Dartmoor receives significant funding boost

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £3 million to a programme working to restore nature in Dartmoor NP.

Dartmoor National Park Authority announced that the Dartmoor Dynamic Landscapes partnership was given an amount of £3,124,179 to help re-establish nature and protect and "enhance the cultural heritage" in the area.

It said the work would help deliver a wide range of projects covering rivers, habitat and species conservation, as well as creative events and engagement activities.

Dartmoor is home to rare species such as High Brown Fritillary, one of Britain's most threatened butterflies (Rob Smith).

Visitor hubs

The authority said the communities of Okehampton, Ivybridge, and Princetown would become "hubs for visitors" which would allow people from all backgrounds to spend time and money in these places.

Pamela Woods, chair of Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "We're absolutely delighted to have secured this funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

"There is so much excellent work taking place already on Dartmoor and thanks to National Lottery players, we can continue building on our collective successes."

Dartmoor's rare wildlife

The programme brings together Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Woodland Trust, Sustrans, the RSPB, Dartmoor Hull Farm Project, Emergency Exit Arts and Flock South West, the Environment Agency, Shallowford Trust, Dartmoor Headwaters Project, South West Water for the South West Peatland Partnership and the Westcountry Rivers Trust.

In recent years, Eurasian Curlew has been released on Dartmoor and, last year, some birds were tracked migrating to wintering grounds in Portugal and Spain. The National Park is home to various other rare and threatened wildlife species, including High Brown Fritillary.