Knbapp and Knowle Summary

After following this series you have discovered the ecological value, not only of the six individual sites but the added value that comes from their proximity to each other. If you started with zero knowledge, here are the ten most significant insights you have gained about these various sites around the town:

• It is a Unified Network:
  Although managed by different organisations and separated by human borders like Station Road, these sites are geographically so close that they function as a single, integrated wildlife corridor and biodiversity network.

• High Biodiversity Density:
  The cluster is an ecological powerhouse. Despite making up only 12% of the total sites surveyed in the Sidmouth Nature project, it contains nearly half (43.3%) of all recorded species.

• A Botanical Hotspot:
  The area is exceptionally important for plants; over 52% of all flowering plant species found in the entire Sidmouth survey are located within this specific cluster.

• The "Manor Park" Hub:
  The ecological value of the public sites is significantly boosted by Manor Park, a large, private, undeveloped area that acts as a quiet "hub" connecting the surrounding nature reserves.

• Parkland Heritage:
  The cluster holds nearly 60% of all "Parkland and Scattered Tree" habitat species in the area. This is largely due to the history of sites like The Knowle, which was originally the grounds of a large manor house.

• Cemetery Conservation:
  Sidmouth Cemetery is not just a burial ground; it is a vital "brownfield" site. Its old tombstones support a variety of lichens, and its undisturbed soil provides a rare habitat for waxcap fungi.

• Specialist Hedgerows:
  The Bickwell site is a specialised habitat (likely of ancient origin) that supports a vast majority—over 90%—of the mosses and ferns found in the entire cluster.

• Insect Havens:
  The Knapp is the primary site for insect diversity. Its combination of bramble scrub and "umbellifer" flowers (like Hogweed) provides the essential food and shelter needed for pollinators to thrive.

• Restoration in Progress:
  The cluster is not static; it includes active conservation projects, such as the Knapp Nature Pond (restored specifically for aquatic wildlife) and the ongoing restoration of grasslands at The Knowle.

• Human Impact:
  The plant life reflects Sidmouth’s proximity. You can find "garden escapees" at The Knowle from its manor house past, as well as plants that have spread from nearby private gardens into The Knapp.