11 Apr South West Coast Path Association – working with Life on The Edge

The SWCPA is a charity which helps promote, conserve, and improve all 630 miles of the South West Coast Path (SWCP).

So why are we a supporter and funding partner of the South  Devon National Landscape LOTE Development Phase, when there are so many other demands on our funds?   One of the reasons we promote the SWCP is because of the health and wellbeing benefits which being close to nature brings to people. At the same time we recognise the crisis that nature in this country is facing.

People like to live on the coast taking up precious green space and development, industry, intensive farming, and climate change also place huge challenges on our native species. We need to make space for nature on a landscape scale, help nature recover, and provide appropriate access in the coastal margin so that people can connect with nature in a responsible way – only by people valuing nature will these human pressures ease, and give the flora and fauna the space and time to adapt to climate change.

The concept of space for nature recovery together with access for people can be difficult to understand as some see access and thriving nature not able to go hand in hand. An example of nature thriving and access for people to connect with the outdoors is that of Man Sands in the South Devon National Landscape. After World War 2, the fields behind the beach at Man Sands were drained, fertilised and heavily grazed by cattle and sheep.

The fields were nature poor and prone to occasional winter flooding. The farms were acquired by the National Trust in 1982. In 2004, the protective gabions were removed, allowing the shingle to move naturally. Yellow horned poppy and sea beet recolonised the shingle.

By 2008 a saltwater marsh formed, with small areas of open water, creating a wetland with a range of habitats. Intervention and cooperation between the tenant farmer, National Trust, Natural England, and a modest contribution from SWCPA has extended and improved  this wetland habitat. The coast-path was routed around the back of the new salt-marsh allowing visitors the chance to see all the wildlife in the area. A bird hide was created as well as an information board and fencing to manage the area available for grazing.

Mansands footbridge

Today this small wetland is an oasis of wildlife, with little grebe, gadwall, tufted duck, coots, insects, reeds and a variety of other wetland plants. The recent photographs show the wetland and the new route of the path.

Although this project pre-dates LOTE, it illustrates what can be done. The 630 mile SWCP and its corridor runs as a living conduit through 22 sections of National Landscape, many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and a National Park, and provides a framework for nature and people to interact healthily, responsibly, and in harmony. We look forward to the journey with the pioneering LOTE project as we learn together how we can best help these precious coastal habitats thrive and ensure  that anyone who wants to connect with nature will be able to responsibly access the coastal landscape.