Our gardens, parks and all green spaces are important wildlife habitats.
Devon’s hedgehog populations are now thought to be healthier in towns and villages than in the wider countryside.
Gardens and parks can have intricate mosaics of habitats (flowers, ponds, scrub, trees, walls) which provide fantastic wildlife habitat.
Ludwell Valley Park (Exeter), Annie Houston
Heavitree Park (Exeter), Annie Houston
Our gardens, parks and other green spaces are designed and managed for wildlife as well as for many other recreational and functional uses. They include intricate mosaics of habitats with trees, scrub, bushy hedges, flowers, ponds and long grass. Our buildings provide a home for bats and birds.
Mammals: Hazel dormouse, hedgehog, greater and lesser horseshoe bat, grey long-eared bat, serotine bat.
Birds: Birds of towns and villages (starling, swift, house sparrow, house martin, spotted flycatcher)
Invertebrates: Brown hairstreak butterfly, Plymouth spiders (horrid ground weaver), great crested newt.
Plants: Plymouth pear, Deptford pink, green-winged orchid. Calcareous coastal grassland species (including field eryngo, Bithynian vetch and the Torbay limestone specialists)
See the Devon Species of Conservation Concern spreadsheet for all species.
UK priority habitat: Ancient and veteran treesA tree that has reached a great age compared to others of the same species and has cultural, landscape or biodiversity value. Ancient trees are veteran trees, but not all veteran trees are old enough to be ancient. More, wood pasture and parkland, broadleaved woodland, native hedges, lowland meadows, calcareous grasslands, broadleaved woodland, wet woodland and traditional orchards.
Statutory irreplaceable habitatIrreplaceable habitat, if destroyed, is very difficult (or takes a significant time) to restore, recreate or replace because of its age, uniqueness, species diversity or rarity. More: Ancient and veteran trees, Ancient Woodlands
Wider benefits: Recreation, landscape, flood control, air quality, water quality, pollinators, access to nature.
Public parks, churchyards and cemeteries, allotments, school grounds, golf courses, caravan parks and our private gardens are all examples of green spaces that are largely managed for recreation or other amenities and that can benefit wildlife. Green spaces that form part of landscaping schemes, such as on industrial sites, can also benefit wildlife. These public and private spaces are found in both urban and rural areas.
Buildings can also support wildlife by providing valuable nesting and roosting sites, green roofs and walls.
Green spaces and gardens are a vital part of Devon’s nature network. They’re increasingly being managed for wildlife and are often made up of small patches of lots of habitats such as trees, long grass, short grass, walls, hedges, flower beds, fruit trees, compost heaps and ponds. This mosaic of habitats is fantastic for wildlife as it provides lots of options for shelter and nesting sites and food for insects and small mammals. Insects and small mammals in turn provide food for larger mammals (such as hedgehogs), bats and birds. Birds such as swifts and house martins nest in our eaves and bats roost in our lofts and cellars.
Some of our green spaces are among the best examples of UK priority habitats, including the limestone grasslands at Berry Head Country Park NNR in Torbay and Billacombe SSSISite of Special Scientific Interest More in Plymouth. Because many parks, such as Devonport Park in Plymouth and Phear Park in Exmouth, are remnants of parklands they have wildlife-rich ancient and veteran trees.
Other green spaces support rare species. Bithynian vetch (a rare plant) is found along the seafront in Exmouth as well as on the cliffs at Sandy Bay Park just outside Exmouth. Bee orchids regularly pop up in patches of grasslands on industrial sites, including in Exeter and Exmouth.
These green spaces also provide wider benefits. They help to improve air quality, capture and store carbon, reduce flooding, improve water quality and enhance our health and well-being.
See Habitats and Species pages for other relevant pressures and opportunities for specific habitats and species in our green spaces.
Light pollution can have serious impacts on wildlife including disturbing natural cycles and creating barriers in the landscape for light sensitive species such as bats.
The huge impacts of pesticides on the environment are well known. Insects numbers have plummeted due to lots of reasons including habitat loss and use of pesticides.
A Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) study estimates that 3 million small animals are killed by roadside litter every year, Glass bottles in east Devon have been found to contain the remains of hazel dormice. Hedgehogs can get caught up in litter such as yoghurt pots, tins and other plastics.
A few species have become invasive and having serous impacts on the environment. These include common non-native species found in parks, gardens and green spaces such as grey squirrels and japanese knotweed as well as many invasive non-native aquatic species. Many of our invasive non-native have spread to the wild from gardens and aquariums.
There are lots of Individuals, community groups, schools, businesses and organisations taking action for wildlife in our parks, gardens and green spaces. This is in part due to the increasing awareness of the benefits of nature for health and wellbeing, air quality, water quality and in storing carbon and reducing flooding. The Devon Local Nature Partnership has three connecting people and nature groups which help to promote best practice and support action for wildlife across the county. See the Connecting people and nature page for more details.
There are huge opportunities to build wildlife into all new developments. The new statutory duty for Biodiversity Net GainA way to create and improve natural habitats that makes sure development has a net gain for biodiversity compared to what was there before. More will help but it is important that wildlife habitats are created on site as well as off, especially to ensure that everyone has access to nature.
