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Woody

Grassland

Upland moor

Coastal

Freshwater

Heaths

Grassland in Devon

Grassland and mire wildlife areas in Devon are among the county’s most valuable and diverse natural habitats, supporting a rich tapestry of plant and animal life. Found across lowland meadows, river valleys, and upland slopes, these ecosystems range from species-rich hay meadows to waterlogged mires and fens. They provide essential breeding grounds for insects, birds, and amphibians, including rare species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly, snipe, and bog asphodel. Shaped by centuries of traditional land management, Devon’s grasslands and mires are not only important for biodiversity, but also for their role in water purification, flood mitigation, and carbon storage—making them vital to both wildlife and people.

Hawkswood

Hawkswood is a 4-hectare nature reserve managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust, located near the village of Stockland in East

Heath lobelia Peter Llewyn UK Wildflowers

Andrew’s Wood

Andrew’s Wood, Devon Wildlife Trust reserve, is a perfect slice of the beautiful South Hams landscape. From the top of

Chudleigh Knighton Heath

Chudleigh Knighton Heath is a Devon Wildlife Trust reserve. It is a heathland mosaic of gorse, heather and grassland. This was once

Mincinglake Valley Park

Mincinglake Valley Park is a tranquil space, with a gentle circular path through woodland, alongside a stream and an orchard.

Bystock Pools

Bystock Pools is one of Devon Wildlife Trust’s most popular reserves. Visit and you’ll find yourself stopping to take in beautiful

Ludwell Valley Park

Ludwell Valley Park is a Devon Wildlife Trust reserve. Leave the city centre to explore the fields, cherry orchards and

Riverside Valley Park

Riverside Valley Park is one of six Exeter Valley Parks managed by Devon Wildlife Trust. Its 40 hectares sit between Clapperbrook

Meddon Green Local Nature Reserve

Meddon Green is a 1.7 hectare Local Nature Reserve, located at Meddon, near Bideford in Devon. It consists of culm

Teigngrace Meadow

Teigngrace Meadow is a fascinating ‘new’ landscape created from the diggings of nearby clay quarries – and a Devon Wildlife

Blackdown Hills AONB

The Blackdown Hills AONB, spanning the Devon-Somerset border, is a tranquil landscape of rolling hills, steep valleys, and rich biodiversity.

Small Pearl bordered Fritillary Neil Hulme 2

Marsland Nature Reserve

Marsland Nature Reserve is a Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve, which is a mixture of woodland, coastline and butterfly-filled meadows

Stapleton Mire Culm Grassland

Stapleton Mire is a Culm grassland, rich in nationally rare plant and insect species. Some areas are almost dominated by

Veilstone Moor Culm Grassland

Veilstone Moor is an area where every type of Culm is found here – from dry heathland grasses, to water-filled

Goren Farm

Goren Farm was an extensive dairy farm up until 1990, but since then, the fields have been set to hay

Photo of an orchid at Jetty Marsh, Newton Abbot

Jetty Marsh Reserve

The Jetty Marsh Reserve is a small site with a mosaic of reedbeds, scrub, grassland, open water and ditches and

Photo looking out over Stover Lake through trees

Stover Country Park Wildlife

Stover Country Park covers 114 acres which consist of six main habitats types: freshwater, marshland, coniferous plantation, mixed broadleaved woodland,

Exminster Marshes (The Exe Estuary)

Part of the Exe Estuary, Exminster Marshes is an area of international importance for wintering waders and wildfowl. The area

Rackenford and Knowstone Moors

Rackenford and Knowstone Moors are a wonderful, but wild and windswept, site. They’re also one of the largest remaining areas

Halsdon

Halsdon consists of a mixture of ancient woodland, floodplain meadows and a magnificent length of the River Torridge immortalised by