Priorities for Target 9 

• Capitalise on opportunities to secure physical works to improve accessibility, such as accessible trails, parking and facilities. 
• Ensure that projects have opportunities for volunteering and engagement with schools built in. 
• The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership to take positive action to increase diversity within the management group and the voices reflected in decision making. 
• Promote activities, including organised activities, which support the physical, mental and social health of residents and visitors. 

A landscape for all 

PE1 Seek to inspire and foster connection with the Blackdown Hills through provision of a range of sensitive and sustainable opportunities for volunteering and active engagement with the countryside, wildlife and heritage of the Blackdown Hills that are available and accessible to all, working to ensure that everyone feels welcome to explore and enjoy the area. 

Access and recreation 

PE2 Take a coordinated, strategic approach to the management of public rights of way and publicly accessible land to achieve an accessible, well-connected network that conserves and enhances the special qualities of the National Landscape, improves access and connectivity with surrounding areas, avoids impact on sensitive sites and minimises conflict between different interests. 

PE3 Opportunities to use the natural and historic environment resource of the Blackdown Hills to benefit the health and well-being of residents and visitors which are compatible with conserving and enhancing natural beauty will be sought and promoted, particularly where this will enhance landscape, biodiversity, heritage and access. 

Local economy and communities 

PE4 Local communities will be supported to identify, plan, and provide for their own needs, in undertaking activities to encourage sustainable lifestyles, reinforce and celebrate local cultural traditions, and engagement in cultural and natural heritage initiatives. Support initiatives that help to provide, retain or enhance community facilities and services where they are compatible with conserving and enhancing natural beauty. 

PE5 Support the principle of local markets and sustainable local products where it adds value to the local economy without compromising the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty and the special qualities of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape. 

PE6 Economic capacity, employment and skills in the area will be supported through training opportunities, community enterprise, business networking and cooperation especially where these assist businesses to conserve or enhance the special qualities of the National Landscape and contribute to employment and prosperity. 

PE7 Tourism and recreation provision will be supported where it contributes to the local economy without harm or detriment to the Blackdown Hills landscape, historic environment, biodiversity or tranquillity, and respecting special qualities. 

PE8 Support efforts to secure and improve fast and reliable broadband and mobile phone coverage without adversely affecting special qualities. 

Transport 

PE9 Traffic management measures will be supported which reduce the impact of large and heavy vehicles on the most minor roads and help to provide a safer environment for walking, cycling and horse riding, where this is compatible with conserving and enhancing natural beauty. 

PE10 Promote the development of high quality, integrated and sustainable transport services and initiatives in and around the Blackdown Hills where they can be achieved without compromising the conservation of natural beauty and local character. 

5.7.1 A landscape for all 

The Landscapes (Glover) Review published in 2019 included proposals to increase the inclusivity and diversity of all the work of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (and National Parks), from governance through to engagement and delivery. It noted that they want our nation’s most cherished landscapes to fulfil their original mission for people, providing unrivalled opportunities for enjoyment, spiritual refreshment and in turn supporting the nation’s health and wellbeing. Proposals included a stronger mission to connect all people with our national landscapes; new long-term programmes to increase the ethnic diversity of visitors; and landscapes that cater for and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. 

We are deeply connected to the natural world, and it is now well understood that exposure to nature and natural environments, especially those of good quality, provides many benefits to both physical and mental health to all – at every age, socio-economic status, gender and ethnicity. Meanwhile, a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the natural world affects our connection to it and how we interact with it. Understanding how the rural environment is managed increases environmental awareness and supports appreciation of countryside. 

We are fortunate to have several organisations, groups and social enterprises throughout the Blackdown Hills who are passionate about making those connections and supporting people to engage with nature to benefit their health and wellbeing, such as the well-established Neroche Woodlanders. The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership has experience of partnership projects with other Somerset protected landscapes and Somerset Wildlife Trust over many years supporting individuals and groups to understand and enjoy the benefits nature connection can have for their physical and mental health. 

