North Devon Catchment Partnership
North Devon | South West
Contact Information
Catchment Host
Devon Wildlife Trust
Enquiries
Emma Richardson
Phone
01392 279244
Catchment Management Plan for North Devon Catchment
INTRODUCTION
The North Devon Catchment Partnership co-ordinates and promotes action for healthy rivers and streams across the whole of North Devon. It covers the River Taw and Torridge catchments, Hartland, Clovelly and Exmoor streams.
NDCP is hosted by Devon Wildlife Trust and supported by the North Devon Biosphere. NDCP has adopted the Wetlands and Waterbodies Action Plan from the North Devon Biosphere Reserve Nature Recovery Plan 2021-25.
OUR VISION
By 2030, nature in our wetlands and waterbodies is recovering. Re-naturalised floodplain and other riparian land provides a mosaic of habitats for wildlife and creates opportunities for dynamic rivers and streams. Wide corridors of scrub, floodplain meadow and woodland alongside watercourses act as buffer strips from pollution and connect previously fragmented habitats. Habitat restoration (including on the degraded blanket bogs of Exmoor and Dartmoor) and creation have increased landscape connectivity and natural river flows.
Water quality has improved with fewer sources of diffuse and point pollution. Barriers to fish movement and migration have been removed, large woody debris and clean spawning gravels are widespread: salmon are recovering.
Reintroductions have enabled beavers to colonise all catchments creating nature-rich and climate resilient habitats, populations of re-introduced water voles are expanding and healthy populations of iconic otters are maintained in all catchments. Expanding networks of Culm grassland support thriving (meta) populations of marsh fritillary butterflies and narrow-bordered bee hawk-moths.
The drumming of snipe and cries of breeding lapwing and curlew are heard once more, and willow tits sing in wet woodlands. Non-native invasive species now have minimal impact.
Altogether, catchments support abundant and increasing wildlife ranging from aquatic plants and invertebrates to eels and freshwater pearl mussels.
North Devon Catchment Partnership - Action Plan Snapshot (2026)
Download a copy of the NDCP Action Plan Snapshot. For information on any projects contact choney@devonwildlifetrust.org
FEATURED PROJECTS | North Devon
DRIP – Devon Resilience Innovation Project
An exciting pilot project local to the Little Dart, Huntacott Water and Sturcombe River catchments consists of two complimentary strands designed to help unlock new natural flood management funding for landowners by installing watercourse and soil moisture and chemistry sensors throughout the catchment alongside 1:1 advice towards natural flood management (NFM) measures.
See more about the project here.
Northern Devon Natural Solutions
Northern Devon Natural Solutions (NDNS) is a Devon Wildlife Trust project running from 2021 until 2027. The project is working across northern Devon’s rural communities to engage with landowners and managers as well as volunteers, community groups and schools to improve water quality, increase biodiversity, sequester carbon and mitigate flood risk. To achieve its goals, NDNS is focusing on 36 waterbodies across the Taw and Torridge river catchments. NDNS is working alongside partner organisations such as the Environment Agency, North Devon Biosphere Reserve, North Devon AONB, Catchment Sensitive Farming and Westcountry Rivers Trust, to deliver positive outcomes for nature within the targeted water bodies.
NDNS employs an innovative whole-farm approach, building on Devon Wildlife Trust’s experience, expertise and working relationships with land managers in northern Devon. The project’s advisers visit farms to produce Whole Farm Natural Solutions Plans (WFPs) outlining potential opportunities for increasing biodiversity, improving water quality and mitigating flood risk. NDNS has delivered advice and interventions that have enhanced 15km of river/riverside land including watercourse fencing, riverside tree planting, 30m bankside protection & restoration, 116 leaky dams and sediment ponds as well as 412 farm advisory visits.
See more about the project here.
Upstream Thinking – Working Wetlands on Wistlandpound and Barnstaple Yeo
Working Wetlands advisers have been working with farmers and landowners to address potential sources of pollution on farms, with the aim of using natural solutions to protect water quality and quantity, and restore wildlife habitats. The aim is to ensure that both farmers and the natural environment benefit from the advice provided.
See more about the project here.
North Devon Biosphere Communities
Biosphere Communities empowers groups and individuals to champion nature’s recovery in their local area and coproduce sustainable solutions to the shared environmental and social challenges faced across our communities in North Devon and Torridge.
See more about the project here.
National Trust – Arlington
National Trust are working to create a wilder, wetter, woodier and more resilient estate that benefits both people and nature. Inspired by Rosalie Chichester’s wishes over 70 years ago, find out how we are working to achieve this.
See more about the project here.
South West Peatland Partnership
South West Peatland Partnership’s vision is of restored peatlands across Cornwall, Dartmoor and Exmoor that support wildlife, store carbon, manage flooding, improve water security, enhance the historic environment, and champion livelihoods.
North Devon Coast National Landscape
In November 2023 the North Devon Coast AONB was renamed as a National Landscape. It is one of a family of ‘Protected Landscapes’ in the South West of England including Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks as well as 12 other National Landscapes. Together they cover 37% of land in the South West Region. The North Devon Coast National Landscape contains a diversity of scenery, landscapes and habitats and encompasses the Hartland Heritage Coast, North Devon Heritage Coast and the internationally famous UNESCO Biosphere Reserve centred on Braunton Burrows.
See more about the project here.
CRITTER
CRITTER is funded by the Environment Agency Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF). It is funded from 2021 to 2027 with an aim to improve the water quality and biodiversity within the Taw Torridge Estuary
Why work in the Taw Torridge Estuary? It is the heart of the North Devon Biosphere, affected by the upstream water bodies, it is designated as a Heavily Modified Water Body and is failing water framework directive targets due to high levels of nitrates, pho
See more about the project here.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
The aim of the North Devon Biosphere Catchment Group is to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to secure better outcomes for the environment throughout the North Devon group of river catchments. It is a Working Group operating under the auspices of the North Devon UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Partnership.
The partnership has identified three themes:
Protection: We believe that the community of north Devon should work together to protect the people and wildlife that depend on our rivers from the influences of climate change, both floods and droughts. Where possible, a whole catchment, multiple benefit approach should be taken to mitigate impacts.
Management and restoration: We believe that the community should work together to achieve a minimum of Good Ecological Status (as defined by the Water Framework Directive) across the entire catchment. The river and its tributaries should be managed from source to sea to maximise the benefits that it brings to our economy, communities and wildlife. Where the river has been degraded as a result of pollution or unsustainable land management, we will work to restore the river and encourage more sensitive land management practices.
Enjoyment and value: Our quality of life depends upon our surroundings, and our river systems are a crucial part of this. We will encourage all sectors of the community to value our river systems in north Devon.
Below is a list of current partners. We extend an open invitation to organisations, community groups, and individuals who are in North Devon and share our commitment to the health of our river catchments. To join contact us by email.
North Devon National Landscape