Community News Release
Issue 28 December 2006
Welcome to the twenty-eighth edition of the Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Community News, helping to keep you up to date with the latest issues, developments and work on the ground within the National Park.
If you edit or contribute to any community newsletter/magazine please feel free to use any of the information contained in this News Release. All issues of Community News can be accessed on the Dartmoor National Park Authority web site at www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk (click on In the News).
Dartmoor National Park Authority Meetings
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Development Control Committee meetings are available on the Authority's web site. These Agendas are placed on the Authority's web site 7 days in advance of the meetings.
If you have any suggestions for items you would like included in future issues, or if you wish to contribute an item, please contact Mike Nendick, Communications Officer (External Relations), Dartmoor National Park Authority Tel:(01626) 832093.
This issue of Community News contains articles on:
•Dartmoor National Park Management Plan update
•Local Development Framework: Core Strategy Preferred Options - Local Consultation Events
•News from Dartmoor National Park saves paper
•Buy one get one free - Moor Memories Seasonal Offer
•Dartmoor Milestones post card
Forest of Dartmoor Fire Management Plan
•Dartmoor’s Ancient Woodlands gain £30,000 for extra care
•Tombstone returns to Dartmoor Church
•The Old Manor House Ilsington
•Mrs Hutchison’s seat at Birchy Lake Moor Gate
•The Palaeolithic Rivers of South West Britain Project (PRoSWeB): fieldwork & outreach
•Launch of ‘Woodfuel South West’
This issue of Community News also contains:
•News from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund
Dartmoor National Park Management Plan Update
The Dartmoor National Park Management Plan is in the process of review. To date, stakeholders, special interest groups and representatives from the community had the opportunity to attend workshops to discuss Dartmoor’s special qualities, the challenges and opportunities facing the National Park in the future, and possible ways forward. The final workshops are being held in December 2006 and the consultants working on the project will begin to prepare a first draft of the new Management Plan in the New Year.
To see what has been produced so far, log on to Dartmoor National Park Authority’s web site, where you will find:
•a set of draft Ambitions statements of where we want to be in 20 years time;
•draft Goals - steps towards achieving the Ambitions over the next five years;
•draft Means to Achieve - activities which need to be undertaken to attain the Goals.
And
A set of Key Principles which will underlie the Plan.
We would welcome views on these. Remember, the National Park Management Plan is a Plan for the National Park (the place and the people), not the National Park Authority (the organisation). Many organisations and partnerships can help attain the Goals.
Following preparation of the draft new Management Plan, there will be further consultation in the early summer of 2007.
Local Development Framework: Core Strategy Preferred Options - Local Consultation Events
Dartmoor National Park Authority ran a series of local consultation events on the Preferred Options version of the Core Strategy during the autumn. The events were held to publicise the new planning system and show how the Core Strategy fits into the Local Development Framework Framework.
The Forward Planning team visited 12 Dartmoor towns and villages with an exhibition display. Around 400 people visited the exhibitions and discussed planning issues with us. People are concerned about problems associated with climate change, use of natural resources, and sustainable development. There is a much greater awareness of the linkage between how we live our lives now and the effects on future generations. A great deal of interest in micro-renewable energy production and energy conservation is evident. The problem of providing affordable housing for local people continues to test everyone, as does the issue of the gradual erosion of local services and facilities. There was much interest in the settlement strategy, which defines the villages where local needs housing development can take place. There has also been a noticeable raising of interest in the accessibility and usefulness of public transport.
The Preferred Options Version of the Core Strategy is the mid way stage in the preparation of this development plan document. The process began last year with the publication of an ‘Issues and Options’ report. Early in 2007, another version - the submission document - will be sent to the Secretary of State and later in 2007 a public examination will be held. The public will be able to send in comments on the submission document and their views will be considered by the planning inspector. The inspector will then produce a report, which will be binding on the National Park Authority.
News from Dartmoor National Park saves paper
Subscribe to Dartmoor National Park Authority Releases online and help the National Park Authority in its efforts to save paper.
On average, Dartmoor National Park Authority issues 45 - 50 News Releases each year, and in doing so uses considerable paper.
Dartmoor National Park Authority strives to be environmentally responsible in its business activities. To reduce paper use it operates a dedicated email service for anyone wishing to keep up to date with the latest news from the Authority. This enables speedy and efficient communications and reduces the need for paper copies only to those with no access to computer technology.
If you have access to the internet you can receive an email notification every time a News Release, Community News, or Partnership Project News Release is issued by the Authority. All you have to do is visit www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk click on About us / In the News and click on Subscribe to DNPA News
At the beginning of the winter term, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Education Service, together with staff from South West Lakes Trust, led 80 art students from Tavistock Community College around the Burrator area. The aim was to get a group of local secondary pupils to appreciate the wonders of their locality and to use art, the perfect tool for observing and expressing their own reactions to Dartmoor. The year ten groups from Tavistock were using the area around Burrator for inspiration to start off the new term’s art work. The activity involved a brisk walk onto the Moor, over the rocks, around the hill, down the valley, across the stream, through the ruined farm, into the forest and back along the reservoir.
