South Devon National Landscape

A New Conservation Volunteer Programme! We are excited to finally announce our Life on the Edge conservation programme for April and May. Come and join our volunteer crew at some of our sessions, all of which are free! We have a great mix of surveying, practical tasks and women only conservation days. The Women’s Conservation sessions are aimed at women in the Brixham area (Women, non-binary and trans folk all welcome). And our general volunteer and surveying sessions are aimed at anyone who is interested. Booking for these events is essential. We can provide transport if needed. All tasks will be run by experienced leaders. We will provide all you need including brews and biscuits! Please wear outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear. No experience is necessary to attend these events. To book your place or find out more information about the days themselves please email: [email protected] Or Visit the South Devon National Landscape website to see our scheduled events! (Please note: The Big Bug Count needs to be booked via Ticketsource which can be done through our website events page) #lifeontheedge #volunteering #conservation

Any weekend plans? We have two free events planned over the weekend to help you get outside and observe the wonderful nature across our coastline!  Family Bug Hunt – Drop-in  16 May at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Come and join the LotE team at Bolberry Down! Explore the meadows at Bolberry and see who is crawling and buzzing around the flowers, then have a go at a bug craft to take home with you! Accessible Rockpooling – Can be drop-in or full time 17 May at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Join South Devon National Landscape’s Estuary Officer Nigel to explore the rich marine life found over the rocky shores of North Sands over a low predicted tide but without leaving the security of the sandy beach (unless you want to).  For more information about these events, booking and transport please visit the South Devon National Landscape events page via the link in our bio! We hope to see you there this weekend!  #lifeontheedge #nationallandscape #events #outdooractivity

We enjoyed a brilliant visit for our Farm Cluster Group to Ramsland Farm on the Flete Estate 🌿 Huge thanks to Jacks and Alice Pemberton for hosting us and sharing their impressive Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) work. They have achieved an enormous amount during their 2 years at the farm. It was inspiring to see such a diverse range of projects in action, including meadow regeneration, pond creation, leaky dams, agroforestry, a new butchery enterprise as well as their tourism project. A great opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and see how thoughtful land management and innovation can deliver real benefits for both farming businesses and nature. Thank you again to our hosts for such an insightful and welcoming evening!🌱 #SouthDevon #FarmCluster #FiPL #SustainableFarming #regenerativefarming South Hams Newspapers @defrauk @naturalengland @southhamsnewspapers @devonlive @devonlnp_ @batconservationtrust

A few snippets of our last rockpooling session with our SDNL Estuaries Officer Nigel! 🐟🦀🦭 We were lucky to discover all sorts of wonderful creatures living on the shoreline, and we carefully observed their habitat and then returned them safely to their homes. If you are interested, we have another rockpooling session coming up on Sunday the 17th (this weekend), which is more accessible and won’t involve clambering over rocks, unless you want to! You can book your place via the link in our bio! Or feel free to turn up when you please on the day, booking is best if you want transport and it means we know how many people are coming! We hope we will see you there! #nationallandscape #rockpools #devon

Wondering what a Life on the Edge volunteer day looks like? Here’s a little insight from one of our survey days! We have some great events in May that you can still sign up for! Our conservation, volunteer events are a great way to meet new people and get involved with the work to protect South Devon’s wildlife and environment! We have a bee post event this weekend if you would still like to sign up! And more events can be found on the South Devon National Landscape events page via the link in our bio! #lifeontheedge #southdevon #volunteering #conservation

No-Mow-May is here! And our Life on the Edge team encourage you to get up, get ready, and do.... absolutely nothing! That's right - one of the best and easiest ways you can help nature thrive in your back garden is by doing nothing this month! Sitting back and keeping the lawn-mower shut away will give spring plants a chance to set seed before the first cutting, leading to a healthier, more diverse lawns. 🌷🌾 For the more green-fingered gardeners, try adding these features to your garden to give wildlife an even bigger boost: 🐞Make a wild corner - leave a pile of sticks, stones, and leaves on one corner of your garden. These make an excellent home for insects and forage for smaller animals 🦔 🐝Leave a wild patch - you don't need to surrender your whole garden! Even a small area left to grow makes a huge difference for pollinators. 🐸Try adding water - whether it's a miniature wildlife pond or a bird bath, water is great for attracting wildlife to your back garden. Even a sunken washing-up bowl with a few aquatic plants will attract new visitors, and a larger pond will support dragonflies, frogs, toads, and newts! If you like what you see, why not carry on? See what might grow in your garden in 'Let it Bloom June'! 🌸 We will be posting more about what we can do for our gardens and green spaces in May soon! #nomowmay #naturallyhealthymay

