TEACHERS` INFORMATION PACK Moorland at Aclands

TEACHERS’
INFORMATION PACK
Moorland
at
Aclands
1
Contents
Section 1
Pre-visit Information
Pg 3
Section 2
The Countryside Classroom
Pg 7
Section 3
On the Farm
Pg 10
Section 4
The Farm
Pg 14
Section 5
What your Farm has to Offer
Pg 15
Section 6
Fact sheets and appendicies
Pg 17
Contents
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SECTION 1: Pre-Visit Information
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in visiting the moorland at Aclands which is part of our
farm. We hope that the experience will give your pupils inspiration and
information.
The visit allows pupils to see for themselves moorland within a National Park
setting, which is being managed for conservation, recreation and farming. The
experience of visiting a wild moorland area will challenge and enthuse pupils to
better understand the issues of upland farming and management.
This pack will help you to prepare a successful programme tailored to suit the
needs of your group.
NB The experience is completely beyond the enclosed farmland boundaries so
there are no facilities available for visitors. Open moorlands can be hazardous
places to visit and the correct health and safety procedures must be followed.
What is farming?
Farming is the age-old practice of producing crops and livestock for food, fuel
and fibre. The origins of human civilisation are closely linked to the development
of farming when primitive hunter gatherers were gradually replaced by farmers
producing the first domesticated plants and animals.
Modern agriculture is a highly competitive global industry. The UK produces 70%
of the food we eat, the rest coming from other parts of the world. It is the first link
in a sophisticated chain to prepare and process our food before we buy it in the
shops. What a farmer grows depends on individual circumstances such as
location, weather conditions, size of the farm, history of the area and market
forces.
Farming has created the landscape that we see. It is the hedges and walls that
divide fields that give the landscape its pattern, along with areas of trees and the
colours of different crops. By carrying out activities such as cutting hedges and
planting trees, farmers are helping to look after much of the wildlife in the
countryside.
Many farmers also now operate broader enterprises to include leisure activities
and environmental management. Defra provides advice and funding through
agri-environment schemes to encourage farmers to follow farming methods that
enhance the landscape, encourage wildlife, protect resources, archaeological
and historic features and improve opportunities for enjoying the countryside, by
providing access. By conserving our countryside in this way we also play our part
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in the international agreement to maintain the natural diversity of animals and
plants throughout the world.
Farm Information
Contact details:
Farm name: Aclands Allotment
Farm address: Simonsbath, Minehead, Somerset
Contact person: Robin May or Exmoor Mire Restoration Project Officer, David
Smith
Contact address: Exmoor Mire Restoration Project Officer, Exmoor National
Park, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL
Tel no: for Aclands 01271343944
:for Exmoor Mire project Officer 01398 322290
Email: for Aclands: Valerie@may01.demon.co.uk
for Exmoor Mire project Officer: dmsmith@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Website address: http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/mire
Booking a visit:
Please contact David Smith at the Exmoor Mire Restoration Project by
Phone/Email or telephone the farm. Visits are free but you will need to organise
and pay for transport. A confirmation letter if required can be sent once a date
has been agreed.
Cancellation arrangements:
If you are unable to carry out your visit, please let us know as soon as possible
so that we can make alternative arrangements.
Section 1: Pre-Visit Information
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How to get here:
Directions to Moorland meeting site
From Simonsbath take the South Molton Road for 3 miles to Kinsford
Gate. Turn right. After 1 mile, just beyond a shed there is a gate on
the right with a view of 2 Barrows on the horizon to the north.
This is our meeting place.
NB please also refer to the detailed Mire restoration areas on Aclands
map found at the end of this section
Note: The small roads to the area restrict vehicle size to small
coaches and mini-buses
Parking is on the side of the minor road which runs alongside the moorland
(grid Reference SS 726 376 ).
Parties will be met by a representative from the Exmoor Mire Restoration Project
or by someone from Aclands farm where this has been arranged.
Facilities:
The visits are to the open moorland areas. There are no facilities on site. Visiting
parties should make their own arrangements for refreshments and toilets. The
nearest public toilets are in Simonsbath.
The areas of interest on the moorland require the visiting parties to be able to
walk across open fields and moorland to them on rough paths..
Section 1: Pre-Visit Information
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The visit:
A typical visit would be a guided tour of the moorland area targeted to take in the
intact blanket bog areas with hummocks and hollows and the restoration areas.
A tour would cover a distance of upto 2 miles or more across boggy ground
without paths. The visit supervisors (teaching staff) need to ensure that the
students have correct footware (walking boots or wellingtons) and
warm/waterproof clothing
During a visit specific activities can be undertaken (depending upon the time of
year) to enthuse pupils about the moorland environment. These include:
• Pool dipping for invertebrates
• Peat coring to examine the historic nature of the materials
• Plant surveying and identification
• Practical conservation management (with spades).
Visit times can vary in length from a couple of hours for a basic tour to several
hours for a longer tour to a full day (weather permitting) where study activities are
planned. Where a full day is planned lunches should be provided by the tour
organisers. It would also be advisable to plan for wet weather circumstances and
the possibility of activities being cut short. There are no shelter or toilet
facilities on site this should be taken into account.
Accreditation (CEVAS):
See guidance section.
