National Landscapes

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Making Space for Water… and the Beavers!

11th July 2023

On Tuesday 11 July 2023, some of the East Devon National Landscape team and our Local Assessment Panel (for Farming in Protected Landscapes funding) had a very HIGH-VIS visit to the ‘Making Space for Water’ project at Bicton Home Farm and Clinton Devon Estate (Home Farm) in East Devon.

Working Together

This amazing collaboration between Bicton Home Farm, Clinton Devon Estate, and Devon Wildlife Trust aims to create a thriving beaver wetland spanning over 9.73ha in the Lower Otter Valley.

Nature Recovery

By supporting the beavers’ activities in this area, the project is reconnecting different parts of the floodplain and fostering the growth of a diverse and vibrant ecosystem. Picture a stunning mosaic of open water, wet grassland, and scrub habitats.

 

A big thank you to all involved in this groundbreaking project – we’re looking forward to seeing it flourish!

Main photo: © DWT

 

More about the project:

  • Project title: Making Space for water – Beaver wetland development
  • Rough location EX9
  • Total project value  – £6115 and £8143* (*x2 projects on adjacent holdings)  – £14258
  • FiPL grant awarded  £3515 and £5543* (*x2 projects on adjacent holdings) – £9058
  • Key aims of the Project, in particular the Nature focused element –
    • The expansion of the existing beaver wetland to create a thriving wetland habitat that brings water quality and biodiversity benefits and integrates with other land uses in the catchment.
    • The co-development of a long-term monitoring and management plan for this site.
    • A trial of existing Countryside Stewardship payment rates and options to test whether these work for beaver wetlands so that future schemes can be better targeted for beavers and farmers.
    • The development of a demonstration site for targeted stakeholders to learn about beaver wetlands.
  • Outcomes for Nature (delivered or expected) – The project will provide an opportunity to adjust an existing Countryside Stewardship option (SW12) and test its application in supporting land managers creating space for beaver wetlands. The lessons learnt from the process will be communicated to Defra and Natural England to help inform future Environmental Land Management Scheme options and their prescriptions in the future.