A HIDDEN gem of woodland on Dartmoor has been given a huge revamp.

Work to restore and revive paths in Wray Cleave has been completed, thanks to a group of tenacious and passionate volunteers led by Assistant Ranger Stuart Hooppell.

Over the last two years the Wray Cleave team have dedicated 275 volunteering hours to cut, dig and bracken-bash their way around the site in a bid to re-establish this steep but beautiful valley.

With clusters of lesser-known tors, old stone walls, veteran oak trees, footpaths and glade openings, Wray Cleave is now a special place for quiet enjoyment and tranquillity.

Stuart said: 'The commitment shown by the volunteers has been immense. Huge thanks and well done to everyone for their amazing efforts to make Wray Cleave accessible once more.’

About 25 hectares in size the Dartmoor National Park Authority-owned Wray Cleave lies just off the A382 between Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead. 

With steep ascents and descents, walking can be strenuous but once there, walkers can see red deer and, in spring, carpets of bluebells.  

The team consists of Tim Brook, Max Piper, Bill Potter, Paul Rendell and Barry Welch, led Stuart. 

Support was also provided by Tim Jenkinson and Paul Buck who, with Max, run the Tors of Dartmoor website. 

They first surveyed the woodland in March 2022 when the site was choked with vegetation, steps were practically non-existent, and footpaths were in danger of becoming lost. 

Armed with the definitive map and GPS, the trio marked out the red and white tape temporarily attached to trees to denote the most probable route on the ground and to give an idea of the scope of potential future work.

Max said: ‘Ever since first visiting Wray Cleave in December 2018, I have been enthralled by its alluring colours, sweeping wooded slopes and marvellous granite tors which feature in my book called East Dartmoor’s Lesser-Known Tors and Rocks. 

‘When the opportunity came to improve and effectively revolutionise the footpath network in the cleave, I was keen to get involved.’

With the support of Dartmoor National Park Authority, a plan of action was put in place. 

Since January 2023 the Wray Cleave squad have cleared vegetation, installed wooden steps and a new handrail, replaced old stiles with new gates and putting in fresh waymarker signs and fingerposts.

Max added: ‘It has been a labour of love, working in rain and sunshine. It has been a great pleasure to work with such wonderful people. I’ve learnt many practical skills - my favourite part was building a new handrail.

‘We now have a beautiful woodland that can be enjoyed by the walker; fully waymarked with improved access points and paths that can be followed. The Wray Cleave project is a celebration of teamwork and supporting public access.’

Stuart added: ‘It has been an incredible effort by everyone, and thanks go to the neighbouring landowners who gave us vehicle access across their land. 

‘What the team have achieved is amazingand they should feel proud for seeing this challenging project through.’