Welcome to Dartmoor Magazine!

This issue’s got a really nostalgic feel about it. Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that the clocks have changed and it’s tempting to hibernate in front of the fire during the long dark evenings. Just the time for a bit of personal reflection! To that end (and in line with the upsurge of interest in family history) Peter Mason writes on Community Archives, encouraging anyone who wants to find out more about their locality to take action. Sticking to the nostalgia theme Simon Dell looks back over the 100-year-history of Crossing’s Guide to Dartmoor – ‘the most famous of all Dartmoor guidebooks’ – and Howard Barkell recalls a moorland adventure that the 1st Bridestowe & Sourton Scout Troop ‘enjoyed’ in 1949.

But I was encouraged to look forward (not back) when I attended the Summit of the first Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival, hosted by the two National Park Authorities, in early October. (whether or not one believes the cause to be natural or manmade there is little doubt that climate trends are changing, and that the Dartmoor landscape will be influenced). Over the following weekend free events, ranging from a Green Street Fair and a Dartmoor Farms’ Carbon Project Workshop to ‘A Walk to the Middle of Nowhere’ (Fur Tor) to discuss the role of blanket bog as a carbon store were held across Dartmoor and Exmoor. The Summit was held at the Met Office in Exeter; Government Service Director Rob Varley gave a summary of the potential future impact locally of changes in global climate. His hard-hitting assessment was followed by encouraging talks from Exmoor Community, The Dartmoor Circle, South West Water, DNPA and ENPA, among others, on existing low-carbon initiatives in both parks. The afternoon saw the launch of Exmoor’s Carbon Neutral Programme, and DNPA’s One Planet Dartmoor: Chief Executive Kevin Bishop stated that over the last three years over 90 applications for renewable energy schemes have been received, most of which have been accepted. It was a most informative day on a subject of great relevance to all interested in the future health of Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Finally – and very significantly – the appearance of this winter issue coincides with the publication of Peggy Harris’s book Life on a Dartmoor Scrapyard, the perfect gift for anyone who has any connection with Dartmoor, however tenuous! Don’t miss out!