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Home , Banwell, Blackdown Hills, Cotswolds, East Devon AONB

Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Annual Review 2007/2008 AONBs and National Parks in South West Introduction (Redrawn from original map supplied by )

Chairmanʼs report This year has certainly been momentous! Our acting manager and planning officer Lisa Turner is now, like former manager Lynn Kettles, the proud North mother of twins – it must be in the water. Lisa intends to return early in 2009, & West Downs whilst project officer Carmel Wilkinson has left the Blackdowns for a new BLACKDOWN New HILLS Forest post in Dorset. Our best wishes to all. We had thirty applicants for the post of Dorset manager and sixty for project officer, all of a remarkably high standard. We have appointed Linda Bennett who currently works for the Hawk and Owl Trust as manager, Nickie Moore as project officer and Vivien Geen as Tamar Valley temporary planning officer. A hearty welcome awaits them on their arrival.

As I write, we are putting the final touches to our joint bid with East Devon South Devon AONB for funding from the Rural Development Programme. Our bid is based on continuing the principles of the Leader+ programme which came to an end this year. We should hear whether we are successful at the end of July. We have always recognised that the social and economic life of the Blackdowns is vital to ensure the conservation of the environment, and if we are successful we will have a funding programme to continue our work in this The AONB field for the next six years. It has been heartening and exciting to witness the The Blackdown Hills, which lie on the border of Devon and , enthusiastic level of support for this bid right across the area. Lisa and East form one of the finest landscapes in Britain, a designated Area of Devon AONB manager Chris Woodruff did a great job on the initial work, and Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The AONB covers 370 square our consultants have successfully established the evidence base; but the kilometres of varied landscape including steep wooded slopes, high greatest accolade is for Jenny Archard, our Leader+ manager, who has plateau, lush valleys and rolling farmland. The Blackdown Hills AONB triumphed over time and resource to control the entire process and bring Partnership is the body which exists to protect this precious place. coherence to the bid. This partnership is made up of local authorities, interest groups, At the same time, we have been exploring closer working between the two national agencies and local communities, all of which are committed AONBs. It is now embedded in our collective psyches to look for better to ensuring that the Blackdown Hills remains a healthy, living practice in our working arrangements. The landscape of the two areas landscape for future generations. mostly comes under the Blackdowns Joint Character Area (a way of describing landscape types). This results in obvious synergies, and we genuinely enjoy collaboration. Through the bid process, we are also reaching out to our market and coastal towns as well as the World . I can’t remember a time when the spirit of co-operation and innovation was so prevalent. What is an AONB? I am conscious that the chairman is often the figurehead of any organisation, An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a but I could contribute little of value without the dedicated support of the landscape which is considered so precious that it is team at St Ivel House, the collective wisdom of our funders and management protected for the nation. The criteria for designating an group, and the various voluntary panels and groups who contribute so much AONB include valuable wildlife, habitats, geology and to the underlying “localism” of all that we do. heritage, as well as scenic views. To the future with thanks, There are 40 AONBs in England and Wales. AONBs have existed since 1949, although the Blackdown Hills was designated relatively recently, in 1991. The natural fabric of these important places is fragile, Paul Diviani so the primary purpose of all AONBs is to conserve Chairman and enhance the landscape.

2 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 3 Management group Staff Grants at a glance Policy decisions about the AONB are made by the This year the AONB faced significant challenges as we management group, which consists of key funders plus operated for most of the year without a full staff team. AONB grant funding backs local enterprise and new ideas. This year Natural elected representatives drawn from the AONB Following the resignation of Lynn Kettles and the England’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and the EU’s Leader+ allowed us Partnership Forum. More than 50% of the management departure of Steve Marston, who was covering Lynn's group must represent local community interests. maternity leave, we were without a permanent manager to support projects with environmental, economic and social benefits. from August. Planning officer Lisa Turner acted as Management group meetings are held four times a year, manager for the remainder of the year, while also Grant funding awards 2007/08: at locations throughout the Blackdown Hills. These covering her own post. meetings are open to the public. Sustainable Development Fund Leader+

