I read that each year about 6,000 Americans end up in accident

and emergency departments as a result of injuries caused by

their attempts to open over packaged presents. Now, large scale

retailers are starting to package their products in, wait for it,

simple cardboard boxes. Perhaps this new enlightenment is

partly driven by the ongoing recession which in many ways can

be seen as good for the environment; less production equals

less pollution. But there are downsides, less consumption, less

packaging and so no demand for recycled paper to make

cardboard boxes and eventually more paper to landfill sites.

For some time The Wildlife Trusts have encouraged

‘sustainable living’ which essentially means consuming less

and conserving more and the present dire economic situation

will look like approaching nirvana to some. Consuming less is

probably the best way of reducing CO2 emissions, but how can

we achieve a steady state economy without continuous

growth? No political party will get elected on a manifesto

which implies rising unemployment and falling living

standards.

Unfortunately we need something more radical than the

current political solutions. Insulating houses, turning down

thermostats and driving a little less will not save the world;

these solutions are a comfort blanket designed to make us all

feel that everything is under control. Continuing economic

growth at say 3% each year will certainly be disastrous; 30%

more stuff in ten years! Most governments see one simple

answer to our present problems; persuade everyone to buy

more things.

Large national charities are already feeling the squeeze with

some looking for government aid, happily Devon Wildlife Trust

is well managed and its finances carefully monitored, but we

shall still look forward to 2009 with some anxiety.

Pointing out the problems is easy and there are no simple

answers but if our grandchildren are to survive and if we want

there to be some wildlife left for them to enjoy then we must

slow global warming. That will involve some radical thoughts

followed by radical actions.

Geoff Hearnden, Vice chair of DWT’s Council

NetworkNewsKeeping you in touch with the Devon Wildlife Trust No 66 January 2009

Growing pains

News in briefDo you work for BT? – Devon Wildlife Trust and BTare looking at the possibility of forging a new workingpartnership to help Devon’s wildlife. At the moment wewould like to hear from any DWT members who are alsoBT employees. If this is you please contact DWT atcontactus@devonwildlifetrust.org

Award for Working Wetlands – Working Wetlands,DWT’s new landscape–scale initiative in northern Devon,has been hitting the headlines in 2008. Recent highlightshave included the felling of two sitka spruce plantationsnear Chulmleigh. These will make way for a 30 hectareCulm grassland re-creation project, providing crucial extrahabitat that will reconnect two small, isolated populationsof the rare marsh fritillary butterfly.

Natural England has been so impressed by WorkingWetlands that it has just announced a £341,050 awardthrough its Biodiversity Action Fund, helping to supportthe activities of our Cookworthy-based project team until 2011. The extra funding will help us to establish amuch-needed machinery ring. Many of our neighbouringlandowners are keen to participate in the WorkingWetlands success story, but in order to manage their landeffectively for wildlife they need access to specialistequipment. The grant will enable us to purchase a range of resources that can be loaned out – these couldinclude wild flower seed harvesting equipment, a weedwiper that will help control invasive rushes and possibly a deep plough that will help re-create these lost wildlife havens.

Marine Bill moves closer – ‘My government willbring forward measures to protect the environment forfuture generations. A bill will be introduced to managemarine resources and to create a new right of publicaccess to the coastline.’

With these words, delivered to a packed House of Lords at the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen put an end to weeks of speculation over the future of the MarineBill. This legislation promises radical changes – for the better – in the way in which we manage our marineenvironment and will now be put before Parliamentsometime in the next few months. It is likely that it willbecome law sometime in 2009, ushering in a new era of marine nature conservation, planning and fisheriesmanagement.

There is still much work to be done. The Wildlife Trustswill be taking legal advice on the draft Bill and will be keeping a close eye on its passage through Parliament, lobbying to ensure that it achieves the best result for marine wildlife. But a significant step has been taken.

Well, the answer I’m pleased to say is that they have been

working to the advantage of Devon Wildlife Trust recently

through the Aggregates Tax.

