Final Evaluation of the Heart of Exmoor Scheme€¦ · Rural Focus (UK) Ltd. Registered in England...

FinalEvaluationoftheHeartofExmoorScheme

ExmoorMoorlandLandscapePartnershipScheme2011-2015

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Contents

Foreword ii

ExecutiveSummary iii

1. Introduction 1Purposeofthisreport 1LandscapePartnershipSchemes 1Themethodologyfollowed 2

2. Background 6OriginandaimsoftheScheme 6Timelineandkeystages 10Administrationandstaffing 11Costsandfunding 11In-kindsupportbypartnersandvolunteers 12DistinctivefeaturesoftheScheme 13

3. ProjectsandOutputs 14Programme1:ReconnectingPeople 14Programme2:ReconnectingLivelihoods 20Programme3:ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter 24WhatwasnotcoveredbytheScheme 28OverallfindingsontheScheme’soutputs 29

4. Outcomesandimpacts 30Conservingorrestoringthebuiltheritageandnaturalfeatures 32Conservingandcelebratingculturalassociationsandactivities 36Encouragingaccess,learningandinvolvement 39Improvingunderstandingofcraftsandotherskillsthroughtraining 44OverallfindingsontheScheme’soutcomesandimpacts 46

5. UnderstandingwhathasmadetheSchemesuccessful 47Schemedesign 47Projectmonitoring 48Governanceandleadership 48Partnershipworking 49AdministrationandtheroleoftheNPA 50Schemestaff 52Resourcingandfinancialmanagement 53Timescales 55

6. ThefuturelegacyoftheScheme 56Continuationofactivityfromprojects 56NextstepsforExmoor’smoorlandheritage 59

7. Overallconclusionsandlessonsforthefuture 60AchievementsoftheHeartofExmoorScheme 60Lessonslearnt 62Lookingtothefuture 64

Photographs on the cover are as follows (clockwise from top left): JohnWibberley presenting ExmoorHorn breed prizes at Dunster Show © Jason P Ball; Accessible walk with off-road Trampers (mobilityscooters)©National Trust;Wartimeheritageon showatNorthHillBigAdventure©SteveGuscott; StDubricius School visit an archaeological dig © Jason P Ball; Education at an Exmoor Mires Projectrestorationsite©SteveGuscott;andExmoorPony©JasonPBall.

ReportpreparedbyRobertDeaneandLouiseTricklebank,February2016

RuralFocus(UK)Ltd.RegisteredinEnglandandWales(No.9533053).Shuffshayes,Langford,Cullompton,DevonEX151RQwww.rural-focus.co.uk

Versioncontrol:Finalreportsubmitted100316

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ForewordAsaTrusteeoftheExmoorSocietyIchairedtheExmoorMoorlandLandscapePartnership(HeartofExmoor)forfiveyears,whichhasnowcometoanend.ThisHeartofExmoorSchemewasoriginallyinformedandinspiredbytheExmoorSociety'sresearchdocumentcalled'MoorlandsataCrossroads'whichcameoutin2004.ItthentooksixyearsfortheSchemetocometofruition.ThesuccessfulfiveyearsoftheSchemeareduetotheenormousgenerosityandcommitmentoftheHeritageLotteryFundandweareverygratefultothem.Noneofthiswouldhavebeenpossiblewithoutthem.Theywereencouragingthroughouttheprocessandaboveall,understandingandflexible.IwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetoallmembersoftheLandscapePartnershipwhocontributedmatchedfunding,bothin-kindandwithfunds.Hugethankstootothethousandsofdedicatedvolunteerswhohelpedwithsomanyoftheprojects.TheSchemewasrunbyasmallbutdynamicteamwhopunchedwayabovetheirweightexceedingtheirtargetseveryquarter.Weareimmenselygratefultothem.Throughoutthefiveyearswehaveworkedhardtoensureanongoinglegacyforeveryproject,apledgethatwhentheschemecomestoanendtheprojectscouldcontinue,carriedforwardbylocalresidents,professionalsandvolunteers.Beingamemberofthisskilledandknowledgeablegroup,allcontributingwithsuchinspirationandenthusiasmtosuchasuccessfuloutcome,hasbeenanhonourandapleasureforme.Ihopethat,inthefuture,therewillbemorepartnershipsabletoachievesimilarpositiveresults.Thereissomuchmoretobedone!

ArabellaAmoryChair,ExmoorMoorlandLandscapePartnership

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ExecutiveSummary

TheHeartofExmoorScheme(officiallyknownastheExmoorMoorlandLandscapePartnershipScheme)wasaHeritageLotteryFundedLandscapePartnershipSchemethatsoughttoconserveandcelebrateExmoor’smoorlandheritagethroughafive-yearprogrammeofactivityfrom2011to2015.

TheSchemefocussedonthemoorlandlandscapeswithinExmoorNationalParkwhichcoveranareaof232km2.Itsoughttoinvolvepeoplelivingwithin25kmofExmoorinitsactivities(seethemaptotheright)

ThisevaluationreporttakesstockofalltheScheme’sactivitiesandobjectivelyassesseshowwellithasdelivereditsobjectives,achieveditsoutcomesandleftlong-lastinglegacies.

ObjectivesandstructureoftheScheme

TheScheme’sLandscapeStrategy,publishedin2007,identifiedthatExmoor’smoorlandwassufferingfromthreetypesofdisconnectionwhichpreventeditsheritageoflandscape,wildlifeandhistorybeingproperlyconservedandappreciated.Theseweredisconnectionsfrommodernlife,disconnectionsfromthepastandphysicalisolation.

TheSchemeaddressedtheseissuesthroughthreeprogrammes,containing19projects:

Programme1: ReconnectingPeople 11projects

Programme2: ReconnectingLivelihoods 4projects

Programme3: ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter 4projects

OperationandfundingoftheScheme

TheSchemewasrunbyaLandscapePartnershipof14locallyactiveorganisationsandemployedateamoffourprojectstaff,withmanyotherorganisationsbeinginvolvedinprojectactivities.TheSchemewashostedbytheNationalParkAuthority.

Ithadatotalbudgetof£1.2millionwhichwasraisedfromtheHeritageLotteryFund(55%),NationalParkAuthority(23%),RuralDevelopmentProgrammeforEngland(9%)andavarietyofothersourcesincludingtheExmoorSociety,ExmoorTrust,EnvironmentAgencyandHistoricEngland.

TheSchemewasunusualincomparisonwithmanyotherLandscapePartnershipSchemes.ThestartoftheSchemewasdelayedanditssizewasreducedduetocutsinthebudgetsofseveralpartnerorganisations.However,mid-waythroughitsplannedthreeyearsofoperationitwasextendedforafurthertwoyears,allowingsomeprojectstobereinstated.

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Projectactivitiesandoutputs

Thelargemajorityofthetargetoutputssetforeachoftheprojectsweremetandmanywereexceededbyalargemargin.ExamplesofthenumbersofpeoplewhoparticipatedindifferentpartsoftheSchemearegivenintheboxbelow.

ThemostsuccessfulelementsoftheSchemewerethoseinvolvingpeoplewhowerenotpreviouslyfamiliarwithmoorlandheritage,manyfromlocalcommunities,inactivelearningabout,andcelebratingin,thehistory,landscapeandwildlifeofExmoor’smoorland.

InnovativeapproachesthatweredevelopedduringtheSchemeincludedtheuseofvideos,digitalreconstructionimagery,historicalre-enactments,publicarchaeologyprojectsandweb-basededucationalresources.ThesegavetheSchemeafreshnessandenergythatwasdifferenttowhathadgonebefore.

Activitiesthatwerelesssuccessfulthananticipatedwerethosethatencouragedmoorlandmanagerstoengagemorewiththepublicortoreviewtheissuesfacingtheirareasofmoorland.

HeadlineexamplesofSchemeactivity

• Morethan7,000schoolchildrenvisitedmoorlandwiththeirteacherslearningaboutitsheritagethroughitshistory,science,geographyandothersubjects

• 4,350peopleattendedeventscelebratingExmoor’smoorlandwildlifeincludingattheannualBogstaticfestivalandaseriesofBigAdventureDaysandover3,000peopletookpartinthe2014ExmoorPonyFestival

• Over900peopleattended17communityarchaeologyevents,seeingfirsthandtheevidenceofprehistoricusesofmoorlandandover120peopleofallagestookuptrowelsorsurveytapestoundertakearchaeologicalexcavationsorsurveysonmoorland

• Morethan500agriculturalstudentsandmoorlandmanagersreceivedtrainingonmoorlandmanagement.AlargeproportionofExmoor’smoorlandownersandgrazierssharedknowledgeofmoorlandmanagementwitheachother

• Overall,volunteerscommittedmorethan5,000daystocelebratingorconservingExmoor’smoorlandheritage

TheScheme’simpactonExmoor’smoorlandheritage

IntermsofthedifferencethattheSchememade,comparedtothesituationthatexistedpreviously,themostsignificantimpactswere:• Theincreasedawarenessthatmanymembersofthepublicinthetowns

andvillagesaroundExmoorhadofExmooritselfandinparticulartheirlocalmoorlandheritage,especiallyitswildlifeandhistory.Forthesepeople,moorlandisn’ttheremoteandforbiddingplaceitmayhaveseemedbefore.

• Thewayinwhichvolunteerswereinvolvedinthecoredeliveryofmanyprojects,takingonnewskillsandresponsibilitiesthathelpedshapewhatisknownandunderstoodaboutthemoorland’secologyandhistory.Manyofthesepeoplenowfeeltheyhavemoreofapersonalstakeinthemoorlandanditsheritage.

Inanumberofareas,theSchemewasgenuinelyinnovative,pilotingapproachesthatwerenewtoExmoor.Theseincluded:• Developingpublicarchaeologyprojectsthatallowedlocalcommunities

touncoverevidenceofpastlivesandlandscapes• Usingdigitalreconstructionsofpastlandscapessothattheybecame

morerealandeasiertoimagine• Usingvideoandsoundrecordingstohelppeopleinterpretthenatural

environmentinnewways• Makinguseofthepracticalskillsandcontactsoflocal‘moorkeepers’to

co-ordinatemoorlandmanagement

InotherareasofitsactivitytheSchemesupported,andaddedvalueto,theactivitiesofitspartnersratherthanundertakeoriginalwork.Itprovidedtheresourcesandanindependentapproachthatincreasedjointworkingbetweendifferentgroups.

TheSchemefocussedontheareasofgreatestneedandthetopicswhereitcouldachievemost.Asintended,ithadrelativelyfewimpactsontheoveralllandscapecharacterofthemoorland(awayfromasmallnumberofhighprofilesiteswhereitimprovedlandscapequality).Italsohadfewdealingswithtourismandrecreationbusinessesandthereforedidnothaveasignificantimpactonthearea’svisitororheritageeconomies.

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LessonslearnedfromthewaytheSchemehasbeenrun

TheLandscapePartnershiphasbeeneffectiveatdevelopingaclearstrategyfortheSchemeandmanagingitsdelivery.Theinvolvementofthecharitablesector,includingsmalllocalcharities,hasbeennotable.TheNationalParkAuthorityhasplayedacriticalrole,providingthebackofficeadministrationandfinancialmanagementoftheScheme,whileenablingtheSchemetohaveanindependentidentityandwaysofworking.

ResponsibilityforrunningmostoftheprojectswasdelegatedfirmlytothefourSchemestaff(incomparisontomanyotherLandscapePartnershipSchemesinwhichprojectsarerunbypartners,supportedbythestaff).Thestaffwerehighlyregardedbypartnersandpeopleparticipatinginprojectsandtheywereabletousetheirskillsandenthusiasmtogoodeffect.However,thereisadangerthatwiththeirdeparture,theirknowledgeandmomentumwillbelost.

TheSchemehasovercomeand,insomeways,benefitedfromadelaytoitsstartandanextensiontoitsoperation.WhilesomeofitsobjectiveswerealreadybeingaddressedbythetimetheSchemestartedin2011(particularlydialoguewithownersandgraziersovermoorlandmanagement),itwasabletouseitssecondPhasetoenhancesuccessfulthemesofworkfromitsfirstPhase.

IncomparisonwithmostLandscapePartnershipSchemes,theHeartofExmoorSchemehasbeenrelativelysmall(the£662,500receivedfromHLFbeingatthelowerendofgrantsawardedtoLandscapePartnerships).Itbearsfavourablecomparisonwithotherlargerschemesandisjudgedtohavemadeeffectiveuseoftheresourcesithadavailabletoit.

TheScheme’slegacyforthefutureofExmoor’smoorlandheritage

Theevaluationreportidentifiesthemanylegacyactivitiesthatshouldbecontinuedandtheconditionsneededforthistohappen,providingachecklistfortheScheme’spartnerstoreview.

