Title: Introducing Site Clusters

What are site clusters? 

Very simply, site clusters are arbitrary groups of sites of natural interest in the Sidmouth area. They are not based on science, purely on a logical grouping of surveyed sites into 'clusters' for comparative purposes.

How have clusters been established?

When grouping survey sites together to form clusters three factors have been considered:

1. Geographical proximity: In general sites in a cluster are usually quite close together, in some cases they actually adjoin another site thus creating a larger natural area. This is particularly true of the 'Sid Corridor' cluster
2. Common habitat or influence: Some clusters are formed because they have similar characteristics. The sites in the  'Coastline' cluster are all heavily influenced by the sea and sites in the 'Parks and Gardens' cluster are subject to extensive intervention by the Council works team!
3. Geological base rock: The underlying rock foundation can have an influence on the nature and habitat that occurs on it. Clusters formed on different rock foundations may display similar habitat and species to each other.

Most clusters have been formed where all three of the factors are present, others are less specific.

Why have clusters been formed?

The Sidmouth Nature project focuses on specific sites in the local area that have been surveyed for species present during the year and some analysis and conclusions have been drawn for each individual site.

Looking at sites in isolation is all well and good but each is part of a much wider natural environment. Whilst we humans may have put boundaries around areas and given them names, animals and plants do not see it that way! The human 'classification' of geography and ownership, even special protection, of sites is of no interest to the natural world and can be detrimental to it.

By stepping back and looking at a group of related sites one gets a view of the bigger picture of an area and may reveal some interesting information.

What can clusters tell us?

Analysing clusters of sites can reveal:

1. How sites in a cluster compare in habitat and species richness and that may show the natural value of a wider area
2. How different the sites are and maybe show the potential for a change of habitat management on one site might benefit another nearby
3. How similar or different the clusters of sites are and enabling the natural value of each to be recognised

What are the defined clusters?

East Side:

This is a cluster of four sites to the far east of the survey area taking in the woodland and coastal cliff at Weston, the area around Dunscombe Manor which leads to the National Trust coastal cliffs at Lincome and the accessible areas at the Donkey Sanctuary which are managed for the benefit of nature. These sites are influenced by the calcareous soil here as this is the point where the Sidmouth Mudstone gives way to chalk cliffs.

Salcombe Area:

Eight sites form the Salcombe Area cluster and all, unsurprisingly, are near the village of Salcombe to the east of Sidmouth. The sites include locations such as Combe Head Wood and Page Wood, Soldier’s Hill, Salcombe Hill, the grounds of the Lockyer Observatory and the National Trust sites at South Combe Farm and Combe Wood Farm. Much of this cluster resides on the eastern Upper Greensands and has been subject to agricultural improvement and commercial forestry but is gradually being edged back to a more natural environment.

Coastline:

The seven sites in the coastline cluster are all exposed to the elements and influences of the maritime environment. Although similar in this respect they are also very different to each other. On the eastern side are the exposed slopes of the east cliff and then the nearby enclosed ex-pasture of Alma Field. Moving west the next site is the lower reaches of the Sid and its mouth where it opens into the sea and then the cluster moves to the shingle terrain of the town beach and on west as far as Jacob’s Ladder. The final stretch is up the slopes of the west hill towards Peak Hill.

West Side:

The west Side cluster is formed from sites mainly on the western Upper Greensands with the dominant site being the heath of Muttersmoor and neighbouring Greystone, Lydes and Bulverton hills. Nearby Peak Wood and Peak Hill are also included along with the enclosed grassland of Delderfield.

Parks and Gardens:

Being a holiday destination for visitors Sidmouth has a number of parks and gardens and sites that are manicured and maintained for show rather than nature but, nonetheless, some wildlife and flora manage to exist. Connaught gardens open out onto the cliff top so there is some maritime plantlife to be found there.

Knapp and Knowle:

This is a cluster of five sites that are in close proximity but are very different in nature. The main site is the Knapp which is one of the most biodiverse sites within the survey area. Peasland Knapp is almost an integral part of the Knapp and very similar to the grassland habitat of the former. Alongside the Knapp is the town cemetery which is now managed to try and meet the demands of people who expect the site to be neat and tidy together with the needs of nature. The cemetery is one of the best places for lichen in the district. The small Knapp Nature Pond site has an ornamental pond that has been encouraged to a degree to ‘go wild’. The cluster is completed by the wild area of the Knowle Gardens which is another notable site for biodiversity.

Riverside Park:

The River Sid is a dominant feature of the natural landscape of Sidmouth and after it flows past Sidford in the north on its way to the sea it passes by Fortescue and then through Riverside Wood and into the Byes, a local parkland area. Close by are the grassland sites of Gilchrist Field, Margaret’s Meadow and the Sid Meadow. Next to Sid Meadow is the community orchard.

North Side:

Sites to the north of the A3052 that runs through Sidford are arranged into the North Side cluster and these include the disused railway line that runs through Harpford Wood, the verges and banks of Harcombe Lane and the private land used as the Farway Airfield.

Conclusion:

Comparing and contrasting sites within each cluster or comparing and contrasting each cluster is not a component of this segment in the classroom. Detailed information about each cluster is available using the link to the cluster section of the main website. When more survey w