Dartmoor’s extensive upland moorland core rises above the surrounding small-scale, enclosed, predominantly pastoral landscape. Granite unites and characterises the entire National Character Area (NCA). On the moors the distinctive tors create key landscape features, interrupting otherwise unbroken skylines and ridges, and provide focal points for visitors. Isolated farmsteads and scattered villages utilise granite for buildings and walls; and the area’s strong time depth and rich cultural heritage are visually evident because of the granite, which includes the largest concentration of prehistoric stone rows in Britain.
The high moors are overlaid with thick deposits of peat and support internationally important blanket bogs surrounded by large expanses of upland heathland and grass moorland. The bogs and valley mires absorb and store significant amounts of water, as well as carbon, released into the 16 rivers and 8 reservoirs that supply the surrounding urban and rural populations and industry. As rivers leave the high moor they flow through deep-cut valleys steeped in woodland – both semi-natural broadleaved and coniferous plantation. The fast-flowing rivers, strewn with granite boulders, are popular for recreation, both passive and active.
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5098832853467136?category=587130
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Wikipedia The estuary is a Special Protection Area and SSSI. It is also a Ramsar site.
The Exe Estuary is a site of international importance for wading birds, which feed on the estuary mudflats at low tide, and roost at high tide at the adjacent Dawlish Warren SSSI and Bowling Green Marsh. The RSPB has two nature reserves adjoining the estuary, at Bowling Green Marsh and Exminster Marshes.
Over 10,000 wildfowl and 20,000 waders winter on the estuary. These include dark-bellied brent goose (Branta bernicla), Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), ringed plover (Charadius hiaticula), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), and pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta).
The Exminster Marshes, a series of fields drained by dykes and ditches, carry several plants rare in Devon including parsley, water dropwort (Oenanthe lachenalii), flowering rush Butomus umbellatus and frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae. Dragonflies are also supported, such as the ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) and hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense).
The marshes are bounded by the Exeter Canal. Both are fringed by beds of common reed Phragmites australis, providing important habitat for Old World warblers.
Burrowing invertebrates are found in the sandbanks and mudflats. These include lugworm (Arenicola marina), peppery furrow shell (Scrobicularia plana), tellins Macoma spp., common cockle (Cerastoderma edule), pod razor (Ensis siliqua), sea potato (Echinocardium cordatum), and masked crab (Corystes cassivelaunus). Beds of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are food for Eurasian oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus). The estuary is the only British location for the polychaete worm Ophelia bicornia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exe_Estuary
Exe Estuary. 11/03/92; England; 2,346 ha; 50°39'N 003°27'W. Special Protection Area EC Directive; SSSI, Local Nature Reserve. The estuary includes shallow offshore waters, extensive mud and sand flats, saltmarsh, a complex of marshes and damp pasture, and an extensive dune system. The area is important for internationally important numbers of several species of wintering and passage waterbirds and functions as a refuge during severe weather. Ramsar site no. 542. Most recent RIS information: 1999.
https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/542
The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
The convention entered into force in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 5 May 1976.
The United Kingdom currently has 175 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 1,283,040 hectares.
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Originating on Dartmoor and entering the sea at Teignmouth, the River Teign boasts hugely diverse habitats that attract a large variety of birds and wildlife.
The Teign actually has two sources and these streams (the North and South Teign) descend the eastern slopes of the moor high above the village of Chagford.
From Chagford the River winds its way through the often wooded foothills of Dartmoor for nearly ten miles until below Dunsford it heads south, following the road to Chudleigh, Newton Abbot and ultimately into the estuary and the sea at Teignmouth.
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-teign/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust From the gathering raindrops that trickle into the Dartmoor landscape at the sources of the River Dart and its tributaries, to the gushing waters that flow into the sea at Dartmouth; there lies 60 km of this breathtaking waterscape to explore.
As the river journeys, it carves its way into the hillsides, cascades down waterfalls, surges under historic clapper bridges and winds its way though stunning Devonshire scenery to the coast.
And with every stretch of the river, there comes a unique landscape to explore and countless opportunities to enjoy it.
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-dart/
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Part of the massive Dawlish Warren sand spit at the mouth of the River Exe. This reserve is a vital home and migratory stopping off place for thousands of wading birds and wildfowl.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/dawlish-inner-warren
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East Dartmoor consists of 3 joined but distinct areas: Yarner Wood, Trendlebere Down and the Bovey Valley Woodlands. Together they provide an excellent example of internationally important western oakwood with its associated bird and lower plant communities.
Main habitats: woodland, open heathland, bogs, former meadows and streams.
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Stunning riverside walks through a wooded valley on the edge of Dartmoor. Beautiful at any time of year, Dunsford is famous for its wild daffodils in early spring.
An ideal place to explore Devon's wild side
Walk alongside the river Teign as it winds through a steep-sided valley of oak, ash and birch. Look out for kingfishers, goosanders, dippers and otters on the river. Tawny owls, flycatchers and woodpeckers live among the trees. Herds of fallow deer also regularly pass through its wooded valley. From the Clifford Bridge entrance climb to the top of Dunsford for great views and a chance to see fritillary butterflies skimming across the tops of bracken-covered slopes. Recently we've also cut a new path which climbs through Dunsford's woodland to a bench with wonderful views along the Teign Valley - well worth the effort!
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/dunsford
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The Chudleigh Rocks IPA centres on semi-natural woodland growing on Devonian limestone, base-rich shales with calcareous clay loam soils: a wide range of plant, bird and invertebrate species are to be found in the steep-sided valley.
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
This long, narrow reserve 'tumbles down' the western edge of the River Webburn. Within it you can climb a classic Dartmoor tor or explore woodland.
About the reserve
A reserve of two parts, Town Wood and Blackadon Down, featuring two of Dartmoor’s iconic habitats – steep wooded river valley and grazed bracken moor.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/blackadon
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This beautiful coastal reserve near Shaldon offers stunning views over Lyme Bay. Purchased to help secure the future of the cirl bunting, a rare bird whose population is almost entirely restricted to south Devon, it is also home to other key species, including peregrines, buzzards and yellowhammers.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/labrador-bay/
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