Devon’s geology, which provides such a broad range of

wildlife habitats, has made a lucrative target for mineral

extraction over the years.

Aggregates Tax was introduced as a means of

compensating for some of the negative impacts of

quarrying and is a similar scheme to the Landfill Tax, in

that quarry operators pay a tax on the amount of certain

types of aggregates extracted, such as sand and gravel.

Money gathered in this way is then allocated to Defra’s

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. The fund is

administered nationally by Natural England and locally

through Devon County Council and RockETS. We are

pleased to report that we’ve been successful in getting

two Aggregates Tax grants this year, one from each fund.

First, DWT received £10,000 from Devon RockETS for a

programme of heathland restoration and access

improvements at Bystock nature reserve in east Devon,

with the support of Bardon Aggregates and its nearby

Blackhill Quarry. The highlights of the work include a

new disabled access bridge over an old sluice and an audio

guide for visitors.

Devon Wildlife Trust and The Bystock DWT Local Group are

battling hard to keep on top of scrub encroachment at the

nature reserve and we’re hoping to get contractors in to

help. We’re also de-silting ponds and ditches and felling

some of the larger trees. Meanwhile DWT’s Exmoor ponies

have spent the summer munching and trampling to

improve habitat value.

In November, DWT received news of a grant offer from the

main Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund of £17,210

towards woodland management and access works at

Halsdon nature reserve, with the support of the Newbridge

Stone Company at nearby Newbridge Quarry. This

woodland SSSI is in need of some serious thinning, the

understory is thick with holly and beech which is shading

out the ground flora, so DWT needs to reinstate old access

tracks to get forestry equipment onto the site to tackle the

problem. The Dolton DWT Local Group is also working

hard on the site and their new hide is proving to be a big

success.

Amanda Bate, DWT’s Grants & Trusts Officer

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

WHAT HAVE QUARRIESEVER DONE FOR US?

Form

er D

WT

Nat

ure

Rese

rves

Offi

cer S

imon

Goo

dson

and

loca

l vol

unte

er R

oger

Ham

ling

will

feat

ure

in th

e By

stoc

k au

dio

guid

e

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

News from the Network Volunteers, DWT Local Groups, Wildlife Watch

LearningopportunitiesIf you would like to increase your knowledge andunderstanding of Devon’s wildlife consider one ofthese walks and talks organised by DWT’s LocalGroups. Further details at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

and in the DWT events leaflet:

Sunday 25 January 9.30am – estuary bird walk in

Exmouth. Starts at Camperdown Terrace car park (10 mins walk from train station)

Thursday 12 March, 7.30 – dragonflies in Devon.

David Smallshire of the British Dragonfly Societygives an illustrated talk at Bovey Tracey’s RC HolySpirit Church Hall.

Sunday 1 March – Lichen hunting. Led by two lichenexperts, at Chittlehampton Church. Book with JoyceDignam on 01271 374324 or joyce@smartemail.co.uk

News wantedSend your short news updates on Local Group and/or volunteer activities todlenn@devonwildlifetrust .org or to the CricklepitMill postal address.

Barnstaple DWT Local

GroupThe Group got off to a flying start with the first

three talks of the winter programme. DWT’s

Pete Burgess gave a very informative and

enjoyable insight into DWT’s Working

Wetlands project. John Butters showed two of

his excellent local wildlife films, while Chris

Utting told us the history of honey bees, the

dangers they currently face and the potential

consequences to the human race if research

does not come up with a solution to the verroa

mite and the viruses it carries. We have also

had four fungus forays led by the wonderful

Jeff Benn and at two sites we found rare

specimens; all very exciting.

Barnstaple DWT Local Group is also giving

support to Coastwise North Devon. Coastwise

has completed a series of recordings for the

DWT’s Living Seas Oral History Project. 16

local people, ranging from divers to

harbourmasters to fishermen, have been

interviewed to record their memories of the

North Devon coast and seas and the changes

that have taken place their. The results have

been fascinating. The recordings will be

edited by Cat Jones and relevant information

fed into the Finding Sanctuary project to help

identify suitable sites for Marine Protected

Zones around the North Devon coast.

