Project Dates: 01.04.24 to 01.02.25

Wild About Devon is an initiative providing small grants of up to £500 to empower communities to kickstart new wildlife projects in their local areas.

Examples of wildlife projects supported include creating or restoring wildflower meadows, planting hedgerows, and installing ponds – resulting in much improved and connected wildlife habitats springing up around the county.

This is the third year DEF has provided a grant for Wild About Devon, in partnership with the Devon Local Nature Partnership and Devon Communities Together.

Some key metrics from Wild About Devon 2023:

• 113 organisations applied, and 39 were funded.
• 1,185 trees planted.
• 11 wildflower meadows created, featuring at least 44 different species.
• 578 volunteers engaged, providing 1,943 volunteer hours to local wildlife projects.
• At least 218,369 metres squared of habitat were created and improved!
• 300m of path, 400m of riverbank, & 100m hedgerow were restored.
• Learn more about Wild About Devon’s 2023 impact here.

Our 2024 grant aims to continue to deliver:

• Restoration of neglected habitats such as hedges, grassland or woodland.
• Creation of new wildlife areas including ponds, wildflower meadows, hedges and woodlands, especially in places which help connect existing wildlife areas.
• Creation of new wildlife groups.
• Enhancement of community gardens, churchyards and other public spaces.
• Purchase of tools, materials, training, or safety equipment.
• Purchase of monitoring equipment for species recording and education.

A huge thanks you to Lightrock Power for enabling DEF to support this project for a third year.

Image credits: Devon Communities Together.

IMPACT SUMMARY OCTOBER 2024:

• Supported 33 community-led groups and organisations across Devon
• Wildflower planting: 3X churchyard, 2X community spaces and a college wide planting initiative
• Greenspaces: Development of a community wildlife garden and child friendly wildlife sensory garden project
• Supported a wetland development and woodland / native tree project
• Uffculme Parish Wildlife: 116 bird species (exciting sightings include osprey, goshawk, wryneck and lesser-spotted woodpecker)
• 229 species of macro moths (up from 148 in 2022) and 87 species of micro moths
• 50+ species of fungi and 200+ species of wildflower