In so many cases where the abundance of wild species is falling, there is often a link with human activity, whether it is connected to pollution, changing climate and weather patterns or the loss of habitat from the development or depletion of natural features in...
On a rather damp Sunday morning a group of dedicated and trained volunteers went out to Duncliffe wood to check our nest boxes They had an unexpectedly successful visit. Other local woodland trust woods checked earlier this month didn’t reveal any Tawny owls but Duncliffe did...
In the ninth instalment of our “Bird of the Month” blog we go looking for one of Fingle’s less common species… but not where its name might suggest! By early April, although hard frosts still cover the valley floor on cold nights, there are signs of...
When the medieval inhabitants of the Teign valley introduced a herd of fallow deer to Whiddon Deer park, they could scarcely have imagined that 500 years later, we would be counting their descendants as they wander through Fingle Woods at night. It would be even...
Devon’s landscapes are often considered to be among the most beautiful and diverse in the country. From the wind-swept moors and steep river valleys of Dartmoor, rolling through the lush green hills of south Devon to the towns, estuaries and beaches along the sparkling coast,...
The distinctive thatched domes of wood ant nests are a ubiquitous part of the National Nature Reserve (NNR) landscape, frequently ignored or the cause of mild distress if you unknowingly stand within a foraging route on a woodland track. They may be one of life’s ‘you...
Whilst a lot of society is in lockdown restrictions with local walks or exercise being the only solace people can take from a laptop or home schooling, I’ve been lucky enough to be out in the woods creating habitat. We’ve been working in Halls Cleave in...
We held our first all-region volunteer zoom event on Thursday 10th December from 7-8.30pm. The event was attended by 28 people. The evening started with a welcome from Amanda Bealing Volunteer Development officer, explaining the format of the evening and how to use the chat function. Rich Brown...
Tree planting activities, especially public tree planting events, have been affected this year. The need for woodland creation has not gone away and our outreach team (those who liaise with landowners) have continued to build relationships and explore opportunities for tree planting or natural woodland...
Dear South West volunteers It’s certainly been a challenging year for volunteering. Whilst much environmental volunteering was heavily affected the volunteer sector as a whole really came to the fore during 2020. The social benefits for those who undertake volunteering, and for those who are supported...