The Natural History of Slapton Ley | Site Description

A Chronology of Slapton Ley

2007          Information Centre redesigned and refurbished at Slapton Ley Field Centre.

2006          New viewpoint installed overlooking Southgrounds marsh, linking Marsh Lane with the new boardwalk.

2006          Southgrounds boardwalk renewed at a cost of £25,000.  Former permissive route re-designated as public right of way.

2006          Keith Chell Head of SLFC since 1984 dies.

2005          Disabled access improved with creation of new viewing platform at Slapton Bridge.

2005          Permissive footpath from Torcross to Stokenham opens.

2005          Upgraded Slapton sewage works opens accepting Torcross waste and discharging treated sewerage is sea via return pipeline, heralding cessation of sewerage discharge into Lower Ley.

2005          5 year moratorium on fishing on Lower Ley. 

2004          WWCT acquires 12 hectares at Loworthy. 

2004          Re- notification and extension to SSSI.

2004          Slapton Cycleau Project commences.

2003          Replacement bird hide for Torcross.

2003          Slapton Sands Memorial rebuilt on new site following storm damage 2001.

2002          Inland re-alignment of damaged section A379 north of Slapton turn following storm damage in 2001. 

2001          Section of A379 damaged in January storm necessitating road closure. Single carriageway with temporary traffic lights opened in April.

1999          Reconstruction and repair of weir at Torcross.

1999          New bird ringing cabin constructed adjacent Slapton Bridge (Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society [DBWPS]). 

1997          Abundant submerged macrophytes dominated by Canadian Pondweed - water clear all year. 

1996          First record of breeding Bittern. 

1993          Slapton Ley designated a National Nature Reserve.

1991          Aerial photographs show 75% of Higher Ley as reedbed.

1990          10 year extension of lease with Whitley Trust

1988          First 5 Year Management Plan

1984          SSSI re-notification (Wildlife and Countryside Act1981)

1984          Winter kill leads to dramatic reduction in fish stocks.

1976          Drought leads to very low water level.  Lower and Higher Leys separated; Lower Ley thought to have been triggered into hypereutrophic state.

1973          Aerial photographs.  

1972          Middle car park constructed on site of former Royal Sands Hotel.

1970          Sampling of input streams commences.  

1967          Peak of sediment discharge into Ley due to increased ploughing and grazing in catchment. 

1961          Meteorological observations begin at SLFC. 

1960          Reserve head lease(Herbert Whitley Trust/FSC) and sub-lease(FSC/District) executed.

1959          Slapton Ley Field Centre established.  

1955          Herbert Whitley dies. 

1954          SSSI notification (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1949). 

1953          Slapton Sewage Treatment Works connected to a substantial number of new properties. 

1951          Aerial photograph. 

1945          First aerial photograph shows 84% of Higher Ley as reedbed.  

1944          D-Day practice landings.  

1943          Evacuation of Slapton and surrounding parishes. 

1934/35      Slapton/ Blackawton sewage treatment works commissioned. 

192?           Torcross weir raised.  

1921           Drought  

1921           Herbert Whitley buys the Stokely Estate from Sir Robert Newman.                   

1910           Dominant farming in catchment changes from arable/sheep to dairy/improved pasture. 

1905           2nd Ed. OS 1:2500scale maps show Higher Ley with complete reed cover.

1886           1st Ed. OS 1:2500 scale maps. 

1856           Weir and culvert built at Torcross to enable road to be built from Slapton Cellars to Torcross; results in increased water levels in Ley, initial deepening of the Ley and increased residency time. 

1827           First accurate map survey of the area by Greenwood.  

1824           (Nov.) replacement Slapton Bridge built after previous (with two spans) damaged by storm flow. 

1765           First large scale map of area by Benjamin Donn. 

1737           Lime kilns in existence at Slapton Cellars.

17??           Causeway built at Slapton Bridge.    

1522           Drawbridge present at Slapton Bridge.  

1086           Slapton Wood mentioned in Domesday Book.  

  175           Interruption of peats by a brief marine incursion.   

  980 BC     First freshwater peats from Lower Ley.  

3000 BC    A stable proto-barrier constructed allowing peats to form at Beesands.

5000 BC    Brackish lagoons and estuarine conditions dominate.   

10000 BC  Shingle material carried inland by rising sea levels after Ice Age.