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Wildlife Reserves at Paignton Zoo
Protecting Landscapes as Well as Species
Beyond the animal habitats within the zoo grounds, Paignton Zoo is steward to two significant wildlife reserves.
Together, Primley Wildlife Reserve and Clennon Gorge Wildlife Reserve represent a commitment to protecting native ecosystems alongside global conservation work.
These landscapes are managed year-round for biodiversity, ecological resilience, and long-term habitat protection.
Primley Wildlife Reserve
A Public Green Space for Nature in Paignton
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Primley Wildlife Reserve is a free, publicly accessible green space on the edge of Paignton Zoo. Open year-round, it provides a valuable haven for local wildlife and a dog-friendly space for walkers seeking woodland, meadow, and seasonal change.
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The reserve is intentionally managed as a natural landscape. Terrain can be steep and muddy in places, and access is not fully level, but this informality is part of its character. Mature trees, wildflower meadows, and orchard planting support birds, pollinators, and small mammals throughout the year.
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For local residents, Primley offers one of the most peaceful nature walks in Paignton. For visitors to the zoo, it provides an added dimension to the experience: a reminder that conservation begins close to home.
Clennon Gorge Wildlife Reserve
Atlantic Temperate Rainforest and Ancient Karst Caves
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Clennon Gorge Wildlife Reserve lies within the zoo’s boundaries and contains one of southern England’s rarest habitats: Atlantic temperate rainforest.
Restricted access protects fragile habitats and sensitive species, ensuring the ecosystem remains intact.
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Characterised by high humidity, stable temperatures, and moss-draped woodland, this ecosystem supports a remarkable diversity of ferns, lichens, and bryophytes. Temperate rainforest in the UK is rarer than tropical rainforest globally, with only around 1% of Britain’s original habitat remaining.
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Visitors can explore a portion of this landscape via the zoo’s Nature Trail, where a zigzag path follows historic cart tracks once used to transport limestone from the former quarry to two surviving kiln ruins in Lemur Wood. The trail offers a quiet, immersive contrast to the main zoo pathways, winding beside a gentle stream through ancient woodland.
Beneath the Woodland: Clennon Valley Caves
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Beneath the Nature Trail lies one of Devon’s most scientifically significant underground systems: the Clennon Valley Caves, including Neale’s Cave, historically known as Lynx Cave.
Formed in Devonian limestone through phreatic solution processes, these karst caves preserve a 12,000-year environmental record. Ice Age fauna including horse, reindeer and lynx once sheltered here. Bronze Age human remains discovered within the cave system have contributed to ongoing genetic research into early British populations, with specimens now housed at the Natural History Museum.
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The caves contribute to the English Riviera’s UNESCO Global Geopark status, representing an exceptional combination of geological, palaeontological, archaeological, and ecological significance.
Today, the system serves as a critical hibernation site for legally protected Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats. The stable temperature, high humidity and complete darkness provide ideal conditions for overwintering colonies.
Access is tightly controlled to protect both bats and archaeological integrity. Managed entry, seasonal restrictions and ecological monitoring ensure the site remains protected for future generations.
Stewardship and Ecological Management
Both Primley and Clennon Gorge are managed through active ecological stewardship. Coppicing, habitat restoration, and seasonal management protect biodiversity while maintaining landscape resilience.
Fallen trees are an important part of woodland ecosystems. Where appropriate, timber is left in place to decay naturally, creating habitat for fungi, invertebrates, and small mammals, and returning nutrients to the soil. In some cases, wood may be repurposed sensitively within the reserves, reinforcing natural cycles while supporting visitor infrastructure.
Clennon Gorge presents additional responsibilities due to its vulnerable groundwater systems and cave ecology. Controlled access prevents disturbance to hibernating bats and safeguards the integrity of the cave environment.
Now under the ownership of Libéma, these wildlife reserves continue to be protected as integral components of Paignton Zoo’s wider conservation mission.
They stand as a reminder that conservation is not confined to distant continents... It begins beneath our feet.
Is Primley Wildlife Reserve free to visit?
Yes. Primley Wildlife Reserve is open year-round and free to access.
What is special about Clennon Gorge?
Clennon Gorge contains Atlantic temperate rainforest and a nationally significant karst cave system.
Can visitors access the Clennon Valley Caves?
No. Access is restricted to protect bats, archaeology and fragile cave ecosystems.
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