The background
Ian Brooker has been a ranger since 1990 and looks after the highest points on the Moor with his section covering Gidleigh through to Okehampton Hamlets and Meldon.
On our Day With A Dartmoor Ranger experience, you’ll spend the day alongside Ian learning more about his work, why he considers it a wonderful job, and Dartmoor itself – its natural environment and communities.
We leave the day flexible as the work of a ranger changes on a day-to-day basis but depending on the season, you may do a guided walk or conservation tasks or even some repair work such as on pathways. Proceeds from this experience go to Donate for Dartmoor – a fund that helps Dartmoor National Park to continue its vital work to protect Dartmoor’s special qualities. As an example of where the money goes, £10 pays for materials for five House Martin nests and £30 will repair one metre of footpath.
Fitness levels
Fitness level required: Routes can be adapted for the age of the group plus ability but do expect to be walking on hilly, uneven moorland terrain.
What to bring / wear
Sturdy shoes with grip – trainers / walking boots are fine, waterproof jacket and trousers (whatever the forecast), jumper/sweater/warm layers including a woolly hat and gloves at either end of the season, suncream and sunhat on hotter days and drinks and lunch .
Group size
This experience has a minimum group size of one. For group sizes larger than six, please get in touch.
Ranger Experiences
If you are interested in our Day With A Ranger Experience but Ian is not available on your date of choice then why not consider a volunteering experience with one of the volunteer groups working to help protect and support Dartmoor?
Moor Trees are a local charity dedicated to recreating native woodland across Dartmoor and South Devon. Volunteers collect seeds, care for seedlings in the nurseries and plant trees out. They run volunteer days every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday which are very rewarding as you carry out tasks alongside their team and there is great interaction and opportunities for a shared experience – https://moortrees.org/
Volunteers of the Okement Rivers Improvement Group (ORIG) work to protect and enhance Okehampton’s East and West Okement Rivers for the benefit of the community. Tasks often include cutting back shrubbery and collecting litter from and alongside the river banks. The group meet for 2 hrs on the last Saturday of every month. You can find our more on their FB page – https://www.facebook.com/ORIGoke.
The Sticklepath and Okehampton Conservation Group (StOC) help to maintain and improve the environment in north Dartmoor especially in and around the communities of Sticklepath and Okehampton. Typically meeting every Friday they publish their volunteer days on their website – stocgroup.org.
For other volunteering ideas:
Experience Location
Starting Point will be located in proximity to Okehampton but the meeting point will be confirmed a few days prior to your experience.
Booking this Experience
This experience has a minimum group size of one. If you would like to arrange for a group larger than six, then please let us know. The cost of this experience is £35 per adult and free for children. A percentage of the trip cost goes into the Donate for Dartmoor – a fund which helps Dartmoor National Park to continue its vital work to protect Dartmoor’s special qualities
To arrange your experience please get in touch using the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you would like to arrange this experience for a group larger than six, then contact us to discuss.