Latest news from the North Devon Biosphere Reserve

What do YOU think the future holds for North Devon?

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Being designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a great achievement for our unique North Devon. We have a terrific environment and the aim for all the authorities and businesses associated with the Biosphere Reserve is to ensure that the quality of life (and that environment) we have will persist for generations into the future. The future can be a scary place, there is no certainty of what might happen, and we certainly have some challenges to deal with... but do we have to be so scared? In this brief essay I hope to share a few possibilities for the future and what we can do to keep life so good. Full article

HAVE YOUR SAY THROUGH THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE FORUM

Tarka Trail train world record attempt fails

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Snaking into the distance

Unfortunately, after gargantuan efforts by all involved, the BBC's James May and hundreds of volunteers failed in their attempt to break the world record for the longest model railway track by building a 10-mile Hornby-style toy railway along the Tarka Trail. On behalf of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, we congratulate everyone that took part in this audacious event. It brought people together and highlighted the remarkable community spirit in the Biosphere Reserve.

James May's world record attempt to build the longest model train track across North Devon derailed - North Devon Journal Article

Background to the attempt

James May on the Tarka Trail

Volunteers supporting the world record attempt

Tarka Trail - model train record attempt

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

James May pictured during the Lego House construction

Television star James May will attempt to break a world record by constructing the longest ever model railway track. The Top Gear presenter will be filming the latest part of his BBC2 series, James May's Toy Stories here in North Devon's Biosphere Reserve, where he plans to put together the very long section of track between Barnstaple and Bideford. With assistance from local volunteers, James plans to create the 10-mile Hornby-style toy railway along the Tarka Trail. Large crowds are expected along the Tarka Trail on Monday 24th August to watch the model train run along the track. Technical support is being given to the BBC by the North Devon Coast and Countryside Service. The series also includes the building of a full size Lego house and creating a Plasticine garden for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Record attempt fails

Welsh Biosphere Reserve approved

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

On the 8th June 2009, the Dyfi Valley in Wales joined us in the family of new style Biosphere Reserves in the world wide network. We are the only two in the UK.

We in North Devon are pleased to have a second community joining us on our journey towards a more sustainable future. We share the aspiration of Allan Wynne Jones from the Dyfi Biosphere Partnership to be a place " recognised and respected internationally and locally, not only for natural beauty, heritage and wildlife, but also for its people's efforts to make a positive contribution to a more sustainable world."

It is great to have the voice of Biosphere Reserves doubled in the UK, so that the programme can be more widely recognised and supported. We will be looking forward to collaboration with Dyfi in the coming years.

Devon - cycling the easy way

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Alice Thomson recommends wonderful North Devon cycling routes including the Tarka Trail in the Saturday Times.

Bowled over by T-shirt designs

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

More than 400 youngsters got creative in a bid to capture the unique spirit of North Devon, the only new style UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the UK. Despite the stiff competition, judges finally chose Chloe Bostridge in the under 19s category and Fenton Davies in the under 11s class. Winning entries. The competition was run by the Biosphere Reserve team in conjunction with Saltrock and GoldCoast Oceanfest. North Devon Journal article.

Beach clean-up volunteers bag rubbish at Saunton and Croyde

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

NEARLY 100 bags of rubbish were collected during a big clean-up of Saunton and Croyde beaches on Sunday. There was a fantastic turnout for this community event with volunteers coming from North Devon's Biosphere Reserve, Croyde Surf Life Saving Club, Croyde Youth Club and Croyde's Skateboard Club. North Devon MP Nick Harvey and his family also gave their support. North Devon Journal article. Nick Harvey MP website

Exploring the Biosphere on Lundy

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Students from four schools were able to explore nature and life on Lundy Island during a geography field trip. It was part of an ongoing education programme about North Devon's unique Biosphere Reserve.Course tutor Peter Jollands said: "Lundy has a great environment and is also a fantastic example of how life might be in the future, managing with limited water (all rainfall) and electricity supplies (which are off from midnight until 6am)." North Devon Journal article. Biosphere Schools' website

Rising Tides

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

"Rising Tides", a short film exploring North Devon's and Malindi Watamu Biosphere Reserves' shared experiences of climate change. Copies are available from main libraries throughout North Devon or alternatively contact the North Devon AONB & Biosphere office. ndabs@devon.gov.uk

More about twinning programme with Malindi-Watumu

Balsam Bash

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The plant was first introduced from the Himalayas in the 18th century and is now one of the fastest growing plants in England.

The "Bash the Balsam" day was organised by the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service.

