Charity opens first culm grassland nature reserve

A conservation charity has bought 2.6 acres (1 hectare) of land to create its first nature reserve.

Charity Devon Culm is creating the reserve in an area of culm grassland - a mix of purple moor grass and rush pasture - next to Knowstone Moor and Rackenford Moor, between Exmoor and Dartmoor.

Culm grasslands have significantly diminished since the mid-20th Century due to changes in farming practices, the charity said.

According to the Devon Wildlife Trust, 90% of the culm national character area in north and west Devon's unique habitat has been lost since 1950.

The new reserve aims to provide a sanctuary for species dependent on this habitat, such as the marsh fritillary butterfly, bog pimpernel and bugle flower.

To protect the area the reserve will be fenced, but viewing points will be established to allow people to observe the flora and fauna.

Devon Culm said it wanted to buy more land to protect the culm grasslands as "stepping stones" of reserves between the two moors.

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