Wild About Devon Launch

The 28^th June saw the Launch of the LNP’s new initiative Wild About Devon (WAD), A brand-new network and support framework to help communities and parish & town councils take action for wildlife. WAD aims to be the central place that will connect existing and new community groups, allowing them to share learning, network and inspire others. Additionally, it will provide a starting point for groups looking for guidance and support by directing to the wealth of resources and information already provided by LNP partners. You can begin to explore these resources on the LNP Wild About Devon webpages.

If you are already an active community group please add yourself to the community map available on the WAD webpages and join our Facebook community. Or if you are a member of a Parish or Town Council wanting to sign up to WAD you can do so by emailing nature@devon.gov.uk

Over 350 people registered for the launch event which has been recorded and is available to watch on YouTube.

Our webpages are currently in evolution, so take a look and contact us with suggestions of additions.

Wildlife Records webinar

Tuesday 13^th July, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Join us for the first Wild About Devon community wildlife webinar where we’ll be demystifying the world of wildlife records. Through the evening you’ll hear talks delivered by Jess Smallcombe from the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre and Mike Waller from Devon County Council’s Natural Environment Team.

Devon Climate Assembly Underway

Seventy people of all ages, genders and backgrounds are coming together this summer to discuss how Devon should meet the big challenges of climate change. In the first weekend, the assembly members were introduced to the science of climate change, how it is affecting Devon and how their recommendations will be used to inform the Devon Carbon Plan, the roadmap to a reducing Devon’s emissions to net-zero. Visit the Devon Climate Emergency website to keep up to date with the assembly’s progress, as they work to shape Devon’s future.

Farming in Protected Landscapes

Farmers and land managers in England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks will be given grants to make improvements to the natural environment, cultural heritage and public access on their land – the next step in the government’s landmark plans for a renewed agriculture sector. The new programme, open for applications on 1 July 2021, has been developed by Defra with the support of a group of AONB and National Park staff from across the country, following its announcement as part of the Agricultural Transition Plan. Read the Tamar Valley AONB's summary of farming in protected landscapes.

Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest

The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, will be the first newly created Community Forest receiving Defra funding to develop canopy cover across the city and plant up to 500ha of woodland by 2025. The Community Forest is a broad partnership between many organisations. The scheme will receive Nature for Climate Fund funding to develop canopy cover across the city and plant up to 500ha of woodland by 2025.

Devon Wildlife Trust

Saving Devon’s Treescapes project has come to the end of its first year, having planted over 10,000 trees. You can now watch the year in review video on YouTube.

Over the summer, Devon Wildlife Trust are asking people to submit their emotional and artistic response to Ash Dieback. These submissions will be featured in their Ash Archive.

They are also asking people to log notable trees on their tree recording app, Treescapes, so they can get a better understanding of the health of Devon’s treescapes.

State of the UK’s Woods and Trees

The Woodland Trust’s new report, State of the UK’s Woods and Trees, is now available. This is the first report of its kind, laying out the facts and trends on the current state of the UK's native woods and trees. This report is key reading for those working to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. It includes a wealth of data, identifies key threats and sets out priority actions, providing clear evidence that there is an urgent need to act now in all corners of the UK.

Preventing Plastic Pollution

Join Westcountry Rivers Trust this summer and help prevent plastic pollution along the 98 km of the River Tamar as part of their Preventing Plastic Pollution project. ​Whether you are an interested individual, a concerned community or business, by supporting their #WhatSUP98 campaign you’ll be lessening the chances of single-use plastic (SUP) getting into the water, from source to sea. Find out how to make a #WhatSUP98 Promise online.

North Devon AONB Nature and Climate Challenge Fund

Community groups, schools, businesses and parishes are invited to apply to the “Nature and Climate Challenge Fund”. Grants of up to £4,000 are available for projects within the coastal parishes of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area which runs from Combe Martin along the coast to Welcombe. The fund aims to support the best proposals for communities to do their bit for wildlife, for climate or for people to deliver these objectives.

Community Hedge Fund

As part of their year-long Close the Gap programme, The Tree Council's Community Hedge Fund is now open for applications. They will be awarding grants of up to £2,500 for volunteer Tree Wardens and community groups to plant new hedgerows, hedgerow trees and to gap up existing hedgerows in rural and urban areas across England this winter.

30 Years of the Blackdown Hills AONB

The Blackdown Hills AONB is celebrating 30 years since becoming an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A series of activity sheets, providing 30 creative ways of exploring the Blackdown Hills AONB are being published, containing fun activities for children and adults to take part in.

Devon County Show

The Devon County Agricultural Association hosted the 125th Devon County Show on the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th July. Visit the Devon County Show website for more information about the events that were held. 

The LNP ran a stand, talking about the new Wild About Devon Initiative and answering your questions. We were accompanied by Climate Action Teignbridge, Saving Devon’s Treescapes, Devon’s Living Churchyards and the North Devon AONB. It was great to talk to so many of you!

Connecting the Culm

May and June were busy months for the Connecting the Culm project, who've been continuing to co-create a Vision and initiate an action plan with amazing people! Three fantastic catchment visualisation workshops took everyone time travelling to the future to imagine how the catchment and river might look if we all take action for resilience and sustainability. The 'what ifs' shared at the workshops led to a draft 'vision' for the catchment, which was shared and thoughts collected at the June Blueprint Forum.

Whilst online and working group events will take a bit of a break over the summer, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved:

• Complete the Blueprint Shared Vision Survey or the Taking Stock Survey to have your say
• Have a go at volunteering
• Dive into the latest environmental evidence about the catchment

Thanks to their educational specialist Cat Farnell who's now been able to get back into schools COVID-safely, children have been able to get hands-on once again with awesome river time-travel and nature-based solution-focused activities, which the children absolutely love!

Colour in the Margins

Back from the Brink's Colour in the Margins project comes to an end in September 2021 after three and a half years. South Devon has been one of the focus areas due to the presence of good arable plant assemblages previously recorded. Rare arable plants (primarily Small-flowered Catchfly, Broad-fruited Cornsalad and Corn Buttercup) have been monitored at over thirty farms. Small-flowered catchfly has been reintroduced to nine sites and Broad-fruited Cornsalad to two. Thanks to all who got involved!

Asian Hornets

The Asian Hornet could decimate our pollinators, including our honey bees, if it becomes established in this country. One of the British Beekeepers Association's aims is to engage the public to download the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app onto their phones so they have the information ready to hand to identify and report sightings of Asian hornets, and particularly nests, as we move into autumn. More information can be found on the British Beekeepers Association website.

Understanding Soils for the Culm workshop

Wednesday 14^th July, 4:30pm - 6:00pm 

Connecting the Culm are hosting an Understanding Soils for the Culm workshop, the latest free event in their Catchment Adaptation Workshop series. Dr Richard Smith of the Environment Agency will share some of his knowledge about soils, including the Culm Valley.

Planning Applications webinar

Thursday 29^th July, 7pm - 8pm

Join us for the second Wild About Devon community wildlife webinar where Tom Whitlock from Devon County Council’s Natural Environment Team will be providing us with an overview of how wildlife is protected through the planning system and how you can comment on planning applications.