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Contents
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Definition of Brownfield sites
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Brownfield sites are technically known as 'open mosaic habitat'. They are generally defined as derelict industrial land or vacant demolition sites. These areas have typically been developed in the past and subsequently abandoned.
In the natural habitat surveying context brownfield sites are sites heavily influenced by human activities than other habitats and are further along the spectrum between semi-natural and artificial.
In the Sidmouth area there are no ‘brownfield’ sites on derelict industrial land and vacant demolition sites but there are areas more connected to redundant agricultural land or places where, for one reason or another, human activity has changed the natural condition beyond recognition but where nature can still find a niche. These sites in Sidmouth are typically where people work, rest and play; the town centre shops, and offices, the parks and gardens and the playing fields.
Brownfield sites serve as a refuge for early-successional species that are scarce or absent in the wider urban landscape. Similar to arable land, they provide bare substrate, but unlike arable land, they remain undisturbed, allowing primary succession to take place.
The characteristics of brownfield sites can vary greatly due to the legacy of past use, which can result in varying chemical content and pH in the soil, even within a single site. These thin, skeletal soils are crucial for maintaining the habitat in an early-successional stage. The vegetation is often a mixture of short, patchy plant associations typical of derelict urban sites and quarries. It can be dominated by lichens and mosses or by tall ruderal herbs such as rosebay willowherb and stinging nettle. Brownfield sites can also include pools and inundated areas, short open turf, flower-rich grassland, and scrub. The unusual habitat structure and soil composition can support unexpected species.
Brownfield sites can encompass vegetation types found in other habitats like Lowland Dry Heath, various grasslands, scrub, and secondary woodland, but they are uniquely urban.
Despite their modified nature, the best examples of brownfield sites can be remarkably rich in species, sometimes supporting as many invertebrates as ancient woodland. They provide abundant nectar sources from flowering plants (including non-native species), and open bare ground, rubble, and concrete offer warm areas for basking, foraging, and burrowing invertebrates. Scrub provides additional shelter and structural diversity. Buildings on these sites can also be colonised by wildlife.
Historically, the ecological importance of brownfield sites has not been widely recognised. However, they are now established as an important component of semi-natural sites and 'open areas mosaic habitat' is a Priority Habitat in the UK. Threats to brownfield sites often involve planning procedures and the presumption in favour of development unless they are of high environmental value. Conservation efforts focus on raising awareness, conducting surveys, ensuring long-term continuity, and potentially integrating wildlife interest into redevelopment proposals.
Examples of Brownfield sites
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Specific examples and characteristics of land types considered brownfield sites, or areas often classified as such in surveys like the Phase 1 Habitat Survey, include:
- Derelict industrial land or vacant demolition sites. For example, there is an abandoned oil refinery on Canvey Island, Essex, which was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its richness in insect species.
- Vacant demolition sites, including bomb sites and derelict buildings, which were colonised by species such as Black Redstarts after the Second World War.
- Short, patchy plant associations typical of derelict urban sites, quarries, and railway ballast. The Phase 1 Handbook classifies this vegetation type as "Ephemeral/short perennial".
- Quarries and abandoned industrial areas and spoil tips, which fall under the broader category of "Artificial exposures and waste tips" in the Phase 1 Handbook.
- Railway embankments (used or disused), canals, and road verges that provide relatively undisturbed habitat. If wide enough, grassy road verges and railway cuttings/embankments can be mapped as appropriate grassland habitat, or if dominated by trees or scrub, categorised as woodland or scrub.
- Narrow herb-rich verges can be included..
- "Cultivated and disturbed land" as a broader Phase 1 category associated with brownfield habitats. This category includes Arable, Amenity grassland and Ephemeral/short perennial.
- Amenity grassland, such as mown lawns in parks and playing fields, is classified as a brownfield site. For example, The Byes was designated brownfield partly because its large area of grass is maintained as mown lawn classified as amenity grass.
