| Local Photographer Collects Award |
| The ‘Landscape Photographer of the Year 2009’ competition, sponsored by the English National Park Authorities and Natural England, has culminated in an exhibition of 100 images in the National Theatre in London. |
| Date: 15th December |
| Timber Reuse Open Days |
| A chance to learn more about Exmoor’s timber production and see the new solar powered wood kilns supported by the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund is on offer at the Timber ReUse Open Days in Minehead next week. On Friday 18 December there will be a drop-in for businesses and press from 2pm to 5pm and for the public on Saturday 19 December from 10am to 1pm. |
| Date: 8th December |
| Final IYA 2009 Event On Exmoor |
| The final event to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and Exmoor’s dark skies, The Geminid Shower, will be held this coming Sunday 13 December at The Sportsman’s Inn, Sandyway (EX36 3LU) from 8.30pm |
| Date: 8th December |
| Educators Visit Exmoor |
| Exmoor National Park Authority’s Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Education recently played host to the annual meeting of Educators from National Park Authorities across the UK. The conference offered an opportunity to share experiences and respond to emerging national agendas such as climate change, social inclusion and learning outside the classroom. |
| Date: 8th December |
| Blackpitts |
| Expressions of interest are invited from persons solely or mainly working or last working in agriculture or forestry for the tenancy of the property known as Blackpitts in the heart of Exmoor National Park. |
| Date: 26th November |
| South West’s largest low carbon festival announces more than 20 events for all interests (9th-12th Oct) |
| Visitors and residents alike will have the ultimate excuse to visit Exmoor this month at the very first Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival 2009 from 9th-12th October (www.lowcarbonfestival.co.uk), organised by the South West’s National Parks. |
| Date: 30th Septemeber |
| News Of Autumn Events On Exmoor |
| A range of interesting and varied events are on offer in the coming weeks, with everything from the Exmoor Wood Fair to star gazing, to make the most of autumn on Exmoor |
| Date: 30th Septemeber |
| Moor businesses urged to tackle climate change at the first Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival |
| Businesses in the region will have the opportunity next month to take part in the very first Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival which will promote low carbon living and business activities in and around the South West’s two National Parks. |
| Date: 30th Septemeber |
| Moor Rover extension announced as part of World Car Free Day. |
| As part of the World Car Free Day on the 22 September (www.worldcarfree.net) organisers of the Moor Rover bus scheme, providing tailored transport around Exmoor National Park, have announced the schemes extension into October. |
| Date: 30th Septemeber |
| News From Exmoor National Park Authority |
| This year’s Exmoor Archaeology Forum is to be held at the Ralegh's Cross Inn on Thursday 22 October and will be exploring the 19th century iron mining of the Brendon Hills through the work of the West Somerset Mineral Railway Project. This is the ninth in a series of events looking at the archaeology and history of Exmoor. |
| Date: 30th Septemeber |
| Bird's Eye View of Exmoor's Past |
| More than 2,200 previously unknown archaeological sites have been discovered on Exmoor and significant new information added to a further 800 sites thanks to the Exmoor National Mapping Programme. |
| Date: 28th August |
| Planning Fee Reimbursement Fund |
| Local community projects have benefited to the value of more than £1,000 thanks to Exmoor National Park Authority’s Planning Fee Reimbursement Fund. One of the first organisations to receive a grant was the Exmoor Natural History Society which applied to the Fund for reimbursement of the planning fee for their application to convert part of the public convenience building at Porlock Weir into a Centre |
| Date: 28th August |
| Volunteers and Rangers working together |
| An opportunity to get involved with the Exmoor Rangers and Volunteers is on offer August Bank Holiday Monday (31 August). A minibus pick-up from Minehead (09:30) and Dulverton (10:00) is available to take to take people on a day out to work alongside Exmoor Rangers to carry out important work to keep Exmoor special. Booking is essential and everyone is welcome, but under 16's must be accompanied by an adult. If you would like to get involved please call Patrick Watts-Mabbott on 07973 727469. |