Andy Bramwell, who was in charge of the event, said: "The balsam is becoming an increasingly big problem throughout the North Devon Biosphere area. We have been pulling up the plant for years but we think it is now time to have a co-ordinated effort. North Devon Journal Article 06/07/2011

Beach clean at Westward Ho!

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

MORE than 50 bags of rubbish along with an inflatable boat and a kitchen sink were rounded up in a beach clean near Westward Ho! Fifteen volunteers joined forces with the Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service to tackle rubbish at Greencliff beach on Sunday. North Devon Journal article.

Tarka Trail on radio

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Tails from the Trail will feature on Danny Lawrence's BBR Radio Devon Show on Saturday 5th July, at 5pm. Learn about this wonderful thread running through the Biosphere Reserve - the wonderful array of wildlife, the long cultural history and some of the management challenges.

Tarka the Otter inspires a symphony

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

THE flow of water and its role in our culture and heritage has inspired composer Harry Williamson, son of the Tarka Otter author Henry Williamson, to co-write a unique symphony based on his father Henry's 1927 novel Tarka the Otter.

Harry Williamson scoring the symphony

Andy Bell, North Devon's Biosphere Reserve co-ordinator, said: "Rivers link the countryside to the coast and sea. The borders of North Devon's Biosphere Reserve are largely defined by river catchments and Harry's work reminds us of all the importance of water and its role in our culture and heritage. We hope that the Tarka symphony can be heard in the Biosphere Reserve in the very near future."

Extract from the Oboe Theme from Movement 1

Western Morning news article

BBC Spotlight coverage

BBC audio slideshow with Harry's music

Meet Mr Hedge

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

North Devon Journal reporter Jo Stewart-Smith meets Tom Hynes, 'Mr Hedge' - from the Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service and discovers the landscape and wildlife importance of Devon's hedges and the variety of events from hedgelaying to wildlife walks, in this year's Devon Hedge Week. More

2011 Sustainable Farming Award Winner

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

2011's Biosphere Sustainable Farming Award has been awarded to Robin Milton, of Partridge Arms Farm, West Anstey, near South Molton.They were presented their award by Dr Mike Moser, Chair of the Biosphere Reserve Partnership on 7th September 2011 at West Anstey. After the presentation, Robin and Rex Milton gave a guided tour of their farm to over 30 fellow farmers, FWAG members and representatives of farming and other local organisations.

Sustainable farming is a key goal for North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, but the the Devon Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group's (FWAG) also awarded Mr Milton their Bronze Otter Award, which is presented annually to the Devon farmer who best demonstrates commercial farming combined with environmental management.

Paul Cottington, S W NFU Environmental Adviser and one of the judges explains just what makes Partridge Arms Farm special "it shows us exactly how you can make the best bits of land do a little more whilst letting the rest focus on wildlife and resource protection. Robin has taken very practical steps that only someone who knows the land can ever do. He has changed the crops in certain areas where he knows there will be issues and instead fitted them around delivering more birds and bees whilst still enabling him to make an income to pay for it all. The fact that Robin has common land, lowland and upland means that he is an example of best practice for so many farmers. At the end of the day the reason he won was because this is a commercial farm that has built sympathetic management of the landscape and its wildlife into its very core."

Mike Moser, Chair of the Biosphere Partnership and another of the judges agrees, "How Robin and Rex manage their farm on the edge of Exmoor effects not just their land but through rivers and streams, water quality and wildlife further downstream. We are all linked by our shared need for high quality environments and farmers like the Miltons are key to delivering them".

North Devon Journal, Sep 2011

Mr Milton and two runners up in the Bronze Otter competition also received an award from the Western Morning and Mole Valley Farmers vouchers from their marketing manager, Ms Julie Edwards.

North Devon Journal article, Aug 10 2011

The first Biosphere Reserve Sustainable Farming Award was given to Hefyn Llwyd, a sheep farmer near the Biosphere's southern edge at South Tawton at the 2010 North Devon Show. Taw Barton Farm.

North Devon Journal report, 12 August 2010

Tree planting day a huge success

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

THE Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service has joined forces with the BBC's Breathing Places campaign to help set a new world record for the number of trees planted in one hour across the country.

Landowners and community groups across North Devon's Biosphere Reserve were invited to apply for up to 200 free trees each including oak, ash, hazel and alder saplings. More

Tree O'clock - time to break a world record - North Devon Journal 10/12/09

Bideford People Community Groups Get Together for Record Breaking ...Impressed with the number of people involved Tom Hynes from North Devon's Biosphere Reserve said "I was delighted to see such a huge response to this world ...

More (from North Devon Gazette 11/11/09).