Evaluation Form:
This visit is provided free of charge. In order for us to be able to claim a payment
as part of our Countryside Stewardship/ Environmental Stewardship Agreement
(delete as necessary) we require that you complete an evaluation form which we
will provide. Please take a few moments to complete this form after the visit and
hand it to us before you leave. Additional feedback regarding the visit is also
appreciated. Thank you.
Complaints procedure
If you have any complaints regarding your visit please inform us so that we are
able to improve our service. You may also write to:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rural Development Service
Access Management Unit
Woodthorne
Wolverhampton
West Midlands WV6 8TQ
Section 1: Pre-Visit Information
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Section 2: The Countryside Classroom
The countryside offers an invaluable teaching resource. The visit can be used to
teach all aspects of the curriculum through learning about farming and the
countryside. We hope that this information pack will give you ideas to inspire your
pupils and get the most out of your visit.
Please note that we regularly update this Teachers Information Pack. It would be
greatly appreciated if following your visit you pass to us any lesson plans, activity
ideas or worksheets that have been successfully used on our farm so that they
can be incorporated into our pack if appropriate. Please list any equipment
needed for the activities
Section 2: The Countryside Classroom
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Learning opportunities
Scope of Work
Fruit and Vegetables
Food processing
Retail, e.g. farm shops
Co-operatives Herbs Dairy products Meat
Drinks and beverages Farmers’ markets Speciality products
Sugar
Food production & services
Cereals
Pathways
Pharmaceuticals
Leisure
activities
Retail, e.g. garden
centres
Non-food goods
& services
Access &
leisure
Timber
Cosmetics
Energy crops
Horticulture
Heritage
Tourist services
Visitor attractions
Accommodation
Industrial products
Environmental management
Nature Reserves Woodlands Wildlife conservation
Archaeological conservation
Habitat maintenance & creation
Landscape management
There are many ways in which farming and growing can enrich the curriculum.
Some examples from the Department for Education and Skills Growing Schools
initiative are included above.
Section 2: The Countryside Classroom
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Section 2: The Countryside Classroom
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Links to the National Curriculum
At Key Stage 1 the farm visit can widen the pupils’ first-hand experience in a
whole range of visual, tactile and other sensory situations. Within this are the
important messages of the life cycle and seasonal change. There is a wealth
of opportunity for language development and literacy skills.
At Key Stage 2 the visit can stimulate and excite pupils’ curiosity. It also satisfies
their curiosity as they begin to apply their knowledge and understanding of
ideas. Pupils can consider the farm as a good example of an environment
affected by human activity, think about attitudes to farming, the rural
environment and the conflicts of interest that arise.
They talk about their work and its significance and communicate their ideas
using a wide range of language.
At Key Stage 3 many different subject requirements can be satisfied. For
example in history, the adaptation of farm buildings over the centuries can offer
first-hand evidence of social and technological changes. This readily
promotes the skills of handling and assessing. Pupils can investigate and
debate a wide range of complex issues and begin to understand the
environmental, social and economic implications.
At Key Stage 4 farm visits can be used to deliver examination subjects both
academic and vocational. Contact with farmers will help to focus on the real life
application of skills within the workplace, engaging pupils with contemporary
issues and focusing on their role as users and consumers.
Section 2: The Countryside Classroom
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Section 3: On the Farm
Risk assessment
We recommend a pre-visit to our farm, during which you can carry out a risk
assessment and become familiar with the site. Any specific requirements or
needs of the visiting group can be discussed. A copy of the farm’s risk
assessment is available on request.
Health & safety
We comply with Health and Safety Regulations. However it is important that all
pupils and supervising adults are aware of the correct Health and Safety
guidelines.
The risk of infection is very small, but disease caused by an infection could be
serious. By following simple guidelines, similar to everyday basic hygiene
recommendations, the risk can be easily minimised.
The Health & Safety Executive has produced guidelines, HSE sheet AIS23 –
Avoiding ill health at open farms – Advice to farmers. The supplement to AIS23
advises teachers and others who organise farm visits on controlling the risk of
infection from animals which the pupils may have contact with during their visit.
All animals naturally carry a range of micro-organisms, some of which can be
transmitted to humans, causing ill health. Some, such as the bacterium
Escherichia coli O157 (E coli O157) cause infections which can potentially cause
disease, which may be particularly acute in young pupils.
While the hazard from infection resulting from a farm visit is real, the risk can be
readily controlled by following sensible steps which will help make your visit safe,
healthy and enjoyable.
•
•
read and understand the advice in AIS23, and discuss visit arrangements with
the farm management. Assure yourself that the facilities provided match the
recommendations in AIS23
decide what the ratio of pupils to teachers/assistants/parents should be, using
advice from your local authority. As a general rule, the ratio of supervisors to
pupils should be 1:1 for pupils under 1 year old, 1:2 for pupils between 1 and
2 years old, 1:3 for pupils between 2 and 3 years old, 1:4 for pupils between 3
and 5 years old, and 1:8 for those between 5 and 8 years old. If supervision
levels are less than this, you should not allow direct contact with any animal
for pupils under eight. The ratio of supervisors for pupils between 9 and 11
years old should be 1:10-15, and 1:15-20 for pupils from 12 years old and
Section 3: On the Farm
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•
•
•
above. These are examples only and group leaders should assess the risks
and consider an appropriate safe supervision level for their particular group.
discuss with the supervisors, who may be parents or staff of the school,
creche, etc. their role during the visit. They must understand the need to
make sure that pupils wash, or are helped to wash, their hands thoroughly
after contact with animals, and follow the other rules suggested below.
discuss with pupils the rules for the visit, stressing that they must not eat or
chew outside the areas in which you permit them to do so.
check that cuts, grazes, etc. on pupil’s hands are covered with a waterproof
dressing.
