Wildlife

The variety of wildlife in North Devon's Biosphere Reserve is amazing and it is home to a number of rare and characteristic habitats and species. These are not just confined to places like Local Nature Reserves or Sites of Special Scientific Interest, but are all around us. Some highlights include:

Culm Grasslands - This Internationally important habitat is unique to south west England and is increasingly rare that is increasingly scarce. As well as being home to rare wildlife like otters, dormice and the marsh fritillary butterfly, they help prevent flooding by soaking up water, holding on to it and releasing it gradually into the rivers.

Life Giving Estuary - The bed of the estuary is home to some very special creatures, from tiny pea crabs that live inside mussel shells to lugworms which burrow in the mud and Hydrobia snails that graze on its surface when the tide goes out. The mudflats are packed with nutrients so they can support millions of these fascinating worms and snails that in turn nourish wading birds such as Curlew, Godwits and Redshank. Up to 20,000 birds have been counted in a single day. Look out for the salt marshes - rare habitats and effective sea defences. Taw Torridge Estuary Forum

The Breathtaking Dunes - Braunton and Northam Burrows are the best places to see this habitat. Braunton Burrows is internationally recognised as one of the finest dune systems in the northern hemisphere. It is an amazingly rich habitat with hundreds of flowering plant species and associated animals.

The Sea - North Devon's Biosphere Reserve includes Lundy Island, England's first Marine Protected Area. As well as seals and variety of other marine species, Lundy's seas are also home to endemic (found no where else) coral. Coastwise North Devon Marine Conservation Society

Western Oak woodlands - Rich habitats with a plethora of pollution-sensitive lichens, strange organisms that are a partnership of algae and fungi. The clean damp air blowing in off the sea and across the Biosphere Reserve provides ideal growing conditions.

Otters - Henry Williamson's 1927 novel Tarka the Otter made this area synonymous with this shy creature. More than half a century later, the rivers of the Biosphere Reserve are still one of the best places to see otters, though you will still need to be very lucky.

Dormice - The Biosphere Reserve is one of the last strongholds for the secretive dormouse. The Coast and Countryside Service is currently carrying out various dormouse projects.

Glow worms - The Tarka Trail is a great place to see them. More (click the "tips" tab to find where to see them and the "species" tab to learn more about them)

Find out more about the characteristic habitats and species in Devon and what we are doing to help them in the Biosphere Reserve Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).

Other useful links:
RSPB

Devon Birds

Devon Wildlife Trust