Burrator Success Safari

The Burrator volunteers are a key force in the Burrator Biodiversity contract, funded by South West Water, to improve biodiversity around the reservoir and improve water quality. Work began in 2020 with extensive habitat and species surveys to find out where biodiversity could be enhanced.

Recommendations were made for management and between 2022 and 2025 we achieved 1,712.2 hectares of biodiversity enhancements across the catchment. Of this, 122.69 hectares were enhanced with the help of our fantastic volunteers.

On 16 April 2026, the volunteers took part in a Success Safari at Burrator, led by the Environment team, to look at some of the sites they have worked on and survey the plants, insects and birds who live there. 

Wildlife records have been added to iRecord, providing valuable data in an open-source platform which help us with future management. 

Site 1: Leaky Dams 

Over the past three years, volunteers have built a network of leaky dams on the small streams leading to the Newleycombe River. Originally there were two small streams surrounded by bracken and dry grassland. Some wetland species were present, but suitable wetland habitat was limited to a small strip alongside the streams and a boggy area near the top.

We have created around 20 leaky dams, and the streams have shallowed and spread across the whole area, creating a network of pools and boggy patches. Bracken cover has reduced, and the extent of wetland plant species has increased. In the boggy pools and deeper rivers, we found some pondweed and Marsh St John’s Wort, whilst surrounding the streams in newly boggier areas, were Round-leaved Sundew, Marsh Violets and lots of lousewort. In the areas which are damp, occasionally drying and with some trampling by ponies, plenty of Round-leaved Water Crowfoot is now growing, along with some Lesser Plantain. These plants love the disturbed and damp conditions and are a great source of nectar for some insects. 

Highlight species found:  

• Bilberry 

• Sphagnum 

• Lousewort 

• Cuckooflower 

• Sundew 

• Bog pimpernel 

• Marsh violet 

• Marsh thistle 

• Thyme Moss 

• Caddisfly 

• Blackcap 

• Cuckoo 

• Siskin 

• Grey heron 

Site 2: Woodland glade 

The second site, a woodland glade enhanced in February 2026, is about 10m diameter, covered with bluebells, and is mostly hazel with a few rowans, willow and hawthorns. A small hawthorn was retained in the middle and was flowering beautifully during the survey. This will provide a good source of food for insects using the glade. Opening the woodland canopy provides space for butterflies and other large insects to fly and look for woodland plants. It’s also a great source of food for birds. Additionally, the wood cut from the trees was stacked, providing habitat for saproxylic beetles, which feed on dead wood.  

We set out some pitfall traps beneath the deadwood piles two nights before the Safari, with the hope of trapping some beetles. We also did a search through the area for any wandering beetles and listened out for birds. In the pitfall traps, we caught a few money spiders and tiny beetles, which were released back into the habitat, but no larger ground beetles as we’d hoped. However, in a wider survey we found a goat moth cocoon in a rotting tree stump, a white pinion moth and an orb weaving spider. Also, near one of the wood piles, we found a grass snake, curled up in some leaf litter. This indicates some amphibians may be using the area, the primary diet of grass snakes.  

Highlight species found: 

• Bluebell 

• Great wood rush 

• Lesser stitchwort 

• Orb weaver spider 

• Money spider 

• Goat moth 

• White pinion (spotted) 

• Early bumblebee 

• Grass snake 

Site 3: Rivers Newleycombe and Meavy 

Finally, we headed back to Norsworthy Bridge in two groups, led by Laura and Teri. Each team completed a kick sample survey, using nets and sample trays to identify riverflies. Both rivers have been restored upstream by adding large woody debris to the watercourse  creating disturbance to the flow and new habitats within the river.  Side bars and riffles provide invertebrates and fish with shelter and food. These actions will result in increased diversity allowing more insects to harbour and fish to find breeding habitat and food. Spring is a great time to survey river invertebrates, still in the nymph or larval stage.  

Species found: 

• Olive (Mayfly) 

• Flat-bodied mayfly 

• Caddisfly 

• Stonefly 

• Midge larvae 

• Beetle larvae 

• Flatworms 

• Brown trout 

Summary 

The Success Safari was a wonderful day. Everyone enjoyed themselves, finding exciting species and seeing the benefits of their hard work. We are always grateful for the hard work this group of volunteers puts in every week and look forward to many more successes! 

“I enjoyed the good company and the sense of discovery at looking at things in detail, a bit like a school field trip, where we would have searched rock pools by the sea. It was also good having expert knowledge from [Morwenna], Laura and Teri." - Dave, volunteer

“What was most enjoyable was to return to these two sites and investigate what effect the leaky dams had on the Newleycombe and the opening up of a glade within dense woodland had on the biodiversity. The day was most informative and enjoyable, revisiting the sites we had worked on and working as a team finding and identifying the various flora and fauna that had made these newly created habitats their home. It was much appreciated to have a very comprehensive list of all the flora and fauna found on the day and it looked quite impressive!” - Burrator Volunteer