Wild About Devon

Wild About Devon is a  platform and network to help guide and inspire community action for wildlife. We’re doing this by linking communities with conservation organisations and experts and signposting to projects and other opportunities in a more coordinated way. There are so many fantastic community groups in Devon playing their part to tackle the Climate and Ecological Emergency but we need more!

In the long-term, we want to inspire communities to set up their own groups and projects with help from the Devon Local Nature Partnership’s many partners and start to make a real difference in their area.

We’ve created a 3-minute animation to help summarise Wild About Devon.

There is a steering group overseeing the work of Wild About Devon. See the full list of organisations.

Important: This initiative is overseen by the Devon County Council ecology team who co-ordinate the Devon LNP. They do not have the capacity to provide direct advice to community groups and so please don’t expect this. However, the contacts list (below) provides details of organisations, groups and consultants who can provide advice (either free or for a charge).

Wild About Devon is all about connecting people and so will only work with your input. Please let us know if you can help or how we can improve things. Contact us at naturalenvironment-mailbox@devon.gov.uk 

Wild About Devon want to keep in touch with you to facilitate networking for communities taking action for wildlife and to share information on grants, awards, events and other relevant information. To join the Wild About Devon Forum, please fill out this form.

By signing up to the Wild About Devon Forum, you are consenting to share your email address with the other members of the Wild About Devon Forum to facilitate networking within the group, and agreeing not to share members’ email addresses outside of this forum. 

  • Privacy Notice

    Privacy Notice

    Privacy Notice – Wild About Devon

    Devon County Council (DCC) is collecting and or processing your personal data as a Data Controller under Data Protection Legislation and our ICO registration number is Z6475582.  This privacy notice concerns the processing of personal data that takes place by DCC’s Natural Environment Team.

    This notice explains what information we collect, why we collect it and how we keep it secure. It also explains your rights and our legal obligation. Should you wish to find out more about Devon County Council’s data protection policies please contact our Data Protection Officer.

    We will notify you of any changes to this privacy notice

    This privacy notice was last updated 27th October 2022. If we use your personal data for any new purposes, updates will be made to the policy information and changes communicated, where necessary in accordance with current data protection legislation.  Any queries relating to this privacy notice please contact the Data Protection Officer.

    What information are we processing?

    We may collect, store or otherwise process information about you which may include:

    • Your name
    • Your email address

    Purpose of collecting or processing your personal data

    DCC may need to collect or otherwise process your personal data personal data so that we can;

    • Notify you of information related to Wild About Devon

    The legal basis for us collecting your personal data

    Where we are collecting personal data about you for the provision of one of the purposes outlined in this privacy notice, we rely upon your consent for this purpose. You may withdraw your consent at any time by emailing us.

    Personal data that is collected for any of the purposes outlined in this notice is never used for direct marketing purposes and is not sold on to any other third parties.

    Recipients or categories of recipients that we may share your personal data with

    If we feel that it is necessary to share your personal data with professionals to ensure you or someone you work with is safeguarded from harm, we rely upon the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and Children Act 1989 & 2004.  Where it is necessary to share medical or social care information for these purposes, we rely upon article 9(2)(h) of the General Data Protection Regulation (information necessary for medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or the management of health or social care systems).

    We may also need to share some personal data about you, so that we can support third party organisations to discharge their regulatory requirements.  This includes organisations such as;

    • The data protection regulator (the Information Commissioner’s Office)
    • The Care Quality Commission

    We may also share information to enable us to comply with court orders and other legal obligations.  If this is necessary, we will only share the minimum amount of personal data needed for this purpose.

    International transfers

    No personal data is transferred outside of the European Union.

    How long will we hold your personal data?

    Devon County Council will retain your personal data for the length of Wild About Devon initiative.

    Your data protection rights

    Under Data Protection Legislation, you have the right to obtain a copy of their personal records held by us, this is called a Subject Access Request (SAR).

    Further details on your rights under data protection legislation and how to exercise them.

    We are required to offer you the opportunity to withdraw your consent at any time. If you wish to withdraw your consent, please contact ‘naturalenvironment-mailbox@devon.gov.uk’.

    Complaints

    If you have any comments, queries or complaints about this privacy notice or the processing of your personal data please contact our Data Protection Officer.

    Alternatively, if you are not happy with the way that DCC is handling your personal data, you are entitled to appeal to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). The Information Commissioners Office enforces and oversees the Data Protection Regulations.

    Contact details::

    Information Commissioner’s Office
    Wycliffe House
    Water Lane
    Wilmslow
    Cheshire
    SK9 5AF

    Email: casework@ico.org.uk

    Automated decisions

    The intended processing of your personal data, will not include use of technology that will make decisions about any individuals by automated means.


  • Devon Wildlife Community of the Year Awards 2023

    After the success of our awards ceremony last December, we will be hosting another one this winter. Entry time has now closed, however you can find out more about the upcoming awards here. 

    You can also read up about the 2022 Awards.


    Wild About Devon Community Wildlife Grant Scheme

    Applications for the 2023 Wild About Devon grant scheme have now closed. 

    Thank you to those of you that applied, all the funding has now been allocated.

    The aim of this grant scheme is to provide an easy way for community groups to access small amounts of funding to start a wildlife group or carry out activities that promote wildlife. Funds can be used for advice, equipment and other resources. The Wild About Devon – Community Wildlife Grant Scheme, was developed by the Devon Local Nature Partnership. This fund is financed by the Devon Environment Foundation (DEF), Devon Communities Together (DCT), and Devon County Council (DCC), as part of the commitment to help tackle the Ecological Emergency.

    To find out more about the scheme please visit Devon Communities Together website

    If you would like to find out about the positive impacts brought about by last year’s grant scheme, read this summary report. 


    Online Community Forum

    In April of this year we held an online community forum. In case you missed it, you can view the presentation used here.

    The forum covered;

    • an inspiring talk from an established community group Ogwild
    • how to apply and succeed in the WAD awards application
    • how to apply and succeed in the WAD community grant scheme
    • restoring Devon’s nature- our Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and how communities will be involved
    • discussions, questions, and networking

    If you would like to watch the recording of this webinar, please send a request via email to naturalenvironment-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.


    Community Action Map

    Click here to view. 


    Surveys

    Find out what wildlife and habitats are in your local area. Here you’ll find information about collecting background information and data, recording, surveying techniques and mapping.


    Legislation, policy and planning

    Headline information on legislation, policy and relevant issues such as planning, lighting, disease and invasives. 


    Take action for wildlife

    Here you’ll find lots of information about how to manage, restore and create different habitats.


    Funding, insurance and more…

    Things to consider when setting up a wildlife project, community group or initiative including information on funding, health and safety and insurance. 


    Contacts

    Click here to view. 


    Discussion Forum

    Got a burning question  that other community groups might be able to answer? Want to share your expertise and help others or just connect with like-minded souls? Why not join our Wild About Devon Facebook discussion group!  We will start using this to share information on training events, webinars and other handy updates on wildlife issues and projects across Devon.

    Community Action for Wildlife Devon | Facebook

    We are aware that not everyone likes Facebook and are currently exploring other forum platforms.


    Parish and Town Council Wildlife Network

    Parish and Town Councils have a statutory duty to take action for wildlife. If you are a council wanting to improve your area for wildlife please join our Devon Parish & Town Council Wildlife Network.


    Webinars

    We are setting up a series of webinars for community groups and Parish and Town Councils and will promote any other relevant webinars that partners are running.  See our community webinars page for details.