Winkleigh village energy clinic

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

People in Winkleigh were invited to take part in an energy clinic to help them save energy and money and to help calculate the community's carbon footprint. The event was organised by The Winkleigh Society, North Devon Biosphere Reserve and the University of East Anglia.

Energy clinic - background

Coverage in North Devon Gazette (11/11/09)

Biosphere recognition for energy firm

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

RENEWABLE energy specialist Source Renewable of Barnstaple is the first business to receive bronze accreditation as part of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve's Investing in Nature scheme. The free scheme is open to businesses of any size who want advice and guidance on how they can benefit the environment and save costs.

North Devon Journal article

Grant for Local Nature Reserve

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Torridge District Council have donated £300 from the Councillor Community Grant allowance to buy Dormouse boxes for the Meddon Green Local Nature Reserve. Meddon Green is the most recently designated LNR in the Biosphere Reserve and is owned by Hartland Parish Council. It is Devon's first culm grassland LNR. More

Meddon Green LNR on map

Lundy is England’s first Marine Conservation Zone

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The waters around Lundy Island off the North Devon coast have today (January 12) become England's first Marine Conservation Zone. This is a direct result of last year's Marine & Coastal Access Act which aims to protect England's most important marine habitats and species.

Janette Ward, Natural England's Regional Director in the South West, welcomed the announcement: "We are very pleased to have Lundy, one of the jewels of our natural environment in the South West, announced as the location of England's first Marine Conservation Zone. Lundy, already a showcase of a well protected marine environment, now represents the first step in delivering a new approach to marine protection. It is wonderful that we can boast a site in the South West as a pioneer for marine conservation in English waters." Lundy's new status establishes it as the cornerstone of a new network of Marine Protected Areas that the Government aims to have in place around our coasts by 2012.

Keith Hiscock, Chairman of the Lundy Marine Nature Reserve Advisory Group confirmed Lundy's importance for marine conservation has long been recognised: "The designation of the area around Lundy as a Marine Conservation Zone is another first for the island. In 1986 it was designated as England's first, and so far only, statutory Marine Nature Reserve. "Subsequently the waters off Lundy's east coast became the UK's first No Take Zone, an area where the marine environment is being protected in order to allow it to return to its natural state.

During the next two years, more Marine Conservation Zones will be identified and designated in the South West through the Finding Sanctuary project. Representatives from a broad range of interested parties are being asked to recommend new sites as Marine Conservation Zones and specify the management necessary to achieve the conservation aspirations for these sites.

Defra press release

Joint Core Strategy

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

HAVE YOUR SAY....

THE "Joint Core Strategy" — the spatial planning vision for Northern Devon to 2026, prepared by our district councils is out to public consultation.

This document is crucial for everyone who cares for this area, as it describes the intended types, locations and scale of future housing and infrastructure developments. In implementing the strategy the councils aim for Northern Devon to become "an exemplar for sustainable development based on the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve". As chairman of the Partnership that supports our Biosphere Reserve (the only one in England), I strongly welcome this ambitious goal.

Our wonderful environment is why many people choose to live and work here, and why so many others visit, bringing massive income to the area. It supports our agriculture and wood-based industries, helps us adapt to climate change and provides inspiration for us all.

The finest assets (such as the wonderful coast and moors) are designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks. However the Biosphere Reserve celebrates and supports the world class quality of the whole area — villages, towns, lanes, woodlands, farms, rivers, coast and sea.

It will be a huge challenge to keep Northern Devon "world class" in the face of perhaps 20,000 new homes and other infrastructure, the need to create jobs and to address the issues of climate change, all with a dwindling public purse.

Biosphere reserves require a sustainable approach to development that enhances, rather than degrades, our environment. But how can this be achieved? New developments should be carefully located, attractively designed to the highest environmental standards and built by local skilled labour. They should promote energy efficiency, use recycled and local products (eg timber) in construction, and include wildlife corridors and even create new local nature reserves. There will inevitably be environmental losses, and these should be compensated.

For example, a green fund could be established through which developers could mitigate their impacts on the Biosphere Reserve by investing some of their profits in our environmental future.

Our Partnership will respond to this consultation, but now is your chance to speak up. Do you want a future of mediocrity, or do you want to keep our world class status?
Respond to the consultation here — deadline March 4. ~

MIKE MOSER
Chairman North Devon's Biosphere Reserve Partnership.

Award winning environmental poet performs in Bideford

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Environmental campaigner and BBC Radio 4 National Slam Poetry Champion Ben Mellor visited NorthDevon's Biosphere Reserve at the end of March and created a new piece of poetry based on a combination of species particular to the North Devon Biosphere area, some of which are endangered or have become extinct to the region or even the country, and characters he imagined from the places he visited.

