Pony Power

Ponies have lived on Dartmoor for thousands of years and the way they eat, trample and – yes, importantly – poo affects what grows here. At Bellever a herd of Dartmoor ponies is busy ‘conservation grazing’; we will explore the results of their hard work and see if we can spot them. Climbing up to the top of Bellever Tor will give us the best chance of seeing these beautiful ponies, and some fantastic views.

Suitable for ages 7 years and above.

We slow down to take a closer look at ‘lower plants’; the mosses, ferns and lichens we might otherwise stride past (and yes, lichens aren’t technically plants). These primitive organisms were vital to the evolution of life on earth and continue to play essential ecological roles. You will appreciate their variety and beauty so much more, especially as you see their detail with the aid of a hand lens.

Yes, Britain has rainforests!  But is this one?  That’s what we aim to find out.  We learn why some south-west woodlands are temperate rainforests rich in biodiversity that support rare plants and animals, and feel rather magical.  Enter a world of trees clothed in green moss; ferns creeping along their branches, and lichens adorning their twiggy tips.   We explore what makes these woodlands so precious and develop our appreciation of this very special habitat.

We slow down to take a closer look at ‘lower plants’; the mosses, ferns and lichens we might otherwise stride past (and yes, lichens aren’t technically plants). These primitive organisms were vital to the evolution of life on earth and continue to play essential ecological roles. You will appreciate their variety and beauty so much more, especially as you see their detail with the aid of a hand lens.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

We slow down to take a closer look at ‘lower plants’; the mosses, ferns and lichens we might otherwise stride past. You will begin learning how to identify them and almost certainly be captivated by their variety and beauty.

Aimed at adults but under 18’s with an adult interest in the subject are welcome.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

Dartmoor’s mosaic of habitats – heaths, bogs, grasslands and woods – may look wild but has been moulded by people and their livestock for millennia. Evidence abounds at Bellever of how people have lived and farmed through the ages, transforming woodland into heath and heath into grassland. Today, conservation grazing by Dartmoor ponies is recreating heath at Bellever and bog-building mosses are returning. We explore these habitats, viewing Dartmoor from an ecological perspective, and climb Bellever Tor from where we’ll have the best chance of sighting the ponies hard at work grazing.

Suitable for ages 12 years and above.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

This walk takes in much that our site at Bellever has to offer: wonderful moorland, fantastic views (weather permitting!) from the tops of the tors, and prehistoric sites. At the furthest point of our walk is a remote standing stone; we return via Bronze Age settlements and burial sites, and a stone row.

Under 18’s able to walk 7 miles are welcome.

We walk beside the wooded East Okement river to reach the open moors and Nine Maidens stone circle. We climb the boulder-strewn Belstone Tors where evidence of granite quarrying is still visible and continue along a ridge with fantastic views in all directions (weather permitting!) We descend through fine heathland and beside valley mires to complete our circular walk. This walk takes in natural history, pre-history and history, but above all it’s a delightful route showcasing much of what makes Dartmoor so special.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

Laughter Tor and the area around it are classified in Natural England’s Priority Habitat Inventory as Upland Heathland and are an excellent example of dwarf shrub heath, abounding in bilberry, western gorse and heathers. We visit in high summer when the heathers are at their finest.

Aimed at adults but under 18’s with an adult interest in the subject are welcome.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

Ponies have lived on Dartmoor for thousands of years and the way they eat, trample and – yes, importantly – poo affects what grows here. At Bellever a herd of Dartmoor ponies is busy ‘conservation grazing’; we will explore the results of their hard work and see if we can spot them. Climbing up to the top of Bellever Tor will give us the best chance of seeing these beautiful ponies, and some fantastic views.

Suitable for ages 7 years and above.

We walk to a beautiful woodland - a fine example of 'temperate rain forest’. Here we take time to learn about this precious habitat and to study some of its amazing biodiversity, including luxuriant mats of globally rare mosses and lichens.

