Nature on the move: connecting habitats, supporting wildlife

The Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project aims to transform 4,666 hectares the Lower Otter Valley – from the lowland heath of the Pebblebed Heaths to the tidal wetlands of the River Otter estuary – into a more connected and resilient landscape for nature, while also supporting food production, net zero, timber, and access needs.

To help nature thrive, we’re working with farmers to balance food production with habitat restoration. Wildlife-friendly practices such as hedgerow restoration, buffer strips along waterways, and low-intensity grazing will be combined with setting aside less productive land for nature. New meadows and orchards will provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals, while tailored farm plans will guide these changes to improve soil health, water quality, and habitat connectivity.

A mosaic of interconnected habitats

A defining feature of Landscape Recovery Projects is their focus on working at a landscape scale – enabling us to understand how different habitats interact and plan for appropriate habitat creation, management, and reconnection.

The lower Otter Valley local landscape is a mosaic of mudflats, reedbeds, saltmarsh, wet meadows, heathland, farmland, woodland, and freshwater streams. By improving and linking the habitats across this varied landscape, we aim to build a continuous network where wildlife can move, feed, and breed more safely and successfully. Managing these habitats in a joined-up way helps ensure a rich diversity of species can access the resources they need across the landscape.

For mammals like otters and beavers, corridors along rivers and streams provide safe passage and access to food, and breeding sites. Birds such as cirl buntings and Dartford warblers benefit from linked hedgerows, heathland, and farmland, which support their seasonal needs. Insects like butterflies and dragonflies rely on continuous wildflower-rich areas and clean water sources to complete their life cycles.

This approach to nature recovery doesn’t just help wildlife – it also improves water quality, reduces flood risk, and enhances the natural beauty of the area for everyone to enjoy.

Wildlife watching:

what to look for & WHere to GO

Great locations for wildlife spotting include the Otter estuary near Budleigh Salterton, the River Otter around Otterton, and Pebblebed Heath trails at Woodbury Common and RSPB Aylesbeare.

Below are suggestions of just a few of the species to look out for and where you might find them. If you’d like to delve a little deeper, the Devon Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and Butterfly Conservation websites provide lots of information.

As the name suggests, the River Otter is one of many Devon waterways that European otters call home. These elusive animals are most active at dawn and dusk.

Stay quiet and look for ripples, V-shaped wakes, or trails of bubbles on the water’s surface. You might also spot otter droppings (spraints), muddy slides, or five-toed footprints. Watching for alert birds – such as ducks suddenly taking flight – can also hint at an otter nearby.

It’s often easier to spot signs of beavers – like gnawed tree stumps or dams – than the animals themselves. Public footpaths run along both banks of the river near Otterton, and if you don’t have luck there, try walking upstream towards the footbridge near Colaton Raleigh. Observing quietly will give you the best chance of seeing beavers, and it’s essential to keep dogs out of the water and under close control, to avoid disturbance.

The plant life in the area also demonstrates how the diversity of habitats supports a wide range of species. In damp meadows, early marsh orchids bloom in vivid pinks and purples, while bell heather brings a flush of purple to the heathland in late Summer, attracting bees and butterflies. Boggy hollows within the heathland support bog asphodel, with starry yellow flowers, and round-leaved sundew, a tiny insect-catching plant with glistening red hairs. On the estuary mudflats, glasswort, otherwise known as marsh samphire, thrives in the salty mud.

The lower Otter valley supports a rich diversity of birdlife, and for some species, the mix of habitats is particularly beneficial.

The cirl bunting is one of the UK’s rarest farmland birds. Once at threat of extinction in this country the species is making a welcome return in the south west thanks to the efforts of farmers. It relies on low-intensity arable farmland with a mix of hedgerows and rough grassland with weedy stubble fields providing a source of seed in winter. Habitat provision in this area is crucial to its continued recovery.

Swallows, house martins, and sand martins nest in farmland buildings or riverbanks and feed over the estuary’s mudflats, taking advantage of the insect-rich air. Reed warblers and sedge warblers nest in reedbeds but often forage in nearby scrub and hedgerows. Meanwhile, buzzards, barn owls, and sparrowhawks also make use of this varied landscape, hunting across farmland and estuary margins.

On the open heaths nearby – such as the Pebblebed Heaths – you might encounter Dartford warblers flitting through gorse and heather or hear the distinctive churring of nightjars at dusk. These species depend on well-managed heathland and are sensitive to changes in vegetation and disturbance.

Closer to the estuary, mudflats and reedbeds attract a wide range of birds throughout the year. Redshank, curlew, black-tailed godwit, and little egret are commonly seen feeding along the water’s edge, while kingfishers flash past in bursts of colour.

The lower Otter Valley supports a range of striking and rare invertebrates. The silver-studded blue butterfly, a heathland specialist, is sometimes seen basking on sunny paths, while the southern damselfly, a nationally rare species, favours clean, slow-flowing streams and wet heath. Summer ponds and ditches attract the vivid emperor dragonfly – one of the UK’s largest. Grasslands host the marbled white butterfly. As dusk falls, look out for the glowing females of the glow-worm – actually a beetle – in hedgerows and meadows, adding a touch of magic to evening walks.

The path to recovery

Whether you’re walking the footpaths along the River Otter or exploring the heathland trails, the signs of recovery are beginning to show. With time, care, collaboration, and action, this landscape will become even richer – for wildlife, and for all of us who share it.

Wherever you go, you can help nature recovery by sticking to marked paths, keeping dogs under control, and respecting areas where conservation grazing or habitat restoration is taking place.

The Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project is still in its early stages (read more about the draft proposals), but the groundwork is being laid for long-term change. By reconnecting habitats, supporting wildlife, and working closely with farmers and local communities, we’re helping nature find space to thrive once more.

More to explore
The Otter Valley Walking Companion (published by the Otter Valley Association) features 14 local walks, with maps and notes on places of interest along the way – perfect for exploring the valley on foot.

Download the Pebblebed Heaths visitor leaflet or view the maps in the car parks.