This summer we launched our Nature Recovery Plan and Declaration! The Declaration is open to a variety of different groups to sign:  

• Individuals  
• Farmer or Landowner  
• Businesses  
• Schools  
• Councils and Local Authorities  
• Other organisation (charities, statutory agencies, community organisations, churches etc.)  
• Visitor to the Biosphere  

Each group here has a list of pledges to choose from that will contribute to nature recovery across the Biosphere. From creating nature-friendly spaces in gardens to reducing pesticide use to thinking more about the food we eat and where it comes from, there are plenty of actions we can all take to help nature to recover. The need for collective action has never been greater.  

If you haven't signed the Declaration yet, please do! It doesn't take long at all.  

If you have signed the Declaration - thank you! Please continue to spread the word about the importance of the Declaration. We have created a badge that you can share on your social media channels. Please download it and feel free to post on your social media channels or your website! 

Out and About

It's been great being able to get to different events over the summer months to chat with many people about the Nature Recovery Declaration and what it means! We've had presence at the Chulmleigh Old Fair, the Okehampton Show, and the Devon Youth Parliament Tour. In July, we had the opportunity to discuss with HRH Prince Charles the importance of tackling the ecological emergency through the development of our Nature Recovery Plan and Declaration.

HRH was clearly interested in our work and the key role of local communities and farmers in the implementation of the Nature Recovery Plan! We explained how nature is demonstrating its strong ability to recover when given the chance – for example around Lundy Island (a Marine Conservation Zone), on the dunes at Woolacombe, and in saltmarsh regeneration at Horsey Island.

We also welcomed Sacha Dench to the Biosphere as she passed through on her Round Britain Climate Challenge. The challenge is a 3000+ mile circumnavigation of the UK in a green electricity and wind powered paramotor. On her journey, she is talking to climate activists around the UK and sharing stories of what communities are doing to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies in their areas. We held an event in Braunton Burrows, attended by local partners who explained how climate change is changing the area and the important work they are doing to stop it.

Top Pledges from July

Every month we celebrate the fantastic pledges that have taken place, please continue to share photos of your completed pledges on the Pledge for Nature Facebook Group:

• Sunny in Braunton is creating a wildflower patch as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award  
• Emma in Georgeham, Alice in Braunton, Michelle in Peter's Marland amongst several others have pledged to put up a Bat Box!  
• Chulmleigh Primary School and Chittlehampton Primary School have put up bird boxes  
• Atlantic Academy have successfully completed a Nature Plan and have received a grant from us to implement it. We are really looking forward to seeing this in action! 
• Michael in Fremington is completing butterfly surveys.

Thank you to everyone who has made a Pledge for Nature this month!