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Businesses & Events

Planning an event on the Pebblebed Heaths or Otter Estuary?

These protected landscapes support rare wildlife, delicate habitats and important archaeological sites, so most organised events and commercial activities need our permission before they can go ahead. Whether or not your activity legally requires a licence, getting in touch early helps us work together to protect these special places while making your event a success.

Do I need permission?

The Pebblebed Heaths and Otter Estuary are internationally important landscapes, home to rare wildlife, fragile habitats and significant archaeological features. To safeguard these special places and ensure all visitors can enjoy them safely, most organised events and commercial activities require permission.

While the Heaths are largely open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW), this does not extend to commercial activities or organised events. As land managers, we must assess proposed activities to ensure:

  • access for other visitors is respected
  • wildlife and habitats are protected
  • archaeological features remain undisturbed
  • health and safety measures are in place

The paths around the Otter Estuary are Public Rights of Way, and some events there may also require permission depending on the nature of the activity.

Even if your event does not legally require a licence, we encourage early contact so we can help you avoid conflicts with other events, conservation work or grazing, and plan a safe and successful event.

How to get permission

Event licences are designed for largescale or oneoff activities. We will ask for basic details first; if a licence is needed, we’ll share an event application form. You’ll need to provide:

  • a route map
  • public liability insurance
  • an indemnity form
  • risk assessments or event plans (for larger events)

Applications are processed on a firstcome, firstserved basis. Events cannot go ahead if they clash with activities already planned on the reserve.

A minimum of 10% of net income must be donated to the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust to support conservation and access work (fees for large commercial events may vary).

To begin an application, please email mail@pebblebedheaths.org.uk with Event Licence in the subject line.

Businesses and organisations using the reserves regularly should apply for an annual licence. These licences help ensure activity remains safe, environmentally sensitive and wellcoordinated. Fees vary depending on the nature and scale of the organisation.

Commercial dog walkers must apply through our dedicated licensing scheme. For more information, please visit 

Commercial dog walking – we have a licensing scheme set up for commercial dog walking on the Pebblebed Heaths, for more information please see additional information here.

Tips for making a successful licence application

The Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust supports events and activities that promote people’s enjoyment of the Pebblebed Heaths and Otter Estuary and may grant a licence for such activities which:

  • are appropriate for the reserve
  • will not negatively impact on wildlife or habitats
  • will not negatively impact on archaeological features in the landscape
  • will not negatively impact on other visitors
  • will not leave lasting damage to paths and other visitor infrastructure

To help protect wildlife and ensure a smooth process, please consider the following:

  • avoid offpath routes on the heaths during groundnesting bird season (March–July)
  • avoid sensitive habitats such as mires
  • avoid intertidal areas at the Estuary
  • avoid archaeological features unless they form part of the event’s purpose
  • choose routes that minimise erosion or disturbance
  • ensure parking does not affect residents or other visitors
  • ensure dogs are either excluded from the event or kept on short leads at all times
  • reduce participant numbers if sensitive areas cannot be avoided
  • note that camping and fires are not permitted anywhere on the reserves

We can only issue licences for land we manage; if your event crosses other ownerships, you must contact those landowners separately.

Listing of Licenced Operators

A list of all businesses and organisations that have a licence to operate on the heaths is displayed below. All licenced businesses and organisations have agreed to support and promote responsible use of the heaths and have the appropriate public liability insurance. All dog walking businesses have agreed to follow and actively promote the Pebblebed Dog Code.

We can only issue licences for land we manage; if your event crosses other ownerships, you must contact those landowners separately.

Always Moving Always Moving (always-moving.co.uk)

Dog Walking