A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Great views across reedbeds and the spectacular Exe Estuary. One of the largest tidal reedbeds in Devon and one of the best for birds.
About the reserve
The Exe Reed Beds nature reserve is home to an amazing array of birds and insects.
Situated in the attractive upper reaches of the Exe Estuary, this site offers wonderful views across the Exe Valley and river.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/exe-reed-beds
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Stunning riverside walks through a wooded valley on the edge of Dartmoor. Beautiful at any time of year, Dunsford is famous for its wild daffodils in early spring.
An ideal place to explore Devon's wild side
Walk alongside the river Teign as it winds through a steep-sided valley of oak, ash and birch. Look out for kingfishers, goosanders, dippers and otters on the river. Tawny owls, flycatchers and woodpeckers live among the trees. Herds of fallow deer also regularly pass through its wooded valley. From the Clifford Bridge entrance climb to the top of Dunsford for great views and a chance to see fritillary butterflies skimming across the tops of bracken-covered slopes. Recently we've also cut a new path which climbs through Dunsford's woodland to a bench with wonderful views along the Teign Valley - well worth the effort!
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/dunsford
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
This long, narrow reserve 'tumbles down' the western edge of the River Webburn. Within it you can climb a classic Dartmoor tor or explore woodland.
About the reserve
A reserve of two parts, Town Wood and Blackadon Down, featuring two of Dartmoor’s iconic habitats – steep wooded river valley and grazed bracken moor.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/blackadon
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Summer orchids, dragonflies and rare butterflies are the highlights of this fascinating patchwork of ponds and meadows.
About the reserve
A troubled past has given way to today's beauty. In 2002, at the height of the terrible foot and mouth crisis, Ash Moor was chosen to be a vast burial site for infected cattle. Plans were made and the landscape was hollowed out in preparation.
Transformed for nature
Fortunately, the burial site was never used. Today Devon Wildlife Trust cares for what has been transformed into a wonderful network of meadows, ponds and wetlands. This is now a top spot for wildlife.
Summer gets the place buzzing
Summer brings out butterflies across Ash Moor including a colony of the rare wood white butterfly.
Dragonflies, damselflies, swallows and sand martins also buzz across the nature reserve's ponds. Look out for the occasional visit of hobbies. These little falcons chase down their prey over the water.
In winter, the going gets wet underfoot. This attracts long-billed birds including snipe and woodcock who probe the mud looking for juicy worms to feed on.
Ash Moor is easy to visit by bike and on foot. It lays on the Tarka Trail cycle path, while our own Meeth Quarry nature reserve is next door. Together Ash Moor and Meeth make a great day out!
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/ash-moor
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
A beautiful patchwork of woodland and meadows in the heart of the wonderful South Hams countryside.
Andrew's Wood is a perfect slice of the beautiful South Hams landscape. From the top of the reserve views stretch over the undulating hills as far as the eye can see.
The nature reserve holds a secret. In the 19th century Andrew's Wood was known as Stanton Moor. In those times it looked very different with scattered farms, open fields and few trees. Today's landscape is a comparatively new one.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/andrews-wood
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
This wet and wild nature reserve provides rich rewards for visitors prepared to take their time and who don't mind a bit of mud!
About the reserve
A series of freshwater springs feeds this reserve. Its wet-peatland was once common here in the Blackdown Hills but is now very rare.
The permanently wet soils mean a host of peat-loving plants still thrive here. Ashculm Turbary is also home to good numbers of dragonflies and birds.
Taking your time
Narrow and uneven paths lead you through heather and purple moor grass. The reserve's plant life may seem pretty uniform, but take the time to look and you'll also see a host of wet-loving species including oblong-leaved sundew, pale butterwort and bog asphodel.
Harvest mice find a home in tall grass stems - look for their distinctive, spherical nests about the size of a satsuma. At dusk barn owls hunt these mice and other small mammals.
Ashculm Turbary has a healthy population of dragonflies. Look for golden-ringed and emperor dragonflies among many others from late spring through to early autumn.
Move with stealth and care and you could be rewarded with the sight of an adder, grass snake or slow worm, while common frogs, toads and smooth newts can also be seen.
Combine your exploration of Ashculm Turbary with visits to our other Blackdown Hills nature reserves, Clayhidon Turbary and Lickham Common.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/ashculm-turbary
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Bellever Moor and Meadows makes a great introduction to Dartmoor. Walk in wildflower upland meadows and between ancient drystone walls to experience great views of this part of central Dartmoor.…
About the reserve
If you go down to Bellever Woods today, venture a little distance from the picnic site to be sure of a wildlife surprise. Just nearby are 70 hectares of the new Bellever Moor and Meadows nature reserve, waiting to be explored.
