sign in sign up
<<
Home , Blackdown Hills

Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Annual Review 2009/2010 Introduction Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Chairmanʼs report TO COME Welcome to the 2008-09 Annual Review for the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding The Blackdown Hills was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership. Once again it has been a very busy year, with in 1991 and is one of a family of protected landscapes in and Wales, which the review of the AONB's Management Plan being the key focus of the team's work. includes both AONBs and National Parks. This plan guides the decision-making process of all our partners and stakeholders in The area straddles the and border and lies within the boundaries of the Blackdown Hills, as well as the work of AONB team, and it is a statutory six local authorities: the two counties of Devon and Somerset; the three districts of requirement that it is reviewed every five years. This time it had to have an , and and the borough of Deane. accompanying Strategic Environmental Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment to ensure that none of its future policies and objectives would have a The AONB has a number of special and distinctive qualities that are the reason for damaging effect on the AONB's important environment. The plan was adopted by its national designation. These include its sense of remoteness and the tranquil, our six local authority partners and approved by by the end of the unspoilt rural character of the area, the diversity of the landscape, its unique year. I should like to extend a big thank-you to all those involved. geology and its interesting architecture. The purpose of the AONB designation is to conserve and enhance these and other components of ‘natural beauty’ in the The year certainly had its highlights. Many members of our community joined us at Blackdown Hills, while also supporting the economic and society activities of its Celebrating the Blackdowns, an event which provided a wonderful showcase for communities. AONB Partnership Chairman Paul many of the projects supported by our six-year LEADER+ programme which came to Diviani and Alison Wallis of Natural England at the launch of the AONB an end in 2008. On the day we were also able to announce the successful outcome About this review Management Plan in September 2009. of our joint bid with East Devon AONB for the Making it Local programme - a £2.4 This review highlights the work of the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership during Cover: million fund from the Rural Development Programme England that will enable us to 2009/10. It helps to demonstrate the value of the AONB, not just in economic terms Green-winged orchids in the AONB. carrying on supporting the environment and local economy of the Blackdown Hills. but in environmental and social terms, and shows that by working with partners Our Sustainable Development Fund continues to kick-start exciting innovative much can be achieved. projects – 20 received funding this year. Initiatives ranged from parish plans and farm The document follows the same three themes as the Blackdown Hills Management carbon audits to an oral history project and a Blackdown Hills Business Association Plan 2009–2014 – landscape, sustainability, and communication and management. conference, Riding the Storm. Both the Management Plan and Delivery Plan are on our website. Encouraging people to enjoy our glorious countryside has been a major theme of the year. The new format Countryside Events programme has been extremely popular, Facts and figures for the Blackdown Hills with leaflets now distributed in pubs and shops in distinctive, locally-made dispensers. The programme is also listed online as part of our re-designed website. AONB area 370 sq km (Devon: 260 sq km; Somerset 110 sq km) Five new circular riding routes, and the Neroche Scheme's 13-mile Herepath, make Number of parishes 43 (within and partly within AONB) the Blackdown Hills a prime destination for horse riding. At the end of the year the Population first all-ability trail in the AONB was opened at Staple Hill funded as part of the 12,770 (Devon: 9,770; Somerset: 3,070) Neroche Scheme. Landscape character Open inland planned plateaux Visiting the countryside is now recognised as bringing real health benefits, Wooded ridges and hill tops so I would encourage you all to come out into the Blackdown Hills to enjoy the Steep wooded scarp slopes stunning landscape and experience some of the wide range of special local Upper farmed and wooded slopes products. Rolling farmed and settled slopes Unsettled farmed valley floors Special Sites 16 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (inc 2 geological) 359 county/local wildlife sites 8 regionally important geological sites 26 Scheduled Ancient Monuments Paul Diviani 761 listed buildings Chairman, Blackdown Hills AONB 9 conservation areas Rights of Way 329 km footpaths 82 km bridleways 16 Restricted byeways

