25 February 2005
Conservation Award Winners Announced
The 2004 winners of the Dartmoor National Park Authority’s biannual Edward Morshead Award have been announced. Mrs Sue Morshead and Bill Cann, Dartmoor National Park Authority Chairman, will jointly present the Award at a ceremony, at Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Headquarters, on 3 March. The Award is made in recognition of significant contributions to National Park purposes, ie the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the scenic beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of Dartmoor, and the promotion of the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities.
The Edward Morshead Award first prize goes to Heatree Activity Centre, near Manaton, for the reconstruction of a Bronze Age round house for the teaching of sustainable living. Second prize has been awarded to the Kelly Mine Preservation Society for sustained restoration and conservation work at Kelly Mine, near Lustleigh. Third prize is awarded jointly to the Duchy of Cornwall, for the development of the new Post Office and stores in Princetown, and Buckfastleigh Parochial Church Council, for the development of St Luke’s Church Buckfastleigh.
This year a Special Award is presented to Devon County Council for the Ashburton Bull Ring Enhancement Scheme.
Certificates of High Commendation, in recognition of meritorious contributions to the purposes of the National Park, will also be presented to:
Mr David Powell for conservation management leadership on Holne Moor, and with Dartmoor ponies;
The Dartmoor Preservation Association for the Dartmoor Bracken Stomping Project.
The Dartmoor Preservation Association Shield, in recognition of the best contribution by young people to National Park Purposes on Dartmoor, will be presented by Colin Turner, Chairman of the Association, to Doddiscombsleigh Community School for the creative use of Dartmoor for education.
In coming to their decisions the judges were impressed by the wide range of activities carried out by individuals, groups and organisations, all for the benefit of Dartmoor. They acknowledged the contribution and achievements of all the entries nominated for the Award.
Ends
For Further Information.
John Weir, Head of Communications
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority.
Tel: (01626) 832093
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Notes for Editors
The media are invited to attend the presentation of the Edward Morshead Award prizes to be held on 3 March, 6 pm, in the Meeting Room at Dartmoor National Park Authority Headquarters, Parke, Bovey Tracey.
Edward Morshead was Chairman of the Dartmoor National Park Committee from 1985 to 1989. He died in office. He spent much time on the ground, committed to farming and the conservation of the landscape.
To qualify, work or activity must take place within the boundaries of the Dartmoor National Park. Nominations and entries are accepted from any Devon resident, or County based professional or voluntary body. Individual projects of a practical nature contributing to landscape quality, ecological or archaeological/cultural conservation, or to enjoyment and understanding, can be entered. Nominations can also be made for outstanding individual, or corporate, contributions to Dartmoor and the National Park purposes. Entries must relate to the two years prior to the closing date.
There are three separate prizes within the Award Scheme:
First prize - a specially commissioned trophy, to be held for two years, and a cash prize of £250.
Second prize - £150.
Third prize - £100.
A certificate and permanent photographic memento for each Award winner will also be presented.
In addition the Dartmoor Preservation Association, which is kindly associated with the Award, offers a special recognition of outstanding conservation work carried out by young people. This section of the Award comprises a shield, to be retained for two years, and a cash prize. All entries received by the National Park Authority that relate to projects undertaken by young people are automatically considered.
Heatree Activity Centre, near Manaton, provides residential activity based learning programmes. The round house provides a location for teaching children about sustainable living – demonstrating that the use of modern conveniences cannot be taken for granted and helping them to understand the principles of reduce, re-use and recycle. Inspiration for the project came from a number of round house remains in the Centre grounds. Work was grant aided by the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund.
The Kelly Mine Preservation Society was formed in 1984 of local mining enthusiasts to save and reconstruct the abandoned mine at Kelly, near Lustleigh. Until its closure in the 1950s, the mine produced micaceous haematite (a form of iron oxide). Members of the Society have devoted many voluntary hours to the restoration of the buildings and machinery and have carried out detailed research into the history and development of the mine. The Society holds regular open days and plays host to many visiting societies and groups.
St Luke’s Church was built on the site of an austere Victorian chapel-of-ease in the heart of the community. It resulted from the Parish Church of Holy Trinity, some way outside the centre of Buckfastleigh, being damaged by fire. A bold approach was adopted that was loosely based on a hexagonal footprint that would allow for a flexible and varied use of the building and take a congregation of 250 persons and a choir.
In March 2003, Princetown’s post mistress, greengrocer and newsagent retired. The continuation of these services in the existing three separate premises looked doubtful. In recent years the fabric of the building, housing the businesses, had become dilapidated and in need of modernisation. The premises are all owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, which took the opportunity to compress the three businesses into what is now the refurbished Princetown Stores. The design seeks to emulate the appearance of a traditional village store whilst retaining an empathy with the Princetown Conservation Area and ensuring a viable future for these vital village services.
The Devon County Council led Ashburton Bull Ring Enhancement Scheme was developed in partnership with the Town Council, Chamber of Trade and Dartmoor National Park Authority following a request from the town for a scheme to address significant problems faced by pedestrians in the Bull Ring. The scheme supports the environmental and economic regeneration of the commercial core of Ashburton, bringing the Bull Ring area up to a standard that reflects the quality of the surrounding private business premises.
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,400 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
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This page last updated 25 February 2005
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