| Trees are only just coming into bud but the vivid yellow of the gorse is in full flower and since Easter tourists have been arriving in large numbers. In a series of four films Greg Wade looks at how spring affects the flora, fauna and people of the moor and you can watch the films here on BBC Devon Online.
 | | Elderly Exmoor resident Hope Bourne. |
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Park, making it an auspicious time for its residents. For the first film we take a Land Rover safari out on to the high moor. Unfortunately there are no giraffes or tigers, but people come to try and find something almost as elusive; the red deer.
With temperatures starting to rise, the moor is starting to blossom and stags are starting to lose their antlers. We take a drive along the highways and byways to look at the magnificent scenery and local wildlife. And hopefully track down some of those elusive creatures. In the second film. We visit Dunster castle nr Minehead in Somerset. Here we chat to head gardener Mike Marshall who has worked there for 25 years.
If the gorse is a magnificent sight on the high moor, then the spring blooms at Dunster are exceptional!
Rhodendrons, azaleas and cherry trees are in full flower and the gardens are at their most colourful.
 | | The Exmoor Coastline |
We follow Mike around the grounds as he and his fellow gardeners toil the often steep slopes of the castle. Thirdly we meet Hope Bourne; a lady who has lived for more than 50 years on the moor. She gives us her opinion on how its changed since she was a child.
In that time she has been a writer and farmer and there's not much she doesnt know about Exmoor.
Some of her passions are hunting and gardening as well as expressing her views in print. She the vibrant village life that not so long ago was an essential part of Exmoor life. Lastly we examine the attractions of one of Exmoors greatest assets it coastline.
Firstly a National Park Ranger takes us to a remote beach to find an old lime kiln and ancient oak forest.
Then we take a two hour boat trip to get an unusual view of the landscape of Exmoor's shores.
Its flora and fauna are unique along this wild and unspoilt coastline. During the trip we get to see the famous valley of rocks from a truly unusual perspective.
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