About the reserve

Chudleigh Knighton Heath is a heathland mosaic of gorse, heather and grassland. This was once the landscape which stretched for miles across what is known locally as the Bovey Basin. Today, the nature reserve is a reminder of what has been lost and also acts as a vital heathland home to some special wildlife.

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Know before you go

Size: 42 hectares

Grazing animals: Yes

Access: Terrain is rough and wet in places. The Ant Trail uses paths which are uneven and may be wet in places.

Dogs: On a lead

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Summer nights

From May to July an evening walk on Chudleigh Knighton's becomes a a magical experience thanks to the accompanying sounds of calling nightjars. These African migrant birds come to the reserve to breed and raise their young. By day they use their wonderful camouflage to stay hidden, but at night they take to the air and bring the reserve to life.

 

The nature reserve's ponds and areas of wet heathland also make this a great place to see dragonflies and damselflies.

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Take the ant trail

In May 2016 Devon Wildlife Trust and Hennock Parish Council opened an 'Ant Trail'. This leads visitors on a circular route through the reserve and back to the nearby village of Chudleigh Knighton.

The trail is named after the reserve's most famous local resident: the narrow-headed ant. Chudleigh Knighton is the only place in England in which the ant is still found.

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The above information is from Devon Wildlife's Trust website, for their website CLICK HERE