| Date: 28th August |
| Exmoor Calendar 2010 |
| The eagerly awaited Exmoor National Park Authority Calendars for 2010 have arrived and are now in stock at the National Park Centres in Lynmouth, Dulverton and Dunster. |
| Date: 18th August |
| Free guided walks on the West Somerset Mineral Railway |
| Due to popular demand the West Somerset Mineral Railway project is increasing the number of places available on the next free guided walk on Tuesday 18 August. The walk is part of an on-going series of events exploring the West Somerset Mineral Railway. |
| Date: 18th August |
| News From Exmoor National Park Authority |
| Farmers on Exmoor could soon be generating electricity and heat from manure and other feed stocks if the findings of new research project into on-farm anaerobic digestion turn out to be favourable. |
| Date: 18th August |
| Public consultation on proposed works at West Anstey Common |
| Exmoor National Park Authority is launching a public consultation on a second draft of proposed works to minimise damage from vehicles to West Anstey Common, Exmoor. |
| Date: 18th August |
| Big Red Days at the West Somerset Mineral Railway |
| Around 270 children from West Somerset and Taunton schools enjoyed two Big Red Days in the rain at the West Somerset Mineral Railway (WSMR) on the Brendon Hills recently. The activities were led by environmental educators from the Field Studies Council, Exmoor National Park Authority, Carymoor Environmental Trust, the Somerset Waste Action Programme, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Somerset Rural Youth project and Dulverton Middle School. |
| Date: 31st July |
| Works Starts at Blackpitts |
| Work is due to start on the Blackpitts bungalow shortly following the recent decision by Members of Exmoor National Park Authority to carry out repairs and renovation of the building and lease it to a local farming family as soon as possible, |
| Date: 31st July |
| New Combe Martin Museum opens |
| Exmoor National Park Authority joined the celebrations recently as the new Combe Martin Museum was officially opened. Exmoor National Park Authority has supported the redevelopment of the with a £10,000 grant from the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund towards the cost of a learning co-ordinator to develop a wide range of educational activities based in the new museum. |
| Date: 31st July |
| Ranger on a bus |
| Rangers from Exmoor National Park Authority will be swapping their Land Rovers for the bus in an initiative to help people experience more of Exmoor when using public transport within the National Park. |
| Date: 31st July |
| Exmoor Hedge Competition Results |
| The winner of the Exmoor Hedge Competition, Martyn Atkins, received his award and prize-winner’s cheque recently after a keenly fought competition between some high quality entries. The judges were pleased to see that Mr Atkins continues the traditional skill of using crooks when laying his hedges. [A crook is a piece of wood, similar in shape to a shepherd's crook which is cut from unwanted timber in the hedge and used to hold down some of the layers.] Second and third place prizes went to hedgelayer David Davies. |
| Date: 31st July |
| National Parks Celebrate |
| Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for Marine and Natural Environment, will be one of the first to receive a National Parks Passport when he visits Exmoor National Park next Thursday 30 July. National Parks in the UK are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Access to the Countryside Act by encouraging people to visit all 14 of them over the next year. |
| Date: 31st July |
| Extra Money for New Native Woodlands |
| The creation of new native woodland in and around Exmoor National Park has received a further boost with the news that the Forestry Commission has increased its rates of planting grants this year. |
| Date: 15th July |
| Moor Rover launched |
| Local celebrity Johnny Kingdom and his wife Julie were some of the first people to enjoy a Moor Rover bus ride on the new flexible public transport service for Exmoor that was launched recently. The service provides access for local residents and visitors alike to areas previously unreachable with public transport. |
| Date: 15th July |
| New Low Carbon Festival for the South West's National Parks |
| An exciting new event, the Dartmoor and Exmoor Low Carbon Festival, is being organised to promote low carbon living in and around the South West’s two National Parks. |
| Date: 15th July |
| News From Exmoor National Park Authority |
| A decision by Exmoor National Park Authority to refuse retrospective planning permission for extensions to two holiday units at the same location (Duddings, Timberscombe) has been upheld by a Planning Inspector. |
