Forestry Commission - News - have your say on facelift for ancient landscape

County people will have until mid-May to have their say on a Ł2 million scheme in the Blackdown Hills.

The Neroche Land Heritage Project (NLHP) is set to bring benefits for hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors.

Its plans contain proposals for improvements in everything from public access and education, to wildlife conservation and marketing local produce.

The initiative covers the northern ridge of the Blackdown Hills, between Taunton, Wellington, Hemyock and Ilminster.

This week a questionnaire is being sent to every home within the project boundaries.

The survey will offer people a chance to give detailed views on all of the proposals contained within the plans.

Organisers hope as many people as possible will return their forms by the closing date of May 24.

They aim to use the survey results to make sure the ideas that go forward for implementation are the ones people feel are the most important.

Work on creating the plans for the NHLP was done with help of cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Forestry Commission and English Nature.

Support also came from other members of the project partnership which includes the Blackdown Hills Rural Partnership (BHRP), Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Butterfly Conservation.

Project officer Steve Minton, said: “The next step will be for us to apply to the lottery again for Ł2 million to begin implementing the proposals.

“But before we do so, we want to be sure that local people support the plans.

“That’s why we are inviting them to fill in our questionnnaire. Their answers will ensure we have our priorities right.”

Mr. Minton said the scheme could transform the landscape by recreating the type of ancient semi-natural woodland that covered the Blackdown Hills in medieval times. Traditional grazing practices and coppice management could also be restored.

He said funding could also be provided to help restore the area’s wealth of historic sites such as the Wellington Monument and Castle Neroche hill fort.

And he added that car parks improvements and the development of new linked walking, cycling and horse-riding routes formed a key part of the plans. The new recreation facilities could help boost tourism and other local businesses.

Anyone wanting more information about the NHLP proposals can ring the Forestry Commission, on 01392 834222.

Copies of the plans are on view at the BHRP’s Hemyock office, Taunton and Wellington public libraries and via parish councils. They can also be downloaded from the BHRP website at www.blackdown-hills.net.

NOTE TO EDITORS
For further information please contact Mr. Steve Minton, NHLP Project Officer, on 01392 834222 or 07760 355009, or Mr. Oliver Lucas, Planning Manager, on 01392 834217.