Book about the Blackdowns on sale (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Book about the Blackdowns on sale

3:00pm Monday 26th February 2007 in News By Laura Thorpe

A BOOK highlighting the special nature of heathland in the Blackdown Hills and surrounding areas has gone on general sale.

Heathland in East Devon and the Blackdown Hills was produced thanks to money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and about 1,600 copies have been distributed across the South-West, mostly for educational purposes.

The 80-page, pocket-size booklet was written by David Allen, a member of the Blackdown Hills AONB Partnership management group.

It is a sequel to Mr Allen's Wild Flowers of the East Devon Coast and focuses on the natural history of the area's lowland heaths.

Mr Allen, who lives in Stockland, in the south east of the Blackdowns, said: "My purpose is to communicate what I see as the special features of heathland to the general reader and holiday visitor to the area, before we lose more of this wonderful sort of landscape."