Landscape Recovery is one of the three Government funded environmental management schemes (ELMS), alongside the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship. ELMS support farmers to deliver a range of environmental outcomes, with a focus on net zero, biodiversity, and water quality. Find out more here: Landscape Recovery: round two – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Led by Clinton Devon Estates, the Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery initiative holds nature recovery ambitions of national significance. Located in East Devon’s lower River Otter catchment, the scheme spans 4,500 hectares of the East Devon countryside and will power nature recovery across the agricultural hinterlands linking three parts of the Pebblebed Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR). The focus of this landscape recovery initiative includes river/floodplain restoration and woodland creation.

Although the scheme has a focus on nature recovery, it is not about stopping food production; we believe nature recovery and productive agriculture can and must co-exist.  Our vision is for this diverse landscape to be nature rich and ecologically healthy whilst also supporting food production, net zero, timber and access needs.

The 2-year project development phase (April 2024-March 2026) is:

• Reviewing existing habitat and landscape connectivity across the catchment and providing a blueprint for how this can be improved.
• Developing and costing long-term solutions to maintain public access, including those footpaths alongside the River Otter, where public access and existing health and wellbeing benefits are currently threatened by erosion.
• Assessing the potential for new woodland creation and provision of enhanced access through the wider landscape.