AGM

BRIDFORD TRUST

Annual General Meeting
The AGM of the Trust will be held on Wednesday 6 May at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. The AGM matters are kept to the minimum and will be followed by a talk by Naomi Scuffil, Assistant Ecologist at Dartmoor National Park Authority. We are expecting her to talk specifically about the ecology of Rowdon Valley Wood and more generally about wildlife features of interest in the area - wet woodlands, plants of the Teign Valley, haymeadows and birds of Dunsford Woods.

This will be followed by an American Supper so bring along something to eat and drink, share it with others and enjoy the social occasion.

Members and prospective members are all welcome. Come along and see what has been accomplished this year and hear our plans for the future.

Rowden Wood

Opening of Rowdon Valley Wood




ITS AMAZING WHAT VOLUNTEERS CAN DO!

A year ago Rowdon Valley Wood was a two acre piece of overgrown woodland on the edge of Bridford village and hardly anyone knew of its existence.

Today it was officially opened to the public as a magical circular walk through the wet woodland alive with birds and featuring boardwalks and bridges, ponds and a small waterfall, boggy areas full of interesting plants and a viewing platform which is accessible by wheelchair.

The wood was bought by The Bridford Trust, assisted by grants from Dartmoor National Park Sustainability Fund and Rural Aid, and all the work has been carried out by volunteers from the village. Over the winter, working parties have carted soil, laid gravel, built boardwalks, fences and bridges and in the process kept fit. Even the children took part with everyone looking forward to the coffee break and Elizabeth Price’s wonderful flapjacks!

At an informal ceremony on Saturday, Mr Peter Wastenage, our local organic farmer, cut a ribbon across the entrance and about forty people from the local community walked along the trail for the first time. Everyone was delighted with this new village facility which provides a convenient short circular walk from the Village Hall, through the wood and then the Woodland Park and back to the Village Hall. Look out for the finger posts provided by Dartmoor National Park marking the walk.

The Bridford Trust is a charity whose main aim is to encourage the development of appropriate recreational, environmental and conservation projects within the Parish of Bridford for the benefit of all. Membership is only £5.00 a year and you will be helping to improve the environment of Bridford.


Contact: David Howell, Chairman, The Bridford Trust 01647 252525

Junior Rangers make bird boxes

Bridford Trust has introduced an exciting new membership for children who are now able to become ‘Junior Rangers’. There will be special events organised at the Woodland Park and they will receive their own Newsletter.
The first event was held during the Bank Holiday and gave the children an opportunity to make their own bird boxes. Using timber, kindly supplied and cut to size by Culver Sawmill, they screwed the boxes together, nailed the lids with hinges made of old inner tube and bent wire to make catches. The boxes will be fixed in place in the Woodland Park and eventually amongst the trees in Rowden Valley Wood, a new area being purchased by the Trust.

After the event the children were able to view the baby swallows in their nest in the Park and went searching for grasshoppers in the long grass.

Anyone interested in becoming a Junior Ranger should contact Ted Clapton on 01647 252310 or tedclapton@cooptel.net

Rowden Wood

The Bridford Trust has agreed terms to purchase a piece of land opposite the Woodland Park to provide a new circular walk for the local community. It is hoped that the legalities will soon be completed and then work to clear and fence the area and create an access path through the woodland can commence. Bridford Trust is applying to the Dartmoor Sustainability Fund for help with these costs.
It has been decided to call the area Rowdon Valley Wood. Turning left off the road out of the village the walk will pass through a field and then into woodland which lies in a valley occupied by a small stream which drains the fields and flows down behind the village hall, skirting the grounds of the Old Rectory to eventually join the Rookery Brook. The woodland is predominantly old hazel and willow, which was probably coppiced in the past, but is now very overgrown, with much dead and rotting wood. The floor of the valley is for the most part wet and several small channels run into the main stream through large boggy patches, and the trees are clothed with a variety of mosses and lichens. Venturing into this overgrown area is like entering a different world with its remarkable contrast to the dry open fields and hedgerows of the surrounding countryside.
It is not proposed to undertake any significant management work until we have a clear understanding of what species of flora, fauna and insect life are present through the year. David Price will be monitoring this for the Trust and it is anticipated that we should be able to create some permanent pools within the boggy areas which would benefit frogs, toads, newts and aquatic insects, and the provision of bird boxes would offer nesting sites for the Blue and Great Tits, Nuthatches and Robins. It will be a wonderful educational resource for the local schools and we hope to involve local children in the development work.
The path will leave the woodland to the north of the Village Hall through a new access/regress gateway on to Church Lane and plans to gain permission for this are currently being submitted to Dartmoor National Park.
Membership of the Bridford Trust is only £5.00 a year, you will receive two newsletters and your money will be helping to improve the environment of Bridford.
Secretary: Ted Clapton 01647 252310 or tedclapton@cooptel.net

Opened 9th September 2006

PRESS RELEASE





A UNIQUE COMMUNITY FACILITY


The new Information Centre at Bridford Woodland Park was declared officially open on Saturday 9 September at 11.00 am when Peter Joyce from Dartmoor National Park Sustainability Fund cut the ribbon. Dartmoor National Park Sustainability Fund and Rural Aid were major donors to this project which has provided a timber pavilion with undercover seating, large table and display boards giving details of the wildlife in the Park, local history and archaeology.

Bridford Woodland Park is open to all and the Information Centre is the perfect place to picnic or to start a walk on Dartmoor. There is plenty of safe parking for cars. It has wonderful views of the Teign Valley and the trees, planted four years ago, are looking fantastic as the rowan berries turn red and the leaves begin to colour.

A large number of interesting butterflies have been seen in the Park during the summer and some are still feeding on the late flowers. It is the perfect place for children to learn about wildlife and let off a bit of energy!

This community facility is unique within Dartmoor National Park � four years ago it was a farmer�s field and now it is a green area with a wild flower meadow, large arena area with seating for outdoor performances and hundreds of trees planted for the future. A truly sustainable resource for our children and their children.
Visitor Shelter and Information Displays

The Trust has recently obtained planning permission from Dartmoor National Park to build a wooden visitor centre on the Woodland Park. This will provide storage for park maintenance equipment as well as a shelter in inclement weather. There will be seating and a table together with display boards providing local historical and archaeological information as well as information about the flora and fauna to be found in the Woodland Park. It is hoped that construction will commence before the end of the year.

Applications are currently being made to funding bodies to obtain the additional money that is required for this project.

Membership of the Bridford Trust is only �5.00 a year, you will receive two newsletters and your money will be helping to maintain this wonderful green space.

Secretary: Ted Clapton 01647 252310 or tedclapton@cooptel.net

Woodland Park

The Woodland Park has been developed over the last three years. It is an area of grassland that has been planted to form woodland, hedges, a wildflower meadow, a bird corner and an arena for outdoor performances.
A number of commemorative seats have been positioned in the Park and the views out over to the Haldon Hills and behind to Scattor Rock are superb. Dog walkers are welcome but please clear up after your pouch!
Christow schoolchildren visit the Park regularly to study the wildlife and this year held an end of term picnic there.
On 13 August the Common Players performed Stormy Weather in the Park.

Click for more information