Exmoor Moorland Units Acknowledgements Thanks to Exmoor land owners and managers, the Moorland Initiative Board, The Forestry Commission, Natural England, RSPB and John Waldon for all their help in the production of this document. First published 2011 Also available on our website at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or Tel 01398 323665 © Exmoor National Park Authority Published by Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Contents Introduction . 4 Methodology . 5 Exmoor Moorland Units Unit 1: Western Coastal Heaths . 10 Unit 2: Central Coastal Heaths . 12 Unit 3: Selworthy, Bossington and North Hill . 14 Unit 4: Ilkerton Ridge, Hoaroak and Furzehill . 16 Unit 5: Brendon Common . 18 Unit 6: Deer Park, Turf allotment and Cloud Common . 20 Unit 7: Porlock Common . 22 Unit 8 & 9: Dunkery . 24 Unit 10: Codsend Moor and Downscombe Bog . 26 Unit 11: Butterhill, Chapman’s Barrow and Radworthy . 28 Unit 12 & 13: The Chains, Exe Plain, Warren and Larkbarrow . 30 Unit 14: Southern Exmoor Forest . 32 Unit 15: Southern Commons . 34 Unit 16: North Molton Ridge and Barcombe Down . 36 Unit 17: Molland, West Anstey and East Anstey . 38 Unit 18: Withypool, Halscombe and Humber’s Ball . 40 Unit 19: Winsford Hill . 42 Unit 20: Grabbist Ridge . 44 Unit 21: Dunster Heaths . 46 Unit 22: Haddon Hill . 48 References . 51 The Moorland Units of Exmoor Introduction This document was produced by Exmoor National The production of the report was led by the Park Authority in 2011 to provide a geographically Moorland Initiative Board, which includes based summary of issues and opportunities representatives of moorland owners, Natural affecting moorlands within the National Park. The England, the Exmoor Society, Exmoor Trust, RSPB, study aims to identify how national park purposes English Heritage, heritage interests, NFU, and the could be furthered on each of the moorland blocks National Park Authority. In 2005 it set out its vision within Exmoor. The priorities for each site have been for moorland as follows: discussed with landowners and managers, but the resulting maps and accompanying text are intended as basis for future discussion around various land management options. Our shared vision is of Exmoor’s moorlands, in perpetuity, providing for the following, interdependent public goods that are highly valued and The purposes for which National Parks are enjoyed by a wide range of people in our society: designated are: Extensive wildlife habitats, that are well Protection of the rich record of human activity, to conserve and enhance natural beauty, adapted to future change and support history and culture with opportunities for this wildlife and cultural heritage, and to flourishing populations of their distinctive to be explored and more fully understood native plants and animals provide opportunities for the understanding A stimulating place for all people to discover, and enjoyment of their special qualities by the Livelihoods for thriving local communities of appreciate and enjoy the natural world and public farmers and other rural businesses that depend their cultural heritage upon the land Clean, fresh water and healthy, stable soils act as Wild, open, beautiful and awe-inspiring a sink for atmospheric carbon that would landscapes where everyone can gain inspiration otherwise contribute to a global climate change and experience tranquility and solitude Opportunities for everyone to find enjoyment through physical and mental challenges, but without damaging these beautiful, fragile areas . 4 The Moorland Units of Exmoor Methodology In 2004 The Exmoor Society published a report on This work resulted in a ‘Survey Map’ for each and farmers to secure their comments. This limited Exmoor moorlands entitled Moorlands at a moorland unit. These maps brought together all the consultation was very constructive but there was Crossroads. One of the report’s recommendations information and data relevant to each unit; including widespread support from the land owners for the was to “Establish objectives and needs for each of the landscape character assessments, SSSI condition maps to be simpler and to show the issues and moorland units”. This report had already begun to assessments, Scheduled Monuments, access issues, opportunities for improvement within each unit. gather information on the 22 moorland units it had various surveys, PALs (see page8) and Common Land. A number of workshops with ENPA staff and Natural identified. Following publication, staff from the In November 2008 the Exmoor Moorland Initiative England explored different ways this information Exmoor National Park Authority started to compile Board recommended that the work be checked to could be captured and displayed. More information further data and information for each of the units. ensure it was fully up to date and that a process of was gathered and this was further refined. The consultation with landowners and key land resulting maps were distilled and eventually one managers was undertaken. The updating with the map together with a brief narrative was provided for relevant agencies was completed in March 2009 each moorland unit. It is this set of “opportunity” and a series of meetings followed with landowners maps that form this report. 