ItishopedthatthatmanyofthehighprofilepublicactivitiesthatweresupportedbytheScheme,suchastheExmoorPonyFestival,Bogtasticevent,communityarchaeologyprojectsanduseofvolunteerswillbecontinuedbypartnerorganisations.MuchoftheknowledgeofmoorlandheritagegeneratedduringtheperiodoftheSchemewillremainaccessiblefromrecordsandpublications,manyofthemavailableonline,maintainedbytheNationalParkAuthority.However,thefutureofsomeactivities,suchasuseofmoorlandandteachingresourcesbylocalschoolsandtheprovisionof‘moorkeeper’posts,iscurrentlyuncertainpendingfundingdecisions.

ThiswasthefirstexperienceonExmooroftheHLF’sLandscapePartnershipProgramme.Confidencehasbeengainedofwhatcanbeachievedfromatime-limitedinjectionofexternalfunding.Newapproachestodeliveringdiscreteprojectsaspartofalargerlandscape-focussedoverallstrategyhaveprovedsuccessful.Arangeofpartnershaveseenthebenefitsofcontributingtheirownin-kindskillsandmanpowertoasharedendeavour.

ItwouldbeashameifthemomentumgainedfromtheHeartofExmoorSchemewaslostasaresultofthedissolvingoftheLandscapePartnership.TheopportunityexiststobuildontheachievementsoftheHeartofExmoorSchemeandaddressotherlandscapechallengesonExmoor.

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1. Introduction

Purposeofthisreport1.1. TheHeartofExmoorScheme(officiallyknownastheExmoor

MoorlandLandscapePartnershipScheme)wasaHeritageLotteryFunded(HLF)LandscapePartnershipScheme.Inanutshell,thisSchemehasaimedtoconserveandcelebrateExmoor’smoorlandheritagethroughafive-yearprogrammeofactivityfrom2011to2015.

1.2. AstheHeartofExmoorSchemecomestoaclose,thisfinalevaluationtakesstockofallitsactivitiesandobjectivelyassesseshowwellithasdelivereditsobjectives,achieveditsoutcomesandleftlong-lastinglegacies.TheHLF,asmajorityfunder,requiresthatafinalevaluationiscarriedoutandhasproducedguidanceonhowthisshouldbedone1.

1.3. Thefollowingchaptersofthisreportsetout:

• ThebackgroundtoLandscapePartnershipSchemesandtheevaluationprocessinChapter1;

• ThecontextandhistoryoftheSchemeinChapter2;• Asummaryoftheprojectsthatwereundertakenandofthe

targetoutputsachievedinChapter3;• TheoutcomesoftheSchemeandtheimpactthatithashadon

Exmoor’smoorlandheritageinChapter4;• FactorscontributingtotheScheme’ssuccessinChapter5;• ThelegacythattheSchemewillhaveonthefutureofExmoor’s

moorlandheritageinChapter6;• Overallconclusionsincludinglessonslearntandwhatthismeans

forthefutureoftheExmoor’smoorlandheritageinChapter7.

1HLFEvaluationGuidance:LandscapePartnerships(February2013–revisedJuly2014)

LandscapePartnershipSchemes1.4. TheLandscapePartnershipProgrammeisoneoftheHeritageLottery

Fund’sflagshipprogrammesfordistributingtheNationalLottery’smoneyforgoodcauses.ItisthemostsignificantgrantschemeavailableacrosstheUKforlandscape-scaleconservationprojectsandsince2003ithascommitted£177mto99LandscapePartnershipschemes.

1.5. TheProgrammeplaysanimportantroleinmeetingtheUK’sobligationsundertheEuropeanLandscapeConventiontorecogniselandscape“asanessentialcomponentofpeople’ssurroundings,anexpressionofthediversityoftheirsharedculturalandnatural

heritage,andafoundationoftheiridentity.”Thisemphasisesboththepeople-centrednatureoflandscapeasaconceptaswellasthewayitintegratesourappreciationandcareforothernaturalbenefitsoftheenvironmentsuchasbiodiversity,thehistoricenvironmentandculture.

1.6. LandscapePartnershipSchemesareexpectedtoprotectandimprovetheconditionofnaturalandculturalheritageand,atthesametime,givepeopleandcommunitiesnewanddeeperopportunitiestounderstand,enjoyandgetinvolvedinthisheritage.ThedetailedobjectivessetoutbytheHLFhaveevolvedoverthelast10years,butwhentheHeartofExmoorSchemewasawardeditsfunding,LandscapePartnershipSchemeswereexpectedtocontributeto,andleavealastinglegacy,infourareas.TheseareshowninFigure1.1.

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Figure1.1.TheaimsofLandscapePartnershipSchemes

TheHLF’sfouroutcomesforLandscapePartnershipSchemeswhentheHeartofExmoorSchemewasapprovedwereasfollows:

• Conservingorrestoringthebuiltheritageandnaturalfeaturesthatcreatethehistoriccharacterofthelandscape;

• Conservingandcelebratingtheculturalassociationsandactivitiesofthelandscapearea;

• Encouragingmorepeopletoaccess,learnabout,becomeinvolvedinandmakedecisionsontheirlandscapeheritage;

• Improvingunderstandingoflocalcraftandotherskillsbyprovidingtrainingopportunities.

HLFevaluationguidance

1.7. EvaluationiscentraltodeliveringLandscapePartnershipSchemes.ItshouldbeplannedattheoutsetandbepartoftheongoingreportingprocessratherthananafterthoughtattheendoftheScheme.

1.8. UndertakingafinalevaluationandsubmittingareportsettingoutthefindingsisarequirementbyHLFbeforeitsignsofftheScheme.HLF’sguidance2makesclearthattheevaluationreportshouldtellthestoryofthescheme.ItshouldhaveawidepotentialreadershipandbeaccessibletomembersoftheLandscapePartnership,beneficiariesandotherorganisationswhomightbeabletolearnfromthePartnership’sexperience.

1.9. Astheguidancestipulates,theevaluationreportshouldshowtheimpactofindividualprojectsandtheSchemeasawholeandisanopportunityto:

• DemonstratetoHLFthatLotterymoneyhasbeenwellspent(securingpaymentofthefinal10%oftheHLFgrant);

2HLFEvaluationGuidance:LandscapePartnerships(February2013–revisedJuly2014)

• ProvetotheLandscapePartnershipandothers(includingotherswhocontributedmatchfundingorgavetheirtimeandenergytothescheme)thatthisisthecase;and

• BeclearaboutitslastingbenefitssothatPartnershipmembersandotherswillbemotivatedtocontinuethework,andindicateitsweaknessessothatthey–andperhapsotherLandscapePartnershipSchemes–canavoidthem.

Themethodologyfollowed1.10. ThisfinalevaluationhasbeenundertakeninlinewithHLF’s

evaluationguidance,withtheSchemestaffandpartnersmakingsignificantinputs.ExternalconsultantshaveindependentlyreviewedandanalysedevidenceoftheScheme’sperformanceinordertoprovideabalancebetweentellingthestoryoftheSchemeaccuratelyandprovidingobjectivity.

1.11. Theevaluationdrawsonarangeofsourcesofevidence.SomeofthesearequantitativeandarecompareddirectlywiththenumericalobjectivessetoutintheDeliveryPlanagreedwiththeHLFinAugust2010.Additionalquantitativeinformationhasbeengeneratedfromasurveyofpeoplewhohaveparticipatedorbenefittedfromprojectactivities.Othersourcesofevidencearemorequalitative,drawnfromtheviewsandexperienceofprojectpartnersandstaff.

1.12. TheintegrityoftheevaluationisassuredbyusingalogicalpathwaythatdemonstrateshowtheinputsandactivitiesofeachoftheconstituentprojectshavecontributedtotheScheme’sresults,outcomesandlegacies.ThislogicchainisshowndiagrammaticallyinFigure1.2.

1.13. Thisreportmakesanimportantdistinctionbetweenoutputsandoutcomes.

• OutputsaretheactivitiesthatwereundertakendirectlybytheScheme(e.g.holdinganeventorproducingareport).TheyaredescribedinChapter3.

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• Outcomesarethechangesthathappenedasaresultoftheseactivities(e.g.improvingpeople’sknowledge).TheyaredescribedinChapter4.

Figure1.2.Diagrammaticrepresentationoftheevaluationcomponents

1.14. ThisEvaluationReportfollowstheHLF’sguidanceandisaccompanied

byanEvidenceReport(Appendix1)describingthefulldatasetofprojectoutputandoutcomemeasures.

1.15. Theevaluationhasbeenundertakeninthreemainstagesofwork,whichare:

1. Reviewofevidence2. Analysis3. Draftandfinalreporting

1.16. AsignificantamountofevidencehasbeencollatedthroughoutthefiveyearsoftheSchemeandreviewedduringtheevaluation.Thisincludes:

• Projectoutputdata• QuarterlySchemeReportssubmittedtoHLF• ExmoorMoorlandLandscapeStrategy(2007)• SchemeDeliveryPlan(2010)• ProjectImplementationPlans• Phase2bidtoHLF• ProjectsummariespreparedbytheSchemestaff• Projectevaluationreports(various)

1.17. WhilethisinformationsetsoutmuchoftheintentionfortheScheme,chartstheprogressoftheevolutionoftheSchemeandprovidesthequantitativedataneededtounderstandifoutputsweremet,itisimportantthatthisfinalevaluationdrawstogethermorequalitativeinformationabout,notonlyindividualprojects,buttheSchemeasawholeasitcomestoaclose.

1.18. Inordertodothis,amixtureofkeyinformantinterviews,postersandanonlinesurveyhavebeenusedtogatherinformationandopinionsfromthewiderangeofstakeholdersinvolvedintheScheme.ThesehaveincludedtheSchemestaff,Partnershipmembers,projectpartnersandstaffandthosewhohaveattendedandparticipatedinevents.Figure1.3summarisestheengagementexercisesundertakenaspartofthisevaluation.Someoftheinterviewswerecarriedoutbyindividualsoutsideoftheconsultants’evaluationteam.

1.19. Theinformationfromtheengagementexerciseswasthenanalysed,alongwiththeinformationthathadbeengeneratedbytheSchemestaff.

ExmoorponiesfeedingonHeatherMoorland©JasonPBall

Involvingprojectstaff,partnerorganisationsandvolunteers/participants

Projectactivities

Inputs Outputs Outcomes

Evaluationindicators: Mostlyquantitativemeasuresofimmediateresults

Evaluationindicators: Quantitativeandqualitativeassessmentsoflonger-termchangesarisingfromindividualprojects,programmesandthescheme asawhole

LegacyImpacts

Good thingsthatwillcarryonhappening afterthescheme hasfinished

Effects causedbytheScheme

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Figure1.3.SourcesofevidencegatheredduringtheevaluationExercise StakeholderstargetedInterviewswithPartnershipmembers–undertakenbyPhilipKiberd

• RepresentativesofbodiesontheLandscapePartnership

InterviewswithNationalParkAuthoritystaff-undertakenbyNaomiGriffiths(PrendConsulting)

• NationalParkAuthoritystaffwhohavesupportedandworkedalongsidetheSchemestaff

Schemestaffinterviews • TheSchemestaffOnlinesurvey(part1)withthoseorganisingandrunningprojects

• Projectpartners

Onlinesurvey(part2)withthoseparticipatinginprojects

• Individualswithdirectinvolvementinprojects

• Individualswithlessdirectinvolvementinprojects

Advisorypanelmeetings • A‘soundingboard’ofpeopleworkinglocallywhohaveobservedtheSchemeduringitsoperation

Celebrationevent-exercises • RepresentativesofbodiesontheLandscapePartnership

• Otherprojectpartners• Organisationswithlessdirect

involvementintheScheme

‘Keyinformant’Interviews

1.20. Aseriesofkeyinformantinterviewshavebeenundertakenaspartoftheevaluation.Somewerein-depth,one-to-oneinterviews,whilstotherswereamixtureofquestionsbeingposedandrespondedtoinwriting.

1.21. Theconsultants’evaluationteamcarriedoutindepthsemi-structuredinterviewswiththeSchemestaff(theSchemeManager,MoorlandEducationandOutreachOfficerandMoorlandHeritageOfficer)inearlyDecember2015.

1.22. RepresentativeofallorganisationsintheLandscapePartnershipattheendoftheSchemewereinterviewedbyPhilipKiberd,aconsultantwhohadhelpedwritethebidtoextendtheScheme.Themajorityofthesewereone-to-oneinterviews.InterviewquestionsweresenttoPartnershipmembersbeforetheinterviewsotheyhadtimetocollecttheirthoughts.ItwasnotpossibletofindasuitabletimetointerviewtheEnvironmentAgencyPartnershiprepresentativesandsoawrittenresponsetothequestionsposedwasreceived.NoresponsewasreceivedfromEnglishHeritage/HistoricEngland.Anumberofface-to-faceinterviewswerealsoconductedwithpeoplewhohadbeeninvolvedintheScheme,butnotasmembersoftheLandscapePartnership.

1.23. The‘keyinformant’intervieweeswere:

• ArabellaAmory-PartnershipChair• RichardAndrews-NaturalEngland• HelenBooker-RSPB• VictoriaEveleigh-Moorlandponyherdowner• SiriFrost/Mary-RoseLane-EnvironmentAgency• SuaadGeorge-CentreforHumanRights• JulianGurney-NationalTrust• NickLapthorn-FieldStudiesCouncil• SandraMansell-ExmoorPonySociety• SusanMay-ExmoorTrust• RachelThomas-ExmoorSociety• ChristinaWilliams-MollandEstate

1.24. Inaddition,membersofstaffattheNationalParkAuthoritywhohadbeeninvolvedintheSchemewereinterviewedbyNaomiGriffithsfromPrendConsulting.

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Onlinesurvey

1.25. AshortonlinesurveyusingGoogleFormswasdevisedandthelinksenttoover250contactsheldontheScheme’sdatabase.Thesurveywaslivefrom11December2015until3February2016and62responseswerereceived.

1.26. Figure1.4showstheageofrespondentsandtheirbackground.Themajoritywereagedbetween36and65withfewerpeopleovertheretirementageorunder35.Nearly70%ofpeoplelivedinorclosetoExmoorandathirdlivedfurtherawaybuthadaprofessionalinvolvementinmoorlandorotheraspectsoftheScheme.

Figure1.4.Characteristicsofrespondentstothesurvey

1.27. Thereweretwopartstothesurveytargetingdifferentaudiences.

OnewasforthosewhohadattendedorheardaboutanyoftheScheme’seventsoractivitiestoidentifyhowunderstandingandexperienceofmoorlandhaschangedandhowpeoplemightvisitandenjoyitinfuture.Thiswascompletedby30people(48%ofrespondents).

1.28. Theotherpartofthesurveytargetedthosewhohavehelpedtoorganiseorhostaneventorotheractivity,inordertounderstandtheirexperienceofassistingtheSchemeandwhattheythinkithasachieved.Thiswascompletedby32people(52%ofrespondents).

1.29. AcopyofthesurveyquestionsandresultsisprovidedintheTechnicalAnnexthataccompaniesthisreport.

Celebrationevent

1.30. ACelebrationEventwasheldfortheSchemeon27November2015atLyntonTownHall.ItwasanopportunityforallthoseinvolvedintheScheme,inavarietyofcapacities,tocometogetherandshareinthesuccessoftheSchemeasitdrewtoaclose.Attendedbyaround95individuals,andcomingtwoweeksafterthestartofthefinalevaluation,theopportunitywastakentoadvertisethefactthatanevaluationwastakingplaceandthattheviewsandopinionsofthosewhohadbeeninvolved,inwhatevercapacity,werewelcomed.Opportunitiestocontributewereviatheonlinesurveyorbycontactingtheevaluationteamdirectly.Posterswerealsoondisplay,withaseriesofquestionsabouttheSchemeandattendeeswereencouragedtogivetheiropinionsthenandthere.

EvaluationAdvisoryPanel

1.31. AnAdvisoryPanelwassetuptoactasa‘soundingboard’forthefinalevaluationprocess.ThePanelwasmadeupof:

• JennyCarey-Wood–Ex-managerofNorthDevon+andcurrentmanageroftheNorthDevonAONB

• NaomiMarley–EditorandMDoftheExmoorMagazineandCEOofLighthouseCommunications

• GrahamWills–ExNPAofficer(ledonsubmittingtheoriginalapplicationfortheSchemetoHLF)

1.32. ThemembersoftheSoundingBoardhadnotbeendirectlyinvolvedinthedeliveryoftheScheme,butwereeitherheavilyinvolvedinitsinceptionorcloselyfollowedtheprogressoftheScheme,givingthemadistinctperspectiveonthesuccessoftheScheme.

AninitialmeetingoftheAdvisoryPanelwasheldonthe14December2015attheNationalParkAuthorityofficesinDulverton.Emergingfindingsfromtheevaluationwerediscussed.AsecondmeetingoftheAdvisoryPaneltookplaceon25February2016toreviewtheheadlinefindingsinthedraftEvaluationReportpriortothefinalisationoftheReportandpresentationtothePartners.

Under21,2%21to35,10%

36to50,24%

51to65,44%

66to80,19%

Noanswer,2%Ageofrespondents

Localresidents,69%

VisitorstoExmoor,6%

Professionalinvolvement,

35%

Other,5%

Backgroundofrespondents

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2. Background2.1. ThischapterprovidesashortnarrativeonhowtheSchemestarted

andtheissuesthatitsoughttoaddress.Itmapstheareasitcoveredandthekeyaudiencesithopedtoengagewith.Itsadministration,staffingandfundingaredescribed.

OriginandaimsoftheScheme2.2. TheoriginsoftheSchemelieinthedecisionbyExmoorNationalPark

Authorityin2004tocommemoratethe50thanniversaryofthedesignationoftheNationalParkwithafocusonthemoorlandlandscapethatliesatitsheart.Aseriesofpaperswereprepareddescribingtheconditionofthedifferentspecialqualitiesofthemoorland.ForemostamongthesewasareportcommissionedbytheExmoorSociety,thelocalcharitythatchampionsthepurposesoftheNationalParkdesignation.The‘MoorlandsataCrossroads’reportconcludedthatmoorlandwasneitherwellunderstoodnoringoodconditionanditmadeaseriesofrecommendationstoaddressthesepoints.

2.3. TheNationalParkAuthorityrespondedquicklytotheserecommendationsandproposedthecreationoftheExmoorMoorlandsLandscapePartnershipandabidtotheHeritageLotteryFund’s(HLF)LandscapePartnershipsProgramme.ThePartnershipwasformedfrom14locallyactiveorganisationscoveringstatutorybodies,businessesandthevoluntarysector(Figure2.1).WiththeexceptionofActiveExmoor(aninitiativewhichfinishedshortlyafterthePartnershipwasformed),allpartnershaveremainedinvolvedintheSchemealthough,aswillbedescribedlaterinthisreport,theyhavetakendifferentroles.ButterflyConservationandVisitExmoorwerenotpartnersduringSchemedeliverybutdidconnectwithprojectactivities.

2.4. DuringtheplanningphaseoftheSchemeextensiveconsultationswithpartners,stakeholders,usersandthepublicatlargewerecarriedout.TheseshapedtheunderstandingoftheissuesandopportunitiesthatExmoorfacedandinturnhelpedshapetheprioritiesthatindividualprojectswouldneedtoaddress.NinekeydocumentsunderpinnedtheapplicationtoHLFfortheHeartofExmoorScheme(Figure2.2).

Figure2.1.MembershipoftheLandscapePartnership• ActiveExmoor• EnglishHeritage• EnvironmentAgency• ExmoorNationalPark

Authority• ExmoorSociety• ExmoorTrust

• FieldStudiesCouncil• TheNationalTrust• NationalFarmersUnion• NaturalEngland• RoyalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds

(RSPB)• WestSomersetCollege

Figure2.2ResearchunderpinningtheScheme

DocumentspreparedspecificallyfortheapplicationforHLFfunding:• AccessPlan,AudienceDevelopmentPlanandTrainingPlan(allFebruary

2007,LandUseConsultantsandResourcesforChange)• ConservationandRestorationPlan(February2007,ENPA)

OtherdocumentsthatinfluencedthedesignoftheScheme:• MoorlandsataCrossroads–theStateoftheMoorlandsofExmoor,2004.

AreporttotheExmoorSocietybyLandUseConsultants• ExmoorNationalParkLandscapeCharacterAssessment2007.ENPA• ExmoorNationalParkManagementPlan2007–2012.ENPA,July2007• GreaterExmoorSustainableEconomicDevelopmentStrategy2007.The

NewEconomicsFoundation,February2007• TheStateofFarmingonExmoor2004.CentreforRuralResearchatthe

UniversityofExeter.

7

2.5. ThekeyconclusionsontheissuesfacingExmoor’smoorlandarisingfromthesedocumentsaresummarisedinFigure2.3.

Figure2.3.KeyconclusionsarisingfromthepreparatoryresearchfortheScheme

• LackofknowledgeaboutExmoor’smoorlandandpoortransportandaccessibilitywerekeybarrierspreventingpeoplelivinginthetownsandvillagesclosetoExmoorgainingthemanyphysical,educationalandspiritualbenefitsthatthemoorlandcanoffer.

• Therehadbeenalossofmoorlandmanagementskillsandknowledgeamongstfarmersandthereweregapsintheincentivesneededtomaintainthecharacteristicvegetationinagoodstate.

• TheconditionofsomeoftheiconicwildlifeofExmoor,includingtheExmoorpony,wasnotwellknown.Therewasaneedtoimproveanddisseminatethisknowledge,andtherewereopportunitiestoinvolvelocalcharitiesandvolunteersinthiswork.

• Therewaslittlepublicunderstandingoftherichculturalheritageofthemoorlandandtherewaslittlemonitoringoftheconditionofarchaeologicalsites.

2.6. ThefindingsofthepreparatoryresearchandconsultationswerebroughttogetherintheLandscapeStrategythatwaspublishedbytheNationalParkAuthorityinSeptember2007.ThissetouttherationaleandobjectivesoftheproposedSchemeonbehalfoftheLandscapePartnershipandoutlinedtheprojectsthatcouldbeusedtoaddresstheissuesraised3.TheoriginalaimsandobjectivesoftheSchemearesummarisedinthetexttakenfromtheLandscapeStrategyshowninFigure2.4.

3ExmoorMoorlandLandscapePartnership(2007).ExmoorMoorlandLandscapeStrategy.September2007.

Figure2.4.TheoriginalaimsandobjectivesoftheScheme

OurLandscapePartnershiphasbeenbroughttogethertoundertakeaseriesofinterlinkedprogrammestoconservethelandscapeheritageofthemoorlandofExmoor.

Wewanttoforgenewconnectionsbetweenthemoorlandandthepeoplewholivearoundandvisitit.Wewanttoensurethatthemoorlandlandscapeanditsheritageremaineconomicallyandsociallyrelevanttolocalcommunitiesandtovisitors.OurPartnershipisaboutshapingthefuturehistoryofthisuniquelandscapebyweavingitbackintothelivesoflocalcommunities.

OurPartnershipisunashamedlyaboutpeople-reconnectingthemtotheirmoorlandheritage-helpingthemaccess,understand,enjoyandcelebratetheirmoorlandheritageandsotogivethemconfidencetoparticipateinitsconservation.Inthiswaythefuturemanagementof,andsupportfor,thisremarkablelandscapeheritage-anislandoftranquillity,peace,opennessandwildnessinanotherwiseover-crowdedsouthernBritain-willbeassured.Itwillbecometreasuredinnewwaysandvitaltopeople'swell-beingandrecreation/re-creationandsobesafeguardedforposterity.

Coupledwiththisreconnectionisaprogrammeoflandscapereconditioning,enhancingthequalitiesthatmakeitspecialtopeople-itswildness,remoteness,andtranquillity-characteristicsveryrare,andveryvaluable,inourover-crowdedisland.

OurLandscapePartnershipaimstouseExmoor'smoorlandresourcestotellitsinspirationalstorytoanewgenerationofresidentsandvisitors.Itwillusethemoorland'swidehorizonstoexpandpeople'spersonalhorizons.Itwillbringanexperienceanddeeperunderstandingofourcountryside,landscapeandsocialhistory,andthenaturalprocessesthatcontinuetoshapeourenvironment.Itwillworkwiththelandowners,farmersandotherorganisationswhoarethestewardsofourmoorlandheritagetoaddressthechallengesofthefuture.

Source:LandscapeStrategypublishedSeptember2007

8

2.7. ThecentralthesisdescribedintheLandscapeStrategywasthatExmoor’smoorlandsweresufferingfromdisconnectionwhichcouldbeseeninthreedimensions.AddressingthesechallengesbecametheobjectivesoftheScheme.• Disconnectionfrommodernlife.Localtraditionsofusingthe

moorlandsforwildfood(suchaswhortleberries)hadvirtuallydiedout,grazingofmoorlandwasincreasinglyperipheraltothemodernfarmingeconomyanddeclininglevelsofpublictransportmeantthatthemoorlandswereeffectivelyinaccessibletomanypeopleinnearbytowns.

• Disconnectionfromthepast.Despitetheemergenceofnewarchaeologicalevidenceoftheuseofthemoorlandsoverseveralmillennia,publicunderstandingoftheirculturalsignificancewasindecline.

• Disconnectedfromitself.Theincreasingfragmentationoftheremainingmoorlandblocks,surroundedbymodernfarmland,separatestheminthelandscapeandisolatespopulationsormoorlandwildlifespecies.

