Project Dates: 1.12.25 to 1.12.26

Beer Mill is a 112 acre, ecologically-rich, wildlife site in Devon, which recently came to market. DEF joined forces with grantee, Keep it Wild CIC, to run a successful Crowdfunder campaign to enable them to purchase the site and secure it for nature forever.

Lovingly restored over the past 30 years as a private reserve and educational field centre, it lies less than 4 miles from our grantee’s land at Rewilding Coombeshead and just 2.5 miles from more rewilded land at Panson Middle Bridge – creating a strategically important connected area for wildlife.

Beer Mill stands out as distinctly wilder than its surrounding farmland—even from space!

The site comprises several threatened habitats – Atlantic oak woodland, willow carr, wildflower meadow and culm grassland – which provide home to an abundance of wildlife. This irreplaceable land supports endangered species like merlins, willow tits and adders, while locking away carbon in its deep, wet soils. If this land is lost to agriculture, centuries of stored carbon will be released, and the rich web of life gone forever.

Some of the most prominent naturalists and rewilders of our time understand the importance of saving this gem, and lent their support.

 

Chris Packham – Naturalist, Broadcaster and Environmental Campaigner

“It is a little oasis in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. No one likes living with regrets, and we live in a time where we can ill afford anymore regrets, particularly when it comes to looking after our natural world…Please contribute as generously as you are able.”

 

Derek Gow  – Ecologist, Reintroduction Specialist and Author 

“Beer mill is a lost landscape. Once upon a time, if not so long ago, places like this – full of birds, bugs and wildflowers – were the British countryside. Now that nearly all has gone, this last wondrous place feels timeless and fragile”

 

Charlie Burrell – Rewilding practitioner of Knepp Estate

 “Nature like this has all but vanished across the UK. Places like Beer Mill don’t come up twice—rare, wild, and already thriving. We must act now to protect it.”

 

Update November 2025:

DEF initially awarded £30,000 via a Crowdfunder to encourage more donations from the public in support of this  project.

A hugely successful campaign of online and offline donations enabled us to award a further £125,660 to secure the land purchase.

They exchanged in mid November and plan to complete at the end of the month.

Heartfelt thanks to all who generously supported this campaign, enabling us to Save Beer Mill for nature!