East Devon has some of the most attractive countryside in Britain. The district is part of the county of Devon in south-west England and covers 315 square miles. It contains a world heritage site as well as habitats of national and international importance
Humans have moulded the landscape which we see today. East Devon features a rolling green countryside and narrow wooded valleys are widely scattered over much of area. The patchwork of irregularly shaped fields are typically bordered by thick hedges. Narrow single track country lanes provide a network of communication although there are many main roads serving the centres of population.
Many of the smaller towns are old market towns and farming is still one of the most important industries. Livestock predominates although on the drier soils of the south west part of the district there is more arable farming.
Much of East Devon is of recognised landscape value and the area contains many designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. A large part of the north of the district is covered by the Blackdown Hills. The Blackdowns are made up of Upper Greensand and the geology is unique in Britain. To the south, this borders the East Devon AONB which runs down to the coast and English Channel.
We are fortunate in Devon to enjoy typical warmer [and sometimes, wetter!] West Country weather.
Our soil is classified as "Slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage – particularly concentrated on Woodbury Common; the soil type is ideal for woodland type habitats."
Humans have moulded the landscape which we see today. East Devon features a rolling green countryside and narrow wooded valleys are widely scattered over much of area. The patchwork of irregularly shaped fields are typically bordered by thick hedges. Narrow single track country lanes provide a network of communication although there are many main roads serving the centres of population.
Many of the smaller towns are old market towns and farming is still one of the most important industries. Livestock predominates although on the drier soils of the south west part of the district there is more arable farming.
Much of East Devon is of recognised landscape value and the area contains many designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. A large part of the north of the district is covered by the Blackdown Hills. The Blackdowns are made up of Upper Greensand and the geology is unique in Britain. To the south, this borders the East Devon AONB which runs down to the coast and English Channel.
We are fortunate in Devon to enjoy typical warmer [and sometimes, wetter!] West Country weather.
Our soil is classified as "Slightly acid loamy and clayey soils with impeded drainage – particularly concentrated on Woodbury Common; the soil type is ideal for woodland type habitats."
West Hill
The village ranges from 100m to 150m above sea level. On the western edge of the village, the land is the first high point east of Dartmoor and is therefore subject to high winds and occasional heavy weather.
On the eastern side the land is more sheletered from the prevailing wind. The woodland nature of the village means that many houses are surrounded by trees producing a range of local micro-climates.
The village ranges from 100m to 150m above sea level. On the western edge of the village, the land is the first high point east of Dartmoor and is therefore subject to high winds and occasional heavy weather.
On the eastern side the land is more sheletered from the prevailing wind. The woodland nature of the village means that many houses are surrounded by trees producing a range of local micro-climates.
Devon
The Devon Redlands National Character Area (NCA) covers a diverse area, stretching from the fringes of Exmoor NCA in the north to the Exe Estuary and coast in the south, and from the edge of Dartmoor NCA and The Culm NCA in the west to Blackdowns NCA in the east. This generally low-lying, fertile NCA is centred on the north–south axis of the Exe Valley, with an important extension to the west through Crediton, intruding into The Culm NCA and the north-eastern fringes of Dartmoor NCA. Towards the edges of the Devon Redlands NCA, the landscape becomes more diverse in character. In the north, the land rises to relatively flat-topped hills with beech hedgerows, indicating the transition towards Exmoor. In the south-west the north–south Haldon Ridge is a major sub-regional landmark and signifies a fundamental change in geology and landscape character. West of Haldon the Teign Valley is also transitional, having elements which relate it to Dartmoor in the west as well as a close interrelationship with the Haldon Ridge.
All the main rivers flowing through the Devon Redlands rise in adjoining, higher NCAs and flow into the sea through tidal estuaries. The Exe rises on Exmoor
and passes for 39 km through the NCA before flowing into the internationally designated Exe Estuary. On its course it passes through Exeter, a regional centre
and hub for all road and rail networks into Devon and Cornwall. The Teign rises on Dartmoor and flows southwards outside, but parallel to, the Devon Redlands
before turning abruptly eastwards at Kingsteignton into the estuary. The Otter rises in the adjoining Blackdown Hills before flowing out to sea through the nationally Open lowland heath and 'big' skies on the East Devon Pebblebeds. designated estuary. All the estuaries have significant coastal features at their
mouths, the most notable being the sand spit across the Exe. These features signify the relationship with the adjoining coastal NCAs, particularly the Blackdowns to the east, as coastal processes move sand, pebbles and sediment eastwards.
The topography of this NCA, a relatively lowland core with land rising at thefringes, gives way to extensive and far-reaching views. The coast can be seen
from many high points along the inland western boundary and Dartmoor forms a distinct, distant south-western skyline from much of the NCA.
The Devon Redlands National Character Area (NCA) covers a diverse area, stretching from the fringes of Exmoor NCA in the north to the Exe Estuary and coast in the south, and from the edge of Dartmoor NCA and The Culm NCA in the west to Blackdowns NCA in the east. This generally low-lying, fertile NCA is centred on the north–south axis of the Exe Valley, with an important extension to the west through Crediton, intruding into The Culm NCA and the north-eastern fringes of Dartmoor NCA. Towards the edges of the Devon Redlands NCA, the landscape becomes more diverse in character. In the north, the land rises to relatively flat-topped hills with beech hedgerows, indicating the transition towards Exmoor. In the south-west the north–south Haldon Ridge is a major sub-regional landmark and signifies a fundamental change in geology and landscape character. West of Haldon the Teign Valley is also transitional, having elements which relate it to Dartmoor in the west as well as a close interrelationship with the Haldon Ridge.
All the main rivers flowing through the Devon Redlands rise in adjoining, higher NCAs and flow into the sea through tidal estuaries. The Exe rises on Exmoor
and passes for 39 km through the NCA before flowing into the internationally designated Exe Estuary. On its course it passes through Exeter, a regional centre
and hub for all road and rail networks into Devon and Cornwall. The Teign rises on Dartmoor and flows southwards outside, but parallel to, the Devon Redlands
before turning abruptly eastwards at Kingsteignton into the estuary. The Otter rises in the adjoining Blackdown Hills before flowing out to sea through the nationally Open lowland heath and 'big' skies on the East Devon Pebblebeds. designated estuary. All the estuaries have significant coastal features at their
mouths, the most notable being the sand spit across the Exe. These features signify the relationship with the adjoining coastal NCAs, particularly the Blackdowns to the east, as coastal processes move sand, pebbles and sediment eastwards.
The topography of this NCA, a relatively lowland core with land rising at thefringes, gives way to extensive and far-reaching views. The coast can be seen
from many high points along the inland western boundary and Dartmoor forms a distinct, distant south-western skyline from much of the NCA.