- Areas of waste ground. Mixed Scrub is sometimes found on waste ground, and weed communities are typical of roadsides, farm tracks, gateways, arable field margins, and areas of waste ground where artificial disturbance prevents complete vegetation cover. Brownfield sites are sometimes referred to as "'Waste' places".
The characteristics of these sites can vary greatly due to the legacy of past industrial or agricultural use, resulting in varying chemical content and pH in thin, skeletal soils. The vegetation can range from lichens and mosses to tall ruderal herbs, and may include pools, open turf, flower-rich grassland, and scrub. Despite their modified nature, the best examples can be remarkably rich in species, sometimes supporting as many invertebrates as ancient woodland.
Some brownfield sites may be undergoing restoration, potentially leading to eventual reclassification; the Lockyer Observatory site in Sidmouth for example which is returning gradually to heath habitat.
Benefits of Brownfield Sites
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In the wider context brownfield sites can be species rich and some are worthy of legal protection because of the species and types of wildlife that now benefit from them. Overall, some species are particularly adaptable and can colonise brownfield sites. ‘Early-successional Species’ find refuge on Brownfield sites, these are species that primarily thrive in the early stages of ecological succession. 2.
Plants:
Initial colonisation of a brownfield site will be vegetation that is often a mixture of short, patchy plant associations typical of derelict urban sites and quarries, classified as Ephemeral/short perennial. This can include low-growing plants such as greater plantain, creeping buttercup, clover, black medick, colt’s-foot, oxeye daisy and ragwort species. Taller ruderal herbs like rosebay willowherb and common nettle are often common.
Areas can also include flower-rich grassland with a range of flowering plants, including non-native species, that provide abundant nectar sources. Even orchids, such as bee orchid and fragrant orchid, can sometimes be found.
Specific plants mentioned as part of the brownfield "Cultivated and disturbed land" category include various weeds of cultivation such as scarlet pimpernel, shepherd's purse, petty spurge, and speedwell species.
Invertebrates:
Brownfield sites can be remarkably rich in invertebrates, sometimes supporting as many as ancient woodland. They benefit from abundant nectar sources from flowering plants and even bare ground, rubble, and exposed concrete are beneficial providing warm areas for basking, foraging, and burrowing invertebrates.
Some species no longer frequent in more natural habitats such as various bees (e.g., Brown-banded and Shrill Carder Bees), solitary wasps (including weaver wasps), jumping spiders, and a range of beetles have been recorded on brownfield sites
Scrubby areas can provide additional shelter and structural diversity for invertebrates.
Reptiles:
Brownfield sites can provide ideal habitat for reptiles, such as Slow-worm, Common Lizard, Grass Snake, and Adder. The warm bare ground, rubble, and concrete are beneficial for basking.
Amphibians:
Pools and inundated areas found on brownfield sites can support amphibians, including newts and Common Frog.
Birds:
Birds can colonise built structures on brownfield sites. Historically, Black Redstart numbers peaked in London after WW2, breeding on bomb sites and derelict buildings. Little Ringed Plover is another bird species particularly associated with brownfield flooded quarry sites.
Woodland fringes (which brownfield can encompass) also support invertebrates, and flowering verges are important nectar sources for birds when other plants are not in flower. Birds like green woodpeckers, greenfinches, and kestrels can sometimes be found on urban brownfield sites.
Other Wildlife:
Scrub on brownfield sites can support species associated with that habitat type, such as hedgehogs. Grassy areas can support small mammals and those with hedges can act as corridors for bats, dormice, and other mammals.
Benefits do arise from the specific characteristics of brownfield sites, such as their varied chemical content and pH in thin, skeletal soils due to past human influence, the presence of bare ground and rubble, and the dynamic, early-successional vegetation. While often modified, these sites offer habitats and resources that are increasingly rare in the intensively managed countryside and even in other urban green spaces.
