Salcombe Ecology Network: A Hub for Nature Recovery

Theme:	ECOLOGY NETWORKS
Current Topic:	Salcombe Ecology Network
Thread Title:	Salcombe Ecology Network: A Hub for Nature Recovery
Thread Number:	1 of 7
Learning Focus:	Explore the Salcombe Ecology Network near Sidmouth. Learn how the National Trust and NLOS are protecting vital wildlife corridors and butterfly habitats in Devon.

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The 20-Year Gamble: How a Coastal "Nature Highway" is Future-Proofing the Jurassic Coast

To the casual observer walking the promenade in Sidmouth, the steep slopes rising to the east toward Salcombe Hill are simply a beautiful backdrop—a emerald curtain of trees and grassland framing the sea. But for those of us tracking the front lines of conservation, these hills represent something far more ambitious. They are the foundation of the Salcombe Ecology Network, a vital natural resource that serves as a masterclass in geographic synergy.

Rather than a collection of isolated green pockets, this area is a highly connected, protected system designed to withstand the pressures of the 21st century. It is a "nature highway" in the making, proving that when we manage land as a continuous mosaic rather than fragmented islands, the ecological whole becomes much greater than the sum of its parts.

The 20-Year Vision: From Heaths to Sea

The Salcombe Ecology Network is the strategic linchpin for the Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project, an audacious 20-year initiative (2025–2045) led by Clinton Devon Estates in partnership with the National Trust. This project isn't just about preserving what we have; it is a forward-looking strategy to facilitate species migration in the face of a warming world.

"Salcombe Hill acts as the coastal anchor for this corridor, serving as a strategic link in a nature highway designed to allow species to migrate as the climate changes."

By 2045, this plan aims to establish a terrestrial bridge connecting the Pebblebed Heaths to the Jurassic Coast. This involves the creation of up to 100 hectares of new woodland and specialised "butterfly corridors." These restored linear woodlands and hedgerows are being meticulously placed on Salcombe Hill’s slopes to ensure that even the smallest mammals and insects have a clear path to follow as their traditional habitats shift.

When a Forest is a Fence: The Page Wood Problem

In conservation strategy, more trees aren't always the answer. The network reveals a fascinating "butterfly barrier" paradox within Page Wood. While this dense stand of beech and mixed conifers is a protected asset, its sheer thickness makes it an impenetrable wall for grassland specialists. For a butterfly, a dense forest can be as much of an obstacle as a city block.

However, the strength of this network lies in its surrounding geography. Because the grasslands of East Cliff and Alma Field on one side, and Salcombe Hill and South Combe Farm on the other, are large enough to sustain significant populations, the network can weather these internal obstacles. To maximise fluidity, the new management plan focuses on mitigating two primary barriers:

• The Salcombe Hill Road: A physical divide that restricts the movement of smaller mammals and arthropods across the length of the network.
• Dense Woodland (Page Wood): A biological barrier that currently segments the open-habitat species residing in the neighboring grasslands.

The Power of Proximity: A 90% Protection Rate

The Salcombe Ecology Network’s most impressive metric is its 90% protection rate. Of the 11 key sites, 10 are under the direct stewardship of conservation-minded organisations like the National Trust and the Sid Vale Association. Only Milltown Lane currently sits outside of formal protection, though it remains a vital link in the chain.

This high degree of connectivity is bolstered by the Sidmouth to Beer Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which provides a heavy layer of legal protection along the coastline. The network functions around three central "hubs" that each boast four direct connections: Page Wood, Salcombe Hill, and Combe Head Wood.

By sharing borders, these sites form a continuous mosaic. For a conservation strategist, this is the gold standard; it allows for a "terrestrial bridge" that bypasses the urban density of Sidmouth, ensuring species can move through a protected environment without the risk of entering hostile, developed landscapes.

Beyond Stars: The Observatory’s Ecological Freedom

The network is also seeing a shift in how its heritage assets are managed. The Lockyer Observatory is currently undergoing a Community Asset Transfer (CAT), moving from the ownership of East Devon District Council (EDDC) to the Norman Lockyer Observatory Society (NLOS).

This transition, spanning 2025 into early 2026, is a move toward ecological autonomy. By taking full ownership of the freehold, the NLOS charity can bypass local government constraints and manage the site’s environmental and heritage assets with a level of agility that a municipality simply cannot match.

"The society aims to secure the observatory’s future and directly manage its heritage and environmental assets without local government constraints."

This shift ensures that the observatory is not just a place for looking at the stars, but a fully integrated, independently managed node in the nature highway.

Conclusion: The Future of the Wildbelt

The Salcombe Ecology Network is the beating heart of the Sidmouth to Dorset Coastal Wildbelt. Recognised in the draft Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), this region is a vital blend of cliff-top grasslands and undercliffs. With the National Trust already implementing site-improvement plans, the pieces are moving into place for a landscape-scale transformation.

The groundwork has been laid, but the true test lies in the decades ahead. As we look toward the 2045 horizon, we must ask: how will this continuous mosaic of land appear once the 100 hectares of new woodland and specialised butterfly corridors have matured? We are no longer looking at 11 separate sites; we are watching the construction of a biological lifeline that will safeguard the Jurassic Coast for generations to come.

Now watch the video: