Exe Estuary Management Partnership

Exe Estuary Management Partnership Wildlife . Stewardship .

Engagement

A collaboration of partners and stakeholders, with the aim of sustainability protecting and enhancing the Exe Estuary for wildlife, user groups, and the public. The Exe Estuary Management Partnership (EEMP) coordinates collaborative estuary management across local authorities, environmental organisations, and community stakeholders. We work to protect the Exe’s unique wildlife and supp

ort sustainable recreation, by communicating and advocating the valuable work of our partners and stakeholders. Our work ensures that the estuary remains a thriving space for both nature and people:
- Supporting wildlife conservation and habitat protection
- Aiding monitoring and research
- Promoting sustainable recreation guidance
- Communicating policy and management coordination
- Initiating community engagement and volunteering
- Providing educational sessions and awareness campaigns
- Delivering estuary wide partnership projects

Follow this page for:
- Wildlife updates and seasonal reminders
- Estuary news and alerts
- Event announcements
- Community stories
- Photos from around the estuary
- Project and conservation updates

Learn More:
-Exe Estuary Management Plan:
https://www.exe-estuary.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2022/03/Exe-Estuary-Management-Plan-2022-2027-003.pdf

-Exe Estuary Codes of Conduct:
https://www.exe-estuary.org/visitor-information/codes-of-conduct/

-Link to sign up to newsletter:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDEVONCC/subscriber/topics?qsp=UKDEVONCC_exe_estuary

-Become a member of the partnership:
https://www.exe-estuary.org/get-involved/become-a-member/

15/06/2026

🌊⚓ The River Exe Regatta Continues ⚓🌊

⛵This Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June, the Regatta continues with more racing, more action on the water, and plenty of chances to enjoy the atmosphere along the Exe.⛵

☀️ Whether you’re planning to watch from the shore or take part in the events, it’s the perfect time to experience some of the amazing water recreation of the Exe. ☀️

👉 Full schedule & event info:
https://river-exe-regatta.org.uk/

12/06/2026

Wildlife Spotlight: Lugworm 🪱

🪱 Found beneath our feet along sandy shores, lugworms are fascinating engineers of the intertidal zone, playing a vital role in healthy coastal ecosystems. 🪱

🔎 Did you know?
Lugworms burrow by swallowing sand and mud, digesting nutrients, and leaving behind those distinctive coiled casts you see on the beach!

🪱 Appearance:
• Between 12–20cm long, varying in black, brown, pink or green tones
• Thick head tapering to a thin tail
• Small bristles (feet) on the underside for movement through sand

🍽 Diet:
• Tiny animals and decaying organic matter

⏳ Average lifespan:
• Around 5–6 years

🌍 Habitat: Marine and Intertidal, Mudflats, Beaches, Shoreline

📍 Location:
• Widespread across sandy and muddy coasts and estuaries of the UK

✔️ Responsible wildlife observation helps protect this species:
• Gently return any uncovered worms to where you found them
• Avoid disturbing birds feeding on worms
• Respect sensitive coastal habitats

Let’s protect our shorelines and the incredible species beneath the sand, so wildlife can thrive for generations to come. 💙

11/06/2026

Happy World Saltmarsh Day 🌿💙

🌊 Our saltmarshes are some of the UK’s most valuable coastal habitats, supporting birds, fish, mammals, and countless invertebrates🌊

🌱 They help fight climate change too, improving water quality and storing carbon up to 40 times faster than forests!

⚠️ But they’re under threat…
• Increasing temperatures and prolonged droughts are causing them to dry out,
• Rising sea levels and coastal development are squeezing them out of existence.

💬 A big way you can help:
• Have your say in the South West Water Draft Drought Plan Consultation,
• The plan sets out how South West Water identifies a drought, the actions they would take to mitigate its effects, and potential environmental impacts of those actions,
• By sharing your views, you can help influence how water is managed in the future, protecting vital habitats like saltmarshes.

👉 Take part here:
https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/water-resources/drought-plan/draft-drought-plan-

📩 Send your consultation to:
[email protected] and [email protected]

✔️ Every voice matters in protecting our coasts and tackling climate change

Let’s stand up for our saltmarshes! For wildlife, for our climate, and for future generations 🌍💚

10/06/2026

🌊⚓ River Exe Regatta 2026 is here! ⚓🌊

Get ready for a week of action on the water from Saturday 13th – Sunday 21st June 🗓️

From thrilling dinghy and multihull racing 🚤 to windsurfing, sea fishing competitions 🎣 and the iconic cruiser race to Brixham!

There’s something for everyone to enjoy along the Exe! ⛵

📍 Events across Exmouth, Starcross & Topsham

🏆 Grand prize giving at Starcross Yacht Club

Whether you’re competing, spectating, or just soaking up the atmosphere, don’t miss one of the highlights of the summer on the River Exe and Exe Estuary ☀️

👉 Find out more & see the full programme:
https://river-exe-regatta.org.uk/

🌊 Happy World Ocean Day 💙Today we’re celebrating our amazing oceans, and the wildlife and habitats that make places like...
08/06/2026

🌊 Happy World Ocean Day 💙

Today we’re celebrating our amazing oceans, and the wildlife and habitats that make places like the Exe Estuary so special.

🐚 From saltmarshes to mudflats, the Exe Estuary is full of life, and we’re proud to play a part in helping protect it.

