CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride was in Sampford Courtenay recently to see the work being carried out there by the Devon Wildlife Trust.

Mr Stride visited an area of wetland to see work being undertaken under the DWT's Working Wetlands project.

The project works across thousands of hectares to preserve culm grasslands, which are home to some of the UK's most threatened wildlife, such as the marsh fritillary butterfly and the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth.

The DWT is helping landowners carry out targeted habitat management, creation and restoration project. The result will be better linked areas of culm grasslands in the wider countryside.

Mr Stride said: 'I was particularly impressed with what is essentially an environmental scheme but which has commercial benefits.

'Whilst maintaining the environment these schemes also do much to filter and purify water which then requires less treatment down stream.'

The Working Wetlands project has had support from South West Water, Tubney Charitable Trust, The Environment Agency, Devon County Council, Devon Waste Management, GrantScape and Natural England.