Background;
North Devon Biosphere is leading a project funded from Interreg Channel region to support the development of Bio-Cultural Heritage Tourism (BCHT).
This is defined as
BioCultural Heritage Tourism is a process of collaboration between inhabitants, businesses and environmental managers to create new experiential activities that celebrate the connections between humans and nature distinctive to the local area and cultural heritage. These aim to improve the benefits and limit the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, for instance by appealing to visitors in low season, getting visitors involved in sustainable land management activities, or by creating nature experiences facilitated by digital technology.
 
These activities are defined as those traditional practices that link people to the environment and through their practice have created or contributed to that distinctive environment. It could be active land or natural resource management, or more passive arts and crafts based. To help us plan and develop new activities, we are taking stock of the activities done within and outside of the 4 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves that might fit into this theme. Whilst not all activities might not be suited to the 4 Biosphere Reserves, it helps to make the approach more widely adaptable at other sites.
 
The Interreg project has 3 operational work packages:
WP1 Tourism master planning
WP2 Business Engagement
WP3 Demonstration projects
 
The project proposes a trial to develop a suite of BCHT products and packages in the Braunton area coordinated from the Braunton Countryside Centre. The development of these products is via a separate contract. The implementation of the new tourism activity will be coordinated by an “animateur” (the subject of this contract) who will identify suitable activities and facilitate tourists to engage with those activities that can be provided by the centre and or other providers.  The aim is to develop a commercially viable offer that can provide an income stream to the centre.
 

1. Stage 1
   1. Engage the identified providers of BCHT activities and ensure they are fit for purpose. (H&S, appropriate insurance etc)
   2. Brief the activity providers about the project and ensure they deliver a quality service
   3. To develop and provide a booking service for the tourism activities
   4. To provide a professional presence in the Braunton countryside Centre to operate as a hub and agent for the activity.
   5. To monitor the uptake of the packages and customer satisfaction and spend.
   6. Feedback comments to the providers and the steering group
   7. Frequent communications with the North Devon Biosphere team on the progress of the project.
   8. Monitor the income and spend on the activities, ensuring that use of the centre and facilities etc is properly accounted for and included in the price of the activities.
   9. The contractor is expected to provide 860 hours between July 2019 and September 2020. The actual distribution of time will be linked to the anticipated demand.

 
Specifications of the contractor for the work

• Degree level or equivalent in natural resource and or tourism management
• Motivated self-starter, able to use own initiative to solve problems
• Project creator,
• Organisation skills for events, etc
• Flexible working hours
• Competent computer skills in office applications
• Articulate communication skills, eg social media, Facebook etc
• Website experience or willing to learn
• Familiarity with North Devon preferred
• Sympathetic to the environment

 
Note; This is not a project providing direct employment to an individual. It is to provide a set of services under contract to DCC. Under such arrangement substitution is allowed by the contractor, provided that the contract specifications are met to the quality expected.
 
The contract will be with Devon County Council and will be co-managed with the Board members of the charity responsible for Braunton Countryside Centre.
 
Indicative budget:
£10770
 
To respond to the quote request for this contract, provide a letter of motivation and proposed method of working and a quote for the project. A CV covering relevant experience will be welcome.
 
Respond by 18th July to
Andrew.bell@devon.gov.uk
​

​The Landscape Pioneer and Marine Pioneer and our partners at WWF-UK are encouraging filmmakers to bid for two series of films that help people to understand the connection between our coast, rivers and sea and how important it is to us. 
 
We are looking for creative filmmakers who can produce a series of short films that showcase the range of benefits provided by our seas, why our Marine Protected Areas are important, and that will show how connected the land, coast and seas is, including to the people that live here.
 
To find out more, please follow the links below 

On 18th June, over 70 local farmers and land managers attended a free event on the important role of herbal leys and grassland management in improving soils, forage quality and animal health.  The event was organised jointly by FWAG SouthWest and the Taw Valley Facilitation Group, and held at Rothamsted Research’s North Wyke Farm, near Okehampton. 
 
The morning began with presentations by speakers Ian Wilkinson of Cotswolds Seeds and Luppo Diepenbroek from the AHDB (Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board) grazing group.  Areas of discussion included:

• Improving soil fertility and forage with herbal leys
• Rotational and mob grazing vs set stocking
• Improving drainage and preventing droughts
• Reducing the fertiliser budget and improving resilience
• Health benefits of diverse forage
• Benefits of herbal leys for wildlife and water quality.

The Natural Flood Management (NFM) interventions in the Acland Catchment have been log dams and uniquely designed hedgerows. These strategies work with environmental and natural processes, through an ecosystem based approach, to increase flood resilience of communities downstream. 

The Biosphere recently teamed up with Beaford Arts to support Devon Libraries for two events called Nature Tales, which is part of Libraries Unlimited's Unlimited Potential project.

The project, made possible by funding from Arts Council England, enabled the two events to take place.  Held at Torrington and South Molton Libraries, the events were aimed at pre-school families and linked libraries with the great outdoors.

The events began at the library with a mix of entertainment, which included stories, songs and puppets.  The children then went out into the Biosphere to follow a story walk, look for clues and experience the beautiful landscape. The children were also able to look closely at a selection of plants and insects under a microscope and using magnifying bug viewers.

Finally, they all returned to the library for snacks, natural crafts and a free goody bag.

The Biosphere Team recently spent a busy day coppicing on the Tarka Trail with members of local partner organisations, conservationists and dedicated volunteers.

This year we were joined by colleagues Devon Wildlife Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust, The Biosphere Foundation, National Trust, Northam Burrows Country Park and the North Devon AONB to name a few. As a thank you for all their hard work a festive BBQ and hot drinks were provided.
 
The photo on the left is the 'before' shot. You can clearly see that this area was in need of coppicing.  The many leaves covering the Trail makes the surface slippery and can really damage the tarmac by staying permanently wet.

Coppicing is highly effective way of managing woodlands and has greatly influenced our British woodlands.  The reasons we coppice are much more than just preserving the surface of the Trail for cyclists and walkers.  The increased light reaching the embankments will allow wild flowers and wildlife to thrive.


This photo below is of the area that was coppiced in 2016 and it really shows how much clearer the surface is.

This summer, the project achieved an exciting milestone. Thanks to our expert advisors, Evelyn Moorkens and Ian Killeen from Ireland, we were able to confirm live juvenile mussels for the first time in over 50 years. The juvenile mussels which had previously encysted on brown trout dropped off at our captive rearing facility in North Devon. This enabled us to collect them and return them to the River Torridge in specially selected locations. The captive breeding programme is currently in its second year, and during October 2017, the project was able to confirm a second year of successful glochidia (larvae) attachment on host fish.

The Riverfly citizen science programme now has a total of nine active sites in the River Taw catchment, up from two last year. There are another 37 in the Torridge catchment. Through monthly volunteer sampling of invertebrates, all of them provide regular data on river water quality. If there are any problems, the Environment Agency is informed so that they can investigate and take remedial action.

The Riverfly programme was started in the Biosphere in 2014.

The Biosphere were fortunate enough to be invited to set up a stall for the recent Royal visit, part of a 'Best of North Devon' showcase that took place in Barnstaple's historic Pannier Market.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall spent over an hour chatting to stall holders and representatives from various organisations including the North Devon Biosphere, Children’s Hospice South West, of which the Her Royal Highness is Patron, North Devon Hospice, and the North Devon AONB.
Andy Bell, Biosphere Coordinator said "I was pleasantly surprised when His  Royal Highness started the conversation by saying "Biosphere, I have heard about this and am very interested".  The conversation followed with talking about the work of the Biosphere Partnership on land and marine issues, and how we aim to improve the links between people and nature"