Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO-MAB
Biosphere Reserve
BRAUNTON BURROWS

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Management Study for Braunton Marsh

CONTACTS FOR ENQUIRIES

 CONCERNING BRAUNTON BURROWS 

Mr Andy Bell - Biosphere Co-ordinator - wider Biosphere matters
Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service, Bideford Station, Bideford EX39 4BB    01237 423655   

 Mr John Breeds  Education Warden,  guided walks & talks, volunteer involvement,  Broadeford Farm, Heddon Mill, Braunton EX33 2NQ 01271 812552,   07773085984

Mr C H R Coldwell ARICS  Land Agent for the owners
Christie Devon Estate Trusts, 1 Trafalgar Lawn, Barnstaple EX32 9BD   01271 342558

Mr Barry Greasley LandmarcTraining Area Supervisor - military training on the Burrows
c/o Landmarc Support Services, Fremington Training Camp, Fremington,  EX31 3BJ     07799130546

 Lt Col (Retd) M B Portman  military training matters
MOD, Commandant Fremington Training Camp, Fremington EX31 3BJ  01271 312950

 Mr James Diamond  (conservation issues)
Natural England, Level 2,  Renslade House,  Bonhay Road, Exeter,        EX4 3AW  01392 889770

Updated November 2006

This biosphere reserve is situated in the estuary of the Taw and Torridge Rivers in North Devon.
A diversity of habitats is represented here. The core area comprises an active dune system with geomorphological and successional processes. Other habitats include a rocky foreshore, mud and sand flats, saltmarshes of various types, lowland farmland, grazing marsh, coastal heath, back-shore marsh as well as woodlands. As a result of the periodic review process in 2002, the Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve has been completely revised and extended by a consultation process among the local communities and the conservation and development authorities. It now encompasses a larger sector of the estuary of the Taw and Torridge Rivers.
About 53,000 people live in the biosphere reserve (2002) who are mainly engaged in services, manufacturing, agriculture and fishing. Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve is a site where traditional land use practices are still maintained today. Grazing by Soay sheep and cattle on saltmarshes was practiced for more than a century and still maintains the marshes in a condition suitable for wintering wildfowl. Traditional local fishery harvests Atlantic salmon sea trout and sea bass which are species that rely on the site as part of their lifecycle. Also mussel fishery and the harvest of ulva and laver are still practiced in a traditional way.