Clothing
Make sure that pupils wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy outdoor shoes
(not sandals) or wellington boots if possible. For Moorland visits a full set of
waterproofs are required as well as waterproof boots. Warm clothing should also
be warn or carried by all individuals in their rucsacs.
Behaviour
Teachers/group leaders are responsible for the pupil’s behaviour throughout the
visit. Pupils’ should understand how to behave on the farm and always follow the
Countryside Code (see overleaf).
During and after the visit, make sure that the pupils:
• do not kiss animals.
• always wash their hands thoroughly before and after eating, after any contact
with animals, and again before leaving the farm.
• eat only food that they have brought with them, or food for human
consumption that they have bought on the farm, in designated areas, and
never eat food which has fallen to the ground, or taste animal foods.
• do not suck fingers or put hands, pens, pencils or crayons, etc. in their
mouths.
• clean or change their footwear before leaving, remembering to wash their
hands after any contact with animal faeces on their footwear.
• allow plenty of time before eating or leaving so that they do not have to rush.
Check that pupils’ stay in their allocated groups during the visit, and that they:
• do not use or pick up tools (e.g. spades and forks) unless permitted to do so
by farm staff
• do not climb on to walls or animal pens, machinery, etc.
• listen carefully, and follow the instructions and information given by the farm
staff
• approach and handle animals quietly and gently
• do not chase, frighten or torment the animals.
Section 3: On the Farm
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You should supervise them during the visit, especially during hand washing, to
make sure that each pupil washes thoroughly. Farm staff may be able to help
with this supervision.
If a member of your group shows signs of illness (e.g. sickness or diarrhoea)
after a visit, advise them or their parent/guardian to visit the doctor and explain
that they have had recent contact with animals.
Further information:
Copies of the AIS23 information sheet and supplement and other useful Health
and Safety leaflets are available free from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury,
Suffolk CO10 2WA
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk
HSE
The Countryside Code:
•
•
•
•
•
Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs
Leave gates and property as you find them
Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
Keep dogs under close control
Consider other people
www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk
Education packs are available from countrysidecode@face-online.org.uk
Section 3: On the Farm
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How to behave on the farm
If you walk with your group leader,
it is safer and will not frighten the
animals.
The animals have a balanced diet so avoid
feeding them, unless asked to.
Climbing on walls, fences or animal
pens can be dangerous.
Eating animal feed could make you
ill.
Do not handle farm equipment or machinery
unless permitted to do so by farm staff
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SECTION 4: The Farm
Aclands Allotment is a 1000Ac (400ha) upland farm (approx 400 metres above
sea level) which was acquired by the May Family in 1919. At that time 95% of it
was moorland. During our tenure we have built a house and farm buildings, put
up a hedge around the front meadow by hand and ploughed, fertilised, reseeded
and agriculturally improved another 200 of the 1000 acres. The majority of the
improvements were completed during and just after the 2nd World War, with
grants from the Ministry of Food and subsequently the MAFF.
Winter moorland on Aclands. A shallow drainage ditch runs down the middle of
the picture. The main grass growing here is Purple moor grass (Molinia caerula)
known locally as sedge grass.
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1945 airphoto of the moorland at Aclands showing the ditches mapped for
the ongoing mire restoration work
During the late 1970 the Exmoor National Park and other environmental bodies
became concerned about the rapid conversion of moorland to pasture. As a
result Central Government commissioned the Porchester Report. The conclusion
of the report recommended that moorland owners should be offered
Management Agreements by the National Park to prevent the loss of further
Moorland to the plough. We entered such a scheme in the early 1980’s, one of
the first farmers to do so. From the Management agreement we entered the
Exmoor Environmental Sensitive Area scheme (ESA) in 1999. In 2009 we
applied to be included in the New Higher Level Environmental Stewardship
scheme (HLS) which is now replacing the ESA across Exmoor and the farm was
accepted into the Scheme on account of its biodiversity, archaeological and
landscape value.
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© Geoinformation 2008 air photo of Aclands. This photograph has the Mire
restoration areas superimposed on top of it. The ditch blocks are indicated by
blue stars. The ditches not yet blocked on Ricksy Ball have no stars on them.
The photo also shows pasture as bright green. Compare this map to the 1945
one above to see the areas of moorland which existed in 1945 which are now
grassland (particularly in the top/north of the picture).
Farm Enterprises on Aclands
The upland environment limits the kind of farming possible in the hills, it is not
suitable for the many types of agriculture possible in the lowlands. Primarily hill
farmers keep stock such as sheep and cows in the hills in summer which are
moved to the lower ground (often into sheds) in the winter.
We now keep a flock of 500 hill ewes and a herd of 40 suckler cows. This is the
lowest stocking level we have had and reflects the constraints that have been put
on the farm from environmental considerations TB and changes in Government
support.
We are changing the breed that we keep from a crossbred herd which requires a
better quality of pasture to a pure ruby red Devon. This is the breed that was kept
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on Aclands before the grazing was improved when we changed to more
productive cross bred cows but they are less hardy. We are hoping that the
Devons will thrive on Aclands again and help to manage the reversion of the
pasture to a moorland habitat.
