In the summer of 2025, we helped to administer £5,000 of community wildlife grants to enable community groups and organisations to increase biodiversity and protect natural environments. Here are some of the fantastic projects we've helped to fund:
Hedge Laying Course
St Sidwells Community Centre in Exeter has a garden area with small trees and bushes along its boundary. This boundary needed some attention as some of the trees were getting too big for the space and the boundary was quite gappy, with a drop down to the pavement on the far side.
St Sidwells Community Centre successfully applied for a Wild About Devon grant of £250 to fund a pond mould, hedge laying training and volunteer refreshments. On a very wet day in December, two volunteers, two Community Centre staff and at DCT staff member were introduced to the art of hedge laying. We all started by clearing branches, twigs and leaves from the small trees and bushes. Once the base of the plants could be seen, some of the upright branches were removed in preparation for laying the hedge. The remaining branches were partially split, then bent over to create the hedge that will continue to grow.
The boundary started to be more visible and look more robust than before the work. In spring, the branches should start growing and create a more natural looking hedge that will attract birds and insects. This type of work can only be carried out from October to March to avoid disturbing birds nests and also because during this period the sap in the trees hasn't started to rise.
tawny owl nest boxes
Bradninch Town Council successfully applied for a Wild About Devon grant of £260 for two Tawny Owl nest boxes. Tawny owls had been identified in the Brandninch area, so the community wanted to support the local wildlife by providing suitable nesting places for them. The tree warden, Barn Owl Trust, Town Council, Duchy School, Sustainable Bradninch and local tree surgeon have all been involved in the project.
On Friday 21st November, DCT was invited to an assembly at Duchy School, along with the Brandninch Mayor Stephen Birley and Lucy Mottram from Sustainable Bradninch. The young people were presented with two Tawny Owl boxes funded by the grant, and a surveillance camera donated by Sustainable Bradninch. The young people will be monitoring the nest boxes as part of their nature engagement studies, and will report activity to the community and Town Council.
The young people were really interested in the nest boxes. Some of the older pupils helped to carry the owl boxes into the hall for assembly and they told us about hearing owls and occasionally seeing them locally. Sue Eakers, one of the school governors explained that one of the boxes would be put high up in the oak tree on the school's boundary and a camera would let the young people see what was happening inside it. The headmaster asked the young people what nocturnal meant and what an owlet was. The young people were keen to answer questions and excited about the potential of having owls nesting near their school!
"I can't wait to see the baby owls"
"We have an owl near us that comes out in daytime, I don't think it likes the dark"
