Wildlife

^WILDLIFE Moorland Projects
MIRE project (Moorland Improvement and Restoration on Exmoor)
^{© Ali Cox / ENPA}	To modify water management in upland areas of Exmoor, which influence river and stream hydrology To restore hydrology and ecology of intact blanket mire systems To implement this with a programme of ditch blocking on Exmoor .....................................................................Timescale: Ongoing Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, English Nature, Environment Agency, DEFRA ..................................................................... Further reading: Mire article 1 Mire article 2


Exmoor's Priority Bird Monitoring Project 2005
^{© Chris Gomersall / RSPB}	To increase understanding of the populations and breeding outcomes of key species most at risk on Exmoor To gain greater understanding of the status of breeding Merlin and their productivity To carry out recovery habitat management and monitoring for ring ouzel ..................................................................... Timescale: One year/Summer 2005 Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk helen.booker@rspb.org.uk Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, RSPB Further reading: The future for birds on Exmoor


Impact of Open Access on Nature Conservation
^{© ENPA}	To ensure that habitats and species of high nature conservation value are not subjected to detrimental impact, due to the New Rights of Open Access To monitor levels of use of sensitive areas where possible and monitor tangible effects of public open access post commencement To carry out baseline surveys of key sensitive species on important sites ..................................................................... Timescale: Ongoing monitoring of impact, using aerial photography Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk, PDHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, Environment Agency, RSPB, National Trust ..................................................................... Further reading: Recreation use of Exmoor's moorland


Exmoor Moorland Invertebrate Survey
	To provide baseline data on the invertebrate species and communities present on Exmoor’s moorland habitats To provide management recommendations that will conserve and enhance the invertebrate fauna of moorland habitats on Exmoor ..................................................................... Timescale: Survey was completed in 2004. Recommendations are being implemented Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, English Nature ..................................................................... Further reading: The Conservation of the Moorland Invertebrate Fauna on Exmoor


Moorland Restoration on Hadborough Plantation
^{© Graeme McVittie / ENPA}	To restore lowland heath on existing conifer plantation covering 12 hectares To clear fell the area of conifers and actively manage the area by grazing native Exmoor ponies on the site, to encourage heather regeneration and prevent scrub encroachment To implement a monitoring programme on the site To use the whole moorland restoration site as an example of good working practice ..................................................................... Location: Former Hadborough plantation Timescale: Conifer felling completed Exmoor Pony grazing has been introduced Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk, Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, English Nature


Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project
^{© Alan Bames / Butterfly Conservation}	To conserve and lead on the recovery of three of Britain’s most rapidly declining butterfly species and their habitats in two core refuge areas on Exmoor and Dartmoor To identify specific management requirements for all UK BAP Fritillary butterfly sites within Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks Facilitating management works specific to each site, bringing together farmers skills and resources in core areas of interest To ensure sustainable land management is in place to ensure the future of these UK BAP species ..................................................................... Timescale: Project will be completed by 2008 Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk, Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, English Nature, Butterfly Conservation, UK BAP, DEFRA, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Environment Agency Further reading: Progress Report 2005-2006 (PDF, 844KB)


Dartford Warbler Survey
^{© Chris Gomersall / RSPB}	Planning has started for an Exmoor-wide Dartford Warbler survey in 2006 ..................................................................... Timescale: 2006 Contact: AHawkins@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk, Partners: Exmoor National Park Authority, RSPB

Moorland projects