Devon cow & calf
cross bred cow &
charolais calf
The high winter rainfall winds and low temperatures mean that the cattle have to
be housed during the winter. We make hay and silage on another farm to bring to
Aclands for some of the cattle and sheep over the winter. A cow will eat about 10
bales of silage each winter. The rest of the cows are wintered on other farms.
The calves which are born in the spring are weaned at housing in November. The
best calves are sold at Cutcombe market which is well renowned for its Autumn
cattle sales, the rest are housed. The best of the heifer calves are used as
replacements for the breeding herd and the remainder
A Scotch ewe and lamb
of the steers and heifers are improved and sold the
following year.
The Scottish blackface ewes are very hardy and spend
all their time on the hill although they have some
supplementary hay and concentrates in the winter.
The lambs are born in April and grow well on the
moorland pastures during the summer. We can begin
to sell lambs for slaughter during July, by weaning time in August we will have
sold half of our wether lambs. The ewe lambs are kept either to be sold as flock
replacements to other farmers at the breeding ewe sales at Blackmoor Gate
Market or kept as replacements for ourselves. The remaining wether lambs and
our replacement ewe lambs are taken off Aclands in October and wintered on
better pasture to allow them to grow to their genetic potential, and not be limited
by the environment.
We have three SSSI’s on Aclands one on the river Barle which runs along the
northern boundary. One in the centre of the farm, which includes the peat moor,
and one that includes the tumuli.
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Aclands historic environment summary and photos/maps
In order to fully appreciate why the peat moorlands at Aclands are so important it is
necessary to understand when and why the peat formed, the history of the landscape
and the archaeology of the area.
Exmoor’s uplands contain some of the best preserved Prehistoric archaeology in the
South West of England. The marginal nature of the landscape, the high rainfall, the
harsh climate and the high altitude has meant that the upland areas, like Aclands, have
never been intensively settled and farmed. This was as true in the Prehistoric Period as
it is today. The result is layers of prehistoric and historic archaeology on the moorlands
being preserved; the quality of the archaeology is such that many of the sites on and
around Aclands have been declared Scheduled Ancient Monuments. (Scheduled
Ancient Monuments is a legal designation that reflects the national importance of the
monument).
The first evidence of human activity on Exmoor is in the Late Mesolithic period (8,0004000BC) when small groups of hunter gatherers roamed the area. Most of Exmoor was
wooded and sea levels were lower than today by about 2 metres. The small Mesolithic
communities of Exmoor would have spent most of the year down on the abundant salt
marsh that is now the Bristol Estuary and during the warmer months they would have
moved to the wooded upland. They deliberately created clear areas in the woodland to
encourage grazing by wild animals and these became hunting glades. This activity in
combination with a cooling climate caused a decline in the woodland cover and this
resulted in the emergency of blanket bog on the highest parts of Exmoor by 4000BC.
The Neolithic Period (4,000-2000BC) marks the transition from hunter-gatherers to
settled agricultural production which would have involved woodland clearance and
management, domesticated animals and the means of cultivate plants. It is also at
around this time that the first stone ritual monuments appear in the Exmoor landscape
such as White Ladder Stone Row which is ss730373 east of the Aclands area. Blanket
bog continued to form across the uplands and the peat at North Twitchen has been
dated as forming at this time.
In the Bronze Age (2,000-700BC) the most striking prehistoric monuments in the Exmoor
landscape were erected. Bronze Age Burial Mounds are visible across the tops of almost
all of Exmoor’s ridges, the mounds are known as either a barrow or a cairn. Groups of
barrows and cairns represent burial grounds. Typically a barrow is an earth and stone
construction and tends to be larger than the smaller cairn which is a purely stone
structure. A burial mound would have contained a central inhumation or cremation at
ground level and then the mound would have been constructed. The Setta Barrow
Group, the barrows at North Twitchen and Five Barrow Group are amongst the most
impressive barrows on Exmoor. Barrows vary in forms, with bowl barrows and ring
barrows common on Exmoor. Often barrows have kerbs and the Setta Barrow is a good
example of the kerbed barrow with a surrounding ditch.
Ritual monuments dominate the prehistoric archaeological record in the area of Aclands
and there is little or no evidence of the occupants of the land that created these burial
grounds and standing stones. As with today settlements tended to be down slope and in
more sheltered position where agricultural activity was viable so it is likely that
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subsequent activity has masked the Bronze Age settlement or that the sites have been
submerged in the blanket bog which formed across the area. To the north-east of the
site at Wester Emmetts there are the remains of a prehistoric settlement in the form of a
circular enclosure.
To the west of Aclands is Shoulsbarrow Castle. Shoulsbarrow is an Iron Age (700BC43AD) Hillfort, within the fort there is a Bronze Age barrow which suggests a continuity of
use through the later prehistoric period. Again climate decline is the cause of social
upheaval in the Iron Age period. It is around this time that the inhabitants of Exmoor
‘enclose’ their settlements and Hillfort and hillslope enclosures are built which represent
a desire for security. On Exmoor these are not great defensive structures like Maiden
Castle but rather secure places for storing goods and stock. The Palaeo-environmental
records (which is the evidence of past land use that is contained with in the peat) shows
large scale deforestation, wood was a valuable resource and the cooler climate meant a
decline in the woodland cover and again resulted in the formation of blanket bog across
lower upland sites on Exmoor.
