September 2025
As we implement voluntary car park donations, you may have questions about the scheme. This document is intended to answer the most frequently asked questions.
The Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust welcomes about 1 million visits to our sites every year. We balance growing visitor numbers with site management and the conservation of endangered species who make the heaths their home. In coming years, we have plans to provide more opportunities for people to learn and experience the heaths and, critically, to protect it from the growing challenges of climate change and increased footfall.
A variety of funding streams like grant funding, commercial activities and donations from the public all help us to fund management work on the reserve. We believe voluntary car park donations will generate a sustainable source of income to reinvest in the care of the reserve and maintenance of facilities in the long term.
Voluntary parking contributions will directly support the work that keeps the heaths special – for wildlife, for people today, and for generations to come. By making a voluntary contribution, you’ll be helping to care for these nationally important habitats, protect rare species, and ensure the reserve remains a welcoming, well-maintained, and resilient place to visit long into the future.
Your support will help us:
We receive no direct funding for maintaining visitor infrastructure like car parks and paths, or emptying dog bins, so contributions really do make a difference. Every donation helps us keep the heaths safe, accessible, and nature-rich, now and for the future.
Yes, and it always will be. Much of the Pebblebed Heaths are common land, and under the Commons Act 2006 are designated as open access land. This means everyone has the legal right to explore the heaths on foot, free of charge, in line with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. That right is protected now and for the future.
Driving or parking on the site, however, is not a public right. The voluntary car park contribution scheme helps us manage visitor infrastructure and protect the heaths for wildlife and people alike, but it is entirely voluntary. There is no obligation to donate and no penalty if you choose not to.
We know everyone’s circumstances are different. If you’re not able to give right now, there are other ways to support the reserve: join us at an event, practice the Pebblebed Code, or sign up for our Friends of the Common newsletter.
Yes, we received funding known as a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from East Devon District Council to improve eight car parks: Four Firs, Woodbury Castle, Estuary View, The Warren, Model Airfield, Wheathills, Uphams, and Joney’s Cross. Roadside improvements took place at Stowford, Frying Pans and Squabmoor. The purpose of this CIL funding was to mitigate the impact of increased footfall on the heaths resulting from local development. It has helped to focus and improve access, ensure the heaths stay a safe and enjoyable place to explore and to protect wildlife and heritage. As a result of this funding there is now improved car park surfacing, improved access for emergency vehicles and increased visibility in the car parks which helps reduce theft, criminal incidents, and antisocial behaviour. It also allowed us to improve interpretation highlighting the wildlife and cultural value of the heaths and support positive behaviours of those who visit.
That funding was a one-off capital investment for the refurbishment of key existing carparks but does not include any funding for their ongoing maintenance nor does it include any contribution towards our overall conservation and education work on the wider reserves. With more visitors coming every year, pressure is increasing on the car parks and environment, so we are now seeking these voluntary car park contributions to help us meet this need.
This scheme will roll out in October 2025, with the exact date to be confirmed.
We recommend the following contributions* based on the duration of your visit:
Visits up to 1 hour: £1.00
Visits up to 2 hours: £2.00
All day: £5.00
*Additional fees including RingGo transaction fees and/or credit card processing fees may apply.
The most effective way to support the Pebblebed Heaths is to donate via our website. You can choose any amount, set up a monthly or annual gift, and know that your regular contribution helps us plan conservation work with confidence. It’s also the best-value option for us and for you, as it avoids platform fees and lets you boost your gift at no extra cost through Gift Aid. And as a small thank-you, if you set up a regular gift of £5/month or £50/year, we’ll send you a Heathland Supporter windshield sticker so you can proudly show your support for this special place.
Donating via RingGo is still a brilliant choice for many visitors, especially those who come only occasionally or may not see our other communications, as it’s quick and easy to do whilst parking. But if you’d like to make the biggest impact, our website is the place to start: Donate to the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust
Download the RingGo app from the Google Play or Apple App Store. Follow instructions in the app.
Or visit www.myringgo.co.uk or phone 0203 046 0010.
If you visit regularly and wish to give in a more convenient way, you may wish to consider making a regular monthly or annual donation. Doing so has a double positive impact: 1) regular gifts help us to better plan our conservation works; and 2) you can increase the value of your gift (at no cost to you!) by claiming Gift Aid. Set up your recurring donation here: Donate to the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust
And as a small thank-you, if you set up a regular gift of at least £5/month or £50/year, we’ll send you a Heathland Supporter windshield sticker so you can proudly show your support for this special place.
The following car parks will have their own “zones” in RingGo:
Using the zone number where you start your visit helps us to understand how people are using our car parks.
The car park contributions are totally voluntary. If you would like to make another contribution, please feel free, but there is no enforcement of these voluntary charges, so there is no requirement that you contribute again.
We have checked the mobile phone reception for mobile service providers at car parks and found it sufficient for mobile phone payment apps to work. If you find that you don’t have reception when you wish to make a contribution, take note of the relevant RingGo Zone code, then search for this code in the RingGo app when you do have reception and make a donation at a later time. You can also make a donation at any time by visiting our website or phoning 01395 446916.
Mutters Moor does not have the same level of legal conservation designation as the main Pebblebed Heaths. This means we cannot access the same funding streams to support our work here. However, it requires the same level of care, as it supports the same special species, and, being open access, attracts visitors, which adds to our management costs. This car park is also not dedicated to Mutters Moor and is regularly used for visitors to enjoy the wider landscape, including accessing Sidmouth and the adjacent South West Coast Path. To ensure we can care for this part of the reserve to the same standard as the wider heaths, our trustees decided to seek an additional source of regular income, with car park charging identified as the most effective approach.
We also receive no ongoing funding to manage the Otter Estuary reserve. To enable this site to reach its full wildlife potential, maintain high-quality visitor facilities, and provide a full-time ranger to care for the reserve and support visitors, we need a reliable income stream. Our trustees agreed that the fairest way to achieve this is for those who visit and benefit from the reserve to contribute financially. The simplest method to realise this is a car parking charge.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please reach out to:
or call 01395 446916