There had been a drought for about two months before the walk, but the effect of so many bright pupils with pencils and sketch pads brought on the drizzle that turned into protracted rain on both days!
Fifteen year olds can be surprising. Instead of the anticipated moaning and complaints, they appeared not to notice the rain at all. In the afternoon they took part in two sessions near the Burrator Lodge. One, led by Dartmoor National Park Authority staff, involved the use of ‘earth pigments’. These had been collected from around Dartmoor, turned into paints by adding water, and used to paint on sugar paper. As we all know, playing with mud can be great fun and a great heap of interesting paintings were produced. Similarly the South West Lakes Trust staff led a ‘rearranging the natural world’ exercise, that turned the lawn into a gallery of art and sculptures - all using natural items and colours found nearby. The work was then photographed, so as to allow the students to further develop their work in the class room.
The teachers allow the pupils’ skills and imaginations to grow by looking at other major artists work, e.g. Andy Goldsworthy or Peter Randall-Page, and by introducing them to new techniques such as textile printing, using collage and working with clay.
Buy one get one free - Moor Memories Seasonal Offer
There are now three volumes in the Moor Memories CD series, each comprising three hours of recollections of life on Dartmoor throughout the 20th century:
Collection 1, Rabbits Whortleberries and Railways
Collection 2, Lovely Days
Collection 3, Blacksticks and Blizzards
As a special seasonal offer, throughout November and December, if you buy any one of these, you will receive another absolutely free – an ideal opportunity to complete your collection of “Moor Memories CDs or solve your Christmas present dilemmas.
This offer is available at Dartmoor National Park Authority’s High Moorland Visitor Centre in Princetown, Postbridge Information Centre and Tavistock Tourist Information Centre, as well as Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Online Shop
Dartmoor National Park Authority has recently teamed up with the Milestone Society to produce an attractive new post card showing photographs of 7 of Dartmoor’s many historic granite milestones.
The images on the card include a milestone, standing along the mid 18th century Tavistock-Ashburton Turnpike road (from 1767 milestones were compulsory on all the turnpike roads, and were used to inform travellers of direction and distances, to help coaches keep to schedule and for charging for the change of horses at the coaching inns) and a photograph of one of Haytor’s horse drawn tramway’s granite milestones.
The post card is number 13 in a series, produced by the Milestone Society, which depict milestones from all around the country. The aim of the Milestone Society is to identify, record, research, and conserve the milestones and other waymarkers of the British Isles.
In Devon it has carried out invaluable work enumerating the milestones which survive along the many hundreds of miles of Devon’s roads.
The card will be on sale at the Authority’s Information Centres.
Forest of Dartmoor Fire Management Plan
Fighting wild fires on the Dartmoor Forest was the burning topic for 72 commoners, fire-fighters, Rangers, Dartmoor Rescue Group and the Ministry of Defence at Okehampton Camp on Monday 16 October 2006. Andy Guy of Natural England set the scene by explaining the importance of Dartmoor, with particular emphasis on its importance as a reservoir for drinking water and to store carbon to reduce global warming. Keith Swallow and Tony Hammond of Devon Fire and Rescue Service described how fires are fought, fire-fighters organised and the safe system of work required. The emphasis throughout, reflected by Colin Abel, Chairman of the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners’ Association, was team work – as every one could contribute to the protection of Dartmoor. The Fire Service demonstrated their appliances and command system and after an appropriately fiery curry lunch, various possible scenarios were examined and discussed to reinforce relationships, which would help to protect Dartmoor and farmers’ livelihoods.
The day was organised by Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, the MoD, Devon Fire and Rescue Service and the National Park Authority’s Ranger Service as the practical result of the new Dartmoor Forest Fire Management Plan. This plan creates a new, structured way of working together on emergency – out of control – fires on the high moor. The plan has brought together the Devon Fire and Rescue Service, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Forest of Dartmoor Commoners’ Association, Ministry of Defence, Natural England and the Duchy of Cornwall.
Dartmoor National Park Authority is again offering free hedgelaying courses, in early January 2007, for those who wish to learn how to lay a hedge in traditional style. There are two, two-day courses offering eight places on each, where trainees will be taught the principles of hedgelaying, using only traditional tools – billhook, bowsaw and axe.
The courses are run in partnership with the Devon Rural Skills Trust. Instructor Mr M D Hannaford, who has many years of experience, will be teaching.
There is no fee, but the intention is to benefit the Dartmoor landscape, so priority will be given to those who live or work on Dartmoor, and who intend to make use of their skills. These courses are usually over-subscribed, so early application is advised.
For more information, please contact Sue Halse, Land Management Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Parke, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9JQ. Tel: (01626) 832093
Dartmoor’s Ancient Woodlands gain £30,000 for extra care
Extra money is being provided by the Forestry Commission to make it easier for owners to safeguard the woodlands that have been a wildlife-rich part of Dartmoor’s scenery for 500 years or more.
