Devon Wildlife Trust

Devon's only charity that exists to protect Devon's wildlife and natural environment.

Find our more about the work that Devon Wildlife Trust do and how you can help. Learn about the 58 wildlife havens they care for. Discover the range of conservation work they do from landscape-scale projects, such as 'Working Wetlands' and the 'Devon Bat Project', down to garden-scale projects such as inspiring wildlife friendly gardens.

Tale Valley Trust

The Tale Valley is one of the most beautiful parts of East Devon, but one that is little known. By working together, the residents and businesses of the Tale Valley can protect and improve their environment and the Tale Valley Trust was formed as a focus for funds to pay for a rural regeneration.

Find out more about the Tale Valley Trust and their work to protect and improve the environment of the Tale Valley.

River Otter Beavers

There are now up to 15 beaver families groups living on the River Otter and its subsidiaries. Find out more about the River Otter Beaver Trial (England's first wild beaver re-introduction project), learn how beavers transformed Devon Wildlife Trusts' Enclosed Beaver Project site, discover where to see beavers in Devon and how DWT can help landowners where beavers are present, and find out how DWT are working to secure a future for wild beavers in the English landscape.

Tale Valley Trust Newsletter about the Beaver Project.

Saving Devon's Treescape

Devon's treescapes are stunning and crucial habitats for so much wildlife, but they are under threat from Ash Dieback which is estimated to kill at least 90% of Devon's ash trees in the coming years. It will affect everyone, but everyone can be part of the solution. Devon Wildlife Trust's Saving Devon's Treescape project is leading the fight to help save Devon's precious treescapes. 

We will be providing a tree hub where you will be able to collect free native trees (whips) for planting in your garden or any land where you have permission.

Devon Mammals

Devon is special for Greater Horseshoe Bats, Otters, Dormice, and, more recently, wild Beavers. Badgers and foxes are common, polecats are starting to colonise the county, Water voles are rare and the current county status of Hedgehogs, Water Shrew and Harvest Mouse are unknown.

Find out more about the wide variety of mammals that call Devon home and about the work of the Devon Mammal Group in surveying and recording the mammals of Devon, in particular their current Harvest Mouse survey project.

Devon Moths

Did you know that a Devon garden can attract over 80 varieties of moths in one night during high summer? Or that over the last 50 years or so the number of moths in Britain has decreased by over a third?

Find out more about the huge variety (and sizes) of moths that can be found in Devon and how the Devon Moth Group are working to study, record and conserve moth numbers and species in Devon.

Butterfly Conservation Trust

Butterflies are a beautiful and important part of the UK's wildlife. They are highly sensitive indicators of the health of the environment and play crucial roles in the food chain as well as being pollinators of plants.

The UK has 59 species of butterflies - 57 resident species and two regular migrants - the Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow. Devon has around 39 resident butterfly species.

Discover more about why butterflies matter, how to monitor and record their numbers, how to make your garden butterfly friendly and much more. Butterfly Conservation.

East Devon Tree Wardens

Tree Wardens plant, protect and promote their local trees. No training or experience in tree management is needed - just a love of trees and a few hours to spare. Some of the projects Tree Wardens are involved in include:

• Arranging local tree planting days
• Pruning, watering and giving vital aftercare to local trees after planting
• Working with local authorities to plant and care for our precious street trees
• Rejuvenating local woodlands in need of management
• Raising funds and identifying suitable land for local tree planting projects
• Going into schools to talk to young people about the value of trees.

To find out more visit The Woodland Trust website, come along to chat to the Plymtree Tree Warden or download the Tree Warden leaflet.

Wildwood Trust (Escot)

Wildwood Trust is one of the leading British animal conservation charities in the UK and is dedicated to protecting, conserving and rewilding Britain's wildlife. They currently run two wildlife parks (in Canterbury, Kent and Escot, Devon) which are set in beautiful ancient woodland and where they have over 200 native animals, past and present.

Wildwood Trust has been involved with many ground-breaking conservation programmes including saving the water vole, bringing the extinct European beaver back to Britain and returning the hazel dormouse and red squirrel to areas where they have been made extinct.

Honey Bees (Otter Valley Bees)

Honey bees are remarkable insects in many different ways. Not only are they the world's most important pollinator of food crops, they have also been have been making honey for humans for thousands of years! The biology of the Honey bee reveals just how special it is and what makes it different to other insects.

Find out more about Honey bees, bee-keeping and what we can all do to help improve the local environment for all our hard-working pollinators.

To find out more about Otter Valley Bees, follow the facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/OtterValleyBeesAndHives/

Re-wilding Poffit Lane

Poffit Lane is a beautiful green lane that runs from Haskins Cross, to the north of Payhembury, down into the Tale Valley and up again to Tale Head Cross. It is a lovely place to walk at all times of the year.

The owners and manager of this lane have recently done a huge amount of work re-wilding the lane. Find out what that has involved, what they have done and the benefits of re-wilding. Maybe get some ideas of simple things you can do in your own garden.

Payhembury Birds

East Devon has an amazing variety of habitats for birds, including the pebblebed heathland of East Devon Commons, an important and rare heathland habitat, as well as the coastland and estuaries of the Exe, Otter and Axe, the Blackdown Hills and areas such as The Tale Valley.

Find out about the different species of birds that can be found in Payhembury and the sorts of habitats they prefer.

To find out more about the Devon Birds group visit their website - www.devonbirds.org 

Wild Woodbury Wildlife Hospital

The number of animals and birds that the Wild Woodbury Wildlife Hospital cares for has increased hugely over the last year or so. An East Devon news article from August 2020 gives a lot more information about the amazing work they do and also about their efforts to fund-raise so that they can do more.

The Wild Woodbury website also gives some easy ways that we can all help to improve things for wildlife.

Payhembury Weather

Weather and climate have a profound effect on wildlife and the environment. Find out more about the weather local to Payhembury, how that varies from year to year and how it could change in the future.

See the Payhembury Weather website for more information.

Payhembury Primary School Wild Art

The very talented artists from Payhembury Primary School Wild Area Club will displaying examples of their outstanding work.

Nature Table

An area for a hands-on experience. Take a look at things that can be found in the parish. Have a look though a microscope at the miniature creatures, or the detailed structure of a leaf. Maybe make a bug hotel to take home or find out more about the many activities you can do at home.

Payhembury Parish Council

Find out more about the ways the Parish Council is trying to help and support the environment, wildlife and biodiversity in the parish. Let the Parish Council know your ideas and suggestions for more ways to help.