A recent BBC news story ‘Baby dormice found at reserve for first time‘ highlights the positive and valuable work carried out by many landowners throughout the County to encourage and protect our native species.

‘Fortunately, here in east Devon we have good dormouse populations and as long as woodlands, hedgerows and scrubby grounds are maintained and allowed to exist and treated carefully, dormice do particularly well in our county.’

So whilst in managed environments nature is thriving, Keep Britain Tidy estimate that ‘around four million small mammals – shrews and mice that are essential members of our ecosystems, die every year imprisoned in littered bottles and cans’ particularly on our road verges.

So litter picking is not just about tidying up, but as valuable in improving our environment as the dedication of those landowners and gardeners providing safe habitats for our endangered and native species.

Every bottle or can removed from our countryside, road verges and hedges has the potential to save countless inquisitive lives of small animals, like the poor dormouse pictured above from an East Devon lane. It’s easy to get involved.

Litter doesn’t just kill once.

If you see litter (that you can’t remove yourself) or fly tipping (don’t try to remove that due to potential risks), report it.

‘It’s Love Parks Week 26 July – 4 August! Discover fun events happening near you by checking your local council’s website, social media or newsletters.

Love Parks is a week-long celebration highlighting the vital role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities.’

Visit Keep Britain Tidy for more details.

For litter picking opportunities at any time of year, Get Involved.

‘Devon man Christopher Garrett has been jailed for 32 months after he dumped thousands of tonnes of waste, including asbestos, on land by his home, in a floodplain near Kingsteignton in Devon. He was also ordered to pay a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation sum of over £200,000.

Christopher Garrett buried asbestos in floodplain in what is thought to be the worst offence of its kind in Devon and Cornwall.

Around 12,000 tonnes of controlled mixed construction and demolition waste was deposited on land designated as a floodplain.

Anyone who suspects illegal waste activity can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111′

 

‘From 1 March until 31 July, birds start breeding, taking advantage of warmer weather, availability of food and nesting materials, making it crucial to give them the space they need.

People and dogs should avoid walking through gorse, heather and other low growing vegetation, because you can easily scare birds or harm birds’ nests. If disturbed repeatedly, birds cannot incubate their eggs or feed their young and nests can be abandoned leaving eggs or chicks exposed to predators.’

Find out more about ‘paws on paths‘ or the Four Paws Code from Devon Loves Dogs.

 

‘Officers from Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, accompanied by tobacco detection dogs and Devon & Cornwall Police, searched a location in south Devon. A positive indication by detection dogs led to the discovery of a significant quantity of illegal products.

The seizure, one of the largest to date, consisted of over 18,000 illegal tobacco products (counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes and tobacco) and over 2,000 illegal vapes (not compliant for the UK market).’

Note: Government intends to ban single-use vapes from April 2025.