Blackdown Hills
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Introduction
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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 ESA extends over 39,270 hectares and lies mainly within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The ESA is situated between Taunton and Wellington to the north, Honiton and Axminster to the south, Chard to the east and Broadhembury and Culmstock to the west.
Description
It is a high, elevated plateau of improved enclosed grassland and cultivated
land, deeply dissected by narrow valleys where land use is dominated by
enclosed permanent grassland with a strong pattern of hedgebanks and frequent
hedgerow trees. Between the plateau and the lower farmland is a discontinuous
belt of greensand often dominated by woodland and semi-natural vegetation,
in particular springline mires. The northern part of the ESA comprises
a long north facing escarpment with extensive areas of woodland, and improved
and semi-improved grassland. Farming is based mainly on low intensity
dairy and mixed livestock systems. The area has a rich historic heritage
including evidence of many centuries of settlement and farming, with extensive
remains of small-scale industry, such as lime kilns, marl pits and mills.
Significant Habitats and Species
The environmental value of the area lies in its small-scale patchwork of grass fields, hedgebanks/rows and woodland and the diversity of habitats, such as mires, unimproved grassland, water courses and remnant heathland, which are valuable for their flora and fauna. Notable species supported by these habitats include the Marsh Fritillary butterfly. Within the ESA there are 14 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, covering 2% of the ESA.
ESA Management Options
The management options for the different landscape types that can be entered into ESA agreements for the Blackdown Hills are given in the ERDP documents section of this site, under Annex X of the England Rural Development Programme. This is a whole farm scheme into which land can be entered into one of three main management options:
- Option one has basic requirements applying to all land, including arable, short-term ley grassland, improved permanent pasture, low input permanent grassland, unimproved pasture and rough land. There are provisions for the maintenance of stockproof hedges, walls and hedgebanks, weatherproof traditional farm buildings, traditional farm orchards, water courses and wetlands, and the management of scrub. Features of historical interest must not be damaged, destroyed or removed. For improved permanent pasture, low input permanent grassland, unimproved pasture and rough land there are restrictions on cultivation, under-drainage, fertilisers, lime, pesticides and herbicides.
- Option two aims to conserve and enhance the wildlife interest of species rich hay meadows by imposing further restrictions on stocking, grazing, fertilisers and cutting regimes.
- Option three aims to increase the area of heathland by the reversion of agriculturally improved land to heath.
Contacts
Richard Lambirth Tel: 01392 822944Fax: 01392 822900
5 Hanover Court
Manaton Close
Hatfield Business Park
Exeter
Devon
EX2 8QJ
Lucy Smart
Tel: 01823 285516
Fax: 01823 271543
Riverside Chambers
Castle Street
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4AP
Page last modified: 26 April, 2006
Page published: 10 December, 2002