Wild about Devon - a new support network for communities to take action for wildlife

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Donna Cox
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Wild about Devon - a new support network for communities to take action for wildlife

Post by Donna Cox »

Devon County Council has launched a new support network for communities to take action for wildlife - Wild About Devon. The recent online launch event included a series of short presentations, including from the Biodiversity Records Centre and Audrey Compton on Teignbridge's Wildlife Warden Scheme.

The event (1hr 30 mins approx) can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs4AxzNT564

More information...
This initiative recognises that there are many inspiring examples of communities already taking action for wildlife across Devon (Teignbridge Wildlife Wardens, Wild Woodbury, Life on the Yealm and Moor Meadows to name a few) but no central place to connect them together to share learning, network and inspire others. Information and expertise currently sits within lots of different organisations, groups and initiatives (Woodland Trust, DWT, Plantlife, RSPB, LAs, Devon Living Churchyards, Devon Birds, Devon Bat Group etc) and it is often hard for communities to know where to start when looking for guidance and support.

The Wild About Devon initiative aims to be a ‘one stop shop’ for all this information making it simpler for people to take action for nature in their local area.

Speakers:
1. Welcome - Professor Michael Winter, DLNP Chair & Professor of Land Economy and Society at Exeter University
2. Launch of WiId About Devon - Harry Barton, DLNP Vice Chair & CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust
3. Wildlife data - Jess Smallcombe, Devon Biodiversity Records Centre
4. Verges - Tom Whitlock, Devon County Council
5. Teignbridge Wildlife Wardens - Audrey Compton, Teign Valley Farmer
Questions
6. Winkleigh Environmental Group - Kim Melhuish
7. Dittisham Parish Council’s wildlife work – Councillor Sune Nightingale
8. Launch of the Wild about Devon Community Awards - John Green, Life on the Yealm