The cash adds £30,000, over the next two years, to support the grants fund of Restoring Ancient Woodland (RAW) – a partnership project, supported by Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission, Natural England and the Woodland Trust - to help care for woodlands within Dartmoor National Park that are known to date back to at least AD1600.
RAW will use the money to help owners/managers to devise, finance and implement restoration management plans, including the removal of invasive rhododendron. The project also promotes the planning and creation of new native woodlands that extend or link ancient sites.
Through RAW, owners and managers can access information on the cultural, economic, historic, and wildlife value of their ancient woodlands; get free hands-on help to plan and manage restorations or new plantings, and a clear route to sources of funding, including Woodland Improvement Grants, to contribute to the costs of any work.
Land-holders who want to find out more about the assistance on offer should contact the RAW office – by telephone: (01626) 832093; email: trees@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk or post: RestorinDartmoor National Park Authority, Parke, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, TQ13 9JQ. Project information also appears on Dartmoor National Park Authority’s web site: www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk.
Tombstone returns to Dartmoor Church
On 12 December 2006 Dartmoor National Park Authority Archaeologists and Conservation Works Team returned a tomb coverstone to St Michael’s Church, Ilsington.
The coverstone has been in the possession of Torquay Museum for the last 80 years. It was removed from its position in the central aisle of the church during work to the floor in 1883. The stone was rediscovered in 1926 being used as a bridge over the Cadewell stream, Torquay, and given to Torquay Museum.
The stone is inscribed with a simple cross and possibly the letters WB. As yet there is no clear indication of who this stone commemorates, but given its former position in the nave it could well be a former incumbent of St Michael’s. There have been a number of vicars with the initials WB and they date from the 15th to the 18th century. It is planned to carry out further research in order to try to establish whose initials are inscribed on the stone.
The granite coverstone, which weighs just under one ton, was placed upright in the north transept of the church, standing on a granite pedestal which was made by Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Conservation Works Team.
Earlier this year one of the church wardens for St Michael’s Church in Ilsington, approached Dartmoor National Park Authority for advice and help with the control of ivy growth covering the remains of a wall standing in the graveyard which was said to be part of the old Manor House of Ilsington.
Initially, the Authority was able to help with the removal of the ivy by providing resources in kind through its Historic Features Grant Scheme. What then emerged was quite unexpected and posed something of a challenge to both National Park Authority archaeologist and historic buildings officer alike!
With the old Manor House wall and other features unmasked after so many years many questions began to emerge. What does the wall actually represent? How old are the remains? Are there any old plans of the building or perhaps an engraving showing it near the church? How should the remains be best conserved?
With this in mind the Authority appointed archaeologist Stewart Brown to measure, record and interpret the wall fabric. Stewart has spent many years working at Buckfast Abbey, Totnes Castle and Berry Pomeroy Castle etc. for English Heritage. His expert discerning eye soon began to tease out a range of features and detail from the incomplete jigsaw picture of this once fine house. To help with Stewart’s interpretation Dr Anita Travers headed off to Exeter to undertake meticulous investigation of documentary records.
On the practical side, the next challenge was to embark on the use of lime mortars to consolidate stonework and sustain the wall fabric and other features. Phil Brown of the Cornish Lime Company kindly gave up an afternoon and travelled across the border to give us the benefit of his expertise. The use of lime instead of cement in the repair of old buildings is a world apart from our modern building techniques. Those long used traditional skills, which were so nearly lost, have to be relearned and carefully applied to a very difficult situation.
So what do the remains all mean? The ruined wall in St.Michael’s graveyard was once the rear or side wall of a two-storied rectangular 16th or 17th century building and probably formed part of the west range or wing of the former Manor House, which is known to have stood close to the church. In the 19th century, the ruins were more extensive, and writers described them as belonging originally to an E-shaped Elizabethan house.
There is still plenty of work to be done before the ruined wall is finally conserved and available for the public see. It is also hoped that the local primary school, which is built partially over the site, and which has a direct view into the graveyard and the wall, will have an opportunity to learn from all of the work described.
Mrs Hutchison’s seat at Birchy Lake Moor Gate
Belstone Parish Council recently applied, though Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Historic Features Grant Scheme, for practical assistance in clearing and restoring the old granite seat situated at Birchy Lake moor gate.
The seat was placed by Lt Col Henry Hutchison of Resugga, to give Mrs Hutchison a place to sit and take a rest on the steepest part of her walk home from the village. Resugga was built in 1900-01 and the approach to the house was then by a drive which went out onto the Moor from Birchy Lake gate and curved round to the west to reach Resugga.
At that time there were two stone cutting yards in the village and there is reference in 1901 to William Brock, who worked at one of the yards, being paid £4 5/3d for ‘cutting and fixing stone seats’ so it seems very probable that one of these was Mrs Hutchison’s seat.
Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Conservation Works Team has recently completed the work.
A chunk of bog oak, recovered from about 1 metre down in the peat during the digging of a pond in the Widecombe-in-the-Moor area, has just been sent to Sheffield University for dendrochronology dating.
