(Photograph by Vasaparrot)
Join us, as part of the Yarner Wood 70th anniversary celebrations as England’s 1st National Nature Reserve, for a short walk from dark to dawn through the extraordinary soundscape of the waking chorus of birds. Yarner Woods is a bird haven so we hope to hear, and possibly see redstart, pied flycatcher, wood warbler, blackbird, song thrush, mistle thrush, great spotted woodpecker, raven, jay, blackcap, and many many more. If we are lucky, we may even hear the pre-dawn churring of nightjar.
Tickets & to Book: Please send a message to Dartmoor's Daughter on Facebook or email info@dartmoorsdaughter.com and we will send you the contact email for Sally Wood who is coordinating tickets.
Location
MEETING TIME: 4.45am for 5am walking start. Finish at approximately 8am.
MEETING LOCATION: Car park at SX 78219 79303. Directions - By car from Bovey Tracey take the B3387 to Manaton (don’t left fork to Haytor). After about 1.5 miles, you will see the Yarner Wood car park signs on the left. Continue up to the top of the hill over the cattle grids. At the top you will see a car park on your right. Ignore this one and carry on to the second carpark on your right.
Car parking is limited so we encourage CAR SHARING. Please let us know if you can offer or need a lift.
LEVEL: EASY. We will walk on well-maintained paths for up to 2 miles with some gentle hills. And we will sit for 1/2-1 hour in the woodland at dawn to listen to the dawn chorus. You will need to be comfortable walking in the dark with no/limited light - we want to create as little disturbance as possible for the birds and wildlife in the woodland.
WHAT TO WEAR/BRING: PLENTY of warm layers including hat and gloves (a sleeping bag can be good for additional warmth whilst we’re sitting in the woodland); something to sit/lie on; waterproof jacket & trousers (whatever the forecast); binoculars if you have them; red lamp torches (we will mainly be walking in the dark so our eyes adjust. A rear bicycle light can be good for this); drinks/hot flask and picnic breakfast/snacks.
Sorry no dogs.
For more information about Yarner Woods, part of the East Dartmoor Woods and Heaths National Nature Reserve managed by Natural England -
http://eastdartmoorwoods.org/
www.naturalengland.org.uk/
ORGANISERS: Dartmoor’s Daughter creates walks and nature-connection experiences to enhance health, wellbeing, and performance. We have invited Tony Whitehead to co-facilitate this Dawn Chorus Walk. He has had a lifelong interest in birds and wildlife. And has worked for RSPB for over twenty years in a variety of roles from managing nature reserves, running environmental educations projects to managing the charity's communications in the south west. His passion is for the sounds of birds and how people can be encouraged to connect to nature through listening to and learning the 'language' of wildlife. Tony also runs the field recording label Very Quiet Records http://veryquietrecords.bandcamp.com/
CANCELLATIONS: The walk will go ahead come rain or shine. It will only be postponed in the event of dangerous weather. Please check your emails 12-24 hours prior.
RISK: No liability accepted for accidents or incidents.