Traditionally the period known as ‘Roman’ elsewhere is termed Romano-British (43410AD) on Exmoor as the Roman invasion made little impact on the inhabitants of
Exmoor. In the Aclands area the Roman occupation would have been noticeable with
the large scale Iron smelting site at Sherracombe to the south and the extraction of Iron
Ore to the north at Roman Lode. The huge scar that resulted from mineral extraction at
Roman Lode is clearly visible from all of Aclands. Recent research has shown that
Roman Lode was being worked in Bronze Age period as well.
The Dumnonii tribe which ruled most of the South West prior to the Roman Invasion
remerged as the political power when the Romans withdrew and provided continuity in
ruling class across the area until the early 7th century. The Saxons took control of the
south west by 670, by the 9th century Aclands was part of Royal Forrest. Setta Barrow,
being a prominent land mark, became a marker of the boundary of the forest. This
boundary later became the county boundary and the wall that now crosses the barrow
was probably built by H A Bryant in the 1800s, whose allotment adjoined the Barrow and
Forest Boundary. The area remained under Royal control, except for the period of the
commonwealth, until the 1800’s. As a result there is no medieval archaeology on
Aclands.
The Knight family purchased the Royal Forest in 1820. John Knight attempted an
ambitious landscape scale reclamation of Exmoor’s moorland. He was only partially
successful but the landscape of Exmoor parish is almost completely due to his
endeavours. He built roads, created Simonsbath, drained moorland and planted miles of
beech hedges. His son Frederic continued the reclamation and built a number of farms.
Emmetts Grange, which is to the east of Aclands, was the showcase for the Knight farms
and moorland improvement.
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Setta Barrow
Setta Barrow kerb
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Upland Mire Restoration on Aclands
The tough upland environment and the SSSI designations combine to limit the
options for our farming enterprises making a diversification into restoring the
formerly drained mires on the moorlands and attractive proposition. Restoration
brings 3 clear environmental benefits; the storing and controlling water flow into
the upland rivers, the storage of carbon on the moors in the form of peat and the
recreation of a bio-diverse mire environment. In addition there are also
agricultural benefits such as the provision of drinking water for stock in the pools
created on the moors. Refer to appendix 1. The Exmoor Mire Restoration Project
in order to understand more about the benefits of Mire Restoration.
The moorlands at Aclands became one of the first privately owned moorland
areas on Exmoor to have some of their drainage ditches blocked up in Autumn
2007. The farm owners in cooperation with Natural England who have a role in
the management of SSSI areas for nature conservation invited the Exmoor Mire
Restoration project to carry out the ditch blocking work. Refer to Appendix 2. Mire
restoration work on Aclands for more details.
We have always known this first mire area that we restored as ‘Ducky Pool,’
which seems an apt name. It is 1540ft above sea level and has 100 inches of rain
each year. The name used for this area by Natural England and the Exmoor Mire
Restoration Project has been Squallacombe, which is taken from the Ordnance
Survey map of the area. This actually refers to the small valley next to the moor
but it is a useful name to use.
The high rainfall and low temperature conditions are ideal for mire development
and peat accumulation. See Appendix 3 What is a mire? To understand how
these interesting areas form. This makes the site ideal to see how effective the
mire restoration work is at preventing water from flowing off the moor too quickly.
A full programme of monitoring work is being developed on the moors in order to
record the success of the ditch blocking work. This includes recording the plant
species present and any changes which may be taking place in permanent
quadrat transects and it is proposed to put flow meters into the stream to
measure the difference our work has to the flow of the stream. Measurements will
also be taken to show the speed of the growth of sphagnum moss and its effect
at locking up carbon. See Appendix 4. mire restoration monitoring work at
Aclands .
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Section 5: What Aclands has to offer
Aclands offers a unique look into the habitation of uplands and agricultural
practice over thousands of years. The earliest reminders of this past is the sight
of burial tumuli and standing stones which show evidence of habitation by
humans from before the Bronze age.
We can see the stone wall remnants of the steading and enclosures from a time
when farmers brought their stock to Exmoor for summer grazing to return to the
lowlands for winter.
The moorlands have along history of improvement for agriculture and drainage
ditches that date back to the mid 19th century can be seen (blocking these is the
next phase of the mire project).
There are examples of improved moorland pasture from the 20th century and
modern hill farming practices can be seen.
The last phase in this ever changing history is the extensification on reversion to
a method of farming more in tune with nature which has taken place since the
farm went into moorland conservation schemes in the late 1980’s. Examples can
be seen of ploughed moorland which is that is being reverted from grass land
back to sedge and heather moorland by various methods.
The most interesting part of this work for nature conservation is the re-wetting of
some late 20th century drainage by The Exmoor mire Restoration Project and its
reversion from drained moor to blanket bog. This is an example from the 21st
century of the recreation of conditions for the re-growth of sphagnum moss and a
creation once more of a true mire.
During a visit specific activities can be undertaken (depending upon the time of
year) to enthuse pupils about the moorland environment and to help them learn
about the mire restoration work. These can include: (details for each can be
provided upon application)
Pool dipping for invertebrates
Plant surveying techniques and identification skills (see Appendix 5 for the lists of
species and habitats found on the moors).
Peat coring to examine the depth of peat and the historic nature of the materials
Practical conservation management (with hand tools).
