Woodland Trust Huxham Brake is a quiet, mostly coniferous woodland with lots of wildlife, especially in the deciduous edges. Hilly and muddy, it can be challenging to find your way through, but it is lovely for a peaceful nature filled walk.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/huxham-brake/
Little Devon Huxham Brake Woods Walk, East Devon
A walk through a towering coniferous woodland with meandering paths and a surprising short interval through a field with an impressive view.
Huxham woods, just 3 miles from Exeter, is a beautiful loop especially in the low light of winter. It’s perfect for little legs that like to explore a woodland and get very muddy – it might be a bit tricky for the really little ones though!
The brief walk through the field a third of the way through offers gorgeous countryside views, reminding us why we love where we live. The Outdoor’s Group also host their forest school here so you may be lucky enough to spot the kettle boiling, but unfortunately (and understandably) the equipment is only for their use.
https://www.littledevon.co.uk/huxham-brake-woods/
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Wonderful views of the Exe Valley beyond the city stretch from this peaceful corner. Enjoy grassland walks at Belvidere, or visit Duryard for a good picnic site overlooking the valley.
About the reserve
Duryard and Belvidere Valley Park is one of six Exeter Valley Parks managed by Devon Wildlife Trust.
Two sites to explore over 11 hectares near the University of Exeter, with some very long views and peaceful meadow walks in a local nature reserve.
Did you know, Duryard was once a Royal Saxon deer park. (dur meaning deer and yard meaning hunting area)?
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/duryard-and-belvidere-valley-park
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CareMoor Woods & Trees Appeal 2021/2
We need your help to create a brand new Exmoor woodland called Bye Wood, near Winsford.
It is part of the biggest woodland creation project to have taken place in the National Park in the past 15 years and forms part of our commitment to increase tree cover on Exmoor from around 13.5% to at least 17% by 2050 - the amount recommended by the UK government’s independent Climate Change Committee.
https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor/caremoor-welcome/woods-and-trees-appeal-bye-wood
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExmoorNP (17.8k)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/exmoornp (12.9k)
Twitter; https://twitter.com/CareMoor4Exmoor (705)
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Newton Abbot Museum This amazing 13th century survivor in the middle of town is available to visit thanks to the hard work of our volunteers. The open season usually runs from mid-May to September every Wednesday between 10am – 1pm. It is also open on some Saturdays, usually when there is an event on in the town centre. Each year opening of the Tower is announced on Facebook, where current dates are kept pinned to the top of the page throughout the season.
https://museum-newtonabbot.org.uk/visiting/st-leonards-tower/
St Leonard's Tower Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Newton.Abbot.Museum
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewtAbbMuseum
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Just five miles from Exeter city centre, Exminster and Powderham Marshes are great places to see birds all year-round. Enjoy a lovely walk here in this fascinating landscape, where flocks of geese, ducks and waders are numerous. Regular visitors include lapwings, redshanks, wigeons and warblers.
Find a range of tasty refreshments on sale in the car park from Hope Coffee Wednesday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm every week. From drinks to cakes, be sure to share what wildlife you see with Hope Coffee to add to their sightings board while you visit! You can also get refreshments from the Swan’s Nest Inn and the Turf Hotel (closed in some winter months).
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/exminster-and-powderham-marshes/
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSPBExeEstuary/ (1.1k)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSPBExeEstuary (2.8k)
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Located on the outskirts of Exeter, Darts Farm is home to a large variety of wildlife. These include flocks of linnets, fieldfares and redwings during the winter, dragonflies, skylarks and kingfishers in summer. There's also a popular shop and tearoom here, part of a larger shopping complex.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/darts-farm/
https://www.dartsfarm.co.uk/lifestyle/rspb
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSPBExeEstuary/ (1k)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSPBExeEstuary (2.5k)
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Marine Conservation Zones protect our diverse species and habitats in the “blue belt” around the English Coast.
Marine Conservation Zones are areas that protect a range of nationally important, rare or threatened habitats and species.
There are 91 MCZs in waters around England. You can see where the zones are on JNCC’s interactive map.
These were designated in two phases after a process closely involving stakeholders. The first 27 zones were designated on 21 November 2013. 23 sites were designated in the second phase on 17 January 2016. Following consultation, 41 sites and 12 additional features were designated on 31 May 2019. Updated GIS data for all designated MCZs has been published.
The third phase essentially completed the UK Blue Belt and our contribution to the ecologically coherent network in the North East Atlantic in terms of the representation of species and habitats.
Similar schemes are operating in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to contribute to a UK wide network of marine protected areas.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-conservation-zone-designations-in-england
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Leave the city centre to explore the fields, cherry orchards and wooded lanes of Ludwell Valley Park. Follow trails along the Northbrook stream or climb to the top of Pynes Hill for stunning views over Exeter.
About the reserve
Ludwell Valley Park is one of six Exeter Valley Parks managed by Devon Wildlife Trust.
The park is a working farm on the edge of the busy city of Exeter. Many of the fields provide free access to people wishing to enjoy this tranquil setting.
Next to the farmland is Wonford Playing Fields where there is space to kick a ball around, jog with the dog, or take a leisurely stroll beside the Northbrook. The valley is a real wildlife haven. Harvest mice nest in the fields, whitethroats and blackcaps skulk in the hedgerows and orange-tip and painted lady butterflies feed on the wildflowers.
Getting around the park
Access is from Ludwell Lane, Topsham Road, Parkland Drive and Pynes Hill. There is a range of circular walks.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/ludwell-valley-park
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Welcome to Cranbrook Country Park, 30 hectares of beautiful varied habitats and public amenity spaces.
The natural world and our existence go hand in hand and it is so important for everyone to have access to green spaces. The health and wellbeing benefits of green spaces are immense and being outdoors in nature has been proven to deliver lasting mental health benefits. Not only that, green spaces help reduce pollution by filtering dust and pollutants from the air; they draw carbon out of the atmosphere helping in the fight against climate change; they provide a range of food and habitats for wildlife, and trees in particular help reduce the erosion of soils during flooding.
Cranbrook is so fortunate to have this incredible resource at the heart of its community.
https://www.cranbrooktowncouncil.gov.uk/country-park/
Map https://www.cranbrooktowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Country-Park-Map.pdf
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cranbrookcountrypark (970)
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Paths lead you through a heathland landscape of gorse and heather. A great place to spot secretive reptiles and nightjars.
About the reserve
This is one of the best remaining examples of the heathland landscape which once dominated this part of Devon.
Take any one of a number of paths to explore the reserve's heather and gorse covered landscape. As you go look out for basking reptiles - common lizards, adders and grass snakes all live here.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/bovey-heathfield
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