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Dartmoor Information Guide 2008 – 2009 PAGE 6 Dartmoor Information Guide 2008 – 2009 PAGE 7 Dartmoor NATIONAL PARKS Britain’s breathing spaces DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK contains good populations of six of the eight types of fritillary butterfly found in Britain. It forms a national stronghold for the two rarest species, the marsh fritillary and the high brown fritillary. The enclosed wet grasslands (known as Rhôs pastures) that lie in the valleys running off the open moors provide the habitat for the marsh fritillary. These fields have been traditionally grazed in late summer, when farmers allowed cattle and ponies to enter from drier fields above. In recent years, many of these sites have suffered from a lack of both suitable grazing and management of the invading scrub. The high brown fritillary requires grazed slopes on the fringes of the open moorland to maintain the violets and bracken litter needed by their caterpillars during the spring. During the past three summers, a Project Officer has been employed to visit key sites for these two butterflies and arrange for the most appropriate grazing and scrub management to take place, in conjunction with landowners, farmers and commoners. Numbers of the butterflies have begun to rise where it has been possible to implement this work. A practical guide to managing bracken and Rhôs pasture habitats for fritillaries on Dartmoor has been produced and awareness events have taken place. The practical management is largely funded through agri-environment schemes and the Project Officer’s post is supported by a group of organisations including the Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England and the Environment Agency. A few years ago the fate of the Dartmoor pony looked somewhat precarious. Now, with the help of various initiatives, the value of the pony and its worth to the owners has now risen substantially. The potential of ponies for grazing semi-natural habitats for nature conservation has been explored. The Dartmoor National Park Authority commissioned research into the feeding behaviour of Dartmoor ponies and set up a scheme with a Dartmoor pony owner to move three pony herds between a number of previously undergrazed Rhôs pasture sites. The ponies do surprisingly well on what might look like uninviting rough and wet grazing land. Once the young geldings get used to being handled and reach their third year, they are ready to be sold, either to other conservation bodies for nature conservation grazing or as children’s riding ponies. This National Park Authority scheme complements DARTMOOR’S CHARACTERISTIC landscape owes much of its wildlife value directly to the actions of farmers. Over the past few years Action for Wildlife: the Dartmoor Biodiversity Project, has been increasingly working with communities to benefit specific kinds of wildlife. In practice, this mostly means working with farmers who have a major influence over how favourable conditions are for wildlife. Bats and dormice have both received particular attention recently, and both rely on the farmed landscape and on being able to move freely around it. Neatly trimmed hedgerows may suggest that an area is well cared for, but they are generally far less valuable for wildlife which benefits from networks of tall bushy hedgerows, as pictured above. Species like bats and dormice need to be able to migrate across the landscape to ensure that they can always find the things they need to survive: food, shelter, and nest and breeding sites. Annually cut hedgerows provide much less food because many shrubs only flower and fruit on second-year growth. Species such as bats cannot even use them as a green corridor, to get to other more suitable areas. Isolated populations of declining species are very vulnerable, making their presence within a local area very precarious. All hedgerows need management by laying from time to time or they will be lost entirely. Adopting trimming regimes which mean hedgerows are not trimmed flat on top, and not trimmed every year – preferably no more than once every three years – makes a huge difference to wildlife. a number of other initiatives, such as those run by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, Dartmoor Pony Society and the Duchy of Cornwall, to secure a future for this iconic Dartmoor animal and help to keep some of the most valuable