Sidmouth Brownfield Sites
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In a small town (population of approaching c13,500) it is somewhat inevitable that there will be sites that can be classified as brownfield and in the Sidmouth Nature project 15 such sites were identified and surveyed but other small pockets of natural interest could justifiably claim that classification.
The fifteen surveyed sites split (by accident not design) into three broad categories:
- Managed Sites - Parks and Gardens: Being a seaside town whose economy is closely linked to the holiday trade Sidmouth likes to present attractive places for visitors (and locals too of course) to walk, relax and enjoy their surroundings. Four out of the five ‘managed’ brownfield sites fulfil this purpose and are actively managed as gardens or parkland areas. In the centre of the town, one of these areas includes recreational facilities where people can play bowls, tennis, cricket, croquet and putting. One of the sites is a private estate with no public access. Despite this high level of management they still present opportunities for nature to survive, and in some cases actually thrive.
- Maintained Sites - Green Spaces: Of more attractiveness to nature are five sites where the level of intervention is far less intrusive than in the parks and gardens in the town. It is a feature of all five of these sites that they have areas within them where habitat is actively ‘maintained’ and nature is encouraged to prosper and one might argue in some cases that classifying them as ‘brownfield’ is doing them an injustice; Sidmouth Cemetery, for example, could claim to be grassland in around 25% of its total area.
- Minimal Sites - Lanes and Waysides: This is a selection of sites that have been heavily influenced by human activity but where intervention is ‘minimal’ allowing nature to recover the area through regeneration. For example, two sites are hedgerows along quiet roads and get a trim once every autumn.
These are all variations of the types of habitat that are justifiably included in the brownfield classification as outlined earlier:
- Road verges and redundant railways that provide relatively undisturbed habitat.
- Narrow herb-rich verges
- Cultivated and disturbed land that includes arable and ephemeral/short perennial grasslands and gardens
- Amenity grassland, such as mown lawns in parks and playing fields
The designated brownfield site in Sidmouth can be described as:
Site | Description |
Bickwell | Road verges and redundant railways |
Cultivated and disturbed land | |
Deepway Meadow (Millennium Green) | Amenity grassland |
Dunscombe Lane | Road verges and redundant railways |
Cultivated and disturbed land | |
Harford Trailway | Road verges and redundant railways |
Jacob’s Ladder | Cultivated and disturbed land |
Knapp Nature Pond | Cultivated and disturbed land |
Lockyer Observatory | Amenity grassland |
Lower Sid | Managed water flow |
Amenity grassland | |
Sidmouth Cemetery | Amenity grassland |
The Byes | Amenity grassland |
Town Parks and Gardens* | Parks, Gardens and Recreation |
Upper Byes | Road verges and redundant railways |
- The ‘Town Parks and Gardens’ site includes the Blackmore Gardens, the bowling green and tennis courts, the Parish Church, the croquet lawns and the cricket ground.
Species Analysis
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It would be easy to dismiss brownfield sites as being of little value to the ecology and biodiversity of the Sidmouth area but that would be far from the truth. Overall, 30% of the sites surveyed were grouped as ‘brownfield’ for various reasons and yet 64.1% of all species recorded on all sites were present on brownfield sites. That figure alone must surely demonstrate the value of brownfields sites to the ‘natural’ environment of Sidmouth. Not only are these parks, gardens and other brownfield sites important to people but also to nature and it means they are amongst the best places to engage the general public with the nature that surrounds them.
As the table below shows 76.4% of our birds are particularly dependent on brownfield sites and 69.1% of our floral species make use of these sites. At first sight these brownfield sites may seem to have limited value to insects with ‘only’ 48.6% of all recorded species found on them but it should be borne in mind insects, in general, seek flowers in long grassy meadows and that is not going to be a feature of our parks and gardens; the Council will make sure of that!
