Exmoor Fringe

Where does Wildwood Grove sit in relation to Exmoor and the surrounding landscape?

Evidence Sources

The information presented on this page is derived from:

  • Ordnance Survey mapping

  • Exmoor National Park boundary mapping

  • Defra MAGIC datasets

  • Catchment and landscape mapping

  • Site observations undertaken during 2025–2026

Overview

Wildwood Grove is located near Dulverton, Somerset, within the upper River Exe catchment and close to the boundary of Exmoor National Park.

The site lies within a transitional landscape between the upland environments associated with Exmoor and the lower agricultural valleys of the wider Exe catchment.

Its position places it within the wider Exmoor fringe landscape while remaining outside the Exmoor National Park boundary.

Figure 1. Wildwood Grove and the Exmoor fringe
Location mapping showing Wildwood Grove in relation to Exmoor National Park, Dulverton and the surrounding upland agricultural landscape.

Location Relative to Exmoor

Exmoor National Park occupies a large area of upland moorland, valley systems, woodland and agricultural land across west Somerset and north Devon.

Wildwood Grove is situated immediately east of the National Park boundary near the settlement of Dulverton.

The site is therefore located within the wider landscape surrounding Exmoor rather than within the designated National Park itself.

Landscape Character

The landscape surrounding Wildwood Grove is characterised by:

  • Undulating upland topography

  • Narrow valleys and headwater systems

  • Permanent grassland

  • Hedgerow networks

  • Broadleaved woodland

  • Spring-fed watercourses

These features occur throughout much of the Exmoor fringe and contribute to the transition between the higher uplands and the lower river valleys beyond.

Headwaters and Valleys

The Exmoor fringe contains numerous small valleys, tributaries and headwater systems that contribute water to larger river catchments.

Wildwood Grove occupies part of one such headwater landscape within the Streamcombe Valley.

Water originating within the site forms part of a wider network of springs, tributaries and watercourses that drain eastwards and southwards through the River Brockey and River Exe catchments.

Designated Landscapes

Wildwood Grove is not located within Exmoor National Park.

However, the National Park boundary lies nearby and forms a prominent landscape feature within the surrounding area.

The site therefore occupies a position within the wider setting of Exmoor while remaining part of the agricultural landscape beyond the designated boundary.

Wildwood Grove and the Exmoor Fringe

Wildwood Grove forms part of the agricultural headwater landscape located on the eastern fringe of Exmoor.

The site sits within a landscape of upland fields, hedgerows, springs, tributaries and valleys that provide a physical transition between Exmoor and the wider River Exe catchment.

Its location can therefore be understood within the context of both the Streamcombe Valley headwater system and the broader Exmoor fringe landscape.