grassland habitats in the National Park in good condition. Last year saw the launch of a new approach to enable more visitors to enjoy the beauty of the best species-rich haymeadows on Dartmoor. Only about 20 hectares of best quality haymeadows are now left on Dartmoor. Over the past 30-40 years many grasslands have been made more productive but less species-rich through reseeding with more productive grasses and the addition of artificial fertilisers. Haymeadows were traditionally cut for hay in mid to late July to provide winter forage for animals and the ‘aftermath’ was then grazed until the following spring, when the meadows were again ‘shut up’ for hay. Only farmyard manure was used to fertilise the meadows, with the occasional use of lime to sweeten the grass. The National Park Authority recently arranged a series of Guided Walks to showcase the abundant flowers and insects to interested visitors. These were greatly appreciated and a series of walks is again being offered by the National Park Guided Walks service in June in the Postbridge area. For more information look for DNPA Haymeadow Walks in the Walks and Events supplement. Not so neat hedgerows can help our wildlife n A RARE marsh fritillary. Dartmoor is a natural stronghold. n MEADOWLAND WALKS showcasing the abundant flowers and insects are becoming increasingly popular. n PONIES grazing on Rhôs pasture. The Devon Guild of Craftsmen Jubilee Gallery, The Terrace café and large Craft Shop Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, Devon Free Admission 01626 832223 www.crafts.org.uk BOVEY WEAVERS Shop & Workshop See our looms working 1, Station Road, Bovey Tracey 01626 833424 www.boveyweavers.com More than 80 great places to stay all over Dartmoor National Park 01647 433593 www.helpfulholidays.co.uk “a truly magical evening – I never knew such a place existed” Sat 8 July - Thick as Thieves - best pop anthems Fri 21 July - The Brat Pack - sounds of the Sinatra era Wed 26 July - The Fab Beatles Wed 2 Aug - dIRE tRAITS Wed 9 Aug - Diamondogz - 70s glam rock All concerts: 8–10pm. £9 (£6 if bought 10 days before) Sheldon, Dunsford, Exeter EX6 7LE. 01647-252752 www. sheldon.uk.com/theatre [email protected] reg charity number 327394 Roadford Lake... near Okehampton Escape to the country for a variety of great activities... • sailing • • canoeing • • rowing • • walking • camping • ...or just relax in our tea rooms Call 01566 771930 for further details or visit www.swlakestrust.org.uk Follow the brown tourism signs to the Lakes Check our website for further details on activities and events Cholwell Riding Stables Mary Tavy, Tavistock Tel: 01822 810526 Situated on the moor just off the A386 Okehampton-Tavistock, between Mary Tavy and the famous Wheal Betsy Silver Lead Mine. We ride straight onto the moor into some of the most beautiful riding country. Novice and experienced riders welcome • Qualified tuition available • Hard hats and experienced escorts provided • Open all year • Friendly atmosphere • 1 and 2 hour rides S k a i g h S t a b l e s Belstone, Nr Okehampton From Easter-Sept 2008 AM & PM rides £16, p.p. p.h. leaving at 10am & 2pm £58 p.p. for Pub Rides, leaving at 10am Advance Booking Advised - please telephone 01837 840429(eve) 01837 840917(day) www.skaighstables.co.uk S e e D a rt m o o r f r o m th e S a d d l e Prices on application for 1 hour, 2 hours, or pub or half day rides. Open all year. 10 hunters and ponies. Hats and waterproofs provided. Beginners to advanced rides on open moorland with mature escorts. Babeny Farm Riding Stables Tel: 01364 631296 Poundsgate Chagford Swimming Pool Largest outdoor swimming pool in Devon Open daily from late May-September 2pm – 5.45pm Tel: 01647 432929 � Rides over Dartmoor tailored to individual experience whether a total beginner, experienced rider or somewhere in between. � Specialising in small groups and personal attention � Est 1962. BHS. Local Authority Licence www.dartmoor-riding.com Dartmoor Riding. Shilstone Rocks Riding Centre Widecombe in-the Moor. Devon Tel: 01364 621281 Gutted. Think this couldn’t happen to you? Floods are devastating. Find out if you are at risk. We can help. Don’t ignore the risk. Be prepared for flooding. Call 0845 988 1188 * or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline *BT calls cost up to 4p/min plus 6p set-up fee from your home. Other providers and mobiles may vary. An improving future for butterflies, ponies and haymeadows