Species Group | Species Recorded on Brownfield | Species Recorded an all Sites | Percentage on Brownfield Sites |
Birds | 42 | 55 | 76.4% |
Flowering Plants | 257 | 372 | 69.1% |
Fungi and Lichen | 70 | 116 | 60.3% |
Insects | 68 | 140 | 48.6% |
Mammals | 6 | 7 | 85.7% |
Non-flowering Plants | 29 | 45 | 64.4% |
Other animals life forms | 4 | 8 | 50.0% |
Total | 476 | 743 | 64.1% |
Of the flowering plants all 28 species associated with built up areas occur on our brownfield sites and that is hardly surprising. Equally, 87.1% of parkland species occur on these brownfield sites and The Byes is a major influence on that figure.
Unexpectedly, perhaps, 61.4% of plants associated with cultivated land are found in parks, gardens and other brownfield sites and maybe it shows how widespread these plants, especially garden escapes, have spread to all corners of the town and surrounding areas.
With hedgerows at Bickwell, Dunscombe and the Upper Byes in the site profile it is obvious a significant number of hedgerow species will occur in this this list and the presence of the river running through The Byes and two ‘wildlife’ ponds at the Knapp and Deepway Meadow explains the presence of 72% of water margin plants being found on Brownfield sites.
Habitat Type | Species Recorded on Brownfield | Species Recorded an all Sites | Percentage on Brownfield Sites |
Broad-leaved Woodland | 84 | 106 | 79.2% |
Cultivated & Disturbed Land | 70 | 114 | 61.4% |
Scrub | 64 | 92 | 69.6% |
Hedgerow | 44 | 55 | 80.0% |
Neutral Grassland | 35 | 48 | 72.9% |
Built-up areas | 28 | 28 | 100.0% |
Parkland | 27 | 31 | 87.1% |
Water Margin | 26 | 36 | 72.2% |
Calcareous Grassland | 24 | 42 | 57.1% |
Of the fifteen sites The Byes and the Upper Byes are, by far, the most biodiverse with over 23% of all the species recorded in the survey occurring on each of those sites. A wander along The Byes footpath from the Tollgate to Sidford will surely reward the interested nature watcher. This also shows the value of the work being done by conservation volunteers on these sites and the benefit of ownership by the Sid Vame Association of considerable amounts of land in this area.
To again stress the influence and value of these brownfield sites ten have 100 or more recorded species. Of those less that 100 species it has to be noted that three have had less survey visits than most and the full count is probably higher.
Site | No of Species |
The Byes | 175 |
Upper Byes | 171 |
Dunscombe | 146 |
Sidmouth Cemetery | 143 |
Lockyer Observatory | 134 |
Knapp Nature Pond | 121 |
Lower Sid | 118 |
Town Parks and Gardens | 108 |
Glen Goyle | 101 |
Powys House | 100 |
Harpford Trailway | 79 |
Deepway Meadow (Millenium Green) | 77 |
Connaught Gardens | 72 |
Bickwell | 71 |
Jacob’s Ladder | 61 |
Yes, it would be easy to dismiss brownfield sites as being of little value to the ecology and biodiversity of the Sidmouth area but as the data shows, that would indeed be far from the truth.
Managed Sites: Parks and Gardens
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Connaught Gardens
Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth is not just a beautiful public space, but a cherished location rich in history, diverse plant life, and a vibrant hub for community activities.
The origins of the gardens can be traced back to around 1820 when Emmanuel Lousada who lived in nearby Peak House began constructing a marine villa on the site. The property was acquired by the Sidmouth Urban District Council in 1930. It was officially opened to the public in 1934 by the Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria’s third son, giving the gardens their name. Connaught Gardens is listed as one of Sidmouth's main green spaces and is located on Peak Hill. It is owned by East Devon District Council.
The gardens boast a rich collection of exotic and native plant species, thoughtfully arranged within sheltered walled areas to create distinct "outdoor rooms". A particularly exciting initiative is the "Cretaceous Arboretum," a collaborative project aiming to introduce trees and shrubs reminiscent of the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods over three years. This project focuses on planting species like magnolias and palms, which were among the earliest flowering plants, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into prehistoric plant life. Visitors can also explore a Tree Trail that highlights some of the exotic trees present, providing both an educational and enjoyable experience.