Exeter Local GroupExeter Local Group is up and running again,

with a full programme of events from

January. Whilst focussing more on the city

itself, with survey walks and practical tasks as

well as indoor talks, the traditional walks to

Dunsford nature reserve to see the wild

daffodils will still go ahead in March. The

group welcomes faces old and new to their

events, and if you fancy helping out there is

sure to be plenty to do as the volunteers

settle into their new roles. Events are on the

website, and contact details listed on the back

of this newsletter.

Bovey Tracey Local GroupRuns very popular events – recently a talk by

Robin Khan on sparrowhawks and other

garden birds attracted 78 people! Quite tricky

when there are only 60 decent chairs! Come

March, both the event co-ordinator and the

main contact for the group plan to step down

– so if anyone is thinking they might like to

join this active group, now is the time.

Tarka Watch GroupThe Tarka Wildlife Watch Group staged a

Forest School day of den building, fire lighting

and mud painting in November, following this

in December with a woodland fungus foray

where they found lots of fungi to identify and

marshmallows to toast on the fire.

Local Group & volunteer news

Staff profile: Lucy Carpenter,

Fundraising Officer

1. Briefly, what does your job entail?

My role in the Fundraising Team is to raise

money from small grant-giving organisations

and charitable trusts, and to co-ordinate the

fundraising appeals that we send to our

members. I also have the unenviable task of

helping DWT keep track of all its budgets.

2. If you had to describe DWT in five words, what would you say?

Caring, enthusiastic, dedicated, inspiring, determined

3. How long have you been working for DWT?

Five and a half years.

4. What is your first memory of working at DWT?

My first day at DWT was also my manager’s birthday, so our office was full

of people helping themselves to a wide selection of cakes and doughnuts!

I remember thinking that DWT would be a good place to work if cakes were

a regular feature, and I am pleased to say that they are (and it is!)

5. What is your favourite part of your work?

I really enjoy finding out about the wide range of projects DWT is able to

run each year, and it is a great feeling when a fundraising bid is successful

and a funder agrees to support DWT’s work.

6. Which aspects of your work would you happily pass to someone else?

My filing pile – definitely!

7. If you could have any other job within DWT which would you have and

why?

I think the work that Sue Sykes and her team of enthusiastic volunteers do

with children through Wildlife Watch is brilliant. It must be such a lot of fun

to run all of the events and activities, and extremely rewarding to see

children enthused and inspired to care for their local wildlife.

8. What is your favourite nature reserve and why?

It would have to be Dunsford. It is such a beautiful and relaxing walk along

the river.

9. What is your favourite way to relax away from DWT?

I enjoy walking, and love exploring the local area – I am always amazed at

what you can find to do right here on your doorstep (especially if I manage

to squeeze in a coffee and some cake from a local café!).

10. If you hadn’t come to work for DWT what would you be doing instead?

I first heard about ‘the environment’ and ‘global warming’ when I was about

10, and I remember thinking (with childhood optimism) ‘Well, why don’t

they just stop it from happening?!’ I always hoped that I would end up

working for an environmental organization, so if I wasn’t at DWT I would

like to think I would be championing wildlife and the environment

elsewhere.

Decoy Junior Rangers was formed two years ago by

Simon Cunningham, Community Ranger at Decoy

Country Park (Torbay), and Carole Walker, a Volunteer

Ranger. The group provides local children with the

opportunity to explore the wildlife at Decoy, learn

about their immediate environment, become involved

with conservation work and make new friends.

Over the past couple of years the group has

organised a wide range of activities, including wild

art, raft building, pond dipping, planting a wildflower

meadow, making bird feeders, decorating glass

lanterns, constructing bows and arrows, producing

natural decorations and building nest boxes. We

explored the local area on foot during our Decoy

Mountain excursion and discovered many exciting

things – animal tracks in the mud, a badger sett in

the woods, barn owl droppings in an old barn and

many beautiful wild flowers. During August, we were

able to become ‘Decoy Pirates’ and sail the waters of

the lake. Shiver me timbers!