2 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 3 Landscape

The primary purpose of the AONB is to conserve and enhance natural beauty. This includes not only the appearance of the landscape, but also the biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Highlights • Working our Woodlands is encouraging management of the small woods within the AONB through local co-operatives Identifying wildlife-rich Wonders of the night sky how the LCA provides key evidence farmland On clear nights the Blackdown Hill for development management. The • Bats, barn owls and will benefit from our High Nature Value farmland project LCA is also useful for people High Nature Value (HNV) farmland is has spectacular starry skies that preparing Woodland Grant Scheme Appreciating the beauty of the night sky, as part of International Year of Astronomy, agricultural land managed at a contribute to its natural beauty and • applications and Forest Design relatively low intensity and therefore tranquillity. To mark International encourages communities to reduce light pollution Plans. containing a large amount of natural Year of Astronomy the AONB ran a • Workshops on the Blackdowns Local Character Assessment encourage local authority vegetation and its associated rich number of Dark Skies Awareness To make the Assessment more planning officers to use this vital information as part of their decision-making variety of wildlife species. It is a events with resident and relevant at a local level, detailed concept that is becoming Fellow of the Royal Astronomical landscape descriptions have been increasingly important in Europe Society, Simon Ould. Using his worked up for each parish in the and is likely to influence Common portable planetarium Simon AONB. Forging woodland links Development Fund (SDF). The firewood across the area as well as Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform in explained the marvels of our own Sustainably managed small woods locally based woodland resource supporting woodland businesses. 2012. Also all member states are and other galaxies and then the Wildlife on the map coordinator is now working ‘on the group had the chance go outside is the aspiration of ‘Working our Funding for this project has come required to identify and monitor their With support from Devon and ground’ with clusters of small and put into practice their newly Woodlands’, a two-year project from Making it Local, and the East HNV farmland Somerset County Councils, the woodland owners to help them get acquired star-gazing skills. across the Blackdown Hills and East Devon and Blackdown Hills AONBs’ The Blackdown Hill AONB has AONB commission wildlife audits of their woods into management. He is Devon AONBs run by the SDFs. Both AONB teams are joined a partnership initiative and is The AONB also carried out some the local wildlife for seven also hoping to link them with Blackdown & East Devon Woodland strongly supporting this project, with one of three pilot projects in the monitoring work on dark sky quality Blackdown Hills parishes – woodland contractors and Association and Silvanus. Evidence Blackdown Hills AONB manager South West that are looking at the within the Hills. Light pollution has , , harvesters to develop wood fuel of need for such a project was Linda Bennett chairing the project’s best ways to identify this type of increased dramatically over the last , Hemyock, Neroche, cooperatives thus creating a gathered in 2008/09 with support steering group. land. This not only includes decade, and this coming year the Stockland and . These constant supply of quality assured from the AONB’s Sustainable selection through information such AONB will be doing more work to include maps of the different as agricultural data, landscape help residents choose more habitats and special species, and character information and wildlife effective lighting systems. suggested actions on how the records but also interviewing parishes can help improve the local farmers to find about more about Interpreting the landscape area of wildlife. The AONB will now their current and past practices and The AONB’s Landscape Character be going back to these parishes to their views on support mechanisms. Assessment (LCA) along with its help them develop the actions. guidelines is an important tool when The whole project is being led by the assessing the impact developments Touching the past European Forum for Nature and land management proposals Back in 2008 an archaeological Conservation and Pastoralism, could have on the nationally watching brief on a new housing which was awarded LIFE funding important landscape of the AONB. development by Summerfield from the EU, other partners include We met with planners from East Homes at Churchill Farm, Hemyock, , Devon Devon District Council with East led to the Devon’s largest single find Wildlife Trust and South Devon Devon AONB and with South of medieval pottery – more than AONB, Natural England and the Somerset District Council to explain 45,000 sherds, weighing 1.1 tonnes. RSPB.

