Blackdown Hills AONB

Blackdown Hills AONB
Name	Blackdown Hills AONB
Location	Somerset, Dorset, Devon
Area	370 km²
Established	1991
Governing body	Natural England

Blackdown Hills AONB is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in southwest England, straddling the border of Somerset and Devon near the fringes of Dorset. The landscape comprises rolling heathland, wooded combes, dissected plateaux and steep valleys shaped by Permian and Triassic geology with Upper Greensand and Keuper deposits. The area sits between Exmoor National Park, the Quantock Hills, and the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs.

Geography and geology

The hills rise to high points such as Hatch Beauchamp proximate to Culmstock and near Staple Hill and Willand; they form part of the larger Mendip-to-Dartmoor transition and are drained by tributaries of the River Exe and the River Axe. Underlying strata include Mercia Mudstone Group, New Red Sandstone, and Upper Greensand Formation producing free-draining soils, springs and chalybeate waters historically exploited around Honiton and Taunton. Periglacial processes and fluvial incision created the steep-sided combes such as those around Hemyock and Creech St Michael. Transport corridors include the A30 road and former railway alignments associated with Great Western Railway history affecting settlement patterns in parishes like Staple Fitzpaine.

History and cultural heritage

Human presence dates from prehistoric times with archaeological sites comparable to finds from Neolithic Britain, ringworks akin to Iron Age hillforts found elsewhere like Maiden Castle, and traces of Bronze Age barrows recorded near Cannington and Wilcombe. Roman roads and villas across Somerset Levels influenced land use, while medieval features such as ridge and furrow agriculture and manorial sites link to families recorded in Domesday Book entries for Honiton and Taunton Deane. Tudor and Stuart period estate landscapes reflect connections to Glorious Revolution era landowners and local religious institutions such as Wells Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral which held advowsons. Industrial archaeology includes former limekilns and woollen textile production comparable to sites in West Yorkshire and Cotswolds, while World War II defenses and training grounds connect to Home Front studies and regional military logistics.

Ecology and biodiversity

The mosaic of calcareous grassland, ash-dominated woodland and wet heath supports species assemblages reminiscent of Biodiversity Action Plan habitats found across England. Notable flora include early purple orchid and common spotted orchid on chalk grassland remnants; bryophyte and lichen communities flourish in ancient hedgerows linked to Ancient Woodland Inventory sites. Fauna recorded include European otter in watercourses, buzzard and lapwing on open slopes, while invertebrates such as marsh fritillary and wood white butterflies mirror populations in Dartmoor National Park and Exmoor National Park. Riverine corridors support populations of brown trout, and amphibian assemblages comparable to those in Somerset Levels and Moors.

Land use and economy

Agriculture remains dominated by sheep and mixed arable systems similar to holdings in Devon and Somerset counties, with hedgerow networks managed under schemes related to Environmental Stewardship and successor agri-environment initiatives administered by Rural Payments Agency. Forestry enterprises, small-scale timber production and coppicing echo practices in Forest of Dean and involve species such as pedunculate oak and sweet chestnut. Rural diversification includes holiday accommodation, equestrian enterprises and farm shops linked to markets in Taunton and Exeter, while local craft industries draw links to West Country heritage festivals and food networks like those around Bridgwater and Axminster.

Recreation and tourism

Public rights of way and long-distance trails intersect the area, connecting to national routes such as the Macmillan Way and regional paths found near South West Coast Path termini. Popular activities include walking, cycling, horseback riding and birdwatching; visitor attractions and historic houses in nearby towns like Dunster and Lyme Regis contribute to regional tourism flows. Accommodation ranges from rural cottages to campsites reflecting trends seen in Countryside Stewardship tourism initiatives; festivals and local markets in parishes such as Chard and Crewkerne support cultural tourism.

Conservation and management

Management involves partnerships among Natural England, local authorities including Somerset County Council and Devon County Council, parish councils, landowners and NGOs such as The National Trust and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Conservation objectives align with statutory frameworks including Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 designations and national biodiversity targets; measures include hedgerow restoration, rewetting of headwater mires and control of invasive non-native species similar to programmes in Lake District National Park and Northumberland National Park. Funding and delivery draw on schemes from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and community-led projects engaging groups like CPRE and local wildlife trusts.

Category:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England Category:Geography of Somerset Category:Geography of Devon