Heritage

The interactions between people and their environment over great spans of time have created the landscape within the former Royal Forest boundary that we see today. It was the Royal Forest itself that ensured the survival of much of the evidence for prehistoric activity, and this contributes to the ancient character of the landscape today.

Although we know a lot about the heritage within the Royal Forest, there is still much left to discover, and much work to protect and conserve the monuments we already know. Through Exmoor Pioneers there are opportunities for everyone to engage with this fantastic landscape, understanding how people and nature have together shaped the landscape we see today. There will also be very special chances to learn about Exmoor’s rich history and shape its future. By joining the Exmoor Pioneers, you will also be able to learn and develop new skills, including undertaking archaeological surveys, remote sensing, excavation, research and monitoring irreplaceable heritage assets through workshops and training delivered by heritage experts.   Visit our Join Us page to explore events, volunteering, and skills development opportunities.

Interested in learning more about archaeological sites, historic buildings, and other heritage assets on Exmoor? Visit the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record.

Many monuments within and around the Royal Forest are of local and national significance. This means the monuments have created a distinctive character, cultural identity, and spirit of place within Exmoor. By protecting the monuments, we can ensure their preservation for future research opportunities, education, leisure, and social benefits.

Exmoor Pioneers will work to conserve locally and nationally designated assets that are subject to threat of being damaged or threatened by human intervention and processes such as climate change. This will include condition assessment, undertaking basic repairs, and interventions such as dead hedging and erosion matting and follow-up monitoring of the monuments within the project.

Want to help monitor the condition of, and preserve important heritage assets and monuments within Exmoor? Visit our Join Us page to explore volunteering opportunities.

Join the search for new archaeological discoveries! Using remote sensing techniques like lidar, you can help uncover Exmoor’s unknown sites and monuments, revealing secrets hidden within the landscape. Once discoveries are made, you will have the chance to get your boots on and explore your findings alongside heritage experts, helping us to gain deeper insights into Exmoor’s past. Be part of the journey and help bring Exmoor’s lost heritage to light!

Want to learn how to analyse lidar data and make new archaeological discoveries? Visit our Join Us page to explore volunteering opportunities.

Farming has long shaped Exmoor’s landscape, influencing both its ecosystems and the way its communities’ function. Explore how historical agricultural practices have helped form the land we know today. Through personal accounts, archival research, and archaeological surveys we’ll uncover farming traditions connected to historic land use. By studying past strategies, we can gain valuable insights to help inform future conservation and land management practices.

Join Us in uncovering the past to shape a more sustainable future!

Have you ever wanted to take part in an archaeological dig? Be part of an archaeological excavation alongside professionals, contributing to discoveries that illuminate our understanding of Exmoor’s past. We hope to run excavations in 2026 and 2027.