The Natural History of East-the-Water
The Torridge shore around East-the-Water is one of its more ecologically diverse stretches. Continually vulnerable to further development, many of its biodiversity hotspots are on derelict property, popular pathways, or marginal land. As yet, the expansion of Bidefordís population has managed to leave many of them intact, though the pressures are always there.
|The verges of the Tarka Trail host a rich flora, for it is a very varied habitat, with well drained verges, sections of sea wall, patches of woodland, cuttings, and an old quarry. Wild Madder trails through the scrub and Ox-eye Daisy makes a show, other species are occasional, e.g. Ploughmanís Spikenard and Wild Pea, or even scarce, such as Sweet Galingale. Current cutting regimes may mean some species, such as Greater Knapweed, will decline.|
|The value of roadsides is heavily influenced by mowing regimes and herbicide use. Never-the-less, on the northern edge of the community, species such as Birdsfoot Trefoil, Pale Flax, Rat's-tail Fescue, Knotted Hedge-parsley, and Yellow Stonecrop are to be found. In some areas less usual species cling on, for example, just north of Brunswick Wharf there is Fern Grass and Eastern Rocket. Other local pavement lovers include Field Madder and Water Bent.|
|The shore to the north of the town, from Manteo Way to Westleigh, boasts varied habitats and a diverse flora. From Saltmarsh near Manteo Way, with stands of Sea Couch and patches of English Scurvy-grass, to low cliffs near Mount Pleasant, with Thrift and Sea Beet. North of these is found shingle hosting Rock Sea Lavender, Long-bracted Sedge and a variety of Hard Grass, and, in fields reverting to saltmarsh, Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass.|
|To the south of the town there are some of North Devon's most extensive areas of saltmarsh, though this is somewhat estuarine in character. The shore at Kynochs, with its extensive marsh and reedbeds is being developed as a nature reserve. Derelict land behind the Kynochs shore adds to the biological diversity of the area and provides a local home for the likes of Teasle and Small-flowered Buttercup.|
|Within the village, the fields at the Pollyfield Centre have surviving pockets of interesting flora, with species such as Birdsfoot, Upright Chickweed, and Soft Clover, (though recently these narrowly escaped destruction by developers laying a pipeline). East-the-Water's old graveyard (which has restricted opening times) can provide good shows of more common species. Slow Worms have been found in Barton Tors and are said to be frequent there.|
|On the communityís NE outskirts, the rough grazing fields beside Manteo Way attracts over-wintering birds such Meadow Pipits and seem to be attractive feeding areas for owls. Beyond them, Southcott Marsh can be alive with migrants in the spring, with hirundines feeding over the grassland and waders attracted to transitory pools. Rarities such as Little Ringed Plover have visited. Ravens and Buzzards both forage over the area.|
|The lower section of Manteo Way runs past a nature reserve (access is by permit) that hosts some rough ground and a large tidal pool. The pool, though it often attracts Little Egret and Shelduck, never seems to attract large numbers of migrants. Nor does it seem quite as attractive to passerines as a similar spot across the estuary at Knapp Hill. However, it has managed to attract overwintering Greenshank.|
|In mid-winter thousands of starlings fly in from feeding to the NW of the community to roost under the Long Bridge. On a fine evening their dusk-time murmurations can be a memorable sight, especially if a raptor is present. There are also gull roosts on the Torridge and these can contain the occasional rarity. The commoner overwintering waders, such as Redshank and Curlew, feed all along the Torridge shore, though the saltmarsh north of Ethylwyn Brown Close seems particularly attractive to them as the tide rises.|
There are a number of other nature reserves within a reasonable distance of Bideford, making it possible to see quite an impressive list of wildlife through short excursions from the town. The most significant has to be the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, whose proximity gives this area an internationally significant role in wildlife conservation. East-the-Water lies within the reserveís transition zone, but close enough to its core to abut the buffer zone. The tidal Torridge is, in this area, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.