There are so many brilliant people working across the Biosphere to encourage nature improvement and make a home for a variety of wildlife.

Winner: Fran Sendall, South Molton

Fran has worked with her neighbours and other members of the community in South Molton to improve the Sheep Fair Field for nature by creating a brilliant wildflower meadow, created using yellow rattle seed from a local farmer. As well as this, Fran set up the community garden in the field and encourages people to get stuck in. Find out more about this project here. Fran is hoping to set up a nature group in South Molton which a common interest to continue to improve the area. She is also very interested in the Biosphere's Nature Recovery Plan, and is trying to manage this community space accordingly.

Fran has also been part of a community project creating swift boxes to go up around the town! When swifts arrive back in the UK in spring, after a marathon journey from their wintering grounds in Africa, they need two things: a safe place to nest and plenty of invertebrates to eat. By building a specially designed nestbox and fixing it under the eaves of homes, we can mimic the cosy holes swifts usually nest in. Providing a home for this beautiful species is so important! This project is run by an informal group of five.  One of their number is a carpenter and he makes the boxes in batches to order. They put out a public appeal to access interest and had a great response.  The boxes are either flat topped or sloped according to the site. Most people get their own erected but a local man with a cherry- picker put the rest up free of charge. They sell the boxes which completely covers the cost of materials and funds the project.  In our first season we put up over thirty boxes and hope to repeat again.

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Commendable community champions

Kim in Winkleigh

Kim has been encouraging people across her community toget involved in nature recovery over the past year.  This has included plant surveys for thevillage-wide partnership to improve wild flowers on verges. She did the same inthe churchyard and in the Recreation Field. Kim also participated in a harvestmouse nest survey.  After attending anonline training session, and passing on her knowledge to another volunteer,they searched the whole Biodiversity Area. Unfortunately, they didn't find anynests but they submitted the results, as this is still valuableinformation.  In their annual BigButterfly Count in July, she spotted lots of grassland butterflies, includingMarbled Whites. She has also been working with Euan, our winner of the 2021Youth Award, as he engages in nature-based activities as part of his Duke ofEdinburgh Award. Kim is a valued member of Winkleigh Biodiversity Group and hasworked so hard to create wonderful spaces in the village for nature and othermembers in the community. Well done Kim!

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Have you been inspired to take action for nature recovery? Make a Pledge for Nature!