People’s opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Blackdown Hills relies on fair access – for example, to experience the tranquillity of woodlands, to be able to afford to live, farm or work land, or to use the extensive network of public rights of way. However, for a variety of reasons not everyone has equitable access to the natural environment. Barriers are varied and often multi-faceted and may include disabilities which prevent access or limit interpretation and enjoyment; lack of transport, supporting facilities and infrastructure; societal ones such as lack of information, experience or confidence to explore the countryside; and financial barriers. 

Being in a position of privilege, because of age, gender, ability, or access, can make it hard to see how it for those who are not, partly because of the structures and systems that privilege gives us access to. 

Improving equity, inclusivity and diversity of access for people to enjoy the natural and historic environment of the Blackdown Hills is a key driver for this plan and we need to find innovative local solutions and collaborative partnerships to facilitate and support more people, especially those who would benefit most, to explore and enjoy the area. 

One of the key issues identified locally is a limited understanding of who lives in the Blackdown Hills and the surrounding towns. Without this understanding, it isn’t possible to understand who the National Landscape is serving and who is under-served.   

Some research for the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership in 2021 relating to earlier socio-economic data (based on 2011 Census data) offered a population insight that forms a useful baseline and starts to highlight some key issues: 

• Generally, there is high proportion of over 65s in the area. The parishes with the highest proportion of people over 65 were Chardstock, Combe St Nicholas, Membury, Dalwood, Kilmington, Combe Raleigh and Shute (35% to 40%). The parishes with the highest proportion of young people were Monkton, Sheldon, Uffculme, Hemyock, Kentisbeare and Clayhidon (20% to 22%). 
• Disability and health. Three Lower layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) show over 10% of the population having their day-to-day activities limited a lot by disability or ill health. The percentage of people reporting they have bad or very bad health ranged from 2.6% to 6.1% across the Blackdown Hills. Rates of provision of unpaid care range from 9% to 15%. 
• Ethnicity. The numbers of people within the National Landscape whose ethnicity is other than White British is low (0 to 2.4% in the Devon parishes). There are small populations in the market towns in Devon particularly of people who are Asian/Asian British and of mixed ethnic origin. In Somerset there are areas of Taunton and Wellington with higher-than-average numbers of White Gypsy/Irish Travellers; and Asian people. Areas of Taunton and Chard have higher than average numbers of people of ‘white: other’ residents.  
• Official figures show there is limited deprivation within the Blackdown Hills, with 4 LSOAs in the 5th Decile and the remainder higher (Indices of Multiple Deprivation, measure of relative deprivation, 1 is most deprived, 10 is least deprived). There is, however, high deprivation for access to services and the living environment. Average figures can hide individual households living in poverty. In the surrounding towns, there are areas of deprivation within Chard, Wellington and Taunton, and to a lesser extend in Tiverton and Honiton. Fuel poverty and lack of access to services and poor broadband coverage are all identified as issues across the area. 
• Income and Food insecurity. Wages are low across the wider area, and housing prices high. Mid Devon is in the top 10 nationally (7th) of local authorities with the highest share of children with very low food security (above 20%). The former Somerset West and Taunton district also has high food insecurity levels. 

Further work needs to be undertaken to deepen our knowledge of the population within the Hills and in the surrounding area and be able to respond accordingly. 

5.7.2 Recreation and access 

Opportunities and promotion aimed at both visitors and the local community should encourage people to experience the Blackdown Hills more fully in more sustainable and less potentially damaging or disruptive ways. There is a balance to be struck in providing for recreational activities in a way that is consistent with conserving natural beauty and without damaging the environment and tranquillity people come to enjoy, while also recognising that this is a working environment with most of the land in agriculture and in private ownership. However, near several market towns and within easy of larger centres such as Exeter and Taunton, the Blackdown Hills offer a range of opportunities for recreation and outdoor activities. Walking, cycling and horse riding are popular, but people also come to the area for activities as diverse as skydiving, gliding, motorsports and bushcraft. There is scope to better engage with some of these sectors to reach a broader audience and to engender a greater awareness and appreciation of the significance of the area. 

