A nature-rich landscape

Many generations of management have contributed to the diversity of Exmoor’s natural environment, with spectacular moorland, rich oak woodland, rolling farmland, clear streams and dramatic coastline. These form a mosaic of habitats including heath, blanket bog, ancient woodlands, species-rich grassland, and high-quality freshwater and marine habitats. These habitats support a wide range of species, both common and rare, many of which are conservation priorities. They are one of the key attractions for people visiting the National Park and are also highly valued by people living and working here.

Exmoor currently has 29 habitats and over 200 species identified as a priority for biodiversity conservation .  Many are internationally rare, and Exmoor has two Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Exmoor Heaths and Exmoor and Quantocks Oakwoods. There are 3 woodland National Nature Reserves (NNRs) at Tarr Steps, Hawkcombe, and Dunkery and Horner, and 15 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). There are also just over 500 County and Local Wildlife Sites across the National Park which complement the network of nationally and internationally designated sites. These include important species-rich grassland, ancient woodland, heath and freshwater habitats of high quality or recognised because they support species of conservation importance.

These designations, and  ongoing management supported by past agri-environment schemes have helped to conserve Exmoor’s wildlife, but this is now under threat alongside widespread declines in nature across the country and globally. The reasons for these declines are many and complex, including the global challenge of climate change, cross-boundary impacts of air pollution, the introduction of non-native invasive species, and the long-term effects of historic policy and management such as land drainage and intensification of agricultural systems and food production.

This Partnership Plan includes ambitious targets to restore, enhance and expand Exmoor’s natural ecosystems and wildlife, supporting a beautiful and resilient landscape, with returning native wildlife and rich natural habitats teeming with life. This will be achieved by providing more space for nature alongside regenerative land uses that are sympathetic to nature and still produce high quality local food, timber, energy, recreational activities, and the jobs that go with them.

Currently, many of Exmoor’s designated wildlife sites are not in good condition, and one of the Government’s priority targets for Protected Landscapes is to bring Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) into favourable condition. This is challenging given the historic pressures on some SSSIs and also climate change, and therefore the SSSIs themselves need to be buffered, allowed to expand and natural processes restored to enable them to act as nature rich hubs and link out to surrounding areas.

The Plan includes targets for the creation of new habitat as well as expansion of existing habitats and linkages between them, creating a mosaic of different habitats and wildlife corridors. It will also be important to continue the favourable management of existing priority habitat and any new habitat created. Within the National Park, there will also be opportunities to reinstate natural processes and allow land to naturally regenerate.  Increasing the area of wildlife-rich habitats and naturally functioning ecosystems will also help to improve the resilience of wildlife and habitats to climate change, and mitigate climate change through sequestering carbon in soils, peatlands, wetlands, grasslands and saltmarsh.

Enhancing and restoring these habitats and ensuring their ongoing positive management will also benefit a wide range of wildlife. However, there are some species which require additional, bespoke conservation action in order to thrive, and some where positive interventions are needed to return wildlife to Exmoor that has historically been lost. Equally, ongoing efforts are needed to reduce and control invasive non-native species which impact negatively on Exmoor’s habitats and native wildlife.

These changes will not be easy to achieve, and will require the right incentives and funding through environmental land management schemes and green finance, new skills, training, and advice, and for a collaborative effort between land managers, funders, regulators and environmental organisations. The delivery of nature enhancements will also need to be done in an integrated way that considers Exmoor’s other special qualities, including heritage assets. The challenge is to support land managers and farmers to adopt the kind of practices needed to deliver these targets in a way which also allows rural communities to thrive and prosper and to enable a just transition which responds to the nature and climate crises and also retains the rural communities and cultural heritage that make National Parks so special.

We want everyone to get involved in helping to ensure that nature thrives on Exmoor, and there is much that volunteers, residents and businesses can do to support this, and to increase people’s connection with nature, improving their health and wellbeing.
Our aim is for Exmoor, along with the network of other Protected Landscapes, to be at the heart of nature enhancement for the nation, delivering the Government’s priorities to be ‘greener, wilder and more accessible to all’, allowing nature to thrive and expand out to surrounding areas. Exmoor will play a key role in delivering ’30 by 30’ - the Government’s ambitious commitments for 30% of land in the UK to be protected for nature by 2030 , and the Protected Landscapes targets  which will help to deliver the Environmental Improvement Plan for England.

By delivering the targets in this Plan, at least three quarters (51,750ha) of the area of the National Park will be rich in nature, the remaining areas providing wildlife networks and corridors.

• A1 By 2030, at least 50% of the National Park is protected and managed for nature, contributing to national 30 by 30 targets
• A2 Create or restore an additional 4,500ha of wildlife-rich habitat  outside of protected sites by 2030, and 6,500ha by 2042 [breakdown of this figure covered in other sections – includes species rich grassland, woodland/wood pasture; peatland; hedgerows; wooded corridors]  
• A3  Bring 80% of SSSIs within Protected Landscapes into favourable condition by 2042 and ensure 60% of SSSIs have ‘actions on track’ to achieve favourable condition by 31 January 2028  
• A4 Continue favourable management of all existing priority habitat already in favourable condition outside of SSSIs (from a 2022 baseline) and increasing to include all newly restored or created habitat through agri-environment schemes by 2042  
• A5 By 2030, nature-friendly farming is practised on 50% of enclosed farmland (11,780ha or 17% of the National Park), where land is managed working with nature as part of a sustainable farm business
• A6 By 2030, there are 7,000 hectares (10% of the National Park) of wilder ‘nature recovery opportunity areas where nature and natural processes are allowed to take their course
• A7 Increase the populations of, and areas colonised by, species identified as priorities for Exmoor including threatened species
• A8 Develop and deliver species translocation programmes to bring back and boost native species, enhancing the diversity and richness of Exmoor’s wildlife
• A9 Reduce and control invasive non-native species particularly where they are impacting on the condition of designated wildlife sites
• A10 Increase awareness and action among volunteers, residents and businesses to create more wildlife-friendly environments including in gardens, villages and towns