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About the AONB

Wildlife

The AONB supports an outstanding diversity of habitats, wildlife and landform features – ranging from salt marshes, mud flats and estuaries to hedges, oak woodlands and coastal grasslands; and from sea arches, crags and cliffs to dunes, shingle and reedbeds.

Nature provides a varied, colourful landscape tapestry which enriches the lives of residents and visitors and underpins the tourism economy.

The AONB Management Plan and Partnership are committed to conserving and enhancing the diversity of wildlife habitats and species flourishing throughout the area.

• There are 4890 acres of designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest including National Nature Reserves at Slapton Ley and Berry Head in Brixham, and one Local Nature Reserve at the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary. Three Special Areas of Conservation include the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries, Berry Head and parts of the South Devon shoreline.
• Significant habitats include oak and wet woodlands; cereal field margins and species rich hedges; freshwater lagoons with marsh and reed beds; maritime grassland and heathland; flower-rich meadows and pastures including limestone grassland; maritime cliffs, slopes and caves; shingle; sand dunes; salt marsh; mud flats; estuaries; sea grass beds; and rocky foreshore and sea bed.
• Nationally or internationally rare species present in the AONB include the cirl bunting, greater horseshoe bat, strapwort, bittern and shore dock. There are many others, including species of bees, wasps, ants, spiders and lichens.
• Other characteristic species of wildlife include the great green bush cricket, Cetti’s warbler, otter, dormouse, brown hare, primrose, silver studded blue butterfly and little egret.
• Geological features include cliff and quarry exposures of marine Devonian slates, metamorphic schists of the Start peninsula, Permian sandstones and breccias, volcanic intrusions, and reef limestones with fossils.
• Important landform features include shingle bars and beaches, sea cliffs and raised beaches, and drowned estuaries.