Walk down lush green slopes and you come to a riverbank framed by weeping willows. Follow the curve of the river, and discover a route through lovely pastures, buzzing with wildlife and dotted with grazing sheep. This magical place is Hillyfields in Devon. Its caretakers now need our help.
A couple who have cared for the ancient woodland on their Devon farm for years are now facing a costly legal battle with national park planners. The family's sustainable methods of social outreach that keep the project viable, but which rely on modest structures being placed on the land, are under attack. Please sign this petition to ask that the Dartmoor National Park Authority work with the King-Smiths to support their ongoing preservation efforts.
Park planners have served a notice demanding the removal of basic structures including compost toilets and a tented workshop. But these structures are vital to the projects that the King-Smith use to fund their efforts, and which help educate the public through teaching forestry skills.
The saga is being watched by woodland champions across the UK, as the Hillyfield project is seen to be a great model for caring for small pockets of woodland. As such, the outcome of this battle has far-reaching implications for UK conservation. We need to raise our voices in favour of sustainable forest projects to preserve our greenest national treasures. If enough people sign, it will send a message of support for sustainable initiatives such as Hillyfields.
