Pictures, sound and video all feature in a new website launched today, Wednesday 8th September 1999 by the Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust. The website featuring Lowland Heath is backed by East Devon District Council and English Nature.

Lowland Heath is one of Europe’s most endangered habitats. East Devon has a significant number of heaths stretching right across the district from Woodbury Common in the west to Trinity Hill in the east.

"Heathlands date from over 10,000 years ago" says the District Council’s Rural Affairs Officer Geoff Jones "They support a range of unique plants and animals. The launch of this website recognises the importance the Council attaches to this historic landscape".

The website has information on every significant Lowland Heath in East Devon. Contributors have included the RSPB and Forestry Commission as well as local landowners such as Clinton Devon Estates.

"This is the largest website on Lowland Heath in the world" says Steve Lawson who is the Director of the Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust which was responsible for the website. "Not only is there a mass of information on Lowland Heath but there are sounds of rare heathland birds such as the nightjar to listen to. At the click of a button visitors to the website can also access quality information held on computers as far away as the University of California. "

For the conservation professional there is extensive information on habitat management and restoration. "Over 75% of Britain’s lowland heath has been lost in just 50 years" says Dr Barbara Corker, the Offwell Trust’s ecologist, "it is vital not only to effectively manage existing areas but also to restore heathland areas which have been lost. The website has detailed reports on heathland restoration which shows how heathland can be restored. Putting this information on the Internet means that everyone can access it. The address is http://www.habitats.freeserve.co.uk".

The website will be officially launched on Wednesday 8th September by Councillor BCJ Hughes, Chairman of East Devon District Council at Trinity Hill Local Nature Reserve, Axminster at 10.30 am. The reserve covers 52 acres (21 hectares) of mainly acidic lowland heath and bracken. Several nationally rare or scarce species occur on the heath including the Nightjar and Dartford Warbler. Snipe are common. Both adders and common lizards are found on Trinity Hill.