Exeter College Foundation Studies students were recently part of a group of volunteers who took part in a clearing day at Houndtor Woods in the Bovey Valley. This project was run in conjunction with The Premier Paper Group and The Woodland Trust.

The day was organised in order to help clear Douglas Fir Saplings in Houndtor Woods, located on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, in preparation for the planting of more natural woodland at the site.

Volunteers had a number of important tasks including; helping aid restoration, clearing conifer seeding, and helping to maintain a number of small fenced experiment plots in Houndtor and Pullabrook Woods.

The planting of the natural woodland at Houndtor Woods will take place from now until March next year, and The Premier Paper Group, along with more volunteers, plan to return to Bovey Valley to plant some saplings in March next year.

The students were supervised by three tutors from college, and the response from everyone present was that they had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed their day helping to clear the forest floor.

You can read more about the project here.