Tale Valley Trust

Sarah Hogg (Chair)

Yellands Farm

Whimple, Exeter

Devon EX5 2QX

 

t: 01404 822 886

Email Us

River project_

This is a typical site found on the River TaIe. Modern agriculture is carried on right up to the bankside. Through the River Tale Project farmers are encouraged to create a “buffer zone” to separate modern agriculture from the river. Where appropriate, stock fencing is erected to exclude cattle and sheep from the watercourse. This reduces erosion and helps improve water quality.

April 27, 2010

After three years the Tale Valley Trust concludes its River Tale Restoration Project, the largest project undertaken to date.

To date our largest project has been the restoration of the River Tale from its source above Broadhembury right down to the confluence with the River Otter near Cadhay House.

The project has been successfully delivered through our partnership with the Westcountry Rivers Trust, with grant support from charitable trusts, the Environment Agency, English Nature and a local Landfill Operator.

Our outputs to date include:

  • The river corridor throughout the Tale Valley improved
  • Every major farm visited and advice on river-friendly land management given.
  • 25 integrated land management plans produced for the key landowners in the valley
  • 4,683 acres (1,896 ha.) of farmland surveyed and land management advice to encourage river-friendly practices given
  • 5.5km of fencing erected to create buffer zones between modern agriculture and the vulnerable river habitat and to exclude stock from watercourses wherever possible
  • 4km of coppicing has been completed to allow light back onto the river corridor where it is needed and to create optimum conditions for the wildlife associated with the River Tale.