A New Forest for Totnes

This autumn the first trees in a new temperate rain forest for Totnes will go into the ground.

The hillside stretching to the left as you drive up the Kingsbridge bypass is one slice of the land that will become a mosaic of wildlife habitats, from areas left to nature to wildflower meadows and pasture land for grazing animals.

It’s part of a unique project made possible thanks to £3 million of loans from individuals who support the vision of Bowden Pillars Future.

It will take many tens of years for the 75 acres leased from BPF by Devon Wildlife Trust to become established woodland.
Far sooner than that it is hoped the other side of the scheme – an eco village – will welcome its first permanent residents in 2027.

Project coordinator Ian Hague showed me round the site which centres on a former livestock farm neighbouring Bowden House , the community at the heart of the whole plan.
Here the barns and sheds and concrete will make way for low density homes . Designs are still being worked up and anyone interested in living here can put forward ideas.

It won’t be a housing estate , it will be a working community aiming to live a low carbon lifestyle.

“They will have to give up some of their carbon addiction,” Ian says of the people who will one day live here.
“They will be growing more of their own food, and not using the internal combustion engine. Possibly working here or walking into Totnes to work.”

We walked through the farmyard into a field of newly cut grass and out onto the bridle path which connects to Fishchowters Lane . Across the path we arrive at another field- with magnificent views of the distant moors.

The remaining land on the 123 acre site will be farmed by The Apricot Centre, which currently uses the farm for housing livestock in winter and growing their hay.

Unusually the eco village wasn’t a ready made plan looking for a site – the idea sprang from the farm coming up for sale. It was the perfect match of timing, location, local expertise and philanthropic donors.

“Once the farm came on the market there was an enormous push of energy to raise the cash and set up the project,” Ian explained. James Shorten, a planning consultant and expert on ecological building and Bob Mehew from the Apricot Centre are ,with Ian, part of the community benefit society which was established to get the wheels in motion.

A lot’s been achieved in just over a year since buying the land, but there is more still to do – renewable energy, a purification plant for the water from the bore hole, a finished housing design and eventually getting the thumbs up from the planning authority.

This being Totnes, Ian says support is strong.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Steve Hussey says the plan is to turn a patchwork of small sites into a network so wildlife can really thrive. The Bowden forest will also be part of a larger network of woodlands stretching up the west of the UK.

“Devon is one of the least wooded of the English counties with about 10 % woodland, “ he said.

“We will plant oaks, hazel, willow `and other native plants, create wetland areas and this will attract birds like wood warblers.
“In five years it will look different and in 25 years it will begin to look more wooded. It’s going to take a century or so to really flourish , so it is an investment in the future.”

Standing overlooking Totnes , with the castle, the Brunel chimney and Bridgetown in the distance, Ian says the scheme is for Totnes’ benefit as much as for the people who will one day live in the eco village.

“From here, we can see Totnes and Totnes can see us – it’s a relationship. We dont think of ourselves as landlords , we are stewards of the land.”