On Midsummer’s Day, Sunday 21 June , there’ll be a buzz being created in Princetown for the launch of a new project – the Dartmoor Conservation Garden. This project, sited in the Jack Wigmore Garden behind the National Park Visitor Centre, is hosted by the Dartmoor Preservation Association, with support from the Dartmoor National Park Your Dartmoor Fund.
Pat Fleming, the garden’s manager, says: "This is an unusual and interesting wild conservation garden set up for everyone to enjoy, locals and visitors alike, which is planted up with a cross-section of Dartmoor’s native species...
The installation of a new Moorland Play Park in the Dartmoor village of Holne was celebrated recently at a packed community event.
Previous equipment had become very dilapidated and when this small rural parish needed to find a large sum to fund a new park – they asked Dartmoor National Park if it would be able to help. The group used a small grant from the National Park to secure a substantial amount from Biffa Award, and with additional support from local Councillors, local fundraising, including a quiz night at the Church House Inn and a donation from Mike and Gill Cunniam of...
The £380,000 Fatherford bridge, east of Okehampton, provides cyclists and pedestrians with a safer crossing over the railway line than the existing road bridge over the railway line.
Although the existing bridge has footpaths on its approach, the structure itself is narrow and does not have a path.
The new bridge separates pedestrians and cyclists from road traffic. As well as improving safety it will also enable further development of land east of the bridge, allowing the creation of a safe crossing point across Exeter Road (B3260) for the Granite and Gears Cycle route...
A Royal Marine trainee has collapsed and died while on a march on Dartmoor.
The man, who has not been named, was based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the cause of death was unknown.
He said: "This incident is being investigated and the thoughts and sympathies of the Naval Service are with the family and friends of this man."
The man died on Thursday while taking part in a 30-mile march across Dartmoor carrying at least 32lbs of equipment, as part of the 32-week Commando course.
Archaeological excavations on the Stover Canal at Ventiford Basin have uncovered a 70 metre stretch of what is believed to be a siding of the Haytor Granite Tramroad.
The 12km tramroad was constructed in 1819-20 by George Templer of Stover, to move granite from the quarries at Haytor, on Dartmoor, down to the coast for shipment to London and elsewhere. At Ventiford, the tramroad linked up to the west side of the Stover Canal – built by Templer’s father James between 1790-2 – and from there the stone was carried by barge to Teignmouth, via the Teign estuary.
Freehand is a new exhibition of inspirational craftwork made by local young people and adults in workshops run by the Devon Guild, during 2014-15
Exhibition runs until Sunday 5 July.
The gallery will show objects made in a series of community workshops by Guild makers and artists, who worked with children and young people supported by social services and with complex needs, older people living in supported communities, refugees, adults with learning disabilities and prisoners from HMP Dartmoor. Together they have produced truly inspirational work including large paper mache...
Air Cadets from Devon and Somerset Wing Air Training Corps have donated £515.00 to Dartmoor’s £ for the Park initiative. A cheque was presented by Squadron Leader Terry Ancell to Dartmoor National Park Chairman, Peter Harper at Ten Tors 2015 last weekend.
Each year the Wing runs a training programme for the Ten Tors Challenge. Starting in January, the team conduct eight training weekends, many of which are within Dartmoor National Park, progressively developing the teamwork, leadership and technical skills, together with the physical and mental strength necessary for completing the...
Following the success of the Natural Navigator talk in April Dartmoor National Park welcomes Gavin Kelly and Rich Pencott along to talk about climbing and microadventures.
On Tuesday 19 May go along and be enthralled by Gavin Kelly’s rock climbing talk, ‘Scaling new heights!’ Gavin, of Ibex Outdoors, has more than thirty years of climbing experience on Dartmoor and will talk about the unique experiences that Dartmoor has to offer climbers. His passion for climbing has taken him all over the UK and beyond; a journey of learning and sharing amazing places and experiences but discover...
Thousands of young people will set off on the 2015 Ten Tors Challenge this weekend (9 and 10 May), spending two days in small self-sufficient teams walking through some of the most stunning scenery Dartmoor has to offer.
Dartmoor National Park Authority has been working closely with the Army and provided training to team managers to ensure that the event has minimum impact on the fabric of the moor and its wildlife.
In 2013 the National Park introduced the £ for the Park initiative whereby those taking part in organised events on the moor are invited to make a donation...
The first stage of some exciting archaeological exploration has just been completed on Dartmoor. This has involved a geophysical survey on a recently discovered large stone circle located close to Sittaford Tor.
The circle is situated 525m above sea level, making it the highest stone circle in southern England, with panoramic views in all directions. With a diameter of 34m, it is the second largest circle on Dartmoor. The first stones were identified by Alan Endacott a few years ago.
The circle consists of 30 recumbent stones, plus one more lying in a gap just outside the...
