The Sid Vale Association is publishing a booklet which takes a seasonal look at the wildlife in Sid Valley
The booklet will be on sale at the Sidmouth Museum and hopes to encourage visitors and residents alike to be motivated and inspired to conserve and explore our very special natural environment.
We hope that a greater understanding of the Sid Valley’s biodiversity will enhance a visitor’s stay and encourage everyone to return to our locality, thereby improving sustainability, which in turn supports our town. We hope that such information will spur our new and current residents to become actively involved in some of our many conservation and environmental activities on offer in Sidmouth.
The Sid Valley has a mild microclimate, which provides shelter to many species of wildlife, especially plants, which can often be seen flowering all year around. The smaller wooded valleys, which carry the Sid’s tributaries – such as the Snod Brook and Roncombe Stream – offer even greater shelter for wildlife with public access along many footpaths and bridleways. We also have lowland heath and coastal habitats, which provide a wide range of wildlife species in a small area. The booklet will cover the whole of the river catchment and will map areas of particular interest for wildlife. Our wide range of local habitats, which are managed as conservation areas, will be included such as The Byes, Fire Beacon Hill and Peaslands Knapp. We will also point out aquatic, hedgebank and other habitats which are often overlooked.
The booklet is due to be completed by the end of 2014 and is a project taken on by Louise Woolley. If anyone has any photographs or information that they think should be considered for inclusion within the booklet then please contact Louise at louisewoolley@hotmail.co.uk.