Find out more from his blog of his visit to North Devon and watch the wonderful 'Carbon Weevils' animation.

Biosphere Beach Clean weekend a massive success

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Over 650 enthusiastic volunteers from the local community rallied together to clean
29 beaches between Lynton and the Cornish border
653 bags of rubbish were collected
57 bags of re-cycling waste

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve ‘Beach Clean Weekend', was a resounding success over the weekend of Friday 19th to Sunday 21st March. Thanks to everyone that took part. More

Tarka Trail scoops audio acclaim

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Tarka Trail scoops 4th in the Daily Telepgraph's list of top 10 countryside audio trails in the UK.

Next time you go for a walk and see people loitering by hedgerows with wires dangling from their ears, don't tut and dismiss them as yobs or wasters. They might just be having a lesson on the countryside. Daily Telegraph

It is not just the Tarka Trail. We are fortunate in the Biosphere Reserve to be leading the way on innovative interpretation. See Explore Braunton and look out for uploading as well as downloading on the Explore the North Devon Coast and WordQuest Devon literature and landscape interactive websites in 2011.

Ashmoor open for wildlife and people

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Devon Wildlife Trust has opened the gates to Ashmoor, its newest nature reserve and once the site of the foot-and-mouth burial pit. The site is accessible from the Tarka Trail near Meeth.

North Devon Journal article

Marine Conservation Zones - Biosphere takes the lead

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A NEW group formed by members of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve has been set up to co-ordinate local input on the creation of Marine Conservation Zones in northern Devon as a response to the new Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

Robert Down, chairman of the working group, said: "All of us acknowledge the need for conservation. Our aim is to identify and then safeguard the most precious North Devon marine environments by proposing levels of protection for them on which we hope to reach consensus." More in North Devon Journal

Euro windfall for Coast Path

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Spending £2.5 million on a public right-of-way might sound a lot in times of cutbacks, but the South West Coast Path is no ordinary trail.

It is a prime example of how the natural environment can support the economy and brings in around £222 million a year to the South West. The new funding comes from the Rural Development Programme for England and is to "improve the visitor experience" along the Coast Path. More

One of the first improvements will be at Watermouth Cove in the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in where walkers presently have to traverse a section of road when the tide is in. Other projects in the Biosphere Reserve area include improvements at Hillsborough in Ilfracombe and at Combe Martin, and works at Embury Beacon, a National Trust site in Hartland.

Tarka Trail Research

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0100

RESEARCH is being carried out on the use of the Tarka Trail - a fanmtastic way to explore the Biosphere Reserve We need your views. North Devon Journal article and link to on-line survey

The Coast's hidden gems

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

North Devon's Biosphere has the spectacular North Devon Coast AONB at its heart. The hidden gems of this extraordinary coastal area are revealed in a monthy series of articles in the North Devon Journal.

Arts brings the environment to life

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A vibrant arts sector in north Devon has, and will continue to bring the Biosphere Reserve's message about the benefits of this area's world class environment and the need for us all to play a part in sustaining that environment into the future to life. Read more of Matt Edworthy's article in the North Devon Journal

Biosphere Arts Strategy

Biosphere business wins Devon Sustainable Tourism Award silver

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Wheatland Farm, near Winkleigh, has won a silver award for sustainable tourism in this year's Devon Tourism Awards. BBC Radio Devon's Judi Spiers presented the award to Ian Ripper at a packed awards dinner in Kingsbridge (Thurlestone Hotel) on Thursday (30 September).

Wheatland Farm's owners, Ian Ripper and Maggie Watson, impressed the judges with their commitment to both carbon-cutting and education. Maggie said, "We've been monitoring our energy use, and the insulation, solar panels and other power saving devices mean the lodges use 75% less energy per occupied night than the average UK home." Wheatland Farm also has a ‘comfort-not luxury-policy' to cut consumption and, by encouraging guests to recycle, keeps an impressive 79% of its waste out of landfill.

But for Maggie and Ian it's their wildlife that's most important. Maggie explains: "The lodges and cottage make it financially viable to run Wheatland Farm for wildlife-including our barn owls, orchids and dormice. Our guests love the freedom and space, and they know it's their stay that makes our conservation work possible. We offer everyone a guided walk around Popehouse Moor, our Site of Special Scientific Interest nature reserve, as a thank you and people leave knowing they've helped look after the Devon countryside they came to enjoy."

