Repairing the path to Haytor Quarry with Second Sunday Volunteering

Shake up your lazy Sundays by joining Rangers Bill and Stuart in restoring and maintaining the stunning Haytor area. This month we are continuing the great works to improve access into and around the fascinating Haytor Quarry.  

Thanks to an amazing effort from our volunteers over the last few months, surfacing works inside the quarry have been completed and it has vastly improved access for everyone who visits this beautiful place.  

Now we are focusing our efforts on the path around the outside of the quarry. We will be digging, loading and wheelbarrowing stone-based material (Growan), as well as carrying out surfacing work. This is a pretty heavy, manual task but as they say, 'many hands'!  

The work will take place on Sunday 11 August, starting from Haytor Visitor Centre at 10:30am and finishing before 3pm.  

All tools and gloves as well as tea, coffee and biscuits are provided. Please wear old clothes and footwear that are suitable for the weather on the day. Bring your own packed lunch, plenty of water, sun cream and a hat.  

How to join in If you are interested in coming along, please email Ranger Bill at ballen@dartmoor.gov.uk. Booking is essential as tools and equipment need to be organised.  

The Benefits Conservation work days are a great way of getting healthy exercise in a fantastic environment and meeting like-minded people, as well as helping look after this special place. You will also learn more about Dartmoor's industrial and prehistoric archaeology, wildlife habitats, rare species and moorland management.  

'We love all the tasks. Even uncovering Bronze Age cairns in the wind and snow! That's why we keep on coming back!' - Jo, Second Sunday Volunteer  

Our Volunteer Days The first volunteer day, on 10 January 2016, saw volunteers working with Rangers and Ecologists on a site close to the National Park Visitor Centre at Haytor where the bog hoverfly, one of Dartmoor's rarest insects, has made a home. Since then the Ranger team have worked with volunteers to benefit butterflies in the Becka Brook valley and carried out a large maintenance project on the Haytor granite tramway, as well as making repairs to the reservoir leat.  

For those who come along regularly there is plenty of variety, with practical work being carried out on habitat management and archaeological sites as well as helping keep this iconic Dartmoor location looking good.