Half a million pounds of improvements to eleven car parking areas around the Pebblebed Heaths National Nature Reserve have been completed.
Over the last 4 years, improvements have taken place at eight car parks: Four Firs, Woodbury Castle, Estuary View, The Warren, Model Airfield, Wheathills, Uphams and Joney’s Cross. Roadside improvements took place at Stowford, Frying Pans and Squabmoor. Six months of scoping, research, design and comprehensive stakeholder engagement resulted in detailed plans which were put to a public consultation in 2019. Several changes were made to the designs because of the feedback, to keep a balance between views of site users, site protection and operational requirements.
A 125-meter multi-use path was installed at Estuary View car park last year, preserving access to breathtaking views over the Exe Estuary while helping to prevent deterioration and anti-social behaviour.
With around 1m visitors per year (and growing), the Heaths Pebblebed Heaths National Nature Reserve – Pebblebed Heaths are popular for walking, cycling and horse riding. To keep the Heaths special for future generations to enjoy and fulfil legal obligations, the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership South East Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership | South East Devon Wildlife gave funding known as Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to improve access, ensure the heaths stay a safe and enjoyable place to explore and protect wildlife and heritage. There is improved access for emergency vehicles, increased visibility in car parks to reduce theft, criminal incidents and antisocial behaviour.
Cllr Jackie Hook, Chair of South East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee and Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Trees & Coastal, said: “Funded by developer contributions through our tri-council partnership, the access improvements on the Pebblebed Heaths means people will be able to enjoy and explore this vast landscape safely. At the same time, we are ensuring these precious habitats are much better prepared to support the vulnerable and specialised wildlife which call the heaths “home”. The new maps and signage help to inform visitors about routes that can be responsibly followed by the wide variety of people who visit the Heaths, on foot, with dogs, on bikes, or on horseback.”
Kim Strawbridge, Reserves Manager, Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, said: “It is wonderful to have a welcoming arrival for people visiting the reserve, fitting for this much loved and iconic part of East Devon. We are really pleased to see people making the most of the improved facilities. The project has made the reserve more robust and better able to cope with the increased footfall we have seen in recent years. It is vital that we help people share this space responsibly and protect the wildlife of this internationally important conservation site. The layout changes have reduced antisocial behaviour and made maintenance easier, while the new signs make it easier for us to share information with visitors, this makes it easier for our team to focus on caring for the reserve. It may seem a simple thing, but by making use of our car parks rather than parking at the roadside or in entrances, visitors are helping to protect wildlife by reducing disturbance, enabling us to focus our resources on caring for the nature reserve, and enabling reserve staff and the emergency services to access the site more easily.”