Wildlife and nature conservation

Plymouth has a particularly wide range of wildlife on account of its coastal position and the fact that the southern parts of the city lie on Devonian Limestone whilst the northern parts lie on Devonian Shillets. These very different geologies give rise to diverse soils with the shillets producing acid soils and the limestone more calcareous soils.

As a result of these different soil types, plants which only tolerate calcareous soils are found growing on the limestone and those requiring more acid conditions are found growing on the shillet. However, there is a wide range of plants that can put up with both, and these are widespread throughout the city. Similarly, many invertebrates (animals without backbones) are restricted to certain parts of the city simply because the plants they depend on for food are limited in their range by the soils in which they can grow.

Since Plymouth is a coastal city, the animals and plants which live close to the sea are often rather specialised because they have to be able to tolerate high levels of salt that is blown in off the sea by the wind.

Another factor that enriches the city's wildlife is the large variety of habitats found ranging from coastal cliffs, to saltmarshes, limestone grassland, ancient woodlands, heaths and marshes. Each attracts particular animals and plants. The commercial and industrial history of Plymouth has also had a major impact on the citys wildlife and has left a legacy of abandoned works such as obsolete quarries and disused railway tracks which provide artificial habitats favoured by yet other groups of animals and plants.

Information relating to the diversity and density of the flora and fauna of the local countryside is held by Devon Biodiversity Records Centre. They are responsible for the collection of data and conducting surveys in order to monitor Devon's Biodiversity.