2.8. ThesethreeobjectiveswererelateddirectlytothethreeprogrammesaroundwhichtheSchemewasstructured:ReconnectingPeople;ReconnectingLivelihoods;andReconditioningMoorland.

2.9. TheSchemewasdesignedtooperateintwogeographicalareas.TheextentofthemoorlandlandscapewhichtheSchemesoughttoenhancewasdefinedby20‘moorlandunits’thathadbeenagreedseparatelybytheMoorlandInitiativeBoardestablishedbytheNPA.Theseareasofmoorlandandassociatedhabitatcover232km2withinthe694km2ofExmoorNationalPark.ThetargetareaforparticipationandinfluenceoftheScheme(its‘audience’)wasdefinedasthetownsandvillageswithin25kmoftheNationalPark.TheseareasareshowninFigure2.5.

FarleyWateronBrendonCommon©JasonPBall

9

Figure2.5.ThelocationandphysicalextentoftheScheme

10

Timelineandkeystages2.10. ThestoryofthedevelopmentanddeliveryoftheSchemeisnot

altogetherstraightforwardandtheScheme’sevolutionhasinfluencedthewayithasdelivereditsobjectives.Figure2.6summarisesthekeystagesintheScheme’sdevelopmentanddelivery.

2.11. During2006and2007,theNationalParkAuthoritytooktheleadinformingthePartnershipanddrawinguptheLandscapeStrategyandotherdocumentstosupportthebidtoHLF’sLandscapePartnershipProgramme.ThePartnershipsoughtfundingof£1.2millionfromtheHLFtoaddressthesedisconnections.

2.12. HLFapprovedfundingin2008butin2009theNPAdecidedtoputplansfortheSchemeonhold.Thiswasaperiodofgreateconomic

uncertaintyfollowingthe‘bankingcrash’andcutsinpublicfunding.TheNPAhadreceivedacutinitscorebudgetandtherewasuncertaintyovertheavailabilityofothermatchedfunding.

2.13. AreducedrangeofprojectswereagreedwithHLFin2010andtheSchemewaslaunchedinJanuary2011for15projectsunderthreeprogrammesoverathree-yearperiod.

2.14. BythestartofthesecondyearoftheScheme,ithadbecomeclearthatthesuccessoftheSchemewarrantedanextension.InMay2013aproposalwasmadetoreinstatefiveprojectsthathadbeenomittedin2011.FundingforthesebeganinJanuary2014forafurthertwoyears.ProjectactivitiesstoppedinDecemberandtheSchemewascompletedinMarch2016.

Figure2.6.Schemetimeline

11

Administrationandstaffing2.15. AdministrationoftheSchemewasundertakenbyExmoorNational

ParkAuthority.Itprovidedthe‘accountablebodystatus’(i.e.itlookedafterthemoney),officeaccommodationandlinemanagementfacilitiesforthreeofthestaff(seebelow).ItisworthnotingthatalthoughitprovidedtheseimportantservicestotheScheme,theAuthoritydiscouragedtheperceptionthatitwastheleadpartyinthePartnership(discussedmorefullyinChapter5).

2.16. AtthestartoftheScheme,thePartnershipappointedafull-timeSchemeManagertoleaddeliveryoftheprojects,reportingtothePartnership.DuringthefirstmonthsoftheScheme,threeothermembersofstaffwereappointed.TheSchemestaffwereasfollows:

• SchemeManager:JasonBall.Full-time.OverallresponsibilityforSchemeadministration.Managedeightprojects

• MoorlandEducationandOutreachOfficer:DavidRolls.Full-time.Managedsixprojects

• MoorlandHeritageOfficer:FayeBalmond.Initiallytwoandahalfdaysaweek,increasedtofourdaysaweekandthenfull-timeinthesecondphaseoftheScheme.Managedfiveprojects

• ExmoorPonyOfficer:LinziGreen.EmployedbyandbasedattheMoorlandMousieTrust’sExmoorPonyCentre.Workedpart-time(onedayaweekonaverage)

• Administrativesupport:TheNationalParkAuthorityprovidedfinancialmanagementsupportasrequiredduringthefiveyearsoftheScheme.Additionalpart-timeadminsupportwasprovidedtotheSchemeManagerforashortperiodin2012-2013withextrafinancesupportduringPhase2

Costsandfunding2.17. Theoverallcostoftheschemewas£1.17million,threequartersof

whichwasallocatedtothefirstphase(2011-2013)andtheremaindertothesecondphase(2014-2015).AsFigure2.7shows,corerunningcostsaccountedfor45%oftotalspending(staffsalariesof36%andsupportcostsof9%).Programme1(ReconnectingPeople)accountedfor21%ofcosts,Programme2(ReconnectingLivelihoods)for12%andProgramme3(ReconditioningMoorland)for18%.Acontingencyof4%wasavailableforunforeseencosts.FinalexpenditureagainstthesebudgetedamountsisreviewedinChapter5.

Figure2.7.Breakdownofbudgetedcosts

ComponentPhase12011-13

Phase22014-15 Overall Split

Programme1 £178,075 £70,200 £248,275 21%Programme2 £136,400 £0 £136,400 12%Programme3 £180,900 £32,350 £213,250 18%Salarycosts £263,828 £158,600 £422,428 36%Supportcosts £63,400 £36,400 £99,800 9%Contingency £41,130 £10,100 £51,230 4%Totalcost £863,733 £307,650 £1,171,383 100%

2.18. TheHeritageLotteryFundhasbeenthemajorityfunderoftheScheme(£662,500),supportedbytheNationalParkAuthorityanditsPartnershipFund(£282,398ofwhich£21,924wasin-kind),WesternSomersetLocalAction(£77,161)andLeader4TorridgeandNorthDevon(£26,807).ThelattertwowerepartoftheRuralDevelopmentProgrammeforEnglandandcontributingtoProgramme2inthefirstphaseoftheScheme.

2.19. Inaddition,individualprojectsweresupportedfinanciallybyavarietyofpartnerstothetuneof£88,565.TheHeathcoatandAmoryTrustscontributed£42,000viaTheExmoorSociety,andtheExmoorTrustcontributed£13,000.EnglishHeritagehadprovided£11,000tothe

12

NationalParkAuthoritythroughitsMonumentManagementSchemeandthiswaschannelledthroughtheScheme.TheEnvironmentAgencycontributed£10,000andNaturalEnglandputin£1,000.SouthWestWaterprovided£4,035,mostthroughtheExmoorMiresProject.Buglifeprovided£2,240andtheMalcolmMacEwenTrust£2,000.

Figure2.8.SourcesofincometotheScheme

Seeparas.2.18to2.20fortheamountsofincomein£pounds.

In-kindsupportbypartnersandvolunteers2.20. TheSchemereliedheavilyonpartnersprovidingtheirtimetoattend

meetings,toadministerprojectsandprovideotherresourcesforwhichnofinancialchargewasmadetotheScheme.SomeoftheseinputswereallocatedafinancialvalueandincludedintheSchemebudgetsuchastheNationalParkAuthority’slogisticalandadministrativecontributions(£21,924)andtheEnvironmentAgency’ssupportforecologicalsurveytraining(£5,050).

2.21. Anelementofthetimecontributedbyvolunteerstothedeliveryofprojectswasincluded,calculatedusingratesagreedwithHLF(valuedat£51,550).Inadditionincome‘earned’ateventssuchasfromcateringandentryfeescontributed£4,800.TheseamountsareallincludedinFigure2.8.

2.22. However,manyofthein-kindcontributionsmadebypartnersandvolunteerswerenotvaluedfinancially.These‘uncosted’inputsincludethefollowing(thislistisnotexhaustive):

• TheNationalParkAuthority(memberandseniorstaffinvolvement)

• ExmoorSociety(chairingthePartnership)

• TheMoorlandMousieTrust(hostingtheExmoorPonyOfficer)

• NaturalEngland,RSPB,FieldStudiesCouncil,NationalTrustandExmoorMiresProject(allinvolvedinadvisingandcontributingtoevents)

• ThetotalamountofvolunteertimecontributedtotheSchemehasbeencalculatedatover5,000days(givingatheoreticalvalueusingtheHLFrates–notincludedinthebudget-ofover£400,000).

HeritageLotteryFund 55%

ENPA(cash)12%

WesternSomersetLocalAction 6%Leader4TorridgeandNorthDevon 2%ENPA(inkind) 2%

9%

5% 4% 1%

4%Projects23%

Matchedprojectfunding

ExmoorPartnership/SustainableDevt.Fund

Contributorstomatchedprojectfunding

ExmoorSociety(fromcharitabletrusts)Valueofinkindcontributions (various)

ExmoorTrust

Coreschemefunding

Others(includingSouthWestWater,EnvironmentAgencyand'earned'income)

13

DistinctivefeaturesoftheScheme2.23. BeforedescribingtheSchemeindetailinthefollowingchapters,

attentionshouldbedrawntotwowaysinwhichithasbeendifferentfrommanyotherLandscapePartnershipSchemesthatwereawardedfundingatthesametimeastheHeartofExmoorScheme.

• Firstly,theSchemetookplaceoverfiveyearsintwophases.ThreeyearswastheexpectedtimespanforLandscapePartnershipSchemeswhentheHeartofExmoorSchemewasapproved(nowmostSchemesareapprovedforafiveyearprogramme).However,itsearlysuccesspromptedanextensionoftwoyears.ThismeantthattheHeartofExmoorSchemehadlongerthanexpectedtodeliveritsobjectivesbutincludedaperiodofreflectionandreviewhalfwaythrough.

• Secondly,adecisionwastakenaftertheLandscapeStrategyhadbeenpreparedbutbeforetheSchemestartedtodropthreelargelandscapeenhancementprojectsthathadbeenplanned.Thiswasforreasonsofcostandpotentialduplicationwithotherinitiatives.

2.24. ThesefactorsinfluencedmanyofthesubsequentimpactsoftheSchemeandareconsideredinmoredetaillaterinthereport.

Swaling(controlledheatherburning)onMollandMoor,2012©JasonPBall

14

3. ProjectsandOutputs

3.1. TheSchemehasoperatedthroughthreemainprogrammeelements,eachofwhichhascontainedanumberofprojects.Theseprogrammeelementsareasfollows:

1.ReconnectingPeople

2.ReconnectingLivelihoods

3.ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter

3.2. Thischapterrunsthrougheachoftheseprogrammesinturn,describingtheiroriginalrationale(thereasonswhytheywereneeded)andsummarisingtheactivitiesandoutputsofindividualprojects.TheTechnicalAnnexthataccompaniesthisreportprovidesmoredetaileddescriptionsofalloftheprojects.

Programme1:ReconnectingPeople3.3. Thefirstofthethreeprogrammeswasthelargest,involvingoverhalf

oftheprojects(11of19)and42%oftheScheme’sprojectbudget(i.e.notincludingsalariesandotheroverheads).TheseprojectsarelistedinFigure3.1.EightoftheseprojectstookplaceinthefirstphaseoftheScheme(2011-2013),someofthem,suchasTheMoorlandClassroom,continuingduringthesecondphase(2014-15),withthefinalthreeinFigure3.1takingplaceonlyinthesecondphase.AdministrationoftheprojectsinthisprogrammewasundertakenbytheMoorlandEducationandOutreachOfficerandtheMoorlandHeritageOfficer.

Originalrationale

3.4. ThesupportingevidencefortheSchemeidentifiedagrowingdisconnectbetweenresidentsandvisitorstoExmooranditsmoorlandheritage.

3.5. Changingmarketsanddiminishingagriculturalsupportwasresultinginfarmersabandoningmoorlandgrazing,climatechangewasalteringthemoorlandenvironment,changinglifestylesresultedinlocalcommunitieslosingtheirlinkswiththemoorsandhavingaverylowawarenessofthemoorland,whilstvisitornumberstomanypartsofthemoorwereeitherstaticorfallingatatimewhenvisitordemandswerechanging.

3.6. TheLandscapeStrategy4setoutthedesirefortheLandscapePartnershipto“forgenewconnectionsbetweenthemoorlandandthepeoplewholivearoundandvisitit.Wewanttoensurethatthe

moorlandlandscapeanditsheritageremaineconomicallyandsocially

relevanttolocalcommunitiesandtovisitors.OurPartnershipis

aboutshapingthefuturehistoryofthisuniquelandscapebyweaving

itbackintothelivesoflocalcommunities.”

3.7. The‘ReconnectingPeople’programmeattemptedtoaddressthisdesirethroughthe11projectslistedinFigure3.1.ThelocationsofmanyoftheprojectsandtheiractivitiesareshowninFigure3.4.

3.8. AsummaryoftheissuesandopportunitiesthatrelatetothisprogrammeisgiveninFigure3.3below.Theprojectsummaries(seetheTechnicalAnnextothisReport)identifythespecifickeyissuesandopportunitiesthatthe11projectssoughttoaddressinturn.

