ACCESS to Okehampton's MIllennium Wood can now be easily accessed from Simmons Park thanks to the installation of a new bridge by the Okehampton Rivers Improvement Group.
Grants from the Key Fund, West Devon Borough Council and local donations amounting to £13,000 have funded the bridge and a gravel path which leads to it from the edge of the park, beyond the swimming pool.
Walkers can use the bridge to access the wood as part of a circular walk around Okehampton or the more adventurous can walk onto Dartmoor through the area known as 'Tramlines'.
Clearance work and bridge installation has been undertaken by the Sticklepath and Okehampton Conservation Group, which is returning to full employment tomorrow (Friday) after the foot and mouth crisis.
The group will be working in Skaigh Woods behind Sticklepath where the tasks will include aftercare of recently planted trees, clearance of undergrowth and placing protection around regenerated trees. The meeting point is Finch Foundry car park at 10.30am.
STOC meets every Friday at Finch Foundry and undertakes various jobs on behalf of the Dartmoor National park Authority, the National Trust, Tarka Trail, South West Water and other organisations.
All members are volunteers who gain a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment from contributing to the conservation of the local environment.
New volunteers are always welcome and can be guaranteed worthwhile employment and pleasant company as well as learning about this beautiful part of the country and having a well deserved drink at the Devonshire Arms!
For more information contact Ian Bowkley on 01837 840435.