North Devon Biosphere
- Andy Bell
From the red deer of Dartmoor, along our meandering rivers, past historic coastal communities, to the diversity of our marine environment stretching beyond Lundy Island, our UNESCO biosphere reserve celebrates life by recognising the connections between people and nature.
As part of the global UNESCO MAB network, our biosphere provides an open forum for bringing people together with their natural surroundings - to empower them to unlock their potential, and using their local and scientific knowledge to model solutions for sustainable living. We seek to inspire people to establish new, meaningful connections to their environment and share a way of living with nature that builds a positive future we can be proud of.
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North Devon Coast National Landscape
- Jenny Carey-Wood
The North Devon Coast National Landscape (formerly North Devon AONB) covers 171 square kilometres (66 square miles) of mainly coastal landscape including special places such as Combe Martin, Lee Bay, Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton, Northam Burrows Country Park, Westward Ho!’s Pebble Ridge, the Hartland Peninsula and Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
The landscape varies from wild coastal cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and rocky coves to sand dunes and beaches, wooded combes and valleys with sheltering villages.
The AONB Partnership supports sustainable development for our coastal communities and the rural economy, whilst conserving the outstanding wildlife, landscape and heritage of North Devon.
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Braunton Parish Council
- Graham Bell
- Contact name: Tracey Lovell
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Email:
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The Council is made up of 13 councillors representing two wards of Braunton East and Braunton West. The Parish extends to the sea coast and the estuary of The Taw, and includes the hamlets of Saunton, Lobb, Nethercott, Knowle, Winsham, Halsinger, Pipppacot, and Boode.
Councillors are responsible for making key policy decisions and deciding on the Council’s spending plans and budget for the financial year ahead.
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Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club
- David Dixon
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A registered charity formed to provide the opportunity for the residents of Barnstaple and surrounding areas to enjoy the sport of Pilot Gig Boat rowing and racing. Rowing takes places on the Taw and Torridge estuary every week of the year, weather permitting.
The Ladies A crew racing in the annual Barnstaple regatta
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Bideford and River Torridge Heritage Harbour
- Michael Teare
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Bideford and River Torridge Heritage Harbour aims to promote the maritime and industrial heritage along the historically navigable extent of the River Torridge from Appledore, through Bideford, upstream to the Rolle Canal terminating in Rosemoor RHS Gardens, Torrington. The River Torridge Heritage Group (RTHG) is a partnership of heritage organisations, led by Bideford based charity Way of the Wharves, representing about 2000 members/supporters and 200 active volunteers (stewards, engineers, carpenters, painters etc.) and have united around the Heritage Harbour project.
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Bideford Harbour Board
- Paul Brown
Bideford Harbour Board is the competent harbour authority for the harbour based in and around the Taw Torridge Estuary, pursuant to the Pilotage Act 1987 and is authorised by Torridge District Council to discharge associated duties. Bideford Harbour is a municipal port operated by Torridge District Council. It is a Statutory Harbour Authority for the river Torridge close to Bideford but is also a Competent Harbour Authority (i.e. responsible for the provision of pilotage and the consequent safety of navigation) for both the rivers Taw and Torridge as well as the estuary waters out to the Bideford Fairway buoy.
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BTO WeBS
- Chris Dee
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The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS), makes monthly counts of waterbirds across the entire estuary complex. Counts are undertaken by a team of up to 13 birders on a designated Sunday each month, around the time of high water.
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Coastwise North Devon
- Sandra Knight
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It is the aim of Coastwise North Devon, an independent community initiative, to increase understanding of the coast, its wildlife, and its importance to North Devon in the past, present and the future. We do this through sharing knowledge, undertaking conservation activities and projects and addressing current issues.
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Devon Birds
- Contact name: Mike Daniels
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Devon Birds has been the county bird society since 1928. Providing education for the public benefit in the study of birds and promoting their conservation.