This is the fourth piece of bog oak that Dartmoor National Park Authority has sent up to Sheffield for analysis. Two other chunks, recovered from the Dart valley area failed to fit into a dendrochronological sequence, but were subsequently radio carbon dated revealing dates of 2,460 - 2,120 BC and 5,200 - 5,180BC.
Dendrochronology works on the principle that trees add a growth ring for each year of their lives and variations in climatic conditions affect the width of these rings. By comparing a series of rings from a tree of known date (eg still alive) with a series from an earlier, dead tree, overlapping in age, ring patterns from the central layers of the recent tree and the outer of the older may show a correlation which thus allows the dating of the older tree. The central rings of this older tree may then be compared with the outer rings of a yet older tree and so on until the dates reach back into prehistory.
As yet there is no complete sequence for Dartmoor’s bog oak and Sheffield are very keen to establish this.
The Palaeolithic Rivers of South West Britain Project (PRoSWeB): fieldwork & outreach
Earlier this year, the date for the first occupation of Britain by hominins (early humans) was pushed back to ~700,000 years ago by the discovery of 32 flint artefacts at Pakefield, Suffolk. The earliest skeletal remains continue to be those from the well-known site of Boxgrove, West Sussex, dated to ~500,000 years ago. These come from a species known as Homo heidelbergensis, a precursor to the Neanderthals. In the south-west region, the site of Kent’s Cavern has been re-dated (prior to the PRoSWeB project) and represents the earliest evidence of hominin activity in the area. The re-dating programme established that the layer above the Lower Palaeolithic artefacts was at least 340,000 years old, meaning that the artefacts may be as old as the finds from Boxgrove.
Traditionally the south-west region has been seen as a backwater in the Palaeolithic occupation of Britain, but this is partly related to the distribution of river terrace deposits. These are parts of the ancient floodplains of rivers that flowed thousands of years ago, and are the most common places in which British Palaeolithic material is found. In south-east Britain, river terrace deposits exist in large quantities and are worked as aggregates, but in the south-west there are comparatively few. Where they are preserved, (sometimes high above the present river), river terrace deposits represent an excellent opportunity to learn about the sort of landscapes hominins occupied, and when hominins were here. In the south-west the river terrace deposits have been minimally studied and dated. A detailed dating and fieldwork programme, and raising the profile of the region’s Palaeolithic archaeology have therefore been the main aims of the PRoSWeB project.
Initial results from PRoSWeB fieldwork show that there are more Palaeolithic archaeological findspots in the region than previously thought; that some of the river terraces are very old; and that the landscapes of the south-west were very different in the Pleistocene past. For example, the deep valleys that characterise much of the area were formed, geologically speaking, very recently. Preliminary dating results from the river gravels suggest an occupation of the south-west by hominins at least 250,000 years ago and probably over 300,000 years ago. Some of the first hominins to live in the south-west region then, would have been part of a landscape dominated by large braided floodplains with relatively low topographic relief.
Numerous outreach events (geoarchaeological walks, lithic identification days, and educational days for school children) have been held as part of the project and teaching boxes of replica artefacts and information sheets are currently being prepared, although the exact distribution details are still being finalised. For more information on the project’s fieldwork, results, and outreach activities, please visit http://www.rdg.ac.uk/palaeorivers/ (external link,opens new window)
Launch of ‘Woodfuel South West’
This is a new initiative supported by the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund.
The scheme will provide free advice and support to households, communities, schools, business and public sector bodies who may be considering a modern wood heating boiler system as an alternative to fossil fuels. It will also be offering grants for projects located within participating Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Dartmoor National Park. These grants, which form part of the Sustainable Development Fund operating in the region’s Protected Landscapes, will be awarded to suitable wood burning installations on a first-come, first-served basis.
Woodfuel South West is very keen to hear from people within Dartmoor National Park interested in installing wood heating. The advice service which is managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy can be contacted on a dedicated help line on 08450 74 06 74. Suitable cases may be eligible for an on-site consultation visit from one of several renewable-energy experts involved in the scheme. Calls will be charged at local rates.
The aim of the project is to provide the forestry industry in the South West with an increased market for wood fuel. This will support the maintenance of the region’s biodiversity by expanding the amount of managed woodland. Further positive outcomes of the scheme include an increase in renewable energy and decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, an improvement in the public awareness of the benefits of renewable energy, and a step towards greater co-ordination of the woodfuel industry in the South West.
The project will help the South West develop a vibrant, commercial wood fuel heating and power industry that will make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and maximise local benefits.
News from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund
To date the Dartmoor Sustainable Development fund has received over 300 expressions of interest of which 190 were developed into formal applications. 132 of those have been successful, winning grants totalling £848,489 and levering in a further £ 2,275, 561 in match funding. That’s well over £3M going into the local economy to support projects that both make a contribution towards the achievement of the National Park Authority’s puposes and to kick start innovative new ideas for more sustainable ways of living in, working in, or visting Dartmoor.
Money for the Fund comes from Defra and from the South west of England Regional Development Agency which have delegated the administration of the scheme to Dartmoor National Park Authority. Decisions on applications are made by an independent Grant Advisory Panel with eight members representing a range of interests covering social, environmental and economic issues.