4TheExmoorMoorlandLandscapePartnershipLandscapeStrategy(2007)

15

Figure3.1.Projectsinthe‘ReconnectingPeople’programmeProject Objective BudgetReachingOut Helpingpeoplefromlocal

communitiesconnectwithExmoor'smoorland

£22,900

VolunteersfortheMoor

Encouragingandsupportingvolunteers

£7,225

TheMoorlandClassroom

Supportingschoolvisitsandeducationalactivities

£55,600

AccessforAll Helpingpeoplewithdisabilities,accessormobilityissuestovisitmoorland

£11,600

MoortoSea Helpingcommunities'downstream'ofExmoorunderstandwhymoorlandisimportant

£10,000

Exmoor'sTreelessForest

Research,conservationandlearningabouttheformerRoyalForest

£11,750

DiscoveringPrehistory

Encouragingunderstandingofthemoorland’sprehistory

£16,500

ViewsoftheMoor

Recordinghowthemoorlandhaschangedoverthecenturies

£42,500

CommunityArchaeology

Supportingcommunitygroupstocarryoutarchaeologicalfieldworkandresearch

£42,000

NewEcologists Engagingpeopleofallagesinsurveyingandconservingmoorlandwildlife

£23,700

ManagingExmoor'smoorlandknowledge

Capturingandsharinggoodpracticebyprojectsandvolunteers

£4,500

Figure3.2.Examplesof‘ReconnectingPeople’projectlocations

16

Figure3.3.IssuesandopportunitiesidentifiedpriortotheSchemethatthe‘ReconnectingPeople’programmesoughttoaddress

• LowawarenessofExmoor’smoorlandandalackofunderstandingofwhatitoffers.(AccessPlan)

• VisitornumberstoExmoor’smoorlandarestaticorfalling.(AccessPlan)

• Moorlandviewedasaremoteand‘threateningplace’.(AccessPlan)

• Difficultaccessforthosewithmobilityproblemsorwithoutaprivatecar.(AccessPlan)

• Engagingthoselivingwithin25kmofExmoorNationalParkprovidesthebiggestopportunitytoexpandtheaudience.(AudienceDevelopmentPlan)

• Limitednumberofvolunteers.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Lackofco-ordinationofvolunteers(TrainingPlanandConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Volunteeringopportunitiesarelimitedbyflexibility,typeofopportunitiesandaccessibility.(TrainingPlan)

• Facilitiesforvisitingvolunteergroupsarelimited.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Opportunitiesforvolunteertrainingidentifiedinclude:traditionalskillssuchashedgingandwalling,wildlifesurveyingandvisitorsurveys.(TrainingPlan)

• Ahighproportionofelderlyresidentswhoarelowusersbecauseofalackoftransport,mobilityissuesandlowincome.(AudienceDevelopmentPlan).

• Useofthemoorlandbyschoolsinthehinterlandisverylow.(AudienceDevelopmentPlan)

• Lackofunderstandingoftherelevanceofmoorlandheritagetothecurriculum.(TrainingPlan)

• Alreadyrelativelygoodcurriculum-basedmaterialsavailableonExmoor’snaturalheritage,includingmoorland.(TrainingPlan)

• FewyoungpeopleinHigherEducationintheareaaroundExmoorexperiencethemoorlandaspartoftheircourse.(TrainingPlan)

• OpportunitiestoincreasethenumberofinitiativestobringyoungpeopletoExmoorwholiverelativelyclose.(TrainingPlan)

• AdirectcorrelationbetweenthedistancefromtheNationalParktowherepeopleliveandtheirlevelofengagement.(AudienceDevelopmentPlan)

• Asignificantnumberofvisitorsvisitedthecoastasapreferenceoverthemoorland(AudienceDevelopmentPlan)

• AstrongeraffinityexistsbetweenthesettlementsandvisitorsaroundthecoastalmarginsoftheNationalParkthanmorecentrallywithinthearea.(AudienceDevelopmentPlan)

• Surveyandresearchisalowpriorityforfunding.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Surveyworkisreliantonvolunteersandthereisashortageofpeopleskilledinidentifyingdifficultgroupssuchaslowerplantsandinvertebrates.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Thereisinsufficientknowledgeoftheculturalheritageresource,especiallysiteswithpalaeo-environmentalsignificance.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Keygapsincurrentknowledgeandunderstandingofthemoorlandinclude:earlyprehistoriclandscapesthatsurviveonthemoorlande.g.stonesettingswhichareuniquetoExmoor;theprocessofreclamationandagriimprovementonmoorland(Mesolithictopresent);theEnclosureoftheRoyalForestinthe19thcentury;theuseofthemoorlandsduringWorldWarII;understandingthemoorlandarchaeology,inparticularpastunsustainablepracticesandhistoricstockinglevelsandvegetationchange,particularlyonthecommonsandwidermoorland.(AccessPlan)

17

Mainfocusofactivitiesandoutputs

3.9. Figure3.4providesasummaryofhowthetargetoutputsforthisProgrammethatwereagreedbetweentheLandscapePartnershipandtheHLFwereachieved.Thelargemajorityoftargetoutputswerecomfortablyachievedwithsome,suchasthenumbersofschoolandcommunitygroupsvisitsandarchaeologicalfieldworksessions,beingachievedbyalargemargin.

3.10. FulldetailsofalltheprojectsundertheReconnectingPeopleprogrammecanbefoundintheTechnicalAnnexthataccompaniesthisreportincludingasummaryofthepurposeoftheproject,keyissuestargeted,locationsandtargetaudiences,fundinganddeliverypartners,activitiesundertaken,achievementoftargets,outcomesachieved,lessonslearnedandlegacyactivity.

3.11. Theprogrammecontainedadiversemixtureofprojectsbothintermsofsubjectmatter(fromconservationtoculturalheritage)andvisibilityofprojects,withbothhighprofileprojectsandthosethatprovidedthefoundationsformanyotherprojectsintheprogrammeandtheSchemeasawhole.

3.12. Reachingout,VolunteersfortheMoorandManagingExmoor’sMoorlandKnowledgewerethreesuchcross-cuttingprojects.Underlyingmanyofthemoorland’sissues,andprovidingasignificantbarriertoreconnectingpeopletothem,wasthelowlevelofengagementandawarenessofmoorlandheritageamongstmanydifferentsectionsofsociety,particularlythoseincommunitiesimmediatelysurroundingtheNationalParkboundary.TheReachingOutprojectattemptedtoaddressthis.Bytargetingallagegroupsinsurroundingcommunitiesthroughanumberofdifferentmechanisms,itaimedtoraiseawarenessandengagepeoplewiththemoorland,openingthedoorformanyotherprojectsnotonlyinthisprogrammebuttheSchemeasawhole.Hostingandsupportingeventssuchascommunitygroupvisitstomoorlandandlargerfamilyeventssuchas‘GowildonGrabbist’formedthebasisofthisproject.

3.13. TheVolunteersfortheMoorprojectaddressedtheissueofengagementatadeeperlevel,whilstalsofullycapturingtheenthusiasmandenergyofthosecommunitiesthatalreadyhadsomelevelofappreciationandawarenessofthemoors.WhilstvolunteeringwasalreadytakingplacewithintheNationalParkandonmoorland,thisprojectplacedgreateremphasisonmatchingthetheskillsandknowledgeofvolunteerstothetasksavailable.Thisgavevolunteersaspecialroleininfluencingtheplanninganddeliveryofprojects.Volunteertrainingtookplace,alongsidesupportingandworkingwithotherprogrammesandinturn5,000volunteerdaysweresupportedbytheproject.

3.14. TheManagingExmoor’sMoorlandKnowledgeproject,whichwasbroughtintoPhase2,cutacrossnotonlytheReconnectingPeopleprogramme,buttheSchemeasawhole.ItsoughttoensurethattheknowledgebuiltupasaresultoftheoutputsfromeachprojectwascapturedalongwithgoodpracticeaboutdevisingandsettingupeventsandactivitiesundertakenaspartoftheScheme.Theoriginalideahadbeentoprovideadigitalcatalogueor‘routemap’ofalltheknowledgethatwasavailableonExmoor’smoorland.However,itbecameclearthatthiswouldduplicateothersourcesofinformation(suchastheHistoricEnvironmentRecordmaintainedbytheNationalParkAuthority).Asaresult,itwasagreedtofocusoncollatinginformationonspecifictopicsthroughaseriesofonlinecasestudiesandvideosandbysupportingcommunityknowledgesharingevents.

3.15. AnothergroupofprojectsunderthisprogrammeextendedtheworkoftheReachingOutprojectbytargetingspecificgroupsofpeopleandtryingtotacklethebarriersthatpreventedtheirengagementwithmoorlandheritage.AccessforAlltriedtotacklethebarrierstovisitingmoorland,particularlythosefacedbythedisabled.Tasterdays,newresourcesandtwonewaccessibleroutesdesignedforoff-roadmobilityscooters(Trampers)–oneatSimonsbathandtheotheratHeddonValley–werecreatedbyworkingwithdisabilitygroups,charitiesandorganisations.

18

3.16. TheMoorlandClassroomprojectsupportedandencouragedschoolvisits,educationalactivitiesandlearningexperiencesbothintheclassroomandonthemoor.ItssuccessmeantthatitbecameoneoftheflagshipprojectsfortheSchemeasawhole,successfullyengagingmorethan7,000pupilsand,throughitsonlineresources5andteachertrainingprogramme,helpingtofosterlongertermenthusiasmandengagementwithmoorlandheritage.

3.17. TheMoortoSeaprojecttookaninnovativeapproachtoengagementtakingaspecificphysicalfeature–inthiscasetheRiverExe–asawaytoreachoutandengageoutlyingcommunitieswho,withdistancefromthemoor,wereinevitablylessengaged.Throughamixtureofevents(suchasBogtastic),outreachprojectsandroadshows(suchastheSpiritoftheExeFestival)andtheSoundsoftheExeartsproject6,theimportanceofconservingandrestoringExmoor’swetlandhabitatsandwaterresourcestodownstreamcommunitieshasbeenhighlighted.

3.18. AnotherinnovativeprojectunderthisprogrammewasNewEcologists.Focussingonresolvingbothuntappedenthusiasmforvolunteeringandalsotheneedforfurtherecologicalsurveyandresearchworktobeundertaken,thisprojectworkedwith21partnerstoproducenewonlineresources,undertakeoutreacheventsandsupportwildlifesurveysincludingthecitizensciencesurvey‘ExmoorWildWatch’.Throughtheseactivitiessome4,350individualswereinvolvedin38ecologyroadshows,29familyecologydays,52schoolandcollegevisits,52ecologysurveytrainingsessions,12Bioblitzeventsand28wildlifesurveys.AnannualExmoorWildlifeForumwasestablishedwhichisplannedtocontinuebeyondtheScheme.

3.19. Knowledgeofthemoorland’sculturalheritagewashighlightedasakeygapinunderstandingandfourprojectsintheprogrammesoughttoaddressthis.TheExmoor’sTreelessForestprojectandCommunityArchaeologyprojectbothfocussedonusingvolunteerstocarryoutconservationandsurveywork.Bothprojectsincluded

5Seehttp://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/learning/the-moorland-classroom6ForoutputsoftheSoundsoftheExeproject,seehttps://www.youtube.com/user/ExmoorNP

trainingvolunteersandinthecaseofCommunityArchaeologythisincludedfairlyadvancedtechniquesincludingphotographicandgeophysicalsurvey.Bothprojectsaddedsignificantlytocurrentknowledgeofthesitesthattheyfocussedonandthisinformationwassharedamongstcommunitygroups,schoolsandthelocalpopulation.

3.20. TheViewsoftheMoorprojectlookedathowpeoplehaveviewedExmoor’smoorlandheritage,particularlywithinlivingmemory,producingreconstructionsanddocumentingoralhistories.TheViewsofExmoorExhibitionhelpedtocelebrateandbringaliveExmoor’smoorlandheritageandbringawarenessofExmoor’sspecialqualitiestoawideraudience.

3.21. TheDiscoveringPrehistoryprojectfocussedonincreasingunderstandingofaparticulartimeperiodofmoorlandheritage–prehistory.Fieldtripsandeventswereorganisedanddeliveredtoawiderangeofgroups,includingschools,universities,localsocieties,youthgroupsandthegeneralpublicthroughcommunityarchaeologytoencouragepeopletoengagewithExmoor’smoorlandprehistory.

