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Exmoor 2010 brochure
The new Exmoor 2010 brochure has been developed by Active Exmoor with funding from West Somerset Council .
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The 2010 walking festival runs from 29th April to 7th May and offers 84 guided walks from 2 miles to 10 miles through some of England's finest countryside.
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Interested in Exmoor's Lanscape?
The first edition of a new publication looking at landscape issues and projects in the National Park is here. Click here to view online or if you would like a hard copy then contact Exmoor National Park Landsdcape Officer Emma Dennis.
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An important new planning document, 'Your Future Exmoor', which will help decide issues such as where new housing and employment on Exmoor should be provided over the next 15 to 20 years as well as conservation, building design and community facilities is beginning the first stages of consultation. Exmoor National Park Authority is inviting local communities to give their views in a series of informal, drop-in events tailored to individual parishes. For full details and a list of dates please click here(PDF, 395kb). |
Exmoor's past goes online
Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record is now available at Heritage Gateway. For the first time, information from the whole of Exmoor has been made available together. The Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record (ENPHER) is a unique collection of information about Exmoor's past; it comprises a searchable database, which collects and organises information so that users can find specific details on their areas of interest.
All known archaeological and historic sites within Exmoor National Park are recorded in the database, including archaeological monuments, historic buildings, historic landscapes, industrial archaeology, military sites and historic boundaries.
To find out more, or for help in using the database, please contact
The Historic Environment Record Officer, Exmoor National Park Authority
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West Somerset Mineral Line
 A brand new interactive web site with information, maps and videos telling the story of Exmoor's industrial past is now up and running.
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2010 has been declared International Year of Biodiversity and Exmoor National Park Authority will be playing its part by raising awareness of the rich variety of specias that are found on Exmoor through a number of events throughout 2010. So whether its bats, barnacles, or butterflies, there should be an event that will interest you.
Click here to visit Exmoor National Park Events Calendar.
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Help a Ranger Days
If you would like to get involved in some practical work in some of Exmoor's most beautiful spots then why not come along to one of our taster days.
No experience needed and the
next two days coming up are 14th March and 16th May
For more info then;
or phone him on
07973727469
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Welcome to the first edition of Exmoor Update - a new electronic newsletter bringing a range of news, stories and links to anyone with an interest in the landscape, people, wildlife and history of Exmoor National Park. If you would like any of this information in a different format such as large print or audio, then please contact us.
01398 322286 |
Million Pound Boost for Exmoor's Moorlands
The future conservation and enhancement of Exmoor's moorlands has received a huge boost with the news that the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership has been offered a grant of £662,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The HLF grant represents about 50% of the total cost of the proposed scheme with some of the balance being represented by in-kind contributions and income generated through events and activities.
The Partnership comprises twelve organisations: Active Exmoor, English Heritage, Environment Agency, Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor Society, Exmoor Trust, Field Studies Council, The National Trust, National Farmers Union, Natural England, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and West Somerset Community College - with the National Park Authority acting as Lead Partner.
Click here for the full story |
Another Cold Winter on Exmoor
- But it's not all bad news
 For the second year in a row Exmoor has seen some very cold weather and heavy falls of snow, with temperatures falling below -10 celcius at times in early January and not getting above freezing during the day. This cold, along with ice and drifting snow have led to challenging times for the people and animals living on the moor. Ensuring stock have access to water has meant an almost constant round of ice-breaking for some Exmoor farmers. For some of our wildlife, such as the diminutive Dartford Warbler, it is likely that populations will be reduced. But the cold weather is a natural part of our weather cycle and may in fact bring some benefits to Exmoor's natural history.
- Cold weather may reduce the population of potentially disease carrying ticks, as well as other parasites and viruses..
- Bracken and Gorse, both species that can dominate moorland landscapes may be reduced by prolonged periods of cold.
- Some plants, such as bluebells benefit from colder weather as they have a competitive advantage over other plants allowing them to grow in cold weather.
- Butterflies and other insects are less likely to be tempted out of hibernation too early than in mild winters.
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Wetter is Better
The more adventurous moorland visitor may notice a change which is slowly taking place on the wildest parts of Exmoor.  For the last 3 years the award winning Exmoor Mire Restoration Project has been blocking-up moorland ditches with the aim of making the moorland bogs wet and active wildlife havens once again.
Why is the Project needed?
Climate change is likely to increase the drying out of peatlands in SW England, leading to a loss of important habitats and species and potentially the release of carbon into the atmosphere once it is no longer locked up in healthy wet bogs.
What does Project Does
- keeps rainwater on the moors for longer
helps to keep rivers in good quality
- keeps local contractors busy with work
- provides summer drinking water for stock on the moors
- reduces the risk of devastating wildfires on the moors
What the Project does not do
- increase the risk of flooding down stream - the dams built are small and they may actually reduce the risk of flooding by storing water on the moors.
- make the moors too wet to walk or ride on -the restoration work can actually make pathways dryer by diverting water away from them.
- make the moors too wet for stock and ungrazable - the restoration work can help to diversify moorlands and provide better grazing.
The project is managed by a Project Officer Dr. David Smith with overall control via the Partnership Steering Group.
Visit the projects website here for more information.
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Phytopthora bleeding canker aka "Sudden Oak Death"
Phytophthora ramorum, one of the main causes of what is called 'Sudden Oak Death' in the US, has become established and is becoming an increasing problem in the South West, including Exmoor along with a more recently discovered species, Phytophthora kernoviae. They both like warm, wet conditions and so are likely to become more prolific with the advance of climate change. Phytophthora, Greek for 'plant destroyer', is a destructive fungi-like pathogen causing brown rot in plants.
It is found mostly on rhododendron and will spread to certain trees and plants if located nearby and when infected material builds up. Infected tree bark can form lesions, called 'black" or "bleeding" cankers, which secrete a reddish black fluid, whilst leaves become a blotchy brown. This gives rise to its more accurate common name in the UK, "Phytopthora bleeding canker". Infected shrubs can wilt and their leaves may blacken. Larch has recently been found to be susceptible and can die back, whilst retaining its needles.
One of the most effective methods of preventing its spread is to control its main host plant Rhododendron ponticum for which help is available.
For more information and photos, or to report a possible case on Exmoor or elsewhere then please visit the folowing web pages.
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