Calverleigh Wetlands was declared the winner of the prestigious Land Management & Sustainable Development Award at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Awards 2026 National Final on 22nd October.

Work on the Calverleigh wetlands began in 2025 when a landowner partnered with Devon Wildlife Trust’s Working Wetlands team to transform four hectares of land close to the mid-Devon village. Using local contractors and working to a co-designed plan, the project freed a small stream from the constraints of its deeply incised banks to create a series of ponds and pools across the whole site. Work will continue with the planting of a wet woodland in 2027.

As well as quickly becoming a new wetland home to a huge variety of wildlife from waterbirds, through marsh-loving plants, to amphibians and aquatic insects, the site is now acting as an important local piece of natural flood management, improving flood resilience, enhancing water quality and increasing resilience for the landowner through the provision of fresh summer grazing and government grant funding.

Judges praised the project as an “outstanding project showcasing how sustainable land management can support productive, resilient landscapes while delivering wider environmental benefits. “

David Rolls is a Farm Advisory Officer with Devon Wildlife Trust’s Working Wetlands team. David, alongside other partners, has worked with the landowner on developing the Calverleigh Wetlands and was present, with other representatives of the project team to pick up the award at a gala evening held recently at the Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge, London. David said:

"Every farm and community needs a wetland. While we have lost a devastating 90% of these habitats nationwide, this site provides a powerful blueprint. It proves that investing in nature delivers invaluable benefits for farm businesses, the environment, and the wider community."

This project couldn’t have been delivered without the partnership work of a lot of people and organisations. Funding came from North Devon Unesco Biosphere’s Devon Woods project, but others played vital roles including a forward-thinking landowner, South West Water’s Upstream Thinking Project, Stags and delivery partners Springwater Farm and South West Natural Solutions.”

Learn about the Working Wetlands project.