4 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 5 Other achievements Neroche Landscape Partnership Scheme New revised Blackdown Hills Countryside Design Summary produced • 2009/10 was the third year of the offering unrivalled hilltop views combining hands-on excavation providing more detailed advice on the special qualities of the built Neroche Landscape Partnership across the Vale of Taunton and and recording with individual heritage. Scheme, funded by the Heritage beyond. research and training. The project • Input into the biodiversity strategy nationally through Natural Englandʼs Lottery Fund and a range of local Learning for all will culminate in the publication of regional delivery plans and the Somerset and Devon biodiversity authorities and agencies including • 34 teachers from 14 schools have community-produced book about the northern Blackdowns Hills, to partnerships. the AONB. The scheme, which is now been trained as Forest be published in 2010 with funding • Support to East Devon District Council during the noise led by the Forestry Commission and School leaders and assistants, from the Blackdown Hills AONB abatement appeal; the AONB chairman was to give evidence but the runs until 2011, has focused on the and by working with Taunton Sustainable Development Fund. case was settled out of court. northern ridge of the AONB. The Learning Partnership this provision has been extended to Volunteering in the landscape • Water Vole Recovery Projectʻs new advisory Notes from the Riverbank Neroche staff are based with the 2011. • Some 1,500 people have taken supported. The pack covers topics from bats to buffer strips and from AONB team in Hemyock. • Neroche has continued to run part in Neroche activities to date, freshwater mussels to fencing. This East Devon District Council project Wildlife large scale popular programmes of family amassing more than 650 works with landowners in the catchment. • 250 hectares of new open bushcraft, history talks and volunteer days. Highlights have • The AONB team continued to work with the Otterhead Estate habitats, grazed by the Neroche wildlife walks, while supporting included the monthly Neroche management and advisory groups to help enhance the heritage and herd of English Longhorn cattle, Somerset Activity and Sports Conservation Volunteers’ wildlife features of this Victorian estate and make it more accessible to have now been created within the Partnership in running a practical days, training volunteers the people of Taunton. 1,000-hectare public forest programme of health walks for in wildflower survey, and a team estate. disadvantaged groups. of Trailwatchers who monitor the • Neroche scheme has funded the Herepath. Countryside job training Archaeology carried out the pottery. A local potter demonstrated provision of wildlife habitat • Following an earlier successful Neroche Legacy management advice to local excavations and, with support from how the pots and patterned tiles apprenticeship scheme, the • The Forestry Commission is landowners by the Farming and the AONB, Devon County Council’s would have been made back in the Forestry Commission and the continuing to work with the AONB Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) Historic Environment Service, 13th and 14th centuries, and once Silvanus Trust have secured and other partners to build a and the Somerset Wildlife Trust. organised two Hands-on History again people had a go themselves. Making it Local funding and legacy based on the foundation of events, one at Exeter Quay and the Part of the collection was also sent Interpretation in your hand national Forestry Commission the Landscape Partnership other at Hemyock in the summer and away for more detailed analysis. • Staple Fitzpaine Herepath has investment to run a national pilot Scheme, to continue this work continued to pr beyond 2011. autumn of 2009 so that local people ovide a fantastic for a new Forestry NVQ in the experience of the AONB could learn about this exciting find Blackdowns Hills and East Devon, • Some members of the Neroche landscape, and is now equipped and handle the collection. involving a range of private and Local Stakeholders Group have with an innovative example of public sector employers. begun to set up a new charitable The two-day Hemyock Hands-on mobile, digitally-based heritage Local history and heritage company – The Blackdown Hills History event gave the local Primary interpretation – the Neroche • The Neroche Community History Trust, which will seek to benefit School children and the community Digital Trail Guide. project is one of the most the landscape, wildlife and the chance to try their hands as • Staple Hill all-ability trail has effective participatory local heritage of the whole AONB. archaeologists cleaning, sorting and become one of the most popular history projects in the region, assembling the numerous pieces of recreational sites in the AONB,

6 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 7 Sustainability

The unique character of the Blackdown Hills has been shaped by the people who have lived and worked here for generations. A sustainable future for the area depends of a thriving economy that is in harmony with the landscape.

