SKILLED local tradesmen have helped the Dulverton Weir and Leat Conservation Trust complete a vital restoration project.

The work has been carried out on making good the Dulverton Leat wall in Northmoor Road in Dulverton.

The restoration was funded by a grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme administered by Exmoor National Park Authority aimed at helping protected landscapes to be managed, enhanced and protected to support the communities who work within them and the wider local economy to deliver bigger and better outcomes for the environment, for people and for the place.

Dulverton Leat is a key wildlife, historical heritage and tourism asset for the town and for the wider area - providing an important recreational resource and habitat for wildlife, flora and fauna.

The Trust’s community and partnership involvement trustee, Rob Jones, said: “The Trust is delighted to have been enabled to carry out this important work on a key part of Dulverton Leat.

“The wall was unsightly and in danger of collapsing into the leat severely impeding the passage of wildlife as well as proving a hazard to pedestrians and cars negotiating a ‘pinch point’ in a narrow part of Northmoor Road.”

And Mr Jones added: “Further restoration of other parts of Dulverton Leat are planned for later in the year.”

Vickie Sellick, the Farming in Protected Landscapes officer for Exmoor National Park, added: “We are delighted to have been able to support Dulverton Weir and Leat Conservation Trust to carry out this important repair in Dulverton.

“The Farming in Protected Landscapes initiative is designed to support farmers and land managers to deliver projects that target climate, nature, people and place outcomes.

“The modest funding award to DWLCT has helped them with a crucial repair to the wall along Northmoor road.”

The Dulverton Weir and Leat Conservation Trust was formed to repair and conserve Dulverton’s ancient urban watermill landscape for future generations.

Things came to a head when, in December 2012, a tremendous flood caused a large breach in the weir; this in turn led to the leat running dry in 2013 and it was then that action was needed.