| Date: 13th July |
| News From Exmoor National Park Authority |
| National Parks across the UK are gearing up for a busy summer season with special events being held around the country for National Parks Week (27 July to 2 August) and Exmoor is joining in the fun. |
| Date: 10th July |
| Festival of British Archaeology |
| The Festival of British Archaeology runs from 18 July to 2 August and to celebrate the event, on Saturday 18 July, Exmoor National Park Authority is offering a guided walk along the Barle Valley from the 19th century designed landscape garden at Ashcombe to Cow Castle Iron Age Hillfort. |
| Date: 2nd July |
| Exmoor Curriculum |
| Students at West Somerset Community College’s farm unit recently had a visit from Dulverton Middle School youngsters who are studying a vocational qualification as part of their Exmoor Curriculum. This award is designed for students age 14+. so the school's partnership with the Somerset Rural Youth Project has created a unique learning opportunity for these young people. |
| Date: 2nd July |
| Exmoor Tourism Partnership set to boost tourism |
| Tourism in Exmoor and West Somerset is set for a boost with the forthcoming launch of the new Exmoor Tourism Partnership on the 14 July. |
| Date: 2nd July |
| Nightjar Walk |
| Boyd Hay, Forestry Commission Wildlife Ranger and Richard Eales, Exmoor National Park Authority Ranger, are teaming up to offer a unique walk in a Forestry Commission owned plantation looking at one of Exmoor’s most mystical birds, the nightjar, on the evening of Monday 6 July 2009 |
| Date: 2nd July |
| Affordable housing for local families |
| Positive planning policies are starting to make a difference with a total of 34 affordable homes constructed or underway in Exmoor National Park since the policy giving priority to local families in need of affordable housing was first implemented by the National Park Authority in 2005. In addition to this 21 planning applications have been submitted and are under consideration and there are pre-application discussions underway for about another 46 units. |
| Date: 29th June |
| Enjoying Exmoor’s Dark Skies |
| This year is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) and to celebrate Exmoor National Park Authority, in partnership with local astronomy societies, is holding a series of events to raise awareness of astronomy and the value and conservation of dark skies. |
| Date: 29th June |
| Free guided walks on the West Somerset Mineral Railway |
| As part of the ongoing series of events exploring the West Somerset Mineral Railway the project is offering free guided tours of the Old Mineral Line |
| Date: 29th June |
| Planning fee help for local community projects |
| A new fund has been launched by Exmoor National Park Authority to assist local groups to undertake projects that help or provide facilities for local communities and/or achieve National Park purposes. |
| Date: 9th June |
| Boost for River Exe Salmon Stocks |
| Salmon stocks have received a boost thanks to the efforts of the River Exe Project (with funding from the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund), Dulverton Middle School and Blundell’s Preparatory School. The project and schools have been rearing their own River Exe Salmon in their classrooms assisted by John Hickey, the River Exe Project Officer from the Westcountry Rivers Trust, who has been running the scheme with the schools since October 2008. |
| Date: 9th June |
| Fishing for Life |
| An Exmoor based club for ladies who are suffering or recovering from breast cancer is the latest organisation to benefit from funding provided by the Exmoor National Park Sustainable Development Fund. |
| Date: 9th June |
| Timberscombe Hill Fort opened to the public |
| On Saturday 13th June Exmoor National Park Authority will be opening up the Iron Age hill fort at Timberscombe to the public as part of the Village Carnival, organised by the Orchards Social Club. The Carnival will include a street parade, country dancing, ‘Danny and the bandits’ and other stalls |
| Date: 9th June |
| New book explores history of Exmoor |
| A new book, offering a unique insight into centuries of life on Exmoor, will be launched at an event at Dulverton Town Hall this week. |
| Date: 29th May |
| First birth joy at the Exmoor Pony Centre. |
| Staff at The Exmoor Pony Centre found a surprise addition when checking the stock on Bank Holiday Monday. The new foal, a filly was born to 5 year old Winnie, a very special resident, who arrived at the Moorland Mousie Trust headquarters last Autumn, in a consignment from Brendon Fair. |
| Date: 29th May |
