PEOPLE with a few hours to spare during the week or weekends are being asked to consider volunteering for the Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA).

The DPA friendly volunteer groups work to keep Dartmoor special. Volunteers can learn more about the moor, meet new people and even keep fit at the same time.

The association undertakes a variety of conservation work on the moor throughout the year — at the moment it is concentrating on bracken bashing.

Too much bracken in an area swamps other species, reduces the bio-diversity of the moor and covers lots of the interesting archaeological features on the open moor. The only way to tackle it, without harmful chemicals, is to bash it down, weakening it and preventing it spreading further.

The DPA volunteer groups will be working on bracken bashing at various locations throughout July and August, including at Devonport and Drakes Leats at Roborough tomorrow (Friday), and at Sharpitor and Leeden Hill, near Princetown on Wednesday, July 17.

No special skills are needed. For details of where to meet, what to bring and any other questions, contact Fiona on 01822 890646 or email [email protected]">[email protected]