Introduction - Devon Estuaries DE2301

Devon Estuaries

Devon is fortunate in having ten estuaries of its own and an eleventh that it shares with Cornwall. Ten of these estuaries flow into the south coast of Devon inclusive of one shared with Cornwall whilst just one flows into the north coast of Devon. Probably nowhere offers a greater variety of scenic interest than an estuary. The estuary includes the features of both river and coast combining these to produce a landscape of unique value in both geographical and ecological terms. Each is different, but all are places of remarkable beauty and interest. Some have sheltered, secret places, the steep banks of their creeks and channels clothed in dense woodland. Others are spacious with vast mud-flats, sandbanks and salt marshes stretching almost as far as the eye can see. For thousands of years these fertile grounds have supported a rich and varied community of plants and animals and have afforded a winter haven for migratory birds. Along with this natural environment and the associated wildlife are the signs of manmade historical development both of the waterway itself but also the surrounding hinterland. The various communities and buildings that developed alongside an estuaries water’s edge each give a unique insight into how humans lived, worked, worshipped and survived under often very demanding circumstances. Unusually with an estuary setting this included the constant threat of direct invasion from the open sea and the need for defences to protect these communities from such attacks.

The estuary locations are rich in history. Generations of fishermen, explorers, colonists, sailors and adventurers have set sail from these estuary shores. Whilst many others have sought local shelter in stormy weather relieved to be within the sheltered estuary. Inevitably estuaries provided all manner of local supplies to restock vessels before they commenced their journeys often taking on board a variety of locally sourced food supplies. For some geographically suitable estuaries it allowed for the growth of ship building and ship maintenance businesses that acquired famous reputations based upon their fine Devonshire workmanship and their own classic local design brands.

For centuries the estuaries provided the routes for both travel and trade in a county whose topography made moving around difficult. Today the estuaries still play a major role in daily life although they are more focussed upon the leisure industries than supporting any commercial transport. The importance of boating and sailing as pastimes along with providing the many tourist popular natural refuges protecting both local plant and wildlife are a priority. This is reflected in the active work undertaken by Local Councils, Local Voluntary Societies and the more formal Conservation Organisations. All looking to safeguard the character and natural beauty of these areas from the many threats looking to destroy their settings with in particular these days the threat from global Climate Change. Estuaries with their very delicate natural geographical structures are very easily exposed to the impact of adverse changes. Water flow rates, both tidal and that of the natural in flowing estuary streams, along with water quality, both chemical and biological, have to be carefully monitored. The ongoing commercial development threats from the changing tourist and leisure industries which impact traffic patterns along with holiday renting and property ownership practices has an economic impact on the estuary areas. In particular the impact of second home owners not using their properties enough whilst short rental property lettings creating too much unpopular activity.

List of Devon Estuaries

1. Axe Estuary

2. Otter Estuary

3. Exe Estuary

4. Teign Estuary

5. Dart Estuary

6. Kingsbridge Estuary

7. Avon Estuary

8. Erme Estuary

9. Yealm Estuary

10. Tamar Estuary

11. Taw and Torridge Estuary (North Coast)

 

 

Preface by David Bannister

 

So as the author why did I decide to create a knowledge base just about Devon Estuaries? I have used the term knowledge base since having currently written it I have no idea how I get this to my readership. Finding a readership is not easy these days and without one what was the point of writing it in the first place? Social media do not want more than a paragraph of text and preferably less. The pictorial social media sites only want pictures and no supporting narrative. Dedicated websites or blogging sites have become less fashionable. With the dedicated websites becoming quite costly to run from the author’s perspective with monthly fees and so forth. Failure to pay monthly results in your site disappearing and your web name being put up for auction to the highest bidder. Books be they eBooks or printed Hard Cover or Soft Paperbacks are deemed unwanted household clutter. Making it freely available from within the “Cloud” is a good option but how do you then channel your readership into finding it. Wasn’t life supposed to get simpler? So leave me to work out how to get this piece of work in front of your eyes. If you don’t see it I have failed but I will never know.

 

So why Devon Estuaries? As a youngster my parents, Bill and Mary Bannister, took me and my sister, Sandra, to visit Shaldon sited on the Teign Estuary opposite Teignmouth. Shaldon has classic Georgian architecture and along the length of the village offers excellent views across the Teign Estuary to Teignmouth. The popular tourist treat, apart from ice creams, is taking the boat trip across the Teign River to Teignmouth and back. Visits to Shaldon and holidays there continued through my adult life. This continued through to retirement with Jenny, my wife, and me taking our children, Helen and Alan, to visit Shaldon.

 

Whilst staying in Shaldon I always ended the day with a walk along the Teign Estuary remaining on the sand and shale near the water’s edge as long as possible. The really stimulating thing was when the high evening tide roared into the estuary ideally being pushed in by a wind blowing in an easterly direction. There are few places where you can witness such an aggressive high rising tide filling up the estuary and flooding over the top of central sandbank called “The Salty”. This is a spectacular twice daily event often with the high tides and local weather adding to the drama. Although little publicised nationally or internationally it is one of nature’s hidden natural wonders performed twice daily. A common holiday ritual is to sit with family by the estuary edge at Shaldon on a bench eating either a summer picnic with wine or fish and chips watching this tidal event unfold preferably in the  evening with the sun setting.

 

It was then not much of a step to want to visit all the other Devon Estuaries although none has such a spectacular tidal flow as the Teign Estuary. In fact in a number of cases you would struggle to see any tidal movement although it does eventually get there extending the tidal waters reach to the top of the estuary. Any estuary enthusiast soon wants to ensure they have visited the end of a tidal flow for all the estuaries visited. A sort of personal life’s goals challenge list. So why just limit it to Devon? Well it has to be something that is manageable within a lifetime so travelling around eleven estuaries seems a reasonable possibility. Although my health circumstances, heart problem, has now made this an impossibility in terms of physical visits. So this, thanks to Google Maps and Street Views, has become a virtual exercise although when possible the images captured virtually are to be replaced by real photographs taken by me at the real location. Good excuse to holiday down in Devon again.

 

So let us look at each of the estuaries in detail. Enjoy.

 

David Bannister

March 2023.