The National Trust on Dartmoor is using the power of horses to help with its woodland management at Hembury Woods, near Buckfastleigh.
Hembury Woods is ancient semi-natural woodland, a site of special scientific interest and a special area of conservation; and therefore any woodland management needs to be sensitively done
A dense plantation of beech needs to be thinned because it is shading out all the undergrowth except the native bluebells which flower in the late Spring before the trees are in leaf. Thinning the beech improves the biodiversity of the undergrowth and...
Dartmoor National Park Authority is asking the Government to think again about its proposals to allow farm buildings to be converted to housing, schools or nurseries without the need for planning permission.
The Government is consulting planning authorities across England on its proposals to allow the conversion or demolition of farm buildings to create up to three houses or a state school or nursery without planning permission.
It follows recent changes which already allow farm buildings to be converted into shops or offices, and for offices to be turned into homes,...
Spectators flooded to Exeter today to catch a glimpse of the Tour of Britain. The high street saw the five lead cyclists compete for points on the sprint before the peloton (main pack of riders) came past. Among the crowds, children from St Sidwell's Primary School lined up outside the school gates to cheer on the riders with a banner saying ‘Go Bradley’. On Topsham road parents and pupils from St Leonard's Primary School and the Exeter Academy for the Deaf also gave their support. The cyclists will continued through Devon before reaching the finish line atop Dartmoor.
Leading conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust is celebrating the news that it has received a £38,000 funding boost from SITA Trust to support its Emsworthy Mire Restoration Project.
Emsworthy Mire forms part of Devon Wildlife Trust’s beautiful Emsworthy nature reserve. The reserve sits between Haytor and Widecombe-in the-Moor, in the heart of Dartmoor. It is a very popular spot with walkers and other visitors.
Emsworthy’s Mire is a particularly good example of a valley mire: areas of water-logged deep peat in valley bottoms with characteristic acid wetland plant...
Devon County Council's latest apprentices had a breath of fresh air when they took part in a voluntary exercise on Dartmoor recently at Shapely Commons near Moretonhampstead.
Not confined to their offices for the day, twenty Devon County Council apprentices were ‘let loose’ on a 3,000 year old Bronze Age settlement. The aim was to clear an area of gorse and bracken for use by the general public and as an added bonus reveal 6 'hut circles' of significant archaeological interest.
The day began with an uphill climb from the car park to the hut circles, which were barely...
Spectators have 85 miles (137km) of Devon’s roads to choose from when it comes to being part of the 10th anniversary Tour of Britain in the county on Friday 20 September.
Devon County Council will host Stage Six of The Tour, starting in Sidmouth and finishing at Haytor, in Dartmoor National Park.
Crowds are being tipped to exceed last year’s record of 220,000 spectators that lined the route in Devon, and the advice is to leave plenty of time to travel to where you’re planning to watch the action, in order to avoid delays. Among the world class teams taking part are Sky Pro...
On Thursday 26 September, the film “The Moo Man” nominated and shown at the prestigious 2013 Sundance Film Festival is being shown at the third Chagford Film Festival on Dartmoor.
Farmer Stephen Hook will be there on the night, along with the film’s Director (Andy Heathcote) and producer (Heike Bachelier).
The remarkable story of a maverick farmer and his cows, beautifully filmed over four years on the Pevensey Levels in Sussex.
In an attempt to save his family farm, Stephen Hook decides to turn his back on the cost cutting dairies and supermarkets and instead stay...
Renowned comedian, writer and Radio 4 personality, Tony Hawks will head to Dartmoor in September to open the third Chagford Film Festival.
Tony Hawks will officially declare the festival open on 23 September when he introduces his new film, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis. This feel-good film, which tracks Tony’s quest to beat the Moldovan football team at tennis, is described as simultaneously insane, moving and hilarious. It is just one of an eclectic mix of films, brilliant events and workshops, presented by top industry professionals taking place over the six-day...
Devon and Cornwall Police have finalised their enquiries into last month's death of a Dartmoor pony .
Some initial media reports linked the death of the pony to satanic cults and ritualistic killing as police investigated the possibility of deliberate mutilation.
However, the police have sought the advice of experts and have come to the view that the death of the pony was through natural causes. All the injuries can be attributed to those caused by other wild animals, they report.
Criticising local media coverage of the story and seeking to reassure the public and...
Dartmoor National Park Authority has recruited local Olympian and Team GB Pistol Shooter, Georgina (Gorgs) Geikie, as a Dartmoor Ambassador, with a remit to promote the National Park as an activity destination.
As part of her role Gorgs has just finished filming A Dartmoor Adventure. This new film promotes outdoor recreation as part of a healthy lifestyle and showcases the variety of outdoor recreational opportunities that can be enjoyed on Dartmoor.
This inspirational film shows how people with a basic fitness level can make the most of what Dartmoor has to offer but also...
