CHILDREN from schools in the West Devon and Dartmoor area last week enjoyed a trip to Roadford Lake for a Heritage Environmental Day, organised by South West Lakes Trust.
The events taking place last Wednesday and Thursday ? attended by Lifton, Exbourne and Lewtrenchard Primary Schools and also Bridestowe, Milton Abbot, South Tawton and Spreyton ? were a joint venture involving two projects which South West Lakes Trust manages: The West Devon and Dartmoor Sustainable Education Project (WDDSE), based at Burrator, and the Heritage Education Project, based at Roadford.
The various practical activities aimed to provide learning in a fun outdoor atmosphere and linked to both the history of Roadford Lake and sustainability, including biodiversity and energy.
The heritage activities, led by education officer Jo Simpson, included historical discovery methods using artefacts, maps and questioning characters from different periods of the past ? including a legionnaire.
The sustainable activities involved a short walk with Paul Gregory, community liaison officer for Lopwell Dam, who highlighted sustainable energy issues and biodiversity.
Education officer Liz Eagle helped groups to discover the past, present and future of soil, the minibeasts that rely on it and plants that grow in it.
The WDDSE Project at Burrator is supported by the SEED Programme and the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund and the Heritage Education Project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Dartmoor National Park Authority?s sustainable development fund officer Peter Joyce said the authority was always pleased to support initiatives that motivated youngsters to take care of their environment and to think about the issues of renewable energy and the enhancement of biodiversity.