In September the Panel accompanied by representatives from SWERDA toured a selection of the projects that had recently received grants including: a viewing gallery for visitors to the Old Walls Hydro scheme which generates sufficient electricity for 80 households; the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust’s visitor centre; Proper Job’s biodiesel buyer’s club; and a device being develped by HEIDRA and DARE which can monitor the flow in a water course to accurately predict the potential output for a hydro-power turbine.
One of the highlights of the tour was a visit to Bellever Forest where Dartmoor Area Forester Peter Verney explained how a grant from the Fund had enabled the Forestry Commission to run a one year pilot scheme to employ six prisoners from HMP Dartmoor, to clear sitka spruce from stream borders, repair footpaths and other conservation works that they would not otherwise have been able to afford.
The project was clearly seen to have benefited the environment – improving stream water quality, and increasing biodiversity. It had also improved the experience for visitors to the forest. The prisoners gained landscape management qualifications and work experience. It is of interest to note that only one of those initial prisoners, now released, has re-offended, and the others have all been able to obtain employment.
The success of that pilot has convinced the Forestry Commission to invest £40,000 of its own cash together with £90,000 of contributions in kind and enabled them to successfully bid for £205,000 from the BIG Lottery Fund, so that the project will continue for a further five years.
There is still £400,000 remaining in the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund to allocate to suitable projects between now and April 2008.
For more information, or to discuss your ideas for potential applications, please contact the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund Officer on (01626) 832093.
This section is included in issues of Community News. It will be available for community groups to request help, raise awareness of successful projects and joint initiatives etc from other groups/parish councils over the moor, such as successful sources of funding, requests/offers of loans of equipment, joint purchasing to benefit from bulk buying etc. Contact Joanna Rumble, Senior Planning Officer (Community), Dartmoor National Park Authority on (01626) 832093.
This issue contains information on:
Visitors to Dartmoor on Sundays who wish to leave the car at home can now benefit from Fare Car service F16 operating to Princetown from Tavistock and Yelverton all year round.
It runs to fixed arrival and departure times, but only for passengers who have booked in advance. Vehicles used are taxis and private hire vehicles. There is a flat fare of only £1.50 per single journey.
There are services during the day on Sundays from Tavistock to Princetown at 1020, 1220 and 1530 and from Yelverton to Princetown at 1120, 1320 and 1620. Fare Cars return from Princetown to Tavistock at 1000, 1145, 1345, 1635 and 1800, and from Princetown to Yelverton at 1045, 1245, 1600 and 1910. You may alight or board at any point within Princetown, but not outside the village. The points served in Tavistock are Bedford Square, the Bus Station and the Hospital whilst the collection/drop off point in Yelverton is the Roundabout bus stop where most journeys connect with the 83 bus service to and from Plymouth. The service also runs later in the evenings on Sundays and evenings throughout the week.
To reserve a place on this service, which must be done at least four hours before travel, please ring Bernie Taxi Services on 01822 615777. Contact Devon County Council, who financially support the service, on 01392 383481 for more information.
Although the Sunday bus network is much less for the winter period, Transmoor Link 82 operates to a reduced timetable on Sundays as well as Saturdays. Service 98 runs between Princetown, Tavistock and Yelverton on Mondays to Saturdays throughout the year. For more information on bus times, please ring Traveline on 0870 608 2608.
Why not leave the car at home next time you visit Dartmoor and use the Fare Car or travel by bus?
Lynne Clarke has been appointed as the first Action Co-ordinator for Devon by Action for Blind People.
Her role is to work with anyone with a sight problem (they don't have to be blind or registered) who is trying to find their way around services and facilities.
She can work with anyone of any age who lives in Devon.
She can help with anything including benefits, housing, leisure, planning and health and she can "hand hold", advise or just signpost depending on individual need.
If you have a customer who needs support contact Lynne on:
01392 332 818 or 07738 890 023
Or e-mail lynne.clarke@actionforblindpeople.org.uk
Very few applications are being submitted to Awards for All in our region for projects that seek to address the regional indicator ‘improved skills for running small community groups’. This can include for example training in fundraising, committee roles, child protection, marketing or volunteer support and obtaining professional support. Awards for All wish to attract more projects of this type and have asked for more applications to be submitted.
Overview
•Awards for All is a Lottery grants scheme for local communities and is supported by Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England
•Organisations can apply for grants from £300 to £10,000
•Activities such as art, sport, heritage, education, environment, health and others that benefit the local community may be funded
•Aims are to extend access and participation, increase skill and creativity and improve quality of life
•A range of organisations can apply including not for profit groups, parish or town councils, schools and health bodies
For more information visit www.awardsforall.org.uk (external link,opens new window) or call 0845 600 20 40.
The Village CORE Programme will provide start-up funding to new community-owned shops over the next three years. The programme provides a start-up grant of £20,000. The community-owned village shop will need to obtain the same amount from the village and from a loan.
The programme is a partnership between ViRSA, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance with the Plunkett Foundation acting as the accountable body.
