North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve UK
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Young Farmers learn traditional hedgelaying

8/3/2017

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Anstey Young Farmers Club members, who were keen to learn traditional hedge laying, took part in a practical workshop run recently by our own 'Mr Hedge', Tom Hynes.  Two of the group members had applied for mid tier Countryside Stewardship and have a lot of hedge laying to do over the next couple of years.

The participants learned how to lay a hedge at Westlake Farm in Oakford using traditional hand tools.  During the day they were joined by Mr Stevens, the grandfather of the family farm, who recounted tales of hedgelaying in his youth.  Mr Stevens was pleased that the same rules applied today such as always laying "steepers" uphill but the introduction of the chainsaw has helped to speed the whole process up. 

"It's good to see this kind of enthusiasm to learn traditional rural skills" said Tom. "I was very impressed by the quality and quantity of hedge laying that  the group carried out during the workshop. They will now be able to take those skills and put them into practice at their own farms".
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Should you know of a group who would be interested in learning  hedgelaying, please get in touch with us via the Biosphere mailbox.

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Hedges & Edges

27/1/2017

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The Biosphere Reserve recently had a visit from Jake Sewall, Professor of Environmental Science at Kutztown University, Pennsylvania.  He was visiting as part of a sabbatical study on how to effectively manage edges of land to benefit local ecosystems.  Jake spent a day with Tom Hynes, North Devon Biosphere, and  a day with Rob Wolton, Devon Hedge Group looking at Devon hedges, their management, wildlife value and their role in involving communities in their management.
Tom Hynes and Jake Sewell
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Taw Fishing Club doing their bit

24/1/2017

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Come rain or shine, fishermen are often beside the river and are well placed to help look after them. Here are some of the things that the Taw Fishing Club have been doing and are planning for 2017;
Last September the Club continued with its programme of improving trout, sea trout and salmon spawning conditions. A total of 14 riffles were cleaned of sediment using aeration (right). This has  significantly improved the condition of the gravel and will go a long way to increasing the number of salmonid redds (nests) and consequently, the successful production of more fry. This work was funded by the Club and a grant from the West Country Rivers Trust.
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This year the Club will be improving access to the river and enhancing in-river and bankside habitats. Coppicing is vital technique for this and in 2017 Club members will coppice about ¾ of a mile of river-side growth. 
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Club members hope to expand the coverage of the Riverfly invertebrate monitoring programme in the Taw, building on the success of the programme in the nearby Torridge. The club will also continue to look out for alien invasive species such as the American Signal crayfish (left) in and alongside the River.
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Maize Workshop in Merton

13/12/2016

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Maize is an increasingly important crop in the Biosphere area but one that, without careful management and husbandry, can have significant detrimental effects on the local environment, especially after harvest.

Local farmers are invited to this free workshop in Merton on 26th January to meet with John Morgan of the Maize Growers Association and learn more about making the most from this crop with the minimal effect on the environment. Includes farm walk.

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Desirable Residences for Barn Owls

12/12/2016

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With funding from the Tarka Country Trust's Community Wildlife Fund, Phil Metcalfe, who volunteers with the Biosphere Service, has been making barn owl boxes to give to landowners with suitable habitat and buildings. Modern agricultural sheds are generally unsuitable for barn owls because they do not have ledges where nests can be built.  But the addition of a nest box can change a new building into a desirable residence for barn owl.

​The boxes follow the tried and tested design produced by the Barn Owl Trust.  Most of the boxes will be going in barns but where no suitable barns can be found the boxes will be put in trees. The entrance hole on all the boxes is high up so that fledglings owlets have to be able to fly a certain amount before gaining access to the outside platform. 

​Phil will be making 20 barn owl boxes and although many already have an agreed location, there are still some available.  If you have a suitable barn and suitable feeding habitat nearby (rough grassland) and are interested in putting up a box please contact Phil Metcalfe
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Riverfly citizen science project - results 2016

6/12/2016

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The last Riverfly sampling for 2016 was completed in September. During the year, our 32 volunteers took 144 samples from 33 different sites in the Torridge catchment and, new this year, 1 on the Taw. Only 4 samples failed their trigger level test, and after investigation, the Environment Agency attributed them to the dry Autumn and low flows.

Download the full year report
2016 Results Report
File Size: 8794 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Community road verge project gets underway

8/11/2016

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Road verges are an important wildlife resource and an integral part of Devon's heritage. On behalf of the North Devon Biosphere, the Tarka Country Trust is delivering the “Life on the Verge – Biosphere” project.

Over three years, it will help community groups in the Biosphere to identify and ‘adopt’ local verges, and manage them for wildlife and community benefit. Volunteers will be trained in biological recording and, through DCC’s basic Highway Safety Awareness Training course, to work safely by the roadside.
Communities will have access to funds, equipment and expertise to help them manage their chosen verges and promote their achievements. Case studies and best-practice guidance will help recruit more communities and sustain he volunteer network once the project ends. The project is supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund with a variety of contributions from other partners.

Clare Manning has just been appointed as the Project Coordinator.
Press release announcing the start of the project
File Size: 490 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Torridge headwaters facilitation Fund Autumn Workshops

3/11/2016

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Barn owls, slurry management, soil regeneration, the importance of clean rivers and non-native invasive species.

These free workshops throw open many hiddens aspects of countryside management
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Volunteer Day at Fremington Local Nature Reserve

25/10/2016

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Local Volunteers have helped clear bramble and scrub which had been encroaching one of the traditional meadows at Leat Meadow, part of Fremington Local Nature Reserve.  This joint project between Fremington Parish Council, North Devon Council and the Biosphere has meant that next summer there should be more space for wildflowers at this nature reserve.  The site was recently surveyed by Devon Biodiversity Centre and the bramble encroachment was identified as having a negative effect on the wildlife value of the site.  Sophia Craddock, a local volunteer with the Biosphere, said
 
“When all the raking up of cut bramble was completed, we were able to put up some bat and bird boxes around the reserve, which should help provide some good nest sites for wildlife next summer.”
 
The next volunteer event will be in late winter.  Details of when and where are still to be confirmed.
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“Scrape” for Wildlife at Fremington Local Nature Reserve

29/9/2016

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A scrape is similar to a pond except that it is shallower and may dry up in summer.  The muddy margins are really important at providing insect-rich areas where birds can feed.  At Fremington Local Nature Reserve the management committee ((Biosphere, North Devon Council and Fremington Parish Council) have created a new scrape to improve the wildlife value of Lovell’s Field.  The funding was from a section 106 agreement from the adjacent development.  Guidance from the RSPB was followed for the design of the scrape and the work was carried out by a local contractor.
 
The muddy margins support high densities of non-biting midge larvae, aquatic insects and, around the edges, earthworms.  These are important food for wading birds, like lapwings and redshanks, and for wader chicks. Two days after the scrape was completed a dragonfly was seen investigating the perimeter of the scrape.

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telephone: 01271 388647