A new five year plan to protect and improve the Tamar Valley has been adopted.
Earlier this month Devon County Council’s Cabinet approved the Tamar Valley National Landscape Management Plan, setting out priorities for nature, climate and local communities up to 2031.
The Tamar Valley is one of Devon’s protected landscapes, recognised for its natural beauty and importance and it includes part of the Cornwall and West Devon World Heritage Site.
The new plan provides a shared vision for how the area will be cared for and enhanced over the coming years.
It has been developed with partners across Devon and Cornwall and will guide how organisations work together to support the area’s environment, economy and communities.
The plan focuses on three main themes – nature, climate, and people and place – with actions aimed at protecting wildlife, tackling climate change and supporting sustainable farming and land use.
It also sets out a long-term ambition for the Tamar Valley to be a thriving, resilient landscape where communities and nature can flourish together.
The council is required by law to have management plans in place for its protected landscapes and to keep them up to date.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:
“The Tamar Valley is a special place, valued by local communities and visitors alike.
“Straddling the border between Devon and Cornwall, the Tamar Valley National Landscape has a distinctive steeply sloping wooded landscape and strong cultural legacy of industrial heritage and market gardening.
“National Landscapes are designated because of their special qualities and this is what makes Tamar Valley different from the others
“This new plan sets a clear direction for how we protect what makes it unique, while also responding to the challenges we face, particularly around climate change.
“It’s about working in partnership to look after the landscape, support nature, and help local communities thrive, now and for the future.”
Work on the plan has included public consultation, with events held locally and feedback gathered from residents, stakeholders and organisations.
There is no direct cost to adopting the plan. Delivery will be supported through the work of partner organisations, including the council, as part of its existing responsibilities.