Latest news with #ENPA
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Popular Exmoor footbridge closed over safety fears
A popular footbridge in Exmoor has been shut over safety Hinds Pitt bridge, near the Tarr Steps circular walk, in Somerset, has been deemed unsafe after structural National Park Authority (ENPA) said it was working on a plan for a long-term replacement, reinstating public access and recreation manager, Dan Barnett, said: "The bridge has been there since the 1950s and some key parts of the steel structure have deteriorated to a point where they are no longer safe." He said while they hoped to replace the bridge, the process would "take some time" to develop due to seeking agreement from relevant landowners and raising the "considerable funds required".Mr Barnett said temporary modifications of the bridge were possible, and they were looking into it "urgently" to allow the bridge to open while they planned for its replacement."In the meantime, the Tarr Steps site is otherwise open for everyone to enjoy, including short walks there and back on either side of the river and all the longer walks in the area are fully open too," he said."The popular long distance footpath the Two Moors Way is still passable using an alternative route on the west bank of the river," he added.
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Trees felled in storm on Exmoor 'helping support nature'
Trees felled at a national park in Devon during Storm Darragh are helping support insects, conservationists have National Park Authority said the storm - which brought winds of up to 88mph (142km/h) in December - caused "significant damage and disruption" to the senior woodland officer Graeme McVittie said the "silver lining" was dead wood could help improve Exmoor's ecosystem and the park was strategically cutting certain trees to help support wildlife."It's proved useful, not only repurposed for local, sustainable timber, but for nature colonisation by invertebrates and dead wood-boring insects," he said. McVittie said: "We've learnt so much over the last few decades about the potential nature benefits of dead wood."Standing columns of damaged trees can be great habitats for birds like woodpeckers. "In fact, the ENPA woodland team, with the help of specialist contractors, are working on the 'veteranisation' of certain trees to help support bats, birds and butterflies."Veteranisation is the process of deliberately damaging younger trees to speed up the development of microhabitats, mimicking older trees. Climate adaption It is said to encourage fungi and insect growth, which in turn helps feed bats, birds and McVittie said woodland management was not just about increasing the number of trees but also resilience, flood management, supporting the migration of species and creating refuge for rare lichens. "With extreme weather events on the rise, it's vital we factor climate adaption into our approach," he said.
