Nature Features

The future of a nature reserve in Devon has been secured, after the site was handed to the Devon Wildlife Trust on a 20-year lease.

Chudleigh Knighton Heath in the south of the county is a nationally important site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

The lowland heath is itself a rare habitat and it is home to some rare species - including the narrow headed ant.

The heath is owned by clay firm, Watts Blake Bearne (WBB), but has been managed on a year-to-year basis by the trust.

WBB has, until now, leased the site to the trust for a year at a time but has just granted the charity a 20-year lease.

Narrow headed ants live on the heath

It means the trust can make long-term plans for the heath and the species which live there. Before, the conservationists were limited in the work they could do.

Volunteers and trust staff have already cleared much of the site of invasive scrub and woodland which was damaging the heathland. Now, further improvements are planned.

The trust's nature reserves officer, Andy Bakere, said: "A lot of the work has helped to protect the areas of heath where the rare narrow headed ant lives so that has been particularly important for us to concentrate on.

"We now plan to add more scrapes to attract dragonflies and other water-loving animals to thrive as well as extend the areas managed by grazing, which is one of the most effective and natural ways to manage the site."

Gary Stringer from WBB added: "Facilitating a long-term lease was an important step forward in securing the appropriate ecological management necessary for this nationally important SSSI lowland heath.

"Our proactive management of sites such as Chudleigh Knighton and others throughout the UK is essential in protecting some spectacular and beautiful wildlife habitats."