Current members: AONB manger (April – August) Project Grant received Project Grant received Steve Marston Cllr Paul Diviani Otterhead Coach House £10,000.00 Coldharbour Mill Education Centre £8,000 East Devon District Council (chair) Planning officer/ Eco Business Park £10,000.00 Woolly Waste £3,182 acting AONB manager (August – March) Geoffrey Sworder Lisa Turner ACRES (FWAG) £6,800.63 Capacity Building for Blackdown Hills £3,300 Campaign to Protect Rural England/ Community Woodland Association Council of Devon (vice chair) Project co-ordinator Camera Obscura £1,500.00 Carmel Wilkinson Blackdown Hills Food & Drink Festival £8,000 Allison Wallis CWS Devon & Somerset - Phase 3 £6,147.45 Natural England Information officer (from April) Monument Feast £8,000 Community Shop & PO £2,278.82 Katherine Findlay Cllr Frank Rosamond Dunkeswell Eco (IT) Centre £8,000 Woodworks 2 £9,999.71 District Council Office manager Womenʼs Business Project £6,337 Jackie Vaughan Cllr Ros Roderigo Taste the Harvest £2,477.50 Increasing ELS Take Up £8,000 District Council Local Products Strategy co-ordinator (April-May) Broadband Research £300.00 Box Distribution Scheme £3,060 Catherine Leach Cllr John Berry Sunday School Wood £300.00 Dalwood Community Shop £2,400 Local Products Strategy co-ordinator (from May) Jenny Archard Green Fair £266.00 Taste the Harvest £5,227.50 Cllr Paul Buchanan Local Products Strategy/Sustainable Kitchen Garden £300.00 Woolly Boost £7,995 Development Fund assistant Cllr John Thorne Allotment Enhancement £360.00 Hog Roasts £3,213.96 Caroline Newcombe Deane Borough Council Dunkeswell Allotments £1,599.15 Temporary assistant planning officer Bob Buxton (from October) Axe Valley Environmental Project (AVEP) £2,667.00 Development Trust Lesley Kerry (ACRES 2) Frank Edwards Horse Pasture Management Workshop £1,200.00 Blackdown Hills Hedge Association Mike Hudson Munty Farm £2,600.00 Culm and North Parishes Neroche Recorded History £683.91

Richard Kallaway Wellington Farmers Market £281.74 National Farmers Union Forest School £206.88 Ian Panton Devon Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group BHBA Farmersʼ Market banners £1,297.58 Gavin Saunders Dalwood Bags £104.00 Forestry Commission Forest School £279.54 Heather Stallard SW Protected Landscapes Forum £1,350.09 Blackdown Hills Business Association Andrew Tucker Otter and West Parishes Dr David Allen Yarty and East Parishes

4 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 5 Economy and community

The beauty of these hills has been shaped by the people who live and work in them. A viable local economy is essential for the future of the area, so we work with communities to boost local business and skills, and improve quality of life for people who live here.

Hayden Banwell-Moore, Woodworks Ruth Strange, Beech Hayes Farm Some of our achievements in 2007/08 Fibrefest

Woodland Forum Local Produce Box Woodworks 2 Dalwood Community Shop and how businesses can embrace Women's Business Project Leader+ funding helped the Established meat box producer Working with the Silvanus Trust, we and Post Office green objectives. Young Leader+ funding helped the entrepreneurs will be actively Blackdown Hills Woodland Kittow Cattle successfully expanded helped Blackdowns wood SDF and Leader+ funding bought a Blackdown Hills Business targeted for these units and rental Association to launch a website to into a wider range of produce this businesses to take on local people computerised till and new freezers, Association to employ a women's charges will be kept to a minimum to promote its members, and hold a year thanks to a grant from Leader+. in need of skills and work. Leader+ which meant the shop could stock a business development worker. This help establish new and expanding Woodland Forum event with an The funding provided a portable funding enabled a variety of greater range of local produce. post was created to support local businesses. environmental theme. We also building for much needed businesses to take on trainees by Forty-five people help out in the women who are interested in setting funded administrative support to workspace and meant that the offering a wage subsidy over six shop each week, which is about up or expanding a small business, help get these ideas off the ground. distribution network could be months, a tools fund and a 50% 10% of the people living in but find themselves disadvantaged Both the website and the event were improved. The expansion benefited training grant. The scheme was also Dalwood. The original village shop Fibrefest by their rural location. Particular a great success and provided a not only Kittow Cattle but also open to people setting up their own emphasis was placed on helping closed its doors about ten years This festival of all things woolly took good platform for the Woodland suppliers of a range of local produce enterprises. The project aimed to those women who were not ago. SDF also funded the materials place over two days in September. Association to continue to progress including chicken, fish and help a new generation to learn benefitting from existing support. for local people to make cloth bags Leader+ funding helped to put on a and benefit wood business in ready meals. traditional crafts and ensure a future The type of support is tailored to to sell to shoppers and reduce the great show with 62 stalls from local the area. for small-scale modern wood individual needs, but could include use of plastic bags. producers, spinners, weavers, industry in the area. IT training, business coaching, clothes makers and more. During networking with other business the festival Coldharbour Mill ran women or help with transport and Dunkeswell Eco special tours and activated the care costs. Business Park original steam machinery to give This project aims to provide low- visitors a fascinating experience, cost accommodation for a range of along with talks on the history of the workshops and light industrial local textile industry. There were businesses. We granted funding to also workshops on topics such as carry out sympathetic repairs and traditional felt making, tapestry improvements to four vacant weaving, spinning and hat design. buildings of historical wartime The festival aimed to highlight the interest and install wood fuel importance of wool production in heating, rainwater harvesting, and the Blackdowns and boost the local composting toilets. Work started in economy in this sector. The success January and is progressing. Once of Fibrefest, with over 2000 visitors, complete this flagship project will has encouraged the Blackdown Hills demonstrate how industrial land can Natural Fibre Group to make this an be integrated into the landscape annual event.

6 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 7 Landscape and environment

The primary purpose of the AONB is to conserve and enhance the landscape. We do this by working with conservation bodies, farmers, landowners and local people to protect the distinctive countryside, wildlife and heritage of the Blackdown Hills.

Some of our achievements in 2007/08

Grazing Animal Project invertabrate and plant species. It publicity campaign to promote the that give a locality its 'sense of Catchment Sensitive runs until 2009 so this year we have also results in very tasty, scheme and through advice and The East Devon & Blackdown Hills place' and pinpointing what makes begun reviewing it for the future. marketable meat. The landowner support to farmers. The contract to Farming Grazing Animal Project was run by it different from its neighbouring This process will involve extensive has been greatly encouraged by carry out this work was won by This new government initiative the Farming & Wildlife Advisory areas. It describes the consultation with partners and the what has been achieved and we Carver Knowles, who exceeded encourages farmers to prevent Group (FWAG) with support from characteristic patterns and public during 2008/09. The new hope that the example will inspire expectations by completing sixty diffuse pollution in river both AONBs. Our contribution features of our countryside, and plan will be assessed against the more farmers and landowners in plus farm visits and achieving fifty catchments. This year we sat on meant that a site at Dunkeswell explains how an area has Strategic Environmental the future. ELS applications. the steering group for the Otter could be managed as an example developed over time. Different Assessment (SEA) matrix and catchment, helping to assess the of how grazing animals can benefit layers of information tell us about Habitats Regulations, before it is priorities for the area and target wildlife and farmers. The eight the landform, underlying geology adopted by our six local authorities funding accordingly. At the same hectare site at Park Farm is a Entry Level Stewardship Landscape Character and soils. We can also see the in March 2009. During 2007/08 we time we allocated AONB funding to County Wildlife Site comprising promotion Assessment influence of human activity in produced a first draft to be closely related projects from the springline mire, rush-pasture, Entry Level Stewardship is the first This year we continued to work patterns of settlement, land cover approved by the local authorities Axe & Char Rivers Environmental coarse and secondary stage of the Environmental with local authorities, Natural and differences in tree cover. for consultation purposes. Sustainability Project (ACRES). We woodland. Scrub encroachment Stewardship scheme for farmers. England and AONB teams across were also able to help promote and controlling the rush are the This project was established Devon to develop a consistent, Landscape Management events such as the FWAG manure main threats to the site, much of following research by the Farming detailed assessment of the Guidelines management roadshow. Farmers which is wet and difficult to access. and Wildlife Advisory Group county's landscapes. A Devon were shown how applying manures Our grant helped the landowner to (FWAG) into the low uptake of ELS landscape officer management We worked with East Devon AONB at the correct time, and in the erect stock fencing so that he can in the Blackdown Hills. Having group was established to work and East Devon District Council on correct way, saves money and allow grazing by cattle. This identified farmers and target areas, collectively on Landscape landscape management guidelines reduces diffuse pollution. grazing will create a varied habitat the aim of the project was to Character Assessment. This is a for the area. These guidelines which is vital for many insect, increase applications through a process of identifying the features promote the unique character of the local landscape and provide advice for those involved in Management plan planning and land management. Our most important tool in looking During the coming year they will be after the landscape is our made available online. The work management plan. This guides will be adopted by East Devon everyone who makes decisions District Council as an important affecting the Blackdown Hills, and tool for mapping and planning gives structure to the work of the within the council. core AONB unit. The current plan

