Fire Starting through the Ages - Lydford Gorge

Wednesday 4 August, 12 noon, 2pm and 3.30pm: Demonstrations will show this essential ancient skill and the different techniques used. Normal admission charges apply. Suitable for age 11+, £3 per person. Booking essential on 01822 820320, lydfordgorge@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Young Bird Watchers - Plymbridge Woods

A fun childrens walk in the woods on Wednesdays 4, 11,18 and 25 August, 10am-12 noon. Come and identify all the different kinds of birds that live in the woods. Adult £1, child £4. Meet at Plym Bridge car park, grid ref SX 524 585. Booking essential (weekdays only) on 01752 341377, dartmoor@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Can you help with our community consultation for Castle Drogo

You may or may not be aware but at Castle Drogo we are in the early stages of developing a major project called Castle Drogo - A Design for Life?  A project to stop the Castle leaking whilst enhancing the visitor experience during a major £11.6m building project.


We are not expecting the building work to start until early 2012 so we are at the early development stages of the project and are keen to kick start some consultation and to get local organisations and groups thoughts and ideas at this early stage. In particular we are keen to understand if you would like to be involved and how we can build on existing working partnerships and possibly create some new and exciting opportunities together around the project both in the development of it and the delivery post 2012.

We would really value and appreciate your thoughts at this early stage and the link below takes you to a short questionnaire which should take only 5 minutes to complete.

We really appreciate your time in helping with this. If you are able to complete the online questionnaire by Monday 2nd August that would be great.

Pond Dipping - Parke, nr Bovey Tracey

Wednesday 28 July, 2-4pm: Discover the life in the leat with the aid of nets and microscopes. Child £2. Meet in main car park, grid ref SX 805 786. Booking essential (Monday to Friday only) on 01626 834748 or dartmoor@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Bracken in the Upper Plym Valley

Long term volunteer, Ryan (left) and Plymouth University placement student, Dan, carry out the annual bracken monitoring project in the Upper Plym Valley. The monitoring, which was established in 1997, is carried out between the 14th and 18th of July each year and is used to gauge the effectivness of the bracken management.

The bracken mangement, which has included spray treatment, bruising by hand and bracken rolling, is carried out to help protect the archaeological features on the site. The Upper Plym Valley is rich in archaeological remains and includes Bronze age settlements, 19th century tin streaming and the artifical mounds, known as pillow mounds, that originate from rabbit warrens.

Exeter College Away Day

Yesterday, 15th July, saw more than 60 members of the faculty of Exeter College came to Castle Drogo to work alongside staff members and volunteers from Drogo, the Teign Valley and Lydford Gorge.

It was a great day - even the weather was pretty kind to us (for St Swithin's Day) - and everyone got stuck in, working hard on a variety of projects, including; clearing the space around the 'Bunty House' in preparation for conservation work, the building of a fire pit and the start of construction of a temporary structure that will provide some shelter for school groups, etc. visiting the Castle over the summer.

Dunsford show 2010

Another show for the staff of the Teign Valley and Lydford Gorge, this time Dunsford show on the 3rd July. This is a lovely little show with a very friendly crowd. Profits from the show go to the local primary school. We had lots of interest at the stand, with people badge making, having a go at green woodworking or trying out the cross-cut saw. We had numerous takers for bird box making and interest in the goods in the shop manned by the girls from Lydford Gorge. We are always looking for new volunteers to help man our shows, and to help us engage with the public in general, so if this sounds like your kind of work, contact the Teign valley warden on 01647 433356. For more information on the Dunsford show, visit www.dunsfordshow.co.uk

Jazz on the Lawn - Finch Foundry

Sunday 11 July, 12.30-4.30pm: Bring a picnic and enjoy an afternoon of jazz with The Plough Boys. Adult £8 - admission by ticket only. For tickets call 01837 840046. (Normal admission charges apply.)

Dartmoor to the Sea - Widecombe

1 July - 30 September, 10.30-4.00pm: Come and see our free exhibition of machine embroidered pictures by Pauline Hearn. For information: 01364 621321.