GRANT HELPS BOOST RESERVE
| Published: 11th December 2006 12:22 |
GRANT HELPS BOOST RESERVE
5th December, 2006
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Rackenford Moor nature reserve near Tiverton is set to be transformed thanks to a £2748 grant from Pennon Environment Fund which will enable some much needed management to be carried out on the reserve this winter.
The Culm grassland habitat has been disappearing due to encroaching willow and birch scrub and this has meant the numbers of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly have dwindled. The new grant has enabled large scale scrub clearance so that the site can be swaled (burnt), the preferred method for maintaining good habitat quality.
Lucy Morton, DWT’s Nature Reserve Officer said: “The money has given us a real boost this year, we managed to clear about an area the size of a football pitch of scrub last year using contractors and this new money will mean we can get as much cleared this year. We are also putting in fire breaks so we can control the burning as we do on Knowstone Moor and our other culm reserves.”
South West Water's Environmental Planning Manager Martin Ross said: "We are delighted the Pennon fund is providing this support to help secure the long term future of this valuable habitat."
Lucy Morton runs regular volunteer task days and anyone with time and energy can get involved. Further details can be obtained from Devon Wildlife Trust on 01392 279244 or e-mail contactus@devonwildlifetrust.org
For more press information contact David Ireland on 01392 279244
Editor's Notes
• The work is also supported by English Nature’s Reserve Enhancement Scheme.
• Culm Grassland has declined hugely over the last few decades due to neglect and agricultural improvement. It is also known Rhos pasture and is famous for its unique variety of wet loving plant species such as orchids. Culm is restricted to north Devon and Cornwall.
• Devon Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental voluntary body, with more than 32,000 members.
• The charity manages 40 nature reserves all over the county, including woods, meadows and wetlands.
• DWT relies on charitable donations, grants and the generous support of its members and the general public to raise more than £2million every year. Money raised is spent maintaining our work for wildlife conservation and education in Devon, for present and future generations.
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