THIS year’s Exmoor Nature Festival kicks-off on Saturday (May 17) and will see more than 50 events and activities focused on both wildlife and wellbeing across the next fortnight.

The festival aims to showcase Exmoor’s wildlife, the benefits of nature for human health, and the national park’s ‘sheer beauty’.

It is being organised by Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) with support from Visit Exmoor and will run until June 1.

Saturday’s opening activities include:

  • A nature festival garden talk in Dunster, and continuing daily until Friday (May 23)
  • The Exmoor landscape in charcoal, in Oare
  • Wandering wild in Nettlecombe Court
  • A Calvert Devon bushcraft session, in Wistlandpound
  • A wild about Exmoor experience on Triscombe Farm

ENPA chief executive Sarah Bryan said: “With our crowded world and busy lives, the benefits that national parks provide are even more important than when they were first founded more than 75 years ago.

“We have a bumper programme of events including ranger-led walks and rock pooling, outdoor yoga, farm walks and talks, kayaking adventures, and big family nature days to inspire the next generation of nature lovers.

“There really is something for everybody to enjoy, so I invite you to immerse yourself in all Exmoor has to offer and support our ongoing journey of nature recovery.”

The fun continues on Sunday with:

  • An Exmoor e-bike safari from Porlock Weir
  • A pop-up wildlife day, at Tarr Steps
  • The Exmoor Fungus Group, meeting in Oare
  • Seasonal, nature-themed yoga, in Triscombe Farm

Ms Bryan said: “Thank you to Visit Exmoor for their support.

“Many of our activities are free, but if you are able to make a donation to CareMoor it helps us organise more great events like this.”

The festival wraps up on June 1 with a farm walk and talk at the rare breeds farm Shoulsbarrow Farmhouse, and a family open farm day exploring agroforestry, market garden, and nature crafts at Higher Barn Farm, Roadwater.

A nature photography competition is also being run as part of this year’s festival, with classes for children and adults.

Entries need to be emailed to [email protected] by Friday, June 6, with one entry per person.

A festival programme and details of the photography competition can be found on the park authority’s website.