More images

Commenting on the award, Ian said "We're delighted. It recognises four years of hard work and our belief that sustainable tourism should be mainstream, not luxury." He added, "We're not big, so I suppose in that sense we're exclusive, but people come here from all incomes and all walks of life. We've had someone pay with a cheque from Coutts & Co. and others who've asked for extra time to pay cash on arrival. Sustainable shouldn't be beyond most peoples' pockets".

Regional sustainability expert, Rob Buckley, of the Sustainable Building Resource Centre in Dorset, agrees, saying: "Wheatland farm completely disproves the ideas that quality needs excessive consumption, or that sustainable means hair shirts and cold showers. You get the comfort we've all come to expect and stunning surroundings. If there's a ‘luxury' it's knowing your holiday has a minimal impact on the environment. Wheatland Farm's lifestyle package minimises consumption without just 'bolting on' technology for the sake of it. It's a glimpse of the future we all hope to see, and invaluable education in winning over hearts and minds to real change in the way we live."

And Maggie and Ian want to spread the word further. Ian says "Come and stay-we're open all year for holidays or short breaks. But we also welcome visits from all sorts of groups, and particularly other tourism providers who want to talk about going greener.

"It's not about splashing the cash, it's about a different approach that values quality over consumption and celebrates wildlife and our environment. And so many Devon tourism providers have something to celebrate and share-our fabulous countryside is why people come to Devon. Lets help our visitors keep it that way!"

Wheatland Farm is owned and run by Maggie Watson and Ian Ripper. Contact telephone: 01837 83499 and 07780708747 www.wheatlandfarm.co.uk info@wheatlandfarm.co.uk. Ian Ripper has 20+ years of experience in sustainable tourism, particularly adventure travel. Maggie Watson has previously worked as a professional ecologist and as a science communicator.
In late 2006 they took over Wheatland Farm - a rather dilapidated and un-green business attached to a neglected Site of Special Scientific Interest (Popehouse Moor). Their dual aims have been to protect and enhance Devon's wildlife (making it financially viable through tourism), and to contribute to wider environmental issues by offering socially-sustainable low carbon holidays.

Ian and Maggie thank the Devon Wildlife Trust for its advice and support in managing their culm grassland Site of Special Scientific Interest, Popehouse Moor.

Wheatland Farm would be delighted to welcome any Devon tourism business for a half day visit and to talk about sustainability. Please just get in touch.

The Devon Tourism Awards are organised by Visit Devon

The Sustainable Building Resource Centre is co-located with the Dorset Centre for Rural Skills, at Blandford, Dorset

Apply for 2011 Sustainable Farming Award

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

2011 Biosphere Sustainable Farming award - applications now being taken.

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve is working with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) to recognise farmers that are making a positive contribution to the environment at the same time as being a sustainable business. The Biosphere Sustainable Farming Award is part of the FWAG Bronze Otter scheme. More.

Western Morning News (01/10/2010)

Yarde Orchard Wins DEBI Award

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Yarde Orchard won the award in DEBI's Sustainable Devon category.
Within a small site alongside the Tarka Trail, they have restored redundant buildings to create a café, bunkhouse and camping area that draw on the potential of the Trail. The site uses the power of the sun for heating water and pumping water, harvests rain for washing, toilets and hot water. Wood is coppiced from the trail for cooking, space and water heating.

Swift Conservation Talk

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Come along to a talk about Swift Conservation at St John's Arts and Crafts Centre, Hartland, 11am Wednesday 9th February. The talk will be given by Mark Smyth who has been studying swifts in Northern Ireland for many years. He will be talking about what swifts need and what we can all do to help their plight. Swift Conservation Poster

Wheatland Farm shortlisted for Green Tourism award

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Eco Lodge at
Wheatland Farm

Wheatland Farm, North Devon, has been shortlisted for Britain and Ireland's ten 'Gold Star' green tourism awards to be presented by well-known sustainability champion Tony Juniper during Green Tourism Week in June 2011.

The shortlist of 40 represents the 'cream of the cream' - drawn from 400 businesses rated 'gold' on green business practices in 2010 by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

Wheatland Farm, which boasts a nationally-recognised 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' nature reserve, is owned by Maggie Watson and Ian Ripper. Maggie said, "We're delighted. We have held a gold award under the scheme since 2008 but to be short listed for a coveted 'gold star' really picks us out and recognises our commitment to Devon's growing green economy."

Ian Ripper added, "Our income comes from Devon's world-class environment, and it's crucial to us that we make our living without jeopardising its future. Managing our land for wildlife, minimising energy use, and cutting waste by nearly 80% are all part of that. And we'd love to share our experience further. If any local tourism business is interested in going greener please get in touch - that's a genuine free offer!"