8 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 9 Awareness and enjoyment

We encourage everyone to enjoy being outdoors in the Blackdowns whenever possible. We believe that experiencing the countryside and the natural world inspires new generations into conservation, as well as improving quality of life for people of all ages.

Some of our achievements in 2007/08

Otterhead run by volunteers who manage the scheme, was held outdoors for the Events programme Website This year each school will harvest The Otterhead Estate Trust received conservation of the site. During first time. Highlights included a Blackdown Tales 2007 proved to be This year we went through the and mill the wheat they planted, and substantial funding and support for 2007/08 they also established a natural arts workshop with local another successful events process of completely redesigning bake a loaf with the flour. A prize for their project to carry out website and a Friends of Otterhead artist Michael Fairfax and magical programme for the eighth year our website. AB Design of the best bread will be awarded at a sympathetic repairs to the coach scheme, and put on a popular storytelling in a tipi by a stream. running. Nearly 50 events were won the contract and came up with special ceremony. house at Otterhead Lakes and make snowdrop walk in February. Guided walks through the Neroche highlighted, featuring something for a design to suit the new structure it suitable for use as an education forest near showed everyone from coppicing to we wanted. The new site is resource. Works included replacing people ancient trees, rare storytelling. The events in the designed to be clearer and easier to Project Phoenix the slate roof, yard drainage, lime Community conference wildflowers, habitats and programme were as popular as ever, navigate, and we hope will prove to Project Phoenix aims to create and plaster repairs, stabilisation of the Local people enjoyed glorious recently introduced English with local people and visitors of all be a valuable resource for anyone promote a network of user-friendly walls, and installation of bat boxes sunshine and a stunning woodland Longhorn cattle grazing in ages enjoying a range of outdoor with an interest in the Blackdown circular horse-riding routes in the and a slow worm house. The setting at our annual community the woods. activities. Hills. The site can be seen at Blackdown Hills AONB. The project Otterhead Estate Trust Company event in June. The event, which was www.blackdown-hills.net was devised by local resident John For 2008 we decided to make some Ltd now operates independently, put on jointly with the Neroche Presgrave with support from the changes to the name and format, AONB Partnership. During 2007/08 and the new joint AONB/Neroche Devon and Somerset County Countryside Events programme was Taste the Harvest Council Rights of Way teams carried launched in February. This Taste the Harvest was an event out improvements to the routes introduced two seasonal organised by two local farmers, while John designed circular rides to programmes, and a year round Mark Pope and Rob Walrond, with help riders get the most from the schedule for the first time. The our support and funding. The two area. Attractive packs were spring/summer programme started day event in September was part of produced detailing the rides, which in March with a traditional orchard the Year of Food and Farming. 800 will also be available to download course and a children's farm visit. It children from 35 local schools from the AONB website. continues until the end of August visited Staple Farm at Staple with a host of walks, workshops, Fitzpaine to see where food comes and fun family days. from and experience how it is planted, grown and harvested. They Events include wildlife gardening, were also able to taste the fruits of wild food foraging, a journey to their labours, with a meal of fresh trace a river, bushcraft skills, natural local ingredients. art, birdsong, bat detecting and lots more. All of these events were made possible by working with enthusiastic local experts and a wide range of local organisations.

