The official declaration ceremony will take place on Friday, February 16, when a plaque will be unveiled at Lime Kiln car park at 11am.

[Owl hopes the unveiling and ensuing day-long celebratory event won’t be marred by the appearance of SWW contractor’s “Clear Flow” tankers. These were reported to have been there recently and have been spotted now working on the storm surge tank situated under the Marine Parade. See they’re pumping out the bilges in Budleigh]

Philippa Davies www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

The site of the completed Lower Otter Restoration Project is to be declared a National Nature Reserve.

The Otter Estuary Nature Reserve covers an area of almost 90 hectares (more than 222 acres) in the lower Otter Valley at Budleigh Salterton, including the iconic Otter Head at the mouth of the River Otter.

It will be an extension of the existing Pebblebed Heaths Nature Reserve and will give the area the highest level of conservation possible under UK legislation.

The official declaration ceremony will take place on Friday, February 16, when a plaque will be unveiled at Lime Kiln car park at 11am.

During the rest of the day there will be an event for the local community to celebrate the recognition of the area as a nature reserve.

The land is owned by Clinton Devon Estates and managed by the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust. 

The Lower Otter Restoration Project, which was completed last year, was carried out by the Environment Agency in partnership with Clinton Devon Estates, who own the land. The project saw the River Otter reconnected with its historic floodplain, creating around 55 hectares (nearly 136 acres) of carbon capturing wetland, which is set to become internationally important as it attracts an increasing variety of wading birds.