Schoolchildreninthemoorlandclassroom,PinkeryBog©SteveGuscott

19

Figure3.4.Achievementoftargetoutputs–Programme1:ReconnectingPeople

0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% 300%

500people attendinganeventorfieldtrip

30field trips

10talkstolocalgroups

10guidedwalks

20volunteers trainedinwallingtechniques

5volunteersengagedinsurvey andresearch

15businesses engaged

9visits byschool/community groups

30communities contacted

30schools contactedalongtherivercorridors

90people benefitingfromimproved access

12guidedwalksforwheelchairusers

12outreacheventsfordisability groups

15morevolunteersworkingregularly

15visits touniversities orcolleges

15presentationstoyouthgroups

36community groupscontacted

100schools receiveresourcepacks

3summerschools (15students attending)

108term-timeeducationdays

30schools engagedeachyear

24tasterevents(30attendeesperevent)

30groupvisitstomoorland

150community/youth groupscontacted

Discover-

ing

Prehistory

Exmoor’sTreeless

Forest

MoortoSe

aAccessfo

rAll

Volunteersfo

rthe

Moor

TheMoorla

nd

Classroom

ReachingOut

Proportionoftargetachieved

513%

386%

344%

1,289%

150%

0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% 300%

DelivertrainingonKMStostaff&volunteers

KMSprocesses andprotocols agreed.

TransferinformationtotheMoorlandKMS

DeviseMoorlandKnowledgeMan.System

10wildlife groupsofferedmentoringtraining

4wildlife surveys

2Bioblitzevents

24Identificationandsurveytrainingworkshops

20school andcollegevisits

2educationresources

12familyecologydays

12ecologyroadshows

1cross-community conference

2loans boxescreated

6community heritageopendays

10school visits; inc.summerfieldwork

24volunteertrainingsessions

2summerfieldwork sessions

20visits tositesandmonuments

250people attendingroadshows

12roadshowsheld

3exhibitions held

Digitalarchivedeveloped

30schools andcommunity groupvisits

6reconstructions prepared

ManagingExmoor's

Moorla

nd

Know

ledge

NewEcologists

CommunityArchaeology

View

softheM

oor


300%

850%

700%

350%

Thefocus oftheprojectchanged(producing casestudies ratherthancataloguedrecords)andthesetargetswerenolongerappropriate

20

Programme2:ReconnectingLivelihoods3.22. Thesecondprogrammeinvolvedfourprojectsandaccountedfor23%

oftheScheme’sprojectbudget(thesmallestofthethreeprogrammes).ThefourprojectsareshowninFigure3.5andlocationsofkeyactivitiesareshowninFigure3.6.

3.23. AlloftheseprojectstookplaceinthefirstphaseoftheScheme(2011-2013)usingsignificantmatchedfundingfromtheRuralDevelopmentProgrammeforEngland(WesternSomersetLocalActionandLeader4TorridgeandNorthDevon).SeveralofthemcontinuedintoPhase2usingfundingfromPhase2projects.

3.24. AlloftheprojectsinthisprogrammewereadministeredbytheSchemeManager.

FIgure3.5.Projectsinthe‘ReconnectingLivelihoods’programme

Project Objective Budget

Moorkeepers Employinglocalpeopleaspart-time'moorkeepers'

£65,800

EmpoweringMoorlandManagers

Helpingmoorlandmanagerstoworktogether

£12,300

MoorSkills Providingapprenticeshipsandatrainingprogramme

£47,500

DemonstrationMoors

Runningaprogrammeofdemonstrationevents

£10,800

Figure3.6.Examplesof‘ReconnectingLivelihoods’projectlocations

21

Originalrationale

3.25. TheLandscapeStrategyidentifiedthatthemoorlandhadbecomeeconomicallydisconnectedfrommostofthefarmsthatsurroundedit,makingitdifficulttoachievetherightlevelsoflivestockgrazingneededtomaintainthemoorlandheritage.TheresearchundertakentopreparefortheSchemehadidentifiedarangeofissuesandopportunities(Figure3.7).Toaddressthese,thePartnershipsoughttousethisProgrammetoworkwiththepeoplewhoearnalivingfrommoorlandto:• Conserveandcelebrateculturalassociationsandactivities;• Encouragemorepeopletoaccess,learnabout,becomeinvolved

inandmakedecisionsontheirlandscapeheritage;and• Improveunderstandingoflocalcraftandotherskillsby

providingtrainingopportunities.

3.26. Theprincipaltargetaudienceforthisprogrammewastheownersandgraziersofmoorland.Partnersindeliveringtheprogrammeincludedlocalcollegesprovidingland-basedtrainingqualifications,theExmoorHillFarmingNetworkandtheNationalParkAuthority’srangerservice.


3.27. Alloftheprojectsinthisprogrammeweredirectedatprovidingmoorlandownersandmanagerswiththeknowledgeandskillstoundertakemoorlandmanagementpracticesthatbothmaintainedthemoorlandheritageandalsometpracticalfarmingrequirements.Incontrast,fundingofpracticalconservationworktookplaceinProgramme3.

3.28. AsnotedinFigure3.7,keyissuesfacingmoorlandmanagerswerethelackoflabour,lackofskillsandlackofknowledge.Labourisaparticularconstrainttothepracticeofmoorlandswaling(controlledburningtostimulateregrowthofheather)becauseitcoincideswithlambingonfarms.Manymoorlandmanagersareover60andthere

wasfelttobeaneedtopassonskillsandknowledgeofmoorlandlivestockmanagementtoyoungpeople.

Figure3.7.IssuesandopportunitiesidentifiedpriortotheSchemethatthe‘ReconnectingLivelihoods’programmesoughttoaddress

• Labouronfarmsislimitedandtodelivermoorlandmanagementistimeconsuming.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• ThereisashortageofskilledwallersinNorthDevonwheremostofthewallsonExmoormoorlandarefound.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Noincentivesexisttoreplacefencesbyrebuildingwallsorstone-facedbanksasthedifferencebetweenthecostandthegrantaidistoogreat.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Knowledgeoftechniquesforrestorationofimprovedgrasslandtouplandheathlandislimited.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Thecessationorlimitedavailabilityoftrainingforyoungpeopleonland-basedmanagement.(TrainingPlan)

• Barrierstotrainingbyfarmersincludethecostoftrainingincludinginsuranceandassessmentfees,thetimeawayfromthefarmincludingthecostofrelieflabour,andtheneedfortrainingtoberelevanttoeconomicandpracticalrealities.(TrainingPlan)

3.29. Therewerealsoseentobeopportunitiestoenhanceknowledgeandexchangebestpracticebetweencurrentmoorlandmanagersandconservationbodies.Topicssuitableforthisknowledgeexchangeincludedthenumbersandtypesoflivestockbestsuitedtodifferentmoorlandareas,newmachineryavailabletocontrolscrubandequipmentneededtosafelyundertakemoorlandswaling.

3.30. Asetoftargetsfortheoutputstobeachievedwasagreedforeachoftheprojects,involvingeitherthenumbersofpeoplewhowouldbeinvolvedorthenumbersofmeetingsoreventsthatwouldtakeplace.TheseareshowninFigure3.8.Thelargemajorityofthesetargets

22

wereachieved,withafewbeingachievedearlyintheprogrammeandgoingontobeexceededverysignificantly.

3.31. Twooftheprojects–MoorkeepersandMoorSkills–involvedfocussedactivityonafewspecificindividuals.TheconceptofemployingMoorkeeperstogivefarmersdirectresponsibilityandresourcestoco-ordinategrazing,swaling,recreationalmanagementandenvironmentalmonitoringhadbeendiscussedonExmoorforseveraldecades.TheSchemeprovidedtheopportunitytotestanddeveloptheconceptwithfundingtoemploythreepart-timepostsonthreeareasofmoorland,initiallyduringPhase1butsubsequentlycontinuedinPhase2withfundingfromtheChangingMoorlandproject(are-instatedprojectinProgramme3).Thejobdescriptionforthemoorkeepersandtheirresponsibilitiesneededtobedefinedthroughdialoguewithmoorlandowners(distinguishingtherolefromNationalParkrangersandNationalTrustrangersforinstance)andthisprocesstooklongerthananticipated,leadingtoadelaytomakingtheappointments.Eventuallythreepeoplewereappointedononedayaweekcontracts:OneontheMineheadMoorlands(alocalfarmcontractor),MollandMoor(anexistinggrazingtenant)andHoldstoneDown(aNationalTrusttenantandco-owner).

3.32. TheMoorkeeperpostswerealsosupportedfromtheprojectbythepurchaseofmachineryandequipmentthatwassharedbetweenthemsuchas‘brackenbruisers’,swalingequipment,personalprotectiveequipment(PPE)andherbicidesprayingequipment.

Figure3.8.Achievementoftargetoutputs–Programme2:ReconnectingLivelihoods

3.33. TheMoorSkillsprojectwasdesignedtoprovidethreeyoungpeople

withapprenticeshipsinmoorlandmanagement(includingsupervisedfarmworkanddayreleaseclassroomtraining)leadingtoaqualificationthatwouldhelpthemgetsubsequentemployment.WestSomersetCollegeinMineheadagreedtohelpdevelopadistinctivemoorlandmanagementcurriculumandbetheaccreditedtrainingprovider,part-fundedbythescheme.However,thischangedwhenthethreestudentsidentifiedfortheapprenticeshipsmovedtoBridgwaterCollegeatCannington.OneofthestudentssubsequentlydroppedoutandwasreplacedbyastudentfromDevon.These

0% 100% 200% 300%

3eventsforstudents onlandmanagement

3demonstrations bycontractors&equipmentmanufacturers

18demonstration events

20moorlandmanagersattendingtrainingonmoorlandmanagement

12meetings(8moorlandmanagerspermeeting)

30students developingmoorskills

15Localmoorlandmanagerstoreceivetrainingtobe“MoorlandTutors”

3local18-19yearolds receive18monthstraining

20guidedwalksrunbyMoorkeepers

6trainingdaysattendedbyMoorkeepersandMoorSkills apprentices

3Moorkeepersemployed

Demonstratio

nMoors

Empowering

Moorla

nd

Managers

MoorS

kills

Moorkeepers


1,667%

3moorkeepers employed

6trainingdaysattendedbymoorkeepers andmoorskills apprentices

20guidedwalksrunbymoorkeepers

3local18-19yearoldswillreceive18monthstrainingas“MoorKeepersApprentices”

15LocalMoorlandManagerstoreceivetrainingtobe“MoorlandTutors”

30students developingmoorskills

12meetings(8MoorlandManagerspermeeting)

20MoorlandManagersattendingtrainingonmoorlandmanagement

18demonstration event

3demonstrations bymoorland contractorsandmanufacturersofspecialist equipment

3eventsforstudentsonlandmanagement

Moorland

managers

viewinga

demonstration

ofabracken

‘biobaler’

©JasonPBall

23

changesrequiredconsiderableunexpectedworkbytheSchemeManager.

3.34. AnothertargetoutputoftheMoorSkillsprojectwasprovidingon-sitetrainingforfarmstudentsonmoorlandmanagement.ThiswasdeliveredbythefarmunitatWestSomersetCollege.Againsttheoriginaltargetof30students,over500studentsreceivedthetraining.

3.35. IthasbeenanticipatedthattherewouldbeastronglinkbetweentheMoorkeepersandMoorSkillsprojects,withtheMoorkeepersprovidingon-the-jobexperiencefortheapprentices.Althoughanumberoftrainingdaysdidtakeplace,meetingthetarget,thispartoftheMoorkeepers’rolewasnotfullydeveloped.

3.36. TheexperienceoftheMoorSkillsprojectshowsthechallengesofarrangingday-releaseapprenticeshipsinremoteruralareaswhereissuesoftransportandthelimitedavailabilityofhostemployerscanbesignificantbarriers.Toacertaindegree,theprojectadaptedtothesechallengesbymovingfromprovidinghighlevelsoftrainingtoafewstudentstolowerlevelsoftrainingtomanymorestudents.

3.37. AnoverallaspirationfortheMoorSkillsprojecthadbeentocreateaself-sustainingprogrammeofmoorlandtrainingatWestSomersetCollege,withinitialpumpprimingbytheprojecttodevelopthecurriculumbeingmaintainedbystudents’tuitionpayments.However,themomentumofmoorlandtraininghasnotbeenmaintainedbythecollegeandtheprogrammehasceased.

3.38. Theothertwoprojectsinthisprogramme–EmpoweringMoorlandManagersandDemonstrationMoors–tookplacethroughthefacilitationofmeetingsandeventsinvolvingmoorlandowners,managersandenvironmentalbodiessuchasNaturalEngland.Inpractice,therefewdifferencesbetweentheactivitiesofthetwoprojects,sothateventsorganisedunderoneprojecttendedtocontributetooutputtargetsintheother.Examplesincluded:

• AworkshoponscrubmanagementonBrendonCommonorganisedbytheBrendonCommonersAssociation

• AdemonstrationofswalingequipmentandtechniquesonNorthHill,publicisedbytheExmoorHillFarmingNetwork

• Annualmeetingstomonitorprogressandplanformoorlandswaling,organisedbytheNationalParkAuthority

• AmeetingtoreviewevidenceondifferentgrazingregimesonMollandMoororganisedbytheGrazetheMoorProject

3.39. Lesssuccessfulaspectsoftheprogrammeweretheattemptstoencouragemoorlandownersandgrazierstointeractmorewiththepublic,leadingguidedwalksandactingas‘moorlandtutors’.Mostmoorlandownersandgraziersdon’tseethisastheirrole,beinghappytoleaveittotheNationalParkrangersandNationalTrustwardensandorganisationssuchastheExmoorSociety.Asaresultthetargetoutputof15moorlandmanagersreceivingtrainingtobe‘moorlandtutors’wasnotmet.

