Series of six films show how we can all take steps to help our environment.
Natural England has co-funded six inspirational films about areas protected for nature across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset to showcase their beauty and highlight the importance of these special places for both people and wildlife. Each film includes two short poems, specially written by poet John Wedgwood Clarke.
The six films, the “Wild Westcountry Odyssey”, celebrate the diverse wildlife found on the sites, as well as the key achievements and projects that are restoring habitats and protecting species.
Film Five features the Exe Estuary in Devon. Here, the RSPB manages over 170 hectares of land as nature reserves and works with partners to support wildlife. These include RSPB Exminster and Powderham Marshes and RSPB Bowling Green Marsh.
The Exe Estuary is an important site for many species including many migratory birds, including Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
The Exe Estuary is an incredibly special place for nature, a fact emphasised by its multiple designations, including as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, and as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. But even here, nature is still under pressure. It’s great to see this film out there, as the more people that understand and care about the species and habitats that make this place unique, the easier it will be to work together to protect it.”
The films are a result of a collaboration between Natural England’s Protected Site Strategies Research and Development Programme and the RENEW Biodiversity project at the University of Exeter. Underpinned by the Environment Act 2021, Protected Site Strategies are a new mechanism to restore and enhance protected areas through collaboration and engagement with stakeholders across the landscape. RENEW is a collaboration between the University and the National Trust, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. Partners include the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts.
