Dartmoor Rangers Ella Briens and Andrea Roberts are bringing the Dartmoor version of the successful global litter campaign #2 minute beach clean to the National Park again this year.
Bude resident, Martin Dorey, started #2 minute beach clean after becoming frustrated by the amount of litter on our beautiful south west beaches. His aim was to encourage visitors and locals to take pride in their surroundings, raise awareness of the litter problem and to be proactive in dealing with the detritus.
The solution was a very simple idea - place large A frame boards, with...
On Saturday 6 May Dartmoor National Park Authority will play host to a day of lectures to shed light on important wildlife research being carried out in Dartmoor’s woodlands.
The day will provide an opportunity to discover more about the wildlife of our woodlands with short lectures presented by the scientists and conservationists working within the Bovey Valley Woods, East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve, and across Dartmoor. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear about the variety of research being undertaken locally, and the important contribution that this is making to...
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.
This spring Dartmoor National Park Authority is pleased to be able to offer a limited number of tours of its grade 1 listed medieval longhouse which has been closed to the public while it undergoes extensive renovations.
The work has been carried out with support from the Heritage lottery funded Moor than meets the eye (MTMTE) landscape partnership, with additional funding from the National Park Authority. We have reached a point in the project where, for a limited period, we are able to run some tours in April before the final phase of internal work commences (probably sometime in...
The breeding season for moorland birds on Dartmoor coincides with the lambing season and, with the arrival of spring, the moorland will be full of new life, so it is particularly important for all of us to be Moor aware.
Many visitors and local people exercise their dogs when enjoying Dartmoor. Although a dog may not be actively chasing livestock, its presence can still cause disturbance. During the lambing and calving season, expecting ewes or cows are particularly vulnerable. A frightened animal may abort or abandon its young – a tragedy for the animal and a financial loss to the...
Last year the Two Moors Way – Devon’s Coast to Coast walking route - celebrated its 40th anniversary. A series of improvement works were undertaken and the 115+ mile route, linking two coasts and the South West’s two National Parks, re-launched to celebrate this milestone. Local businesses are now invited to join free workshops to discover how they can benefit from the work as the industry gears up for the new visitor season.
Three workshops will take place along the route at the Simonsbath House Hotel on Exmoor (27 March), The Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton (25 April) and the Watermark...
South West Water has been named as the main supporter of the Moor Otters public arts initiative created by Dartmoor National Park.
The campaign aims to raise £100,000 to support projects to conserve and enhance Dartmoor’s wildlife, landscape and improve accessibility for everyone to the Moor. From 1st June 2017, 100 life-size otter sculptures will be displayed along a trail in accessible public areas around Dartmoor and the neighbouring gateway towns.
Alan Hyde, South West Water’s Head of Community Relations, said: “We’re delighted to support this important conservation...
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 12th February, starting at 10.30am and finishing at 3.30pm.
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...
Conservation volunteers who help maintain one of Dartmoor’s top beauty spots have rounded off their year with an expert guided tour and mince pies.
The Second Sunday group meets every second Sunday of the month at Haytor under the guidance of National Park Authority Ranger Simon Lee.
In the past 12 months they have repaired an ancient leat to prevent flooding on the road near the Visitor Centre and restored wetland by the Becka Brook to safeguard the feeding grounds of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly.
Perhaps the volunteers’ most obvious work has been on the 200...
When a Freemasons Lodge was first established in Moretonhampstead a town on Dartmoor in 1932 they purchased the freehold of their present building.
They selected the name “Sanctuary Lodge” after “Sentry Field” where French prisoners held during the Napoleonic War could, if they escaped from Dartmoor prison claim sanctuary and possibly become parole prisoners working for the local gentry of the area.
Due to a large increase in membership from the Tavistock area in recent times, a decision was taken by the lodge members to move the lodge and sell the building, re-establishing...