Beyond its natural beauty, Connaught Gardens is a popular venue for various community events, enriching Sidmouth's cultural scene. The gardens host music performances, theatre, and art exhibitions. The bandstand is a focal point, regularly hosting concerts.
Glen Goyle
Glen Goyle is a tranquil, lesser-known green space nestled on the western side of Sidmouth. This small valley, shaped by a brook that flows into the sea, is largely hidden from the Esplanade due to culverting. However, the brook emerges onto the beach near the bottom of Glen Road, opposite the Belmont Hotel.
Once part of Victorian parkland, Glen Goyle had become overgrown and neglected over time. In response, the Friends of Glen Goyle (FOGG) was established as a volunteer group dedicated to restoring and maintaining this green space. Their efforts include clearing invasive species like ivy and brambles, replanting native flora, and enhancing the area's accessibility.
FOGG collaborates with the owners, East Devon District Council, receiving guidance from horticultural officers to ensure ecological best practices. The group's work has garnered recognition, earning an "Outstanding" rating in the Royal Horticultural Society’s It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme.
Vision Group for Sidmouth
Access to Glen Goyle is available via Manor Road, just past the Royal Glen Hotel. The public section begins near a bridge over the brook, offering a peaceful retreat with native plants and shaded pathways.
Powys House
Powys House is a distinguished Grade II listed early 19th-century stucco villa, situated on Station Road. Originally constructed as a private residence, it now serves as a retirement development comprising 58 leasehold flats, completed in 1982. The building retains notable architectural features, including recessed sash windows, Venetian shutters, and a prominent garden façade with two three-window wings connected by a central link block.
The property is set within approximately five acres of communal grounds, featuring a large south-facing lawn bordered by mature trees. These gardens offer a tranquil and secluded environment, despite the property's proximity to Sidmouth town center and seafront. Residents have access to various amenities, including a spacious lounge with a veranda, a greenhouse, reading areas, guest suites, and a full-time house manager.
Powys House combines historical charm with modern amenities, providing residents with a comfortable and engaging living environment amidst well-maintained gardens.
The grounds are PRIVATE and not open to public access.
The Byes
The Byes Riverside Park is one of Sidmouth's most important green spaces. It is a parkland area within the town, running alongside the River Sid. It spans approximately two kilometres between Sidford and the Old Toll House. For the purposes of the Sidmouth Nature project surveys it has been split into two parts; The Byes and Upper Byes. The division occurs at the bridge near Margaret’s Meadow.
The Byes is managed for wildlife conservation and to provide free public access for residents and visitors. Parts of The Byes are owned by the Sid Vale Association (SVA) and are managed to promote wild flower diversity. East Devon District Council also plays a role in managing aspects of The Byes.
While initially one might not classify it as such, on balance, The Byes has been designated as a brownfield site. This classification reflects its complex history of land use, including areas of mown lawn. Many of the mature trees in the lower area are introduced species and there are a number of non-native flowers. Primary habitat types present include freshwater habitat (the River Sid running its entire length), grassland (large areas amenity grass and parkland woodland) and hedgerow scrub lining the borders.
The Byes has significant value as a diverse urban green space and a key component in local biodiversity networks, supporting a range of species despite facing challenges like invasive species and the impact of structures like the weir.
Town Parks and Gardens
The town parks and gardens area is formed from the Blackmore Gardens, the Parish Churchyard, the Bowling Green, and the Fortfield:
Blackmore Gardens
Blackmore Gardens is one of Sidmouth's main green spaces. The Conservatory in Blackmore Gardens is owned directly by Sidmouth Town Council. Dogwood is a prominent feature of Blackmore Gardens, providing a vibrant backdrop with its bright red wood, particularly notable in autumn and winter. The gardens are well maintained by the EDDC workforce.
