Contact us at: countryside@eastdevon.gov.uk or tel 01395 517557

What we do

The Countryside Service manages nine Local Nature Reserves across East Devon. These are open to the public at all times and are free to visit. For detailed information follow the Local Nature Reserves link.

The Countryside Service runs lots of wildlife themed events, most of which are free. The  Events Guide 2012 (6226KB - 15 February 2012 - PDF Help) contains all you need to know about what's on, when and where. Highlights over the next few weeks include two Wildlife Training Days. On Friday 18 May, the theme will be  Freshwater Invertebrates (244KB - 03 May 2012 - PDF Help). This is sure to be lots of fun as participants remind themselves of how great it is to arm yourself with a net and a tray and explore the world of underwater wildlife - water scorpions and dragonfly larvae are particularly exciting finds! Then on Friday 1 June there is a day devoted to Dragonflies. Last year the weather was hot and sunny which led to some of the best dragonfly and damselfly records of the year - let's hope this year is just as good. Training Days cost £25 per person, including lunch.

The Axe Estuary Wetlands is rapidly becoming one of the south-west's premier wetland sites and is good for all sorts of wildlife, most obviously birds but also many small mammals, bats, dragonflies, damselflies and other insects, including the recently discovered 13-spot ladybird. This reserve is being developed so that visitors can get close to wildlife and has many hides and viewing platforms to help visitors experience good views without causing disturbance. The new  leaflet (4647KB - 16 November 2011 - PDF Help) shows all five hides and parking facilities and details the routes which are suitable for people with limited mobility or using wheelchairs.

The Countryside Service publishes a quarterly newsletter. The  Spring 2012 (1918KB - 04 April 2012 - PDF Help) issue gives details of the public events happening from April to June as well as a round up of what's been happening on the local nature reserves recently. If you are interested in volunteering, the newsletter shows how you can get involved - from becoming a Volunteer Warden to helping out at the Wet and Wild Weekend to constructing boardwalks with the Axe Estuary Wetlands Volunteer group.

As well as running the public events, the Education Rangers run a free service to schools who would like to arrange a visit to the Axe Estuary Wetlands. The Education Rangers can also provide low-cost visits to either the Wetlands, one of the other nature reserves or a rockpooling session for schools, clubs and community groups.

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