Rare butterflies and birds could benefit from hedge restoration work at The Donkey Sanctuary, as part of a wider scheme to improve water quality and reduce flooding across parts of East Devon.

Staff have so far planted more than 500 young hedge trees to help restore and extend hedgerows at the charity's Woods Farm site near Sidmouth.

The trees, a mix of native species including beech, rowan, hawthorn, blackthorn and spindle, were planted as part of the Upstream Thinking Project and will reduce sediment and water run-off at the site, which will in turn help reduce the risk of flooding across the catchment of the nearby River Otter.

The Upstream Thinking Project is funded by South West Water and aims to improve water quality by providing grants and advice on various measures for landowners and managers located within river catchments. The project's partnership with the Woodland Trust enables them to provide free native trees.

The wildlife-friendly hedges will enrich the environment of the resident donkeys and provide a home for rare threatened farmland birds such as linnets and yellowhammers. It is also hoped that they will provide habitats for the rare brown hairstreak butterfly.

Hedges can play an important role in improving water quality and reducing flood risk because their presence can reduce the speed and amount of water running off the land following heavy rain, as well as reducing sediment run-off.

Hedgerows are important for wildlife as they provide connectivity across the landscape, allowing animals to disperse and travel between areas of suitable habitat.

A wide range of farmland and woodland birds depend on hedges for food and safe places to nest and take shelter. Hedges are also used by many species of bat for commuting and foraging, including the brown long-eared bat, of which there is a maternity colony roosting in the farmhouse.

Ruth Angell, Ecology and Conservation Manager at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: "We are very grateful to the Upstream Thinking project for helping us make these improvements. Hedges are a really important component of the landscape - visually, culturally and ecologically.

"We also think they are very important for our donkeys, as they give them shade, shelter and places to browse."

The trees were kindly provided by the Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT), a partner in the Upstream Thinking Project.

David Rolls, Working Wetlands Advisory Officerat the trust, said: "We are delighted to be able to team up with the Donkey Sanctuary in this way on this important project.

"The provision of free trees is just one of the ways we are working with a range of landowners in the Otter catchment who are undertaking some really significant work in the local area. It's all very positive".

To find out more about conservation volunteering with The Donkey Sanctuary email: [email protected]

For information on the Upstream Thinking Project, contact David Rolls, 07976 513 132, [email protected]