Devon Wildlife Trust launches appeal to save rare grasslands

Marsh Fritillary which is one of Europe's most endangered butterflies and loves the Culm Grassland. Devon Wildlife Trust/David Ireland

£20,000 needed
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) has launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to help secure the wildlife rich grasslands in North Devon. The appeal will help to fund the charity's new five year restoration project - ‘Working Wetlands'.

Culm Grassland
Devon Wildlife Trust's Working Wetlands project is the charity's biggest and most ambitious project to date and covers an area of 65,000 hectares across northern Devon. The project aims to restore, re-create and reconnect large areas of this rare Culm Grassland habitat. A staggering 95% has been lost since the beginning of the 20th Century, mainly through agricultural improvement.

Project Manager, Peter Burgess, said: "Donations to this project will help us restore this amazing habitat which supports many rare species of flowers and insects along with more well known creatures such as curlew and barn owls. We are encouraging people to help us buy key tracts of land, restore and re-create wildlife habitats, and rebuild continuous swathes of the landscape that made northern Devon famous."

To donate to the appeal, visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org and click on ‘Helping Us' or call DWT on 01392 279244.
All donations will help to match fund the grants already received from the Tubney Charitable Trust, South West Water, Devon Waste Management, Grantscape, Natural England, Devonshire Motors and Farm & Cottage Holidays.