A CAMPAIGN has this week been launched to try and obtain a portion of one of the world's rarest natural resources for the people of West Devon.

Ash Moor Pit near Petrockstowe has become infamous for its association with the disastrous foot and mouth crisis which hit the borough last year. It was constructed to dispose of up to 400,000 animal carcasses.

But the pit, which was never used, was constructed in an area of culm grassland — a type of wet environment rich in species found hardly anywhere else in the world.

Now STAMP (Stop Ash Moor Pits) has written to Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, to ask the Government to gift the area to the people of West Devon.

STAMP members hope such a rare environmental site, situated close to the Tarka Trail, could not only attract tourists but may provide a vital research resource for scientists in the future.

Ron Dawson of STAMP said: 'This is a golden opportunity. We have to point out the significance and importance of this site — culm measures are rarer than rainforests and Devon holds 80 per cent of the world's culm resources.

'The value of these sites is relatively under-researched and the way in which climate change is progressing faster than predicted, there is going to be some desperate searching for answers in future,' he said.

'There are species in culm measures which haven't even been named yet — there's a lot to be learned.'

The Government bought the Ash Moor site at a greatly inflated price at the height of the foot and mouth crisis.

At a meeting in London recently, animal health minister Eliot Morley assured a West Devon delegation, including Mr Dawson and West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, that the pit would be fully restored and play no part in future DEFRA contingency plans.

The Government is to offer the 100-acre site to Devon County Council for £350,000. If this is not taken up it will be sold on the open market.

Mr Dawson said STAMP intended to have the site independently valued. The group would then approach local, national and international companies for sponsorship.

'We will approach the Government with an offer once we feel we have enough support,' said Mr Dawson, who said he was 'aghast' at what had happened to such a precious natural resource.

'The only good thing about it is that it's brought to the fore the true importance of culm measures,' he said.

Peter Chamberlain, ecologist with Devon County Council, said culm measures were a 'very important' habitat which were internationally recognised.

He said the county was urging DEFRA to restore Ash Moor and 'make positive' the destructive work which had been carried out during the foot and mouth crisis.

West Devon MP John Burnett said he had raised the question of gifting Ash Moor with Eliot Morley and had discussed it with Devon County Council.

Mr Burnett said: 'Effectively, what will happen now is there will be negotiation between a district valuer acting for the Government and the county council valuer.

'When that commences I shall be approaching DEFRA with a view to them waiving the costs.'

Mr Burnett said Ash Moor was 'very important' ecologically and environmentally'.