Nature Restoration at Farm under the Radar - Devon

Forests Without Frontiers' first UK-based project is working to transform a 10 hectare area of grazing land into a haven for wildlife on a site in Devon, supporting our partner Farm Under the Radar to plant thousands of native trees including oak, blackthorn, crabapple, dog rose, field maple, goat willow, hazel, rowan, silver birch, sweet chestnut, beech and hawthorn. In 2021 we helped plant 5,000 trees and another 1,000 in spring 2022.

The land, which includes an old radar station, is within the North Devon UNESCO biosphere World Heritage site and Farm Under the Radar's vision is to create biodiversity havens and wildlife corridors whilst increasing agricultural productivity using organic, permaculture and agroforestry techniques. Their approach will reduce fuel and water inputs and they also aim to increase the variety of species in hedgerows surrounding the site, as well as forming ponds in the lower marshy area where animals, birds, insects and wildflowers can also thrive.

Our contract with Farm Under the Radar will ensure that the trees we plant with them are protected by law. The project aims to recruit local volunteers to help plant and care for the trees, and the land will be made available for community initiatives, for example school visits where pupils can learn about traditional forestry and hedge-laying methods, as well as other projects such as providing courses in wellness and nutrition.

”Planting trees is something we do for future generations. The intention of this project is that the function of the space becomes as permanent as the oak trees we are about to plant.”

- Liam Hayhow – Farm Under the Radar