Blog: South Devon Countryside

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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As the Olympic torch sauntered its way through the streets of Totnes on a warm Sunday back in June, in nearby Crownley Wood a group of local volunteers and National Trust rangers were hard at work with an olympic sized challenge of their own... The long-standing community shelter in the Trust-owned wood, near Tuckenay, has been in desperate need of a new roof for quite some time now. Forty years of exposure to the elements had taken its toll and while the uprights were still sound, the roof itself was worn out...
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Last week a group of 20 Beaver Scouts spent their first ever night camping with us near Salcombe, South Devon, having been inspired by the Trust's '50 things to do before you're 11 3/4 ' campaign.  As you will see, spending a night away from home was quite an adventure - let alone being in a tent!! (more...)

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Come and join us at New Barton Farm near Wembury on Saturday 14 July where we are holding our popular 'From Field to Plate' event in partnership with the Moostone Meat Company. This is the third year of the event and we hope the best yet!!  We have a fun packed day planned with cooking and butchery demonstrations, childrens activities with the rangers, tractor rides, local food stalls and of course a BBQ!!
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This time of year sees the rangers team busily preparing for the start of the season and the opening of the car parks across our South Devon countryside sites.  The badly pot holed track at South Milton Sands has recently been re-surfaced to improve access, and the height of the fence along the beach has been increased where it had become buried by sand.  Visitors to the beach are kindly reminded to keep off the sand dunes to ensure they remain undisturbed and continue to successfully establish themselves over the coming years.
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Whilst it feels as if February has passed in a complete blur for us, when we stop and catch our breath to write these articles it’s always surprising just how much we have achieved. Even by South Devon ranger standards the action has been fast and furious this month with events and school activity weeks in amongst all of our ongoing practical work. (more...)

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Well no sooner are we into 2012, and new projects are underway, first and foremost over at Wembury Point. Since our acquisition of the site in 2006 and the original demolition of HMS Cambridge, we have continued to improve the area through various projects.Whether that has been the cutting the vast swathes of gorse and scrub, managing the ponies whose grazing is a valuable part of our conservation management or improving the path network, our work has indeed never ended. (more...)

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Last Wednesday and Thursday our rangers were joined by volunteers from as far as Cornwall and North Devon to hone their hedgelaying skills as we staged a two day hedgelaying course down at Snapes Point on the edge of the Salcombe Estuary. The headland of Snapes is bounded by hedges which provide a wonderful habitat for the rare Cirl Bunting. A close relative of the more widespread Yellowhammer, the Cirl Bunting populations in Britain are restricted to only the most southerly tip of South Devon. Cirl Buntings rarely stray far from their breeding sites and so the management of the extensive hedge...

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Perhaps you caught the National Trust paddling the Salcombe Estuary on Countryfile, or maybe you have used our waterproof canoe map this summer? Well now on Tuesday 25 October you can come and join us on the water for the last time this year on a Canadian canoe adventure with our guide Dave Halsall of Singing Paddles. (more...)

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As the wonderful autumnal colours begin to slowly emerge, now is the time to head out into the countryside foraging for wild fruits and berries in the hedgerows and on the coast path. I have definitely noticed an abundance of blackberries and sloe’s across our estate this year, aswell as , hazel nuts and rosehips. (more...)

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