Westcountry Rivers Trust Despite the fact the River Torridge rises only 12 miles from the coast, this ancient river has decided to take the scenic route. Measuring 50 miles long, this river slowly meanders its way through woods and farmland, taking in every inch of the glorious Devon countryside.
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-torridge/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Rising on the southern slopes of Dartmoor, The River Yealm navigates through rock gorges and sedate farmland before draining into the sea near Wembury.
The Yealm winds its way through some stunning towns and villages such as Cornwood, Newton Ferrers and Nos Mayo. All of which provide a lovely day out!
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-yealm/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Rising on the Southern slopes of Dartmoor, the River Erme bubbles and flows through granite and clay before joining the English Channel in Bigbury Bay.
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Erme Estuary is a fantastic spot for Bird watching. Egret, Curlews, oyster-catchers ans kingfishers have all made this special place their home.
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-erme/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Stretching 60 miles from source to sea and reaching into both Devon and Cornwall, the river Tamar shapes our history, our lives and our identities.
From the patchwork fields, moorland and skylines that surround us, to the food we eat, the businesses we run and the daily experiences we have it flows through everything we do.
It provides 116 million litres of water for us every day, to drink, to wash in, to water our gardens and to clean our cars. Its banks and tributaries are a place for our kids to play, for our dogs to cnufle and for our Sundays to lazily unwind. It plays a part in the food we see on our plates, how our bills add up and even whether we get to work on time.
In short, the Tamar is part of us all – and we are part of it..
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-tamar/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Springing into life high on the southern slopes of Dartmoor, The River Avon meanders its way down through town and villages, nourishing the land and providing ample opportunities for enjoyment.
The Avon Estuary walk is beautiful walking route were you are certain to spot some the wildlife that make their home on or in the River Avon
https://wrt.org.uk/project/devon-avon/
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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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The Tamar Estuary MCZs are located in two spatially separate areas. The MCZs cover an area of approximately 15 km2 and include the upper reaches of the Tamar and Lynher estuaries of South Devon and Cornwall.
The sheltered habitats found within this site are subject to various salinity levels and tidal exposures. This diverse estuarine environment supports a number of features of ecological importance. These MCZs are particularly important as they are the only site where smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) is protected. Smelt is a migratory fish species which has suffered large declines throughout its range and is known to breed in the Tamar.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-conservation-zone-2013-designation-tamar-estuary
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Forming the largest and highest uplands in southern Britain, the iconic landscapes of Dartmoor are founded on granite and mantled in peat. Deluged with nearly two metres of rain each year, the rocks and woodlands grow thick with an exceptional growth of lichens, mosses and liverworts.
https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/nature-reserves-important-plant-areas/important-plant-areas/dartmoor
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Black-a-Tor Copse is an area of woodland, granite clitter (rocks) and moorland 380 metres above sea level. The reserve is one of Britain’s best examples of high altitude oak woodland and is nationally important for the variety of lichens and mosses that clothe the trees and rocks.
Main habitats: woodland
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Bellever Moor and Meadows makes a great introduction to Dartmoor. Walk in wildflower upland meadows and between ancient drystone walls to experience great views of this part of central Dartmoor.…
About the reserve
If you go down to Bellever Woods today, venture a little distance from the picnic site to be sure of a wildlife surprise. Just nearby are 70 hectares of the new Bellever Moor and Meadows nature reserve, waiting to be explored.
This is one of our newest nature reserves. In 2016 we began a lease from the Forestry Commission which will mean we undertake the management of this wonderful moorland site until at least 2041. We've already begun enhancing the land for wildlife and have been busy improving visitor access with new gates, waymarked routes and even a bench or two!
The reserve stretches over a mosaic of 40 small fields grouped in two areas around Naked Hill and Bellever Farm in the north of the site, and Laughter Hole to the south, featuring a variety of traditional Dartmoor meadows. It's a great place to explore.
Enjoy a walk of discovery through the different drystone-walled field compartments, encountering as you wander flowery hay meadows, rush pasture, purple moor grass mire, heathy grassland, moorland, unimproved, semi-improved, and rough pasture, plus a small stream connecting to the East Dart river and tor-capped views across the Dartmoor landscape.
On a summer's stroll look out for the colours of yellow rattle, tormentil, black knapweed, mouse-ear hawkweed, red bartsia and eyebright studding the grassland. In autumn its the turn of pink ballerina wax cap mushrooms to add colour.
Remembrance of things pasture
These are species of ancient pasture and meadow; Duchy of Cornwall records show a farmstead has existed here since at least 1355, while archaeological hut circle remains on Naked Hill are evidence of farming settlement from prehistoric times.
With further active restoration the meadows should support more wildlife as the project progresses. Future return visits will be rewarded with more species to spot and richer habitats to investigate.
Site Improvements
We are delighted to have received over £16,000 from Viridor Credits to fund improvements across our Bellever Moor & Meadows nature reserve. These improvements will include nearly 3km of new fencing and the creation of 36 hectares of beautiful wildflower meadows.
Improvement work at the nature reserve has benefited from the support of Suez Communities Trust, which provides grants through the Landfill Communities Fund. This important source of funding has been available since 1997 and supported worthy projects with over £1.4 billion.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/bellever-moor-and-meadows
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