Case Study - Lee Abbey Permissive Access

The estate manager approached Exmoor National Park FiPL team to look at developing a multi-year project with permissive access paths for the benefit of people as the main focus. The estate were sure the routes would be used both by local visitors and tourists to experience the existing woodland areas on the estate. Some routes were established tracks whilst others were old estate paths which needed to be reopened.

As most of the rates had an equivalent standard payment rate through the Countryside Stewardship scheme, these costs were applied to the grant funding and cost reasonableness was assured. Three quotes are required for all other items to ensure costs are benchmarked.

FiPL were able to provide funding for 2.3 kilometres of permitted bridleway and 0.3 kilometres of permitted footpath, new permissive access gates, clearing of dense vegetation to reveal and old estate path, felling of some Ash trees suffering from Ash die back, restoration of stone walls and production of a leaflet for visitors. The FIPL programme supports projects which deliver outcomes across at least one of four themes, Climate, Nature, People and Place. This project has some Climate and Nature outcomes, but the most benefit of this project is to deliver outcomes among the People and Place themes.

The estate already ensures good management practices within the woodland, and utilise volunteer working parties to control invasive species, as well as surveying and documenting flora and fauna.  The FiPL project extends access beyond Lee Abbey’s residents and guests to the public, in particular, those staying at a nearby campsite (a link path was provided), visitors to Lee Bay as well as walkers on the Southwest Coast Path National Trail. The fingerposts for signage were designed and made in partnership with ENPA Access staff and field services team and installed at appropriate points along the route. Leaflets were designed as educational, with information about the routes as well as information on woodland management. They were freely available from the Exmoor National Park Centre at Lynmouth, and the Lee Abbey tea cottage, and proved very popular. The volunteers at Lee Abbey host regular guided walks and walk and talk events, encouraging visitors to interact with the woodland and giving them a greater understanding of Exmoor’s rich and varied habitats. Restoration of stone walls adds to the landscape character and improves people's enjoyment of their surroundings.

Farming in Protected Landscapes funding has been extended until March 2025, and as such Lee Abbey have applied again for continuation of the existing permitted access, funding to carry out further works and a reprint of the educational leaflet for 2025.