10 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Taste the Harvest Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 11 Working together

Looking after the Blackdown Hills is not something the AONB unit can achieve in isolation. We are managed by a partnership of agencies and organisations which all carry out vital work to protect the AONB. We also work closely with local bodies and contribute to regional and national efforts to promote protected landscapes.

Local organisations Neroche • Funding support through the East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund for Staff in the core unit worked with a Local authorities The AONB has been a key partner Staff at Blackdown Hills and a mobile Camera Obscura, to host of local organisations on the in the continuing delivery of the The Blackdown Hills area is covered by Devon and Somerset promote public appreciation of the neighbouring East Devon AONB ground this year. These include the County Councils, East Devon, Mid Devon, and South Somerset Neroche Landscape Partnership AONB landscape. work closely together on projects Farming and Wildlife Advisory District Councils, and Borough Council. All of Scheme, which is funded by the and issues which span the whole • Joint promotion of Neroche and Group (FWAG), Devon and these authorities not only sit on our management group and Heritage Lottery Fund and a area. Initiatives on which we AONB events though the Somerset Wildlife Trusts, partnership of local authorities and contribute to funding the core AONB unit, but help to safeguard Blackdown Hills Countryside worked together this year included Blackdown Hills Business the Hills through their own work. Examples of achievements agencies. The AONB office in Events booklet, and a bi-monthly the Grazing Animal Project, Association, Blackdown Hills during 2007/08 include: hosts Neroche staff, who page in the View from the increasing take up of Entry Level Hedge Association, Butterfly are employed by the Forestry Blackdown Hills. Stewardship and putting together a Conservation and many more. ponds, hedges and dry stone Commission. Water Vole • Liaison in the development of the joint Local Action funding bid. We walls. It also creates new Recovery Project During 2007/08 the AONB team AONB and Neroche websites. shared a marquee at the Honiton features and improves wildlife Show in August and arranged joint East Devon District Council’s gave specific support to the • The Neroche Scheme has habitats. It is jointly funded by events in our programmes for the The AONB family Water Vole Recovery Project following Neroche-led projects commissioned a LiDAR (Light Somerset County Council, first time. The aim of this was to The Blackdown Hills AONB is an worked in the Rive Axe operating in the northern part of Detection and Ranging) survey district councils in Somerset, the give the public enjoyable ways of active member of the South West catchment area. The aim of this the AONB: across the northern third of the Aggregate Levy Fund and the AONB during 2008, with funding experiencing both areas and Protected Landscapes Forum, and three year project is to see the • The development of long distance Environment Agency. support from the AONB. This will understanding how they are linked the National Association of Areas successful natural re- circular Herepath Trails. The first of provide detailed topographical by geology and landscape. of Outstanding Natural Beauty. colonisation of Devon’s rivers Projects supported in the these, a 13.5 mile circular trail images of the land surface which Staff share ideas at regular with the water vole, which has Blackdown Hills in 2007/08 centred on Staple Fitzpaine, was The resignation of the permanent will show in unprecedented detail meetings of national and regional been extinct for some 50 years in include woodland management, officially opened in May 2008. AONB manager at the Blackdown the impressions left on the land by the county. The project officer native tree and shrub planting Hills gave us an opportunity to counterparts, as well as • Support with landscape centuries of human activity. The and hedgelaying. representing the Blackdown Hills worked with local farmers to considerations in the development images wil be used to add to our carry out a formal review of how at events such as the national carry out mink control while the of a wood pasture landscape within knowledge of the archaeology of the two AONBs work together and AONB conference and the UK council led talks with local Historic Landscape the Forestry Commission estate. the area, and stimulate community identify opportunities for closer Outdoor Show. communities and provided • Joint working on the development research into landscape history. working in the future. The book 'Ancient Country: The funding for fencing to help of opportunities for conservation Historic Landscape Character of improve the bank-side habitat grazing of marginal land. Rural Devon' was published this for water voles. • Funding support through the Natural England year, describing the results of Sustainable Development Fund for This is the government agency with historic landscape an Oral History Recording project, responsibility for the countryside, Somerset Landscape characterisation work carried Scheme as part of the Neroche Community and our main funder. We worked out by Devon County Council History Project. closely with Natural England to This scheme conserves and and English Heritage. It provides locally achieve their overall restores the best traditional a fascinating record of the purpose of conserving and features of the Somerset evolution of the Blackdowns enhancing the natural environment. landscape, such as orchards, Hills landscape.

