Whether your dog loves to dig holes in the sand, fetch sticks in the woods or sniff and swim, there really is something for everyone in South East Devon.
But, whilst all this fun is taking place, a huge variety of rare and protected wildlife lives, rests and feeds on our precious coast and countryside. Here you can find out more about these special places and how we can all help to protect them.
Dawlish Warren
During autumn and winter Dawlish Warren is home to thousands of wading birds and wildfowl that have migrated here from as far away as Siberia! Restrictions are in place for dog walking to ensure that the birds can thrive whilst people and dogs can still enjoy this globally important Nature Reserve.
In spring the Warren comes alive with thousands of wildflowers and if you’re lucky you may spot a sand lizard scuttling across the dunes. You will also see rare dune grassland, meadows, copses, reedbeds, ponds and saltmarsh.
All year round
Dogs are not permitted anywhere east of Groyne 9, including the beach, dunes and mudflats.
Dogs are welcome on short leads in the dunes and from the car park up to Groyne 9.
Dogs are welcome off lead on the beach between Groyne 3 and Groyne 9.
Between 1 April – 30 September
No dogs between Groyne 1 and Groyne 3
Between 1 October and 31 March
Dogs are welcome off lead on the whole beach up to Groyne 9.
The site is jointly owned and managed by Teignbridge District Council and Devon Wildlife Trust who work with Natural England to ensure that the whole site is managed for people and wildlife.
The Exe Estuary
At low tide when the mudflats are exposed, an abundance of invertebrate species make the estuary as rich in biodiversity as a tropical rainforest! In autumn and winter, the estuary is home to thousands of water birds feeding and roosting at Dawlish Warren, Exminster Marshes, Bowling Green Marsh and Exmouth Local Nature Reserve.
To find out more about the array of wildlife that can be seen on the Exe, download the “Exe Wildlife” leaflet.
The estuary is a popular place for dog walking, water sports, bait collecting, birding and fishing. It’s vital that we all share the estuary with the wildlife that depends on it for survival. Two wildlife refuges are in place to protect wildlife in the most crucial areas. Dog walkers and all other users are asked to avoid the wildlife refuges, which are identified with signage on the shore and yellow marker buoys, with “WR” in black lettering.
Off Exmouth: the refuge protects key feeding areas from 15 September until 31 December. This includes the foreshore, so dog walkers should avoid the area at the duck pond. All access to the foreshore should be via the slipway, turn left at the end of the slipway, to avoid the refuge.
Off Dawlish Warren: the refuge protects the estuary’s key feeding and resting areas all year round at all tidal states. No dogs or people are permitted near this part of the Warren, all year round.
East Devon Pebblebed Heaths
This area is made up of a number of different commons; Woodbury, Bicton, East Budleigh, Colaton Raleigh, Hawkerland, Aylesbeare, Harpford and Mutters Moor. This totals over 1400 hectares of lowland heath, the biggest single expanse of this type of habitat in Devon and one of the most important conservation sites in Europe!
The Pebblebed Heaths are a great place to explore with our dogs but they also support over 3000 species of wildlife, with dartford warbler, nightjar and stonechat being key bird species. Insects such as the southern damselfly and silver studded blue butterfly and reptiles such as adder, grass snake and common lizard also live across the heaths.
You can download more information on the wildlife on the Heaths and information on walking your dog.
A large proportion of the site is owned by Clinton Devon Estates and managed by the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and the RSPB. Devon Wildlife Trust also own and manage two reserves. Natural England provides guidance on the management and protection of the site.
Read more about the Pebblebed Dog code.