The public rights of way (PRoW) network in the National Landscape is extensive (436 km) but fragmented, with limited off-road routes for horse riders and cyclists. The local road network provides other opportunities but the twisting, narrow lanes raise safety concerns for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and the terrain can be challenging for casual cyclists. The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership has a history of producing some circular walks and rides guides, including on-road cycle routes, however there is further scope for collaboration to develop safer routes for walkers, horse riders and cyclists, multi-user routes and all-ability access, for example, short routes around villages, and to signpost suitable routes between surrounding settlements and the Blackdown Hills.  

This would have numerous benefits; it would help move towards creating places less dominated by motor vehicles and more welcoming for people – environmental benefits include cleaner air, less greenhouse gas emissions and reduced congestion, social benefits include better physical and mental health and more equitable access to the National Landscape for visitors whether or not they are car-owners. One way of delivering this could be green infrastructure provision which offers an opportunity to create physical links with surrounding towns (including Culm Garden Village) via footpaths or multi-user routes, opening up new recreation and tourism opportunities. There is also potential to improve linkages with nearby long-distance recreational routes such as the Stop Line Way (part of the National Cycle Network). 

Opportunities for access to ‘open countryside’ on foot is relatively limited in the area, although the Public Forest Estate adds to the extent of Open Access land, which totals 641 ha. Most of the Open Access sites are registered commons, in some cases also SSSIs or local wildlife sites, and so responsible access is priority as part of comprehensive site management. Other sites with public access include National Trust land such as Dumpdon Hill and at Wellington Monument and several Wildlife Trust reserves. 

Devon County Council and Somerset Council are responsible for the PRoW network across the National Landscape, supported by actions by parish councils and volunteers, such as through the Parish Paths Partnership (P3) groups in Devon. Rights of Way Improvement Plans (RoWIPs) for their networks set out objectives and priorities that aim to reflect the modern patterns of demand and land use. They identify how the PRoW network will be managed to meet the needs of all users. Each county also has committed and active Countryside/Local Access Forums that bring together representatives of many fields of interest including users such as horse riders, landowners, tourism, health, and education which are pertinent to improving access to the countryside to provide independent advice on ‘the improvement of public access to land in the area for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area’. 

5.7.3 Traffic and transport 

Traffic speed and volume are a real concern for many communities. Routes across the Blackdown Hills are frequently used as short cuts by through traffic, affecting both tranquillity and the environment as well as raising highway safety concerns. Although necessary, lorries and other large vehicles travelling to and from farms and small businesses along narrow lanes cause noise, a risk to other users and damage to the roads, verges and characteristic hedgebanks. Highways and transport are a focus topic for the Blackdown Hills Parish Network, who have been trying to secure cross-boundary co-operation on managing HGV traffic, the 60mph national speed limits outside villages and public transport.  

The availability of public transport is limited in the Blackdown Hills and has seen reductions in services over recent years, which can leave those without access to a car at a serious disadvantage. Where there are bus services they can be very infrequent and do not operate at weekends or evenings, but nevertheless, certain routes that cross the area and connect with surrounding towns do have great potential to offer opportunities for tourism and recreation. Rail services can be accessed at the nearby towns of Taunton, Tiverton, Honiton and Axminster.  

5.7.4 Local economy and communities 

The high-quality landscape has an integral part to play in sustaining economic growth, generating income, local jobs and products. The key is for these aspirations to be consistent with the area’s unique qualities. 

The area is typically characterised by very high numbers of small and micro enterprises and of self-employment, with 95% of registered businesses having 0-9 employees. Many of those who have established small businesses were attracted to the area by the high quality of life provided by the Blackdown Hills environment. There is however still a strong agricultural sector; accounting for around 40% of businesses.  

The Blackdown Hills are not a self-contained economic area being heavily influenced by the surrounding market towns and larger settlements of Exeter and Taunton. These towns are inextricably connected with their rural hinterlands, both culturally and economically, providing opportunities and potential markets that can benefit the many small businesses within the area. 

