Now that spring is here it is time to reflect on some of the winter works we have undertaken. To start us off we will look at Hedgelaying. Hedgelaying is a country craft which has been practiced for hundreds of years but it is just as relevant today as it always has been. Hedges are an important part of our countryside, and an effective way to provide shelter, keep in livestock and mark boundaries. They also have very important benefits for wildlife as they are home to nesting birds, small mammals and many insects. Apart from being a habitat they also provide a corridor for the movement of animals...

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With spring on its way, and the weather slowly improving the majority of the damage caused by the heavy rainfall is being dealt with. The footpath along Wembury Point has been diverted due to a landslip with a section being closed off. The post and rail fencing, which ran alongside the coast path has now been taken out with the help of the National Trust South Devon Volunteers and a dead hedge has been put in place to block off the section which has been heavily eroded. (more...)

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As part of the East Soar Higher Level Stewardship agreement, we have been able to carry out extensive repair work to dry stone walls around the farm. These boundary walls are over 200 years old, some have been repaired through the hard work of volunteers such as the South Devon National Trust volunteer group, other sections have suffered badly from collapse and long term wear and tear. (more...)

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The National Trust are currently working on a series of improvements to upgrade the path network around Bolberry Down. Bolberry receives many visitors each year to its easy access walking routes, but over time, wear and tear has meant that some of these paths have become overgrown, wet and muddy. (more...)

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January has been a busy month for the South Devon Ranger team. We have been dealing with landslips, blocked pipes, bridge repairs and eroding streams due to the adverse weather we have had recently. The rangers are out and about checking our paths but if you have any concerns about any of the South Devon National Trust land please do contact the rangers on 01548 562344. (more...)

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November has been a busy month for the National Trust rangers so far. Earlier this month we organised a walk in conjunction with the Devon Birds group at their South Milton Ley reserve. In between torrential showers, we were treated to sightings of Grey Wagtail, Teal, Widgeon, Reed Bunting and we heard Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail in the reeds. A big thanks is due to Nick Townsend from Devon Birds for leading the walk and sharing his expertise with the group. (more...)

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I joined the ranger team in South Devon in March this year, travelling down from Scotland where I was working for a woodland management company. So far the internship has proved to be a fantastic way of gaining valuable experience on-the-job, which will stand me in good stead for the job applications I’m now writing. (more...)

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Autumn is a busy time for the National Trust ranger team, as we wrap up the summer’s activities and turn our focus to the winter’s tasks. (more...)

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A rare spider has been uncovered on our land at Prawle Point in South Devon.  The moon spider (Callilepis nocturna) was known to have previously inhabited this coastal site, although it has not been recorded since 1990. (more...)

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Perhaps the last day of summer, but we were certainly blessed with great weather for our 'Big Night Out on the Beach' event at South Milton Sands. Hundreds of people descended on South Milton last Saturday to enjoy the wide range of activities on offer and a spectacular sunset too!! (more...)

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