The Wild Wonders of Cove Valley: Meet Your Neighbours
At Cove Valley, we like to keep things wild. Hidden in the heart of Devon, our 300-acre rewilding project is a playground for nature, where animals roam freely, and the landscape does the talking. Alongside our three handcrafted cabins (designed by the pros at HÁM Interiors), we’ve brought back a host of native wildlife and introduced a few new faces to the land.
Here’s the scoop on who you might bump into during your stay:
Longhorn Cattle
Our Old English longhorn cattle are not just beautiful with their sweeping horns and distinctive white stripe—they’re essential to the rewilding process. Acting as proxies for their ancient ancestors, the aurochs, these hardy beasts thrive year-round. Their unique grazing habits play a key role in habitat restoration. Using their horns to pull down branches, they not only graze on grass but also browse on leaves and twigs, promoting new growth and keeping vegetation in balance. These cattle are also natural seed spreaders, transporting over 100 plant species through their fur, hooves, and digestive systems.
Wild Boar
Often overlooked but never outworked, wild boars are the unsung heroes of rewilding. With their snouts in the dirt, they root around, uncovering soil and making way for new plants. Without them, the forest floor would be a far quieter place.
White Storks
Our white stork breeding programme is helping bring these iconic birds back to Britain’s skies. Known for their striking appearance and massive nests, white storks are vital players in ecosystems nationwide. Opportunistic feeders, they keep populations of small mammals, amphibians, and insects in check, contributing to a balanced environment. Their nests, built high in trees or even on buildings, often become mini ecosystems of their own, shared by species like sparrows and kestrels.
Our open grasslands and wetlands are the perfect habitat for white storks, providing the space they need to thrive and raise their young. During breeding season, they stay within a 5km radius of their nests, helping shape the land as they hunt while also contributing to the natural cycles of migration. By reintroducing these magnificent birds, we’re supporting their survival and enhancing Cove Valley's biodiversity.
Red Deer (aka Storm and Friends)
Our red deer, including the mighty Storm, roam the woodlands elegantly. The yearlings are skittish but curious, often giving a fleeting glance before vanishing into the trees. Keep your camera ready—you never know when one might appear.
Beavers
Nature’s very own architects. Beavers build dams, creating wetlands that support biodiversity. Their handiwork doesn’t just look cool; it also brings life to all sorts of other creatures, from birds to bugs. They’re the ultimate team players.
Scottish Wild Cats
With their sharp reflexes and wild hearts, Scottish wild cats are as fierce as they are rare. They’re tough to spot, but knowing they’re out there adds a bit of magic to every walk through the woods.
Ponies
Our ponies are the quiet souls of Cove Valley. With their calm demeanor, they’ll give you a knowing look as you pass by, and they might approach you for a sniff.
Feathered & Furry Friends
Cove Valley is home to more than just the big animals. Our skies are full of swallows, diving gracefully in search of insects, and mallard ducks paddling through the wetlands, keeping the ecosystem in check. You’ll find the shy but important hazel dormouse on the ground, which we’ve been helping to protect through the national dormouse monitoring scheme. From air to land, these small creatures play a big part in the thriving biodiversity here.
A Slice of Wilderness
Beyond the animals, our rewilding project is about reconnecting people with nature. We’ve let the land take the lead, creating a patchwork of habitats for both wildlife and people to enjoy. From foxes to badgers, swallows to hawks, there’s always something to see if you keep your eyes peeled.
So, whether you’re here for a full-on nature detox or just a weekend escape, you’ll be surrounded by wildlife that’s as untamed as it is beautiful. Ready to meet your wild neighbours?
We can’t wait to welcome you to Cove Valley, where nature does the hard work, and all you have to do is soak it in.
