Historic landscapes' in £2m boost

Exmoor and the Stour Valley could receive about £1m each

Two historic landscapes have been given the go-ahead to bid for almost £2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Exmoor in North Devon and West Somerset, and the Stour Valley on the border of Essex and Suffolk could receive just under £1m each.

Stour Valley is associated with the painter John Constable while Exmoor is renowned for its wild moorland.

Both sites have had initial bids accepted and will now submit full applications to the fund.

The HLF awards money to preserve the landscapes of the English countryside.

Carole Souter, chief executive at the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "The English countryside is famous around the world and the Stour Valley and Exmoor are some of its finest examples.

"Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund's support, local groups and communities will be able to work together to make a real, long-term impact on protecting these wonderful landscapes."

The Stour Valley is set to receive £992,000 to enable professional and community groups to develop 15 individual projects .

These include the restoration of a Stour Lighter river barge, landscape art and research into historic houses and farm buildings.

The Exmoor moorland scheme is set to receive an HLF grant of £982,200 to conduct 23 projects.

It will restore the condition of the moorland habitats, including the promotion of the semi-wild Exmoor Pony for grazing as an integral part of the management of the moors.

The Stour Valley and Exmouth must submit a further, fully developed application to secure their full grants.