08 Jan 2026

2025 has been a fantastic year for the Wild East Devon team, marked by some truly impressive achievements - none more so than the incredible dedication of our volunteers. Over the past year, volunteers contributed more than 6,500 hours of their time, work that equates to nearly £80,000 worth of contractual value. We were also delighted to welcome 60 new volunteers, bringing our total to a brilliant community of over 200 active volunteers.

From practical conservation work on our nature reserves to vital public-facing roles, our volunteers are at the very heart of everything we do. Their passion, commitment, and generosity make an enormous difference, and we simply couldn’t achieve what we do without them.

So, of course, we wanted to say thank you.

To celebrate, we treated our volunteers to a relaxing two-hour Stuart Line Cruise along the River Exe. Setting sail from Exmouth Marina, we cruised upriver to Topsham, enjoying spectacular views of the estuary and its abundant wildlife along the way. Volunteers were treated to sightings of Brent Geese, hundreds of Avocets, Curlew, Redshank, and much more - a real highlight for many onboard.

Let's not forget the lazy seals who didn't batter an eyelid as we sailed past!

While the top deck was a little blustery, there was plenty of warmth below deck, where volunteers enjoyed hot drinks and a generous cake buffet (which proved very popular!). It was a wonderful opportunity to relax, reflect, and celebrate together.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers that joined us on the day, and for every hour they give throughout the year. Your support is invaluable, and without you, the East Devon Countryside team simply couldn’t achieve what we do.

Here’s to another fantastic year ahead! 🌿