The Knowle

We often walk through our local parks and green spaces without a second thought, seeing them as familiar backdrops to daily life. Yet, some of these seemingly ordinary places hold deep ecological secrets and stories written into their very soil, trees, and buildings. The Knowle in Sidmouth, East Devon, is one such place—a landscape that is far more than just a park.

The Knowle is a unique "living museum" of biodiversity, shaped by centuries of human ambition and natural resilience. It serves as a vital "green lung" for the Sid Valley, a place where a curious history of exotic animal collections and institutional management has accidentally cultivated an irreplaceable sanctuary for wildlife.

This estate, once home to kangaroos and zebras, now harbours some of Britain’s rarest bats and botanical relics from a bygone era. Join us as we uncover the surprising past of The Knowle and explore its critical importance as a modern-day ecological refuge.

The Knowle occupies a significant position in the local environment. Located in Sidmouth, East Devon, the estate is an integral part of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Its high-ground setting, founded on the well-drained Otter Sandstone geology, creates a topographically diverse landscape that influences everything from soil type to microclimate.

Functionally, The Knowle is not an isolated island of green. It serves as a critical "stepping stone" within the Sid Valley’s nature networks. It acts as a vital green causeway, allowing species to move through the landscape between the deep woodlands of Harpford Wood and the ancient cliffs of the Jurassic Coast. This role is vital for maintaining healthy, interconnected wildlife populations across the wider region.

The rich biodiversity found at The Knowle today is a direct legacy of its fascinating and varied history. The estate's story begins between 1805 and 1810 when it was built by Lord le Despencer as a "picturesque marine villa," establishing the mature tree framework that still defines the site.

In the mid-19th century, under the eccentric ownership of T.L. Fish, The Knowle was transformed into a public attraction. Fish’s passion for collecting led him to introduce a menagerie of exotic animals, including zebras and kangaroos, and plant a wide array of non-native flora. This era left a lasting botanical footprint; his eccentric taste directly shaped the site's modern-day ecology, with some Victorian introductions, like the rare Alpine Enchanter’s Nightshade, persisting as a botanical relic of Victorian horticultural fashion.

Later, The Knowle became the headquarters for the East Devon District Council (EDDC). During this era, the grounds were managed primarily as amenity grasslands with regular mowing, which limited floral diversity. However, since the council relocated, a new chapter of conservation-led management has begun. This shift has allowed nature to reclaim parts of the landscape, directly shaping the ecological haven we see today.

The Knowle is a cornerstone of the Sidmouth Arboretum, the UK's only "civic arboretum," where the entire town and its valley are treated as a single, magnificent tree collection. The estate itself is a dendrological treasure, featuring over 700 listed trees that include both native species and spectacular exotic specimens introduced by Victorian collectors.

This diverse collection provides an essential, multi-layered canopy that benefits wildlife and the local environment. Key examples of its arboreal richness include:

• Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata): More than just a tree, this native species is a dynamic trophic hub. It supports insects like the lime hawk moth and the vapourer moth, and hosts various aphids that provide essential "honey dew" for other species.

• Exotic Specimens: Mature trees such as the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) and the Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) stand as living monuments to the estate's horticultural history.

This mature, complex canopy provides vital nesting sites for birds, food sources for invertebrates, and helps regulate the local climate. It is an irreplaceable natural asset that forms the structural backbone of The Knowle's ecosystem.

The unique combination of mature parkland, historic buildings, and rich vegetation has made The Knowle a sanctuary for an array of wildlife, including several legally protected species.

A Vital Bat Sanctum

The Knowle is a critically important site for bats, serving as a significant hub with a direct ecological connection to the Beer Quarry and Caves Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The estate's buildings and grounds provide essential habitats for some of Europe's most protected species. These are not just any bats; species like the Lesser and Greater Horseshoe Bat are designated "Annex II" species, signifying a level of European legal protection that makes The Knowle a site of regional and even international importance.

Surveys have confirmed that the former council building (Building B) hosts a maternity and hibernation roost for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and a day roost for the Greater Horseshoe Bat. The mature landscape also provides crucial foraging and commuting habitat for the rare Bechstein's Bat.

To protect these light-averse creatures, conservation plans mandate the preservation of "dark corridors" with artificial light levels kept below a stringent 0.5 lux. This explains why such measures are so necessary, ensuring the bats can navigate safely between their roosts and their foraging grounds. Building B itself is being preserved as a dedicated "bat sanctum," a testament to the site's regional importance for chiropteran conservation.

Parkland Dwellers and Winged Visitors

Beyond its bat populations, The Knowle is home to a diverse community of animals. Mammals recorded on the estate include the European Badger (Meles meles), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), and the protected Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis). The abundant Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is also a common resident of the arboretum.

The avian community is typical of a mature parkland habitat, with the Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) being a common sight, often utilizing the tall trees for nesting. The same dark corridors that protect the bats also provide ideal hunting grounds for nocturnal predators like the Tawny Owl, demonstrating how a single conservation measure can benefit multiple species across the ecosystem. The invertebrate life is also rich, with species like the Speckled Wood butterfly found in the sunlit glades and the Tapered Drone Fly visiting the wildflower areas.

A Carpet of Colour: The Re-emerging Wildflowers

In recent years, a reduction in the frequency of mowing has allowed the parkland's botanical diversity to flourish, transforming manicured lawns into vibrant wildflower meadows. This has revealed a stunning seasonal succession of colours and species.

The spring bloom begins with the emergence of Lesser Celandine, Cuckooflower, and Wood Avens. By May, these are followed by a "striking blue haze" created by masses of Germander Speedwell, complemented by the yellows of Meadow Buttercups. This floral display provides a vital nectar source for pollinators. The site also presents interesting botanical contrasts, hosting both the rare Alpine Enchanter’s Nightshade, a relic of Victorian horticulture, and the invasive Three-cornered Leek, which poses a threat to native species.

The Knowle is a powerful example of how human history and natural resilience can intertwine to create a place of extraordinary ecological value. It is a landscape where Victorian eccentricity, institutional management, and modern conservation have all left their mark, resulting in a rich, complex, and vital habitat.

Today, the estate stands at a crossroads where the needs for development and conservation intersect. The goal of achieving Biodiversity Net Gain through careful planning seeks to secure a future where both can coexist. The story of The Knowle reminds us of the hidden value within our local green spaces and poses a crucial question for our time: As communities grow, how can we ensure these irreplaceable "anthropogenic refugiums" continue to thrive for both people and wildlife?