COMMUNITY NEWS
New Dartmoor Way walking route Following the creation of the Dartmoor Way cycling route back in 2013, a new Dartmoor Way walking route, with a total distance of 108 miles will be launched over the late May Bank Holiday. This new, long distance trail is a joint Ramblers and Dartmoor National Park Authority collaboration, and circles Dartmoor along quiet footpaths, bridleways and little used byways, linking towns and villages on the edge of the moor. Differing in nature to ‘The Two Moors Way’ which crosses Dartmoor from north to south and traverses a sizable amount of open moorland, the Dartmoor Way explores the beautiful and diverse countryside between the open moor and Devon farmland, and is suitable for walking at most times of the year. There is also a High Moorland walking link crossing the moor from Tavistock to Buckfast, creating two smaller circular routes of either the north or south moors. In addition, the Dartmoor Way links up with the Two Moors Way
where the paths cross at Ivybridge and Drewsteignton, enabling a variety of walking route combinations. You can also walk some of the Dartmoor Way, and cycle the rest of it! One of the founders of Tavistock Ramblers, Rosemary Clarke, has been heavily involved with the Dartmoor Way project. To celebrate the launch, she plans to walk the whole 108 miles in the week commencing 23rd May. If you would like to help her raise much needed funds for Dartmoor Search and Rescue go to www.justgiving.com/ campaign/RESCUE-50.
22nd to 25th May Dartmoor Way Walking Festival A mini walking festival will celebrate the formal opening of the route with a variety of guided walks along sections of the Dartmoor Way. Tavistock Ramblers will lead several walks, starting from Pork Hill car park just outside Tavistock and other Rambler groups will lead walks from various locations around the route. For a full itinerary and more details about the Dartmoor Way see www.dartmoorway.co.uk and www. ramblers.org.uk.
Walkhampton Cottage Garden Society With the arrival of April and hopefully more opportunity to get out into our gardens, Walkhampton Cottage Garden Society has been planning this year’s events. Our centrepiece, as always, will be the Annual Flower and Produce Show on Saturday 29th August, with a range of garden produce, handicrafts and food and drink classes for adults and children, open to residents of Walkhampton, Horrabridge, Sampford Spiney, Yelverton, Dousland, Meavy, Sheepstor, Crapstone, Buckland Monachorum and Princetown. In addition, we have taken on the mantle of G.R.O.W, founded by Sheila Glanville,
Rachel Waldron and the late Gill Dixon, and will continue to provide talks on gardening and environmental topics. Rick Hoskins will speak on ‘Growing and Showing Dahlias’ at the first meeting on Monday 20th April (see what’s on for details). We are also continuing to run the two G.R.O.W. Challenge classes for the annual show, which involve growing specified flowers and/or vegetables from seeds, bulbs or tubers we supply. Details and everything you need to enter will be available at the talk on 20th April. Further information can be found
See our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk
at walkhamptonshow.weebly.com or for questions phone Sheila Glanville on 01822 859215. Printed show schedules will be available from several locations including Walkhampton Saturday markets. Sheila Reynolds
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