Peasland Knapp

Peaslands Knapp is a serene 3-acre nature reserve situated in Sidmouth, Devon. It is managed by the Sid Vale Association (SVA), which acquired the reserve in 2010. Peaslands Knapp is part of The Knapp Nature Reserve, also owned and managed by the SVA.The reserve comprises a mix of woodland, scrub, and meadow, offering a diverse habitat for local flora and fauna. Notably, Peasland Knapp includes an area of uncultivated grassland. This type of grassland is considered incredibly rare in Britain today and is typically found on steep hillsides inaccessible to tractors. The grassland at Peasland Knapp has had little management and has not been fertilised. This lack of intervention has helped retain many native grasses, herbs, and flowers, which in turn supports a wide range of native insects and mammals.A distinctive feature of Peasland Knapp is the presence of many yellow meadow ant hills. These can be observed throughout the year and can be aged by estimating the amount of soil above ground, as the ants excavate about 1 litre per year. The tops of these large ant hills provide an unusual micro-habitat suitable for the yellow flowers of Creeping Cinquefoil. Creeping Cinquefoil also spreads from the ant hills by runners and can be found in dry, sunny locations on waste ground and beside paths across the valley's farmland.Although described as ""catching up"" with other areas of The Knapp (like the eastern meadow) in terms of floral diversity, Peasland Knapp hosts different species due to its particular characteristics. Uncultivated grassland, like that at Peasland Knapp, is one of the most threatened habitats in Britain. To maintain its diversity and support dependent wildlife, management is needed, as species like bramble can otherwise encroach and obliterate the species-rich grassland. Peaslands Knapp is maintained as a wildlife area by a group of dedicated volunteers. In winter, the meadow is grazed by sheep to assist with landscape management. "