Posts Tagged ‘ecology’
Summer Gathering at Two Bridges
Now in its second year, our Summer Gathering is an opportunity for members and allies to come together to socialise and gain an insight into some of our work over the past twelve months. This year we were very lucky to have talks from ecologist Albert Knott, Dr Helen Wilson and Daniel Brown from the…
Read MoreBotanists identify White Beaked Sedge at High House Waste
Botanists from the Devonshire Association Botany Section visited our land holding at High House Waste, in search of White Beaked Sedge. With the latin name of Rhynchospora alba, this uncommon plant can be found in well-established patches at this site, particularly in the southern mire. DPA Ecologist Albert Knott led the group of 13 botanists on…
Read MoreManaging Specialist Woodland Lichens at High House Waste
High House Waste is the largest land holding owned by the Dartmoor Preservation Association, and is made up of a mosaic of important habitats. One of these habitats is the established oak dominated woodland, which spreads up the valley sides of Broadall Lake Stream and the Ford Brook. This Atlantic woodland is home to a…
Read MoreBlue Ground Beetle Survey at High House Waste
Two intrepid volunteers, Adam Sparkes and Susan Williams, joined DPA Ecological Consultant Albert Knott for a night time survey on our land at High House Waste. The aim was to record elusive Blue Ground Beetles, Britain’s largest ground beetle, at up to 38mm long. These distinctive insects are one of the rarest beetles in Britain…
Read MoreEcological Land Management at High House Waste
A Magical Maze of Moor, Mire, Woodland and Streams Far from actually being a wasteland, the DPA owned land holding at High House Waste is a valuable area of mixed habitats, including: moorland, mire, woodland and streams. It’s home to special lichens, bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), carnivorous plants, such as Pale Butterwort, and Blue Ground…
Read MoreEcology Walk at Sharpitor
Our first walk of the Dartmoor Outdoor Festival focused on upland ecology on our land at Sharpitor. It was led by the knowledgeable Geri Skeens, an experienced moorland guide with a fascination for mosses and lichens. Sharpitor is home to many fascinating tiny plants, including the rare Fir Clubmoss and Wilson’s Filmy Fern, which thrive…
Read MorePlant of the Month: Dodder
The pink, spaghetti-like strands of Dodder are a strange sight to spot out on the moor. Clambering over gorse bushes, this parasitic plant can grow in such abundance that the spiky leaves of gorse become hard to see beneath it. However, although it looks unusual, it is a normal part of the moorland ecosystem and…
Read MoreGuest Blog: Sylvia’s Field in April
Roz Brady joined the DPA conservation volunteers for a recent workday at Pudsham Meadows and used her time to sink into the landscape and notice the abundance of life present in the meadow. Roz is an Environmental Composer, musician, author and poet who delights in composing outside, immersing herself in the sights and sounds of…
Read MoreClubmosses of Dartmoor: Relicts of an Ancient Past
Dartmoor’s moorland and mires are home to a diverse range of upland-adapted plant species, many of which have survived for millennia in this dynamic ecosystem. Among this diverse flora are the ancient clubmosses—small but fascinating relicts of a prehistoric era when their ancestors dominated the planet’s forests. While clubmosses may resemble mosses, they are, in…
Read MoreSharpitor on Dartmoor: A Classic Example of a Collapsed Granite Summit Tor
Sharpitor, located on the western edge of Dartmoor, is a popular area for visitors to the national park, with easy access and expansive views in all directions. However, what is less well known is its significance as both a geological and ecological upland habitat. Sharpitor is one of the best examples of a collapsed summit…
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