Parish Churchyard
The Parish Churchyard is a place where you can find a wide range of lichen species on gravestones and walls. The churchyard wall alongside Church Lane in Sidmouth is an old wall with lime mortar in the joints. Unlike walls made with modern Portland cement mortar, which is a harsher environment, many plants can colonise lime mortar.
Pellitory of the Wall can be found growing on the gate pillar of the churchyard wall alongside Church Lane. This plant thrives in the gap between the base of walls and footpaths where its roots are in soil. There are several Yew trees in the churchyard with their berries providing a winter food source for birds.
Bowling Green
A colony of mixed waxcap fungi can be found on the grass beside the bowling greens in town in autumn and is a significant site for such fungi in the area.
Fortfield
The Fortfield is the area behind the cricket pavilion and tennis courts. A path runs alongside a bank here which is a remnant of an old field boundary. This bank used to be the boundary hedge for "Back Fort Field".
The bank behind the tennis courts has Wild Strawberries from May onwards, and they are common in most of the valley's hedge banks. The bank alongside the croquet lawns in Station Road, which seems adjacent to the Fortfield area, has Purple Ramping-fumitory and patches of Sticky Mouse-ear where Goldfinches feed on the seeds. Sadly, the bank behind the cricket pavilion and tennis courts is becoming swamped by the invasive non-native Three Cornered Leek.
Maintained Sites: Green Spaces
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Deepway Meadow
Deepway Meadow, also known as Sidbury Millennium Green, is a public open space located in the heart of Sidbury. Established to commemorate the Millennium, it serves as a tranquil area for informal recreation and community gatherings. The river Sid flows along its eastern side.
The main feature of the meadow is a large pond with various plants in and around it including marsh marigold and purple loosestrife. The pond also has a substantial amount of frog spawn in spring and during the summer has several species of dragonflies and damselflies.
The Sidbury Millennium Green Trust, registered as a charity in 2001, oversees the maintenance and preservation of Deepway Meadow. The Trust's mission is to provide and maintain this open space for the benefit of the inhabitants, ensuring it remains an area for informal recreation, play, leisure activities, and community events.
Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob's Ladder is a specific area on the coast in Sidmouth, to the west of the town, known for its beach, cliffs, and ladder up to the Connaught Gardens on the cliff above. The cliffs to the west of Jacob's Ladder have historically seen significant erosion and landslips.
The area includes a bank alongside a walled path that serves as a remnant of an old field boundary. The walkway down to the beach, particularly in summer, can host a wonderful display of wild flowers. Although giving the appearance of being natural grassland the land here has been extensively landscaped to provide paths to the beach and access to the nearby West Hill (aka Peak Hill) and so is considered to be a brownfield site.
The habitat is challenging for plants due to the nature of the shingle beach and cliffs, which do not retain rainwater easily, are nutrient-poor, and have high salt concentrations. Plants adapted to salty conditions, known as halophytes, are found here. The banks and walkways provide different conditions compared to the direct cliff face or shingle.
Knapp Nature Pond
The Knapp Nature Pond, also referred to as the Lower Knapp Pond, is situated between Winslade Road, Station Road, adjacent to Station Road (B3176), just south of Alexandria Road.
The pond was created as part of a small nature reserve established by the East Devon District Council (EDDC) in 1992. The Sid Vale Association (SVA) persuaded EDDC to make this area a nature reserve with a pond after bungalow development on land called "Deane's Meadow" (later "Deans Mead") destroyed a historical footpath.
The pond is approximately 500 square feet and was constructed with a concrete lining. Initially, it was filled and regularly supplied with mains water, controlled by a stopcock. Three "stepping stones" were built to provide public access, allowing visitors, particularly children, to look into the pond and net tadpoles. It has a deepest section of over three feet, and its sides are sloping without shelves for easy planting.
