In January 2006 the Heritage Lottery Fund offered the National Park Authority a project planning grant of £50,000 to help prepare four plans, for an application for their Landscape Partnership scheme. The 4 Plans - Conservation and Restoration, Audience Development, Access and Training Plans can be downloaded below.

Conservation and Restoration Plan (PDF, 3.6MB)

This plan has been based on the original ‘Moorlands at the Crossroads’ report, with additional input from partner organisations, the Moorland Owners group and discussions with active moorland managers through the moorland unit consultations. Given the existence of the ESA and Environmental Stewardship to address the main land management issues, our projects must not duplicate these.

The Audience Development Plan (PDF, 1.75MB)

The consultants work identified that there was very poor engagement with both Exmoor and its moorland in many of the local towns such as Barnstable, Tiverton, Taunton and even Minehead. It is proposed that we concentrate on these communities, which have surprising levels of deprivation, so working more closely with them would accord with both government and HLF priorities. The main barriers that prevent these people from visiting Exmoor were lack of knowledge of the place and what it offers and problems with transport.

The Access Plan (PDF, 4.6MB)

This plan is closely linked to audience development and identified a number of trends among visitors. Numbers are static or falling, awareness of Exmoor is low, stays are shorter and visitors want activity holidays or opportunities linked to culture or the environment. There is an increased demand for low cost, self-catering accommodation.

The Training Plan(PDF, 527KB )

The plan identifies that while there is a variety of training initiatives related to moorland targeted at young people, there is a shortage of training focused on land management skills either for those entering this sector or for volunteers. With an aging population with traditional skills there is a need to pass these skills on. Cost and time required create barriers to people undertaking training.

The final report of the research carried out by the Centre for Rural Research at Exeter University, looking at the impact of the various options for the new Hill Farm Allowance on Exmoor farms. Report commissioned by the Exmoor National Park Authority. (PDF, 216KB)

Exmoor National Park Authority's Response To The Consultation On The Upland Reward Scheme (PDF, 125KB)

• Moorlands at a Crossroads
  The State of the Moorland’s of Exmoor, 2004
  Full Report (PDF, 3MB), Summary Report (PDF, 0.5MB)
  
  This report forms the main review of Exmoor’s moorlands. Commissioned by the Exmoor Society, it provides an independent and authoritative evaluation of the current state of Exmoor’s moorlands and the pressure facing them in coming years. 'Moorlands at a Crossroads' is forming the basis of actions to be taken forward by Exmoor's Moorland Initiative.