Volunteering on Dartmoor

I have recently volunteered as an army cadet civilian assistant in my spare time. This means that I get to help lead expeditions and bushcraft sessions for the cadets, but don't have to attend regular drill nights. This last weekend I was able to take some time off from my usual Crown Estate duties to help take a group of cadets from Minehead and Cannington Platoons to Okehampton Camp on the edge of Dartmoor to do silver Duke of Edinburgh and 2 star expedition training. We spent 2.5 days doing navigation, camping, hill skills and a bit of camp craft thrown in for good measure. Though we had an enjoyable but challenging 27K route planned to take in some of the higher tors, we had a couple of injuries, and so had to cut it short to just 15K. We had two relatively dry nights of camping however, and, despite it feeling like mid-winter on sunday, as you can see from the picture the sun shone for at least the start of the walk! Though this is an extra-curricular activity of mine, The Crown Estate allows staff a couple of days a year to undertake a range of volunteer activities- some people read with school children, others run football teams- I choose to get wet and tired on the moors of the south west! Andy Player

New Office update

New office move date: 3rd-5th July.

Forest operations 2012

We have now finished any large scale forest ops on Croydon Hill, and have now moved on to Hopcott, to the south of Minehead. As with our other harvesting, we are undertaking a mix of clearfells and thinning. Please observe any on site notices and directions given and keep dogs under control in these areas.

walk on the wild side

Today has been a day for spotting wildlife on the Dunster estate. We were out with our volunteer bird ringer, Denise, this morning checking on our owl boxes, and despite a disappointing show from the owls, we did get to ring three Jackdaw chicks. As you can see, not exactly going to win a beautiful baby competition, but great to see none-the-less. Then, I spotted what appeared to be a large cat paw print up in Dunster forest.. Could it be the beast?!?!...... Probably just a large dog, but you never know!...

Office move update

As the build phase is nearing an end we have been getting all geared up for our move.... until, that is, we found out that we can't get our phones and networks installed until the middle of June! So close but yet so far! The building has really come on, with much of the essentials now installed- even got a log burner in there. We will start migrating across once the contractors have finished the basics, with a final move in date of the weekend of the 15th June. We'll get there in the end!

Andy Player

Where's spring gone?

As we are told here in the south west that we are in drought, the Dunster estate, and surrounding area has been subject to some of the highest rainfalls on record. As a result we have had flooding, trees down and ditches and streams that have been dry for many years, are now flowing rivers. As you can see, Nutcombe Bottom Car Park and play area are lucky to still be in place!
The brief lull in the weather has helped levels to drop again slightly, but with more rain to come we are not letting our guard down too much.

Regardless of this, when the sun has shone, it has been positively spring-like, with the wildflowers starting to put in an appearance- despite probably not knowing what season it actually is, and many of our walks are bordered with bluebells, violets, and primroses.

more signs of spring...

Now things are really getting going.. The impressive annual display of colour that is Withycombe Wood's bluebells is as impressive as ever. They come out in carpets of purple, and are really worth seeing. You can access Withycombe Wood via Withycombe village, and walk up through the newly planted Myra's Wood, to be opened at the end of the month, and dedicated in memory of a resident of the village. The trees are also starting to flush, and I have seen hazel, rowan, horse chestnut and beech with bright green leaves starting to poke through. A great time of year for sure and Bob the dog is enjoying the sun too! Andy Player