5 The Moorland Units of Exmoor The Opportunity Maps The boundaries of the moorland units. What is depicted on the maps? These maps have no statutory role. They are The original 22 units are a sub-division of the five The current distribution of public access land, as provided for guidance only. Their strength lies in the different areas based on dominant vegetation types defined by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act contributions from a very wide range of people, first described by Sinclair in 1966. Following the (CROW Act) 2000, is shown within each unit. The including staff from the ENPA, Natural England, local publication of the units in 2004 further refinement boundaries are as shown on Ordnance Survey farmers and landowners. Hopefully the maps will led to amendments to the boundaries and to the maps. play an important role in guiding future land combination of similar units (e.g. units 8 and 9). The The various consultations identified areas management and provide confidence to those boundaries are not intended to be definitive; they considered to have the potential for improving the seeking the priorities for action within the moorland are drawn to suggest the boundaries of the unit’s landscape. These areas are shown on most maps. units. moorland vegetation as it is now and possibly, Specific issues such as visually intrusive fences and The information displayed is often within an where relevant in terms of restoration, the extent of overhead wires are also identified. Sites where there indicative boundary. It is intended to identify an moorland vegetation in the last 100 years. For the is the potential to improve the condition and issue and provide an approximate location only. It purposes of this exercise the moorland vegetation appearance of car parks and picnic sites are will be necessary, once the issue has been includes coastal heath, heather dominated included. identified, to seek more refined and accurate moorland, blanket bogs, valley mires and grass information. moors. Occasionally the unit encompasses other vegetation types including improved grassland, The accompanying text The information included on the maps is not the woodland and scrub. These additional areas have Each unit is briefly described and its principal definitive statement on the extent of that resource been included because map evidence shows that interests identified. The information used to create or issue. These maps can evolve as further they have been moorland in the past and they may these brief statements was compiled from ENPA information becomes available; as the natural still have moorland characteristics. resources become better known and require action staff and, where relevant, from the Sites of Special on the ground to sustain them or address concerns. The unit boundary is defined by a combination of: Scientific Interest (SSSIs) citations. The information set out under the headings: Main Section 3 - moorland Issues. Potential Actions and Additional Notes, arose from the various consultations including those with Section 3 - other land-owners, statutory agencies, ENPA staff and moor and heath farmers. The consultation was not exhaustive and Land identified on the other issues and actions will be identified. These OS first edition as maps begin that process. unenclosed moorland, common land or rough grazing. Areas known to have been ploughed since the 1950s. 6 7 The Moorland Units of Exmoor The Key individual features. They are mapped in order to The PALs define landscapes rather than individual identify manageable blocks of continuous features. Some smaller archaeological sites will fall significant archaeological value with important outside the PALs, including some Scheduled interrelationships with the topographical landscape Monuments. There is a presumption that Scheduled of the moorland. The criteria for selection of the PAL Monuments, whether they are in or outside a PAL areas were based on those adopted by Exmoor will be protected and managed by scrub and National Park and are set out below - bracken control as necessary, to maintain visibility 1. Numbers - areas which contain a and prevent a decline in their condition. concentration of a particular type of monument or monument group. Areas of erosion 2. Associations - where monuments can be Areas where erosion is causing damage to moorland shown to be associated with other groups of landscapes and where it may be beneficial to monuments. consider remedial works. 3. Completeness - areas where the survival of archaeological features is such that a relict Important areas of bracken for rare landscape of a particular period is preserved in species a largely undamaged form.