Highlights • The AONB continues to work with Natural England encouraging entry into direct cyclists to areas where they Environmental Stewardship will not cause damage or conflict Sustainable Development Fund with other users. In addition to the The AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund • Blackdown Hills to be one of the target areas for a new off-road cycling initiative in the health and wellbeing benefits of this (SDF) comes wholly from Natural England. South West project, it is hoped that local This year it supported 24 environmental and businesses will benefit from an community projects that had a total value of Parishes of the Blackdown Hills start to work together to produce a community strategy • increase in tourism generated by an £166,311. The total grant expenditure was for the whole of the AONB increased awareness of off-road £48,400, which brought a further £117, 911 cycling opportunities. • Sustainable Development Fund supported 24 projects with a total value of £166,311 into the local economy. Horses in protected Grant landscapes Project received The AONB team collaborated with Black Down Common - Access Improvements & Training 1,806 Stewards of the landscape within the AONB, we embarked on a Council highways team and other all the South West Protected Blackdowns Young Environmentalists 8,616 new project to promote walks up AONBs and National Parks in Being a protected landscape the Landscapes Forum (14 AONBs and Green Meadow Festival 1,800 into the hills from the market towns Devon, best practice advice was Blackdown Hills is a target area for two National Parks) on the The Border Project 2,000 on the fringes of the AONB. prepared including local examples Higher Level Stewardship. The production of a guidance document Community Dance Project 5,000 Working with financial and in-kind of sensitive, low maintenance AONB has worked with Natural Horses, the landscape and you in MiL Project Development Workers 5,400 contributions from South Somerset measures that help to protect and England encouraging landowners partnership with the British Horse Hemyock Hands-on History 3,389 District Council as well as local enhance the character and quality of and farmers coming out of the Society and the Farming and Border Project 2 986 volunteers, we devised six new the highway network. Environmentally Sensitive Area Wildlife Advisory Group. Hemyock Life and Times Book 1,000 routes of varying lengths that scheme to enter into one of the Bikes in the forests Recognising the popularity of Cycling in the Blackdown Hills AONB 1,000 explore the countryside around Environmental Stewardship keeping and riding horses in the Working Our Woodlands 4,500 Chard. Once again the walk 1SW is a major off-road cycling schemes. South West, the guide provides Neroche Parish Plan 950 descriptions were written by keen initiative led by the Forestry In the Devon area of the AONB 17 advice, information and contacts to The Book of Neroche 5,000 local walker Geoff Rickson; the Commission and funded by the County Wildlife Sites were surveyed help make sure horses are well Local Community Training Course 400 leaflet also includes interesting Rural Development Programme and management advice provided cared for and make a positive School Planetarium 435 background information about this England. The AONB is involved in to the landowner. This work was contribution to our landscape. Hemyock Primary Outdoor Classroom 450 historic town. the mapping aspect of the project Riparian Landowners Information Pack 950 supported by Devon County Council whereby suitable cycling routes will Making the case for the Hills and helps to deliver one of its Roads fit for an be surveyed and graded and, along Students to the Stars 685 One of the key remits of the AONB is chosen National Indicators – NI197 Outstanding area with other facilities, will be easily Somerset Car Free Day Out 1,000 to comment on the policies and Stockland Village Shop Open Evening 250 ‘Improved local biodiversity, active The way in which roads and the accessible through an Adventure strategies of its partners that affect Discovering Otterhead Lakes 970 management of local sites’. roadside environment are managed Cycle Map via a dedicated website. the area. In 2009/10 we commented Bags for market 545 can have a significant effect on rural Working with the other protected Discovering the Hills the following: Blackdown Hills Hedge Laying Film 1,000 character, local distinctiveness, landscapes in the South West from Chard The Earth in Space 268 heritage, and biodiversity of the through the South West Protected • Natural England: Draft Policy on Following on from our successful Protected Landscapes AONB. Working with Devon County Landscape Forum the project will series of walks leaflets for four areas

