Dartmoor
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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.
Dartmoor ESA covers 100,725 hectares (ha) of land ranging in height from under 50m in the lower river valleys to over 600m at High Willhays. The ESA comprises all of the area of Dartmoor National Park in addition to an area of hill farmland north east of the Teign Valley, and an area of heath and farmland south west of the Lee Moor China Clay pits.
Description
Dartmoor is the highest and most extensive upland area in southern England. It is centred on, and underlain by, a granite massif rising out of the sedimentary rocks which underlie most of the rest of Devon. The upland supports a central moorland core of semi-natural heath, bog and grassland habitats which is surrounded by lower enclosed farmland. The area is extremely rich in archaeological remains, dating from prehistoric times to the Modern period. The range of wildlife habitats and archaeological features, as well as other landscape elements, such as the network of walls, banks and hedges enclosing the lower farmland, combine to produce the unique landscape of Dartmoor.Significant Habitats and Species
The importance of this area has been recognised by the designation of 27 biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)(covering around 27% of the ESA area) and three National Nature Reserves (NNRs) within the ESA. In addition to the importance of the upland area, the lower enclosed farmland contains some species-rich hay meadows, mires and unimproved wet grasslands. Significant areas of semi-natural woodlands also occur.ESA Management Options
The management options for the different landscape types that can be entered into ESA agreements for Dartmoor 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 with two main management options that land can be entered into:
Option one includes basic requirements applying to all land such as provisions for the maintenance of stockproof hedges, walls and banks, weatherproof traditional farm buildings, water courses and wetlands and the management of scrub. Features of historical interest must not be destroyed. Restrictions on cultivation, under-drainage, stocking levels and the use of fertilisers, lime, pesticides and herbicides for permanent grassland, unimproved pasture, enclosed rough land and moorland.
Option two relates to management prescriptions for species-rich hay meadows and heather moorland as well as providing for moorland recreation.
Contacts
Caroline Bullock Tel: 01392 822943
Mark Clancy Tel: 01392 822931
Eamon Crowe Tel: 01392 824434
Andy Guy Tel: 01392 822956
Barry Lockton Tel: 01392 822940
Julien Sclater Tel: 01392 824434
James Bolton Tel: 01392 822917
Karen Aylward Tel: 01392 824434
5 Hanover Court
Manaton Close
Matford Business Park
Exeter
Devon
EX2 8QJ
Page last modified: 26 April, 2006
Page published: 10 December, 2002