Devon Wildlife Trust facts for kids
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| Predecessor | Devon Naturalists Trust |
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Region
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Devon |
The Devon Wildlife Trust is a special group that helps protect nature in Devon, England. It's part of a bigger family called The Wildlife Trusts partnership. This group started in 1961 to look after animals, plants, and their homes. They work to keep wildlife safe in cities, the countryside, and even in the ocean around Devon.
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Devon Wildlife Trust: Protecting Nature
What the Trust Does
Devon is a beautiful county with lots of wild spaces. About 20% of Devon is natural habitat, meaning it's a perfect home for wildlife. The county has two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, which are huge areas of natural beauty.
Devon also has a UNESCO biosphere reserve called the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. This is a special place where people live and work in harmony with nature. There are also five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). These include the Blackdown Hills, East Devon, North Devon Coast, South Devon, and the Tamar Valley.
Part of the famous Jurassic Coast is also in Devon. This is England's only natural World Heritage Site, known for its amazing fossils. The Devon Wildlife Trust works hard to protect all these important places.
How the Trust Helps Wildlife
The Devon Wildlife Trust does many things to help nature. They speak up about wildlife issues in Devon and across the country. They also look after about 58 nature reserves. These reserves are like safe havens for animals and plants. Some of these are very important places called Sites of Special Scientific Interest, like Bystock, Dawlish Warren, and Dunsford.
The Trust has about 37,000 members who give money to support their work. Around 300 volunteers also help out. These amazing people manage habitats on the nature reserves and run local groups. The Trust also has about 100 full-time staff members.
The main office and a visitor centre are at the historic Cricklepit Mill in Exeter. This building has a working 19th-century water mill. You can learn about the Trust's reserves and activities there. Outside, there's a peaceful wildlife garden, a green spot in the middle of the city.
Another visitor centre is the Wembury Marine Centre on the coast in Wembury. The Trust also manages Woodah Farm near Doddiscombsleigh. This farm is in a wildlife reserve and helps groups do research.
Special Places They Protect: Nature Reserves
The Devon Wildlife Trust manages many nature reserves. These are safe places where wildlife can thrive. Here are some of the reserves they look after:
- Andrew's Wood
- Ash Moor
- Ashculm Turbary
- Barley Valley Park
- Bellever Moor and Meadows
- Blackadon
- Bovey Heathfield
- Bystock Pools
- Chudleigh Knighton Heath
- Clayhidon Turbary
- Dart Valley
- Dawlish Inner Warren
- Dunsdon
- Dunsford
- Duryard and Belvidere Valley Park
- Emsworthy Mire
- Exe Reed Beds
- Exeter Valley Parks
- Halsdon
- Halwill Junction
- Hawkwood
- Higher Kiln Quarry
- Horsey Island, Devon
- Ideford Common
- Lady's Wood
- Lickham Common
- Little Bradley Ponds
- Lower East Lounston
- Ludwell Valley Park
- Mambury Moor
- Marsland
- Meeth Quarry
- Meresfelle
- Meshaw Moor
- Mill Bottom
- Mincinglake Valley Park
- New England Wood
- Old Sludge Beds, Exe Estuary
- Rackenford and Knowstone Moors
- Riverside Valley Park
- Ruggadon Middlepark
- Scanniclift Copse
- Sourton Quarry
- South Efford Marsh
- Stapleton Mire
- Stowford Moor
- Swanpool Marsh
- Teigngrace Meadow
- The Rough
- Uppacott Wood
- Vealand Farm
- Veilstone Moore
- Venn Ottery
- Volehouse Moor
- Warleigh Point
- Whitycombe Valley Park
- Wolborough Fen
- Woodah Farm Rural Skills Centre
Amazing Wildlife Campaigns
The Devon Wildlife Trust runs many campaigns to protect nature. Devon is special because it's the only English county with two coastlines. The Trust works with other wildlife groups to protect the amazing marine life in the oceans around Devon.
One of their most exciting projects is watching over the only wild beaver population in the UK. These beavers have been living in the River Otter since at least 2008. In 2014, they found baby beavers, called kits! By 2019, it was believed there were eight beaver families living along the river. This shows how important it is to protect these wonderful animals.
