Enjoy Wild Dartmoor during the Festive Season

13 December 2005

Enjoy Wild Dartmoor during the Festive Season

Visitors to Dartmoor National Park Authority’s High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, can enjoy a glimpse of Dartmoor’s fascinating wildlife in a new exhibition organised by Dartmoor National Park Authority. Wild Dartmoor contains a collection of work contributed by some of the region’s best wildlife artists including Robin Armstrong, Carol Mullin, Sue Searle, John Walters and David Lister.

See the Devon Wildlife Trust’s digital slide show of Doodle Bugs, a unique collection of celebrity doodles, bringing awareness of the Trust’s Dart Catchment Project to the four corners of the world. The original celebrity doodles have been dispatched to countries as far afield as Australia, Canada, the USA, Japan and Israel, many of them for Christmas gifts, and have helped to raise thousands of pounds for the charity. The Auction continues until 18 December. Visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org (external link, opens new window) to find out more.

The Sharpham Trust, Ashprington, and the Bank Youth Project, Ashburton, have contributed two giant, three dimensional, creatures, used in this year’s Dart Water Festival, organised by the Dart Catchment Project. The Festival, held annually, encourages people to become involved in protecting rivers and appreciate the role of rivers in the local environment.

There will be displays form Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Action for Wildlife project. On 17 December, Dartmoor National Park Authority Guide, Mike Perriam will be giving a one hour talk Wildlife and Landscape at the High Moorland Visitor Centre. The talk starts at 2 pm, admission £2.00 adult, £0.75 child under 14.

Wild Dartmoor runs until 18 January 2006. The High Moorland Visitor Centre opens daily 10 am to 4 pm, but will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Princetown can be reached by bus from Plymouth, Exeter, Tavistock, and Yelverton. For further information on public transport telephone Traveline on 0870 608 2 608.

Other major National Park Authority exhibitions, including Rangers, the Spirit of the Pony, Dartmoor Crafts and Dartmoor Rock can be viewed online.

Ends

For Further Information

Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority

Tel: (01626) 832093

Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are now available on the Authority's website

You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (see www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk and click on News).

Subscribe to DNPA News

News Releases from all UK National Parks (external link, opens new window)

For Further Information from Contributors

Robin Armstrong Tel: (01822) 852370 www.robinarmstrong.co.uk (external link, opens new window)

David Lister Tel: (01822) 859170 www.pixelzing.com (external link, opens new window)

Carol Mullin Tel: (01822) 890767

Sue Searle Tel: (01392) 682401 www.acornecology.co.uk (external link, opens new window)

John Walters Tel: (01364) 643916 www.johnwalters.co.uk (external link, opens new window)

Devon Wildlife Trust Tel: (01392) 279244 www.devonwildlifetrust.org (external link, opens new window)

Action for Wildlife Tel: (01626) 831027 www.actionforwildlife.org.uk (external link, opens new window)

Bank Youth Project Tel: (01364) 653330

Sharpham Trust Tel: (01803) 732799 www.sharpham-trust.org (external link, opens new window)

Notes for Editors

The purposes of the Dartmoor National Park Authority are to conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of Dartmoor and promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public. In undertaking work to benefit the natural environment, the Authority;

provides advice and information to local people, businesses and organisations
works in partnership with other countryside agencies on joint areas of activity
runs grant schemes which benefit Dartmoor’s landscape and wildlife
owns and manages land (including moorland and woodland)
organises special projects which focus on particular areas or subjects.

With nature reserves throughout the county totalling over 3,000 acres (12,141 ha), Devon Wildlife Trust is closely involved in land and marine management, surveying, policy formulation and education. Devon Wildlife Trust employs highly qualified staff trained in all aspects of wildlife conservation. Hundreds of people, members and others, work on a voluntary basis; organising walks and talks, local conservation projects, monitoring local wildlife and raising funds

Devon Wildlife Trust’s internet auction of over 170 original, celebrity signed, dragonfly doodles is helping raise funds for conservation work on the River Dart. Many world-famous stars have depicted their own version of a dragonfly, with doodles from the likes of Kate Winslet, Ronnie Barker, Katie Melua, Ellen MacArthur, Frank Skinner, Bill Wyman and many more.

The Dart Catchment Project is working with people and communities to develop a sustainable approach to land and water management that conserves and enhances the River Dart Catchment for the benefit of both people and wildlife. The Dart Catchment Project is part of Cycleau - a transnational partnership working for the future of our rivers, estuaries and coasts. Visit www.cycleau.com (external link, opens new window)

Forthcoming Exhibitions at the High Moorland Visitor Centre

•20 January 2006 - 5 March 2006 Four Seasons - An exhibition by regional photographers.

•6 March - 10 March 2006 Centre closed for annual maintenance

•11 March - 29 March 2006 All different, All Local.-.Photographic exhibition by the Devon Racial Equality Council.

•31 March - 24 May 2006 Working the Woods - A celebration of local woodland and wood products.

•26 May - 24 July 2006 Shovel Down - An exhibition about the Shovel Down Archaeological Dig near Chagford on Dartmoor.

•26 July - 4 Oct 2006 Natural Beauty - Photographic images celebrating UK National Parks.

•6 Oct - 22 Nov 2006 Farms for City Children- An exhibition of work by photographers Chris Chapman and the late James Ravilious.

•24 Nov 2006 - 10 Jan 2007 Moor - An exhibition of paintings by Pennie Elfick/ Jenny Graham.

•12 Jan - 4 March 2007 Tors - Images by regional photographers.

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 33,000 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.

Return to General Interest News Releases 2005 Archive

This page last updated 13 December 2005

Send comments, enquiries, etc. to communications@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk