North Devon Biosphere - great things going on

My role as chair of the Biosphere Foundation is a huge and fascinating challenge. This project will be a game changer for our sub-region with benefits across our economy and communities - urban, rural, coastal, remote - all will be included and all can contribute.

For those not fully aware of the scale of this it is 1.3 million acres of land and sea covering the catchment areas of the Rivers Taw and Torridge.

This includes sections of Dartmoor and Exmoor and extends beyond Lundy. There are around 5,000 farms and a total population of around 200,000.

The biosphere is a unique designation by UNESCO recognising the special landscape characteristics we have and the ability to conduct commercial scale programmes for enhancement to our natural capital assets.

There are six other biospheres in the UK. Around the world there are around 738 in 134 countries covering about five per cent of the world’s land mass. All work together to share best practice and experience.

Our biosphere has been brilliantly run for 16 years by Andy Bell. During this period the biosphere has earned a prestigious reputation with many leading research and academic institutions, also will many Government departments.

We are just moving in a more commercial phase of work dealing with important issues, such as biodiversity net gain and carbon capture.

We also have a UK first data capture project running near Combe Martin looking at how we can better assess, monitor and manage huge volumes of data.

We have just appointed a new commercial chief executive - Rob Jordan - who will work alongside Andy to build investment relationships. Rob comes from very high places both nationally and internationally.

The biosphere talks to many audiences and deals with some very weighty national issues, but just as importantly it works bottom up and is proud of its community engagement.

It is always dangerous to pick out just one example of what the team do so supremely well but a snap shot of this is contained in a recent report from Claire Moody (who is a force of nature in her own right).

Education

Funding to continue our Ocean Explorer education programme until December - but still have funding gaps (thanks North Devon National Landscapes grant for helping plug the hole).

Now have a 17-seater minibus to support transport of students. This will also increase our capacity to get more of our community from disadvantaged areas to environmental events.

OE currently happening in Pilton, Park, Ilfracombe academy and Braunton Academy. Will roughly engage with more than 150 students (each would have been on five sessions with us at locations around the biosphere).

Student survey to match info we got from orgs/schools – more than 500 responses so far. Exeter psychology professor Sally Palmer supported/gave feedback on our student survey before circulating.

Repair Cafes

Secured funding for 2024 to run our Repair Cafe network. Five cafes at five locations = 25 events plus two skills workshops in each location working closely with The Pickwell Foundation to welcome, involve and share skills with their refugee community support network.

Cleanse and clean

Successful Cleanse and Clean Day of action last week.

Bi monthly clean schedule set for Saunton (dates released shortly). Quarterly series at Instow scheduled.

Planning a similar day of action but along Tarka Trail for September to coincide with World Clean Up Day and the MCS Great British Beach Clean - if anyone would like to be actively involved please get in touch.

Campaigning

Ran a business consultation with local businesses across Braunton and beyond to try and get more businesses to support a single-use coffee cup free area.

Early stages of regrouping with interested individuals and orgs to look at Braunton to Saunton cycle route.

Sustainable Community Groups (football, netball, scouts, surf lifesaving clubs etc). Created a draft sustainability policy/plan for Woolacombe and Saunton surf lifesaving

Next steps - create and distribute a survey to all community groups/organisations across Northern Devon to ascertain whether there is appetite for an environmental ambassadors network, whereby volunteers from community/sport groups offer to be a representative for their respective community group.

Other

Saunton beach stakeholder group approaching ‘coastal’ recycling to pilot a comprehensive recycling /education programme to try and help improve recycling rates in high traffic areas, such as beaches. It's the elephant in the room. Even though bins are often labelled recycling they are often contaminated and deemed unfit for recycling on pick up of waste.

Please feel free to participate in this work or just be aware and proud that it is happening on our doorstep.