Biodiversity

Natural regeneration

The Council owns very limited ‘significant’ sized spaces, particularly with the potential to undertake meaningful interventions for the benefit of the natural environment. The exceptions to this are the two sites at Harrowbeer Lane, Yelverton and Bedford Bridge near Horrabridge.

The 4.7ha site off Harrowbeer Lane, Yelverton (in Buckland Monachorum Ward) was previously grazed, but has now been vacant for a few years following cessation of the previous arrangement

The 3.5ha site at Bedford Bridge, near Horrabridge (Burrator Ward) lies between the A386 and River Walkham and is grazed, with 12 months’ notice having been served on the existing tenant in September 2021 and vacant possession will be obtained in September 2022.

Both of these sites are within the Forestry Commission High Spatial Priority Area for Biodiversity – this being the Priority Habitat network layer for nature recovery that builds upon the adjacent areas of existing Deciduous Woodland (a Priority Habitat) – the easternmost of the three fields at Harrowbeer Lane already containing some of this existing woodland habitat layer

Delivering woodland creation or enabling natural woodland regeneration at the sites will deliver multiple benefits including:

• Creating new woodland habitat contributing to nature recovery
• Reducing flood risk
• Storing carbon and contributing to combatting climate change

The Council will be working in partnership the Woodland Trust to achieve this and it is hoped that through this strategic partnership the resultant carbon credits can be registered.

The woodland regeneration will link adjacent habitat and are in a priority area for nature recovery. After 5 years both sites should have seen an increase in biodiversity of around 80%. 

The Council will furthermore be contributing to the national target of 30% coverage for nature, set out in the Environment Act 2021.