OUT & ABOUT
England’s Past For Everyone (EPE)
The
Is a Heritage Lottery funded project run by the Victoria
A PLAN
County History. Volunteers are working with historical
National
researchers and authors across ten counties, from FOR THE
Durham in the north-east to Cornwall in the south-west.
FUTURE
Trust on
Their work will result in fifteen paperback publications,
including ‘The Settlement of Exmoor’ which is being
Exmoor
authored by Bob Dunning, Spencer Dimmock and
After some 18
National Park Authority archaeologist Rob Wilson-North
months of extensive
and an interactive website, ‘Explore’. Organised by the
consultation, the
inspirational and unflagging Anne Todd, the Exmoor
Exmoor National
volunteers are working at present on three projects:
Park Management
historical farm buildings, deserted farmsteads, and green
Plan 2007-2012 – ‘A
lanes. Further work such as excavating a small section of
Sustainable Future
Withypool Common for evidence of former cultivation, and
for Exmoor’ is due to
an oral history project will take place in the first half of 2007.
be published in the
Did you know that the National Trust’s largest single
early part of 2007.
rural estate is on Exmoor? The Trust owns the Holnicote
Estate, which comprises over 20 square miles of Exmoor.
After the Exmoor National Park Authority, the Trust is the Japanese Knotweed
second largest landowner in the Park. The Trust has been
The review of the Management Plan was launched at
managing this land for the benefit of the nation since the
on Exmoor: the fight
a special event attended by HRH The Princess Royal
1940s. A team of 18 staff based on the A39 along with 263
last year after initial discussions with local community
countryside volunteers have been protecting the wonderful
back continues…
groups, partner organisations and stakeholders. A
heathland, coastline, ancient woodland and the picture
series of events in villages across Exmoor then
postcard villages such as Selworthy for over 60 years.
followed, from which a Consultation Draft of the Plan
Look out for the 440 species of fungi in Horner wood, one
was produced on which people were invited to
of the largest herds of Red Deer in the South West, 15 bat
comment.
species, the Heath Fritillary butterfly which is making a
come back thanks to habitat management changes and of
The plan is for all who care about Exmoor, the place,
course Exmoor ponies, the UK’s oldest breed. Enjoy and
its communities and the benefits the National Park
respect the countryside!
provides to the nation. A copy of the plan
will be available on our website
www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk where you will
ANNUAL HOUSE PRICE
also find a useful consultation draft summary.
SURVEY 2006
The results of the Exmoor National Park Authority’s ninth
If you need
annual House Price Survey last year revealed that the
walking guides,
mean average house price on Exmoor was £366,159,
compared with £356,379 in 2005. This was an increase of
maps or
2.7% which is less than
publications
national and regional house
about Exmoor or
price increases. The median
average house price (which
would like to buy
limits the distorting effect of
something with an
a few extremely expensive
Exmoor flavour, why
houses) was £314,000.
Although the rate of
Japanese Knotweed is one of Britain’s most invasive not visit our on-line shop at
growth continues to slow,
weeds. It is widespread in Devon and other parts of the
significant price rises on
South West and has a major impact on nature
Exmoor in recent years
conservation, archaeology, access, flood defence and the
http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/exshop/
mean that the average house
economic value of the land it contaminates. Exmoor has
price for Exmoor is 78%
not escaped this invasive alien, with some of the National
higher than the average
Park’s best loved areas such as Watersmeet, Tarr Steps
house price in the South
and the Heddon Valley being badly affected.
TRY SOMETHING
West (£207,768) and 84%
higher than the average house price in England and Wales
Exmoor National Park Authority, The Environment Agency,
(£199,184).
the National Trust and Natural England are continuing to
NEW
The differential between these prices and local incomes
work together with local landowners and managers to
is among the widest in the country. The mean average
control knotweed found on Exmoor. The skilled operation
house price (£366,159) is over 14 times the local average
of spraying the weed with a herbicide which is approved Nordic walking is a new
household income (mean) of £26,000. Although some
by the Environment Agency and is harmless to humans fitness sport for all ages, all fitness levels and can be
areas have even higher house prices than Exmoor, few of
takes place in late Summer or early Autumn after the end enjoyed all year round. It’s a new and easy way to get
these would combine this with such low local incomes.
of the growing season. Other non-native invasive fit, to socialise, and to enjoy the outdoors.
Even houses at the lower end of the market are beyond
knotweeds including Himalayan Knotweed are also being
the reach of many locals
targeted. Most people find that nordic walking is more comfortable
and easy than ordinary walking as you use the power in
Affordable housing remains a key issue within Exmoor
National Park. Recent Local Plan Housing policies
The co-ordinated spraying programme began in 1996 on
your arms and upper body, as well as in your legs, so
adopted by the National Park Authority ensure that all
the River Barle and 2001 on the Devon Exmoor sites and
you can achieve more in a short time.
new-build housing is for local people who live or work
will continue each year until no new growth is recorded.
locally only, and is sold or rented at affordable or below
The weed is so resilient that checks will have to be made
The good news is that it also burns more than normal
market prices. Since the Local Plan was adopted in
every few years to ensure it does not start to re-grow.
walking at the same speed because you are using so
March 2005 approval (full and outline) has been given for
Over 600 sites have been recorded on a database held by
many muscles. Research has shown that on average
18 affordable dwellings to be built. These are, however,
the National Park Authority. If you see any knotweed when
nordic walkers can burn 20% more calories than in
unlikely ever to replace the number of former council and
you are out enjoying Exmoor, check out whether the site
ordinary walking, at the basic nordic walking level.
housing association homes lost to the local affordable
has already been recorded by looking at our interactive
housing market under the ‘Right to Buy’. Getting a foot on
map at: http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index/
For information of nordic walking events on Exmoor
the housing ladder on Exmoor will continue to be, as it is
looking_after/exmoor_knotweed_control_project.htm.
contact: Angela Bidlake, qualified instructor (International
for many other parts of the country, extremely difficult.
We are very keen to hear about new sites, so please
Nordic Walking Association). Tel: 01398 323541
contact Ali Cox on 01398 322282.
www.nordicwalkingdevon.co.uk
24 Exmoor Visitor 2007
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