A busy time for the Dartmoor Ranger Team

At the time of writing this we in the National Park Ranger team are busy dealing with the issues associated with the annual influx of visitors enjoying the special qualities of this wonderful place we live and work. It’s been a busy summer, particularly with the very dry weather and the constant risk of wildfires.

Rangers have attended local shows at Okehampton, Chagford and Lydford Summer Fair, which incorporates Safety on Dartmoor Day – a great day out and a chance to meet emergency service personnel and find out how they make lives safer in the National Park.

Vegetation clearance on public rights of way began in July. We make sure we start after wild flowers have seeded and to ensure we do not disturb ground nesting birds. This work is managed by the Ranger team across the whole area, so rights of way should be looking better coming into the autumn months.

In the Okehampton area the sector Ranger has been working with young people at the YHA and South Tawton Primary School on environmental award programmes – education is an important aspect of Ranger work, benefitting the young people and investing in the future of our environment.

Of course, we also have to deal with the negative side of human behaviour and at Fernworthy we are working with the Police and Forestry Commission to tackle a problem of regular illegal raves.

The autumn weather brings a new set of challenges – but more about that another time!

Simon Lee

Ranger Team Manager

Dartmoor National Park