Celebrate, restore and explore Harford Moor
Our recent event at Harford Moor, Dartmoor was a great success, we thoroughly enjoyed sharing the day with over 30 people and working with our valued partner organisations to deliver a wide range of How to Bury the Giant activities. The event was led by Dartmoor National Park’s Headwaters project, the Foundation for Common Land and Art and Energy.
We gathered for the day at Ivybridge train station car park and took a leisurely stroll in the sunshine up to Harford Moor from there. Along the way we heard from Conrad Barrowclough - Project Officer and Martin Gillard - Historic Environment Officer from the South West Peatland Partnership, Conrad sharing his moorland and botany knowledge and Martin sharing details of Dartmoor’s archaeology.
Rewarded at the top with hot drinks and cake, we then heard more about the new land management of the area from Angelique McBride, Dartmoor Headwaters Natural Flood Management Project Dartmoor National Park and Tamsin Thomas, Our Upland Commons, Foundation for Common Land. Plus John Howell, Harford Moor landowner shared his knowledge about the site and how working together with Dartmoor National Park has benefited his area of the moor and associated wildlife.
Art and Energy’s Naomi was on hand to share more details about our How to Bury the Giant project and how we are bringing together landowners, partners and the general public to protect and restore the moor and to encourage creative actions for the climate emergency.
Participants were encouraged to plant sheep’s wool nests filled with sphagnum moss - the moss has been taken in small quantities from Harford Moor and grown by local schools. We also used local to Harford sheep’s wool to make additional woollen nests for future events.
Our new Mossy Carpet was proudly on display with Art and Energy’s Jenny encouraging visitors to make moss inspired pompoms to sew on to the fleece canvas and add their voice to our new mass participation artwork. Some participants also brought along their own art materials to take inspiration from such a beautiful location.
With grateful thanks to everyone who joined us on the day, our presenters and our funders: Dartmoor National Park, Environment Agency, Devon Environment Foundation, Foundation for Common Land.