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The Moor to Sea Project - Reconnecting People with their Moorland
Heritage
This planned HLF landscape project seeks to link the people who live in and
around the moorlands and specifically along the river Exe back to the river and
landscape. If the funding bid is successful the project aims to start in 2010. The
project will work with community groups and schools to highlight the role and
importance of the moorlands and the restoration project.
•
•
•
Outreach work to inform local schools of the value of the moorlands and
the major restoration projects underway
Outreach work to inform local residents or the value of the moorlands and
the major restoration projects underway
Close liaison with the Mire Restoration Project to develop information and
material, the Moorland Classroom outreach work and the Reaching Out
project
The moorlands at Aclands and the associated information gathered in this pack
represents a significant resource base for the Moor- to- Sea project. Those
wishing to visit the Moorland for educational purposes should be able to contact
the Moor-to-Sea Project Officer to support their visit.
16
Appendix 1. Exmoor Mire Restoration Project Fact Sheet
The Exmoor Mire
Restoration Project
http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/mire
Briefing note on progress – Jan 2010
The Exmoor Mire Restoration Project is working to re-wet dry and damaged
peatlands in the uplands of Exmoor. The 4 year partnership project started work
in 2006 and is managed by Project Officer Dr. David Smith with overall control via
the Partnership Steering Group.
Progress- The project is now past its 3.5 year mark and the continuing
restoration has addressed moorland drainage at 17 locations within 11 moorland
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering over 1100 ha. This includes
Exmoor National Park Authority and privately owned moorlands. Nearly 50 km of
ditches have been blocked with 12,000 bales and 4,300 dams. As a result 326
hectares of damaged mire has been re-wetted. The restoration costs of £164,000
so far have been met from the Project budget and Natural England’s Agrienvironment schemes. The latest restoration sites completed in October 2000
were on moorland at Aclands (Squallacombe and Great Vintcombe).
The need for action - Climate change is likely to increase the drying out of
peatlands in the South West region resulting in:
• loss of SSSI wetland habitat and associated BAP species
• degradation of the peat and loss of carbon into the atmosphere
• drying out of archaeology and palaeo-ecology on the moors
• damage to moorland river hydrology and ecology with associated
problems of erosion, drying out in summer, flooding and loss of key
species and diversity.
What the project does –
• keeps rainwater on the moors for longer
• helps to keep rivers in good quality
• keeps local contractors busy with work
• provides summer drinking water for stock on the moors
• reduces the risk of devastating wildfires on the moors
What the project does not do –
• increase the risk of flooding down stream - The dams built all small and
many and they may actually reduce the risk of flooding by storing water on
the moors.
17
•
•
make the moors to wet to walk or ride on -The restoration work can
actually make pathways dryer by diverting water away from them.
make the moors too wet for stock and ungrazable - The restoration work
can help to diversify moorlands and provide better grazing.
Award winning- The projects achievement in helping to devise a new way of
reducing flooding has been recognised nationally by the Water Industry in a
prestigious award for the best “Sustainable Urban Drainage & Flood
Management Initiative of the Year -2009”.
The Future - A successful South West moorlands partnership funding bid was
made in 2009 by South West Water to the Water Regulator (OFWAT). Dartmoor
and Exmoor National Parks will now share £3.8m of mire restoration funding over
the next 5 years starting in April.
18
Appendix 2. Mire Restoration work on Aclands
The ditches on this moor are of three kinds:
1. closely spaced linear features, thought to be upto100 years old.
2. deeper more irregular and more recent (post 1945) features.
3. irregular shallow ditches associated with former fuel peat cuttings
The layers of different patterns indicates several attempts were made to drain
this moorland. The straight line patterns suggest mechanised digging rather than
hand labour. It is thought likely that the main attempt at drainage was during the
early part of the 20th century, most probably before the land was acquired in
1919 by the Mays.
The parallel linear ditch features show up well on air photographs and they can
be clearly seen on the 1945 black and white series (Fig 2). Generally the ditches
are 50cm wide by 50 cm deep. The peat in this area varies from 30 cm to over
1m, so the ditches may or may not be down to the underlying loose (glacial
derived) subsoil, depending upon the peat depth. Many have blocked themselves
over time or ceased to function as drainage ditches but those that remain in
operation are actively draining the blanket bog areas. Field observations show
that these are carrying large volumes of water and on steeper slopes this results
in gully erosion.
The post 1945 ditches are much larger, over a metre wide and deep and they are
concentrated around the Ducky pond (Squallacombe) area. These ditches were
dug in the early 1970’s by contractors, with the intention of making the ground
dryer for grazing animals. The 1946 air photos for this area (below) show that
before the ditches were dug there was a natural hummock and hollow (pool)
system characteristic of intact blanket Mire (open water shows up as a black).
© RAF 1946
© Geoinformation 2003
Squallacombe in 1946 and in 2003- note the new ditches in the pool area
The Restoration aim is to block up all the functioning active ditches in order to
increase the water table in the surrounding moorlands. Works are focused on the
19
areas where the ditches were observed to be most functional during the field
investigations carried out in 2006 and spring and summer 2008. When
completed the restoration work will have blocked up over 30km of ditches
and re-wetted approximately 150ha of dry degraded Molinia dominated
moorland.
The Squallacombe (Ducky pond) area was restored in Autumn 2007. Two and a
half km of deep ditch was blocked with wood, peat and bale dams. The end result
is a spectacular wetland recreation area with lots of pools back in the landscape.
