Pony Tracking Day at Bellever was full of moorland magic
Our second Pony Tracking Day at Bellever, was a huge success and what a day it turned out to be.
More than 20 children, mums, dads and carers joined us for a brilliant morning of exploring, learning and pony spotting on Dartmoor.
We began at Postbridge Visitor Centre before heading through the woods towards Craps Ring. Along the way, the children became real wildlife detectives, searching for insects, plants and signs of the Dartmoor heritage ponies. Deep in the forest we ventured into a hidden glade where the ponies sometimes shelter. It felt like stepping into another world, quiet, peaceful and full of magic.
As we climbed higher towards the tor, everyone searched carefully for clues left behind by the ponies, including hoofprints and pony poo. We collected samples and showed the children how you can tell what ponies have been eating by looking closely at it. It was fascinating and definitely one of the highlights of the walk.
There was wildlife everywhere we looked. One child spotted an owl pellet complete with the tiny bones of a shrew inside, which sparked lots of excitement and questions. The insects were equally impressive, with one particularly obliging bug turning out to be a beautiful Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle.
Crossing the ancient Lych Way added a spooky twist to the adventure as the children listened to stories about the old track that stretches right across Dartmoor. Historically, it was used to carry coffins across the moor from remote communities to burial grounds, and it certainly captured everyone’s imagination.
Questions flowed throughout the walk as the children learned about the moor, its wildlife, history and, of course, the Dartmoor ponies themselves.
Then, just as we reached the wall where we had hidden fun activity packs for the children, something wonderful happened. Almost as if they had been waiting for us, the ponies appeared and began grazing right in front of the group.
Olivia, one of the children taking part, said: “That was really fun and I loved learning about all the bugs.”
One parent commented: “It was a fabulous way to bring children onto the moor, teach them about the ponies and help them learn in such an integrated way.”
The walk was led by Operations Manager Cath Anderson, whose in-depth knowledge of Bellever, the ponies and Dartmoor’s wildlife made the whole experience even more engaging.
We have two more Pony Tracking Days planned this year and would love for families to join us:
- Wednesday 29 July
- Wednesday 28 October
Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for booking details.