GTBS is the only nationally-recognised scheme grading sustainability across the tourism industry, and is supported by regional tourism bodies such as South West Tourism. The South West has the highest number of scheme members - 413 out of over 2000 in total across the UK and Ireland.

Confluence arts and science project begins

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Confluence, a £70,000 arts and science project will begin after Easter 2011.

Four confluence artists will work with communities, schools groups and local artists together with I-dat, a research group at the University of Plymouth, at a number of locations along the River Torridge between Beaford and Appledore. They will use data collected by ECOIDS (small sensor devices which collect live data, such as water levels, sounds, and temperatures) to see how the conditions in the river change and respond to it to explore people's impact on the environment.

The data will then be made available online and the artwork from the process will be exhibited in mobile inflatable domes at various as-yet-undecided locations. The first exhibitions will be in spring 2012.

The project is part-financed byn the Arts Council England and the European Agricultural Fund For European Development, via the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

Artists who want to get involved should e-mail the Confluence manager, Lisa Harty, at lisa.harty@googlemail.com

North Devon Journal Article, 17/03/2011 - by Adam Wilshaw

Arts brings the environment to life

Outstanding Fun

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A fantastic mix of environmental activties led to record breaking attendance by families at the The Big Sheep on Bank Holiday Monday. The Outstanding Day of fun, a partnership event between the Big Sheep and the North Devon Coast AONB certainly was 'Outstanding'. The nest box workshop led by the Biosphere was a tremendous success.
In addition to the AONB and Biosphere Service, activities were also run by Tom Hyde, wood sculptor, Wildchild Forest School, the Yarner Trust and Explore the Coast to raise awareness of our natural environment. The Burton Art Gallery and Museum were also present.

Biodiversity Features

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Biosphere Reserve Biodiversity Action Plan Launch

North Devon's AONB and Biosphere Service (NDABS) worked with the Biosphere Reserve Environmental Quality Working Group to put together a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for the Biosphere Reserve. 13 main habitats were identified within the Biosphere Reserve. Download the BAP section for each habitat

To celebrate the BAP, the North Devon Journal is highlighting these habitats in a series of monthly features:

Discovering a Sense of Place

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

"Fantastic idea brought to fruition. The children of Bolham School near Tiverton really did deepen their understanding of their environment and we must thank you." Laura Austin, Headteacher

"Fantastic project, enjoyed by both myself and all of the pupils who participated. We plan to continue our photography club - real geography at its best!" Rebekah East, Yeo Valley Primary Teacher

"Thank you for the opportunity it was great I loved the photo Frost Flower." Indiana Hunt, Yeo Valley Primary pupil (age 11)

Just some of the comments from pupils and teachers from 30 schools who joined invited guests at the preview showing of the "Discovering a Sense of Place" photographic exhibition.

A joint Biosphere Reserve, Beaford Arts and Devon Learning and Development Partnership project, it used the wonderful Biosphere environment and inspiration from the Beaford Ravilious photographic archive to strengthen and deepen young people's understanding and pride in where they live. The photos were of a phenomenal standard and the exhibition is likely to be installed at other locations such as libraries and local authority offices.

Biosphere Arts Strategy

Arts bring the environment to life - essay in the North Devon Journal

Community Clean up 2011

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Thanks to everyone that helped with the litter picking this June (2011). Where you live is now a better place and it has been an eye opener seeing how much waste we as a society produce and how much of that ends up littering our communities even in remote areas.

"It is important not to drop litter, as it makes the environment scruffy and is a danger to wildlife". Declan Hutchings, Yr 5, Winkleigh Primary school.

Some of the clean-ups:

14th June, 23 girls from the 2nd Northam Guides scoured the pebble ridge at Westward Ho for litter as part of their Community Award badge. In just 90 minutes they collected 8 bags of mostly nylon rope and plastic bottles.
15th June, in Winkleigh. 7 people were surprised to fill 10 bags during just 1 hour and find a skateboard and a record player discarded along a single lane. Pupils from Winkleigh Primary school also took part and collected a sack full in just 45 minutes.

Between 13 and 19th June on the Tarka Trail, more than a dozen students from the "Wholelife" project for people with learning disabilities based on an organic farm at Ashford, cleared 30 bags of litter
14th June - the RSPB organised some volunteers to clear around the Coast Path and Tarka Trail near Yelland.

"Clearing litter isn't the most fun thing in the world but it is great for our students to be making a positive difference". Matt Burridge from the Whole Life Project.

