South Devon National Landscape

South Devon National Landscape, from wild cliffs and estuarine inlets to sheltered farmland and wooded valleys, presents a rich natural-capital canvas.

Its dramatic coastline, fertile soils, diverse habitats and living traditions provide a powerful foundation for sustainable investment in marine and land-based nature recovery, regenerative agriculture and heritage-driven tourism.  

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

Welcome to South Devon National Landscape 

Covering approximately 337 km², South Devon was first designated in 1961 (as an AONB), and is now one of the 46 National Landscapes under the new designation. The landscape stretches from Berry Head in the east to the outskirts of Plymouth in the west and includes rolling countryside, wooded valleys, historic villages, ria-type estuaries, waveswept coasts, hidden coves and sandy beaches.  

Habitats include salt marshes, reedbeds, eelgrass, coastal grasslands, ancient oak woodlands, farmland with flowering hedgerows, pastures, cliffs, dunes, shorelines, and estuarine inlets, supporting rich biodiversity, marine life, farmland species, birds, and coastal/marine ecosystems. Traditional mixed farming remains central: around 74% of the landscape is farmland.  

The National Landscape Partnership works to promote nature recovery, sustainable farming, coastal resilience, biodiversity, and a living, working rural economy that balances local livelihoods, heritage and ecological sustainability.  

For businesses, South Devon offers opportunities in sustainable agriculture and soil health, coastal and marine conservation, habitat restoration (wetlands, woodlands, estuaries), ecotourism and recreation, carbon and natural-capital investment, and community-oriented heritage and landscape enhancement. 

Natural capital assets and opportunities

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

• Coastal & marine ecosystems: beaches, cliffs, estuaries, intertidal zones, marine biodiversity, recreation, coastal resilience. 
• Wetlands, salt-marsh, reedbeds, eelgrass: flood management, water filtration, carbon storage, biodiversity. 
• Pasture, farmland, hedgerows: food production, soil health, pollination, landscape character, rural livelihoods. 
• Ancient woodlands & woodland patches: carbon storage, biodiversity, habitat connectivity. 
• Cultural & historic landscape: villages, heritage buildings, traditional land use, tourism potential, community identity.