Living Landscapes LIDAR Project Launches on Exmoor

Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) is proud to announce the launch of Living Landscapes, a groundbreaking heritage initiative within the Exmoor Pioneers programme that is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It will use cutting-edge lidar (light detection and ranging) technology to uncover hidden features across Exmoor’s former Royal Forest.

Beneath Exmoor’s rugged beauty lies a rich tapestry of history. From ancient monuments to 19th-century boundaries, the Royal Forest is far from untouched. Yet, there is still much to uncover and fresh insights to gain into the lives of those who once called Exmoor home.

Through an innovative online lidar portal, volunteers and the public can investigate Exmoor’s former Royal Forest from home. This tool reveals hidden features in the terrain - earthworks, trackways, and enclosures - that are invisible to the naked eye. Discoveries made from home can lead to real-world investigations, with volunteers joining field teams to verify and record findings. This blend of digital exploration and hands-on archaeology offers fresh insights into thousands of years of human activity that shaped the moor we cherish today.

Looking ahead, Exmoor National Park Authority is also preparing two further heritage initiatives scheduled for 2026. The Heritage at Risk project will focus on monitoring and protecting vulnerable monuments across Exmoor. Kimberley Colman is Heritage Ranger with Exmoor National Park Authority. She said: “At the heart of this initiative is a focus on ‘Heritage at Risk.’ Scattered across Exmoor’s hills and moorlands are ancient monuments - burial mounds, enclosures, and trackways that tell stories of ritual, settlement and memory. These features face increasing threats from erosion, vegetation growth, livestock movement and climate change.

“We’re inviting volunteers to become stewards of Exmoor’s past. Participants will learn to monitor the condition of heritage assets, contribute to a growing archive, and develop skills in archaeological and digital recording. Between 2026 and 2028, there will be opportunities to work alongside heritage professionals, gaining firsthand experience in conservation.”

The Farming Heritage project will explore Exmoor’s farming past, Farming has long shaped the landscape, influencing ecosystems and community life. Volunteers will help investigate historic farmsteads such as Driver and Pinkery, mapping field systems, surveying 19th-century buildings, and exploring personal letters and diaries to uncover stories of rural life and land use.

Kimberley continued: “This is more than a heritage project - it’s a call to action. Whether you are a seasoned historian, a local resident, a curious walker, or someone discovering Exmoor for the first time, there are opportunities to get involved. We’d love people to join us in exploring a living archive of history and help protect Exmoor’s remarkable heritage for future generations. We’d also like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this initiative possible.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We’re delighted to support the Exmoor Pioneers project thanks to National Lottery players. It is a great example of how heritage can be brought to life by sharing the stories of this remote moorland landscape, helping the community connect to the heritage on their doorstep. This project will help ensure that this remarkable landscape and its history can be explored and enjoyed for generations to come.”

For more information and to get involved search ‘Exmoor Pioneers Heritage’ or click here

Sign up as a volunteer here

This project has been made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside funding from BMW and CareMoor for Exmoor.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund  

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund