We had the great pleasure of the Dartmoor Youth Rangers (DYR) visiting the farm this half term and turning their hand at Stone Walling. The wall they set to repair was one of the youngest walls on the farm at 200 years old however this meant its non-traditional ‘higgledy-piggledy’ style made repairing and replicating it even more difficult!
The first group worked hard in small groups repairing the wall with some inside the field ‘trigging’ and the others on the common sorting stone size and building with large stones at the bottom up to the smaller rocks on top. It was a glorious day and although it was hard work the team did a fantastic job of repairing several gaps in the wall.
The second day, however, the heavens opened and the rain came at us with a vengeance! Stones were wet, faces were wet, fingers were wet and all the animals on the common stood with their backs to the rain. There was not a dry eye, glove or sock in the group and yet with their teacher Martyn and fantastic DYR leader Kat the group persisted with enthusiasm. Having to take extra caution due to the now slippery nature of the task in hand this group were able to achieve brilliant repairs to the wall. A much needed break in the Old Peat house and Kat’s warm hot chocolate gave restbite before completing their sections of wall in the afternoon.
Both groups showed real skill in restoring the wall and taking the time to look back at their work and check it did not look inviting for sheep to try and climb.
We can’t say a big enough thank you to everyone involved and hope when you pass the farm again you will show others your hard work.
If you or someone you know would like to join the Dartmoor Youth Rangers contact Kat:
kkostershadbolt@dartmoor.gov.uk
Trowlesworthy Tors 