Recent visitors to Exmoor National Park’s HQ, Exmoor House, may have noticed a series of Exmoor-centric paintings which we had on temporary loan from local artist Jo Minoprio (Moorland Art). They will now be available to view as part of the “EXMOOR TO THE SEA” exhibition at Landacre Gallery, starting this Saturday (23rd), running until Sunday 8th October between 11am and 6pm. In preparation for the opening, we decided to get a view from Jo as to what inspires her art.
We’re delighted to be able to share excerpts from a post written by Tim of Travelgarb blog about his recent visit to Exmoor with three generations of his family (with ages ranging from 9 to 90!).
Last week saw the unveiling by BBC Countryfile’s John Craven of a new statue on The Esplanade in Lynmouth. Called “The Walker”, the statue was commissioned to mark the end of the Coleridge Way, as well as pinpointing the closing stage of the Two Moors Way. And the Exmoor weather played its part too, basking everyone in glorious sunshine.
Snowdrop Valley opens this coming weekend, presenting us with a spectacle of thousands of snowdrops… with thanks to Pete Rae of ENPA for the images.
As schools and colleges get their new terms underway, this article reflects on this summer when Exmoor National Park hosted a number of work experience students from schools and colleges in the local region in August. Judging by the feedback received from both students and employees at the National Park, everyone found it a really useful and enjoyable learning experience. The students covered a whole range of activities from checking disused mine sites through learning how to sterilise crayfish to teaching other children about rivers with a working model in a town centre! Continue reading
We’re delighted to host this article by self-confessed Exmoorphile Helena Payne on Midsummer’s Day about the new Pleasure Dome Theatre at the Valley of Rocks. Launching this summer with Macbeth (2nd – 20th August), Helena gives us an insight into her childhood dream to bring open-air theatre to Exmoor.
In the first project of its kind to be funded in England, Exmoor National Park Authority secured 3 years’ funding from Devon and Somerset Health and Wellbeing Boards in 2014. Taking the Five Ways to Wellbeing as its starting point, this project aims to demonstrate how being in the natural environment enables those small changes in an individual’s behaviour that contribute to improving physical and mental health. And key to this is building the opportunities and capacity to support getting people to visit, connect and enjoy Exmoor National Park.
Our latest article has kindly been provided by the Devon Local Nature Partnership about how we can make Devon as pollinator-friendly as possible.
You may have heard that our vital UK pollinators are in decline with a number of key species going extinct in the region? To raise the profile of what’s happening with these valuable insects, the Devon LNP want us to sign the Devon Pollinators Pledge and celebrate these amazing insects throughout July 2016 as Devon’s Pollinators’ Month.
Here’s something for the kids to do over the half-term holiday (and yes, that includes the ‘grown up’ kids too!). We have a lovely Exmoor filly who needs a name – so her owner has kindly allowed us to set up a competition for the public to name her. And mindful of a recent naming competition (which eventually was a winner for Sir David Attenborough), the winning entry will be selected by the owner – local author Victoria Eveleigh.
AND WE HAVE A WINNER! Our Exmoor foal is to be called FOLLY.
The Exmoor Society held their annual conference in Dulverton last week. The theme was ‘Exmoor’s Future Landscapes’ based on the findings of their report “Exmoor’s Moorlands – Where Next?” which was launched at the conference. The speakers provided both a local and national context (including representatives from Natural England, RSPB and National Farmers Union) and agreed with the general conclusion that Exmoor’s future was bigger, better and brighter for all. Taking place just after the publication of the Government’s recent 8-Point Plan for National Parks, Rachel Thomas, Chairman of The Exmoor Society, commented “The success of the day was summed up in a tweet: Thank you @ExmoorSociety for an excellent conference. Good debate, passionate people & a healthy future in sight for #Exmoor.’ ”
Exmoor Views 