Film celebrates reopening of historic Exmoor bridge
ANEW film has been released celebrating the reinstatement of a famous Exmoor bridge to mark the anniversary of the upland area’s designation as a national park in October, 1954.
Woodside Bridge in the East Lyn Valley was opened this spring following a successful community-led campaign to raise £65,000 for it to be rebuilt.
The video tells the story of the bridge, thought to date back to the 1850s, in the words of those involved in securing its future. With plans for a public celebration cancelled due to coronavirus, it acts as a virtual opening and thank you to the community and all those involved in raising and contributing to the funds needed.
The last bridge at Woodside was installed in the 1990s, but by 2016 its soft-wood timber had come to the end of its life and the bridge was removed over safety concerns.
With thousands needed for a new one, a public appeal was launched by the Lyn Community Development Trust in partnership with the National Park Authority’s CareMoor for Exmoor scheme.
It attracted celebrity backing from TV presenter Julia Bradbury, and later actress Caroline Quentin – a contestant in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing – whose Facebook video appeal received nearly 17,000 views. Donations soon came flooding in and after two years the appeal had exceeded its target.
The new bridge was installed in May, 2020, followed by works on the surrounding paths to enable better access for all and increase accessibility for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Wood extracted through conservation management from the National Park’s own woodlands in Burridge was used in construction.
Dan James, sustainable economy manager at Exmoor National Park, said: “At the start bridging the gap
‘Thanks to the generosity of so many people it is great to now see the new bridge in place’ DAN JAMES, NPA
seemed like an impossible dream. But by joining forces with the community and thanks to the generosity of so many people it is great to now see the new bridge in place. While we would love to thank everyone in person we hope this short video will provide a lasting record of this fantastic achievement.”
David Wilde, chairman of the Lyn Community Development Trust, said: “The bridge forms a very important part of the community here so we were eager to see it reinstated. It forms part of a short circular walk enjoyed regularly by many local people and is also hugely important for tourism, situated as it is in the beautiful East Lyn Valley near the start of one of the area’s most popular walks to Watersmeet.”
The film, available on the Exmoor National Park Facebook page and YouTube channel, features Lynton and Lynmouth mayor Chris Sleep unveiling a plaque acknowledging the major donors to the project, whilst Robin Milton, chairman of the National Park Authority had the honour of cutting the ribbon and declaring the bridge open.
Mr Milton said: “It is a great honour to have formally declared the new Woodside Bridge open, showing what can be achieved when we all work together. It is a fantastic example of how as a National Park we can manage our core purposes of conservation and access sustainably to the benefit of local communities and the nation, and we sincerely thank everyone that helped make this happen.”
The bridge is located at the entrance to the East Lyn Valley just a short walk upstream from the main car park within Lynmouth. It features in one of ten new Exmoor Explorer walks due to be launched later this year.
To contribute to future conservation and access work across the National Park through CareMoor, which raises funds towards a range of projects, visit www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor.