Salcombe Ecology Network

If you started this series with no knowledge of this subject at all here are ten points that you now know about the Salcombe Ecology Network:

1. The Power of the "Network"

• Conservation is moving away from protecting isolated "islands" of nature. The Salcombe Ecology Network consists of 11 interconnected sites where almost every location shares a border with another. This allows wildlife to move, hunt, and breed across a larger territory rather than being trapped in a single field.

2. Location is Strategic

• The network isn't just a random collection of fields; it is the "coastal anchor" for the ambitious Heaths to Sea Project (2025–2045). This 20-year plan aims to create a continuous "nature highway" stretching from the Pebblebed Heaths all the way to the Jurassic Coast.

3. Diversity Equals Abundance

• The health of the area is built on its habitat variety. Within a small geographic footprint, there is broadleaf woodland, scrub, neutral and calcareous grassland, and even "brownfield" sites. This variety acts as a multiplier, allowing a massive range of species to coexist.

4. Hilltop Wetlands Exist

• One of the most surprising geographical features is the presence of wetland species on a hilltop. This is caused by a unique local stream running from Salcombe to the sea and the specific "sandwich" geology of the area, which traps moisture at high elevations.

5. Soil Chemistry is Shifting

• The landscape is a living record of human intervention. Years of "agricultural improvement" (adding lime and fertiliser) have pushed the soil from its natural acidic state toward an alkaline base. This is causing a slow shift in plant life, as neutral grassland species replace traditional acid-loving heathland plants.

6. The "Successional" Approach

• Management is shifting toward Natural Regeneration. Instead of planting trees in neat rows, areas like Page Wood are being left to grow "messily." This creates a complex mix of scrub and young trees that provides better cover for animals like dormice and warblers.

7. Cows are "Landscape Architects"

• The project uses low-density cattle grazing as a primary tool. By using GPS-linked "No-Fence" collars, managers can direct cattle to specific areas. The cows’ hooves and grazing patterns create "natural disturbance," which prevents aggressive grasses from taking over and allows rare wildflowers to grow.

8. Butterflies are the "Stars," Birds are the "Gaps"

• The data shows that the network is an incredible stronghold for Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), including the nationally scarce Wood White. However, bird and mammal diversity is currently low, likely due to the high amount of conifer plantations which don't provide the right food or nesting sites for native birds.

9. The Cirl Bunting is a "Comeback Kid"

• The Cirl Bunting is a major success story for the region. Once nearly extinct in the UK, it has established a firm breeding territory in the Sid Valley. Its survival depends on the "2km Rule"—having winter seeds, summer insects (super food), and thick nesting scrub all within a short flight of each other.

10. Collaboration is Key

• No single organisation "owns" the recovery. It is a collaborative effort between the National Trust, the Sid Vale Association, Sidmouth Town Council, and local farmers. This "patchwork" of ownership is united by a single management goal: creating a resilient, connected corridor for the future.