The group recently became DWT Wildlife Watch

members. As a way of celebrating this new

partnership, we are going to hold a re-launch event

early next year. We want to engage with the local

community and encourage more children living

nearby to take part in the group’s activities. We also

want to involve all Watch members in important

discussions, including planning future activities.

Newton Abbot Town Council have kindly provided a

donation towards the purchase of a uniform for

group members.

Three volunteers, Carole Walker, Sam Bottoms and

Miles Evemy, currently run the group, with expert

advice and support from Simon Cunningham. It

meets between 2-3.30pm at the Ranger's Office,

Decoy Country Park, on the second Sunday of each

month. You can also get more information on this

and other Wildife Watch Club activities from DWT’s

Wildlife Watch Officer, Sue Sykes (see back page for

contact details).

NEW PARTNER FOR WILDLIFE WATCH

Volunteer voiceAmber Griffiths

I have done a wide variety of jobs since I firststarted volunteering at Devon Wildlife Trust, somemundane, some very interesting. The reason Ikeep coming back is that with every job I do I findout a little bit more about myself, my likes and mydislikes. Even the sort of person I want to be.

There is something for everyone to do at DWT.With a wide variety of jobs, you can find the rightthing to suit you and find direction in your life likeI have done.

Volunteering at DWT is one of the best moves ofmy life. DWT staff are friendly and make you feellike you have joined a family. With theirenthusiasm for wildlife they inspire you tobecome greater than you thought possible.

I never want to leave DWT and if I do I will missall the staff, like I miss the ones who are no longerwith us, especially Simon Rutley-Frayne, who wasmy greatest inspiration and without whom Iwould never have seen my full potential.

(See page four for another appreciation of SimonRutley-Frayne)

Sparrowhawk, Darin Smith

Diary DatesNature reserve open day 25 January

at Dawlish Warren 11.30am–2pm

Welcome to Woodah 21 February

open day 1pm–3pm

Deadlines

Network News articles 29 January

26 March

Help needed entries 12 February

Events leaflet 20 January

12 May

Local Group inserts into

member mailing 15 March

A plea for picturesIf you are contributing something to

Network News please think about

suitable pictures and include these

with your copy.

Team reports Eight DWT work teams submit their regular updates

EducationThis winter the Devon Wildlife Trust’s North Devon Voluntary Marine Conservation

Area is hosting a series of talks and workshops open to anyone with an interest

in marine conservation. The talks which are being funded by the North Devon

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s Sustainable Development Fund, will give

an opportunity for people to find out more about Marine Conservation Zones

(MCZs), and people will also be invited to contribute to the work of the Finding

Sanctuary project which is responsible for determining the extent and locations

of these MCZs.

Land managementWe’re now mid-way through the hectic winter works period and there has been a

lot of activity across the nature reserves. At Dunsford nature reserve the glades in

the valley bottom have been cut and extended through contractors (funded by

BIFFA) and volunteers (Butterfly Conservation and a group from the Tax Office,

part of project funded by the Dartmoor Sustainability Development Fund). At

Andrew’s Wood nature reserve new ponds have been created and the woodland

edge coppiced to increase the diversity around the new pond (funded by Pennon

Environment Fund). Volunteers at Bovey Heathfield nature reserve have been busy

pushing back the woodland edge and scrub. The Culm grassland restoration

works at Dunsdon and Volehouse nature reserves funded by Grantscape are

nearing completion as part of the Working Wetlands project. This has involved the

cutting of scrub, burning the cut material and treatment of the cut stumps to

reduce re-growth.

FinanceNovember and December provided the staff in

the finance department with a chance to take

part in a full review of the organisation’s

financial position for the current financial year.

As part of this process, all of DWT’s managers

reviewed their own budget positions, and

where appropriate, adjusted their expected

pattern of spend to match planned work.