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Devon Wildlife Trust
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Email:
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For more than 60 years, we have been at the forefront of protecting wildlife and the wild places that make Devon so special and believe, passionately, that a better world is one where nature and people thrive together. We are the only Devon focused charity that exists to protect all wildlife in Devon, on land and at sea.
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Devon Wildlife Trust - Barnstaple and District Local Group
- Deborah Frazer
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Email:
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We are a group of enthusiastic volunteers keen to promote and share information about the wildlife and habitats of North Devon.
We hold indoor and outdoor events in the North Devon area throughout the year. From September to April we meet once a month at Fremington Parish Hall for talks given by speakers on a range of conservation and wildlife related topics.
We also plan an ambitious outdoor programme of wildlife experiences allowing people to enjoy nature first hand. These almost always include a walk of some kind : a mix of easy as well as more strenuous walks from flat stretches of old railway tracks and the Taw and Torridge Estuary to the moors and valleys of Exmoor to the challenges of culm grassland to the cliffs of Hartland.
We also have volunteers who help at winter work parties at the DWT Nature Reserves at Uppacott Wood a couple of miles just outside Barnstaple and Swanpool Marsh in Braunton.
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Fremington Parish Council
- Jim Bell
- Contact name: Victoria Woodhouse
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Email:
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Fremington Parish Council is the lowest tier of local government working at the grassroots level. The Parish Council has 15 elected members and covers some 2526 hectares along the south side of the estuary of the River Taw including Yelland, Fremington, Bickington, Roundswell and Woodville.
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Gaia Trust
- Matt Edworthy (Director)
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Email:
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We are a registered charity since 1988. Our mission is “farming for people and wildlife”. We own nearly 550 acres spread from Home Farm Marsh in Devon, to properties at Trera-ven Farm near Wadebridge, Bodwannick Manor Farm near Bodmin, Chark Moor (SSSI) near Lostwithiel and Heywood, near Fowey.
In each, our regenerative farming provides a real living for a farmer whilst improving soil, reducing run-off, minimising our carbon footprint and nurturing wildlife. Each also pro-vides community benefits by connecting people with landscape and nature, improving wellbeing and providing opportunities for learning, participation and enjoyment.
Volunteers making green hay © R Hawley
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Love Braunton
- Sue Prosper
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Formed in 2016 by a group of residents, Love Braunton’s purpose is to promote and improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Braunton Neighbourhood which includes the development, implementation and maintenance of Braunton Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
Our vision is that of a community developing in line with the aspirations and wishes of its residents resulting in greater economic, social and environmental wellbeing for all.
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North Devon Council
- Ricky Knight
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Email:
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Ward member for Heanton, Ashford, Wrafton and Chivenor.
Green Party member in the Independent Group on NDC.
Lead Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity.
Chair of ‘Climate Action Team’ (CAT).
Planning Committee member.
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North Devon Yacht Club
- Tony Pratt
- Contact name: The Secretary, NDYC
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Email:
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North Devon Yacht Club (NDYC) is based in Instow on the banks of the Rivers Torridge and Taw. We offer sailing in the sheltered estuaries or for the cruising fleets access to the open seas with local areas of Lundy and Clovelly to the west, Ilfracombe and the Welsh Coast to the north.
We are a registered RYA Training Establishment currently offering courses in Sailing and Power Boating as well as other courses including First Aid.
The Racing fleet include Dinghy Sailing mainly in Lasers and Blaze dinghies or in Handicap fleets. Catamaran racing in a Fast Cat Fleet, and a Sprint 15 Fleet, and Gaffer Racing. We host open meetings and for a variety of fleets as well as our Annual premier event - Open Week held in August.
Also in August we hold Cadet Training for 3 weeks culminating in Pelican Week racing for all youngsters.
There is an active yachting and motor boating fleets with moorings in the estuary.
To join the Club or to find out more please contact the Secretary.
