MORE than 20 individuals and organisations considered to have made positive contributions to Dartmoor life in the past five years were recognised in a ceremony at Holne Park, Ashburton, on Monday, writes Nigel Canham.

Among those to receive certificates from the National Park Authority (DNPA) were Meat Dartmoor farmers' group, Justine Colton of the Moor Skills Project and Bridget Cole of Greenwell Farm near Yelverton, for the farm's lambing live work.

Television and radio star Judi Spiers presented the 21 framed certificates after chief executive Dr Kevin Bishop told guests they were being handed to those who had helped deliver different aspects of the previous DNPA five-year management plan.

At the same time he launched its replacement entitled 'Your Dartmoor', a document that will help steer policy-making through to 2019.

'At the time of the last management plan launch things were looking rosy, many of us would have had to check how to spell austerity,' he said.

'Wind the clock forward and austerity is now a household word. There is one government priority that trumps all others, economic growth.'

Dr Bishop said Dartmoor had become, in effect, a £650 million business that attracted 2.3 million 'loyal customers' annually.

He claimed that for every pound of public money spent by his authority £5 was generated for the local economy.

But he was keen to point out that environmental stewardship was at the heart of DNPA activities as was the public's health and wellbeing.

'If, as we know, the Prime Minister is interested in measuring happiness, and there is a measure of happiness as well as economic growth, then this is a business model that's worth examining, because it's a business that trades in happiness and enjoyment,' he said.

'The business is Dartmoor National Park, perhaps something we haven't traditionally termed a business or considered a business but it is a business and other businesses thrive on the national park.

'The plan we are launching today is in reality a business plan. Not a plan to exploit the national park but a plan to ensure we sustain it, enjoy it and that local communities can prosper from it.

'And those three things, sustain, enjoy and prosper, shape the revised plan.'

Dr Bishop completed his presentation by making a plea for increased partnership working creative thinking.

'Ask not what Dartmoor can do for you but what you can do for Dartmoor,' he said.