It was initially well-loved by the local community but over the years, due to a lack of management, the pond became overgrown with plants, resulting in very little open water. In early 2018, research into the neglected pond began, revealing a dense mat of Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii), a highly invasive plant, covering more than half of the pond. A group of volunteers undertook the task of completely clearing the pond in 2018, which required over a hundred "person hours". This involved using an electric pump, saws for rhizome roots, knives and secateurs for vegetation, and buckets for mud.
Contaminated plants, including "Yellow Flag Iris", "Greater" and "Lesser Reedmace", and "Purple Loosestrife", were removed and covered with the Australian Stonecrop to kill them. Some original plants were successfully saved and replanted using repaired pond baskets from 1992.
The pond's first visitor, a "Lesser Water Boatman", was observed within two weeks of refilling. Donated water lilies were planted in 2019, with their leaves helping to reduce algal growth by limiting light penetration. The root systems of various plants also help by taking nitrates from the water.
It is a habitat where palmate newts, frogs, and beetles are thriving and breeding well. It also serves as a nursery for dragonfly and damselfly larvae. Caddis fly larvae, considered a good indicator of a healthy pond, are also thriving, along with multiple varieties of snails, leeches, and worms.
Lockyer Observatory
The Norman Lockyer Observatory (NLO) is a historic and active astronomical facility located on Salcombe Hill, just to the east of Sidmouth. Established in 1912 by Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer—renowned for discovering helium in the Sun's spectrum and founding the scientific journal Nature—the observatory was initially known as the Hill Observatory. After Lockyer's death in 1920, it was renamed in his honor.
The observatory houses several historic telescopes in a variety of buildings and they are set in extensive grounds. Originally heath, the grounds were ‘improved’ and landscaped to provide extensive lawns around the buildings giving easy access to the various telescopes and other equipment as well as making the appearance more ‘tidy’.
In recent years areas of gorse scrub have been cleared and heathers have been encouraged to return and this habitat restoration is beginning to show benefits without detracting from the original purposes of the site.
Sidmouth Cemetery
The Sidmouth cemetery is about 10 acres in size, and situated next to The Knapp Nature Reserve, it provides another 10 acres for nature, contributing to a larger network of green space in the town. The cemetery is recognized as a local asset that has seen attempts to improve it for nature. The East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Streetscene team is engaged with local volunteers in managing the site with the overall goal to manage this "outstanding fragment of our ancient landscape" for nature and for the future, also serving as a way to pay homage to the dead.
Management practices include combining short and long grass, which is noted to provide a more diverse habitat for a greater range of insect and plant species and managing the ancient hedgerows that run around and through the cemetery, which are considered as critical for wildlife. The management of these hedges is seen as potentially allowing the rare Hazel Dormouse, recently found in old hedges on the neighbouring Knapp Nature Reserve, to expand its habitat into the cemetery. The hedges provide a green highway for bats, including the rare Lesser Horseshoe Bat, for foraging and commuting. The gravestones and walls within the cemetery also support a diversity of lichens, mosses, and ferns, with specific communities depending on the substrate like limestone or granite.
In the older part of the cemetery the grass is allowed to flourish and many grassland floral species have recovered and established here, especially oxeye daisy although large areas of the invasive introduced species, three-cornered leek, have also taken hold.
Minimal Sites: Lanes and Waysides
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Bickwell
Bickwell Valley is a picturesque and historically significant area located on the western edge of Sidmouth. Renowned for its architectural heritage and natural beauty, it forms part of a designated conservation area within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Developed primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bickwell Valley showcases a collection of substantial detached villas set within generous plots.
Bickwell Valley's inclusion in a conservation area underscores its environmental and historical importance. The valley's natural hollow landscape is complemented by mature trees and gardens, contributing to its serene ambiance. Environmental stewardship is evident through initiatives like the Sid Valley Biodiversity Group's identification of runoff hotspots in the Bickwell Brook catchment area, highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve the valley's ecological integrity .
