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West Pitt Farm is enrolled in The Countryside Stewardship Scheme to help improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside.
Specifically at West Pitt we are making sure our hedgerows, trees and pasture are managed to encourage nesting birds, small mammals and insects and the margins around our arable fields allow rare arable plants and flowers to survive. With nearly a mile of new hedge planting and restoration with over 7000 native trees including oak, hawthorn, blackthorn, maple and dog rose, good maintenance and hedge laying we are providing an excellent environment for insects and birds that are attracted to the flowers and berries. |
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Two years ago we restored an old orchard by planting 30 trees with a mix of traditional and local varieties of apples. Again, these support a wide variety of wild flowers, insects and birds. In a few years time when the trees mature, we hope to be making cider.
Our ponds at West Pitt provide a wonderful habitat for many animals, birds and insects. You will see dragonflies, water insects, water voles, ducks, geese, kingfisher, heron, ducks, moorhen and coots. It is always a special sight to see the vivid colours of the kingfisher that at quiet times can be seen perched on the wall of the farmyard pond.
There is a country walk at West Pitt which is about a mile long and allows you to enjoy magnificent panoramic views across East Devon towards Sidmouth some 20 miles away, and views towards both Exmoor and Dartmoor. The path joins an ancient lane in Whitnage where there are badger sets, then the walk takes you through the hamlet of Whitnage and rejoins West Pitt through the fields at the bottom of the valley where there are fishing lakes. There you will see beautiful marsh orchids and you may also spot a fox and cubs and deer.
By allowing six metre margins around our arable fields we are providing a habitat for wildlife and encouraging rare arable plants and wild flowers. In these fields you will see and hear many skylarks. The grassland in our other fields is managed to increase the habitat for birds and mammals. As a result of this regime an increasing number of birds of prey such as sdsparrow hawk and buzzard are often to be seen during the day and owls heard in the evening. So we can all enjoy the countryside, we ask our guests to observe the Country Code. Dogs should be kept under control and, where requested, on a lead. Please follow the path signs and close gates behind you. Protect plants and animals by not leaving litter. |