Better (wildlife-rich), bigger and more green spaces and gardens that are connected to a network of habitats across the county, benefiting Devon Special SpeciesDevon Species of Conservation Concern which have been 'shortlisted' as needing particular action or attention (rather than being iconic species). More and achieving wider benefits such as carbon capture, water resilience and health and wellbeing.
All existing and new buildings are managed or designed to provide wildlife habitats.
See Find out more below for links to more information on managing green spaces and gardens for wildlife.
Create and manage a mosaic of wildlife-rich habitats in green spaces and gardens
Always check what wildlife already exists before taking action. Consider the following as part of a well-designed green space or garden:
Reduce the use of pesticides, including slug pellets.
Eliminate litter
Minimise light pollution
Control invasive species – See Invasives for more information.
Provide nesting sites for birds and roosting sites for bats in buildings – see Birds in towns and villages and Bats
Create green roofs and walls
Integrate accessible wildlife into all new urban design schemes, following national best practice including Natural England’s principles for green infrastructure
More detailed actions for Devon Special Species and Wider themes are set out on other LNRS pages. Follow the links below:
Focus action everywhere! Wildlife-rich green spaces and gardens are needed across Devon.
However check the Viewer (See Mapping) to see if your green space or garden is in a High Opportunity Area. If it is, where possible carry out the actions set out for that area.
Please share case studies and places to visit.
There’s lots of great work going on across Devon for green spaces, gardens and buildings.
Devon boasts over 100 gardens participating in the National Garden Scheme, offering visitors a chance to explore a stunning variety of private spaces – from coastal plots and cottage gardens to wildlife-friendly havens and historic estates. Each garden opening supports vital health charities, while showcasing the county’s horticultural richness and community spirit.
Mid Devon District Council manages a wide range of Open Spaces across the district that includes formal parks, playing fields, play areas, general open spaces, cemeteries and closed churchyards. Where possible, they are in the process of improving the variety of habitats within these areas to benefit biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Their aims are to provide attractive, accessible and well-maintained parks and recreational spaces, whilst also caring for and enhancing biodiversity.
Cleave Road meadow was adopted in the early 2000’s by North Devon Council and has been managed with biodiversity in mind. It has been cut and baled each year, initially twice each summer to remove biomass and nutrients and more recently an autumn cut in September. 25% of the site is left uncut on a rotational basis to allow for over wintering invertebrates.
Originally surveyed by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as part of the Westcountry Buzz project in 2020 the site has gone on to be designated a County Wildlife Site in 2021.
The Trust said: “Cleave Road Meadow is an exceptional site with very high biodiversity value, all located on the outskirts of Barnstaple. The sheer amount of forage availability is quite remarkable in a site of this size and there is very high potential for this site to be used as a donor site for restoration of other species-rich habitats in the local area.”
If you’re doing something to help nature thrive, share it on the Delivery map to inspire others to take action.
Always follow the Countryside Code and keep to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access.
Head to your local park! Some good places to see parks and gardens that are managed for wildlife are:
Located in the heart of Exmouth, Phear Park is a rich mosaic of habitats, including mature oak trees, wildflower meadows, and managed grasslands that foster a thriving ecosystem. As part of the Wild Exmouth project, initiatives like the Tree Trail and Wildflower Wardens have highlighted the park’s ecological value, with volunteers documenting native flora and promoting sustainable land management. The park’s diverse tree population – featuring several varieties of oak (some nearly 400 years old!) provides shelter and food for birds, insects, and small mammals. These efforts demonstrate how thoughtful stewardship of public green spaces can enhance urban wildlife corridors and deepen public appreciation for nature.
This riverside park in Exeter has been transformed into a haven for birdlife and biodiversity through Exeter City Council’s nature-focused management regime. This has been done through:
– Altered mowing: Large areas of grass are left to grow long, creating habitat for pollinators and small mammals, with paths and picnic circles for the public.
– Wildflower planting: Wildflower meadows have been introduced and expanded to boost biodiversity and provide nectar sources for insects.
– Tree planting: New memorial trees and dawn redwoods added for canopy and diversity.
– No chemicals or pesticides, supporting Exeter City Council’s nature-friendly approach.
The Friends of Belle Isle Park volunteer group plays a vital role in delivering nature recovery on the ground. Their contributions include increasing wildflower meadow planting, installing bird boxes to support cavity-nesting species, and organising regular biodiversity-focused volunteer days.
The park fosters community cohesion, offers tranquil opportunities for recreation and wildlife watching, and has helped reduce anti-social behaviour, making Belle Isle Park a model of urban nature recovery and social benefit.
A flagship horticultural site, Rosemoor blends formal gardens with woodland walks and wildflower meadows. Seasonal highlights include vibrant rose gardens in summer and dramatic foliage in autumn. It’s a must-visit for garden enthusiasts and families alike.
For information on visiting these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.
This section will be tidied up and finalised following public consultation. Please share any links.
Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework includes 15 Principles for creating high quality green infrastructure
Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme (SUDS) guidance
Buglife has published guidance on Creating Green Roofs for Invertebrates –
Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) is a collaborative project between the Zoological Society of London, British Trust for Ornithology, Froglife and the RSPB which aims to monitor the health of, and identify disease threats to, British wildlife. The website has lots of useful information and a section allowing people to report incidents of disease and mortality.
The Devon Local Nature Partnership website has lots of useful information on lighting – Devon Dark Skies – Devon Local Nature Partnership