12 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 13 Funding and finance Financial information 2007/2008 Core Income Core Expenditure Blackdown Hills AONB is publicly funded by the government and Natural England £149,800 Staffing £145,015 our local authorities. Devon County Council £10,700 Office Costs £23,944 Somerset County Council £10,700 Partnership Costs £42,749 The core work of the Blackdown Hills AONB is funded by Devon County Council, Mid Devon District Council £10,700 Printing & Publicity £14,502 Somerset County Council, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council, East Devon District Council £10,700 Carried forward to 2008/09 £19853* South Somerset District Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Natural South Somerset District Council £10,700 England. We also receive a project budget which allows us to carry out additional Taunton Deane Borough Council £10,700 projects during the year. Rental Income £10,000 Other Income £1548 Our funders are signatories to a six year Memorandum Local Action for Rural Communities of Agreement, and are key members of our management Considerable efforts were made this year to secure Income carried forward £20,515 group. Local Action funding for an area spanning the Separately to our own budget, this year we also Blackdown Hills and East Devon. This is European Total Income £246,063 Total Expenditure £246,063 administered Natural England's Sustainable funding which is being administered through the * Income carried forward due to the gaps in employment of the AONB Partnership Manager i.e. employment costs and slippage in certain work programmes as a result. Development Fund, and the EU Leader+ fund locally. Regional Development Agency as part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If this bid is 2007/08 saw the final stages of the Leader+ fund. During successful it will build on Leader+. Like Leader+, it the year staff worked on developing proposals for new would help us to support local producers and funding to replace it. Project Income Project Expenditure businesses, and improve the quality of life for people living here. Natural England £10,000 Blackdown Tales £5,953 EU Territorial Co-operation Close working with East Devon AONB has resulted in a Somerset County Council £1,000 Entry Level Stewardship £15,974 proposal which covers both areas and the surrounding Throughout the year we contributed to developing a Mid Devon District Council £1,000 Grazing Animal Project £2,000 market towns. Work on this proposal has generated regional proposal for funding from the EU Territorial Co- East Devon District Council £1,000 Local Action for Rural Communities £4,050 impressive local support. If the bid is successful we will operation programme. We were involved in discussions know in July 2008, with work starting almost South Somerset District Council £1,000 Carried forward £2987* with Devon County Council, the South West Protected immediately. Landscapes Forum and other Devon AONBs to help put Taunton Deane Borough Council £1,000 together a proposal to link the protected landscapes of Blackdown Tales £1,490 and North West France. Ultimately, this could lead to sharing valuable experience and Leader + £7,974 undertaking joint activity. East Devon AONB £500 Devon County Council £3,500 Core funding £2,500

Total Income £30,964 Total Expenditure £30,964 * Income carried forward due to the bid for Local Action for Rural Communities spanning the 07/08 and 08/09 financial years.

14 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2007/2008 15 To order a large print version of this review, call 01823 680681

www.blackdown-hills.net

Blackdown Hills AONB St Ivel House Station Roard Hemyock Devon EX15 3SJ

Tel: 01823 680681 Email: [email protected]

Photo credits: Dan Bryan, Chris Goodman, Keith Gould, Natural England and Harriet Pottinger.