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The Somerset Levels and Moors

[Click for larger map]Introduction

The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants. Defra introduced a new Environmental Stewardship Scheme on 3 March 2005 which supersedes (with enhancements) the ESA and Countryside Stewardship Schemes. These pages are in the process of being updated to reflect the latest information relating to this ESA.

The Somerset Levels and Moors ESA extends over 27,678 ha of the central Somerset lowlands, bounded by Mendips to the north, low limestone escarpments to the east, the Blackdown Hills to the South and the Quantock Hills to the west. The moors comprise of an extensive area of very low-lying basin peat, with a few remnants of raised bog, surrounded by alluvial silt and clay. The peat is overlain in places by a varying thickness of riverine clay. Extending westwards from the moors to the coast of the Bristol Channel lies an extensive area of slightly higher estuarine alluvium known as the Levels, most of which is excluded from the ESA.

Description

The whole area forms the largest lowland grazing marsh system in Britain and is, consequently, of outstanding environmental interest. The landscape value lies within the rectilinear pattern of traditionally managed fields and drainage channels within a low-lying, generally wet and open grassland landscape, containing scattered trees and scrub. The archaeology and history of the area is internationally famous, with many prehistoric wooden trackways, preserved for millennia by the waterlogged ground conditions.

Significant Habitats and Species

There are 34 Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the ESA, the ecological interest is principally associated with wet, often species-rich pastures and meadows which support overwintering and breeding birds. The network of ditches is of special interest for aquatic flora and invertebrates.

ESA Management Options

The management options for the different landscape types that can be entered into ESA agreements for the Somerset Levels and Moors are given in the ERDP documents section of this site, under Annex X of the England Rural Development Programme. This is a part farm scheme with three main management options,

  • Maintenance of extensive grassland by restrictions on cultivations, under-drainage and the use of inorganic fertilisers and the maintenance of water levels, ditches, gutters, trees and pollarded willows. No features of historical interest must be damaged or destroyed.
  • Option two applies to the enhancement of wet grassland by controlling water levels and addition to the restrictions above there are also restrictions on stocking rates, winter sheep grazing, cultivation, mowing dates and fertiliser use.
  • Option three applies to the maintenance of grassland by raised water levels (such that splash areas are maintained during the spring) and no fertiliser input.

Picture of managed wet grassland

Contacts

The Somerset Levels and Moors ESA Team
Trevor Mansfield Tel: 01823 285523
Mark Edwards Tel: 01823 285500
Simon Richardson Tel: 01823 285527
Robin Witt Tel: 01823 285524 Fax:01823 271543

Riverside Chambers
Castle Street
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4AP

Page last modified: 26 April, 2006
Page published: 10 December, 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs