AN ancient Exmoor bridge is to be be protected as part of a major flood prevention scheme costing nearly £150,000.

Tarr Steps, a 180-foot long medieval clapper bridge over the River Barle is a major visitor attraction and sits on a popular walking route.

But the grade one listed scheduled monument has had to be rebuilt four times in the past 13 years due to damage caused by floods.

The bridge is in a national nature reserve about four miles north west of Dulverton and 2.5 miles south east of Withypool.

Now, the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) are working on a scheme which will restore some of the Barle’s natural floodplain.

It will slow the flow of water and thereby protect both the bridge and downstream settlements in future years.

The ‘Upper Barle restoration project’ aims to reconnect a 930-yard length of the River Barle to 8.6 acres of natural floodplain, allowing the flow of water to be slowed during high rainfall events.

The work should reverse artificial straightening of the river which happened in the 19th century and is similar to a project recently delivered by the National Trust on its Holnicote estate between Porlock and Minehead.

Dulverton and other communities should be at less risk from flooding, and trees will be planted in other areas of the Barle valley to further reduce the worries.

ENPA natural environment manager Alex Farris said on top of an SRA grant other funding had been secured to allow the work to go ahead.

Mr Farris said: “This additional investment not only further endorses the value of the project, it more importantly allows the SRA funding to be targeted at delivery on the ground so that the benefits can be realised.

“The development phase is now under way, and consultants are engaged in technical design and analysis.

“By the end of the financial year, we expect to have both detailed design and planning consent in place.”

Dulverton and Brushford have been flooded 14 times between them since 1980, primarily as a result of the River Barle bursting its banks following heavy rainfall and run-off from upstream.

Tarr Steps itself had to be rebuilt following flood events in 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2023, leading to the ENPA building the new Great Bradley Bridge nearby last summer.

Separately, Hinds Pitt Bridge on the Tarr Steps circular walk was closed last month due to structural concerns, as the ENPA looked to secure funds for a replacement as soon as possible.

Mr Farris said: “A less kinetic river could help river fly numbers, and so benefit salmon, grayling, and dippers.

“An associated study we are funding is looking at ways of reintroducing water voles to the Upper Barle catchment.”

The project is expected to be largely delivered in September and October of next year, with some tree planting taking place earlier, thereby minimising the risk to local wildlife and allowing improvements to be in place before the heavier winter rainfall.