See a female salmon making a redd (a depression in the riverbed for egg-laying) in shallow water in the upper reaches of the Dart.
Weaving, rushing, dripping, meandering though our landscape to the sea is an intricate network of water, a catchment.
From source...
Water spills from the upland granite mass of Dartmoor. As that water joins the flow of water through wooded valleys and past windswept tors, it is not only part of the striking fabric of Dartmoor but also provides the lifeblood for some of Devon’s most characteristic species.
Gathering pace and drawing waters from smaller rivers (tributaries), and water run-off from the surrounding land, the River Dart flows from the moor, carving a distinct route though the region, defining the undulating hills and shaping the steep valleys.
...To sea...
At Totnes the freshwater, which started high on the moor, meets saltwater, mixes, and flows into the rich estuarine environment. The Dart Estuary – a productive and diverse ecosystem, and surrounded by stunning scenery - is a focus for both humans and wildlife.
...And round again!
Eventually the water, which began its water journey in one of the many hillside springs, finds its way from its origins on the moor all the way to the seashore at Kingswear and Dartmouth. But the life-giving journey doesn’t stop there, water never stops moving.
As sun warms the sea, water evaporates, moisture gathers, is lifted into clouds and pushed inland once again by prevailing winds. The clouds rise and release the moisture as rain or snow. In due course that rainwater finds its way back into our streams and rivers, into our kettles and bathtubs, feeds crops and livestock and the whole process, the water cycle, starts all over again.
Water remains contained within the natural phenomenon of the water cycle and is just as vital to all life in the Dart catchment as the sun. These two forces of nature combine perfectly in this part of Devon to give us a striking natural landscape and an abundance of wildlife.
Biodiversity in the Dart Catchment
It is the variety of wildlife that makes the Dart catchment so important. A trip down through the catchment is a brilliant illustration of a whole range of wildlife habitats and species – from dry, upland grasslands, through bogs, floodplains and freshwater streams, farmland, woodlands and reedbeds, brackish waters and finally the open coast.
Hidden in the landscape are caves and quarries, giving home to rare animals like the greater horseshoe bat and cave shrimps, while the underwater habitats provide home for Atlantic salmon and a nursery for the European sea bass. The gnarled trunks of the stunted oaks in Dartmoor’s Wistmans Wood support lichens and mosses. The beautiful and rare Deptford pink can be found on the slopes above Buckfastleigh and brown hares, in sharp decline throughout the UK, can be found on farmland throughout the catchment.
The wildlife of the catchment
The heads of the East and West Dart are 550m above sea level, on the top of Dartmoor. This area is open moorland, supporting a vast array of insects, birds and small mammals. The moorland drops quickly into a steep river valley, bordered by dense deciduous woodland. The steep slopes of the valley provide an ideal habitat for such insects as the high brown fritillary. The rivers themselves are important spawning grounds for salmon.
The land of the middle catchment is predominantly farmland, although the Dart itself is still bordered by woodland. Well cared for farmland is a vital habitat for rare birds, such as the cirl bunting, and mammals such as the brown hare, which is in sharp decline throughout most of the UK. The water courses are home to dippers, a white breasted bird that characteristically bobs up and down on stones in the middle of a river. Otters are also found throughout the catchment, on both the smaller tributaries and the main river.
The Dart estuary is an important nursery area for the European sea bass and for such birds as the grey heron and little egret. Large reedbeds are a vital habitat for small birds such as reed buntings and warblers. In the lower estuary, dolphins and seals can also be seen, even up to several kilometres inland.
Conservation Importance
The Dart catchment has long been recognised for its conservation importance.
The upper half of the catchment lies within the boundary of Dartmoor National Park, while the tidal section and surrounding valley landscape downstream from Totnes is part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There are two EU Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) – Dartmoor and the South Dartmoor Woodlands – areas that have been identified as internationally important for wildlife.
There are also 21 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), recognised for their UK national importance. The Dart Valley above Buckfastleigh has been identified by English Nature as a Prime Biodiversity Area and became a focal point for work to conserve the important habitats and species found within the upper catchment.
Request a copy of our Profile of the River Dart Catchment to find out more.
The many rivers that flow together to form the River Dart cover an area from Dartmoor to Dartmouth. This area includes the towns and villages listed below.
The Dart catchment has long been recognised for its conservation importance. 
