We had a fantastic response to the launch of Pledge for Nature! In the first two months of the project we've received pledges to plant over 2500 trees, install over 40 bird boxes, 30 bug havens and there are over 30 gardens where people will make space for nature! A brilliant community effort and something everyone can get involved in.

We thought that you might be interested in some of the stories behind the pledges so we’ve selected a few where people have provided extra information below.

🐤The Taw Fishing Club has put up six nesting boxes along the upper Taw near Coldridge, Nymet Rowland and Wembworthy to help the population of grey wagtails and dippers with suitable, safe nesting sites. “We hope these will attract dippers and grey wagtails on our stretch of the river and we were delighted to see a grey wagtail while we were fixing one of the boxes.”

🌳Tom from Dolton pledged to plant native trees “I currently have a limited number of species of hedgerow trees on the farm. This year I will diversify the list with the addition of apple, walnut, field maple and alder buckthorn.”

🐝🌺Paul from Tawstock pledges include: "Using pallets left after building materials delivered to create a large bug-haven" AND "Allowing lawned area to grow long through the summer, cut late in summer; allowing shrubby area to "look after itself"; setting aside a small cultivated patch for wild flowers."

🐸🦋 Barnstaple & District DWT Local Group, Uppacott team are "Dealing with brash from tree felling because of ash-dieback; creating a "dead hedge" habitat from this; strimming and raking areas for wild flower and butterfly habitat; digging out a new pond for amphibians and dragonflies."

 🌳Dominic from Combe Martin pledged to plant native trees in fields “as our way to transition to a silvopastural system: better for sheep, biodiversity and the climate.”

 🐝Pauline from Holsworthy “As natural beekeepers, planting a tree will be a pledge that will hopefully support our future honey bees, as well as other insects in our garden.”

🌳🌺 Kitty from Northlew pledge to planting an orchard “approximately 6 or 8 trees of local fruit varieties and sourced locally”. This orchard will be planed in a small paddock that is currently used for grazing. We are no longer going to use the site for grazing, it will become a nature area. We will plant and protect the tree with guards. The grass beneath the trees may be lightly grazed by a few chickens or geese at low levels for a short period of time. We also intend to diversity the grassland and sow wildflower seeds and grasses. Next to the orchard we keep bees and hope they will use this area over time. All tree will be a local variety and sourced locally.

🐦🌳Tim from West Yelland "We have a small 3/4 acre woodland garden that sits near the Taw and Torridge Estuary. We are working hard to bring the woodland back and now have a plethora of wild flowers, birds and animals and we hope to attract even more. Our newest additions are newts and we already have Sloworms, Pygmy Shrews, woodland mice, frogs, toads and a huge collection of birds including Bullfinches, long tailed tits, Blackcaps and a Treecreeper!

🐝 Michelle from Barnstaple pledged to “Plant bee friendly shrubs in my garden.”

 🐝🌺The Environment Agency depot at Alverdiscott: We will be creating two wildflower areas, one adjacent to the parking at our Depot and a second along an approximately 30m stretch of narrow verge immediately outside the Environment Agency. To date,these areas have not supported species suitable for pollinators. In particular,we hope that the verge becomes an attractive and prominent focal point within the context of the otherwise 'sterile' industrial estate, demonstrating how we can change the environment around us both for the benefit of our pollinators and also for our own well-being. This small project forms part of a larger pollinator improvement project: 'Pollinators - I'll Bee Back!'.

🌳Winkleigh Environment group have pledged to plant "plant alder buckthorn as the foodplant for the Brimstone butterfly." and have also pledged to install 10 bird boxes.

 🌺Andy from Chilsworthy has pledged to allow most of the grass in his garden to grow and flower to mature to make space for nature in his garden.

 🌺🐝🌳🐦Wheatland Farm has pledged to manage their 21 acres for wildlife, “aiming always for net gain” and to expand their reed beds by creating and managing new 'scrapes', and by using 'grey water' to help maintain them.

🙌The Goodleigh and Gunn community group set up a litter picking event to "Remove litter from the hedgerows".

🌺🐝A new community group called GRACE for pollinators was set up in South Molton, their aim is to "Mow, rake and sow for wildflowers" on verges in the local area.

🌳🌳 At Boode Farm in Braunton over 800 trees were planted with the help of approximately 30 volunteers, see our blog post to hear more about this event.

🐛Our Lady's Catholic Primary School pledge to create a bug haven on school grounds and wrote: "Our pledge is part of continued improvements to our school grounds not only to improve the environment but to also educate our children in a hands on way."

🌳Suzanne in East Down has pledged to" Plant indigenous historic fruit trees to preserve the varieties and provide a natural habitat"

 A big thank you to everyone who has been involved with the project so far. It’s so beneficial for your mental health and well-being to spend some time in nature. Nature is everywhere from looking outside your window and spotting birds flying by to spending time in your garden or local park. See our Nature at Home blog post for more ideas for you to take action for nature whilst at home. We will be releasing our April-June seasonal activities very soon!

 Everyone taking part is invited to help spread the word about Pledge for Nature by sharing pictures of completed pledges using the hashtag #PledgeforNature via: 

Twitter: @PledgeforNature        

Facebook: Pledge for Nature 

Instagram: NorthDevonBiosphere

Feeling inspired? Create a Pledge today by filling in our Pledge Form

Please ensure that whatever you do, you always follow the up to date government advice which is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus & www.who.int.

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