Green light for Clyst Meadows!

Planning approval has been granted for Clyst Meadows Country Park, a new public greenspace at Broadclyst Station.

Spanning 10 hectares, this beautiful country park will serve as a natural retreat, offering residents and visitors a safe and scenic environment to connect with nature. The park will feature a variety of walking paths, providing accessible routes for people to explore the outdoors. Dog owners will benefit from a dedicated, secure space to let their dogs roam freely. Additionally, there will be parking for 16 cars (including disabled spaces) and cycle parking. This new space is also an opportunity for local schools to use as an outdoor classroom setting.

Clyst Meadows is set to enhance the local ecosystem with hedgerows and mature trees that are already home to a diverse range of wildlife, including invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. The park is expected to achieve over 10% Biodiversity Net Gain*, helping to protect and enrich the natural environment.

The park will also offer safe walking and cycling routes, linking Minerva Country Park with Cranbrook Country Park, both of which are part of the larger Clyst Valley Regional Park. It will also deliver part of the Station Road-Mosshayne strategic cycle route.

In March 2023, a public consultation was held, and we have taken feedback into account, including: increasing the size of the car park and relocating to the south; ensuring gates and paths are accessible to all; and enhancing the biodiversity of the site.

Clyst Meadows is owned by East Devon District Council and will be managed by the East Devon Countryside Team in partnership with Broadclyst Parish Council and the local community. The park will also offer opportunities for volunteering and educational activities, email countryside@eastdevon.gov.uk if you would like to get involved.

Cllr Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment, said:

“We are really excited that this important area of public open space can now go ahead. Clyst Meadows will be hugely valuable to local people, offering them the opportunity to spend time in nature, which will have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing."

“We look forward to welcoming everyone to this exciting new space where they can enjoy nature and take part in community activities.”

Cllr Henry Massey, Chair of Broadclyst Parish Council, said: "Clyst Meadows Country Park is a wonderful step forward in realizing the Broadclyst Neighbourhood Plan’s vision to protect and enhance our green spaces. It will provide a beautiful place for residents to connect with nature, while promoting sustainability and biodiversity. We’re proud to support this project for the benefit of our community."

*Biodiversity Net Gain refers to the measurable improvement of biodiversity at the site.

Ben Morgan-Brown, East Devon District Council’s Nature Reserves Ranger, said: "I’m really looking forward to this wonderful site opening to the public. Balancing the needs of nature and people is an essential part of our work in the Countryside Team. Clyst Meadows will provide ample opportunities for both, with new volunteer groups and educational visits for local schoolchildren engaging the community, and habitat improvements to ditches, hedgerows, and meadows improving the site for nature too."