Nature and people focus for Exmoor National Park’s land at Driver

At least five nature recovery projects, a range of engagement and learning events, skills and activities, such as ‘Young Rangers’, ‘Welcome to Exmoor’ days, and a programme of school visits. Several projects will also focus on cultural heritage and social history. There will be improved physical access across the land with the objective of better connecting our Pinkery Outdoor Learning Centre with Driver and nearby roadside laybys.

There is already a Countryside Stewardship Scheme in place for Driver, but the hope is that it will be replaced by entry to the ‘Reviving Exmoor Heartlands’ Landscape Recovery scheme in 2026. Our ‘Sowing the Seeds’ project will continue to play an important role in restoring meadows at Driver.

Site infrastructure will be improved by demolishing the end-of-life, 20^th century farm shed and making a number of other improvements around the traditional farmstead. The Victorian farm buildings will be conserved and adapted to support the diversification of the holding. The first ‘Gateway’ tenancy will be recruited to ensure ongoing land management in a way that supports our ambitions for nature.

Rob Wilson-North, ENPA’s Head of Access, Engagement and Estates summarised the Development phase:

“Our work at Driver will focus on nature and people - we are already creating areas of wood pasture at Driver, but we want to go much further. Under the Pioneers programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Caremoor, we will be creating suitable habitat for marsh fritillary butterflies and for water voles, we’ll focus on nurturing wildflower meadows and creating new ones and restoring areas of deep peat. We hope to achieve much of this work by working with our Young Rangers, volunteers and other groups in the communities on and around Exmoor. Whilst staff at Exmoor National Park bring their expertise to Driver, we are very aware that we need to work with partners who have strong and complementary skill sets. To do this, we’ll be running a series of Gateway tenancies bringing in land management knowledge to help us. Recruitment of the first of our Gateway tenancies will begin in 2026 with the successful applicant living in the house at Driver. Together we’ll care for this land and landscape, enrich nature and safeguard a remarkable heritage. We will nurture the traditional skills that have shaped this land and help pass them on to new generations, ensuring others have the opportunity to share in this journey and come to love this special part of Exmoor National Park.

Some of what we want to do at Driver will need various consents, including planning, and will also require external funding. So the next three and a half years will see plenty of activity on the ground at Driver, as well as plenty of work behind the scenes.’

Find out more here

Or come along to our Discover Driver: Past, Present and Future Day  11:00am - 3:00pm 22nd May 2025