A FAMILY who made an incredible £25,000 donation to the Caremoor for Exmoor ‘Woods and Trees’ appeal have planted the first trees for a new Kings Wood, near Simonsbath.

The Richards family, who have a strong connection with Exmoor, wanted to celebrate the lives of Denys and Cicely Richards, who lived for many years in West Buckland, near Barnstaple, and loved Devon and Exmoor.

A robust chestnut guard protecting the first of the parkland trees will bear a plaque dedicated to the couple, and the opportunity for other families to do the same is being offered by the national park authority.

Mark Richards visited the Simonsbath site last week with his sister Julia and brother-in-law Steve to help plant the first saplings of the new woodland.

Mark Richards with sister Julia and her husband Steve with Exmoor's first Kings Wood parkland tree sustainable tree guard.
Mark Richards with sister Julia and her husband Steve with Exmoor's first Kings Wood parkland tree sustainable tree guard. (ENPA)

They met members of the park authority’s woodland team to plant the trees and learn more about what their donation was funding.

Mr Richards said: “My sisters Sarah and Julia and I are looking forward to spending time here with our children and grandchildren for years to come.

“The trees and dedication plaque are the perfect way for our parents to be remembered and it is wonderful to be a part of nature recovery on Exmoor.”

Through its CareMoor for Exmoor scheme, the authority is inviting donors to sponsor other large parkland trees in Simonsbath, each of which will be enclosed by an innovative tree guard made in Exford from local, sustainable chestnut.

Exmoor woodland conservation team members Graeme McVittie (left) and Robin Offer at work.
Exmoor woodland conservation team members Graeme McVittie (left) and Robin Offer at work. (ENPA)

Exmoor senior woodland conservation officer Graeme McVittie said: “Each guard will protect the sapling from deer and cattle for a minimum of 15 years.

“The area will remain a farmed landscape and the stock will benefit from the shelter the trees offer.

“A donation of £750 to CareMoor can secure sponsorship of one of these parkland trees which will live for well over 500 years.

“To mark the donation, we will place a dedication plaque on the tree guard.”

The authority will plant another 6,000 smaller trees during the winter to create Kings Wood, many of them during a volunteer event later this month.

Mr McVittie said: “We have grown saplings from seeds harvested from Exmoor at our Exford tree nursery.

Two generations of the Richards family meet with Exmoor senior woodlands officer Graeme McVittie on the site of the new Kings Wood.
Two generations of the Richards family meet with Exmoor senior woodlands officer Graeme McVittie on the site of the new Kings Wood. (ENPA)

“Knowing the effects that climate change is already having, we have prioritised a selection of trees that we are confident will thrive in the national park.

“We have included sessile oaks, sycamore, Scots pine, silver birch, and mountain ash, all of which will grow well in a challenging environment.

“Trees provide so many environmental benefits, capturing carbon, improving water quality, and they are a natural tool for flood management.

“We are working to recover temperate rainforest, increase tree cover, and create a more resilient landscape.

“Our aim is for Kings Wood to become a truly sustainable woodland and donations to the CareMoor Woods and Trees Appeal are really helping our efforts.

“We are so grateful to the public for helping us to keep Exmoor special for future generations.”

Mr McVittie said donations to CareMoor last winter supported the planting of 13,000 trees in Bye Wood, near Winsford.

Donations to CareMoor for Exmoor and sponsorship of parkland trees can be made via the autority’s website here or in any of the National Park Centres in Dulverton, Dunster, and Lynmouth.