8 March 2011

Devonport Leat Conservation Project

Dartmoor National Park Authority, Roborough Commoners and two conservation charities are working together on a project to help improve public access and carry out conservation work to the Devonport Leat on Dartmoor.

Volunteers from Tavistock Task Force and the Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) are carrying out valuable scrub clearance to a section of the Devonport Leat, extending from near the Yelverton roundabout towards Clearbrook. The section is largely wooded, and scrub and self-seeded trees are invading the leat. The scrub is also making grazing difficult.

Dartmoor National Park Authority has helped organise the project and Roborough Commoners’ Association have funded the work.

Devonport Leat was built to carry water to the expanding naval town of Devonport. It originally covered a distance of 27 miles and was completed in 1802. Today the leat ends its journey close to Burrator Reservoir and still provides Plymouth with up to three million gallons of water a day.

The historic leat is situated close to two other important archaeological sites, Plymouth or Drake’s Leat and the Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway.  

Peter Tarling of the Roborough Commoners’ Association said:
"Privately owned Roborough Down is an exciting common with a plethora of rare and unique habitats that are crossed by the ancient leats and a tramway.  The local Commoners’ Association has recently lost capital works funding for conservation work on these important archaeological sites but nevertheless has decided to meet the cost of the excellent work being carried out by the Dartmoor Preservation Association and the Tavistock Task Force. This represents a considerable commitment on behalf of the Roborough farming community as the project will take some years to complete".

Keith Ryan, Devonport Leat Project Leader for the DPA said:

"The Dartmoor Preservation Association is pleased to be involved with a new project at the Devonport Leat which aims to achieve improved access for the public and protection for this interesting archaeological feature.  This follows completion of a similar scrub clearance project on Drake’s Leat which successfully opened up a walkway alongside the ancient watercourse for nearly two miles across Roborough Down.  Regular DPA volunteers were joined by external volunteers from youth groups and the business community from time to time, and the DPA’s conservation team hopes that this will also be the case with the Devonport Leat project".  

Peter O’Dell, Director of Tavistock Task Force said:

"We are a voluntary organisation working with people of all ages and abilities.  We are very grateful for the support of Roborough Commoners and the Dartmoor National Park Authority.  We are very pleased to be part of this project, helping clear the leat at Clearbrook of gorse and scrub.  Our volunteers have recently cleared over 900 metres of the old Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway, revealing well over 200 of the original sleepers. New volunteers are always welcome to join us on a variety of projects in Devon and Cornwall".

Ends

For further information from Dartmoor National Park Authority
Jane Marchand, Archaeologist
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer
Tel: (01626) 832093

For further information from Roborough Commoners’ Association
Peter Tarling – Secretary to Roborough Commoners
pa.tarling@btinternet.com   
Tel: (01752) 785370

For further information from the Dartmoor Preservation Association
Rachel Watson
Publicity Officer, Dartmoor Preservation Association
Tel: (01822) 614855

For further information from Tavistock Task Force
Peter O’Dell, Director, Tavistock Task Force
Tel: (01822) 610071 tavy.taskforce@btconnect.com

Notes for Editors
Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway
This horse drawn tramway ran for 25 miles along a single track line. It was the creation of Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, the founder of Princetown, and opened in 1823. It carried goods from Princetown to Plymouth. By the mid nineteenth century the Railway had fallen out of use. Some of the line was later taken over by the Great Western Railway.  Today part of the line is now incorporated into the National Cycle Network.

Plymouth or Drake’s Leat was constructed under the guidance of Sir Francis Drake to carry water from the river Meavy to Plymouth.  It opened in 1591.

The Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) has a stated aim of preserving the archaeology and heritage of the moor, and for a number of years its conservation team of volunteers has undertaken land management work to maintain ancient monuments on Dartmoor. If interested in volunteering, please contact the DPA office tel. 01822 890646 or the DPA’s Devonport Leat project leader, Keith Ryan, tel. 01752 405245.

Tavistock Task Force is made up of volunteers of all ages and abilities from the local community. They undertake a wide variety of practical conservation work, ranging from conserving archaeological sites by vegetation clearance to opening up old footpaths, and from tree planting to dry stone walling. Contact Peter O’Dell, Director, Tavistock Task Force
Tel: (01822) 610071 tavy.taskforce@btconnect.com

Dartmoor National Park Authority’s purposes under the Environment Act 1995 are:

• to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park;

• to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public.

In carrying out this work, we are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.