| Mire Project Wins Award |
| The Exmoor Mire Restoration Project has won first prize at the annual Water Industry Achievement Awards in the Sustainable Urban Drainage & Flood Management Initiative of the Year |
| Date: 29th May |
| Work with an Exmoor Ranger for a day |
| For those who enjoy getting into the outdoors on a bank holiday, there’s an opportunity to work as a volunteer alongside Exmoor National Park Rangers on Monday 25th May. The work will involve carrying out repairs to some damaged moorland paths and clearing invasive plants from heather moorland. Transport is available from Minehead, Dulverton or County Gate |
| Date: 29th May |
| Exmoor National Park Authority Woodlands in good health |
| Ancient Woodlands managed by Exmoor National Park Authority are in good and improving ecological condition and are providing increasingly valuable habitats to rare and threatened woodland plants and animals.That’s the view of the countries top woodland ecologist who visited the ancient oak-woods of the Barle Valley on Exmoor recently. |
| Date: 6th May |
| Explore life with the Romans |
| There will be a chance to chat with Roman soldiers from the Ermine Street Guard when they visit the National Park Centre in Dunster on Saturday 16 May from 11am to 3pm to celebrate the arrival of a new display about the Romans in the south west. |
| Date: 6th May |
| Popular Burridge Path Re-opens |
| The first section of the popular lower path along the river’s edge in Burridge Wood, Dulverton is now open thanks to the hard work of Exmoor National Park Authority’s field services team. |
| Date: 17th April |
| Mineral Line Drop In |
| Mineral Railway expert Mike Jones, who has been studying the West Somerset Mineral Line for the last fifty years, and West Somerset Mineral Railway members of staff will be on hand at an informal drop-in session on Wednesday 15th April, between 10am – 1pm to answer questions about this fascinating period of history. |
| Date: 8th April |
| Mineral Line Science Day fun at Nettlecombe Court |
| Children from Danesfield Middle School in Williton, and Little Vikings Nursery in Watchet visited Nettlecombe Court in Somerset recently for a day of experiments, demonstrations and practical activities inspired by the West Somerset Mineral Railway. |
| Date: 1st April |
| Interested in the Countryside |
| The Exmoor Local Access Forum (LAF) is looking for seven new recruits to join its ranks. |
| Date: 26th March |
| International Year of Astronomy 2009 Spring Moonwatch |
| The next Dark Skies Awareness event organised by Exmoor National Park Authority, in partnership with Tiverton and Mid Devon and North Devon astronomy societies will be held at the Authority’s Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Education, high on The Chains of Exmoor. |
| Date: 26th March |
| Energy Efficiency support for Exmoor tourism |
| Tourism businesses on Exmoor are set to benefit from reduced costs, whilst the carbon footprint of tourism on Exmoor will be reduced thanks to a new scheme unveiled by the Exmoor National Park Authority in partnership with Forum 21. |
| Date: 26th March |
| Uplands inquiry deadline approaches |
| The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has issued a reminder that Thursday 30 April is the deadline for individuals and organisations to submit comments to its official inquiry into how to secure a prosperous and sustainable future for England’s uplands, including those in Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. |
| Date: 23rd March |
| "The archaeology of the Mineral Line” – a free lecture |
| Rob Wilson-North, Historic Environment Manager at Exmoor National Park Authority, and Mike Jones, a local historian who has spent the last fifty years researching the Mineral Line, will be giving a free illustrated talk on Thursday 2nd April at Luxborough Village Hall. This lecture was due to take place on 12th February, but it had to be cancelled because of bad weather. |
| Date: 23rd March |
| Royal Visitor For Exmoor Pony Centre |
| Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, is to visit The Moorland Mousie Trust’s Exmoor Pony Centre at Ashwick, Exmoor National Park, on Thursday 26 March. |
| Date: 18th March |
| Green light for Exmoor projects |
| Six projects, which when completed will be worth over £2.7 million to the Exmoor economy and will contribute to sustainable development within Exmoor National Park, are set to benefit from investment of £139,630 thanks to the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund. |
| Date: 16th March |
| Friday 13th proves lucky for the River Exe Project |
