Town Parks and Gardens

Executive Summary

Sidmouth distinguishes itself as the host of the United Kingdom’s only "civic arboretum," a conservation concept where the entire Sid Valley is managed as a unified, living collection of trees. This briefing examines the ecological significance and management strategies of the town's central green spaces—primarily Blackmore Gardens and the St Giles and St Nicholas Parish Churchyard.

These sites serve as critical biodiversity havens within an urban framework. Blackmore Gardens functions as a curated global gallery of botanical specimens, while the Parish Churchyard represents a "Living Churchyard" where historical continuity and modern conservation science intersect. Key takeaways include:

• Diverse Botanical Assets: The town houses a wide range of global species, from primitive "living fossils" to nectar-rich trees supporting local insect populations.

• Targeted Conservation Management: Strategies such as the "Three-Tier Mowing Regime," "Waxcap Protocols," and "Zero Chemical Policies" are employed to protect delicate ecosystems, including rare fungi and ancient lichen colonies.

• Ecological Continuity: Specific sites, such as the churchyard walls, demonstrate remarkably stable micro-ecosystems with species records spanning over 175 years.

• Citizen Science Integration: Ongoing biodiversity surveys (2024–2026) and national initiatives like "Churches Count on Nature" ensure data-driven management of the town's natural assets.

The Civic Arboretum: Blackmore Gardens

Blackmore Gardens, the former estate of Blackmore Hall, is a central pillar of the Sidmouth Civic Arboretum. It is managed as a curated botanical collection where every tree is catalogued and maintained to support both public recreation and urban biodiversity.

Global Botanical Highlights

The gardens feature a "globe-trotting" collection of species adapted to the local climate:

• Chusan Palm: A hardy native of the Chinese mountains, often mistaken for a tropical plant.

• Ulmo: A Chilean species prised for nectar-rich flowers that sustain urban insects.

• Tulip Tree: A botanically primitive relative of the Magnolia, with fossil records dating back 70 million years.

• Trifoliate Orange ("Barbed Wire Bush"): A hardy citrus relative from northern China known for its bitter, furry fruit and protective thorns.

• Ornamental Pruning: A row of pleached Large-leaved Limes demonstrates traditional European ornamental techniques.

Specialised Habitat Management

• Crown Cleaning: Mature specimens, such as the Monterrey Cypress, undergo "crown cleaning" to remove dieback, ensuring they remain safe for public use while providing secure habitats for tree-dwelling insects and bats.

• Wall Ecosystems: The old lime-mortar walls are intentionally shielded from "over-cleaning" to preserve rare urban niches for mosses, ferns, and species like Pellitory-of-the-wall.

• Waxcap Protocol: Grass areas near the bowling green are managed under a strict protocol to protect rare Waxcap fungi, which indicate undisturbed soil. This includes controlled mowing heights in autumn and a ban on chemical fertilisers.

• Ground Protection Mandates: To mitigate the impact of major events like Sea Fest, mandates are in place to prevent soil compaction, protecting tree root health and drainage.

The Living Churchyard: St Giles and St Nicholas

The Parish Churchyard is managed under the "Living Churchyard" philosophy, balancing its role as a sacred site with its function as a biodiversity haven.

The Yew Tree Collection

The churchyard is defined by its collection of yew trees, most planted in the 1880s. The site features three distinct varieties:

1. English Yew: A squatter, darker evergreen.

2. Japanese Yew: Identifiable by its taller stature and upward-twisting leaves.

3. Irish Yew: A "mutant form" characterized by a multi-stemmed habit and tightly packed whorls of leaves.

Ecological Note: While poisonous in most parts, the yew's fleshy red arils attract birds, which assist in seed dispersal.

Biodiversity and Continuity

Recent surveys (June 2024–2026) by the Sid Valley Biodiversity Group have confirmed the churchyard's ecological richness:

• Wildflower Diversity: 60 distinct wildflower species were recorded in the yard, contributing to the 140+ species found across all Sid Valley churchyards.

• Specialist Flora: The Water Figwort thrives here despite typically preferring damp meadows.

• Wall Rue Ferns: A colony on the eastern limestone wall has been documented in the same location for 175 years.

• Non-vascular Plants: Older gravestones host Silky Wall Feather Moss and various crustose lichens, protected by a protocol that forbids cleaning that would damage these slow-growing colonies.

Avian and Mammalian Life

• Wildlife Corridors: Mature trees and the church tower provide roosts for Pipistrelle bats and nesting sites for swifts.

• Winter Food Sources: A variegated female European Holly produces berries essential for blackbirds, thrushes, and visiting redwings.

• Invertebrate Refuges: "Deadwood piles" are maintained in quiet corners to support beetles and fungi.

Maintenance Philosophies and Strategies

The high level of maintenance in Sidmouth’s parks is strategically designed to support nature recovery rather than merely aesthetic appeal.

• Three-Tier Mowing

  • Short: For paths/entrances. 

  • Medium (~10cm): Allows small wildflowers to bloom. 

  • Long: Seasonal meadow left until July/August for pollinators.

• Zero Chemical Policy

  • Elimination of pesticides/herbicides to protect delicate lichen and insect populations.

• Climate Resilience

  • Prioritising native species capable of withstanding increasingly dry summers to provide "cool refuges" in the town centre.

• Civic Arboretum Strategy

  • Comprehensive cataloguing of every tree managed by the town.

Additional Natural Highlights

Fortfield and Station Road

The area around Fortfield contains remnants of old field boundaries and traditional hedge banks:

• Wild Strawberries: Common in hedge banks from May onwards.

• Purple Ramping-fumitory: Found on banks alongside Sticky Mouse-ear, the latter providing seeds for goldfinches.

• Fauna: Swallows are known to nest in the croquet club 'hut' every summer.

• Threats: The invasive non-native Three Cornered Leek is currently swamping banks behind the cricket pavilion and tennis courts.

Bowling Green

The grass beside the bowling greens is a significant site for mixed waxcap fungi in the autumn, serving as a key indicator of high-quality, undisturbed soil within the urban environment.