This is one of our newest nature reserves. In 2016 we began a lease from the Forestry Commission which will mean we undertake the management of this wonderful moorland site until at least 2041. We've already begun enhancing the land for wildlife and have been busy improving visitor access with new gates, waymarked routes and even a bench or two!
The reserve stretches over a mosaic of 40 small fields grouped in two areas around Naked Hill and Bellever Farm in the north of the site, and Laughter Hole to the south, featuring a variety of traditional Dartmoor meadows. It's a great place to explore.
Enjoy a walk of discovery through the different drystone-walled field compartments, encountering as you wander flowery hay meadows, rush pasture, purple moor grass mire, heathy grassland, moorland, unimproved, semi-improved, and rough pasture, plus a small stream connecting to the East Dart river and tor-capped views across the Dartmoor landscape.
On a summer's stroll look out for the colours of yellow rattle, tormentil, black knapweed, mouse-ear hawkweed, red bartsia and eyebright studding the grassland. In autumn its the turn of pink ballerina wax cap mushrooms to add colour.
Remembrance of things pasture
These are species of ancient pasture and meadow; Duchy of Cornwall records show a farmstead has existed here since at least 1355, while archaeological hut circle remains on Naked Hill are evidence of farming settlement from prehistoric times.
With further active restoration the meadows should support more wildlife as the project progresses. Future return visits will be rewarded with more species to spot and richer habitats to investigate.
Site Improvements
We are delighted to have received over £16,000 from Viridor Credits to fund improvements across our Bellever Moor & Meadows nature reserve. These improvements will include nearly 3km of new fencing and the creation of 36 hectares of beautiful wildflower meadows.
Improvement work at the nature reserve has benefited from the support of Suez Communities Trust, which provides grants through the Landfill Communities Fund. This important source of funding has been available since 1997 and supported worthy projects with over £1.4 billion.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/bellever-moor-and-meadows
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
A lake, heathland and meadows go to make a wonderfully diverse nature reserve.
About the reserve
This is one of Devon Wildlife Trust's most popular nature reserves - and it's easy to see why.
Bystock has great variety. Visit and you'll find yourself stopping to take in beautiful views across a lily-pad filled lake, strolling through heathland on boardwalks, and climbing the gentle slopes of a wildflower meadow.
Dragonfly heaven
The nature reserve is well-known for its dragonflies and damselflies which in spring and summer dance across the surface of its open water and heathland. Look out for emperor, downy emerald and golden-ringed dragonflies as they fly around you.
Bystock is good for birds too. Head for its heathland to see willow warblers, blackcaps and stonechats. On summer evenings listen for the weird and wonderful calls of nightjars.
Look for the light
Summer evenings are also the time to look out for bats at Bystock, and for the lights of glow worms as the females signal for a mate from the grass of the reserve's meadow.
Bystock is cared for by a very active group of local volunteers. Say hello to them as they help to keep this special place in tip-top condition!
Download the new 'mindfulness trail' designed by Clare Carter.
Plan your visit and begin to explore
You can begin to plan your visit to Bystock Pools using our free download nature reserve leaflet. And to plan a longer walk starting at the nature reserve use the Bystock wild walk guide.
Bystock is also part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths. East Budleigh Common and the East Devon Way are within an easy walk.
Swimming and boating is not permitted at Bystock Pools nature reserve.
Bystock Pool's film, access improvements, interpretation signage and habitat improvements made in 2017 were supported by TESCO bags of help.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/bystock-pools
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Clayhidon is a small wildlife haven nestled in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of East Devon.
Clayhidon Turbary's thirteen hectares are made up of heathland, scrub and young woodland. It can be very boggy in parts, but for those willing to make the effort, it's a place rich in natural and local history.
What 'Turbary' means
Clayhidon Turbary was once used by local people who grazed their cattle there and who also cut peat from the site to use as fuel to heat their homes. This ancient right is at the root of the name 'Turbary'.
In recent years these uses declined and the heathland had begun to lose its special character. However, in 2011 Devon Wildlife Trust stepped in to take on the management of Clayhidon Turbury and made it a nature reserve.
In the years since, the charity has been using its experience gained at other nearby Blackdown Hills nature reserves to restore the site to former glories. A major breakthrough came when the charity gained more than £35,000 of support for the nature reserve from Biffa Award - a multi-million pound fund which awards grants to community and environmental projects across the UK.
Thanks to this support the nature reserve now has stock-proof fencing around the site to keep ponies and cattle in. The grazing of these animals plays a critical role in opening up the reserve, allowing wildflowers and insects to flourish once more.
Today Clayhidon is well on the way to recovery. Make a day of exploring the wildlife and wild places of the Blackdown Hills by also visiting Devon Wildlife Trust's Lickham Common and Ashculm Turbary nature reserves.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/clayhidon-turbary
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A Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Our largest and perhaps our wildest nature reserve. River, wooded valley and upland moor - this reserve has it all.
https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/dart-valley
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