We walk beside the wooded East Okement river to reach the open moors and Nine Maidens stone circle. We climb the boulder-strewn Belstone Tors where evidence of granite quarrying is still visible and continue along a ridge with fantastic views in all directions (weather permitting!) We descend through fine heathland and beside valley mires to complete our circular walk. This walk takes in natural history, pre-history and history, but above all it’s a delightful route showcasing much of what makes Dartmoor so special.

We walk to a beautiful woodland - a fine example of 'temperate rain forest’. Here we take time to learn about this precious habitat and to study some of its amazing biodiversity, including luxuriant mats of globally rare mosses and lichens.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

We slow down to take a closer look at ‘lower plants’; the mosses, ferns and lichens we might otherwise stride past. You will begin learning how to identify them and almost certainly be captivated by their variety and beauty.

Aimed at adults but under 18’s with an adult interest in the subject are welcome.

We slow down to take a closer look at ‘lower plants’; the mosses, ferns and lichens we might otherwise stride past (and yes, lichens aren’t technically plants). These primitive organisms were vital to the evolution of life on earth and continue to play essential ecological roles. You will appreciate their variety and beauty so much more, especially as you see their detail with the aid of a hand lens.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

This walk takes in much that our site at Bellever has to offer: wonderful moorland, fantastic views (weather permitting!) from the tops of the tors, and prehistoric sites. At the furthest point of our walk is a remote standing stone; we return via Bronze Age settlements and burial sites, and a stone row.

Under 18’s able to walk 7 miles are welcome.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

Dartmoor’s mosaic of habitats – heaths, bogs, grasslands and woods – may look wild but has been moulded by people and their livestock for millennia. Evidence abounds at Bellever of how people have lived and farmed through the ages, transforming woodland into heath and heath into grassland. Today, conservation grazing by Dartmoor ponies is recreating heath at Bellever and bog-building mosses are returning. We explore these habitats, viewing Dartmoor from an ecological perspective, and climb Bellever Tor from where we’ll have the best chance of sighting the ponies hard at work grazing.

Suitable for ages 12 years and above.

We walk to a beautiful woodland - a fine example of 'temperate rain forest’. Here we take time to learn about this precious habitat and to study some of its amazing biodiversity, including luxuriant mats of globally rare mosses and lichens.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Events led by Geri at Bellever, Postbridge

Ponies have lived on Dartmoor for thousands of years and the way they eat, trample and – yes, importantly – poo affects what grows here. At Bellever a herd of Dartmoor ponies is busy ‘conservation grazing’; we will explore the results of their hard work and see if we can spot them. Climbing up to the top of Bellever Tor will give us the best chance of seeing these beautiful ponies, and some fantastic views.

Suitable for ages 7 years and above.

We walk to a beautiful woodland - a fine example of 'temperate rain forest’. Here we take time to learn about this precious habitat and to study some of its amazing biodiversity, including luxuriant mats of globally rare mosses and lichens.

Course for people with some map reading experience keen to walk off tracks on compass bearings.

We walk to a beautiful woodland - a fine example of 'temperate rain forest’. Here we take time to learn about this precious habitat and to study some of its amazing biodiversity, including luxuriant mats of globally rare mosses and lichens.

We walk to a beautiful woodland - a fine example of 'temperate rain forest’. Here we take time to learn about this precious habitat and to study some of its amazing biodiversity, including luxuriant mats of globally rare mosses and lichens.

One day course for those with no map reading experience, or as a refresher for those who haven’t used their navigation skills for a while.

Dartmoor’s upland oak woods are special places, with stunted trees draped in mosses and lichens; places that support rare plants and animals, and that feel rather magical. We will visit Black-a-Tor Copse, less visited than Wistman’s Wood, more remote and just as charming.

Learn to identify common moorland flowers, mosses and other plants, along with an understanding of how they fit into ecosystems and their traditional uses.

Course for people with some map reading experience keen to walk off tracks on compass bearings.

A climb to the boulder-littered Belstone Tors and along a ridge with far-reaching views, later dropping down to paddle in the River Taw.

All day walk to the recently excavated burial cist whose contents are currently displayed at the British Museum’s Stonehenge exhibition.

One day course for those with no map reading experience, or as a refresher for those who haven’t used their navigation skills for a while.