There are some great river projects happening across the Devon coast.
Almost a year on now, the River Plym Project aimed to encourage people to value and enjoy the nature on their doorstep, to create more space for wildlife and ultimately restore the river’s health. And in the summer, the Devon Wildlife Trust put on several events in Plymouth celebrating the River Plym!
In December last year, the Environment Agency led a project restoring saltmarsh on the River Dart – places which have b been essential as they captured carbon, protected shorelines from erosion, provided habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife and helped clean water.
It was back in March when the project to reconnect the River Otter to its floodplain was completed, but the projects to restore the Lower Otter Valley have continued with the ‘Heaths to Sea’ scheme winning government funding, the aim being to bring environmental benefits in harmony with food production across a large area of east Devon.
And again late last year, the Seaton wetlands project won funding to clean the River Axe, with specifically the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund making sure that building the homes local people need will not come at the expense of the environment – part of the bigger Rivers Run Through Us project from the EDNL.
All of which goes to show that there is real interest and real progress with nature recovery projects across Devon – and that the River Sid Catchment is in very good company!
River Axe leaky dams – Credit: Vicky Whitworth – Chardstock