Author: Lesley Webb

Message from the Fire Brigade

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Our next Community Conversations event will be on 10 September 2025 at 12:00pm and the topic will be focused on road safety. Join through the link on our website.

It doesn’t matter what your background or experience is, whether you represent an organisation or are speaking as an individual, you’re very welcome.

If there is something you’d like to find out about, you can share your questions in advance by emailing Pressofficer@dsfire.gov.uk

If you’re having a problem joining, please call us on 01392 719999.

If you have any questions, please do let me know.

Best wishes,

Megan Hegarty

Consultation and Engagement Officer
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

Phone:  01392344074
Website: www.dsfire.gov.uk

Exmoor Events

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Exmoor National Park Authority is delighted to announce the launch of the programme for the biggest ever Exmoor Dark Skies Festival

Running from Friday 17 October to Sunday 2 November 2025. Sponsored by BMW Vertu, Bridgwater, this annual celebration of Exmoor’s internationally recognised dark skies promises a packed programme of over 70 stargazing events, science activities, storytelling and outdoor adventures. There’s also a fun Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Competition for children.

The full free event listing and programme is available now from our Exmoor National Park centres and to download here.

 

Things to do this Summer

We have the last of our Ecology Action Days series coming up for young people.

Explore different habitats, enjoy interesting activities with our rangers and experience ecological surveying – no experience necessary!

Following some great sessions themed on Meadows and Woodland we still have these sessions available:

Rivers: Tuesday 19 August

Peatland: Thursday 28 August

To book a space, please email pioneers@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk stating the days you would like to book. Aimed at ages 16–18 years

Made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a legacy donation to CareMoor.

If you live in or around Exmoor and don’t have access to transport, please get in touch – we may be able to help (although cannot guarantee).
   

 

A Walk through Dunster’s History

11am start, Dunster National Park Centre TA24 6SE, Wednesday 27 August

Join a guided walk leader and explore the picturesque streetscape and surroundings of Dunster village. A 2 hour guided walk around a village steeped in history.

Dunster Outback Guided Walk

11am start from Dunster National Park Centre, TA24 6SE Wednesday 3 September

A 4 mile circular walk through the ages, from the outskirts of Dunster village up to Bat’s Castle with amazing views of moorland, coast and woodland.

Find lots of great Exmoor’s walks help you to explore the best of Exmoor National Park. With over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways there are long and short walks on Exmoor for everyone like this one in the video above on Dunkery Beacon. Find out more here
 

Come into our National Park Centres to join a free activity or drop in to discover…

-Exmoor Films on show

-Our state of the art digital microscopes

-Telescope hire

-More about Exmoor’s wildlife, heritage, landscape and dark skies, through inspiring and interactive displays

-Exhibitions

-Opportunities for young people to become a Park Protector

Find us in Dunster, Lynmouth and Dulverton

Wildlife

 The Red Deer of Exmoor 

Come and find out all about native wildlife – Talk with Ranger Rich Eales

Saturday 23 August 2pm

Free – donations to CareMoor welcome

Lynmouth National Park Centre 

Red Deer have lived on Exmoor since prehistoric times. It’s estimated around 3,000 deer today inhabit the farmland and moors, with people flocking to the area each Autumn to experience the rut.

8 White-tailed or Sea Eagles have been visiting Exmoor National Park over the last few years, following their release on the Isle of Wight by Roy Dennnis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England.

Find out more about them and what they like to eat in this latest video above.

Three white-tailed eagle chicks have successfully fledged in Southern England this summer. The chicks were bred by eagles released in a joint project with Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return this lost species.

All of the eagles are tagged so we can keep up to date with their progress and we look forward to seeing if the chicks will follow the flight path of their predecessors and visit Exmoor.

More on White-tailed Eagles here

Sowing the Seeds

Thank you to the landowners who are helping us with our meadow restoration projects.

Our conservation team have been working hard, harvesting and sifiting seed from donor meadows, to create more species rich habitats across Exmoor supporting soil health and pollinators.

Read more on meadow restoration here
 

 

Bird Flu Alert from Trading Standards

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

You may be aware that we are currently dealing with several cases of Avian Influenza across both Devon and Somerset. More information is available on the .Gov website Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England – GOV.UK

To help raise awareness and ensure residents are informed—particularly those who may not be signed up to Defra Alerts—I have attached a few posters.

All bird owners must register their birds using this link: Register-your-birds-All

Symptoms of Bird Flu can be found using this link: Avian Influenza Clinical Signs APHA