DNP ENJOY DARTMOOR 2024 digital - Flipbook - Page 32
Dartmoor is the largest and highest
upland in southern Britain, exposed to
strong winds and high rainfall. Here
rivers flow past ancient woodlands and
great granite tors rise up on the open
moorland. These characteristics make
the National Park especially interesting
in terms of wildlife.
Because of the climate and the variety of habitats
available, there is a great diversity of species. Dartmoor
is also an important reserve for those species that can
withstand harsher conditions including some very rare
plants and animals.
Dartmoor is particularly noted for rare lichens, butterflies,
and other insects. Many bird species can be found here.
Native plants
Invasive non-native plant species are a threat to
Dartmoor’s precious wildlife and habitats because
they displace native plants and disrupt ecosystems.
This impacts our native animals and insects.
With the help of funds given through Donate for
Dartmoor, and time given by volunteers, we are
controlling these plants to prevent their spread.
Do you know what plants are invasive and what
plants are native and commonly spotted across the
moor? (Answers at bottom of next page)
1
Western Gorse
3
American Skunk Cabbage
32
2
Himalayan Balsam
4
Round-leaved Sundew
Curlews
The largest European wading bird, curlews are an
iconic and easily identified species by their long
legs, curved bill, and distinctive call. Curlews are
ground nesting birds; meaning their nests can be
easily disturbed if we are not careful. This makes
them vulnerable to predators and inquisitive
dogs. Curlews breed on moorland, heath and wet
grasslands in the spring and then head to coastal
estuaries to spend the winter.
Once a common sight across the Dartmoor
landscape, curlew are in dramatic, national
decline. In Devon the curlew breeding
population has declined by 85% since 1985 and
Dartmoor has the last remaining pairs. They
are classified on the UK Birds of Conservation
Concern’s ‘Red list’.
A Dartmoor Curlew Recovery Project is
underway to help save the curlew population.
Partner organisations are working together
at a landscape scale to enhance breeding
habitats, undertake targeted predator control
to protect nests, and use new techniques called
‘head-starting’ to release young curlews onto
Dartmoor. It’s hoped that these interventions will
see birds returning to Dartmoor to breed in a
few years’ time.
Please report any sightings to
curlew@wwt.org.uk or in our National Park
Visitor Centres. Reported sightings in 2024 will
be very important to the project.
More information about this
project and its partners can be
found on our website.
dartmoor.gov.uk