The flora and fauna of a renowned nature reserve is about to be given a huge helping hand by the arrival of six Dartmoor ponies.
The RSPB has teamed up with the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust who have arranged for the ponies to be relocated today (April 5) to its headquarters in Bedfordshire where they will help to restore the nature reserve through their natural grazing habits.
Dartmoor ponies are prized for their hardiness, even temperament, and ability to eat plants that other ponies and horses might balk at. Their day to day habits of browsing vegetation and trampling...
The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society and the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust have issued a joint statement urging visitors to the moors to enjoy pony herds from a distance, after some have been seen to be carrying strangles.
Strangles is a highly contagious and difficult to manage bacterial infection of the respiratory system. It can be spread through direct contact with affected equines, or indirectly on items such as clothing, gloves or even cars.
This is a challenging disease to manage and eradicate because infected horses and ponies become carriers, where even...
OS is running a contest to find a new front cover image for its popular OL 28 Dartmoor Explorer map.
The competition, run in conjunction with Dartmoor National Park, intends to find a beautiful image to represent the picturesque moorland in 2021.
It is being held to commemorate 70 years of National Parks.
The contest is open to any walker or photography enthusiast who feels they have pictures in their digital archives good enough to become the winning image.
Due to the latest lockdown and government advice OS is asking people please do not travel to...
Snow is forecast on Dartmoor and other areas of high ground across Devon overnight.
With the possibility of up to 14cm of snow on Dartmoor, Devon’s gritters heading onto roads across the moor will be fitted with ploughs when they roll-out later this evening (Thursday 3 December). Other areas of high ground across the county are more likely to see only a light dusting of snow and sleet.
With road surface temperatures also set to fall below zero on Dartmoor, wet roads may well become icy tomorrow morning. The rest of Devon is not expected to see freezing road temperatures...
The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Pony Trust (DPHT) has announced that photographer Malcolm Snelgrove has become the charity’s new patron.
The charity’s vision is to secure the future of the native Dartmoor pony and to inspire and connect people with Dartmoor’s wildlife, landscape and heritage. Developing its partnership with Malcolm, a respected, internationally published equine and environmental photographer based on the Moor, is a perfect fit.
The DPHT works with pony keepers on Dartmoor who own and breed Dartmoor ponies. It also promotes the Dartmoor pony for conservation...
Dartmoor National Park and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have issued a warning for people not to light barbecues and campfires after an increase in wildfire incidents. Soaring temperatures and hot weather, which is set to continue in coming days, means the fire severity risk on Dartmoor is forecast as ‘high’. Anyone planning a trip to Dartmoor for some fresh air, a picnic or a family day out is asked to be vigilant against wildfire by not lighting a barbecue or campfire. Andrew Watson, Head of Recreation, Access and Estates said: “We want people to come and enjoy Dartmoor,...
Dartmoor National Park has launched a new ‘ learning in lockdown ’ digital hub to help inspire and educate people about the National Park's special landscape and what can be found there. The free online resources are aimed at supporting children, parents and teachers as we all continue to observe ' stay at home ' measures due to the Covid-19 emergency. Developed by Dartmoor National Park Authority, the ' learning in lockdown ' hub is rich with lively, fun and fascinating multi-media content so people can teach and learn about nature, the environment around them and remain connected to...
Groups of people visiting Dartmoor for barbecues and people driving over 15 miles to walk their dog– these are just a couple examples of the issues Dartmoor National Park Rangers are with dealing with during the Covid-19 emergency.
As the weekend draws near, Dartmoor National Park and the police are once again asking people to continue to stay home to limit the spread of covid-19 and help save lives this weekend.
The Authority today reiterated its appreciation and thanks to the vast majority of people for adhering to the last four weeks of isolation and distancing....
Dartmoor National Park Authority has launched a Coronavirus Community Support Grant (CCSG) to provide valuable funding to organisations working in communities affected by the pandemic. The scheme rapidly provides grants of up to £500 to voluntary and community groups to help them tackle the social and economic impacts of the outbreak and help those who are most vulnerable. So far, the Authority has dealt with 12 applications and provided more than £5,000 to support community initiatives such as veg boxes for vulnerable people, phone support, local delivery of prescriptions and an online...
New evidence potentially left by Dartmoor’s earliest farming communities 5,500 years ago has been uncovered by archaeologists at two of the moor's most enigmatic sites. A series of previously unknown features including postholes and circular structures have been discovered at the tor enclosure sites of White Tor and Dewerstone. One of the most exciting discoveries at Dewerstone (pictured) is the recovery of charcoal suitable for radiocarbon dating. Results are awaited but, if proved, could conclusively show people occupied these sites in the early Neolithic period - around 3,500BC....
