted toward xeriscaping (drought-resistant planting). This reduces water use while providing vital nectar for coastal bees.

• Glen Goyle (The Balanced Valley): Once a neglected wilderness, this site is now managed by volunteers as a "balanced, not manicured" habitat. It features a specialised native fernery and "wilder" features like bat boxes and hedgehog runs.

Coastal and Riparian Challenges

• Jacob’s Ladder: These banks are now managed under the East Devon Local Nature Recovery Plan, prioritising salt-tolerant plants ("halophytes") like Danish Scurvy-grass.

• Lower Sid: While the river banks are heavily fortified with concrete, management by the River Sid Catchment Group has allowed River Water Crowfoot to colonise areas where the flow is slowed by the Ham weir.