| The River Exe and Tributaries Association (RETA) celebrated the successes of the River Exe Project through funding provided by the Exmoor National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) at its AGM on Friday 13th March |
| Date: 13th March |
| Livestock Market Gets the Go Ahead |
| Government Office of the South West has confirmed that the Secretary of State is not to ‘call in’ the planning application for the development of Cutcombe Livestock Market enabling the applications to be confirmed by Exmoor National Park Authority |
| Date: 13th March |
| Voyage to the Outer Planets |
| The first of a series of events to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009 on Exmoor will be held on Saturday 21 March at the Blue Inn, Countisbury. |
| Date: 10th March |
| The archaelology of the Mineral Line– a free lecture |
| Rob Wilson-North, Historic Environment Manager at Exmoor National Park Authority, and Mike Jones, a local historian who has spent the last fifty years researching the Mineral Line, will be giving a free illustrated talk on Thursday 12 February at Luxborough Village Hall. |
| Date: 10th February |
| A Voyage to the Outer Planets |
| Events with names such as Astro camp out, Persieds shower, Voyage to the Outer Planets and Heavens above in Porlock are just some of some what’s on offer on Exmoor throughout 2009 to celebrate the International year of Astronomy. |
| Date: 28th January |
| Authorities start search to find suitable housing land |
| Exmoor National Park Authority, West Somerset, North Devon and Torridge District Councils are working together to ensure that there is enough suitable land available to deliver future housing requirements. For the Exmoor National Park area, the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West 2006-2026 requires that an estimated 20 houses per year should be built. These must be affordable houses to meet local needs only. |
| Date: 28th January |
| Priorities For 2009 |
| Tourism, farming and opportunities for young people will be among the key priorities for Exmoor National Park Authority in 2009. |
| Date: 22nd January |
| Warm welcome for changes to farm payments |
| Changes to the way hill farmers are paid for helping to look after the country’s uplands have been welcomed by Exmoor National Park Authority. |
| Date: 22nd January |
| Enhancing visitor experiences on Exmoor |
| Tourism providers on Exmoor are being invited to attend the 6th series of ‘Exmoor Awareness’. Three 1 day workshops, hosted by Exmoor National Park Authority, aim to increase awareness and understanding of the special qualities of Exmoor amongst those who work with visitors whether as accommodation providers, information centre staff, activity providers or other service providers. |
| Date: 20th January |
| Unique opportunity to support business and farming on Exmoor |
| Members of Exmoor National Park Authority have today (Tuesday 13 January 2009) approved a planning application which will allow the development of the Cutcombe livestock market, Wheddon Cross and 25 new residential units, 12 of them affordable houses for local people. |
| Date: 13th January |
| New farming and wildlife assistant |
| Exmoor National Park Authority recently appointed Tara Wright as the new farming and wildlife assistant. Her appointment is to cover maternity leave and will maintain the Authority’s high standard of free conservation advice to farmers and landowners |
| Date: 13th January |
| New Green Ambassador |
| Trish Bagshaw has been appointed Green Ambassadors project officer for the North Devon Area. Trish comes from the Calvert Trust where she led activities for a wide range of ability groups. |
| Date: 8th January |
| Captain Morgans and his miners” – a free lecture |
| A chance to hear about local industrial heritage is on offer next week when Mike Jones, a local historian who has spent the last fifty years researching the Mineral Line, will be giving a free illustrated talk about the people who lived and worked on the Mineral Line. |
| Date: 8th January |
| Mixed fortunes for Exmoor’s Moorland Birds |
| A major survey of breeding moorland birds on Exmoor undertaken in 2008 has revealed that the moors within Exmoor National Park continue to hold important bird populations, with nationally significant numbers of whinchat, stonechat, grasshopper warbler, Dartford warbler and regional important numbers of merlin and possibly tree pipit. |
| Date: 8th January |
| Communities wanted with ‘energy’ for competition |
| Communities with ‘energy’ have the chance to win a package of professional assistance to help them save money and make best use of their renewable energy resources in a competition being launched this week in Exmoor National Park. |
| Date: 6th January |