To be successful applicants need to satisfy seven criteria:
-Be a community organisation
-Be or intending to be an incorporated and socially-owned legal entity
-Be located in a rural community of more than 200 residents
-Be in a community where the village store will be the only one
-Can identify at 50 lives who will be significantly disadvantaged without the shop
-Will be able to achieve financial viability
-Can demonstrate that the organisation has or will obtain the skills and expertise to successfully implement the village store.
For further information visit the web site http://www.virsa.org/villagecoreprogramme (external link, opens new window)
Dartmoor is home to small traditional farms and other businesses, many of which sell their goods direct to you, the customer. So rather than joining the queue at the supermarket, buy local, support local producers and the future of Dartmoor.
As you are travelling around keep a look out for farms selling their own produce direct form the farm. Choose those shops, pubs and restaurants that offer the best of quality local produce and if in doubt don’t be afraid to ask.
Local produce markets are also great fun to go along to. They only sell produce from a defined local area and the stallholders are the farmers and producers themselves so you can easily find all about what you are buying. A number of markets take place on or around the moor.
Local Produce Markets
Bovey Tracey, town centre
Saturday morning, fortnightly from 14 Jan 2006
Tina Richardson: (01626) 835363
Ivybridge, town centre car park
3rd Saturday of month
Jenny Farmer (01803) 861202
Newton Abbot, town centre
Every Tuesday
Mick Ford: (01626) 215427
markets@teignbridge.gov.uk
Tavistock Farmers' Market Bedford Square
2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month
9.00 am to 1 pm
Teign Valley Farmers’ Market, Community Hall, Christow
Every Wednesday morning
Bryony Falch: 01647 252887
Okehampton
3rd Saturday
Christine Brown: (01363) 83279
www.okehamptondevon.co.uk
Widecombe-in-the-Moor Village Market
The Church House, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, 10 am – 4 pm.
This popular Market brings together a wide variety of local producers and suppliers and is held once a month.
Everything sold at the market has a local link, with a superb selection of hand made furniture, deli goods, plants and herbs, breads and preserves, Widecombe blended leaf tea and ground coffee.
Market dates:
- 16 December 2006
Watch this space for dates in 2007
Local Producers Directory
B&M Farming, Lovaton Farm Partnership
Lovaton Farm, South Tawton, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2RA
Tel: (01647) 231649
Email: lovaton@btopenworld.com
www.traditionallyrearedmeat.co.uk/ (external link, opens new window)
Dexter beef is reared in a traditional manner on land in the countryside stewardship scheme. Home bred & fed, home produced feeds. The Gloucester old spot pigs roam freely in paddocks in the summer and straw yards in the winter to produce mouth-watering pork.
Local shops P.O stores (Spreyton), The Stores (S Zeal), Londis (Exeter rd garage Okehampton), Bridge Stores (Bow, Crediton), Spar (N Tawton). Direct to customers - delivered mail order, £10 postage, free for orders over £70.
Blackaller Honey
Rosemary Cottage, North Bovey, Devon TQ13 8RA
Tel: (01647) 440322
Email:peter@blackaller.fsbusiness.co.uk
http://www.blackaller.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
Honey and Bee products
Farmers’ markets in Crediton, Bovey Tracey, Exeter, Teignmouth + retail outlets.
Bottor Rock Farm
Hennock, Newton Abbot
Tel: (01626) 834247
Bottor Rock potatoes (12.5kg or 25kg). Beef in 1/8 mixed packs ready for freezer. Lamb, half or whole, all jointed and bagged ready for freezer.
All produce collected from farm. Some delivery can be arranged. Beef and lamb £5/kg.
Bramley and Gage
4 Long Meadow, south Brent, TQ10 9YT
Tel: (01364) 73722
Email: edward@bramleyandgage.com
www.bramleyandgage.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
Fruit Liqueurs, sloe and damson gins. All fruit sourced as locally as possible, made in the traditional way with no added flavouring, colouring or preservatives.
Buckfast Abbey, Buckland Abbey, Dartington Cider Press, Riverford Goes to Town, Rosemoor, Knighthayes & other shops in Dartmouth, Modbury, Salcombe and Tavistock.
Browne's Chocolates
Throwleigh, Devon, EX20 2HX
Tel: (0845) 456 0568
Email: sales@brownes.co.uk
www.brownes.co.uk/ (external link,opens new window)
Handmade chocolates.
Independent retailers throughout the region. No retail outlet here.
Buckfast Organic Bakery
Hamlyn house, Mardle Way, Buckfastleigh,
Tel: (01364) 642279
Email: sally@clivespies.co.uk
Vegetarian, organic pies and pasties. Gluten-free savoury pies. Luxury gluten-free cakes. Organic quality flapjacks.
Distribution via refrigerated courier or own refrigerated van.
Colston Farm 'Proper Pork'
Colston Road, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0LW
Tel: (01364) 643836
Traditional, slowly produced pork & ham from saddleback & Welsh white pigs, living a happy & contented life, slaughtered & butchered locally, free local delivery fresh or frozen.
