Natural England

People living in the Chagford area are being invited to help conserve precious areas of countryside and take part in healthy outdoor activities at a special event organised by Natural England.

The community day has been organised by Natural England with Chagford Parish Council and takes place at Padley Common from 9.30am on Saturday 13 October and will include scrub bashing, clearing litter and a barbeque. There will also be an information stand, health stall and a bird feeder stall.

Pete Stevens, of Natural England, said: "As well as engaging people in conservation work we also aim to raise people's awareness of the need for management in this area to maintain its high nature conservation value.

"In addition we intend to highlight the value to health of areas of this type close to towns and the obvious health benefits of getting involved in voluntary practical conservation work."

Padley Common is a 13 hectare area of land owned by the parish council and forms part of Chagford Commons.

It is an area of purple moor grass and rush pasture and provides important habitats for many species, including the marsh fritilliary butterfly, the reed bunting and woodcock and is grazed by cattle and Dartmoor ponies.

The area is in its sixth year of an Environmental Sensitive Area agreement with Natural England and improvements carried out so far include controlling scrub and bracken and the gradual recovery of grassland and heath.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Natural England is the Government agency that works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NATURAL ENGLAND BY THE GOVERNMENT NEWS NETWORK SOUTH WEST.