News & Events

Hedge laying at Muckwell / Middlecombe Farm: Saturday 24th January

Try your hand at traditional hedge laying with National Trust wardens and be prepared for an active day.  Bring stout footwear, gardening type gloves and packed lunch.  9.30am - 3.30pm, £10.  Meet at Beesands parking on the road outside the Cricket Inn.  Booking essential call: 01752 346585

Learn to prune: Sunday 25th January

Learn how to prune apple trees - old and young at this hands-on day course.  10.30am - 4pm in beautiful old orchards near Totnes.  £20, £15 to Orchard Link members.  Wear stout boots; bring lunch and waterproofs and secateurs or loppers if you have them.  A selection of tools will be available.  All participants must be prepared to work up a ladder.  To book, and for further details call 01364 653169

Changing Climates. Changing Landscape: Sunday 25th January

There's nothing new about climate change, it's been happening for millennia!  Come on a walk around Prawle Point and you will see how changing climates and sea levels have shaped the land, producing the stunning scenery we enjoy today! 
Meet at East Prawle village green at 10.30am return around 1.30pm for a lunchtime drink in the pub.  Bring a snack.  4.5 miles, some slopes and rugged paths.  Adults £3, children £1.  Booking essential as event dependent on numbers.  Call 01752 897034 by 25th January.

SDF news

Green Leaves
Green leaves is run by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) encouraging people to enjoy a residential conservation project in beautiful South Devon, keep fit, learn new things and get to see the area all at the same time! They are running 2 working holidays, based around beaches and the marine environment.  Workshops during the holiday are all led by local experts and the package on offer uses as much local food and services as possible.  Practical conservation days are led by BTCV staff and locals have been welcomed as they've joined in with the fun for the day.  

West Charleton Path Link
A new path has been created in West Charleton providing safe access for residents including school children, and visitors to key village locations and facilities without having to walk along the busy main road.  This project links into the ‘Safe Routes to School’ initiative and the existing public rights of way network around the village, in particular to the wonderful paths that stretch south of the village to the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary, the bird hide and Frogmore Creek. The official opening organised by the Parish Council will take place in January. 

Contact Liz Davey AONB Communities Officer, 01803 861183

Calling for japanese knotweed champions

Japanese knotweed causes damage to buildings and road surfaces, and is difficult to control and expensive if ignored. It smothers native plants and spreads rapidly. The tiniest of fragments can form new plants.

We are currently seeking volunteers across the AONB to act as 'japanese knotweed champions' informing us of locations around the area that are affected by this invasive plant. If you are willing to help us raise awareness of the problem so that we can work with landowners to tackle the "invader" and prevent its spreed, please get in touch.

Contact Roger English AONB project officer, 01803 861384

Local Action group progress

A well attended open meeting in Kingsbridge on 17th November celebrated the award of £1.8million of rural regeneration funding for our area. The new programme aims to support innovative community-led projects that bring environmental, economic and social benefits to the area. The scheme was "opened for business" at the meeting and any groups interested in submitting a project idea for funding were asked to register it with Devon Renaissance (who are providing the administrative service). A project officer will be recruited shortly, based in the area, to help groups take their proposals forward. The funding is provided through the Regional Development Agency but is managed locally: at the meeting, there was a call for volunteers to act as local project appraisers and members of the local management group, and further nominations are still invited.  
 
If you would like to get involved or register a project, please contact Liz Abell liz@ruraldevon.org
 

Marine Bill announced in Queen's speech

The Marine and Coastal access bill is a new approach to managing the marine environment. The Bill will introduce a new planning system for managing the marine area, improve and simplify arrangements for managing marine development, ensure greater protection for the marine environment and biodiversity, and provide greater recreational access to the English Coast. It will also include the establishment of a new organisation to manage the seas around the UK. Marine Conservation Zones will protect nationally important habitats and species such as  eelgrass beds, seahorses and sea fans.

Contact Nigel Mortimer AONB estuaries officer, 01803 861465

AONBs to be better recognised

AONB representatives from across England and Wales have recently met to explore how a stronger national identity for AONBs could link the areas more closely. The workshop examined the branding used by protected landscapes in France and Germany and it was agreed that consultants would work up proposals to create a "family identity" which would assist the public in recognising protected landscapes much more easily. The proposals will be designed in such a way that it will mix and match with existing logos. It is anticipated that stronger branding would convey a more professional unified image and help to influence opinion formers more effectively.

A national communications working group will be integrating this initiative with the new AONB national communications strategy currently under review.

Please contact Diane Lethbridge AONB communications officer, 01803 861378

Wind turbine enquiry

The siting of three 100m tall wind turbines at Goveton just near the AONB boundary came in for close examination at public enquiry over the last two weeks, following earlier refusal of planning permission by South Hams District Council. In his statement to the Planning Inspector, the AONB manager demonstrated how the AONB designation almost encircles the proposed turbine site and how the turbines would have an overbearing impact on the open rural landscape of the AONB. The Inspector's ruling is expected early in the New Year.
 
All planning appeals in the South Hams are listed on http://www.southhams.gov.uk/index/business_index/ksp_development_and_planning/spec-search-planning-apps/spec_planning_apps_appeals_list.htm - the Goveton wind turbines are on page 3 of the list.