Free local delivery (personally), no minimum, Buckfastleigh farmers’ market, Ilsington country store, Widecombe Post Office & store, restaurants and pubs in Buckfastleigh area.
Dartmoor Delectables
Whistle Cottage, The Old Station, Horrabridge, PL20 7RQ
Tel: (01822) 854729
Email: sue@goldingcook.com
http://www.dartmoordelectables.com (external link, opens new window)
Handmade preserves (jam, marmalade, chutneys, pickles) made in own Dartmoor kitchen. Locally sourced/grown produce used as much as possible. Reviving interest in unusual and old fashioned recipes e.g. marrow and ginger jam, highdumpsydeary jam.
Tavistock country market and Tavistock farmers’ market as part of a country market co-operative.
Dartmoor Kitchen
Little Ash Farm, Whiddon Down, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2QG
Tel: (01647) 231130
Email: info@dartmoorkitchen.com
Award winning pies, puddings and tarts using a mix of organic, local and seasonal ingredients. Pies include Devon steak and potato, roast butternut squash and tomato, game or potato, cheese and onion. The choice of puddings includes prune and almond, apple cake and fresh berry cheesecake. Tarts include smoked trout, courgette and sweet pepper, and asparagus and goats cheese.
Deliveries to pubs and specialist food shops twice a week. Direct from farm, 6 days a week. Home deliveries dependant on order/location.
Deer Force 10
c/o Mardlewood House, Higher Coombe, Scorriton, Buckfastleigh
Tel: (01364) 644420
Email: pmarding@hotmail.com
Organic Venison (soil association).
Riverfood farm shop or Rodney Cleave butchers in Ashburton.
Devonshire Farmhouse Ice Cream Ltd
Kittson View, Higher Murchington Farm, Chagford, TQ13 8HJ
Tel: (01647) 433170
Email: dfic@talk21.com
http://www.devonshirefarmhouse.com (external link, opens new window)
Bottled milk, clotted, double, single, whipping cream, luxury dairy ice cream, sorbets, and diabetic ice cream.
Retail, wholesale, home delivery (minimum order £25), mail order clotted cream.
Dunns Dairy
Beacon View Farm, Drewsteignton, Exeter EX6 6PF
Tel: (01647) 231452
Email: dunn_019@fsmail
Milk, Cream, Butter, Eggs.
On-site farm shop open 7am-5 pm Monday to Saturday. Supply various shops, hotels etc throughout Devon. Doorstep deliveries with no minimum order.
Haldon Woods Farm
Sourton Cross, Okehampton, EX20 4HX.
And Binkham, Yelverton, PL20.
Tel: (01822) 854652
Email: trishcarrington@tiscali.co.uk
Home produced and reared beef, lamb, mutton, pork. 15 varieties of sausages, bacon, gammon steaks, lamb and mint sausages and burgers. Eggs (chicken and duck, when available). Discounted barbecue, camper and freezer packs of meats. All meats sold frozen.
Collection from farm and by telephone order, free delivery within 25 miles.
Heaven Scent Herbs
Unit 9, Gidleys Meadow, Christow, Exeter, Devon, EX6 7HR
Tel: (01647) 252847
Email: anne@heavenscenthearbs.co.uk
www.heavenscentherbs.co.uk (external link,opens new window)
Handmade herb and spice mustards
Mail order service available, callers by appointment only.
Hogs Bottom Garden Delights
Unit 5a Westbridge Street, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 HDE
Tel: (01822) 613013
Email: hogsbot@aol.com
www.hogsbot.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
Cordial fruit vinegars, salad dressings, marmalade/chutneys/preserves, assorted cooked pies/quiches, All made from as much local produce as possible. Direct through farmers’ markets. Wholesale to about 50 shops/farm shops/cafés etc. Supply a few local pubs. Will soon be selling online.
Little Ash Farm
Little Ash Farm, Whiddon Down, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2QG
Tel: (01647) 231130
Email: info@littleashfarm.com
www.littleashfarm.com (external link, opens new window)
Organic Eggs, Salad bags, herbs, vegetables and fruit.
Farm shop, Monday – Saturday 9 am – 5 pm
Moorland Mist
Mitchelcombe Farm, Holne, Newton Abbot, TQ13 7SP
(01364) 631528
Email: clearlydevon@hotmail.com
Dartmoor water, supplied in returnable bottles - 250, 330, 750ml & 1litre glass bottles with still or sparkling water. 1, 5, 13, 15 & 19 litre HDPE bottles, still water for use with coolers and porcelain crocks.
Home delivery, trade sales to farm shops, health shops, pubs, hotels and restaurants (minimum order 4 crates). Contract bottling for 'own label' customers
Richard and Caroline Mann
Great Dunstone, Widecombe, Newton Abbot, TQ13 7TH
Tel: (01364) 621233
Email: greatdunstone@btinternet.com
Beef is sold in mixed 1/8ths or freezer packs consisting of: 2 x 8 oz rump steaks, 2 x 2-3lb topside, 5 x 0.5 kg braising steak, 5 x 0.5 kg mince. Lamb is sold in 1/2s or whole. Beefburgers and sausages also available.