We also took the opportunity to update the

budget, taking into account the additional

income that we have been notified about in

the last couple of months.

The team also spent time looking ahead to the

next financial year and reviewing all the

income, non salary, and salary figures in order

that the Director of Resources could base the

2009-10 business plan on a sound footing. The

process looking ahead to the year started

April 2009 has well and truly begun.

Fundraising & membershipOur new fundraising campaign, ‘adopt a

species’ is now live on our website

(www.devonwildlifetrust.org). You can choose

from four species to adopt: dormouse, bat,

otter or dolphin. For just £15, children will

receive an activity puzzle book, set of

colouring pencils, a postcard and fact sheet

of the adopted species, plus an adoption

certificate. For more information visit the

website.

We are in the middle of our latest telephone

campaign contacting members who pay by

monthly standing order to encourage them to

change their payments to direct debit. The

campaign has started really well, which is

great news, as the savings to DWT make a

huge difference.

We have enjoyed a successful level of grant

income recently, with funding being awarded

from SITA Trust (for Chudleigh Knighton Heath

nature reserve), Defra’s Aggregates Levy

Sustainability Fund (for Halsdon nature

reserve), RockETS with the support of Bardon

Aggregates, East Devon AONB Sustainable

Development Fund and the Pennon

Environment Fund (for Bystock nature

reserve). Pennon Environment Fund (for

Andrew’s Wood nature reserve).

• Volunteering

The volunteering team met with the Exeter Wild City

manager to talk about volunteer requirements for the

project.

• Publications

Latest members mailing completed on time.

• Interpretation

Jo Pullin is now on maternity leave and other members of

the team will continue her work while she is away. More

people-counters are being purchased to assess footfall on

some of our most popular nature reserves.

• Wembury Marine Centre

Marine Awareness officer is now planning activities for the

2009 season and will shortly be recruiting volunteers to

help. Work is also taking place on the Venus Beach Wildlife

Fund project.

• Raising profile

Working Wetlands was featured on BBC Radio 4’s Living

World programme. The team went out and filmed the red

deer rut near Tiverton to help promote our work in

conjunction with BBC’s Autumnwatch. The footage was

featured on BBC Spotlight, Radio Devon and BBC Breakfast.

Marketing and interpretation

The habitat creation operations, in partnership with Butterfly

Conservation, at Cuddenhay and Lutworthy Moors are continuing.

These projects involve the felling of over 30 hectares of sitka spruce

plantation planted on Culm grasslands in the 1950’s. This

represents the largest habitat recreation works DWT has ever

overseen. The wet weather has led to difficult site conditions for the

timber harvesting equipment and progress has been slow. We hope

that all timber will be harvested by the end of January in readiness

for stump grinding. Close by another plantation totalling 25

hectares has been allocated funding by Natural England and

preparatory works are underway.

Elsewhere the team has been involved in a range of negotiations

from thrust boring water supplies under busy trunk roads to

reinstating grazing on abandoned Culm grasslands, to cattle

purchase agreements where we can guarantee even the most

difficult sites are grazed next summer.

The Working Wetlands appeal has been a great success raising

more than £10,500 (including Gift Aid). Thank you to all who have

supported the project in this difficult economic climate. Any further

donations will make a big difference to what we are achieving on

the ground. Please contact DWT if you would like to support the

project.

Working Wetlands

Operations and supporter careOctober to December has seen some changes

within the team, we were pleased to welcome

back Mike Symes following his six month

secondment to Devon Wildlife Consultants.

Tim May our caretaker left in mid October,

having taken good care of Cricklepit Mill in our

first year. Tim has been succeeded by John

Macaulay.

In November we realised that we had

squatters in Cricklepit Mill’s upper floor. Using

humane traps we caught seven wood mice

and took them to various parts of the County

to set free – at the moment we seem to have

moved them on.

Various factors have led to a significant

increase in the workload of the team and we

were pleased to have temporary help for

admin tasks from former DWT volunteer,

Amber Griffiths. We would also like to thank

our other volunteers for support during this

time: Celia, Mona and Miriam, who have

helped us enormously, particularly with

packing our supporter mailings.

