Information

Facts and Figures

Landscape Features

Woodland

stack of cut logs - © Ian Dagleish   Woodland cover in the AONB is approximately 16% of which around 2% is thought to be ancient semi-natural woodland. With such large sections of woodland in commercial forestry, there is potential for significant landscape impact and influence through management practices. East Devon AONB is the second most heavily wooded of the 5 Devon AONBs.

Farming

Tractor ploughing © Clinton Devon Estates   Farming remains the principal influence on the AONB landscape and has a huge impact on the fabric of the landscape and its archaeological resource. The average farm size in Devon is around 43 hectares and there is a general increase in the region for farms of less than 20 hectares. The dominant farm type in East Devon is cattle and sheep, closely followed by dairy. There is some arable farming which, as a result of economic pressures and subsidies, is seeing dramatic increases in the South West in areas of oilseed rape, linseed and maize.

Historic Environment

Blackbury Camp © Ian Dalgleish, Countryside Agency   The historic environment, the archaeology, settlements, historic buildings and most notably the historic landscape, all have an integral role in the natural and cultural landscape of the AONB. There are estimated to be 58 scheduled ancient monuments and 855 listed buildings within the AONB.

Designated Areas

Salcombe Mouth -© East Devon AONB Team  

The AONB has a significant area of internationally important habitat. Candidate Special Areas for Conservation (cSAC) account for 1644 ha of the AONB and include East Devon Pebble Beds and Beer Quarry Caves .

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is the first natural site on mainland Britain designated by UNESCO, providing 95 miles of geological exposures.

There are 14 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the AONB covering some 1811ha, ranging from geological quarry features to fen habitat and accounting for almost 7% of the AONB landscape.

The Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs is a National Nature Reserve which encompasses 304ha of the coastal habitat in the AONB.

County Wildlife Sites (CWS) and Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are further designations which afford protection. There are 142 CWSs in the AONB and one LNR, Fire Beacon Hill which falls entirely within the AONB.

 

Picture Credits