Status of Sidmouth Grasslands
Which Sidmouth grasslands are considered stable and well-established?
These are sites where the natural habitat has largely recovered from past human activity and now supports a rich diversity of plant and invertebrate species. Some of these areas may not have been significantly impacted by agriculture historically. Examples include Community Orchard, East Cliff, Farway, Lincombe, and Peak Hill. Current management practices on these sites are focused on maintaining their existing good condition, such as sheep grazing on Peak Hill.
These sites were used for livestock grazing in the past, which had less impact than crop cultivation. Grazing has mostly stopped, and now these areas are managed by cutting and removing the vegetation late in the season, similar to how hay meadows were traditionally managed. This approach has resulted in a dense and rich flora, supporting a vibrant invertebrate population. Examples include Delderfield, Peasland Knapp, The Knapp, Sid Meadow, and Soldier's Hill.
These grassland sites have been disturbed or "improved" more recently, and are now the focus of active restoration efforts or are being allowed to naturally regenerate with some assistance. Although they require more time to fully recover, their agricultural history is becoming less apparent, and strong communities of wild herbs are developing naturally or through the sowing of wildflower seeds. Examples include Alma Field, Combe Wood farm, Gilchrist Field, Margaret’s Meadow, and The Knowle.
All primary grassland sites in Sidmouth have been categorised as either "semi-improved" or, in some cases, "improved" due to past agricultural practices. However, most of these sites are now protected and are either being actively restored or are being allowed to recover naturally.
Based on casual observations rather than scientific classifications, the sites are grouped according to the stage they have reached in the "regeneration" process. This involves placing sites into categories representing different levels of recovery from past human interventions.
Stable' sites are those where nature has recovered from previous human activities and they are now rich in both plant and invertebrate species. Some of these sites may have experienced minimal agricultural impact in the past and have remained stable for a long time. Management focuses on maintaining their current good condition.
'Recovered' sites, which were historically used for livestock grazing, are now primarily managed by cutting the vegetation late in the season and removing the cut material. This method is similar to the traditional management of hay meadows and encourages a rich and dense flora.
These sites are actively managed to maintain or improve the habitat for nature, but the focus is not exclusively on grassland improvement. Instead, the management aims to support a variety of habitats in general. An example is Salcombe Hill, which is managed to maintain a mix of dense scrub and grassland areas. Other examples include Donkey Sanctuary and South Combe Farm, and West Hill.