Helping shape new wildlife haven in Exeter

Published: 16 February 2023

People in Exeter have been helping create a new wildlife haven.

More than 70 people turned up at the Northbrook Park, off Topsham Road, to help plant trees.

Devon Wildlife Trust are working closely with the City Council to help transform the former golf course.

The Wildlife Trust, who manage Exeter’s six Valley Parks on behalf of the City Council, organised the  pop up event to get ideas from the local community on how they would like to see the green space transformed.

Among the suggestions put forward was a café for the old golf course hut. This proved popular among those attending the event.

The site is set to become a wild arboretum - an extensive collection of trees and plants – and the community event was a good way to help progress plans.

Cllr Amal Ghusain, Lead Councillor for City Management and Environmental Services, said: “It was great to see so many people at the park, helping plant trees and showing a real interest in this beautiful green space.”

Chris Moulton, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve Officer for the Exeter Valley Parks, said: “We were delighted to see so many people turn out and take part in the tree planting event. They did great work in planting 420 new trees.

“All the trees are native Devon species and include oak, field maple and hazel. In time they’ll provide a great resource for local wildlife. The commitment of local people certainly shows the strength of local feeling for Northbrook Park.”

People still have a chance to have their say and put forward their suggestions by visiting the Devon Wildlife website at: The Future of Northbrook Park (office.com)