Why?
Creating and restoring species-rich grasslands in South Devon is important because these habitats support exceptional biodiversity and many declining wildflower, insect, and bird species. Since the Second World War, these habitats have declined by 97% nationally. Species-rich grasslands provide nectar for pollinators, shelter for wildlife, and maintain ecological balance across the landscape. They can also sequester carbon in healthy soils, reduce erosion, and improve water quality by slowing runoff into rivers and estuaries. In addition, species-rich grasslands preserve the cultural heritage of Devon’s farming landscape and offer beautiful spaces for people to experience nature. Restoring and managing them sustainably strengthens ecosystem resilience while protecting some of Britain’s rarest invertebrate species that cling to existence in South Devon for future generations.
Where?
We target our direct capital funding for species-rich grassland creation into our 5 Life on the Edge project hotspots, Wembury, the Erme Estuary, Bolt Tail to Bolt Head, Prawle Point to Start Point, and Brownstone to Berry Head.
Within the South Devon Coastal B-Line, we are able to provide free agri-environmental advice including aid in creating and submitting Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier applications. Furthermore, we are able to provide conservation grants of up to £5,000 for grassland creation within the B-Line while also being able to support projects with Farming in Protected Landscape applications.
Donor Fields
We aim to create 100 hectares (1ha = 10,000m2) of species-rich grasslands in our project hotspots. These donor sites will have an average of over 15 species per m2 and over 40% herb cover. These donor sites will not only be great habitat in its own right but will go on to provide seeds of local provenance for the wider landscape in a long-term and sustainable way, creating a legacy far beyond the end of the project.
We also aim to create a network of existing species-rich grassland donor sites from which to source local wildflower seed via brush harvesting.
Grassland Restoration
We also aim to restore 365ha of species poor grassland. Species-poor grassland is characterized by low plant diversity, often dominated by a few fast-growing, competitive species such as perennial ryegrass or white clover, and is typically a result of intensive management via heavy fertilization, pesticide use, reseeding, or overgrazing.
