Local Nature Reserves

Volunteers building a bug hotel at Fremington Local Nature Reserve

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are all about connecting people and wildlife. They are places with special wildlife of local interest and are living green spaces that are important to people. Within the Biosphere Reserve there are six designated LNRs.

Whether it is coppicing, tree planting or path improvements, LNRs provide a variety of opportunities to get involved with the management and upkeep of these sites that are so valuable to communities and wildlife. Find out about volunteering opportunities within the Biosphere Reserve.

The Biosphere Reserve are keen to help set up further LNRs. If you are aware of land (usually publicly owned) that is important for wildlife and people please contact us to find out more about the designation process.

Existing LNRs within the Biosphere:

Ford Woods LNR was designated an LNR in 2013. It is a 7ha site of ancient semi-natural woodland, owned by Bideford Town Council.
Grid Ref: SS 450 258.

Fremington LNR - comprises of two separate areas. Lovell's Fields is a 4Ha wet grassland important for both wildlife and flood prevention, owned by North Devon District Council. Leat Meadow is a 3Ha mixture of woodland, coppice, scrub and wildflower-rich grassland owned by Fremington Parish Council. Fremington LNR Leaflet

Hillsborough LNR - cliff top graslands owned by North Devon Council and situated on the edge of Ilfracombe. This site is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Management Plan

Kenwith Valley - on the edge of Bideford, this site is owned by Torridge District Council. A friends group currently manage the site which includes a lake, new woodlands and traditional grasslands. The North Devon Biosphere have produced an assessment of the site to help guide future management. Kenwith LNR Assessment 2016
Kenwith Management Plan 2017

Kynoch's Foreshore LNR - designated in October 2011, this site is made up of the saltmarsh and mudflats owned or leased by Torridge District Council and the adjacent section of Tarka Trail, owned by Devon County Council. The LNR includes the largest saltmarsh in Torridge District and one of the most significant areas of saltmarsh in the whole Taw Torridge Estuary complex.

Meddon Green - was designated an LNR in 2006. It is owned by Hartland Parish Council and is Devon's only culm grassland LNR. It is run by an active management group with representatives from the parish council, local community and North Devon Biosphere. Management Plan 2017-27

Volunteering

The last volunteer event at Fremington LNR was a day of practical work including meadow cutting, putting up bird and bat boxes and clearing paths.
Volunteer Day 16th October.

Local groups manage the Local Nature Reserves and there are always opportunities to get involved.

Why not volunteer to help look after them?

Perhaps you could use one for a school or community learning activity?