Bovey Valley Timber: Your Questions Answered

Why are trees felled in the woods of the Bovey Valley? How are they felled and how is the timber extracted? Where does the timber go after it leaves the Bovey Valley?

Timber! Tools, Trees and Tall Tales

is a special spring-time event hosted by the Woodland Trust and Natural England, as part of the wider HLF funded

Moor than meets the eye

project, where you will be able to find out the answers to these questions … and lots more.The woodlands of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve include Yarner Wood and three other woods that link together along the Bovey Valley: Pullabrook Wood, Hisley Wood and Houndtor Wood. Each of these woodlands has their own interesting story to tell and each are being managed to favour wildlife conservation.Throughout history, humans have always managed woodlands for many different reasons. In medieval times, there were small farmsteads in the valley where agriculture was established between the trees. Since then, many of Dartmoor’s ancient oakwoods have been used to produce charcoal that provide the power behind many rural industries. During the last hundred or more years, there has been a demand for timber which saw the planting of many introduced conifer trees, but today, these woodlands are in the safe hands of the Woodland Trust and Natural England whose priorities are to maintain the woods in a way that enhances biodiversity. Habitats for butterflies and insects are high on the priority list.

A mobile sawmill slices tree trunks into planks.  Okehampton Primary School used Bovey Valley timber for the construction of their raised beds.The Timber! Tools, Trees and Tall Tales open day will take place on Saturday 25th March - if you would like to see the woodland restoration work in action, alongside craft activities, storytelling, wildlife walks and much more.  You can book a place for this free event on the Woodland Trust websiteby Matt Parkins