AcknowledgementsDWT would like to thank…

Happy new year to all the splendid Wildlife Watch

volunteers.

Peter Smith, Alex McDonald, Neil Dobson, Jeremy Ison,

Jane Thompson, David Dyer and David Marriott for their

help at Devon Biodiversity Records Centre.

Bovey Heathfield Local Nature Reserve volunteers and all

the volunteers at Andrew’s Wood nature reserve for their

continued help with scrub clearance.

Duncan Gray for his help at Warleigh Point nature reserve

and elsewhere.

Happy New Year to all our wonderful Local Group

volunteers. Thank you for all your hard work.

Devon Biodiversity Records Centre

(DBRC)

The end of November saw the inaugural meeting of the

Association of Local Records Centres (ALERC). This is a national

body representing all Local Records Centres, and will allow us to

have a national voice. One of the problems Local Records Centres

(LRCs) have faced is that we are a very disparate group. Some

LRCs are based in Wildlife Trusts (like DBRC), some are hosted by

local authorities, and some are independent. We range in size

from one part time person to ten staff, and cover a wide range of

work, including sites, species, habitats and geology. At present

any national organisation trying to work with Local Records

Centres ends up talking to each LRC separately.

Now that ALERC has been set up, there will be one organisation

able to negotiate for all of us. ALERC will also look at how we can

swap ideas and best practice, how to set national standards,

training and accreditation. The future is looking good for Local

Records Centres!

Protecting Wildlife for the Future www.devonwildlifetrust.org

This document is available in large print and electronic formats. Contact DWT for details on 01392 279244

In Committee

The Council meeting on 18 November was the first following the AGM thus

elections and appointments took place.

Andrew Cooper was re-elected Chair of Council and Geoff Hearnden, Vice

Chair of Council. John Fry was re-appointed Hon Treasurer. Geoff Bowen

had announced his intention to stand down from Executive Committee and

he was thanked for his sterling work over the past seven years. Clare Broom

was appointed to take his place on the Committee and Vernon Clarke was

re-appointed, making up the five trustees that sit on Executive Committee.

Pip Harris was re-appointed Convenor of the Volunteers Forum and Martin

Taylor, Health and Safety Representative. Geoff Hearnden’s place on the

South West Wildlife Trust’s Board was approved for a further year. Andrew

Cooper, Clare Broom and Pip Harris were re-appointed to the Governance

Panel which would also act as the Trustee Appointments Panel for 2009-10.

John and SimonDevon Wildlife Trust experienced the

sudden loss of two members of staff in

November…

John Hayward

We know that everyone who knew him will share our grief and

sense of loss at the death of our friend and colleague, John

Hayward, who died unexpectedly in early November.

John was DWT’s Community Biodiversity Officer, and was involved

in a wide range of innovative work with schools, businesses and

local communities. John had been pivotal in working on a

Sustainable Schools programme in Torbay, and his pilot projects

and research have made an important contribution to the

development of environmental education approaches.

John’s passion and knowledge of wildlife gardening was

unsurpassed, and examples of his work can be seen across Devon,

from the labyrinth garden at Cricklepit Mill to his work with many

garden centres.

In his work John commanded our respect. He was driven by a

strong purpose and believed that, by teaching young people how to

make sustainable choices in their lives, he could really make a

difference to the future of the environment and to the creatures

living on our planet as the climate changes. John’s work was

focussed and immediate. He both challenged and encouraged

everyone who worked with him.

As a man John had a gift for friendship. He was empathetic and

kind. He was a hub of affectionate knowledge both within Devon

Wildlife Trust and the wider environmental community. We loved

him and he leaves a space which will not easily be filled.

Simon Rutley-Frayne

Simon Rutley-Frayne, DWT’s Operations Manager, was killed in a

road accident in November. Many of you who visited the DWT’s

offices will have come into contact with Simon and been charmed

by his enthusiasm for his work and life in general. It is very hard to

put into words the feelings of grief and loss that we are

experiencing during this time.

