South Devon
River Champions
Specialist Teams
Organisations providing expert advice and support to stakeholders in our river catchments
Westcountry
Rivers Trust
WRT protects and restores our freshwater environments. It works with volunteers through its Westcountry Citizen Science Investigations; with NGOs, water companies, and government bodies such as Natural England (which has advised several local authorities, including the River Axe catchment, to impose planning restrictions due to pollution risk into waterways); and is part of CaBA, chairing the South Devon and Tamar Catchment Partnerships.
Devon Wildlife
Trust
DWT is the only Devon focused charity that exists to protect all wildlife in Devon, on land and at sea. DWT works closely with landowners and farmers. They provide opportunities for volunteers to take action to restore nature, create amazing family events, and signpost us to the wildlife in our area.
DWT campaigns to restore habitats and the nation's very vulnerable wildlife. Donate to DWT to ensure they can do what is needed.
Woodland
Trust
If you’re looking to plant trees on your land, the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme can provide the trees, funding and expert advice you need to achieve your goals.
Tree planting forms a key part of improving the
health of our rivers.
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Moor
Trees
MT is dedicated to restoring natural woodland and scrub on Dartmoor managed by local farmers and communities. Working in South Devon and beyond, MT offers advice and trees to landowners and provides management services for restructuring woodlands, facilitated volunteers.
Moor
Meadows
MM supports landowners wanting to re-establish traditional species-rich meadows which provide beneficial herb-rich grazing pasture and are essential habitat for many rapidly declining insect species and the wildlife which relies on them in the food web.
Dartmoor
National Park
Dartmoor National Parks manage conservation projects in our headwaters on Dartmoor including the Magnificent Mires and Moor Otters Project which demonstrates how artists can make a difference.
Surfers
Against Sewage
SAS is a nationwide movement with a Devon chapter working to raise awareness of the sewage pollution of our rivers and oceans.
They focus on water quality, plastic pollution and recovery of the oceans.
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Til the
Coast is Clear
TCiC clears shorelines of plastic pollution using special recyclable boats and a fleet of kayaks made from recycled fishing nets, all crewed by volunteers, from all walks of life. Their Active Regeneration project, funded by Natural England, offers volunteers a chance to support local nature regeneration initiatives.
Seadream
Education CIC
SDE offers businesses, schools and communities exciting workshops and activities to learn more about the marine and land-based science topics underpinning the environment and conservation. Many funding bodies support this outreach programme - get in touch.
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Seadream
Environment CIO
SDE CIO promotes the conservation and protection of the environment and biodiversity; researches environmental problems, indicators and solutions.and
facilitates positive environmental activities.
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Bioregional
Learning Centre
BLC collaborates to shift South Devon towards long-term climate resilience by bringing together many sectors - economy, ecology, learning, arts and culture. They are a learning centre and action learning lab on the River Dart.
River
Collective
River Collective is a network of students, researchers, artists and activists with a love of rivers. They aim to establish a strong collaboration between the world of science and local river conservation through - Rivers BioBlitz and Students for Rivers Camp
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Innovative
Farmers
IF is a farmer-led, not-for-profit membership network for farmers and growers running on -farm trials, on their own terms. Farm Visits and newsletters disseminate results of field lab trials on soil erosion, soil health, biodiversity & carbon saving.
Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group
The Yealm Estuary o Moor community group involves FWAG (South West) in its engagement strategy as a trusted partner. FWAG assists farmers with stewardship programmes and projects enabling profitable and environmentally sensitive farming practice.
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Farm
Carbon Toolkit
FCT, set up by farmers for farmers, explores opportunities to reduce energy costs and carbon footprints informed by citizen science projects, farm visits and events. By transitioning to regenerative farming techniques, farmers have also adopted strategies which are more beneficial for wildlife.
Future Farming Resilience
DCC's Future Farming Resilience Scheme, is funded by DEFRA and assists farmers in the transition from the BPS to the new ELMS by providing free, expert tailored advice. It includes support for woodland creation and environmental schemes.
South Devon AONB
The Farming in a Protected Landscape programme is managed by the South Devon AONB providing one-off grants to landowners with projects to support nature recovery and mitigate climate change. Life on the Edge is rebuilding habitats for endangered insect species.
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South West Water
The Upstream Thinking programme aims to reduce water pollution at the source.
The Downstream Thinking & Sustainable Drainage programme aims to minimise storm-related overflows of sewage
Evolving
Forests
EF works with people that want to use more timber but in a more considered way and with people who want to grow trees for the benefit of the ecosystem, society, and beyond. Sign up for their Evolving Forests Film Festival autumn 2023.
South Devon Catchment Partnership
SDCP is made up of groups, organisations and individuals working in South Devon catchments to ensure we meet the water quality obligations under the Water Framework Directive. SDCP connects and supports catchment-based groups and projects.
Devon Environment Foundation
The DEF supports projects in Devon aimed at river restoration, marine conservation and landscape regeneration - with
at least 30% of Devon ‘for nature’ by 2030. DEF supports grassroots projects that regenerate nature
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Devon Local
Nature Partnership
The DLNP is a strategic collaboration of a huge range of organisations, groups and individuals committed to working together to restore and enhance the natural environment which underpins our lives. They cover peat bogs to sea caves and ancient oak woodlands to estuaries.
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Environment
Agency
The EA is an executive non-departmental public body, part of DEFRA responsible for, among other things, water quality and resources, fisheries, conservation and ecology and managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and the sea.
Natural
England
Natural England, is the public body responsible for ensuring our wildlife, freshwater & marine environments are protected and improved.
NE identifies habitats in the MAGIC Map. The NE Policy Paper on pollution of rivers enables 'sustainable development' to continue with a mitigations payment.
to add a Specialist team working on nature and the environment in the South Devon Catchments