East Devon National Landscape

East Devon National Landscape, a richly varied area of dramatic coast, lowland heath, wooded coombes and river valleys, balances outstanding natural beauty with strong natural capital potential.

From heathland carbon-rich soils to coastal and marine ecosystems, the area offers compelling opportunities for sustainable tourism, regenerative agriculture, habitat restoration and water landscape resilience projects.  

Open the drop-down box for a quick overview of the assets and opportunities in East Devon: 

Welcome to the East Devon National Landscape

Covering ~268 km², East Devon National Landscape was designated in 1963 and spans around one-third of East Devon district, including parts of 30 parishes. The landscape includes dramatic Jurassic-coast cliffs, beaches and heritage-coast villages; inland, lowland heath (notably the ‘Pebblebeds’), wooded ridges and coombes, fertile river valleys, pasture and traditional hedged farmland. 

Rolling downland, hedged lanes, Devon-stone villages and historic farmsteads merge with remnants of Bronze Age, Iron Age and medieval human activity, from ancient hill-forts and barrows to vernacular buildings of cob, thatch and stone. 

The area supports a diverse mosaic of habitats; ancient woodland, heath, farmland, river valleys and coastal zones, making it a biodiversity hotspot with strong potential for nature recovery, flood-management, carbon storage and sustainable land use. 

Under its National Landscape Partnership, the area’s management plan (and accompanying strategies) seek to conserve this mosaic of geology, biodiversity and heritage while enabling responsible development, nature-based recreation, and sustainable agriculture and forestry.  

For businesses, East Devon offers clear opportunities: regenerative farming and hedgerow restoration; heathland and woodland carbon-sequestration; restoration of coastal and marine zones; low-impact tourism and recreation; ecological connectivity; and water-cycle regulation, delivering biodiversity gains, climate mitigation, community value and resilience. 

Natural capital assets and opportunities

Here are the key landscape character features found in East Devon that can form the base of exciting business project opportunities: 

• Coastal and marine habitats: cliffs, beaches, intertidal zones, coastal biodiversity, marine-tourism potential, coastal resilience. 
• Lowland heathland and woodland: carbon storage, biodiversity, pollination, habitat for specialist species. 
• Hedged farmland and pastoral land: food production, soil health, pollination, rural livelihoods. 
• River valleys, wetlands and coastal streams: water regulation, flood mitigation, water quality, groundwater recharge. 
• Cultural and historic landscape: heritage buildings, archaeological sites, landscape character, rural community value, tourism.