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The following events have been organised over the next few months. More details can be found in our Newsletters. New events are normally added to the website to coincide with Newsletters being posted.
Please use the Book Now buttons to book places and pay online. If you are a Dartmoor Society member please sign into the Member Centre beforehand so you can book places for members-only events and not need to enter all your contact details every time.
Alternatively you can download and print a booking form and post it to us together with a cheque to cover any payment to The Dartmoor Society, PO Box 570, Torquay, TQ1 9JB.
When our events are over-subscribed, waiting lists are created. If you find that you cannot attend an event you have booked for, please contact the Honorary Secretary as soon as possible. Your place can then be allocated to someone else.
Monday 13th May, 10:00am – 12:00pm
EX6 7EL, SX 7998 8740
Burnicombe Wood, Bridford, is a jewel of an ancient semi-natural woodland and is where John Williamson and his colleagues work. Their locally based company Dartmoor Woodcraft has an accent on restoration and biodiversity, and they endeavour to retain a natural, unique environment incorporating woodland management skills in this beautiful, unspoilt part of Dartmoor.
Although John and his team carry out a considerable amount of horse logging work using their own heavy horses, our walk and talk visit will be focussing primarily on Burnicombe Wood itself, enabling us to understand more about the flora and fauna and learning about ancient woodland crafts such as coppice work with hazel, the making of hurdles and charcoal burning. We will be able to view the heavy horses even though they are not actually ‘worked’ at this particular time of year.
As with any woodland area in the season of spring this visit will also provide us with a profusion of spring flowers such as bluebells, etc, for us all to enjoy.
John and his team have provided a parking area for us located at SX 7998 8740 and the postcode is EX6 7EL. The directions are as follows: Take the lane signposted Burnicombe Farm, near Plaistow Green, south-east of Heltor Rock. At the end of the straight section which is rough and bumpy, the lane bends sharply down to the right. Carry straight on over the brow where you will see an agricultural barn at the bottom. Go down towards this and take the field entrance on the left just past the barn towards a more modern barn. This leads to the parking area.
Friday 14th June, 2:00pm – 4:30pm
St Leonard's Church, Sheepstor (PL20 6PF, SX 5602 6766) and St Paul's Church, Yelverton (PL20 6AB, SX 5210 6775)
For about ten years Dr Helen Wilson has studied and researched the exquisite church carvings created by the Pinwill sisters in the early 20th century and we are delighted that she has agreed to provide a double visit to two beautiful Dartmoor churches, to give us an insight on the life and work of the Pinwill sisters and their amazing output.
The programme for the afternoon is as follows:
2pm – Arrive at St Leonard’s Church, Sheepstor (PL20 6PF, SX 5602 6766). There is limited parking in the village, with more available on the road to Sheepstor village, close to the Sheepstor dam (part of Burrator reservoir), but before you enter the village itself. There is a public toilet by the main Burrator dam. Tea and biscuits will be provided on arrival and we will enjoy a short talk by the churchwarden on the history of the church itself.
2.30pm – Talk by Helen Wilson on the Pinwill woodcarving business and their specific work at Sheepstor.
3.30pm – Arrive at St Paul’s Church, Yelverton (PL20 6AB, SX 5210 6775). There is limited parking close to the church itself (some of it fee-paying) and there are public toilets nearby. Alternatively, take the nearby turning off the A386 to Crapstone and Buckland Monachorum and park on the old airfield. We will then enjoy a talk by Helen on the church and the specific Pinwill carving there.
4pm – An opportunity to climb up the church tower with the churchwarden to see extensive views over Dartmoor.
This will be a fascinating afternoon giving us an insight into both of these wonderful Dartmoor churches as well as the life and work of the remarkable Pinwill sisters.
Friday 19th July, 5:00pm
Langaford Farm Charitable Trust (TQ13 8RH, SX 704 845)
We are delighted to announce this year’s summer BBQ will be held at Langaford Farm Charitable Trust near Lettaford (TQ13 8RH, SX 704 845).
The trust was established in 2002 to maintain and encourage the ecological enhancement of its 100 acres of farm land and for several years has enjoyed working with various outside professional bodies to achieve these aims.
One such organisation is Butterfly Conservation with which they have encouraged many rare and unusual species of butterfly and moth. This work resulted in the trust winning an award in 2011 in recognition of their contribution to conserving the Marsh Fritillary butterfly.
The farm can boast over 100 species of lichen, numerous mosses and liverworts and, by developing large pond areas, has promoted a wider diversity of wildlife.
At 5pm, prior to the BBQ, one of the Trustees and our host John Mills has kindly arranged for us to enjoy both a short talk on butterfly conservation at Langaford as well as a fairly level walk with a butterfly and moth theme.
The BBQ itself will start at 6pm.
The exact location is known as Farm 2 and has a large barn/seating area with toilets and a very large field at the side suitable for car parking. As usual bring along your own favourite choice of drink, bottle of wine, etc – paper cups will be provided.
Full directions and more details will be given in our June Newsletter.
