Rattery Environment Group

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Rattery Environment Group is a small, volunteer-run charity which works closely with the Parish Council to improve our local environment. We have opened a new permissive path in the village, planted new hedging in the playground, given a free tree and wildflowers to every parishioner. We have created a new nature reserve in the heart of the village. We are also a founder member of the Bidwell Brook Partnership.

The Rattery Environment group has grown! Our charity now encompasses Dartington as well as Rattery, with a trustee appointed from each of our local parish councils. It acts as an ‘umbrella’ group for its constituent projects, the Rattery Environment Group, its equivalent in Dartington and the Bidwell Brook Partnership, all working to maintain and improve the environment along the Bidwell valley.

Volunteers for the group are always welcome.
Contact them on: environment@ratteryvillage.co.uk.

Parish Councillor Richard Haigh and County Councillor Dan Thomas open the Rattery Natures Reserve on Saturday 12 July 2025.

Thank you to Adrian Antrum for the video.

Following the opening speeches parishioners walked around the reserve

1 Waiting for the opening

2 Listening to the opening speeches

3 The new notice board

4 Starting the walk around the reserve

5 Walking around the reserve

6 Walking around the reserve

7 Walking around the reserve

8 Walking around the reserve

9 Walking around the reserve

St Mary’s Church from the reserve

Thank you to Adrian Antrum and Kim Howard for images

Bidwell Brook Partnership

The Bidwell Brook

Home to iconic species including otters, kingfishers and, within living memory, brown trout and even salmon. The Brook rises in Rattery and winds its way through the beautiful Bidwell Valley and Dartington, before entering the River Dart at Totnes. Although the Brook is only 9,489km (just under 6 miles) long, it has a catchment area, including its various tributaries, of 13.107 km2/1310.67 ha.

Troubled Waters

Whilst it still looks beautiful in many sections, all is not well with this small but important stretch of water. So, concerned local groups and individuals have come together to form the Bidwell Group Partnership (BBP) to help conserve, nurture and restore this valuable habitat. Our work has become all the more urgent due to the impact of global warming on local flooding, drought and effects on wildlife.

Website

The Bidwell Brook is Making Waves

Bidwell Brook Living Laboratory

There was a fantastic Research Symposium held in January 2026 in Rattery, bringing together around 35 people from various universities and organisations (including the Environment Agency) to talk all about the Bidwell Brook Living Laboratory. Read more (PDF file)

Kim Howard, Bidwell Brook Partnership