About us
Introduction
The Bidwell Brook Partnership (BBP) is a collaboration of local organisations, farms, businesses and residents working together to care for the Bidwell Brook, a beautiful but vulnerable waterway that flows through Rattery and Dartington, joining the River Dart just above Totnes Weir.
Rising in the hills above Rattery, the Bidwell Brook winds through the tranquil Bidwell Valley, passing woodlands, fields and villages before meeting the Dart below Dartington. Though only 9.5 km (just under 6 miles) long, its network of tributaries drains a catchment of over 13 km² (1,310 hectares), supporting a rich diversity of wildlife.
The brook is home to otters, kingfishers and, within living memory, brown trout and even salmon. Yet beneath its beauty, the Brook faces mounting pressures from pollution, habitat loss and a changing climate. Increasing floods, summer droughts and declining wildlife are clear warning signs that our local river system is under strain.
That’s why we’ve come together to conserve, nurture and restore this precious freshwater habitat through collaboration, research and community education. By working with nature and each other, we aim to bring the Bidwell Brook back to life.
Our goals...
1.
Look after and improve the Bidwell Brook’s water quality in the Bidwell Brook and its tributaries.
2.
Conserve and increase the biodiversity of the Brook and its catchment.
3.
Reduce the risk of flooding from the Bidwell Brook.
4.
Increase public understanding of and engagement with the natural environment of the Bidwell Brook and its catchment.
5.
Monitor and help to mitigate the impacts of drought.
About us
Who we are
The Bidwell Brook Partnership (BBP) is a forward-looking collaboration led by Dartington and Rattery Parish Councils. Formed in 2023, the Partnership brings together local organisations, farms, businesses and residents with a shared vision: to create a nature-rich landscape where both people and wildlife can thrive.
Our goals are simple but vital — to keep clean water flowing, to restore and protect local wildlife, and to support sustainable farming and enterprise across the Bidwell Brook catchment.
The Partnership includes:
Dartington Parish Council, Rattery Parish Council, Rattery Environment Group, Heart of Dartington, Friends of the Dart, Dartington Recreation Association, Dartington Hall Trust, and The Apricot Centre.
We also work closely with regional and national organisations such as South West Water, Westcountry Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency, the South Devon Catchments Partnership, and Devon Wildlife Trust.
Most importantly, the BBP is rooted in its community. Our greatest partners are the farmers, landowners and local people who live and work in the Bidwell Valley and care deeply about the future of the brook. Together, we are shaping a healthier, more resilient landscape for generations to come.
About us
Meet our partners...
We are lucky to work with several brilliant partner organisations who help us with our vital work.
