Riverside Park

To explore the themes of biodiversity, river ecology, and local conservation further, here are some recommended websites. These range from local Sidmouth organisations to national resources with specific educational tools.

1. Local Sidmouth & East Devon Resources

These sites provide context directly related to the Riverside Park and the organizations mentioned in your articles.

• Sid Valley Biodiversity Group (sidvalleybiodiversity.org): This is the primary hub for the "Sidmouth Nature" project. It features recent survey results, newsletters, and articles on local species like the Himalayan Balsam or the importance of yellow rattle in meadows.

• Vision Group for Sidmouth (visionforsidmouth.org): This group focuses on the long-term sustainability of the town. Their "Natural Environment" section includes libraries on beach management, climate science, and biodiversity specifically for the Sid Valley.

• Wild East Devon (wildeastdevon.co.uk): Managed by the District Council’s Countryside Team, this site offers excellent "Outdoor Learning" resources. It is particularly useful for learners interested in practical ecology, such as pond dipping and river flow investigations.

• Sidmouth Arboretum (sidmoutharboretum.org.uk): Since your text mentions the high percentage of tree species in the park, this site is a perfect follow-up. They offer guided tree walks and digital maps of the valley’s "treescape."

2. National Environmental & Learning Platforms

These websites offer broader educational resources that explain the science behind the habitats found in Riverside Park.

• The Wildlife Trusts - Learning (wildlifetrusts.org): As the umbrella organization for the Devon Wildlife Trust, they provide high-quality guides on "Neutral Grasslands" and "Broadleaf Woodlands"—both key habitats in your articles.

• Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk): Their "Explorers" section contains downloadable "Learning Bundles" about river habitats, life cycles (like the dragonfly), and how to build "Bug Hotels," which links well to the insect diversity in Sid Meadow.

• Freshwater Habitats Trust (freshwaterhabitats.org.uk): This is an excellent resource for more advanced learners. It explains why only 3% of UK rivers are "High Status" and provides detailed information on "Water Margin" plants and the specific needs of running-water species.

• iNaturalist UK (nbn.org.uk): A great tool for the "Learning Activity" side of your project. It encourages learners to become citizen scientists by recording their own observations in places like The Byes and seeing what others have found nearby.

3. Special Interest Resources

• The Rivers Trust: Ideal for understanding the "barriers to fish" mentioned in Part 4. They have interactive maps showing river health and obstacles like the School Weir.

• WWF-UK Schools (wwf.org.uk): Offers secondary and primary resources on "Wild Isles: Grasslands," which provides a national perspective on the meadow restoration work happening at Gilchrist Field and Sid Meadow.