Wheels to Wooston
Playing a small part in the giant-sized project that is the restoration of Fingle Woods is probably one of the things that will always be in my top five proud moments, and one of the highlights is when the opportunity arises to tell others about the amazing wildlife that is emerging after several years of hard work from the Fingle team. One September morning, I had been asked to take a guided wildlife tour from Fingle Bridge to Wooston hillfort. Not knowing quite what to expect, I arrived to a real hum of anticipation as a group of walkers and electric scooter drivers assembled under the trees near the Fingle Bridge Inn. The atmosphere was buzzing, and warm enough to take the chill off the early autumn air.
Conversation grew as friendships were rekindled among the regular group members while newbies, like me, were welcomed in. After a few introductions, we made our way over the stone bridge for a briefing. I was told by the proud members of the Wheeled Access Group that they were working with the Moorland Guides and Dartmoor National Park to create a series of accessible routes for people with limited mobility. A whole series of routes have been created for the Dartmoor Walking Festival. The Moorland Guide walk leader for the trip was Amanda and her colleague, Richard would ensure the group stayed safe and together while I would chat to them about the wonderful woods – the history, the conservation and the wild inhabitants.
The route began with a quick stop at the fascinating ruins of the old Fingle Mill then rolled on into the woods where the topic of woodland restoration began. We chatted about the birds along the river and, to demonstrate the principles of the conservation work, we looked at where the fresh new growth was appearing along the woodland edge. Careful thinning of conifer trees allows a more diverse woodland structure to develop as it is concentrated on the tracksides where, in recent years, dormouse nests have been found. I may have raised the expectations a little by suggesting we might find one in the shrubs, but alas …
Following the tracks up the hill, we stopped to discuss all sorts of conservation matters from trees to woodland wildflowers. A stack of milled timber sparked off an interesting discussion about the valuable softwood and how it was now being used to restore peat bogs on the high moor. This, in turn, would help to improve the quality of the water flowing right here in the river Teign.
Moving on uphill, the pace was good which gave us many chances to stop and talk about the bird life and the butterflies – a gatekeeper and a pair of common blues provided a flutter of inspiration. Many questions were asked, and topics were covered. They were interesting too. We had discussions about the importance of decaying wood and what we can do to replicate natural rot holes for nesting birds and roosting bats in veteran trees. We talked about hundreds of years of history of the woods and how that gave us the magnificent landscape we have today.
As we approached the hillfort, the high point of the route was reached and it was time for lunch. Our steady stroll had taken two hours, but it had flown by – it felt more like minutes. The chat continued and after a sandwich and a Jaffa Cake, I left the group in the safe hands of Amanda and Richard who would take them back via a longer route as I walked back to Fingle Bridge.
On the way, reflecting on what a fun time I’d had, I glanced up into the shrubs alongside the river and spotted a nest, “worth investigating”, I thought. As I approached through the defensive tangle of brambles, I thought it was a bird nest, but something didn’t look quite right. On closer inspection I saw what I had hoped to find earlier that morning. As the birds had fledged the nest, a dormouse had moved in. It’s tiny leafy ball-shaped structure was nestled deep in the mossy surroundings left by its feathered friends. It was an exciting find, just a bit too late to show our intrepid travellers but it didn’t change the pleasure of the day. I hope the rolling ramblers enjoyed it as much as I did.
by Matt Parkins
This event was part of a series included in the Dartmoor Walking Festival, an annual event to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Dartmoor and access for all. Read more about the adventures of the Wheeled Access Group here www.wheelchairoffroad.org