During restoration in Autumn 2007
After restoration in spring 2008
20
A second phase of blocking was carried out in Autumn 2009 on the
Squallacombe and Great Vintcombe areas. The work here was on small parallel
ditches and former peat cuttings.
Wooden ditch block photographed after installation on Great Vintcombe –
Nov 2009
A final area Ricksy Ball remains to be done. This is being left for the moment as it
is a potentially good site for a hydrological monitoring station. This station will be
used to monitor the effects of ditch blocking on water quality and flows.
21
Appendix 3 What is a mire?
Mires are peat accumulating habitats - such as Blanket bogs, Valley bogs and
Fens. All of which occur in the Exmoor National Park. Blanket bog is the
commonest mire type on Exmoor but it is a globally scarce habitat with a unique
association of plants and animals; 20% of the total world Blanket bog area occurs
in the UK. On Exmoor Blanket bog and peat covers the central moorland but it
has been dried out by centuries of moorland reclamation, agricultural drainage
and domestic peat-cutting. As a result it has lost many of the interesting plants,
animals and birds and become dominated by moorland grasses.
What is peat and when is a mire a bog?
In summary the commonly used definitions are as follows.
• Peat (organic soils) are distinguished from non organic soils as those with
more than 65% organic matter.
• Depth of peat is used to distinguish mires from non mire areas by
organisations such English Nature with peat in excess of 50cm used to
define bogs and blanket peat.
• Saturation can also be a defining characteristic and histic (peat) horizons
are those saturated with water for at least one month in most years
Bogs are defined as ombrotrophic (receiving nutrients only from the rain)
peatlands, so they are acid and nutrient poor, and if they have not been damaged
they have the relevant NVC Mire vegetation types (M17, M18 etc). Damaged
bogs can have a whole range of vegetation types on degenerating peat from
improved grassland and arable crops to acid grassland and heathland
communities.
The separation of blanket bogs from lowland bogs and raised bogs is generally
done on elevation but in the west of the British Isles blanket peat can be found
right down to the coast as a result of the western climatic conditions. Bog
structure or morphology is not reliable as many forms overlap, raised bogs are
commonly found in the uplands as lenses of deep peat in wider blanket peatland
landscapes for example.
22
Appendix 4. Mire restoration monitoring work at Aclands
At all restoration sites baseline vegetation monitoring transects have been set up by the
Project Officer with assistance from ENPA work experience trainees, students and other
volunteers. The survey methods used were established in 1988 by Somerset
Environmental Records Centre (SERC) at the pilot study sites. As the sites have been
restored follow up surveys have been carried out (+1 and 2 years).
Base line Vegetation transect Surveying at Squallacombe
Initial analysis and National Vegetation Classification (NVC) of the data has been carried
out, principally looking for change. The conclusions drawn from these comparisons are
that there is an increase in species numbers following the restoration works. Further
analysis of the species shows that there is a trend of rejuvenating change from drier
acid-mire communities dominated by Purple moor grass (with some remnant heath and
bog indicator species) to wetter, flushed communities with more minerotrophic species.
The community NVC classifications are also starting to reflect this change. The
Squallacombe restored area has changed from M25 (pre restoration) to M3/M17.
Summarised base line and monitoring transect data by NVC classes
Site
10.
Squallacombe
Restoration site
11.
Squallacombe
Intact bog
(control site)
21. Ricksy Ball
(Aclands)
damaged site
Base line (NVC)
Surveyed 1998
(and species
number)
Base line (NVC)
Surveyed 2006/2007
(and species
number)
M25:Molinia caerulea
- Potentilla erecta bog
Erica tetralix sub
community or M15
Trichophorum
cespitosum – Erica
tetralix Wet heath
(37)
M18 Erica tetralix –
Sphagnum papillosum
Blanket mire
(29)
Monitoring or base
line survey 2008
(and species
number)
Monitoring or base
line survey 2009
(and species
number)
M3/ M17 (38)
Species
Change
2006present
+1
Done Aug 09
M25 (13)
On Aclands there have also been baseline surveys of Invertebrates, Reptiles and
Amphibians (results available in 2010).
23
Appendix 5 Vegetation species and habitat lists
Name: Squallacombe Prior Restoration 2007
Abundance
(Domin range)
Latin Name
Common Name
Frequency
MIN
-
MAX
Molinia caerulea
Purple Moor Grass
5
0
-
4
Calluna vulgaris
Potentilla erecta
Vaccinium myrtillus
Eriophorum angustifolium
Eriophorum vaginatum
Deschampsia flexuosa
Hypnum cupressiforme
Ling
Tormentil
Whortleberry
Bog Cotton-grass
Hare's tail
Wavy-hair grass
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Erica tetralix
Cross-leaved Heath
4
0
-
4
Narthecium ossifragum
Sphagnum palustre
Sphagnum subnitens
Bog Asphodel
3
3
3
0
0
0
-
4
4
4
empetrum nigrum
Trichophorum cespitosum
Juncus squarrosus
Rhytidiadelphus loreus
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus
Sphagnum capillifolium
Aulacomnium palustre
Crowberry
Deer Grass
Heath Rush
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Galium saxatile
Festuca ovina
Hylocomium splendens
Polytrichum commune
Polytrichum strictum (alpestre)
Sphagnum papillosum
Sphagnum fallax
Campylopus sp.
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Drosera rotundifolia
Agrostis sp.