📍 Come and see us!- 20th June (11am-5pm)
We’ll be at the Sustainable Seas event at Exeter Quayside, where you can learn more about the work we do to support and protect the Exe Estuary and its wildlife.

🌍 Discover how you can get involved, take action, and help safeguard our coastal environments for the future.

💬 Whether you’re passionate about marine life, climate action, or just love the coast, we’d love to chat with you!

👉 Find out more about the event:
https://exetercustomhouse.co.uk/event/sustainable-seas/

Let’s celebrate our oceans and work together to protect them 🌊💚

05/06/2026

🌍💙 Happy World Environment Day 💙🌍

🎉We're celebrating today with a special weekly wildlife spotlight focusing on Eelgrass 🎉

🌿 Often hidden beneath the surface, eelgrass is one of the Exe Estuary’s most valuable habitats—quietly supporting wildlife and helping tackle climate change. 🌊

🔎 Did you know?
Eelgrass helps capture and store carbon, playing an important role in reducing climate change.

🌱 Appearance:
• Underwater, grass-like plant
• Long, thin green leaves

🌼 Life:
• One of the only flowering plants that lives in the sea
• Produces flowers and seeds
• Spreads through underground stems (rhizomes)

🌍 Habitat:
• Found in shallow, sheltered waters like estuaries and bays
• In the Exe Estuary: along the eastern bank and Dawlish Warren Spit
• Grows in sandy seabed's in very shallow water

🐟 Why it matters:
• Provides a nursery habitat for marine life
• Vital food source for overwintering birds
• Helps stabilise sediment and improve water quality

✔️ Protect eelgrass habitats:
• Avoid walking on exposed beds
• Don’t disturb feeding birds
• Avoid anchoring or using propellers in these areas

Let’s protect these underwater meadows so they can continue supporting life in the Exe Estuary for generations to come 💙

03/06/2026

📚 Monthly Research Spotlight - Assessing Sedimentation and Siltation dynamics in the Exe Estuary 2024 ⛱️

⏰ This recent EEMP study brings together existing research, surveys and data to better understand how sediment moves around the Exe Estuary and how it is changing over time.

📝 The study combined LiDAR surveys, bathymetry mapping, historical charts and sediment core sampling to build a clearer picture of how the estuary has evolved and continues to

🔍 Key findings include:
✅ The estuary is a highly dynamic system, constantly reshaped by tides and waves
✅ Around 1.5 million m³ of sediment has been lost since 2007
✅ Most sediment comes from marine (sea) sources, not rivers
✅ Channels, sandbanks and shorelines are continually moving and changing

🔎 Study rationale – Why?
• Helps understand long-term erosion and sediment change
• Supports safe navigation by tracking channel movement
• Protects important wildlife habitats and feeding grounds
• Informs flood risk management and coastal defence
• Guides future sustainable estuary management

📢 The study highlights the need for continued monitoring and research to better understand sediment sources and manage this ever-changing environment. 📢

📰 Check out the study in more detail: https://www.exe-estuary.org/publications/studies-and-research/ 📰

01/06/2026

⏰ 1 DAY TO GO! ⏰

Join us tomorrow in Tiverton for the River Exe Connections workshop 🌊

Come along to meet others who care about the river, share ideas, and explore how we can work together to better protect and understand the Exe and its communities 💙

📍 Tiverton Town Hall
🗓️ Tuesday 2nd June
🕑 2–5pm

🌿 Whether you live, work, research or simply love the River Exe—everyone is welcome!

🔗 Find out more & register: lnk.bio/riverexe

29/05/2026

Wildlife Spotlight: Bar tailed Godwit

🪶Elegant long-distance travellers, bar-tailed godwits are remarkable migratory wading birds often found along our estuaries, mudflats, and coastal wetlands. 🪶

🔎 Did you know?
They have one of the worlds longest nonstop migration flight, with some covering over 7,000 miles.

🦆 Appearance:
• They are shorter-necked and legged than Black-tailed Godwits, and have slightly upturned bills.

🍽 Diet:
• Shellfish, Marine Snails,
Worms, and Shrimps

⏳ Average lifespan:
• Up to 5 years

🌍 Habitat: Marine and Intertidal, Wetland, Grassland

✔️ Responsible wildlife observation helps protect this species:
• Keep dogs under control and stick to paths
• Avoid disturbing feeding breeding, and resting wildlife
• Respect sensitive coastal habitats

Keep our estuaries, mudflats, and coastal habitats safe to support migratory birds like the bar-tailed godwit for generations to come. 💙

-tailed-godwit

Turn the Tide 2026 🌊 📣 Our first engagement event of the year - Completed!- Turn the Tide Festival at Dawlish College on...
26/05/2026

Turn the Tide 2026 🌊

📣 Our first engagement event of the year - Completed!- Turn the Tide Festival at Dawlish College on Saturday. 🙌

💙 Thank you to everyone who came and engaged with us and pledged their protection to help combat the warming climate. 💙

🍃 It was so great to hear how everyone enjoys the amazing landscape that is the Exe Estuary. 🍃

🗨️ We also had some great conversations about how we can help better connect the communities on the Eastern side with the Estuary. 🗨️

Amazing Engagement, Great discussions, More Actions to Come! ✊





Address

Devon County Council, Room 120, County Hall, Topsham Road
Exeter
EX24QD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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