✨ Exciting News regarding our 'Where We Meet The Sea' Artist Call ✨ We have been able to increase the fee amount and will be extending the deadline! Doorstep Arts and South Devon National Landscape (@southdevonnl ) are now offering an increased fee of £5000 to tour an innovative, exciting piece of theatre to three venues in the South Devon area at the beginning of October 2026! 🎭 The new deadline for applications is Friday 22nd May 2026 at midday. Please email [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any questions. Find out more about this opportunity & how to apply on our website. Link in bio 🔗

The orchids and cowslips were looking spectacular in the sunshine yesterday at Berry Head National Nature Reserve. It wasn’t so warm this morning at 8am for our bird walk but we did see some very early Yellow rattle flowering in a sheltered spot! #naturalbeauty #lifeontheedge #springhassprung

Spring Bird Walk on the 28th April 🐦‍⬛🦢   Join us for the latest in our series of walks aimed at helping you discover more about the South Devon National Landscape!   Take a moment to enjoy the joyful spring sounds! 🌼   As spring gets into full swing, our April bird walk, landing just a few days before International Dawn Chorus Day, will be about listening to the melodic sounds of the countryside.   This will be a slightly shorter circular walk of approximately 2 miles to allow plenty of time for stopping and spotting, and although it will include some small inclines, is an ‘easy’ grade walk.   We would love to have you join us!   Book your free place now via the link in our bio!  (Booking is essential)   And don’t worry if you miss this walk we have more coming up this year!   For any more information please email: [email protected]   #LifeonTheEdge #spring #birdwalks

🐞🌼 Join us for The Big Bug Count! 🌼🐝 On the 26th of April, 2:00–4:00 pm, come and discover the amazing world of invertebrates as part of the Life on the Edge project! You’ll learn all about fascinating bugs and get hands-on with a simple flying insect timed count (FIT count) 🦋⏱️—a fun and easy way to help monitor insect populations. We’ll also show you how to use the iRecord app to log your insect sightings, contributing to a national survey just in time for No Mow May! 🌼 This is a great opportunity to learn new skills, get outdoors, and make a real difference for nature. Perfect for beginners and nature lovers alike! Book yourself a free ticket via the link in our bio! Come along, get counting, and be part of something big! If there is anything else you need to know please email: [email protected]

🌍💚 Happy Earth Day 2026 💚🌍 Today we celebrate the beauty, diversity, and resilience of South Devon National Landscape — from its rolling hills and ancient woodlands to its sparkling coastline and vibrant wildlife. Every path we walk, every wave that meets the shore, and every species that calls this place home is a reminder of why protecting our natural world matters. From coast to countryside, our work continues through inspiring initiatives like the Life on the Edge project, helping to restore vital habitats along our cliffs and boost biodiversity where land meets sea. Through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, we’re supporting local farmers to enhance nature, improve climate resilience, and keep our working landscapes thriving. 🚜🌱 And in our estuaries, the salt marsh projects are playing playing a crucial role in restoring these rich, carbon-storing habitats that support wildlife and help combat climate change. This Earth Day, let’s all play our part — whether it’s reducing waste, supporting local conservation, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the nature around us. Small actions can make a big difference. Together, we can help ensure South Devon remains a thriving, beautiful landscape for generations to come. 🌿✨ #EarthDay2026 #SouthDevon #ProtectOurPlanet #NatureMatters #SustainableFuture #LoveWhereYouLive #lifeontheedge #farminginprotectedlandscapes

Reminder for our Bee Bank Volunteering Session this Saturday! On the 11th April from 10.30 – 15:00 at Prawle Point, Chivelstone Join us to enrich the habitat for our threatened mining bees! This is a lovely opportunity to spend time in the fresh air, meet new people and make a real difference for nature - come and join the volunteer crew! Pick up at Follaton House, Totnes at 9.30 and Kingsbridge at 10. To book your place and find out more please email: [email protected] See you there! #volunteering #meadows #conservation