Upper Byes

Executive Summary

The Upper Byes, the northernmost stretch of Sidmouth’s Riverside Park, serves as a critical ecological corridor and a premier biodiversity hotspot. Despite its popular use as a recreational route for walkers and cyclists, the area houses nearly 50% of all species recorded in Sidmouth and approximately 60% of all local flowering plants. This richness is attributed to a "mosaic of habitats," including amenity grasslands, wooded areas, and scrubland. Management of the area, particularly the Livonia Road Field by the Sid Vale Association (SVA), prioritizes a low-intervention, "unruly" approach that provides essential nesting and foraging sites for birds, bats, and insects, while acting as a vital buffer between residential zones and sensitive core meadows.

Geographic Context and Overview

The Upper Byes is defined as the northern section of The Byes Riverside Park, extending from Sidford in the north to the bridge located just south of Margaret's Meadow. It functions as a central artery for the local ecosystem, connecting diverse natural environments through a single green corridor.

A Walk Through Wild Habitats

The area is characterised by a sequence of shifting landscapes that transition rapidly over a short distance:

• Amenity Grassland: Open recreational spaces near the start of the stretch in Sidford.

• Woodland: A shaded, enclosed area near the rugby club, home to species such as Ramsons (wild garlic).

• Pasture and Hedgerows: Open fields bordered by substantial hedgerows that provide critical habitats for insects and birds.

• Rough Scrub and Grassland: Exemplified by Livonia Field, offering a wilder, more complex environment.

• Hedgerow Banks: High, sheltering banks that flank the path toward the southern end of this section.

Management Philosophy: The "Unruly" Strategy

A significant portion of the Upper Byes, specifically the 1.9-acre Livonia Road Field, is managed by the Sid Vale Association (SVA) with a specific ecological focus that differs from more manicured park sections.

Low-Intervention Scrubland

Unlike the open wildflower expanses of nearby Margaret's Meadow, Livonia Road Field is intentionally maintained as scrubland.

• Nesting and Sanctuary: The dense cover of brambles and thickets provides nesting sites for warblers and finches and sanctuary for small mammals.

• Pioneer Species: The field features Silver Birch trees, which support hundreds of insect species, providing a food source for local bird and bat populations.

• The "Unruly" Concept: Management aligns with the Devon Nature Recovery Plan’s objective to "delight in the unruly." This avoids manicured aesthetics in favour of "soft edge" transitions between residential boundaries and wilder habitats.

Key Management Objectives

Feature Management Activity

Vegetation Maintained as scrub/birch woodland rather than traditional grassland.

Intervention Low; primarily focused on monitoring for invasive species like Himalayan Balsam.

Biodiversity Goal Providing "shelter and nesting" habitat to complement the "feeding" habitat of nearby meadows.

Biodiversity and Ecological Functions

The Riverside Park cluster, with the Upper Byes at its centre, is an essential component of Sidmouth's green infrastructure.

Statistical Significance

• Species Density: The area contains 49.8% of all species recorded across 50 surveyed sites in Sidmouth.

• Botanical Diversity: 59.7% of all local flowering plant species are found within this cluster.

Ecological Roles

• Buffer Zones: Livonia Road Field acts as a shield, protecting sensitive core meadows (Margaret’s and Gilchrist) from the light and noise pollution of nearby roads.

• Foraging Corridors: The Upper Byes serves as a "stepping stone" for bats, allowing them to travel from roosts near Sidford along the River Sid toward the coast.

• Sanctuary for Rare Species: Wildflower diversity in managed areas provides food for endangered bees and supports butterfly populations, such as the Common Blue and Marbled White.

Community Action and Conservation

The ecological health of the Upper Byes is heavily dependent on volunteer efforts and community-led organisations.

• Sid Vale Association (SVA) and Friends of The Byes (FoTB): These groups are responsible for the management and promotion of wildflower diversity.

• Invasive Species Management: Regular "Balsam Bashing" volunteer days are held to clear Himalayan Balsam from the riverbanks, ensuring that invasive species do not overgrow the native flora.

Core Insight

The Upper Byes represents a successful balance between managed recreational space and wild, scrubby patches. As noted in the source context:

"A remarkable number of plants and trees occur in the 'Upper Byes' area thanks largely to the presence of the SVA owned, and managed, Livonia Field and the woodland area near the rugby club."