As this year’s tree planting season is underway it provides a time for reflection on the hard work and support that goes into the pinnacle of our operating year each winter. This year was a significant one for Moor Trees as throughout 2025 we took time to reflect on achievements to date, and planned events and activities to celebrate our 25th anniversary.
Highlights of the 2025 have included:
Our native trees have been used in a range of inspiring woodland creation schemes – at both Harford Moor and a site close to Wistman’s Wood where we were able to start the important work of reintroducing more trees into the Dartmoor landscape close to two significant temperate rainforest sites. Last winter was also the first time that our tree planting season benefited from vital funding from the Utility Warehouse Foundation.
Restoration work at Wistman’s Wood (c) Moor Trees
Over the summer our series of Walk and Talks shared the significance of actions being taken today to restore nature on Dartmoor – thank you to Dartmoor’s Daughter, Emma Cunis who hosted a special walk to Piles Copse, learning along the way from local landowners Paul Alexander and John Howell as well as Angelique McBride from the Headwaters project. Lichenologist, April Windle guided a walk around the National Trust’s Shaugh Prior woods where participants were educated about the lichen, bryophytes and the unique habitat – temperate rainforests – they help to form. Dartmoor photographer, Tom Dauben was on hand to provide a masterclass in capturing these magical habitats on camera. Finally, Richard and Kate Morley shared their vision for Devon Wildland and the change that they have been able to make at Hill Crest in their mission to restore nature and create woodland on their land.
Walk and Talk at Piles Copse (c) Moor Trees
In late June we took time to come together with people who have supported Moor Trees over the years at a special summer celebration. The event highlighted how significant our work has been and how valued the charity is. At this enjoyable and inspiring occasion we were also able to share our first ever Impact Report 2024-25.
This year was a mast year, and our volunteers gathered and processed a record breaking number of seeds, nuts and fruits in our Community Tree Nurseries. Thank you to the Woodland Trust for sponsoring our annual Seed Gathering programme and all the landowners who invited us to their woodlands. Work continues to maximise our growing space to ensure we make the most efficient use of both nursery sites with ongoing maintenance and improvement works underway.
Volunteers seed processing at Dartington Community Tree Nursery (c) Moor Trees
Rounding off the year we launched an important new Crowdfunder – Plant the Future – it is an extremely difficult time for charities and Moor Trees has been impacted by growing competitiveness in the funding environment. We are grateful for the continued and ongoing funding from our supporters, and appeals of this nature help to secure valuable funds to support our ongoing work.
As we inevitably look ahead to 2026 the charity’s trustees are working on our next three-year strategy. This will outline what we will do to progress our vision of a wilder, more natural Dartmoor, with native woodland and scrub covering around a third of the National Park by 2050.
We will not achieve this without the dedication and commitment of all those who collaborate with us to restore and create native woodland. Thank you to everyone who has given their time to volunteer this year with Moor Trees, all the organisations and groups who have invited us to join them at events or to speak about our work – it all helps to get the word out about what we do and the difference we make for climate and nature.
Our Summer Celebration at Buckfast Abbey (c) Moor Trees
Our 25th anniversary year demonstrated the fantastic support we have benefitted from over the years and the wonderful people who have joined in to help us achieve our mission. We hope that this will continue over the next quarter of a century through volunteering, collaboration and vital funding support. Thank you and wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2026!
To keep in touch and receive updates about our work please sign up to our e-news (see below). There is also still time to donate to our Crowdfunder – Plant the Future