A key aim is to nurture a diverse and resilient local economy that is not over reliant on one specific sector, particularly one that could be heavily affected by external factors, such as agriculture and tourism for example. One of the implications of this, therefore, is a need to identify and support the training and development of new skills required to meet the needs of local employers and take advantage of new economic opportunities. It is important that rural areas such as the Blackdown Hills are not overlooked compared to businesses in local towns, and that support is accessible. As part of economic development support on offer from local authorities, Heart of the South West Growth Hub offers free business advice and support services for established businesses and those looking to start-up, linking to business support programmes and organisations. 

Tourism in the Blackdown Hills is largely characterised by high-quality accommodation and quiet countryside pursuits. There is a balance to be struck between realising the economic benefits of tourism and conserving the environmental wealth that is the attraction to visitors – in other words, focusing on local products and services that do not compromise the landscape and environment. This can bring benefits by encouraging visitors to explore the local area, increasing their understanding and enjoyment, lengthening their stay, and increasing the income for local businesses from both day and staying visitors. There is potential to improve the connections between attractions, events and places, and to establish links with other more recognised tourist areas, for example, the East Devon coast. There is also scope to explore the opportunities for a more direct economic relationship between tourism spending and resources to manage the landscape that people come to enjoy. 

The landscape has in the past been an inspiration to artists and writers, and the present day Blackdown Hills artists and makers keep this tradition alive, contributing to the local economy and communities, strengthening the cultural associations with the landscape and providing creative opportunities to engage with new and varied audiences.  

Rapidly evolving communications technology can attract and enable new economic opportunities and ways of working that have a minimal environmental impact, enable rural businesses to link up for promotion and co-operation, offer new ways of accessing health, services and education, and provide a lifeline for those who are not able to access shops for whatever reason. Over the last 10 years the government has regularly stressed the importance of rolling out superfast and then full-fibre broadband, backing this with several dedicated funding schemes. However, throughout the Blackdown Hills plenty of residents and businesses still receive very slow speeds. Ensuring the wide availability of high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity is a central part of the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy and levelling up agenda. The government has a target that gigabit broadband and ’standalone’ 5G will be available nationwide by 2030. Therefore, it is important to ensure that businesses and communities across the Blackdown Hills can readily access fast and reliable digital connectivity. However, broadband and mobile infrastructure needs to be sensitively sited and located to avoid harm to the area’s natural beauty. 

Communities within the Blackdown Hills have a strong sense of identity and readily describe themselves as living in the Blackdown Hills rather than acknowledging administrative boundaries. Although sparsely populated with small settlements, most are active communities with a spirit of self-sufficiency and host many social and interest groups and events, centred around parish halls, churches, schools and pubs. Over the years many villages having produced parish plans and village design statements to inform planning and other decisions, and several parishes in the East Devon part of the Blackdown Hills now have adopted neighbourhood plans to influence decisions. Many communities have also produced village guides, walks leaflets and organised heritage and environmental projects.  

There is a particularly strong collaborative spirit among like-minded people in the area. The Blackdown Hills Hedge Association, Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers, and Blackdown Hills Transition are well established networks covering a range of interests. Parish councils in the National Landscape form a collective voice through the Blackdown Hills Parish Network, which seeks to identify, address and promote issues of common concern and seek cohesion among the local authorities and other bodies responsible for the area.  

Access to services and facilities such as health, libraries, education, childcare and shopping varies considerably but is generally limited, as might be expected in a rural area. While village shops and post offices are invaluable community assets, maintaining their long-term viability remains a real issue whether commercially- or community-run. In common with the rest of Devon and Somerset, the population age profile is older than the national average; the combination of an ageing population, sparse numbers and limited local facilities brings challenges to ensuring ongoing wellbeing. Meanwhile, for younger residents, secondary schools are in surrounding towns, or larger villages in the case of Uffculme, around the periphery, resulting in protracted journeys to and from school, and then a need to travel or leave the area for further and higher education. Loss of young people from communities is a major issue across rural areas and, without employment opportunities and affordable housing, this trend will only continue.