About Tidcombe Fen Nature Partnership

Tidcombe Lane Fen in Tiverton was designated as an SSSI in 1988 as a good example of a type of wetland fen habitat that that is now nationally scarce and rare in Devon. The 10.7 hectare site occupies the shallow valley of the Ailsa Brook, a tributary of the River Lowman. The soils are mainly waterlogged throughout the site, supporting fen meadow vegetation. In the wettest parts of the site there are significant stands of tussock sedge, sometimes standing over one metre in height. The combination of this, the lesser pond sedge dominated fields, and the wet woodland shows that this is an undisturbed and wild habitat with a complete reliance for its extent and quality on the continuous uncontaminated water supply and high water table.