Dittiscombe Wilder Diary (https://youtu.be/ItFarGSJq3A)
Hear Dittiscombe's story of nature recovery
Wilder Diaries: The South Devon estate where nature is leading the way
When Ruth and John Saunders took over Dittiscombe in South Devon back in 1998, they inherited 20 acres of land that had been heavily farmed. The soil was tired, hedgerows neglected, and wildlife scarce.
“There really wasn’t very much habitat here at all. We felt that nature needed to be in recovery.”
Over the next two decades, they set out not to design a ‘perfect’ landscape, but to support a mosaic of habitats to develop naturally, which are now humming with life.
A patchwork of habitats
Dittiscombe today is made up of:
- Grassy meadows alive with crickets, orchids, and the occasional visiting cirl bunting.
- Thorny scrub offering ideal habitat for small birds and hunting grounds for kestrels and sparrowhawks.
- Three miles of hedgerows and a thriving woodland of 4,000 deciduous trees.
- A natural watercourse which winds through the valley. They have installed silt traps, scrapes, and ponds to filter runoff from surrounding farmland and create more wetland habitats in the process.
This variety is deliberate. As Ruth explains:
“You’re really looking for a mosaic of habitats… one flowing into another, and that seems to benefit wildlife.”
Wildlife found its way home
With patience and minimal interference, the rewards have been extraordinary: sightings of very rare cirl buntings, as well as tawny owls hunting in the meadows, 18 species of butterfly, and a butterfly-orchid appearing.
“We haven’t brought any of it in… it’s appeared on its own. When you start finding new species, it lifts your spirits. You just feel you’re going in the right direction.”
Perhaps the most important takeaway is one of restraint.
“The most challenging part has been getting over ourselves as humans… to not interfere, to not expect an outcome, but to leave nature to find its own way.”
Why this matters
Dittiscombe is a model for what’s possible when we let nature lead and it shows that even small-scale landowners can restore exhausted land - for wildlife, for water, and for communities.
The estate isn’t a closed project either, it’s a place for others to learn, see, and be inspired. Through Sustainable South Hams, the Devon Rewilding Network, informal walks, volunteer days, school visits, and holidays, thousands have witnessed this nature recovery first-hand.
Creating a wilder Devon one community at a time
All across Devon, people like Ruth and John are doing incredible work in their communities. Our Wilder Communities team is all about helping you turn spaces where you live, learn, work or play into spaces that are greener, wilder and richer in nature.
If you already have an idea and need some help to get started - take a look at our resource bank which includes everything from 'how to' guides to advice about setting up a community group.
Prefer to have a chat? Or got a story of your own to share? Send us an email and we will get back to you.