Owl believes there is a backstory to this that readers should be aware of.

There are two environmental sites of European significance in East Devon: the Exe Estuary and the Pebblebed Heath. These sites are so special that local authorities have a legal duty to ensure no adverse effects occur from increased recreational demand as a result of new developments. Putting it crudely a way has to be found to stop members of the public visiting these site as frequently as they do as there will be a lot more people around. This concerns not just dog walkers, it includes recreational use of the Exe Estuary for activities like kite surfing!

A “mitigation” study was carried out c 2013. The main mitigation measures suggested was the creation of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) to divert visitors to somewhere less sensitive.

EDDC put forward initial plans for expansion and enhancement of the Clyst Valley and in something they called the “Valley Parks” around Exmouth. However EDDC shot themselves in the foot by granting planning permission for residential development on land that forms part of the Exmouth Valley Parks whilst the proposal was under consideration. Only the Clyst Valley remains.
We are fast running out of greenspace in East Devon. EDDC has agreed with its neighbouring authorities of Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council to levy Habitat Mitigation contributions from housing development within 10Km of each zone, increasing in any overlapping zones, see:

Click to access new-hab-reg-rates-pdf-aug-19.pdf

Owl would like to point out the obvious: green space is finite and money can’t create it out of thin air.

 

Becca Gliddon eastdevonnews.co.uk 

 

Countryside paths and lanes around Cranbrook, Broadclyst and Pinhoe will be improved to create a network of walking and cycling routes linking up local green beauty spots.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) said the Routes for Roots project was another step towards bringing the Clyst Valley Regional Park to life, planting trees and creating traffic-free trails.

The aim of the Clyst Valley Trail was to ‘form the backbone’ of a network, linking the Exe Estuary Trail with the Exe Valley Way, the council said.

EDDC called the regional park – half the size of Exeter – a ‘vital breathing space’, encouraging local people to get active outside and ‘discover hidden gems’ on their doorstep.

Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC portfolio holder for the environment, said the council hoped opening up countryside to all would help combat loneliness in the elderly and isolated, and encourage young people outside.

He hoped the link-up network would persuade parents with children to play outside, and the older generation to explore and visit areas of historical interest.

And as a follow-on from Great Trees in the Clyst Valley, where volunteers planted 2,700 trees, people can sign-up to become Friends of the Clyst Valley.

Cllr Jung said: “We’ve thought carefully and creatively about how we can help people explore wonderful places such as Cranbrook Country Park and Ashclyst Forest.”

The project has secured funding of £98,800 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, EDDC, LiveWest, Move More Cranbrook, National Trust, Active Devon and Devon County Council.

The district council said the project will:

• encourage people to ‘get out there’ and discover the countryside with an ‘exciting’ range of guided walks on a variety of different themes. including wildlife, art, history and archaeology.
• encourage communities to explore and record their own historic routes, with a series of local history roadshows and the creation of community maps.
• get young people playing and socialising outdoors through activities like bushcraft, archery, and live action role-play.
• train volunteers to monitor conditions of paths and routes so they can be prioritised for maintenance and improvement.
• create new permissive paths.
• plant a new generation of trees to reduce flooding, improve water and air quality and protect crucial wildlife habitats.
• install improved signs, gates and path surfaces.
• record historical features such as routes, mills, leats and water meadows.
• install new public art showing the history of the area, such as the Cranbrook archer.

For more information, and to become a Friend of the Clyst Valley, see here