AROUND 60 visitors ? half of them children ? descended on the Old Town Park near Okehampton Castle last Friday to mark the historic wood?s designation as a local nature reserve. The free family event was organised by South West Forest to tie in with English Nature?s ?Wake up to Wildlife? week. Jim White from South West Forest said the event had gone ?swimmingly?. Mr White said the designation as a local nature reserve by owners West Devon Borough Council represented a significant move. ?It is formal acknowledgment of the site as an important wildlife and environmental area, and one with strong historical links with the castle. It is one of many jewels in Okehampton?s crown.?
Among the activities on offer during the afternoon was a drawing competition using locally sourced charcoal and wood sculpture. There were three categories in the charcoal competition. The winners were: under-five, Georgina Ward, three-years-old; five to seven, Georgia Aubin, seven, with a piece entitled ?A Country Scene? and eight and above, Beth Leviseur, eight. Jim said: ?What captured our eye with each of them was the way they had a sense of the place, and had attempted to draw a landscape.? He said around 20 bird and dormice boxes were made by children at the event and although many had taken their creations home, some would actually be put up around the woods. There was also the chance to listen to and play a didgeridoo made out of locally-sourced ash. Player Chris Holland later added extendable pipes to change the instrument?s sound and was joined by members of the Wren Trust.