Great news for nature and people on Exmoor!

Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) is delighted to announce that it has been awarded around £1.25 million to fund its ‘Exmoor Pioneers’ Project, supporting both nature and the local community

Exmoor Pioneers is centred on the area of the former royal forest in the heart of Exmoor. The funding is to be spent over 4 years on skills development and engaging people with the landscape, as well as nature and heritage projects.

Funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has made Exmoor Pioneers possible, following a generous legacy to ‘CareMoor for Exmoor’ and support from BMW via National Parks Partnerships.

This will help develop the Exford tree nursery, Exmoor’s temperate rainforest, internships for young people working with local businesses as well as the Young Rangers programme.

Rob Wilson North, Head of Access, Engagement & Estates at Exmoor National Park said:

“We are passionate about Exmoor Pioneers because it focuses on the much-loved heart of Exmoor National Park. Here, in the wild landscape around the headwaters of the river Exe, we will spend the next four years enriching nature, looking after its fragile heritage and nurturing the skills that are desperately needed to sustain this beautiful place. We will be able to progress our plans to develop our tree nursery and work with families and volunteers to create a new temperate rainforest. We are so grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund have agreed to fund Exmoor Pioneers, which has also been made possible with a generous legacy from the late Cynthia Hadley to ‘CareMoor for Exmoor’ and from BMW.”

Stuart McLeod, Director England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“Landscapes and nature form the bedrock of our culture and heritage, improving wellbeing, sparking curiosity, and protecting and providing for the community’s surrounding and inhabiting them. National Lottery players have highlighted natural heritage as especially important, which is why we are pleased to award this grant to Exmoor National Park Authority. Our funding will allow them to lead the way on nature recovery, as well as nurture the skills that are needed to sustain this important landscape.”

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

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