National Mills Week

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

Celebrate Britain’s mills heritage during National Mills Weekend 2013 on the 11 and 12 May with a visit to two local mills that will be open especially for the weekend.

The 19^th century water-powered Simonsbath sawmill owned and restored by Exmoor National Park Authority will be open on both days and a highlight of the programme will be a performance by South Molton Town Band which is playing at the mill on the afternoon of Sunday 12 May, funded by the Heart of Exmoor scheme.

This year’s the theme for National Mill Weekend is ‘Tales from the Mills’ encouraging people to share their stories and memories of their local mill.

Graham Wills, who will be running the Simonsbath sawmill event, says: “A fascinating survival from the history of Simonsbath sawmill is the carpenter’s diary which tells us everything he did at the mill from 27 August 1906 – 17 November 1911 and we’d love to hear from people with a connection to the mill.”

Also open for National Mills Weekend is Cowbridge Sawmill in Timberscombe. The first Mill on this site dates from at least the 14th Century when it produced flour for the local people.

The mill was bought in a derelict state in 1995 by Owen and Angela Rush who have reroofed the building and rebuilt the floors. The dilapidated workshop and forge have also been demolished and replaced by an attractive two- storey building of local stone with a slate roof. The most ambitious aspect of the project has been the restoration of the 14 ft water wheel which used water from the mill leat to power the mill for over 700 years. The wheel will be running on National Mills Weekend and there will also be a collection of tools and machinery on display.

For details of these and other mills open for National Mills Weekend visit www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk

Persons delving into Porlock past

People discovering Porlock Allotment archaeology through the DIG Porlock project – more info heartofexmoor.org.uk http://t.co/WsVD6eOjO0—
Moorland Partnership (@heartofexmoor) April 29, 2013

More info on our main website…

Demonstrations of moorland management

Moorland demo by @ExmoorNP rangers thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/Swaling-helps-… @WSCCminehead http://t.co/pAoPLaSOv2—
Moorland Partnership (@heartofexmoor) April 15, 2013

@WSCCminehead http://t.co/oOctR6Uze5—
Moorland Partnership (@heartofexmoor) March 12, 2013

Mean machine – moorland managers inspect the Cat299d on demonstration at Haddon Hill. Thanks Tim Way + team. http://t.co/yJsFGNArsK—
Moorland Partnership (@heartofexmoor) February 27, 2013

Lester Point working group

Reblogged from National Trust - North Devon Blog:

This week I had a group in for 3 days working on widening the path at Lester Point Combe Martin. They cut back vegetation and dug the path out to make access better. Several passers by thanked us for the work.

We plan to continue the work on Lester Point later on in the year and shortly two benches will be going on the site of the old shelter to sit on and appreciate the view.

Great volunteer work with the National Trust on Exmoor.

Join us at Valley of Rocks 10 April 2013

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

Valley of Rocks BIG Adventure Day

The first Big Adventure Day of the year is being held in the spectacular Valley of Rocks on Wednesday 10 April from 10am with free family fun and games for all.

With activities lasting all day, there will be a chance to make a Bronze Age style pot, have a go at stone walling and enjoy story walks with ‘Wild Wellies’. An archaeological guided walk exploring the hidden history of this amazing valley will also be on offer, plus wonderful coastal views and of course the resident goats and Exmoor ponies to spot.

This is the first of 5 Big Adventure Days this year, held during the school holidays and hosted by Exmoor National Park Authority, with help and support from the Heart of Exmoor, The Crown Estate, South West Lakes Trust and the National Trust.

Come along and join in the fun, but please wear warm outdoor clothing and suitable footwear. There are car parking and toilet facilities on site.  For more information call the National Park Centre at Lynmouth on 01598 752509.

HLF awards grant to Lynmouth Pavilion project

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND BOOST
FOR LYNMOUTH PAVILION PROJECT

Exmoor National Park Authority has secured just under £250,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a wide range of learning, outreach and heritage work connected with Lynton and Lynmouth and the Exmoor National Park based at the Lynmouth Pavilion, which is currently under construction. Together with an additional £50,000 from the Local Authority and the value of voluntary time given to the project, the total funding will have a value of just under £340,000.

Part of this new money will fund two three year posts; a full-time Project Officer and part-time Volunteer Coordinator to work with the local community. This work will include working with schools (including West Exmoor Federation of Primary Schools), colleges (including Ilfracombe and Petroc) and community groups to research the local heritage in collaboration with local societies and heritage groups; a rolling programme of family-friendly event days, evening talks and walks, seaside safaris, woodland rambles, history tours, heritage workshops and specialist days for groups and individuals. A defined area within the interpretive displays on the ground floor will enable people to communicate their own experiences of Lynmouth and Exmoor and there will also be space for temporary exhibitions and smaller displays.

Local societies and heritage groups with an interest in Exmoor will be invited to help deliver an exciting and engaging programme that will offer a whole range of ways of exploring what makes Exmoor such a special place.

Ben Totterdell, the National Park’s Interpretation & Education Manager said:  “We are very grateful to HLF for this funding which will enable so many more individuals and organisations to become part of this exciting project to produce displays, films, stories, events and even a mobile phone app that reflect their own experiences and knowledge of the landscape, history and wildlife of both Lynton and Lynmouth and the wider Exmoor Area.

“These materials will in turn help others to enjoy and understand and explore our unique heritage. The project will be based around the Lynmouth Pavilion, which is currently being completely rebuilt, and will help to make the most of what will be an amazing facility for both local people and visitors.”

Work on the new pavilion building is progressing well and it is hoped to have the building ready for use later this year.

Richard Bellamy, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said:

“This is an exciting project that will create a long-lasting and sustainable future for the historic Lynmouth Pavilion and provide a vibrant community space for people to explore and share the history of Lynton, Lynmouth and Exmoor National Park. It’s great to know that volunteers will form a key part of this project and gain valuable skills along the way helping to share their knowledge with the public.”

Commenting, Sir Nick Harvey MP for North Devon, said:

“I am very pleased to hear that the Exmoor National Park Authority has secured this significant grant, which will enable them to continue their excellent work promoting Lynton, Lynmouth and Exmoor present and past. I look forward to seeing the dynamic project around Lynmouth Pavilion taking shape so people across the community can celebrate our fantastic heritage here in North Devon.”

Archaeology fieldwork on a snowy Exmoor National Park

Students on the snowy moors

EMLP has supported an archaeology fieldwork project on Exmoor National Park with  Duke University, USA. The student team is keeping a blog about their Exmoor study tour.

Their adventures have taken them from Porlock to Pickedstones, Simonsbath Deer Park to Dunster, working alongside experts such as Rob Wilson-North and Dr Lee Bray. Exmoor ponies provided a charming distraction – take a look at the team’s photo gallery!

A few of their posts…

Sunday 10th March – Lindsey Mazurek

Monday 11th March – Jordan Noyes

Tuesday 12th March – Crystal Terry