Soldier's Hill

When we look at a simple green field, it's easy to see just that—an open space. But what hidden ecological stories might such a place hold? Soldier's Hill in Sidmouth is a perfect example of a landscape with much more to it than meets the eye.

Soldier's Hill, commonly known by its alias, the James Cornish Field, is a notable natural area situated on Salcombe Hill in Sidmouth, Devon. Owned and managed by the Sid Vale Association (SVA), this 19.5-acre site is composed of two distinct fields and a small area of woodland known locally as Bluebell Wood.

A closer look at Soldier's Hill reveals a landscape of two intentionally managed habitats, each playing a vital role in supporting the local ecosystem.

The Open Meadow

As you step into the open meadow, you'll find it carpeted with significant populations of Red and White Clover and Lesser Trefoil. At first glance, this part of the site is considered to have "the poorest floral biodiversity" due to historic sowings of modern Ryegrass, a vigorous species which suppresses many of the more delicate wildflowers. Yet even here, life finds a way. Common plants like dandelions thrive, providing a "rich food source for many insects."

This meadow also holds a story of fragile potential. A single Common Spotted Orchid was recorded here in 2018, a fleeting treasure that has not been seen since. Its brief appearance is a poignant reminder of what this land could support and underscores the value of continued conservation, hinting that with the right care, such species might one day return.

The Sheltering Scrub

But the Sid Vale Association's thoughtful management doesn't stop at the meadow's edge. To consciously build on the site's biodiversity, they have cultivated wilder, richer habitats along its borders. On the north-eastern and north-western boundaries, you will find denser, semi-scrub areas that are intentionally left uncut for longer periods.

Here, a dense mix of Bracken, Gorse, and Blackthorn provides robust shelter. This strategy creates a home for plant species that cannot survive the regular mowing of the open grassland. It is in these wilder margins that you can find beautiful species like Foxgloves, Hogweed, Angelica, and Red Campion flourishing. Creating these uncut edges is a simple but powerful conservation strategy that greatly enhances the biodiversity of the entire area.

The diverse plant life across these managed habitats makes Soldier's Hill a valuable resource for local wildlife. The dandelions in the meadow alone provide an essential food source for a wide variety of insects, forming the base of a bustling food web.

This richness makes the area a key piece in a larger ecological puzzle. Soldier's Hill is part of a network of valuable habitats on the east side of the Sid Valley—alongside sites like the Norman Lockyer Observatory and South Combe Farm—that have the right conditions to "experience spectacular butterfly events." This transforms these fields from a pleasant local spot into a vital node in a wider wildlife corridor, and a promising destination for any nature enthusiast hoping to witness a memorable natural display.

Soldier's Hill reminds us that a landscape's value isn't just in what we see at first glance, but in the deliberate choices made to nurture its hidden life. It prompts us to look a little closer at the green spaces around us. How many other local fields that we pass every day hold their own hidden stories of wildlife and conservation?