Postal orders nationwide or minimum order of £30 to be delivered within a 30mile radius of Widecombe-in-theMoor.
Sherberton Beef and Lamb
Sherberton Farm, Princetown, Yelverton, PL20 6SF
Tel: (01364) 631276
Email: wood@anton-coaker.co.uk
www.anton-coaker.co.uk (external link,opens new window)
Home reared beef and lamb supplied fresh or frozen. Beef is supplied at one price per kilo and mixed orders are supplied. The meat comes in freezer friendly packs of a sensible weight, but specific weights can be catered for. Lamb is supplied by the half, jointed. Being hill lambs, halves are not huge and thus suit families or couples.
Deliver locally (radius 30 miles) and can collect from farm. Minimum order 5 kilos of mixed cuts.
Well Hung Meat
Tordean Farm, Dean Prior, Buckfastleigh.
Tel: 0845 230 3131
Email: sales@wellhungmeat.com
www.wellhungmeat.com (external link, opens new window)
Award winning (4 soil association food awards in 4 years) beef, lamb, pork, poultry, bacon and sausages by mail order. Monthly meat boxes containing all of the above.
Farm shop, postal/internet, farmers’ markets.
Happy Hogs Ltd
Moorlands Farm Shop, Whiddon Down, Exeter, EX20 2QL
Tel: (01647) 213666
Email: sargent@tinyonline.co.uk
www.moorlandsfarmshop.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
20 types of sausage, dry cured bacon, free range pork, organic beef, lamb and pork, game in season. Moorlands Farm Shop. Exeter, Tavistock and Okehampton farmers’ markets, and via mail order and the internet, free delivery on orders over £100.
Luscombe Organic Drinks
Luscombe Farm, Colston Road, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0LP
Tel: (08451) 303036
Email: info@luscombe.co.uk
www.luscombe.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
Organic fruit juices and traditional soft drinks including the gold medal award winning 'hot ginger beer'. Riverfood farm shops, Buckfastleigh and Christow farmers’ markets, local health food shops, deli's and garden centres. Mail order available.
Frenchbeer Farm Ltd
Frenchbeer Farm, Chagford, Devon, TQ13 8EX
Tel: (01647) 432427
Traditional free range or barn reared turkeys for Christmas, Aberdeen angus cross beef, reared & finished on Dartmoor, hung for flavour & succulence. Heather lamb, a true delicacy - available late summer/ autumn. Heather mutton - specially produced from our Scottish blackface flock. Farm gate sales - please phone.
Wild Beef
Hillhead Farm, Chagford, Devon, TQ13 8DY
Tel: (01647) 433433
High quality beef from native breeds of cattle. Reared and finished off unimproved grassland, they are killed locally and the meat is hung for at least 3 weeks. Available by home delivery, mail order and produce markets nationally. Mail order, home delivery - no minimum order, free delivery > £15. Crediton farmers’ markets. London markets.
Ullacombe Farm
Ullacombe Farm, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9LL
Tel: (01364) 661341
Email: ullacombefarm1@btinternet.com
Homemade bread, cakes, savouries, ready made meals & preserves made in farm kitchen. Organic veg grown in the kitchen garden and polytunnel, free range eggs, plus other local produce, Widecombe Beef, Torbryan Pork, free range Chicken. Farm shop: Mondays: closed, Tues - Fri: 9.30 am - 6 pm, sat: 9.30 am - 5 pm, sun 9.30 am - 4 pm.
Brimpts Farm/Beef Box
Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet, Dartmoor, Devon
Tel: (01364) 631 179
Email: info@brimptsfarm.co.uk
http://www.brimptsfarm.co.uk/ (external link, opens new window)
Beef direct to your door around the country, also available from farm shop, Winners of Devon Life magazine best food producers award 2005, Winners of westcountry farm diversification award 2005 at Royal Bath and West Show. Mail order - £30 minimum. Farm shop open all year - please call for details.
Tor to Tor Meat Delivery Service
Holwell Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 7TT
Tel: (01647) 221335
Email: meat@holwelldartmoor.co.uk
www.holwelldartmoor.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
Free delivery of Dartmoor’s finest fresh and frozen meat, all reared on moor farms. Pork - free range English saddleback pigs from Widecombe-in-the-Moor, whole or half pigs or choose the following: flavoured sausages, joints, bacon, hams, suckling pigs. Beef - Aberdeen angus cross galloway & south Devon and dexter, bred & fed at Widecombe. Lamb - organic from Holne. Seasonal game - from estates on Dartmoor including venison and pheasant. Fresh farm eggs. Delivers meat and eggs, no minimum order or delivery charge to residents and businesses on Dartmoor and outlying villages. Also attend monthly village market in church house at Widecombe-in-the-Moor.
RJR and SA Ashford
Bowden Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon,
Tel; (01364) 643955
Organic Beef and Lamb produced from the farm.
Local deliveries, also chilled box scheme. Also supply some local pubs and hotels.
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This page last updated 12 December 2006
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