FarmersandothershearingaboutthearchaeologyofBrendonCommon©JasonPBall

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Programme3:ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter3.40. Thefinalprogrammeinvolvedfourprojectsandaccountedfor36%of

theScheme’sprojectbudget.TheseprojectsareshowninFigure3.9andlocationsofkeyactivitiesareshowninFigure3.10.

3.41. ThefirstthreeprojectstookplaceinPhase1oftheSchemeandthefourth,TheChangingMoorland,wasaddedinPhase2.TheseprojectswereadministeredbytheSchemeManager(thefirst,thirdandfourthprojectsinFigure3.9)andtheMoorlandHeritageOfficer(thesecond).

Figure3.9.Projectsinthe‘ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter’programme

Project Objective Budget

ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter

Restorationoflandscapesandheritagelandmarks

£100,000

ConservingtheMoorlandPast

Fundingconservationworkatmoorlandarchaeologicalsites

£32,500

PromotingExmoorPonies

Helpingponyownerssupportthebreed

£48,400

TheChangingMoorland

Undertakingconservationworkonmoorlandwherechangeisoccurring

£32,350

Figure3.10.Examplesof‘ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter’projectlocations

25

Originalrationale

3.42. TheLandscapeStrategypublishedinSeptember2007summarisedthepurposeofthisprogrammeas“tobringExmoor’smoorlandsintomorefavourablecondition–recreating‘showroomcondition’and

makingitfitterforpurpose”.Itdistinguishedreconditioningexistingareasofmoorlandfromtherestorationofformermoorland.Althoughitmadeclearthatlargescalemoorlandrestorationwasnotanobjectiveofthescheme,itdidsetoutanobjectiveto‘roughenup’thelandscapecharacteroffarmlandsurroundingmoorlandtoprovidehabitatandvisuallinksbetweenmoorland.

3.43. TheissuesandopportunitiesthathadbeenidentifiedduringtheresearchpriortodevelopingtheschemearesummarisedinFigure3.11.Aswellastheseissues,thisprogrammealsorespondedtomanyoftheissuesidentifiedintheothertwoprogrammes.

Figure3.11.IssuesandopportunitiesidentifiedpriortotheSchemethatthe‘ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter’programmesoughttoaddress

• Therearecurrentlynofundingstreamsavailableforprojectswherevisualimprovementofthelandscapeinordertoenhancepublicenjoymentistheoverridingaim.(ConservationandRestorationPlan)

• Thereisashortageoffundingforculturalheritageconservationwork

• ThereisnomarketforyoungExmoorponiessolittleincentivetokeepthem

3.44. TheoriginalproposalfortheschemesubmittedtoHLFin2007andapprovedforfundinginApril2008containedsixprojectsbutthreeofthesewereomittedfromtheschemewaswasstartedin2011.Thesethreeomittedprojectsinvolvedmappingtranquillityonmoorland,theestablishmentofnaturallinksonfarmlandbetweenmoorlandblocksanddevisingandevaluatingmoorlandrestorationtechniques.Thedecisiontodroptheseprojectswaspartlyduetocost,partlyduetoanassessmentofalternativewaysofdeliveringthem(thenatural

linksprojectpotentiallybeingdeliverablethroughagri-environmentschemefunding)andpartlyduetoanassessmentofpriorities(leadingtotheomissionofthetranquillitymappingproject).

3.45. TheopportunitytoreinstateprojectsinthesecondphaseoftheschemeledtotheChangingMoorlandprojectbeingincluded.Thistooksomeofitsinspirationfromtheoriginalideatoexaminemoorlandrestorationtechniques(butfocussingmoreonaddressingchangingconditionsonmoorland)andalsoallowedcontinuedfundingtosuccessfulprojectsfromPhase1suchasMoorkeepers.

3.46. Thetargetaudiencesforthisprogrammewerewide,includingmoorlandownersandgraziersandthecommunitieswithinthedefinedlandscapepartnershiparea.ThekeypartnersinvolvedindeliveringthefourprojectsincludedtheNationalParkAuthority,theMoorlandMousieTrust(whichemployedtheExmoorPonyOfficer),ExmoorPonySociety,theExmoorSocietyandLyntonandLynmouthTownCouncil(thelattertwocontributingsignificantmatchedfundingforpartsoftheReconditioningMoorlandCharacterproject).


3.47. Thisprogrammeisdifferentfromtheothersinthatitprovidedtheresourcestomakephysicalimprovementstomoorlandandtoconserveimportantheritagefeaturesofthemoorland(suchastheExmoorponyherds).LikeProgramme1italsoprovidedwaysofpromotingbetterpublicunderstandingof,andinvolvementin,theseactivities.ItalsoincludedelementsofProgramme2incloseworkingwithmoorlandownersandgraziers.

3.48. Aswiththeotherprogrammes,anumberofoutputtargetswereagreedsothatprogressoftheprojectscouldbemonitored.Theseincludedthenumberofsitesandfeaturesonwhichreconditioningworkhadtakenplace,thenumberofpeopleinvolvedinconservation,monitoringortrainingandthenumberofmeetingsandothereventsheld.ThesetargetsandtheirachievementareshowninFigure3.12.

26

Figure3.12.Achievementoftargetoutputs–Programme3:ReconditioningMoorlandCharacter

3.49. Eachofthefourprojectsinthisprogrammeaddressedadifferentaspectofmoorlandreconditioning.TheReconditioningMoorlandCharacterprojectsupportedconservationworkthroughfivemajorprojects(below)andprovidedsmallergrantstomoorlandownerstoenhancethelandscape.Thesesmallergrants,typicallyofbetween£1,000and£5,000each,coveredactivitiessuchashedgebankrepairalonghistoricallysignificantmoorlandboundariesandfencingofhighbiodiversityvaluegrasslandtofacilitategrazing.

3.50. Thefivemajorlandscapereconditioningprojectswereasfollows:

• TheundergroundingofelectricitypowerlinesatHawkcombeHead,removingamajorvisualintrusioninthelandscape.ThemaincapitalfundingcamefromWesternPowerandtheschemeprovidedfundingtoenhancethequalityofthenecessaryarchaeologicalsurveyingandmitigationwork

• ThereplacementoftheroofanddoorstotheWorldWarIIRadarStationonNorthHill.ThisprovidedthesettingforaWWIIinterpretiveexhibitionwithcostumedre-enactors

• TheconsolidationandconservationofHoarOakCottage,anabandonedhouseinaremotemoorlandlocation.TheprojectwasundertakenwiththeFriendsofHoarOakCottage,communityactiongroupExmoorUprisingandtheExmoorSociety

• TheredesignandlandscapingofthecarparkattheValleyofRocks.Thepreviouscarparkingwaspoorlydesignedandvisuallyintrusiveinthispopularvisitordestination.ThecostwassharedbetweenLyntonandLynmouthTownCouncil,theExmoorPartnershipFundandtheScheme

• TheundergroundingofpowerandtelecomscablesattheValleyofRocks

3.51. AsignificantproportionofthefundingforthisprojectcamefromtheHeathcoatandAmoryTruststhroughtheExmoorSociety.

0% 50% 100% 150% 200%

40people benefitfrompracticalmoorlandskillstraining

40people involved inthemoorlandmanagementchallenges

3moorlandmanagementchallenges

6practicalmoorlandmanagementdemonstrations

8farmer-ledactivities/workshops

10practicaltrainingsessions

20practicalconservationsessions

20MoorlandUnitmeetings

15events/fetesattended

2newherdscreated

2herdssafeguarded

30Exmoorponydays

30primaryschool visited

8landowners engagedinmonitoringandconserving activities

20volunteers involvedinmonitoringandconserving activities

10additional featuresareidentified andimpactsmitigated

3prioritysitesrestoredTheChangingM

oorla

ndProm

otingExmoorP

onies

Conservin

gthe

Moorla

ndPast

Reconditioning

Moorla

nd

Character


443%

3prioritysitesrestored

10additional featuresorelementsareidentified andtheimpactmitigated

20volunteers involved inmonitoring andconserving activities

8landowners engagedinmonitoringandconserving activities

40people involved inthemoorlandmanagementchallenges

40people benefitfrompracticalmoorlandskills training

Involvingsurveyand interviews

465%

27

3.52. TheConservingtheMoorlandPastprojectsoughttoaddressthreatstoScheduledAncientMonumentsandotherarchaeologicalsitesonmoorland.Itincludedfourelements:

• PracticalconservationworkwasundertakenbyspecialistcontractorsonScheduledMonuments(suchasthesprayingofbrackentopreventrootdamagetoburiedstructures)andusedfundingfromEnglishHeritage’sMonumentManagementSchemewhichhadbeendelegatedtotheNationalParkAuthority.Thisworkwouldhavebeenundertakenanyway.

• Geophysicalsurveyswereundertaken(byspecialistcontractorswhoweresupportedbyvolunteers)onthreePrincipalArchaeologicalLandscapesonmoorland:PorlockAllotments,CheritonRidgeandBradimoor.Thesesurveysleadtonewdiscoveriessuchasamedievalsettlementandhavebeenwrittenupandpublished.

• Archaeologicalsurveysandreportswerecommissionedandpublishedcoveringvalleymires,theSimonsbathtower,theHoaroakcottage/sheepfold,peatcuttingonPorlockAllotmentandtheNorthHillRadarStation.

• TheconservationofthedoorsonWWIINorthHillRadarStation.

3.53. ExmoorPonieshaveaspecialplaceonExmoor,the21free-livingherdsonmoorlandbeingpopularattractionswithlocalpeopleandvisitors.Theyalsohavedistinctiveandancientgeneticcharacteristicsandcontinuetobevaluablemoorlandgrazinganimals.ThePromotingExmoorPoniesprojectsoughttocelebrateandimproveunderstandingofthisculturalimportanceandsecuretheirfuturebyholdingpubliceventsandworkingwithherdowners.Itemployedapart-timeExmoorPonyOfficer,hostedbytheMoorlandMousieTrustwhichisalocalcharitythatrunstheExmoorPonyCentre.

3.54. TheprojectfacedsignificantbarriersasaresultoffrictionsbetweenindividualsandorganisationsthatsupportExmoorPoniesaswellascontroversyoverclaimsofthepony’sgeneticorigins.Diplomacywasrequiredtoaddressthesebeforetheaimsoftheprojectcouldbe

addressed.Dialoguebetweenorganisations,facilitatedbytheExmoorPonyOfficerandSchemeManager,wassuccessfulinachievingjointworkingbetweentheMoorlandMousieTrustandExmoorPonySociety,leadingdirectlytotheExmoorPonyFestivalheldin2012.TheFestivalhasbeenrepeatedannuallysincethenwithagrowingattendance(3,000peopletookpartinninedaysofeventsin2014).TheFestivalin2015wasrunbythenewlyformedExmoorPonyFestivalTrust.ArangeofotherschoolvisitsandpubliceventstopromotethebreedtookplaceinPhase1oftheScheme.

3.55. Aseparatestrandoftheprojectinvolvedworkingwithherdownerstosupporttheconservationofthebreed.Areportwascommissionedfromlocalvet,PeterGreen,intothepracticalissuesfacingfree-livingponies.Thereportprovedcontroversialamongstsomepeoplebecauseitreviewedstudiesonthegeneticstatusofthebreedbutithassupportedjointworkingbetweenherdowners(anewrepresentativegrouphassubsequentlybeenestablishedandtwonewherdshavebeenregisteredwiththeExmoorPonySociety).

3.56. TheoriginalSchemesubmittedto,andapprovedby,HLFin2008hadinvolvedthreelargeprojectsthatsoughttoaddressthelandscape-scalethreatsandopportunitiesonmoorland.ThereviewoftheSchemeundertakenin2009/10haddroppedtheseprojectsbecauseoftheircostandtheavailabilityofalternativefundingfromagri-environmentschemes(seebelow).However,whentheLandscapePartnershipsubmittedaproposalforPhase2oftheSchemein2013,elementsoftheoriginalthreeprojectswereincludedinanewChangingMoorlandproject.Thisfocussedonareasofmoorlandthatwerefacingsignificantenvironmentalthreats(suchasencroachmentofscrub)oropportunities(suchastherewettingofmirehabitats).

3.57. Theprojectincludedareviewoftheissuesaffectingallareasofmoorlandbasedonthedescriptionsforthe20MoorlandUnitsthathadbeenpreparedbytheNationalParkAuthorityin2011.ThereviewwasoriginallyintendedtobedonethroughmeetingswithmoorlandownersandgraziersineachoftheUnits.Howeverlowattendanceatthesemeetingsmeantthatanonline/papersurvey

28

wasusedtocollectinformationbackedupbytelephonecalls.TheresultsofthereviewhavebeenpassedtotheAuthority.

3.58. Theprojectalsoinvolvedsupportingpartnersbyaddingvaluetoexistingactivities,suchas:

• TheMoorlandBirdSurveyundertakenbytheRSPB(helpingtopayforequipmentanddisseminationoftheresults)

• Conservationworkontheheathland/woodlandinterfaceonGrabbistHillledbytheNationalTrustandCrownEstate(payingformeetingandtrainingtoreviewchange)

• ControlofinvasivescrubintheHeddonValleybytheNationalTrust(supportingtraining,providingequipmentandfacilitatingco-ordinationwithneighbouringlandowners)

WhatwasnotcoveredbytheScheme3.59. Therewereanumberoftopicsthatmighthavebeenincludedinthe

Scheme’sactivitiesbutwereeitherdeliberatelyexcludedorwerelessevidentthanhadoriginallybeenintended.Thereasonsbehindthesegapsinprojectactivityareexaminedingreaterdetailinthefollowingchapter.Insummary,thesegapswereasfollows:

Landscape-scaleenhancement

3.60. Oneofthethreefacetsofthemoorland’sdisconnectionthathadbeenidentifiedbythepreparatoryresearchwasthephysicalseparationbetweenmanyofthemoorlandblocksandthesharplandscapeandecologicalboundarythatoccurredwheremoorlandabuttedfarmland.However,thethreeprojectsthatweredesignedtoaddresstheseissuesweredroppedfromtheSchemewhenitwasreviewedin2008.Thereasonsbehindthisareexaminedinthefollowingchapter(Figure4.2).

Livingculture

3.61. Theculturaldisconnectionidentifiedinthepreparatoryresearchdrewattentiontothedeclininglocaltraditionsofmoorlandusebylocalcommunities.However,therewasrelativelylittleactivityonthesetopicscomparedtothegreateremphasisonunderstandingthemoorland’sprehistory(anexceptionbeingthephotographiccompetitionincludedintheViewsoftheMoorproject).Thereasonsbehindthisareconsideredinthefollowingchapter(Figure4.7).

Theheritageeconomy

3.62. Finally,theSchemehadrelativelylittleinteractionwiththebusinessesthattakeadvantageofthemoorland’sheritagesuchasthetourism,hospitality,recreationandspecialityfoodssectors.Thereasonsbehindthisareexaminedinthefollowingchapter(Figure4.9).

TheExmoorPonyOfficerandchildrenattheGetWildonGrabbistevent©JasonPBall

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OverallfindingsontheScheme’soutputs3.63. Overitsfiveyearsofactivity,theSchemehasdeliveredabroadrange

ofactivitiesacrossitsthreeprogrammesand19projects.ThelargemajorityofthetargetoutputsthatweresetbytheLandscapePartnershipandHLFweremetandmanywereexceededbyalargemargin.SomeoftheheadlinefiguresontheoutputsachievedbytheSchemearelistedinFigure3.13.

Figure3.13.HeadlineresultsofSchemeactivity

• Morethan7,000schoolchildrenvisitedmoorlandwiththeirteacherslearningaboutitsheritagethroughitshistory,science,geographyandothersubjects

• 4,350peopleattendedeventscelebratingExmoor’smoorlandwildlifeincludingattheannualBogstaticfestivalandaseriesofBigAdventureDays

• Over3,000peopletookpartinninedaysofeventsinthe2014ExmoorPonyFestival

• Over900peopleattended17communityarchaeologyevents,seeingfirsthandtheevidenceofprehistoricusesofmoorland

• Over120peopleofallagestookuptrowelsorsurveytapestoundertakearchaeologicalexcavationsorsurveysonmoorland

• Morethan500agriculturalstudentsandmoorlandmanagersreceivedtrainingonmoorlandmanagement

• AlargeproportionofExmoor’smoorlandownersandgrazierssharedtheirknowledgeofmoorlandmanagementwitheachother

• Overall,volunteerscommittedmorethan5,000daystocelebratingorconservingExmoor’smoorlandheritage

3.64. ThemostsuccessfulelementsoftheSchemewerethoseinvolvingpeoplewhowerenotpreviouslyfamiliarwithmoorlandheritage,manyfromlocalcommunities,inactivelearningabout,andcelebratingin,thehistory,landscapeandwildlifeofExmoor’smoorland.

3.65. InnovativeapproachesthatweredevelopedduringtheScheme(andwereoftennotplannedfromtheoutset)includedtheuseofvideos,digitalreconstructionimagery,historicalre-enactments,publicarchaeologyprojects,archaeologyloanboxesandweb-basededucationalresources.ThesegavethewholeSchemeafreshnessandenergythatmarkeditoutfrompreviousactivitiesonmoorland.

3.66. Activitiesthatwerelesssuccessfulthananticipatedwerethosethatencouragedmoorlandmanagerstoengagemorewiththepublic(asleadersofwalksoras‘moorlandtutors’)ortoreviewtheissuesfacingtheirareasofmoorland(withpoorattendanceatmeetings).

3.67. ActivitieswhichwerenotablebytheirabsencefromtheSchemewerecelebrationsofthelivingculturalassociatedwithmoorland;largescaleenhancementofhabitatsorlandscapecharacter;andanysignificantlevelsofengagementwithtourismandrecreationbusinesses.

30

4. Outcomesandimpacts

4.1. AssetoutinChapter3,thelargemajorityofthequantifiabletargetoutputsforeachofthe19projectshavebeensuccessfullymetorexceeded.Whilstthesetargetoutputshavebeenhelpfulasawayofmonitoringprogress,theyareonlypartofthepictureandarenotnecessarilythebestwayofmeasuringtheoverallbenefitsoftheprogrammesorSchemeasawhole.

4.2. ThemostimportantresultiswhetherachievingthesetargetoutputshasledtosuccessfulSchemeoutcomesandinturnhadanimpactontheissuesthattheSchemewasdesignedtoaddressinthefirstplace.

4.3. TheHLFEvaluationGuidance(2014)statesthat:“OutcomesarethedifferenceyourSchemehasmade;itsimpactsonthelandscapeand

heritagefeatures,anditsbenefitsforthepeoplewholiveorwork

thereorenjoyitasvisitors.”

4.4. WhentheSchemewasapproved,LandscapePartnershipSchemeswererequiredtoaddressfouroutcomes.Thesewere:

• Conservingorrestoringthebuiltheritageandnaturalfeaturesthatcreatethehistoriccharacterofthelandscape;

• Conservingandcelebratingtheculturalassociationsandactivitiesofthelandscapearea;

• Encouragingmorepeopletoaccess,learnabout,becomeinvolvedinandmakedecisionsontheirlandscapeheritage;

• Improvingunderstandingoflocalcraftandotherskillsbyprovidingtrainingopportunities.

4.5. InthisChapter,theseoutcomesaretakeninturnandanassessmentismadeofwhethertheSchemehassuccessfullyachievedthemandaddressedtheissuesidentifiedwhentheSchemewassetup.Aseriesofchartsshowtheviewsofprojectpartnerswhorespondedtotheonlinesurveyundertakenforthisevaluation.

Attributingprojectsandactivitiestothefouroutcomes

4.6. TheLandscapeStrategypreparedin2008showedhoweachoftheprojectsinPhase1oftheSchemehelpedtodeliverthefouroutcomesandthisprocesswasrepeatedforthePhase2projectsinthebiddocumentpreparedfortheHLFinMay2013.ThisisshownbytheticksinFigure4.1(ticksinbracketsshowingpartialdeliveryofthatoutcome).Thecolouredfillshowstheprimaryoutcome(s)foreachproject,asselectedbythisevaluation.

Figure4.1.MatchingprojectswithHLFoutcomes

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4.7. Figure4.1showsthatalloftheprojectsaimedtoaddressmorethanoneoutcome(manysoughttoaddressthreeandsomefouroutcomes).Variousprojectsoftencontributeddifferentelementstothesamesite-basedinitiativeortoworkundertakenbypartners(forinstancesupporttomoorlandownersandgrazierstookplacethroughseveralprojectsinProgrammes2and3).ThismeantthatthestructureoftheSchemewasrelativelycomplexwithahighlevelofintegration(whichcanberegardedasapositivething)butwithariskofduplicationanddoublecounting(whichisnot).

4.8. AbroaderpatternisevidentfromFigure4.1,suggestingthattheReconnectingPeopleprogrammesoughtparticularlytoaddressthesecondandthirdHLFoutcomeswhereastheReconnectingLivelihoodsprogrammefocussedonthefourthHLFoutcomeandtheReconditioningProgrammefocussedonthefirstHLFoutcome.

Digitalreconstruction,imagining

thestonesettingatLanacombe

(nowopenmoorland)duringthe

lateNeolithic/earlyBronzeage,

preparedfortheScheme

©PeterLorimer

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Conservingorrestoringthebuiltheritageandnaturalfeatures

Theissuesthatneededtobeaddressed

4.10. ThisoutcomeaddressestheconditionofExmoor’smoorlandheritage,coveringboththenaturalheritage(e.g.landscapecharacter,biodiversityandnaturalresources)andarchaeologicalheritage(e.g.buildings,boundaries,man-madelandformsandthehistoriclandscapeasawhole).Itfocussesmainlyonimprovingthephysicalstatusofthisheritagebutalsoincludesresearchandmonitoringinformationsupportingitsconservation.

4.11. ThereweretwomainissuesfacingthisoutcomeatthestartoftheScheme.Firstlymoorlandmanagementwasconstrainedbypoorcommunicationbetweenfarmersandconservationbodiesandbyalackofmanpowerandskills.Andsecondly,protectionofmoorlandarchaeologyandthehistoriclandscapewasconstrainedbylimitedknowledgeofwhatwasthereandbyissuesaffectingmoorlandmanagement.

4.12. ThisoutcomeandtheseissueswereatthecentreofalloffourprojectsintheReconditioningMoorlandsprogrammesandwerealsoaddressedbytheMoorkeepersprojectintheReconnectingLivelihoodsprogrammeandtheCommunityArchaeologyprojectintheReconnectingPeopleprogramme(andotherstoalesserextentasshownbyticksinFigure4.1).

Whatwasachieved

4.13. ThechangestothephysicalconditionofExmoor’smoorlandheritagebroughtaboutbytheSchemearelimited.OverthelargemajorityofthemoorlandareaitwouldbedifficulttoidentifyanyphysicalchangesinthelandscapeorhabitatsthatweretheresultoftheScheme.Thereareseveralreasonsforthis.

• Firstly,theissuesfacingagriculturalmanagementbygrazingandswaling(controlledheatherburning)aredeep-seatedeconomic

issueswhichaSchemelastingfouryearswasneverlikelytobeabletosolve(andwhichtheSchemeneverclaimedtodo).

• Secondly,thedecisiontodropthreelargeprojectsfromtheReconditioningProgrammewhentheSchemewasreviewedin2009/10meantthattheresourcesavailabletotheSchemeinthisareawererelativelysmall(seeFigure4.2).

• Thirdly(andlinkedtothedecisiontodroptheprojectsfromtheScheme),otherlargerandlonger-standingpolicyinterventionssuchasSSSIdesignationsandagri-environmentschemesaremuchmoresignificantinfluencesontheconditionofnaturalheritage.

• Finally,intheperiodbetweenthepreparationoftheLandscapeStrategyin2008andthestartoftheSchemein2011,significantprogresshadbeenmadeinimprovingdialoguewithfarmersonExmoorthroughtheExmoorHillFarmProject(latterlytheHillFarmingNetwork)andtheworkoftheMoorlandInitiativeBoard.Thismeantthatimprovedcommunicationwasalreadytakingplace,leavinglessfortheSchemetodo.

Controllingtrafficduringmoorlandswaling©JasonPBall

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Figure4.2.ImpactoftheSchemeonlandscape-scaleenhancement

Oneofthethreefacetsofthemoorland’sdisconnectionthathadbeenidentifiedbythepreparatoryresearchandwhichformedastrandintheLandscapeStrategywasthephysicalseparationbetweenmanyofthemoorlandblocksandthesharplandscapeandecologicalboundarythatoccurredwheremoorlandabutt

Final Evaluation of the Heart of Exmoor Scheme€¦ · Rural Focus (UK) Ltd. Registered in England...

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