Project Focus - The Deptford Pink

This page shows the work of Action for Wildlife in more detail by examining one project.
Check out our Projects page for details of other work programmes.

Action for Wildlife has carried out work for a rare plant, the Deptford Pink, in the National Park. This example not only illustrates the type of support Action for Wildlife can offer, but also how it reacts to individual cases and offers different kinds of support depending on what is required.
The project has worked on five different sites and this shows the project's commitment to a 'lifescape' approach, looking at the whole area, not just concentrating on a single site.

Sites Supported	A field belonging to a local farmer. A field belonging to a local business. An area undergoing development. A roadside verge. An allotment.
Species or habitat supported	Deptford Pink. Greater Horseshoe Bat. Species-rich unimproved grassland.
Physical works carried out	Erecting a fence to allow the area to be grazed. Gorse, bramble and bracken clearance to restore habitat for the plant. Monitoring.
Support from the project	Liaison with the farmer and landowners. Arranging for a fencing contractor. Funding for fencing. Providing labour in the form of Duke of Edinburgh volunteers to carry out scrub clearance with help from DNPA Rangers. Labour in the form of DNPA rangers and student rangers. Community consultation to inform locals about the fencing work and the need to redirect a footpath. Advice on a grazing regime. Advice on management. Setting up a monitoring scheme. Raising awareness about the existence and importance of the plant.
Long Term Future	Farmers field: With a grazing regime implemented the scrub should be kept under control. The area DNPA ranger will carry out more scrub control if needed. An Action for Wildlife volunteer will be monitoring populations on the site. The area will be monitored yearly. Field belonging to local business: The project liaised with the landowner and Dartmoor National Park Authority and a management agreement is now under discussion. This will provide financial help towards habitat management and will ensure that the area is managed to safeguard the plants future for at least the next 20 years. The area will be monitored yearly.