Active projects

This is an overview of projects currently in progress by South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

What Makes South Devon Special?

South Devon AONB is a landcsape of exceptional beauty, fashioned by nature and the communitoes that live there. The What Makes South Devon Special project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, runs from April to October 2018. During the project we will work with a wide range of people from our communities, discover more about the AONB and look closely at the distinctive character of the natural heritage which makes up this nationally important landscape.

The Avon Valley Facilitation Group

The Avon Valley Facilitation Group is working with over 80 landowners in the Avon Valley to achieve landscape scale benefits for the area.

Growing Orchards Communities

The Growing Orchard Communities project aims to support local people to manage healthy orchards for the whole community to enjoy. It is run by Orchard Link, supported by the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Catchment Based Approach

The South Devon AONB Unit together with The Westcountry Rivers Trust is hosting The South Devon Catchment Partnership

AONB gateway signage

Village gateway signs have been installed in various parishes across South Devon to help identify them as being part of South Devon AONB.

South Devon Outdoors

South Devon Outdoors is made up of ‘like minded‘ businesses who share their passion for adventure with their love of South Devon’s coast, estuaries, countryside and wildlife.

Rate my View

This app is an exciting new way to capture and share what you really feel about the local landscape! It is part of a project being run by the South Devon AONB team and Plymouth University to discover new ways of exploring landscapes, better understand how we all see them and to discover what we particularly value.

Greater Horseshoe Bat project

The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project will  work for the next five years across the county  of Devon to secure a better future for the rare animal.

The Bigger Picture

This bigger picture project captures changes in the landscape over 20 years by taking photographs at key vantage points throughout the AONB.

B-Lines

The B-lines (Biodiversity-lines) project is being undertaken in partnership with Buglife and aims to provide a solution to the loss of wildflowers, bees and other pollinators in our countryside.

Permanent strips of wildflower-rich habitats will be created across South Devon from the west to the east, and from the north to the south, linking Dartmoor to the coast, and linking our towns and urban areas to the countryside. For more information about this project visit Buglife’s dedicated project page or contact us

Sustainable tourism - joining 'Our Land'

South Devon AONB has joined 'Our Land’, a sustainable tourism initiative designed specifically for protected landscapes.