The Sidmouth Nature project survey area is focused on Muttersmoor Road that runs from the top end of Bickwell Valley Road up toward Bulverton Hill. Both sides of this lane have interesting hedgerows and to the left go up the hill there is a small drainage stream.
Bickwell Valley is considered to always be a good hunting ground for wild plants, with 70 species recorded there across the year in a Sid Valley Biodiversity Group survey.
Dunscombe Manor
Dunscombe Manor and Dunscombe Farm are historically significant sites located near Sidmouth, offering a blend of rich heritage and picturesque landscapes. Dunscombe Manor is believed to have been part of the Domesday manor of "Selcombe" or Salcombe Regis, with origins dating back to at least 925 AD. The original manor house suffered a devastating fire around 1763 and now lies in ruins .
Dunscombe Farm is also home to Constancia Stud, a stud farm situated along the Jurassic Coast. The farm has a history of breeding Swedish and other sport horses, contributing to the region's equestrian heritage .
The area surrounding Dunscombe Manor is rich in biodiversity. Surveys conducted in the region, including the lanes from the Donkey Sanctuary car park past Dunscombe Manor to the National Trust site at Lincombe, highlight the significance of hedgerow scrub habitats. These habitats support a variety of wildlife, underscoring the ecological importance of the area.
Harpford Trailway
Until 1967 there was a railway line from what is now Feniton Station to Sidmouth. One of the lines axed by the ‘infamous’ Dr Beeching in his modernisation of the railways plans all traces of the railway itself have long since gone but the track bed remains and forms a walking and cycling route.
The stretch of the line from where it emerges from Harpford Wood and runs west, and then north, towards Tipton St John I have called the Harpford Trailway to distinguish it for the purposes of surveying in the Sidmouth Nature project from the stretch that runs through the woodland as it is very different in nature.
The route starts towards Harpford passing agricultural land on the right and a horse stables on the left. After passing under a bridge the area becomes more wooded for a while and has conifer plantation to the left but then it emerges into agricultural pasture for the remainder of the walk to Tipton.
The vegetation is lush and quite typical of enriched soils with cock’s-foot, docks, nettles and brambles being dominant along with fringes of hedgerow scrub along both sides.
Lower Sid
The stretch of the river Sid from where it emerges from under the bridge in Salcombe Road, flows over the ford in Millford Road, then on to the weir by the Ham and into the sea has been called the ‘Lower Sid’ to distinguish it from the stretches further inland through the Byes.
This section of the river is not the natural course that it once followed, having been straightened and the sides fortified in the late 1700s. As it is not natural and totally dominated by human intervention it can justifiable be classified as a ‘brownfield’ site.
The river is relatively fast flowing through this section and so the scope for nature is somewhat limited but an island of sediment has accumulated just south of the ford and that has developed a number of plant populations. Near to the sea is the point where some bird species are likely to be encountered including mallard, herring gull, cormorant, grey wagtail and occasional dipper.
Upper Byes
The Byes Riverside Park is one of Sidmouth's most important green spaces. It is a parkland area within the town, running alongside the River Sid. It spans approximately two kilometres between Sidford and the Old Toll House. For the purposes of the Sidmouth Nature project the park has been divided into several survey areas and the Upper Byes section is the stretch from Sidford, along the path until it reaches the bridge just to the south of Margaret's Meadow
The path starts by passing amenity grassland areas used for recreation before entering an interesting wooded area. It then emerges into a more open area with pasture to the left and a substantial hedgerow to the right. After passing the entrance to Gilchrist Field the route goes through a rough scrub and grassland area known as the Livornia Field before then entering the final stage with high hedgerow banks on each side.
The western side of the path is predominantly housing and this inevitably has an effect on the flora with several garden ‘escapes’ having become established. Many daffodils have also been introduced to the area. It is a popular walking and cycling route.
A remarkable number of plants and trees occur in the ‘Upper Byes’ area thanks largely to the presence of the SVA owned, and managed, Livornia Field and the woodland area near the rugby club.