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Devon project aims to double nests of one of England’s rarest ants

A three-year conservation project in South Devon will improve heathland for two rare ant species and create new colonies to reduce the risk of local extinction.

By The TEA Editorial Desk · 28 August 2026

A narrow-headed ant, one of the rare species being protected in South Devon Image: The Moorlander; conservation project details checked against Devon Wildlife TrustOriginal source

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A new project in South Devon is aiming to give two of the UK’s rarest ant species a safer future by improving their remaining heathland and establishing new colonies.

The narrow-headed ant has just one known English population, at Chudleigh Knighton Heath, while the nationally scarce erratic ant was recently found at nearby Bovey Heathfield. Both sites are managed by Devon Wildlife Trust and form part of a much-reduced lowland heath landscape.

The three-year project, run by Devon Wildlife Trust and Buglife with £212,000 of government funding, will improve habitat at the two nature reserves and prepare other suitable sites for new colonies. The team hopes to double the number of narrow-headed ant nests at Chudleigh Knighton Heath from around 200 to more than 400.

The work should also benefit other heathland wildlife, including nightjars, Dartford warblers, silver-studded blue butterflies, adders and slow worms. Monitoring will track whether the new and existing colonies are thriving over time.