Achievement Awards

At an awards ceremony following the recent Authority meeting, Members and staff from Exmoor National Park Authority took the opportunity to thank the organisations that have worked with them towards achieving so much towards the conservation and enhancement of the National Park as laid out in the previous National Park Management Plan 2007-2012.
Chief executive of the Authority, Dr Nigel Stone, said: “We were delighted that so many of the organisations that help look after Exmoor were able to come to receive their awards so that we were able to thank them in person for helping us achieve so much in the past 5 years.
“We have always known that we can’t do it all on our own which is why we have called the next plan a Partnership Plan for Exmoor National Park 2012-2017. The organisations involved in the previous plan, plus residents, visitors and people who responded via the website and community newspaper Park Life have all helped to develop the new Partnership Plan and we look forward to continue working together to continue to enhance Exmoor’s special qualities.”
The awards were presented by John Dyke and Andrea Davis chairman and deputy chairman of Exmoor National Park Authority – details as follows:
Exmoor Landscape Awards went to: The National Trust for enhancement of open landscape at Countisbury on either side of the A39; Western Power for the removal of overhead power lines at Hawkcombe Head; Exmoor Society for highlighting the importance of landscape and the highly innovative ‘Tracks and Traces’ travelling play.
Exmoor’s Wildlife Awards went to: South West Water for the MIRE restoration project and Upstream Thinking programme in the Wimbleball catchment; Butterfly Conservation for their programme of habitat restoration that has led to increased numbers of rare fritillary butterflies in the National Park; Exmoor & District Deer Management Society for ongoing work to monitor the number and condition of red deer in ther National Park; Environment Agency for leading the Exmoor Knotweed Control Partnership; Forestry Commission for support towards the control and removal of Rhododendron from woodlands in the National Park; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for monitoring of breeding bird populations; Exmoor Natural History Society for work to map the distribution of plant species across the National Park.
Exmoor’s Historic Environment Awards went to: the Dunster Working Group for undertaking a programme of enhancement work in Dunster including the sympathetic approach to improving the pavement on the east side of Dunster High Street; Devon County Council for enhancing the streetscape in the Old Village area of Lynton.
Exmoor’s Natural Resources Awards went to: Forum 21 for their contribution towards the target to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases; Climate Action West fir the Carbon Neutral National Park programme; Exmoor Trust  for a renewable energy symposium in 2008 and for taking forward the Low Carbon Communities Challenge project by setting up a Carbon Neutral Exmoor Fund and contributing £10,000.
Farming and Land Management Awards went to:  Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auction Ltd, Somerset County Council and Summerfield Developments for delivering the Livestock Market and providing housing and business units; South West Uplands Federation for raising the profile of the challenges facing farming on Exmoor and for effective campaigning on farming issues; Exmoor Hill Farm Project for support and training to help improve the profitability of farming in the National Park; Exmoor Horn Sheepbreeders Society for their ongoing work to promote the well-being of the breed;
Understanding and enjoyment awards went to: Exmoor Tourism Partnership for coordinating marketing effort and partnership working; Campaign for National Parks for their pioneering Mosaic Champions work raising awareness of Exmoor National Park; Calvert Trust for their work in supporting disabled people and their carers to enjoy the National Park; Countryside Mobility South West for introducing Trampers at strategic locations in the National Park; Heart of Exmoor Project for their outreach programme; Porlock Visitor Centre for their work in providing information and innovative events in support of National Park purposes;  Exmoor Conservation Volunteers Partnership for its work in promoting opportunities for volunteers.
Exmoor’s People and Communities awards went to:  Magna Housing Group, Falcon Rural Housing; Rural Housing Project and parishes in Cutcombe, Dulverton, Exford and Porlock for helping to deliver the affordable housing to meet local need; West Somerset Community College for their apprenticeship schemes.

Published: 3 July 2012