Second Sunday volunteering on Dartmoor: Repairing the track to Haytor Rocks

Take part in our Haytor conservation days! Join Simon Lee, National Park Ranger, on his monthly volunteer outings to assist in the important restoration and maintenance of the Haytor area. This month we will be repairing major erosion on the track from Haytor Visitor Centre to Haytor Rocks. The work will take place on Sunday 9th April, starting at 10:30 and finishing at 3:30.

If you are interested in coming along, please get in touch by emailing slee@dartmoor.gov.uk or call 07711 104541. Booking is essential as tools and equipment need to be organised.

Haytor’s stunning moorland views and easy access make it a popular destination for anyone seeking to experience Dartmoor. The track up to Haytor Rocks provides a great walking route, and sees over 25,000 pairs of feet every year. However, this heavy footfall, paired with the extreme weather common to this area, has led to some serious erosion and scars in the land. Maintaining these pathways helps the area remain accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Conservation work days are a great way of getting healthy exercise in a fantastic environment and meeting like-minded people, as well as helping look after this special place. You will also learn more about Dartmoor’s industrial and prehistoric archaeology, wildlife habitats, rare species and moorland management.

"I promise, if you love Dartmoor and want to be more than a day tripper, then give this a go. It’ll become the highlight of your month, no matter how cold the wind is." - Nigel Canham from Christow

The first volunteer day, on 10 January 2016, saw volunteers working with Rangers and Ecologists on a site close to the National Park Visitor Centre at Haytor where the bog hoverfly, one of Dartmoor’s rarest insects, has made a home. The bog hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) is an extremely rare hoverfly that in recent years has been found only within a restricted area of Dartmoor.  Work was carried out at the site to benefit the habitat for this fascinating creature. Since then Simon has worked with volunteers to benefit butterflies in the Becka Brook valley and carried out a large maintenance project on the Haytor granite tramway, as well as making repairs to the reservoir leat.

For those who come along regularly there is plenty of variety, with practical work being carried out on habitat management and archaeological sites as well as helping keep this iconic Dartmoor location looking good.