Natural England - Exmoor ESA
Exmoor ESA
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants and has been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Some existing agreements will, however, continue until 2014.
The Exmoor ESA extends over 80,615 ha of the north Devon and west Somerset uplands of Exmoor and the Brendon Hills. About half of the ESA lies above 300m and most has Less Favoured Area (LFA) status. The boundary of the ESA overlaps that of the Exmoor National Park. The underlying geology consists mainly of Devonian sandstones and slates, with some small outcrops of limestone.
Description
Along with the adjacent Quantock Hills, Exmoor forms one of only three extensive upland areas in southern England and is consequently of outstanding environmental interest. The diverse landscape is centred on a smoothly moulded upland core and includes coastal cliff, high moorland, fringe hill slopes of enclosed land, incised wooded valleys, and a scattering of villages and isolated farmsteads. The area is rich in archaeological sites dating from the stone age to nineteenth century industrial remains. Agriculture is based on a long tradition of extensive hill/upland livestock farming, mainly sheep with some beef.
Significant habitats and species
The main nature conservation interest lies in the upland semi-natural habitats, especially the moorland, its fringe and the coastal heaths. In addition, woodland is widespread, including particularly good examples of ancient semi-natural oak woodland in the incised river valleys and coastal fringe. The high nature conservation interest of the ESA is recognised by the designation of eight biological Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering 23% of the ESA
ESA management options
There were two main management options available within the Exmoor ESA:
Option one has basic requirements applying to all land, this includes provisions for the maintenance of stockproof hedgerows, banks and walls, weatherproof traditional farm buildings and the control of bracken. Features of historical interest must not be damaged, destroyed or removed. Other rules provide for an extensive management regime of both moorland and enclosed grassland with restrictions on cultivation, drainage, stocking rates and use of fertilisers, lime, pesticides and herbicides.
Option two aims to maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest and landscape character of moorland by management and stocking levels and to increase the area of heather moorland by reversion on land previously improved for agriculture.
Contact
Natural England's Somerset office
