Luxury Self Catering holiday Cottage at South Beer Devon UK

The Stone Barn and South Beer at Beer Mill, Devon

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Nature Trails

Beer Mill Nature Walks
Beer Mill is a private nature reserve owned by Dick and Elaine Green. It lies east of the A388 in the village of Clawton, mainly on the side of a valley sloping down to the Claw river, a tributary of the Tamar.

The entire farm holding covers 130 acres or 55 hectares of varied habitat including County Wildlife site species rich culm grassland, pasture, scrub, ancient broadleaved and newly planted woodland, quarry and wetland habitats including a variety of ponds and stream. Beer Mill was accepted into Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme in March 2010 and has won gold awards from the Devon Wildlife Trust since 2003 for working for the benefit of Devon’s wildlife


No pesticides or fertilisers are added to the land, slowly allowing the biodiversity of the wildlife to flourish. Grazing is restricted and hay harvested late in order to allow wild flowers to set seed. With help from the Devon Wildlife Trust, Leader + and many local friends, neighbours and workforce hedgerows are being restored and wildlife habitat is being maintained, improved and even extended.

Encouraged by our gold awards from DWT, our involvement with Natural England, our earlier grant from the Leader+ Access the Countryside fund and the successful completion for Elaine of the Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme Beer Mill’s four nature walks have now been completed. The walks follow 4 interconnected waymarked routes of varying lengths and cover a huge range of wildlife habitat with views over open countryside, with rest and information points, fun quiz sheets and nature activities.

Beer Mill is home to a wide range of flora and fauna ; from large mammals (red deer, badgers, fox and possibly otter) to small mammals (mice, voles, moles, squirrel, rabbits and we hope in the future to encourage the dormouse to return); from ferns to mosses, tunnel spiders to dragonflies, colourful and yet poinsonous fungi to a range of delicate, bright and beautiful wildflowers (from snowdrops to pyramidal orchids throughout the year), hunters (kestrels, buzzards and owls) to small garden birds (blue tits, bullfinches, greater spotted woodpeckers, longtailed tits) and hedgerow dwellers (wrens, goldcrests, goldfinches and we hope the large, scrape pond will prove a magnet to passing visitors such as herons and a variety of waders.

Visitors Guests at South Beer have access to Beer Mill nature reserve during all daylight hours, except during extreme weather conditions or during maintenance work when the walks are closed for safety reasons. Members of the local community, holiday visitors and interest groups are welcome to take part in our special events and open days. Please contact Elaine and Dick for planned activities, dates and times. There is an email/phone list for those people who would like to be notified of future events.

Schools and wildlife watch groups Students and other educational groups are welcome at Beer Mill by arrangement with Elaine and Dick, please phone or email to arrange a planning visit (Elaine will be happy to visit your school) or discuss your requirements. We can tailor visits with a range of activities from bug hunting to pond dipping, bird watching to wild flower orienteering and educational activities prepared for us by the Devon Wildlife Trust Education officer. Visitors with special needs Guests at South Beer Farmhouse and the Stone Barn have access to Beer Mill Nature Trails during all daylight hours except during extreme weather conditions or during ongoing restoration/maintenance work when nature trails may be partially closed for safety reasons, please observe diversions and local notices at such times. All visitors please observe all safety information and general advice

Contact details
Elaine and Dick Green
Beer Mill Farm
Clawton
Nr Holsworthy
Devon EX22 6PF
Telephone: 01409 253 093
Fax: 01409 259415
Email : enquiries@selfcateringcottagesdevon.co.uk

Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs

General advice and safety information
Beer Mill Nature Walks are through private land with access by prior permission from Elaine and Dick Green only.
All children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult
Dogs must be kept under close control at all times and kept on a lead when livestock is in the fields
Please pick up after your dog
Wear suitable robust footwear - routes cover uneven, steep and slippery ground
Wear suitable, protective clothing
Do not eat and always wash your hands thoroughly after your visit
Stick to the waymarked routes - danger of sinking mud and other hazzards
Do not pick flowers, plants or fungi
Take your litter home
Only use the walks during daylight hours unless authorised
Walks are closed during high winds, storms or other severe weather conditions and during necessary maintenance work such as tree surgery.
Leave gates as you find them and follow the Country Code
Do not climb, swing or play or any of the gates or fences