8 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 9 • Long-term role of the Forestry convey their collective voice and to Commission England Public Forest develop a community-based plan to Estate emphasise the particular issues • Department for Communities and affecting Blackdown Hills’ Local Government: Permitted communities. The AONB, with development rights for small- scale financial support from Devon County renewable energy and low-carbon Council, has supported the early energy technologies stages of this process, encouraging • Devon Green Infrastructure the proposal to embrace the whole Strategy AONB area. Preparation of the plan • Land is due to continue over the coming Management Strategy year. • Somerset Woodland Strategy Blackdown Young • East Devon Interim Rural Departure Environmentalists Site Policy for Mixed Affordable and Over the course of 2009 the Making it Local Market Housing Blackdown Young Environmentalists • Mid Devon Allocations and Project, devised and led by Infrastructure Development Plan Somerset Rural Youth Project Document (SRYP) and funded by the AONB, • South Somerset Core Strategy engaged more than 100 young Making it Local is a locally managed Evidence Consultation people and carried out over 500 Project Grant received grants programme in the Blackdown • Green hours of practical conservation work Hills and East Devon AONB, which Infrastructure within the AONB. Local Main grants (>£10,000) aims to support projects that make • Taunton Deane Core Strategy organisations and charities, such as the most of the outstanding the Otterhead Estate Trust, Making it Local project development workers £166,022 landscape and local skills and bring Somerset Wildlife Trust and the lasting prosperity and economic Plan for the Parishes Neroche Scheme, benefited from Digital Mentors £30,000 benefit to the two AONB areas. The A small group of parishes expressed these hard-working, young Pilot Forestry Apprenticeship programme £98,539 programme runs from 2009 to 2013 an interest in working together to volunteers. Sustainable Business Networks £77,499 with funding of £2.4m secured from the Rural Development Programme Working our Woodlands £54,105 for England, through the South West Otter Brewery interpretation centre £25,000 Regional Development Agency. The Other achievements Axe Woods Woodfuel Co-operative £15,100 Making it Local team is based at the • New route created from Chard into the Blackdown Hills as part of two AONB offices. Somerset Sustainable Tourism Action Plan promoting Car Free Days Sustainable Shute £23,446 Out, which encourage people to leave their car at home and enjoy The AONB Sustainable Development Funds supported the Somerset via public transport. Small grants (£1,000 – £10,000) employment of two Project • Six Circular Walks in the north eastern Blackdown Hills is the latest leaflet in the AONB walks series produced in collaboration with the East Budleigh community shop £4,695 development workers for Making it Neroche scheme. Local, who help people work up Neroche Parish Plan £1,500 suitable projects. • Erosion problems have been solved on the route from Culmstock to the Beacon when local people from the parish repaired the path, and Jubilee Hall £10,000 constructed steps and boardwalk. Manor House School forest garden £5,207 • Preparation of the Neroche Parish Plan has engaged the whole Twenty Estonians and two AONBs £6,450 community by setting up a website and organising community events. The AONB has also supported Combe Raleigh, Broadhembury and Dunkeswell with the production of their Parish Plans. TOTAL £517,563 • Stallholders at village and local farmers’ markets in the Blackdown Hills can now sell their produce in specially branded AONB, recyclable paper bags.

10 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2008/2009 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2008/2009 11 Communications and Management Management and staff Management group (as at 31 March 2010) AONB staff team Paul Diviani Manager One of the key roles of the Partnership is to raise awareness of East Devon District Council (Chair) Linda Bennett John Berry Planning officer the national importance of the AONB and its special qualities, Devon County Council Lisa Turner and to help people enjoy and understand the area. Ross Henley Project co-ordinator Somerset County Council Nickie Moore Ros Roderigo Information officer (until June) South Somerset District Council Katherine Morgan Highlights John Thorne Temporay information officer (from June) Taunton Deane Borough Council Kate West • Two countryside event leaflets promoted more than 100 events run by the AONB and Frank Rosamond Office manager other partners Mid Devon District Council Jackie Vaughan • Art and dance projects explored the concept of boundaries focussing on the area where Amanda Newsome SDF admin assistant Natural England Caroline Newcombe the two counties meet Emma-Rose Herrera Environment Agency • The annual Blackdown Hills Hedge Associationʼs competition was captured on film with Gavin Saunders support from the AONB Forestry Commission Making it Local staff team Heather Stallard Programme manager Blackdown Hills Business Association Jenny Archard Hilary Shove Programme development workers borders. Landance, a contemporary Hedge laying on Dance and art on the border Women's Institute Nicola Buckingham community dance group, gave two Hattie Winter the screens The Border projects were designed Bob Buxton spellbinding performances at This year’s Blackdown Hills Hedge to raise awareness of the issues of Development Trust Programme assistant Neroche. Both projects were Carrie Mason Association (BHHA) hedge laying boundaries, particularly relevant to Frank Edwards supported by the Blackdown Hills competition was captured on film the Blackdown Hills AONB, which Blackdown Hills Hedge Association AONB. for posterity, thanks to a small grant straddles the two counties of Devon Richard Kallaway from the AONB’s SDF. The film is a and Somerset. As part of Somerset National Farmers Union celebration of the South West's rural Arts Week the Blackdown Hills Roland Stonex heritage and shows that hedge Artists and Makers worked local Devon Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group laying is not just a matter of schools to investigate issues raised Geoffrey Sworder technique, but is a valuable rural by boundaries, physical and Campaign to Protect Rural England/ Community Council of Devon (Vice Chair) craft that enhances the landscape emotional, and created installations and conserves wildlife. of their own close to the county David Jenkins Links with Estonia Mike Hudson Members of an Estonian Local Other achievements Culm and North Parishes Action Group, the West Estonian • AONB launched itself into the world of social networking via Facebook David Allen Yarty and East Parishes Islands Partnership, spent a week in and Twitter. both East Devon and the Blackdown Members who retired during the year: • Safe Hands, a branch of Exeter Community Service Volunteers for those Hills AONBs to find out more about who require extra support, help mail out the AONB’s events leaflets. To Brian Phelps how local farmers were developing say thank-you we arranged a trip for them to the Blackdown Hills. Culm and North Parishes and marketing products such as John Cathcart • The AONB funded transport to support Hemyock School’s ‘learning Otter and West Parishes meat and fibre. They plan to take outside the classroom’ activities. these ideas back to Saareema Allison Wallis • The joint AONB, Neroche Scheme, Making it Local stand at Honiton Island where grants from their own Natural England Show attracted a wide variety of visitors. Local Action Group will help them put these new ideas into practice.

