Land use
Although Exmoor is known as a moorland plateau, only just over a quarter of it is moor and heath. Most, over half of Exmoor, is farmland and most of that is pasture. Most of the moorland can also be regarded as pasture for sheep and cattle. This has gradually reduced in area over centuries as it has been improved for grassland. In the 20th century some was also planted with conifers. There is some arable land, mostly in the Vale of Porlock and along the northern edge of the Brendon Hills.
| Land use | Acres | Hectares | % of National Park |
| Farmland | 95,686 | 38,724 | 55.8 |
| Moorland (also farmed) | 46,987 | 19,023 | 27.5 |
| Woodland | 20,881 | 8,454 | 12.2 |
| Cliff and foreshore | 1,940 | 788 | 1.1 |
| Urban area | 1,497 | 606 | 0.9 |
| Water (ponds, reservoirs) | 410 | 164 | 0.2 |
| Other (roads, gardens etc) | 3,788 | 1,521 | 2.3 |
| Total | 171,189 | 69,280 | 100 |
|
Past land use: year |
1887 | 1964 | 1979 |
| Farmland % | 47 | 53 | 60 |
| Semi-natural vegetation % | 47 | 37 | 30 |
| Woodland % | 7 | 10 | 10 |
Land ownership
National Parks are part of a 'family' of protected areas in Britain. They are protected because the inspriation of their scenery and opportunities they provide for outdoor recreation are seen as being of benefit to the nation. However, the term 'National Park' does not mean that such an area belongs to the nation. Much of their funding comes from central government but they are not run or owned by government. Like other large areas of countryside, they are made up of a large number of properties belonging to a variety of landowners. In common with other areas of open countryside, much land belongs to large estates in private or public ownership, with private ownership being in the majority.
The largest individual landowners in the British National Parks generally, however, are public organisations: the Forestry Commission, National Trust, Water Companies, Ministry of Defence, Duchy of Cornwall and Welsh Office, in that order. In comparison, Britain’s largest landowners are the Forestry Commission, then the Ministry of Defence. Third is the National Trust, fourth the Duke of Buccleuch and fifth Crown Estates. Exmoor is unusual in having no land owned by the Ministry of Defence or Natural England\CCW, who are major landowners in most National Parks.
Of the National Park Authorities the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority owns the most land and largest percentage of its park and the Yorkshire Dales owns the least land and smallest percentage of its park. Exmoor National Park Authority is the authority that owns the second largest percentage of its National Park. The National Trust is the largest landowner in Exmoor National Park with 7,155ha. The Badgworthy Land Company is the largest private landowner, if the National Trust is not considered private, with 2,794ha.
| Owner\Lessee | Area:Acres | Area: Hectares | % of National Park |
|
NATIONAL TRUST Winsford Hill Holnicote Estate Greenaleigh Dunster Heddon Valley Watersmeet |
17,735 1,350 12,537 45 99 1,967 1,737 |
7,155 524 5,074 18 40 796 703 |
10.3% |
|
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY OWNED North Hill Mill Hill Hawkcombe\Colescombe Woods Chains\Hoaroak\Driver\Bill Hill Dulverton Woodlands Birchcleave\Ashcombe Hawkridge Ridge Wood Culbone Woods Timberscombe Wood Cosgate Hill Haddon Hill East Anstey Common Warren\Larkbarrow Long Holcombe Exford Auction Field Bye Common Exmoor Forest Moorlands Tudball's Splatts Incline Simonsbath sawmill\meadows Tarr Steps woodlands Car parks\picnic areas toilets\buildings etc |
11,647 598 294 250 2,011 56 32 2 446 7 59 226 138 2,632 442 2 49 4,248 7 12 24 84 9 |
4,713 242 119 101 814 22 13 1 180 3 24 91 56 1,065 179 1 20 1,719 3 5 10 34 3 |
6.8% |
|
EXMOOR NATIONALPARK AUTHORITY LEASED Car parks\toilets Greenaleigh Farm woods Paddons Wood Tarr Steps Estate woodlands |
252 3 15 14 220 |
102 1 6 6 89 |
0.1% |
| CROWN ESTATE | 5,281 | 2137 | 3.1% |
| FORESTRY COMMISSION | 2,812 | 1,138 | 1.6% |
|
WATER COMPANIES South West Water Wessex Water |
739 714 25 |
299 289 10 |
0.4% |
|
TOWN COUNCILS (countryside properties) Lynton and Lynmouth Minehead |
419 234 185 |
170 95 75 |
0.2% |
TOTAL PUBLIC AND CORPORATE OWNERSHIP\LEASING
To the above list could be added land belonging to town and district councils (including buildings, recreation areas, car parks, council houses and gardens) and county councils (including depots and roads). Such areas are too small and numerous to calculate but the total land publicly and corporately owned or leased is in excess of 25% of the National Park area.