STAFF and members of the Dartmoor National Park Authority recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the act that created national parks in the UK undertaking practical conservation work.

Office-based staff and members joined rangers and the conservation works team at Hutholes near Widecombe-in-the-Moor to mark the date when Royal Assent was given to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Bill.

Hutholes is the site of a deserted medieval settlement, about 650 years old, with a field and a small piece of woodland adjacent. The area is the subject of a management agreement between Dartmoor National Park Authority and the owner and over the past few years a portion of the field has been used for memorial tree planting.

Activities included planting a new native hedge, including a couple of oaks to commemorate the day, clearing vegetation, stone wall repairs and a small archaeological excavation to reveal details of one of the medieval buildings.

Dartmoor National Park was the fourth national park to be designated in 1951 and will be celebrating its 60th birthday in 2011.