The North Devon Coast National Landscape is at the core of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. To address Nature Recovery here it was important to talk to all of the relevant organisations in the area. The Biosphere coordinated this and produced a Nature Recovery Plan for the whole of Northern Devon. The plan is a response to the global ecological emergency and includes five action plans for the main land types; wetlands & waterbodies, towns & villages, grassland & arable, coast, and trees, woodlands & hedges , alongside a summary and introduction
VISION FOR NATURE ON OUR COAST BY 2030
By 2030, nature is recovering along the coast. Thriving habitats bursting with life are making space for nature to expand in distribution and abundance, including in well-managed Marine Protected Areas. Along the coast, farmers and landowners are restoring heathland and species-rich grassland, with woodland in the combes and wetlands in the valley bottoms. Carefully controlled grazing is encouraging plants and invertebrates to flourish and rare butterflies have rebounded. Choughs are breeding again on the cliffs and white-tailed eagles are back on Lundy acting as apex predators for the booming seabird colonies; more seabirds are nesting on mainland cliffs too. Dynamic coastal flood plains now feature more wetlands. Shorebirds roost free from disturbance at places such as Horsey Island, and lapwing and oystercatcher have safe places to nest, free from disturbance; seal haul-outs arealso less disturbed. New areas of saltmarsh are sequestering carbon and helping the Biosphere to adapt to climate change. RMB Chivenor is recognised as one of the UK’s top bumblebee reserves, and a sanctuary for breeding skylarks. Exemplary management ofcoastal sand dune systems at Braunton, Northam, Instow, Croyde and Woolacombe iscontrolling invasive species and scrub growth and allowing rare plants and ground nestingbirds to flourish. Local people and visitors enjoy witnessing nature’s recovery in a world class coastal area
Current AONB Work Linked to Nature Recovery