Simon started at DWT eight years ago, coming in to help out a

friend when our previous IT Officer departed suddenly. This was

typical of Simon; he always had the time and the knowledge to

assist someone in a crisis. It was a year later that we finally

persuaded him to become a member of staff, and from that time our

IT network and Simon never looked back. Simon was always keen to

develop his skills and responsibilities, and once he had the IT under

control he took on more responsibility for other resources. It was

Simon, for example, that managed the practicalities of DWT’s move

to Cricklepit Mill. Simon had great enthusiasm for Devon Wildlife

Trust, and the work we do. He felt that he had a responsibility to

source all our resources at the least possible cost to us and

negotiations always included the words ‘but we are a charity’.

Simon believed that humour was an important part of life and most

people calling up the IT room for help over the last few years have

been greeted with the refrain, ‘Dominoes Pizza, ow can we ‘elp

pleeze?’ Everyone will have one particular little quip or joke that

they can remember sharing with Simon. Simon didn’t believe in

problems, only challenges and his words to the team ‘we have a can

do attitude in Ops’, usually said in an over the top American accent,

summed up his attitude to life. Nothing was too much trouble –

even when it clearly was!

Simon’s wife, Caroline, was also involved in the accident. All

connected with Devon Wildlife Trust send their love and wish her

a rapid recovery.

Who’s who at DevonWildlife Trust TrusteesDr Nick Atkinson, Geoffrey Bowen, Clare Broom, PeterChamberlain, Vernon Clarke (Chair of Executive Committee),Andrew Cooper (Chair of Council), Joyce Dignam, Ian Ferguson,John Fry (Hon Treasurer), Brenda Hague, Pip Harris, GeoffHearnden (Vice Chair of Council), Tony Jackson, Prof IanMercer CBE (President), Nigel Rendle, Martin Taylor, JohnWhetman

StaffPaul Gompertz Director Rachael Rivett Directors’ PAEmma Richardson Director of ProgrammesElaine Jay Director of ResourcesCharlie Taylor Acting Deputy Director of ProgrammesKate Taylor Deputy Director of ResourcesGiles Knight Advocacy ManagerRichard White Senior Marine Advocacy OfficerBill Broadbent Planning OfficerMatthew Boydell Land Management ManagerAndrew Bakere Nature Reserves Officer Jackie Gage Nature Reserves Officer Edric Hopkinson Nature Reserves Officer Gary Pilkington Nature Reserves Officer Steve Threlkeld Nature Reserves Officer Kate Langdon Nature Reserves AssistantLynne Kenderdine Senior CWS Advisory OfficerPeter Burgess Working Wetlands Project ManagerSimon Berry Working Wetlands Project OfficerMarie Butterfield Working Wetlands Project OfficerBecky Aston Working Wetlands Project OfficerStuart Coleman Working Wetlands Project Officer Catherine Douglas-Wallis Working Wetlands AdministratorRalph Mackridge Exeter Wild City Project ManagerHelen March Education ManagerSue Sykes Wildlife Watch Officer Catherine Jones North Devon Marine

Awareness OfficerRod Birtles Marketing & Interpretation ManagerStephen Hussey Publications OfficerDavid Ireland Communications OfficerDawn Lenn Community Network Co-ordinatorDebbie Watts Volunteers OfficerCatherine Ridout Wembury Marine Awareness Officer Joanna Pullin Reserves Interpretation OfficerRachael Pine Fundraising Manager Lucy Carpenter Fundraising OfficerAmanda Bate Grants & Trusts OfficerSarah Tennant Funding OfficerHannah Best Funding OfficerTracy Ebbrell Corporate Relations OfficerCaroline Rutley-Frayne Community and E-Fundraising OfficerGraham Kirk Finance ManagerNigel James Finance OfficerKate Pitts Finance OfficerJanet Bennallick Membership OfficerJudy Simm Database OfficersSarah Loweth Governance & HR OfficerMark James Resources OfficerAnna Ingram Administration AssistantKelly Silcox Administration AssistantSusannah Bowyer Administration AssistantJenny Mendoza ReceptionistIsabelle Orleach ReceptionistJohn Macauley CaretakerEleanor Knott Senior Records Centre Officer Emma Townsend Records Centre OfficerCaroline Jones Records Centre OfficerJacqui West Records Centre AssistantLauren Davis Records Centre AssistantThe above can be contacted at:Cricklepit Mill, Commercial Road, Exeter EX2 4ABTelephone 01392 279244

