Create a 'lovely legacy' with seed gathering

Moor Trees will lead a seed collecting walk through nearby woodland and moorland at Venford Reservoir

Two environmental charities are celebrating their 25th anniversaries with a joint seed collecting event at Venford Reservoir on Sunday.

South West Lakes Trust and Moor Trees are inviting volunteers to help restore Dartmoor's native woodland by gathering seeds such as acorns, hawthorn, holly, and crab apples.

The day begins with South West Lakes Trust sharing the history of the site and its transformation from a conifer plantation to native woodland.

In the afternoon, Moor Trees will lead a seed collecting walk through nearby woodland and moorland.

In 2023, the conifer crop at Venford was felled, and 1,000 native trees were planted with help from Moor Trees volunteers and the local community. The new woodland now connects habitats around the reservoir, supporting biodiversity and climate resilience.

James Platts, chief executive of South West Lakes Trust, said: "The seeds collected from Venford will be taken back to the nurseries at Moor Trees where they will be prepared and planted, then grown into trees of local provenance ready to be planted back on Dartmoor, a lovely legacy that will last for years to come."

Helen Aldis, chief executive at Moor Trees, said: "Coming together on projects such as the restoration of Venford demonstrates the vital role of charities... seed collecting is a wonderful way to be a part of Dartmoor's future."