Dartmoor Connections 2020 is coming
Dartmoor National Park have announced their new digital festival 'Dartmoor Connections', set to take place through July and August.
After having to cancel this year's Meldon Wildlife Festival, and rescheduling Moor Otters for a later date, the National Park wants to make sure people can still discover the many stories that shape this special landscape.
From 20 July until 16 August, Dartmoor Connections will feature a full schedule of information and activities online and across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
The festival will help people connect with Dartmoor whether they are new to it or are more familiar with its heritage.
Throughout the festival we’ll be delving into the Bronze Age, marvelling at the medieval and going wild for bogs, birds and butterflies.
There will be illustrated talks from special guest speakers, family craft workshops for the younger ones to get stuck into, and a whole host of content to help you learn and discover more about this wonderful National Park.
Dartmoor National Park Authority Chair Pamela Woods said: “Dartmoor is a fascinating place to visit and spend time in. Even though the covid-19 pandemic curbed the tourism season - something many businesses rely upon and meant the cancellation of our own events such as Meldon Wildlife Festival - we will celebrate in other ways.
“Dartmoor Connections is our way of introducing - and reintroducing - people to Dartmoor’s many delights while promoting what makes the National Park so special. It is also a way for us to support businesses and organisations as they start to reopen and provide services to visitors."
Outreach and Interpretation Officer Andy Bailey added: “We’ve got a great programme which will give everyone a chance to uncover the lives of our moorland ancestors, discover the incredible wildlife that lives here and offer inspiration for their own explorations and it’s all accessible from your own home.”
Events include:
Family craft workshops: Make Bronze Age ‘bling’ like the necklace found in the Whitehorse Hill cist or why not create prints inspired by life in Dartmoor’s woodlands?
Illustrated talks: DNPA Archaeologist Andy Crabb explores life on Dartmoor during medieval times and local historian Simon Dell sheds light on how Thomas Tyrwhitt’s vision to transformed Princetown and gave us roads, railways and Dartmoor Prison.
History quizzes: test your knowledge and see how much you’ve learnt with this special quiz at the end of the festival
Films: Learn more about the iconic Hound Tor medieval village and those who lived there.
Dartmoor Connections will also bring you inspiration and ideas for where to go and what to look out for when you visit Dartmoor, plus much more.
You can stay up to date with what is happening by signing up to the events newsletter or by following Dartmoor National Park on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Share your photos and videos either by tagging us into your posts or by using the hashtag #DartmoorConnections
