STONE WALLING – IMPROVING SKILLS FOR DARTMOOR CONSERVATION CHARITY

The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, whose Moorland site is on leased land at Bellever, Postbridge from Foresty England, has benefited from additional stone wall repair and construction training for its volunteer team who undertake so much good work at Bellever.

The training was part of a programme for volunteers in Dartmoor National Park linked to a programme called Funding for Capacity Building sourced through Historic England. The initiative was coordinated by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project and Andy Crabb one of the National Park’s Archaeologists and involved a wide range of groups helping to conserve the area’s historic landscape. Training ranged from formal qualifications in chainsaw and brushcutter use to 4 x 4 driving to heritage skills such as walling and hedge steeping.

The programme has been a great success and it is hoped that it will be repeated in the future.

If you are interested in learning new skills, getting out on to the Moor to do something constructive to help with the management of the environment and our amazing archaeology, please find out more about joining our conservation work at Bellever.  Contact Paul Rendell at paul.dartmoor@virgin.net

We also offer free guided walks at Bellever – suitable for people of all ages and abilities – to have an easy-going half day out learning about Dartmoor, its history, archaeology, myths and legends – and hopefully to see our herd of Dartmoor ponies!  Dartmoor Pony Society Pedigree ponies thriving on Dartmoor and doing what they do best – helping to manage the environment.  Contact us at admin@dpht.co.uk or call 01626 833234

The Dartmoor Hill Farm Project runs walling courses: email hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk if you are interested.