Natural England - Blackdown Hills ESA
Blackdown Hills ESA
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants and has been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Some existing agreements will, however, continue until 2014.
The Blackdown Hills ESA extends over 39,270 hs and lies mainly within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 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
There were three main management options available within the Blackdown Hills ESA:
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.
Contact
Natural England's Devon office
