1. What is Alma Field and where is it located?

Alma Field is a publicly accessible wildflower meadow situated on the cliff top on the eastern edge of Sidmouth, Devon. It offers breathtaking views of the town and surrounding countryside.

2. How can I get to Alma Field?

You can reach Alma Field either on foot or by car:

• On foot: Follow the signposted coastal path from the eastern end of the Esplanade, crossing Alma Bridge. Where the path meets the National Trust Salcombe Hill sign, continue straight ahead to find the entrance gate to Alma Field. Be aware that the coastal path is steep and may not be suitable for everyone.
• By car: Drive to the top of Hillside Road, park, and walk up to the junction. Turn right onto Alma Lane (not suitable for cars) and continue past Laskeys Lane. You'll find the Alma Field entrance a short distance further along the coastal path.

3. What makes the Alma Field’s ecosystem unique?

Despite its relatively small size, Alma Field supports a diverse ecosystem influenced by various factors:

• Location and Climate: Situated on the eastern slopes of a valley, exposed to prevailing south-westerly weather patterns and ample summer sunshine, the field provides a unique habitat.
• Geology: The underlying Sidmouth mudstone foundation influences the soil composition and moisture retention, supporting a variety of plant life.
• Neighbouring Habitats: The field is bordered by Salcombe Hill with its scrub and grassland, domestic gardens, and hedgerows, all contributing to the biodiversity of the area.
• Management Practices: Sidmouth Town Council employs a light management approach, including mowing paths and an annual cut at the end of the season, mimicking traditional hay meadow practices.

4. What types of plants can be found in Alma Field?

Alma Field boasts a rich variety of plant life:

• Grassland Species: Dominated by false-oat grass, cock's-foot, and Yorkshire fog, the meadow also features sweet vernal grass, meadow foxtail, and timothy grass.
• Flowering Plants: Common knapweed, greater knapweed, agrimony, cat's-ear, vetch species, field bindweed, hogweed, meadow buttercup, oxeye daisy, yarrow, and wild carrot create a colourful display in mid-summer.
• Scrub and Hedgerow Species: Blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble, hedge bindweed, and ivy thrive in the surrounding hedgerows.
• Nationally Scarce Species: Notably, the field is home to corky-fruited water-dropwort, indicating the suitability of the damp, moisture-retentive soil conditions.

5. What kind of wildlife can I expect to see at Alma Field?

Alma Field, though small, attracts a range of wildlife:

• Birds: While evidence of breeding populations is limited, you might spot robins, dunnocks, chaffinches, and herring gulls.
• Insects: The field is teeming with insect life, including a variety of butterflies like gatekeepers, red admirals, peacocks, commas, meadow browns, marbled whites, common blues, and small skippers. You'll also find grasshoppers, bush-crickets, hoverflies, ichneumons, sawflies, beetles, bees, and even dragonflies.
• Mammals and Reptiles: Though not commonly observed, the presence of mammals and reptiles cannot be ruled out.

6. How does the proximity of domestic gardens affect Alma Field?

The nearby gardens have some influence on the field, evidenced by the presence of “weeds of cultivation” like corncockle, cornflower, corn marigold, stinking chamomile, and common poppy. These species are likely remnants of the wildflower seeding in 2018 and from the spread of garden plants.

7. What is the significance of the 2018 reseeding with wildflower seeds?

While intended to enhance biodiversity, the reseeding has had a mixed impact. Some sown species, like poppies and cornflowers, are still present, but as the land is not annually plowed, they are gradually declining. This highlights the importance of allowing natural regeneration to maintain a balanced ecosystem.

8. What is being done to protect and manage Alma Field for the future?

Alma Field is owned and managed by Sidmouth Town Council, ensuring its protection and careful management. Their light touch approach, combined with public access, aims to preserve and enhance the site’s natural beauty and biodiversity for future generations.auty and biodiversity for future generations.