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Northam Town Council
- Peter Hames
- Contact name: Guy Langton
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Email:
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Northam Town Council is the local council for Appledore, Northam and Westward Ho!. It has 14 Councillors, 4 each for the wards of Appledore and Westward Ho! and 6 for Northam/Orchard Hill ward. As a Town Council, it is chaired by a Mayor.
The Council provides local services, including play areas, parks, allotments and recreation spaces, most recently it has refurbished its tennis courts in Westward Ho!. The Council has an annual grant awards scheme, which is open in the autumn each year,with grants awarded paid in the next financial year. NTC is the corporate trustee of three charities, the most active being the Northam Burrows Charity. This Charity encompasses the activities of the Lords of the Manor in relation to the Burrows, allocating grazing, Manor Pass permits and helping the land owner maintain the Burrows.
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Rolle Canal and Northern Devon Waterways Society
- Chris Hassell
- Contact name: Ian Harrison (Chairman)
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Email:
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The Society is dedicated to:
- carrying out appropriate research in order to document the history of the Rolle Canal and other North Devon waterways.
- preservation, conservation and restoration of the Rolle Canal.
- promotion of public interest in and the fullest appropriate use by the public of the waterways of North Devon and their environs through promotional and interpretation material.
- advancing public education on inland waterway transport in North Devon with information on the important part that this has played in the life of the region.
- preserving and enhancing the environment for nature and wildlife.
Rolle Canel sealock
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Skern Lodge
- Thomas Humphreys (Deputy Head of Centre)
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Email:
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Skern Lodge is an outdoor activities and education centre based in Appledore, on the banks of the Taw Torridge Estuary. Founded in 1976, we welcome thousands of visitors to our residential centre each year from across the UK to enjoy quality outdoor activities, training, and events across North Devon. Endorsed by AALA, AAIAC, the RYA, and British Canoeing, we are frequent users of the estuary by RIB, SUP, Kayak, and Raft.
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Tawstock Parish Council
- Jeff Needham
- Contact name: Martyn Issac
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Email:
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Tawstock Parish Council is a democratically elected body of 11 Councillors split into three wards (The rural area and two urban areas of Tawstock) to represent the communities that it is elected to serve.
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Torridge District Council
- Contact name: Chris Fuller
Torridge District Council is the lower tier local authority that provides a range of statutory and non-statutory public services to the communities within the District of Torridge. these include waste and recycling, building control and planning, environmental protection, leisure and recreation, land charges and electoral functions, economic development, housing advice, as well as billing and collection of council tax and business rates.
The District located within the north west of Devon, covers 984 sq. km (380 sq. miles) and has a high quality natural and built environment. The coastline, historic towns, na- ture reserves and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are valuable assets. The area as a whole is predominantly rural and the main towns are Bideford, Holsworthy and Great Torrington, with almost half of the population living in or close to Bideford/Northam and the remainder of the area fairly sparsely populated.
From an administrative perspective, the district is divided into 16 wards represented by 36 district elected Councilors, and further divided into 64 parishes.
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West Country Rivers Trust
- Cllr Mark Haworth-Booth
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Email:
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Our Vision is to see all Westcountry rivers and freshwater environments flowing freely and teeming with life, for all who depend on them.
We restore and protect the freshwater environments of the Westcountry for the benefit of people, wildlife and local economies. For more than 25 years, we have cared for the rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and estuaries of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and west Dorset. We work with people, businesses and the public sector to advance the understanding of freshwater habitats.
Citizen scientists regularly test water in our rivers and add their results to our Cartographer data base. Thirty new water testers in North Devon were trained in November 2023 following a well attended meeting at the Countryside Centre in Braunton arranged by Cllr Peter Jones, lead on water quality at North Devon Council. The WRT website gives details of how to get involved.
The WRT was set up 25 years ago by the poet laureate Ted Hughes and likeminded friends concerned by river pollution – it was the first of the rivers trusts.
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Westleigh Parish Council
- Colin Frajbis
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Email:
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Responsible for the concerns of the village of Westleigh and the surrounding parish (including Eastleigh and Tapeley, amongst other localities).
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