Looking across Porlock Bay
Hurlstone Clouds
Moon Sliver
Cottage Gardens
The Stones, Bossington Beach
Tarr Steps
Moor Encounters
Adventurous families wanted for Exmoor Discovery Week 12-15 August
Local families are invited to an exciting week of outdoor fun and exploration on Exmoor. Based at Nettlecombe Court and brilliant moorland locations, the 2013 Exmoor Discovery Week runs from Monday 12th – Thursday 15th August.
Exmoor Discovery Week is 4 days of environmental adventures, conservation challenges and moorland expeditions. The course is organised and led by local nature experts from the Field Studies Council at the Nettlecombe Court, the Heart of Exmoor scheme and Exmoor National Park Authority.
Families will take part in a series of adventures, including exploring ancient trees, barefoot bog walking, bracken bashing and butterfly surveys. Activities are designed around achieving the John Muir Discovery Award, an environmental award focusing on discovering, exploring and conserving wild places.
Lucy Hellier from Nettlecombe Court says: “Exmoor Discovery Week is always a great few days and an absolute bargain at £25 per…
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Bossington Beach
Photo Bernd Brueggemann
Media Release: UK National Parks seeks nominees for second annual volunteer awards
Second annual UK National Parks Volunteer Awards launched
June 2013 – The 15 members of the UK’s National Parks family are keen to honour those individuals and groups who are helping to make Britain’s breathing spaces some of the most beautiful and inspiring places in the country. And as part of the UK National Parks’ commitment to doing that, nominations are now being accepted for the second annual UK National Parks Volunteer Awards.
The awards recognise those deemed to have gone above and beyond the expectations of volunteers in helping to protect, maintain and enhance the environment and heritage of their area. The volunteers being recognised can range from school children to those who have offered decades of service, from the individual who helps mend fences to the organisation helping to reintroduce a native species.
In last year’s Awards, volunteers from The West Somerset Mineral Line Association were short-listed when a group of 5 core volunteers, supported by others, gave over 260 hours of work to engage around 700 people at 33 separate events. These included school groups, long distance walks, easy access trails, bus trips and evening talks.
“Volunteers are a source of great pride across the National Parks,” said Kathryn Cook, UK Director, UK National Parks. “The breadth of dedication and altruism they offer is inspirational.”
The awards will be broken into four categories:
- Individual (26 years and above)
- Young Person (25 years and under)
- Group
- Project
Winners of the group and project categories will receive a £1,000 bursary to help facilitate future volunteering activity. The winning individual and young person will each receive his or her choice of footwear from outdoor specialist and UK National Parks Brand Partner Merrell.
Nominations will be accepted until midnight 7 September 2013. Nominations are encouraged from any active volunteers working within the boundaries of one of the 15 members of the National Parks family.
To nominate a deserving individual, young person, group or project visit www.nationalparks.gov.uk/volunteerawards-2013.htm
Once all the nominations have been received up to five nominees will be shortlisted in each of the four award categories. Final winners will be announced in November.
To learn more about volunteering within the UK’s National Parks visit: http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/volunteering
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