Voluntary Marine Conservation AreasNorth Devon VMCA 01271 812777Wembury VMCA, near Plymouth 01752 862538Email: info@wemburymarinecentre.org

Wildlife Watch LeadersBrampford Speke Sue Satchell 01392 841785Deptford Farm Wendy Heard 01288 331264Dolton Alison Böckh 01805 804322Exmouth Sue Sykes 01392 279244Kingsbridge Fiona Van Es 01548 550519Lydford Sam Biggs 01822 810703Okehampton Fran Rickwood 01837 659533Plymouth Barbara Hampen 01752 567698Sharpham Susie Nicholls 01803 732037Stover Susan Manson 01626 353088Tale Valley Alan Bruford 01404 851173Torridge Emma Van Huyse 07929 946506Wembury Cat Ridout 01752 862538

DWT Local GroupsBarnstaple & District Joyce Dignam 01271 374324Bovey Tracey Chris Harper 01626 832440East Devon Donald Campbell 01297 445084Exeter Steve Carroll 07972 175340Exmouth Roger Hamling 01395 274766Halsdon & Dolton Diana Goodacre 01805 804278Plymouth Del Saunders 01752 207330Ruby County Ivan Buxton 01409 221073South Brent & Ivybridge Eileen Blockly 01364 72320Tavistock Sue Boxall 01822 820292

Devon Wildlife TrustCricklepit Mill, Commercial Road, Exeter EX2 4ABTel: 01392 279244 Fax: 01392 433221Email: contactus@devonwildlifetrust.orgWeb: www.devonwildlifetrust.orgRegistered charity No 213224Printed on recycled paper

Devon Wildlife Trust’s popular National Nature Reserve at Dunsdon

near Holsworthy in north Devon has gown by 19 hectares after the

recent purchase of two adjoining grassland fields.

The land acquisition at the west end of the reserve will provide

extra habitat for rare species of plants and insects. The site was

originally bought by DWT in 2000 and was 57 hectares in total. It is

known to be one of the best examples of Culm Grassland in the

county.

The purchase is part of the Working Wetlands project and has been

made possible thanks to support from Grantscape who are funding

much of the restoration and expansion of existing Devon Wildlife

Trust nature reserves in the area.

DWT’s Land Management Manager Matt Boydell told Network

News: ‘We hope that with careful management the new land will

revert to Culm within a few years and provide vital habitat for the

rare species that make the site their home. This includes the

threatened marsh fritillary butterfly which thrives elsewhere on

Dunsdon. It is important for us to expand our nature reserves to

make sure they are robust enough to cope with external factors that

could put them at risk such as the climate changes.’

NATURE RESERVE GROWSThe marsh fritillary should benefit from Dunsdon’s expansion

AGM 2008 Devon Wildlife Trust’s 2008 AGM was held at

Bicton College, East Budleigh on Saturday 18

October. 105 members attended. This was not as

many as last year but that was an exceptional year

(attendance at the 2007 AGM was the highest in

DWT’s 45 year history).

The formal meeting ran smoothly. All the trustees

standing for re-election were elected and new

trustee Nick Atkinson was also elected.

Education was the theme of the afternoon

presentations. Woodah Farm, marine education,

wildlife gardening and citizenship were featured

with the added bonus of volunteer speakers who

had benefitted from DWT’s support.

Planning for the 2009 AGM is underway. The theme

for the day will be Landscape Scale Projects,

particularly Working Wetlands and Exeter Wild City.