‘Dartmoor isn’t dying, but it is changing.’ In her letter for The Museum of Dartmoor Life’s exhibition, Is Dartmoor Dying?, Emma Cunis explores the forces shaping its future—climate change, shifting land use, and fading traditions.

Is Dartmoor Dying?

Dartmoor is not dying but it is changing, and we should all be concerned about the increasing and significant pressures on this precious landscape, communities, and heritage.

Since its formation nearly 300 million years ago, Dartmoor has undergone continuous change. Heat, rain, wind, water, and ice have eroded and weathered the landscape, and altered flora and fauna. Humans have also shaped Dartmoor for around 12,000 years - as hunter-gatherers; farmers and graziers; builders of megalithic monuments, settlements and field systems; commercial extractive industries such as minerals, peat, granite, clay; and other significant impacts include changes in ownership and use, the military, reservoirs, and leisure industry. Bear, wolf, lynx, eagle, black grouse, and many more no longer frequent this landscape. With less livestock roaming, river valleys are starting to rewild themselves but there would have been more trees in certain areas. Molinia is becoming a monoculture in some locations, and crowding out beautiful heathers and other plants. And from a cultural perspective, it’s now rare to hear the Dartmoor dialect, songs, and stories being told in homes and pubs in the hamlets and villages.

Change is inevitable, and yet there are clear causes for concern and action on Dartmoor. For example, the growing population and its related usage and consumption patterns; shifts in public access; fluctuating government policy and chronic underfunding; changing farming practices; global climate crisis and wildlife decline.

What are you doing to save it?

As a Dartmoor Guide, I develop walks, talks and nature-connection experiences to inspire locals and visitors to ‘Explore. Learn. Enjoy.’ Opportunities to understand Dartmoor’s geology, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, as well as current issues can deepen our appreciation and care of this extraordinary living, working landscape.

On a personal level, I aim to meet as many people as possible with an interest in Dartmoor, and to learn from them about its past, present, and future. When possible, I also volunteer my time with various local organisations.