A RECORD number of visitors made sure this year’s Exmoor Nature Festival was a huge success and helped raise the profile of the national park authority’s CareMoor for Exmoor charity and its work.

More than 1,500 people took part in more than 50 activities which were organised across the two weeks of the festival, which ended on Sunday (June 1).

People travelled from all over the country for the fortnight of events across multiple locations in and around the national park.

The festival was a celebration of wildlife, wellbeing, and Exmoor’s nature, heritage, and landscape.

It brought together local communities, visitors, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts, and activities included guided walks, wildlife spotting, family fun days, and educational workshops.

Rock pooling is among the activities making up this year's Exmoor Nature Festival starting on May 17. PHOTO: ENPA.
Rock pooling was one of the activities being held during this year’s Exmoor Nature Festival. PHOTO: ENPA. ( )

From dawn chorus bird walks to farming activities, the festival showcased the best of Exmoor’s special qualities.

Festival organiser Julie Colman said: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everybody who took part, from the passionate volunteers and expert guides to the enthusiastic attendees, who made the festival such a memorable occasion.

“Your energy and love for nature brought the event to life.

“A special thank you also goes to Visit Exmoor for their support.

“As we reflect on this year’s achievements, we look forward to building on this momentum for next year and continuing to celebrate and engage people with the special qualities of Exmoor and conservation efforts to enhance its biodiversity.”

A spokesperson for Wild Wellies (Tales and Treasures), held during the Haddon Hill family fun day said: “A great day and lovely seeing new families, as well as families form our regular sessions, thank you to Exmoor National Park for inviting us.”

Exmoor Pony Centre said its family fun extravaganza had been a great success with a record number of people visiting and helping to raise the profile of the charity and its work.

Walking events for women will feature in the Exmoor Nature Festival starting in May. PHOTO: ENPA.
Walking events for women featured in this year’s Exmoor Nature Festival. PHOTO: ENPA. ( )

A spokesperson said: “Watching visitors of all ages engage with the native rare breed Exmoor pony, enjoying the great outdoors and all Exmoor has to offer, was wonderful.”

With the Wild CIC said its open day had been ‘wonderful’ and ‘it was great to be part of the festival in this way’.

A spokesperson said: “We hosted farm tours, nature craft workshops, interactive permaculture games, seed bomb making, wildflower meadow exploration, guided tours of the market garden, picking and pesto making workshops, fire pit and wish wand making, we also had our artist in residence in conversation in the shepherd’s hut cafe.”

Ms Colman said coming up in the autumn was the annual Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, which will run from Friday, October 17, to Sunday, November 2.

She said more information would be available in August regarding the schedule of dark skies events and people could keep up to date through Exmoor National Park Authority’s (ENPA) website and also via social media.

Anybody who wants more information about the Exmoor Nature Festival should contact ENPA’s rural enterprise team with any questions by email to [email protected].