Connecting People and Landscapes in the Bidwell Valley
Overview
Connecting People and Landscape in the Bidwell Valley (CPLB) is a two-year partnership project between the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and the Bidwell Brook Partnership (BBP), supported by Westcountry Rivers Trust, University of Plymouth, and other members of the South Devon Catchments Partnership.
The project aims to reconnect people with the landscapes they depend on, creating a living example of how nature recovery, regenerative farming and community engagement can work hand in hand. By bringing together farmers, landowners, residents, researchers and local organisations, CPLB is building a collaborative model for landscape recovery that could be applied across the wider River Dart catchment.
Our vision
A resilient, nature-rich Bidwell Valley — with clean water, thriving wildlife, and a strong bond between people and place. The project also contributes toward the long-term goal of designating the catchment as a UNESCO Ecohydrology Demonstration Site.
What the project does
Supports regenerative farming: providing expert advice, training and workshops to help farmers transition to nature-friendly, lower-input systems.
Restores habitats: identifying and implementing practical projects to improve soil health, reduce pollution, and link wildlife corridors along the brook.
Engages the community: running public events, school activities, and creative workshops to deepen local connection with the land.
Celebrates people and place: developing the Book of the Bidwell — a multimedia exhibition and publication telling the evolving story of the valley through photography, oral histories and community voices.
Links research and practice: working closely with the Bidwell Brook Living Laboratory to integrate academic and citizen-science research into on-the-ground action.
Why it matters
The Bidwell Valley faces familiar rural challenges — declining biodiversity, soil erosion, pollution and a growing disconnection between people and the natural systems that sustain them. By aligning science, stewardship and storytelling, CPLB seeks to build a resilient, regenerative landscape and a community that takes pride in caring for it.
