1. Operation Christmas Trees 

This year, we started selecting Christmas trees in November. These three lovely Christmas trees went to Tavistock for the annual Christmas Trees of Light event in partnership with the Lions Club of Tavistock and Tavistock Town Council. In addition we have donated trees to St Leonard’s Church, Sheepstor; St Peter’s Church, Meavy; Meavy Green and Clearbrook Village Hall. Thank you to our volunteers for co-ordinating and delivering these.

2. Christmas Woodland Crafts 

It was a lovely, slightly chilly, autumn day for our last family wildlife watch session this year. Activities involved reindeer footprint letterboxing, mince pie making, wooden bauble painting, Christmas wreath constructing, and disc weaving! Thank you to everyone for coming to support our family sessions this year and a MASSIVE thank you to our volunteers for making these events possible!

3. Biggest Volunteer Day This Year!

Thank you to our Terrific Tuesday Team on 13 November who cleared around the tin workings at Bal Mine. We achieved so much in one day, it looks amazing! Our regular volunteers were joined by The DOVE Project, Tavistock College, Devon & Cornwall Police and volunteers from Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group (DTRG). Thank you to Anne from DTRG for providing a guided walk for everyone around the workings too!

4. Furniture production

In November we delivered a green woodworking day for 8 young people from Devon Home Education Group. They learnt how to use a range of tools, including the shave horse, to create these stunning stools! Thank you Dave for leading the day.

5. Student Rangers Programme

Our first group of Student Rangers have nearly completed their 10 week programme. A unique partnership project between Tavistock College, Devon & Cornwall Police & SWLT. Over the last 8 weeks they have carried out 4 practical conservation days with our Tuesday volunteer team, developed survival knowledge & skills, and are now finely tuning their navigation skills for their walk next week. As a bonus they also learnt some green woodworking skills and made these fantastic reindeer.

6. 50 Year Anniversary for Dartmoor Search and Rescue

For our last evening talk for 2018, Neil Richards from the Tavistock Team will be giving a talk on the work of Dartmoor Search and Rescue and demonstrating some of the equipment they use. If you would like to know more, please join us on Tuesday 11 December, 7.30pm at the Discovery Centre.  Please book your place in advance.

Event Dates for the Diary

Christmas Event:

Saturday 15 December – Wreath Making – Drop in between 10am-4pm

Come along and make your own Christmas wreath using natural materials from Burrator. The event will be taking place at Burrator Discovery Centre. You can drop in between 10.00am – 4.00pm. £7.00 per wreath (please bring cash as we don’t have online payment facilities). Support, materials and refreshments will be provided.

Evening Talks:

• Tuesday 11 December: 7.30pm-8.30pm – “Opportunity to learn about Dartmoor Search & Rescue as it celebrates its 50^th anniversary, by Neil Richards, Tavistock Team.  £4 per person (inc. refreshments). Please book your place in advance.
• Wednesday 30 January 2019 – 7.30pm-8.30pm –“History of Coppicing and an introduction to Green Woodworking” by Peter Lanyon and Dave Curno. £4 per person (inc. refreshments). Please book your place in advance.
• Wednesday 27 February 2019 – 7.30pm-8.30pm – “Introduction to traditional Devonshire rural skills including hedgelaying, stone walling, cobblestoning and much more” by Don Gaskins and Richard Finnemore from Devon Rural Skills Trust.  £4 per person (inc. refreshments). Please book your place in advance.

Family Events:

Monthly Family Wildlife Watch Programme: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Come and take part in a range of wildlife and heritage themed activities followed by hot chocolate and biscuits. We will meet at the Burrator Discovery Centre, unless alternative meeting point has been advertised. £3 per child, £2 per adult (please bring cash as we don’t have online payment facilities). Please wear outdoor clothing and footwear. No booking needed.

• Sunday 27 January 2019
• Sunday 24 February 2019

School Holiday Family Activity Days
Each activity day will involve a themed nature trail, woodwork, environmental art and outdoor cooking in and around the Burrator Discovery Centre. £3 per child, £2 per adult. Please wear outdoor clothing and footwear. No booking needed.

Wednesday 20 February 2019 – ‘Drop In’ between: 10:00am – 3:00pm

For more information or to book your place on any of the above events, please call 01822 855700, e-mail: [email protected] or pop into the Discovery Centre (PL20 6PE)

Practical Volunteering Days:

For all the days we meet at the Discovery Centre

• Sunday 9 December – 10.30am-3.30pm
• Monday 10 December – 10am-3pm
• Tuesday 18 December – 10am-3pm
• Tuesday 8 January – 10am-3pm
• Monday 14 January – 10am-3pm
• Sunday 20 January – 10.30am – 3.30pm
• Friday 25 January – 10am-3pm
• Tuesday 29 January – 10am-3pm

Please wear old clothes and sturdy footwear, bring lunch and a drink and dress ready for ‘all the seasons in a day!’

Discovery Centre Opening Times:  10.00am – 4.00pm
Weekdays: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Weekends:

December: Sat 1; Sun 9; Sat 15

January: Sat 12; Sun 20; Sun 27