18th June. Clearing on the Tarka Trail by Bike north and South of East Yarde Cafe. A Biosphere Business doing its bit for the environment.
On Sunday 19th, 10 volunteers are filled a 2 ton trailer with rubbish collected from the Tarka Trail between the NDABS office at the old station in Bideford and Westleigh near Instow; one of the most popular tourist stretches of the Tarka Trail. 5 tyres, most of a broken up boat and bags and bags of polystyrene dominated the haul. Cans, bottles and metal were recycled. The clean was organised by the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service.

Tarka goes Euro

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The Tarka Trail is part of a new European Cycle West project to jointly promote cycling routes in Britain and the South West. Mark Porter from the Guardian tries out one of the "Velodyssey" route linking south-east Brittany and Devon, incuding the Tarka Trail. More

"The Tarka Trail Tea Room (in Bideford) is one of the many charming stops on the delightful north-south Devon cycle route" Mark Porter

Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Pre-application Public Consultation - 10th September to 10th November

Here are the details of the public exhibitions in your area.

Unlocking Our Coastal Heritage

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Dave Edgcombe, who is the AONB, Project Officer, has been working hard to establish the Hillsborough Heritage group and support North Devon Council to improve the condition of this important Iron Age Hillfort. English Heritage are delighted with the work and have featured it as a case study on their web site. Watch this space for more exciting new from the Geophysics survey which is currently taking place.

Monthly updates

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

There is always plenty going on in North Devon's Biosphere Reserve and the North Devon Biosphere Team is often at the heart of it.

Catch up with what we have been doing with our monthly e-bulletins

2011

Older quarterly updates

Nature Improvement Areas

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The Biosphere Reserve Partnership's bid for the creation of a Nature Improvement Area within the Biosphere has passed the first round assessment from Defra. It is 1 of 20 applications (from an England-wide total of 76) to be picked to go forward in a process to create for 12 areas.

Defra are providing £7.5million to support the establishment of these areas between 2011 and 2014

North Devon Biosphere's Nature Improvement Area

Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands initiative in the Culm Natural Character Area provides the foundation for this NIA project - it is conservation and enhancement at a landscape scale.
The project will work in targeted areas within the wildlife-rich 72,000 ha Torridge river catchment. MAP
It will tackle the threats this landscape now faces from climate change, poor land management and neglect

It will benefit wildlife and people by:

Securing long term ecological health of key Biodiversity Action Plan habitats (Culm grassland and associated wetlands, neutral meadow, wet woodland, hedgerows, rivers and streams) and species (marsh fritillary, curlew, freshwater pearl mussel) alongside that of the wider countryside
Improving water resource management and water quality
Helping to deliver Good Ecological Status (River Torridge) and improve flood risk management (particularly in Bideford) and bathing water quality (Instow)
Connecting robust habitat networks that can mitigate and adapt to climate change
Stimulating the development of a local woodland economy
Creating a One-Stop Shop approach to landowner advice
Increasing local participation in the natural environment with positive health outcomes and awareness of the benefits of ecosystem services.

For more information on the Biosphere Reserve partnership's Nature Improvement Area application contact Andrew Bell at the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service

General information

Nature Improvement Areas are a new name for the "Ecological Restoration Zones" proposed by the Government's "Making Space for Nature" Review. They will be places where:

* opportunities to deliver ecological networks, both in terms of large area scale and valuable benefits accruing to wildlife and people, are particularly high;
* a shared vision exists among a wide partnership including statutory and voluntary sectors;
* significant enhancements of the network can be achieved over large areas by enlarging and enhancing existing wildlife sites, improving ecological connectivity and/or creating new sites;
* the surrounding land use is better integrated with the management of the ecological network; wildlife habitats and underpinning ecosystem processes are restored, helping to mitigate climate change impacts; and
* people are inspired by their enhanced experience of the outside world.

Kynoch's Foreshore Local Nature Reserve

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Kynoch's Foreshore Local Nature Reserve was officially opened by Councillor Jeremy Yabsley, Chairman of Devon County Council and Councillor Andrew Eastman, Chairman of Torridge District Council on 21^st October 2011. The 39 Ha reserve includes both Kynoch's Foreshore, which is owned or leased by TDC and also 1.6km of adjacent Tarka Trail, owned by DCC.	Cllrs. Andrew Eastman and Jeremy Yabsley
	The opening event included talks by local experts about the importance of the reserve for wildlife. Mike Towns, from Devon Birds, talked about the role of the Taw Torridge Estuary for birds particularly curlew and redshank and how the reserve plays an important location for these birds at high tide. Janice Whittington, local ecologist talked about the adjacent bat roost of 500+ pipistrelle bats and how the reserve forms an essential feeding ground for both these and other bat species particularly Daubentons bat
Finally, Pete and Pip Jollands from the Hallsannery Centre went through the various plant species found on site, from Spartina at the edge of the mud through to Phragmites at the top of the site. They also talked about the importance of the site for education.	The LNR contains the largest saltmarsh in Torridge and it is one of the most significant salt marshes for wildlife in the Taw Torridge Estuary. Previously, because the reserve is above Bideford's Old Bridge, it was outside the SSSI but designation as an LNR should help protect this important habitat for the future.
Some of the species you might see
Golden Plover	Gyrinus.substriatus
Salicornia	Atriplex portulacoides
Curlew	Phragmites communis

