A NEW nature zone covering a 1,000 hectare area of Devon that includes Okehampton, Hatherleigh and Winkleigh is to get a share of £7.5-million of funding to create wildlife havens, restore habitats and encourage local people to get involved with nature.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman has announced twelve new Nature Improvement Areas (NIA) across England that will each get a portion of the £7.5-million on offer to carry out environmental work and preserve vital wildlife habitats across the country.

Across the nation, 76 local partnerships worked on proposals for how they intend to use the money to improve their local nature sites.

From that pool, just twelve were chosen, including the Northern Devon scheme.

The Northern Devon NIA hosts 35% of the UK's remaining Culm grassland, 120 scheduled plants and animals, and important populations of two of Europe's ten most threatened species — the marsh fritillary butterfly and the freshwater pearl mussel. It also includes wooded lower valleys that cocoon the River Torridge, itself a feature of great biodiversity interest, but in much need of restoration.

The projects planned for the Northern Devon area include more than 1,000 hectares of priority habitat being re-created and restored, 60 kilometres of freshwater courses brought into sympathetic management and 20 kilometres of river restored to suitable conditions for the freshwater pearl mussel. Innovative techniques including soil stripping, soil inversion and green haying will combine to re-establish a viable network of linked marsh fritillary habitats.

Town and county councillor, and chair of the Okement Rivers Improvement Group Christine Marsh said: 'I think it is great news for the area for a number of reasons.

'These designated areas always have an advantage when looking for grant money or outside money to help projects. When giving out grants, funders look at whether schemes are recognised or in an important area. It is another box to tick off for us when looking for outside funding.

'Protection of the environment in the area is also crucial for tourism, as the beautiful landscape of the county brings a great number of tourists here each year and support a great number of businesses.

'The Okement Rivers Improvement Group will be working closely with the team behind the NIA. We hope that along with ourselves, other smaller voluntary groups across the area are included in the scheme.

'Those groups, where people have given up their own time, have helped sustain the environment this long, and their work should be recognised and included.

'It is worthy recognition of a beautiful area here.'

The project will be led by the Devon Wildlife Trust, which has a long track record of successfully working with landowners and communities across Devon.

Harry Barton, CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust said: 'I have worked in the environmental sector for 20 years, and this is without doubt one of the most exciting moments in all that time.

'There are few places in Britain with more impressive wildlife than North Devon, and that's why it is one of only three biosphere reserves in the country. But this isn't just about protecting wildlife, important though that is.

'It's about showing that if we look after our wetlands and woodlands properly, we can help guarantee a reliable and high quality water supply, and that this way of managing our natural resources is excellent value for money. This is a project for the future, and that is why I am so proud and privileged to be part of it.'

Ian Bowkley from the Sticklepath and Okehampton Conservation Group said: 'Any funding like this to help the environment and to protect and preserve habitats is great news. Work to help protect England's countryside that will be carried out under this scheme can only be a good thing.

'Work to preserve the habitat for Britain's wildlife and protect the countryside is very important. If there were any projects within the local area we would be very keen to get on board and help where we can. It certainly sounds like an exciting scheme that could have a great impact on Devon's countryside.'

Central Devon MP Mel Stride has welcomed the announcement.

He said: 'I am very pleased our area was successful in its bid to be a designated nature zone and this will go some way to protecting this important area for future generations.

'I would urge people to get out and enjoy what is on their doorstep and become involved with the many groups which ensure our environment is cared for and made as accessible as possible to all communities.'

Nature Improvement Areas were a flagship policy contained in last year's Natural Environment White Paper, which outlined the Government's vision for the natural environment over the next 50 years.

Caroline Spelman said: 'Each of these projects has something different to offer — from the urban areas of Birmingham and the Black Country to the rivers and woods of North Devon.

'The exciting wildlife projects are the result of different organisations all working together with a common purpose — to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come.'

More information on the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area is available at http://www.naturalengland.org/nia">www.naturalengland.org/nia