Exeter Wild City

Wildflower meadow growing on the verge at Prince Charles Road

Prince Charles Road wildflowers. Photo, Emily Stallworthy

Exeter Wild City

A partnership between Devon Wildlife Trust and Exeter City Council

Exeter Wild City logo

Working closely with Exeter City Council (ECC), the Exeter Wild City project aims to:

  • Support and advise on community wildlife initiatives in the city
  • Enhance and protect the wildlife value of green space in the city
  • Provide opportunities for people to experience and enjoy our amazing urban wildlife
Wildflowers in bloom along Prince Charles Road

Exeter Wild City

Why do we need it?

Exeter is striking proof that cities can be the homes to abundant wildlife. But, as everywhere, wildlife is under threat. The city now has a human population of 120,000 – and it’s growing. We want to ensure that Exeter‘s future development will protect its wildlife and gives it space to thrive.

Contact with nature and wildlife is also hugely important for people; quite simply, contact with our natural environment makes us happy! The project works with people across the city on projects that are great for wildlife and, importantly, improve our quality of life too.

Wildflower meadow Bull Meadow

Join the Topsham Road nature corridor!

The Topsham Road nature corridor is part of a new way of approaching city meadow management.  In 2022 ECC and DWT will focus meadow efforts along Topsham Road to create a long corridor that connects valley parks, gardens and a whole host of private and public green spaces that provide homes for wildlife.  In years to come, further corridors will be developed around the city. Read our FAQs sheet to find out more.

ECC are developing meadows along large swathes of roadside verge as part of the scheme.  Others too are getting involved - the crematorium, Millbrook Retirement Village, schools, new developments and County Hall are all sowing meadows along the route.

We would like to see residents and businesses along Topsham Road take part in creating this fantastic wildlife corridor!

Don't live on Topsham Road?

Anyone across the city can help wildlife and be part of creating a nature network across Exeter.  There are many communities, individuals and organisations across the city improving their patch for nature – every bird feeder, every potted plant and every hedgehog hole helps to create a better-connected city for wildlife.

Visit our Wilder Communities page to see how you can make a difference in your area.

Who else are we working with?

We have links with a growing list of public, statutory, voluntary and community organisations including Met Office and University of Exeter.We work with almost every school in the city and are keen to support community associations.

Please contact Devon Wildlife Trust if you are associated with a group who would like advice or support in your environmental ventures.

What are we working on?

Plaque with DWT logo and 'this is a wildlife friendly garden'

Swift Signs

Wildlife Garden Award

We want to celebrate all that you do for wildlife in your garden, community space, school or at work. So, if you help wildlife to thrive in your patch then we invite you to enter our FREE  ‘Wildlife Garden Award’ scheme. If you qualify you will get one of our plaques to proudly display!

The Award is open to residents, community groups, schools and businesses.

Enter the Wildlife Garden Award

Swift close up

Swift. Photo, David Norman

Exeter’s swifts

The first sightings of swifts each year, usually in early May, are a cause for celebration, signifying the coming of summer.

Exeter residents have been helping our city swifts by installing swift boxes and submitting nest sightings to help create a hotspot map for the city.

Working together with Exeter City Council and the RSPB, Exeter now has a nationally acclaimed Residential Design Guide which provides information on including nesting spaces within new build. The city is also one of the first in England to install a swift tower!

If you would like more information on how to help swifts visit Swift Conservation’s website. You can also submit swift sightings on the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre website.

Find out more about the Exeter Swift Tower here.

Exeter biodiversity map

Biodiversity mapping

Devon Biodiversity Records Centre have created a Biodiversity Reference Map for the Exeter Wild City Project.

The map identifies where the city’s most important wildlife habitats are as well as other areas of green space that may hold some wildlife value and form a biodiversity network through the city.

The map is designed for anyone that has an interest in the future ecological health of the city including city planners and land management staff.

You can view the map here.

School children creating wildlife friendly school grounds

Natural learning

DWT’s education team is working in Exeter to stimulate young people to better understand the value of biodiversity and to help make their schools more sustainable. Visit our education page for more information.

We work with community groups, schools and Exeter City Council to sow wildflowers around the city each year. Meadows in parks, school grounds, along roadsides, within business landscapes and on roundabouts are helping our important urban pollinators and create more attractive public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Get involved!

Why not get involved and join our Facebook group today and help build the Exeter Wild City community!

Become a member and support our work

The vital work we do for nature depends on people who care about the future of Devon's wildlife and wild places.

Become a Member