The purpose of The Braunton Countryside Centre is to help people living in and visiting the area to have a better understanding of their environment, enabling them to get more out of it.
Throughout the year, Braunton Countryside Centre hosts exhibitions, talks, film shows and walks helping people to better understand the plants, wildlife and geology of the area.
Across the road from the Braunton Countryside Centre is the Braunton Museum which provides a fascinating insight into Braunton’s past and development over the years.
Schools
Braunton is a fantastically rich educational resource and attracts visiting school groups throughout the year. Some come to study the plants on the Braunton Burrows which are UNESCO protected as they do not grow anywhere else in the world.
Others come to study The Great Field as an example of farming history that in most parts of the UK has long been replaced. There are only two places in the UK now that still make use of the open strip, shared field approach still in use on Braunton’s Great Field.
Velator wetlands
A further resource is offered by Velator Wetlands, a wetland site which the Environment Agency and Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service invite people to see as a wonderful recreational and educational resource for the area. It is a haven for wildlife, fauna and flora and so facilities have been kept to a minimum.
Wholelife project
For students with learning disabilities, Wholelife is a specialist day centre based on a small holding near Braunton at Ashford. Close to the Tarka Trail and the North Devon countryside, clients attend the farm to work on a bespoke placement plan which is tailored to meet their individual needs. For more information, please see the Wholelife web-site.