What Makes South Devon Special
In order for us to value and care for the South Devon National Landscape, we need to understand what is important about it – What makes it special. This campaign, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, ran April to October 2018. During the project we worked with a wide range of people from our communities, discovering more about the National Landscape and looking closely at the distinctive character of the natural heritage that makes up this nationally important landscape.
National Landscapes are particularly special landscapes whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them. The primary purpose of National Landscape designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area.
The special qualities of South Devon National Landscape define and describe this natural beauty and are what makes the area unique or particularly distinctive. Together, the special qualities make the area nationally important and give it a strong ‘sense of place’.
Different people have their own opinions on what is special about South Devon, and no definition can claim to be absolute, but these are the ones used in our management plan.
The superb, undeveloped coastline with its sandy shores, rugged cliffs, secretive coves and rocky islands.
A wild and rugged coastline
Our five ria estuaries (drowned river valleys), combe valleys and the network of associated watercourses.
A network of streams, rivers and estuaries
A network of streams, rivers and estuaries
The patchwork of deeply rural agricultural landscape. Rolling hills with high hedgebanks and small fields on lower ground and hill top copses and wind sculpted trees higher up.
Rolling farmland
A naturally incised landscape that quickly turns intimate, hidden and secretive away from the plateau tops.
Open tops and hidden valleys
Iconic wide, unspoilt and expansive panoramic views and long framed dramatic views, giving a sense of remoteness, wildness and scale.
Long unspoilt views
A rich sense of history and heritage reflecting thousands of years of human occupation, which creates ‘time-depth’ within the landscape.
A long lived in landscape
An outstanding number and mix of priority habitats within a small area create a mosaic that is home to an amazing diversity of wildlife.
A landscape rich in wildlife
An ancient and intricate network of winding lanes, the South West Coast Path and other strategic recreational routes offer many opportunities to explore and enjoy the countryside.
An ancient network of routeways
A sense of tranquility, space and place, natural nightscapes, distinctive natural soundscapes and visible movement.
Naturally Tranquil
A variety in the setting to the National Landscape formed by the marine environment, Plymouth City, Market and Coastal towns, rural South Hams and the southern fringe to Dartmoor National Park.
Quality of views beyond the National Landscape boundary
