A Devon nature reserve is due to be significantly expanded thanks to a unique piece of coastal engineering, which has seen 50 hectares of internationally important new wetland habitat created.

The huge climate change adaptation project led by the Environment Agency reconnected the River Otter with its historic estuarine floodplain – helping protect properties but also creating a new wetland habitat that has been declared the third nature reserve in the King’s Series of National Nature reserves. The Otter Estuary becomes the latest in the “King’s Series” celebrating the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

Photo: Clinton Devon Estates

The King’s Series of National Nature Reserves will see five major National Nature Reserves (NNRs) named every year for the next five years – 25 in total.

The NNR extension brings together the existing 1159ha Pebblebed Heaths NNR, a nationally important lowland heathland managed by the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust (PHCT), RSPB and Devon Wildlife Trust, along with a further 90ha of wetland at the nearby Otter Estuary, cared for by the PHCT on behalf of Clinton Devon Estates.

50 ha of the newly declared area is inter-tidal habitat created as part of the recently completed Lower Otter Restoration Project. Following a 70m breach of an embankment in September 2023, the land is now tidal for the first time in 200 years, making space for nature while safeguarding local infrastructure. The reintroduction of tidal flows is allowing the habitat to develop, transitioning to mudflat and saltmarsh. A range of visiting bird species make use of the increased area to feed.

Nature Minister Rebecca Pow said: “We need to move from nature conservation to nature recovery by creating much larger spaces for wildlife to thrive, and the extension to Pebblebed Heath is a great example how we can do that.”