Juncus bulbosus
Juncus effusus
Luzula multiflora
Dicranium scoparium
Polygala serpyllifolia
Stellaria sp.
Heath Bedstraw
Sheep's Fescue
Milkwort
Chickweed
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
Species Richness
36
Sundew
Bent grass
Bulbous Rush
Soft Rush
Heath Woodrush
Habitat summary for the un-restored area is M25: Molinia caerulea - Potentilla
erecta bog Erica tetralix sub community
The Erica sub-community shows a distinct shift in the associated flora towards Erica
tetralix wet heath. The Erica brings a modest variation to the vascular canopy. Juncus
24
acutiflorus is not present although it can be common or locally abundant; it is often
rivalled in frequency by E. angustifolium, which is constant on site. The striking
appearance of Narthecium (common on site), Drosera rotundifolia (scarce on site) and
Vaccinium oxycoccos (absent) are occasionally present. The Erica sub community is
found in flushes with more markedly base-poor waters, of pH well below 4.
Where permanent waterlogging occurs and the deeper peats accumulate, M25 is typically
replaced by the Narthecio - Sphagnetum bog. The Erica sub community can form a
gradual transition and Molinia itself persists with a high frequency into the bog, until it
becomes non tussocky and grows ever more weakly in the stagnant conditions. The
Sphagnum cover, dotted with abundant Narthecium and Drosera rotundifolia extends to
form a luxuriant carpet.
Squallacombe Intact Bog MINUS POOLS 2007
Latin name
Molinia caerulea
Calluna vulgaris
Erica tetralix
Vaccinium myrtillus
Eriophorum vaginatum
Hypnum cupressiforme
Sphagnum capillifolium
Deschampsia flexuosa
Eriophorum angustifolium
Aulacomnium palustre
Sphagnum palustre
Drosera rotundifolia
Empetrum nigrum
Narthecium ossifragum
Polytrichum commune
Rhytidiadelphus laurus
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Sphagnum papillosum
Sphagnum fallax
Vaccinium oxycoccus
Trichophorum cespitosum
Polygala serpyllifolia
Potentilla erecta
Juncus effusus
Agrostis sp.
Festuca ovina
Dicranella heteromalla
Sphagnum subnitens
Species Richness
Frequency
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Abundance (Domin range)
MIN
MAX
2
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
3
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
3
0
3
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
28
25
It would seem that the M19 community is present in mosaics across the linear transect
amongst other patches of M2 sub community S. recurvum (fallax) (the bog pools) and
M18 communities (discussed below).
M19 Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire Erica tetralix sub
community
This type of Calluna-Eriophorum mire shows a number of floristic features transitional to
more oceanic ombrogenous bogs. For example E. vaginatum is co-dominant with the sub
shrubs though it is generally less abundant and less prominent structurally than it is in the
other sub communities. Calluna predominates, with some E. nigrum and little V.
myrtillus. Erica tetralix is strongly preferential and sometimes of moderately high cover.
S. capillifolium is quite commonly accompanied by S. papillosum, and sometimes by S.
tenellum, S, subnitens and S. compactum. Other stands can have an abundance of S.
recurvum (fallax) and S. palustre in fairly extensive lawns.
The Calluna - Eriophorum mire is the typical blanket bog vegetation of high-altitude
ombrogenous peats that have accumulated in the wet and cold climate of the uplands of
Northern Britain (and Exmoor).
There should be a very poor representation of Molinia in this community however it is
the most dominant and abundant species present on site.
M18 Erica tetralix - Sphagnum papillosum mire Sphagnum magellanicum Andromeda polifolia sub community
There are two sub communities to the Erica tetralix mire and they are sometimes found
closely juxtaposed in mosaics over hummock/hollow relief on raised bogs, but this is
often rather ill defined, when it is difficult to discern vegetation boundaries. In the wetter
hollows, the Sphagnum-Andromeda sub-community grades to the Sphagnum
cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool, where Andromeda and V. oxycoccos may remain quite
common, but where S. recurvum or S. cuspidatum becomes overwhelmingly abundant.
This community does require Molinia to be occasional and E. vaginatum to be more
limited in cover. This is not the case at the site, however all other vegetation communities
at the site fit the description of the M18 community. It could be that there is a transition at
present at the site from one community to the other, due to a reduction of more probably
an increase in Molinia.
26
Squallacombe Bog Intact Pool 2007
Species latin
Molinia caerulea
Juncus bulbosus
Sphagnum palustre
Sphagnum fallax
Calluna vulgaris
Eriophorum angustifolium
Polytrichum commune
Sphagnum capillifolium
Drosera rotundifolia
Sphagnum cuspidatum
Vaccinium oxycoccus
Erica tetralix
Juncus effusus
Agrostis sp.
Aulacomnium palustre
Sphagnum papillosum
Empetrum nigrum
Vaccinium myrtillus
Hypnum cupressiforme
Rhytidiadelphus laurus
Sphagnum subnitens
Deschampsia flexuosa
Species Richness
Frequency
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Abundance (Domin range)
MIN
MAX
1
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
4
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
1
22
M2 Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community Sphagnum recurvum subcommunity.
Spagnum recurvum is often more abundant than S. cuspidatum (absent). Rhynchospora is
typically absent (it is) and Andromeda very much reduced (absent) but E. angustifolim, E.
tetralix, and Drosera rotundifolia maintain their high frequency and V. oxycoccos
appears as a good preferential.
27