Welcome
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 and funded by one of the government’s environmental land management schemes, this project represents one of the most exciting nature enhancement opportunities in the UK with the focus including river/floodplain restoration and woodland creation. The scheme spans 4,000 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).
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.
Find out more here: Landscape Recovery: round two – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Welcome
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 and funded by one of the government’s environmental land management schemes, this project represents one of the most exciting nature enhancement opportunities in the UK with the focus including river/floodplain restoration and woodland creation. The scheme spans 4,000 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).
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.
Find out more here: Landscape Recovery: round two – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Current land use and project area (Click to enlarge)
The 2-year project development phase (April 2024-March 2026) will review existing habitat and landscape connectivity across the catchment and provide a blueprint for how this can be improved. In addition, long-term solutions to maintain public access would be developed and costed. This will include those footpaths alongside the River Otter where public access and existing health and wellbeing benefits are currently threatened by erosion. The potential for new woodland creation and providing enhanced access through the wider landscape would also be assessed.
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.
Landscape Recovery is one of the three environmental management schemes, alongside the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship, which will support farmers to deliver a range of environmental outcomes, with a focus on net zero, biodiversity and water quality.
Our vision is that by working together this initiative will:
1
Deliver an accessible, nature-rich landscape that is resilient to climate change.
2
Support East Devon’s net zero and food production ambitions.
3
Drive a stronger, greener and more sustainable economy.
The Team
News & Media
Click the links below to see coverage of our project.
Walking with Derek Gow
The Lower Otter Restoration Project ends and Landscape Recovery begins
Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project: Options and plans development.
Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project
Getting Involved
Throughout the project it is vital that we communicate and engage with the right stakeholders and local communities.
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.
A Stakeholder Communication Advisory Group has been established to help steer the development phase and includes representatives from local government, local parish councils, land managers and a range of private and environmental organisations with an interest in the landscape and the environmental, social and economic benefits it supports.
Stakeholders will be involved in shaping priorities for the landscape plan and there will be opportunities for wider consultation throughout the course of the development phase, and beyond.
We will also be holding a number of public engagement events, details of which you will find listed below.
Upcoming Events
Local communities and visitors to the lower Otter Valley are invited to input their thoughts into the Heaths to Sea project plans.
Talk to the project team at our drop-in sessions
Look at concept designs of landscape management, find out the motivation behind Heaths to Sea project,
and register your hopes, comments and concerns for nature recovery in the valley through our survey.
Saturday 15th February: Budleigh Salterton Library 9.30am – 1pm
Friday 28th February: Oak Lodge Café, Budleigh Riding School 10am – 2pm
Saturday 1st March (TBC): Colaton Raleigh Village Hall coffee morning 10am – 12pm
Monday 3rd March: Sir Walter Raleigh Pub coffee morning 10am – 12pm
Friday 7th March: Sir Walter Raleigh Pub coffee morning 10am – 12pm
Saturday 8th March: Spring Show, Otterton Village Hall 2pm – 5pm
Thursday 13th March: Wesley’s Café, Budleigh Salterton 10am – 2pm
Saturday 22nd March (TBC): Holt Bar & Terrace, Budleigh Cricket Club 11am – 3pm
Have your say on Landscape Recovery
Online survey will be open for responses from Saturday 15th March – Saturday 22nd March.
Paper copies available from Saturday15th February – Saturday 22nd March at the listed locations.
- drop-in sessions
- Budleigh Library
- Newton Poppleford Post Office
- Woods Village Shop, Colaton Raleigh
- Otterton Community Shop
- East Budleigh Village Shop
- Wesley’s Café, Budleigh Salterton
Please return your filled out survey to one of the locations above by Saturday 22nd March. Individual organisations have differing open times.
Alternatively, email your thoughts to mail@heathstosea.com
Project Governance
We have a project governance structure to make sure the project has the right technical advice, is engaging widely and effectively, and to make sure we are held to account on key project actions.
Advisory groups include:
Latest meeting papers can be found here.
Contact
If you need any further information, please get in touch.
Clinton Devon Estates
Rolle Estate Office
Bicton Arena,
East Budleigh,
Budleigh Salterton,
Devon
EX9 7BL
mail@heathstosea.com
