h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why is Dartmoor a "man-made wilderness"?



Ste

Watch this space for a full and complete dartmoor entry coming soon.

From memory, the climate was much milder about 5,000 years ago and Dartmoor was (for that era) quite heavily populated and forested. The native trees were cleared by man and when the climate on the became less hospitable, mankind withdrew, leaving the soggy moorland behind.

Man is still shaping the landscape on the moor though, without the sheep and ponies that roam freely, scrub would rapidly encroach.

I think mother nature might have had a hand in shaping some of those tors though

Sue

The same is true of all English moorland, isn't it? (Not sure about Scotland)

I used the phrase for the reaso Sue stated, I get fed up when pople use [hrases like "natural beauty" and such, I'm sur it is true for many other regions as well.

From memory, and when Sue (maybe with a bit of help from me) does the Drtmoor entry we'll add more, but all the signs of habitation on the moor were from the time it was forested, I think it may be more recent than Sue suggests as on old (18th 19th century) it is frequently marked as Dartmoor forest.

But as Sue says, watch this space.

CH

I don't think there's much of the countryside in England at least that hasn't been at least partially shpaed by mans intervention, even grazing a few sheep on the uplands can change the make up of the flora and fauna.

A bit off topic, but going back a few hundred years, the word forest didn't necessarily mean there were trees present. I found this out researching the Epping Forest entry - Essex was frequently referred to as the Forest of Essex, many assume this means Epping is just a remanant of a greater forest, it isn't. I'm not sure exactly in what context the word would have been used on Dartmoor, but in Essex it basic definition was more hunting grounds. I'll have to delve into that one some more.

Apart from the plantation forests, there are a few natural areas left on the moor - ever been to Black Tor Copse? Weirdest shaped oak trees I've ever seen, a bit like walking into something Tolkien created.

Sue

One of three ancient high altitude oak woodlands on Dartmoor, the others being Wistman's wood and Piles Copse

Spent my best day this year with a close friend walking to the copse, lovely picnic on the banks of the stream.

been to Wistman's several times but I prefer Black Tor - harder to get to and much quieter.

C Hawke

Looks like I've just volunteered to do a section on the woods for our entry.

May start tomorow.

CH

I never knew that. I always though that Dartmoor was above the treeline. Come to think of it now it isn't *that* high is it. I feel quite ashamed being a Devonian (albeit one decamped in California) and not knowing such a thing.

Thanks

Ste