Badgers on the Tarka Trail

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The North Devon AONB & Biosphere Team has been working closely with Devon County Council's local highways team to resolve a tricky dilemma involving badgers on, or rather under, the Tarka Trail.

Badgers have created a sett, (the place where they live) right inside the embankment carrying the Tarka Trail. Badgers dig large homes with lots of entrance holes, tunnels and chambers and their recent work has caused subsidence and subsequent damage to the Trail surface. In addition, the sett is compromising the embankment flood defence because their tunnels link both sides of the causeway.

Badgers are a protected species and it is un-lawful to harm or disturb them. It is also illegal to damage or destroy their homes so dealing with this issue is not easy and requires a licence from Natural England.

The terms of the licence required us to create a replacement 'artificial sett' into which the badgers could move. We created a posh two storey, multi chambered, warm dry sett right next door to their current one and it is ready for them to move in. There is still space for the badgers to dig, however should they try to tunnel beyond the confines of their new home, heavy duty wire mesh than lines the inside of the bank will prevent them from becoming a nuisance again.

The process has now begun to evict the badgers from their old sett. One way gates have been installed on its entrance holes to allow badgers out, but not back in. At the same time we are encouraging them to use the replacement sett by enticing them with peanuts. Badgers begin to breed in December and it is hoped that they will adopt their new home and raise cubs in splendid comfort without causing havoc on the Trail.

Update: The new badger sett is complet and the old one has been closed off. Monitoring is underway and there is already evidence of digging activity so we think badgers have started to explore the new site. We are presently awaiting consent from the Environment Agency so we can repair the damaged embankment.

Environmental Business of the Year

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Lucy and Laurie at Source Renewables of South Molton have won an award at the North Devon Journals business awards in the category for environmental business of the year!

Source Renewables signed up early on to our Investing in Nature scheme for businesses. A well deserved award to recognise all the work they have put in to growing their young business!

Google Streetview of the Tarka Trail

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Last year the Google Trike was out mapping the cycleway as part of a
collaboration with UNESCO to map World Biosphere Reserves and Heritage Sites around the globe. The Tarka Trail was one of the chosen sites and it is now live on Google Streetview. Find out more with our Street View Guide.

Streetviews of Tarka Trail

Biodiversity Offsets success

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Biosphere team has received news from Defra that, after submitting an expression of interest, we have been chosen to lead one of six national pilots for Biodiversity Offsetting. This is an important step that means that we can engage more in planning and development control issues and make sure that they contribute towards improving the wildife value of the Biosphere Reserve and some other parts of Devon included in the offsetting pilot. Map of offset pilot areas.

We will be meeting with representitives of Defra in December to discuss the proposal in more detail with a view to starting implementation in April 2012.

Our Biosphere Partnership provides a powerful mechanism for translating national policy into local practice and for trialling new ways of working that deliver local solutions for local problems in the true spirit of Biosphere Reserves as test-beds for sustainable development. Being a a pilot area for the approach in the UK is doing just that. Dr Mike Moser, Chair of the Biosphere Reserve Partnership

Biodiversity Offsetting- what is it?

Biodiversity offsets are conservation activities designed to deliver biodiversity benefits in compensation for losses, in a measurable way. We think it has the potential to deliver planning policy requirements for compensation for biodiversity loss in a more effective way. More

Devon Biodoversity offset pilot areas

For more information contact the Biosphere on 01237 423655

Pearl Rivers Pilot Project launched

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This new pilot project has just been launched and aims to improve water quality along the River Mole for the benefit of wildlife including the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel, by involving farmers and the local community. The project is a partnership between the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service (NDABS), the Tarka Country Trust and the Environment Agency. More

Atlantic Array Latest

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

A summary report of feedback from the formal public consultation held on Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm is now available.

The report has been produced by RWE npower renewables, to explain how public feedback is being considered, as work to prepare an application for the proposed offshore wind farm in the Bristol Channel progresses. The summary of formal public consultation feedback, along with further information on the Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm, can be found atRWE Atlantic Array