A SOIL scientist was presented with an award for 'indefatigable survey of Dartmoor soils' by the Dartmoor Society at its recent annual meeting. The meeting of the Dartmoor Society saw chairman Dr Tom Greeves present Dr Tim Harrod with the Dartmoor Society Award 2014. The award was in the form of a finely hand-crafted ceramic plate made by potter Penny Simpson of Moretonhampstead. Dr Greeves said: 'Tim Harrod worked with the Soil Survey of England and Wales from 1965 until 1987 when it was disbanded by Michael Joplin, Minister of agriculture and fisheries, who considered it an "expensive nonsense". 'Upon retirement in 2001, Tim took up the challenge of completing the unfinished work of the Soil Survey in Devon, by single-handedly mapping the soils of nearly 50,000 acres of ground in the Chaford and Moretonhampstead area of Dartmoor, ranging from the deep peat of the high moor to a wide variety of enclosed land. 'His achievement and his contribution to the understanding of the county's environment is second to none, and is reminiscent of some of the great pioneer surveys of our landscape in the 18th century. 'The society recognises this outstanding work, and hopes that this award will help Tim attract the funds necessary for publishing his masterwork. 'The Dartmoor Society has already made a grant towards it.' Dr Greeves said 2015 had been designated the 'year of the soil' by the United Nations and he hoped Dr Harrod's survey might be published by then. He said it was imperative that the properties of the earth's skin was understood as the ability to grow food and manage resources depended on proper knowledge. Anyone who would like to make a contribution to the Mr Harrod's publication should contact Tom Greeves at [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01822 617004.