In late March, the Environment Groups and Parish Councils from Dartington and Rattery formed the Bidwell Brook Partnership (BBP) to protect and enhance the Bidwell Brook which rises in Rattery and joins the River Dart on the border of Dartington and Totnes.
The idea of the Partnership came from the heart of Dartington and the Rattery Environment Group and they were quickly joined by Dartington and Rattery Parish Councils. The number of other local councils and organisations joining the Partnership is growing rapidly and the BBP is being actively supported by South West Water, the Environment Agency, South Devon Catchments Partnership, Westcountry Rivers Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust.
The BBP will bring together statutory organisations, landowners, farmers, businesses, local councils, local organisations, environmental groups and individuals who will collaborate to tackle a number of important issues. It already has a team of over 30 volunteer Citizen Scientists who will soon begin the task of monitoring the water quality in the Brook and its tributaries.
The first target is water quality in the Brook which is classified as having only ‘moderate ecological status’ and the BBP aims to return this status to ‘good’. Water quality has potential impact on human health due to the relatively high number of sewage outfalls on the Brook. Five of these outlets are monitored and records show that there were 299 spills totalling 2990 hours (124 days) in 2022. The worst offender was the wastewater treatment works combined sewer overflow in Rattery.
The BBP also aims to enhance the Bidwell valley’s role as an important wildlife corridor, supporting many species, including otters and bats. Trout used to be seen regularly in the upper reaches of the Brook but have become very scarce in recent years. This valley corridor already connects several wildlife sites, including ancient woodland, bat roosts and existing and planned conservation projects and many of its farms are farmed organically. So there exists a good basis on which to enhance the biodiversity of the Bidwell catchment.
Both Parish Councils have declared a Climate and Environment Emergency and climate change means that both flooding and drought pose challenges. New housing development has only increased the need for a programme of co- ordinated flood risk management in the lower reaches of the Brook.
The BBP has an ambitious agenda and we can all support its aims: lots of small changes by organisations, businesses and individuals will make a big difference. It is early days in the BBP story and there will be more news about the Partnership’s activities in future editions of Our Dartington. In the meantime, if you would like to get involved with the BBP send an email to info@bidwellbrook.org.
The Bidwell Brook and its valley add significantly to the area’s natural beauty and contribute to the physical and mental health of those of us who are lucky enough to live here. We will all benefit from the work of the BBP.