The National Trust look after the stunning stretch of coastline between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail including Bolberry Down, Southdown Farm and East Soar. Over the past few years, we've been working with our tenant farmers to make lots of improvements for nature with the aim of creating more connectivity between the important habitats that already exist along the coast.
The Salcombe coastline is a mix of coastal countryside, woodlands, walks and working farms. This year we announced the return of pine martens to South Devon, highlighting the importance of creating bigger, better and more connected habitats for wildlife. While much of this work happens in woodlands, we're also restoring nature across the wider landscape.
Along the Salcombe coastline, we're working with farmers and volunteers to improve habitat connectivity, restore wildlife-rich areas and create healthier ecosystems where nature can thrive.
Farms will continue to grow crops and sow plots planted with seeds, leaving margins for nature around the arable fields. These margins will be ploughed, to encourage the rare arable plants that thrive in this area, and provide food for insects and birds. Livestock will graze the fields, their trampling and munching helping create a rich mix of plants, grasses and wildflowers, and the number of grazing livestock kept low in the spring, to help plants flower.
Some of the fields are left fallow overwinter, helping farmlands birds can feed. Skylarks can be seen in huge flocks over the winter months, and cirl bunting numbers have more than double in the last decade.
There will be areas left, such as small bushy scrub that create important shelter pockets for butterflies and bees. Wetland restoration is underway, alongisde wildflower meadows and more hedgerows planted, connecting these important habitats.
The Ranger team continue to improve existing paths and have been creating new circular routes, opening up access through the farms with permissive bridleways. In the summer months, the Rangers lead guided walks of the farm, a chance to see behind the scenes on nature-friendly farming.
For the first time in over a century, pine martens have returned to South Devon.
Camera-trap footage captured in 2026 confirmed the sighting of a pine marten setting up residence in woodlands in South Devon.
Another success story from the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, these once native woodland animals were reintroduced to the South West through the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, and have now established themselves across Dartmoor and Exmoor.
With the camera footage, it's confirmed evidence that this individual has travelled at least 25 miles to secure their new territory, signalling a huge step in nature recovery across South Devon. National Trust Rangers along with partners and private landowners have been working for years to connect green corridors and restore native woodlands, allowing this once extinct species to thrive.
The National Trust Rangers alongside Devon Wildlife Trust have been constructing pine marten den boxes to help further secure the species. Pine martens’ make their dens in tree cavities, a rare occurrence now in natural woodlands, and so these den boxes will provide more opportunities for females to raise their young, avoid predators and to shelter from bad weather.
In autumn 2024, 15 pine martens were released in woodland locations on Dartmoor; while in autumn 2025 a further 19 animals were released on Exmoor.
In addition to the work of our tenant farmers, we’ve been very lucky to have the support of over 50 volunteers involved in everything from topping up the cirl bunting feeders to helping us look for archaeological remains.
We've also been working closely with other organisations such as Devon Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, the South Devon AONB and the South West Coast Path to make improvements for nature and access.
2019-2022
In 2019, Plantife surveyed Southdown Farm and it was deemed to be of European importance. In 2021 and 2022, a rapid assessment survey completed by volunteers showed good populations of small-flowered catchfly and a good range of arable plant species in margins. Unfortunately, the draught in 2022 meant a lot died off early and didn’t set to seed.
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with the South Devon team.
South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of a family of protected landscapes in the UK. With the guidance of a Partnership Committee, the AONB Team work to enhance South Devon’s outstanding beauty.
The South West Coast Path look after the UK’s longest and best-loved National Trail.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales and in Scotland.
Dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places across Devon.
Find out about the measures we have taken in partnership with local farmers and RSPB to help reverse the decline of the cirl bunting, which has recovered from the brink of extinction.
Discover a circular walk that takes in some of the most scenic coastline of South Devon. Find out more about the history of the area and enjoy far-reaching views out to sea and along the coast.
Discover our nature-friendly approach to managing the land at Wembury Barton Farm, from creating new habitats for wildlife to improving accessibility for visitors.
An overview of our work along the Salcombe coastline