12 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 13 Funding and finance Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Blackdown Hills AONB is publicly financed by central government and local authorities. We also bid to other sources of funding to bring in money for projects.

The core work of the Blackdown Hills AONB is funded by Natural England, Devon and Somerset County Councils, East Devon, Mid Devon and South Somerset District Councils and Taunton Deane Borough Council.

Financial information 2009/2010

Income Expenditure 2008/09 Income brought forward £33,313 Staffing £172,284 Natural England SDF 08/09 Office costs £32,146 income brought forward £5,683 Partnership costs £51,248 Natural England £218,571 Projects £36,046 Devon County Council £12,300 Sustainable Development Somerset County Council £12,000 Fund 08/09 £5,683 Mid Devon District Council £12,300 Sustainable Development Fund 09/10 £46,529 East Devon District Council £12,300 South Somerset District Council £12,300 Taunton Deane Borough Council £12,000 Rental income £10,000 Other income £6,349 Income carried forward to 2010/11 -£2,693 Carry forward other income -£487

Total Income £343,936 Total Expenditure £343,936

Landscapes for Life The Blackdown Hills AONB is one of a family of protected training and liaison for those working for the conservation landscapes. There are 47 Areas of Outstanding Natural of these special areas. Beauty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland covering In the South West the South West Protected Landscapes XXXXXXX percent of the land area. They are unique and Forum promotes best practice in the management of irreplaceable national assets and along with National protected landscapes throughout the 14 AONBs and two Parks represent our finest landscapes. National Parks in the South West. It co-ordinates The National Association of AONBs works to raise the collaborative projects and funding applications, profile of the designation and to secure the sustainable encourages joint working and raises the profile and future of these areas. This work includes lobbying promote understanding of these special area of government for improvements in legislations, influencing countryside within the region. plans and strategies, raising awareness and providing

14 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 Blackdown Hills Annual Review 2009/2010 15 Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership Axe Vale & District Culm Valley Young Farmers National Trust Conservation Society Devon County Council Natural England BTCV Devon Farming & Wildlife Parish councils Blackdown Hills Advisory Group Ramblers Association Business Association Devon Rural Women's Network Silvanus Trust Blackdown Hills Hedge Association Somerset County Council Devon Youth Association Blackdown Hills Walking Group Somerset Rural Youth Project East Devon Council for Somerset Wildlife Trust Blackdown Hills Voluntary Service Woodland Association Somerset Young Farmers Club East Devon District Council Blackdown Support Group Somerset Farming & English Heritage British Horse Society Wildlife Advisory Group Environment Agency (Devon) Conservation South Somerset District Council Forest Enterprise Community Council for Somerset South West Regional Forestry Commission Development Agency Community Council of Devon Highways Agency Taunton Deane Borough Council Campaign to Protect Rural England Honiton Development Trust Wessex Water Council for Voluntary Service Mid Devon District Council Women's Institutes (Mid Devon) National Farmers Union www.blackdownhillsaonb.org.uk

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

Tel: 01823 680681 Email: [email protected]

Photo credits: Dan Bryan, Chris Goodman.

To order a large print version of this review, call 01823 680681