Dartmoor’s future in focus: new board to steer partnership plan review

Dartmoor National Park Authority has agreed to support the creation of a new board to lead the review and delivery of Dartmoor’s Partnership Plan.

The board – drawn from the public, charitable, farming and recreation sectors - will drive forward statutory work and ongoing priorities to make Dartmoor climate resilient, nature-friendly, culturally rich, well managed and welcoming for all. 

The go-ahead, given by the Authority at its meeting on Friday 9 May, formally kickstarts work on reviewing the Partnership Plan to ensure its actions remain ambitious, innovative and relevant. 

Because the Authority is legally responsible for preparing and producing the plan, its Chair, Pamela Woods, will serve as Chair of the Partnership Board.

Ms Woods said: “I am delighted to Chair this newly formed board. Partnership working has already been crucial in supporting activities that make Dartmoor a better place. Together, we can build on our achievements to steer the work of the review and ensure the updated Partnership Plan reflects our collective ambitions for this special landscape. 

“I look forward to everyone making a valuable contribution towards adopting a robust and relevant Partnership Plan for Dartmoor National Park.”

The membership of the Partnership Board is:

Local authorities: Devon County Council, South Hams and Teignbridge District Councils, West Devon Borough Council. 

Statutory organisations: Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission, Historic England.

Environment: Represented by the RSPB, Devon Wildlife Trust. 

Charitable: Dartmoor Futures.

Access and recreation: Represented by South West Lakes Trust, British Mountaineering Council, Dartmoor Access Forum. 

Farming, commoning & land use: Dartmoor Commoners Council, Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, Dartmoor Common Owners' Association, Duchy of Cornwall, Ministry of Defence. 
 

Working together welcomed

Nick Bruce-White, Chief Executive of Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “I’m pleased to be contributing to the review of the Partnership Plan, working with fellow stakeholders on the Partnership Board and in liaison with environmental NGOs across Devon.

"Dartmoor is a special refuge for wildlife, where species lost elsewhere can still thrive, and the National Park can play an incredibly important role in supporting nature recovery right across the South West. But even on Dartmoor, nature hangs perilously in the balance. The review comes at a critical time for our natural environment, and I look forward to developing a Partnership Plan that aligns us all around our vision of a nature-rich, climate resilient Dartmoor, fit for generations to come.”

James Platts, Chief Executive of South West Lakes Trust, said: “Our charity is passionate about enabling more people to connect with nature and the outdoors so we are very much looking forward to working with like-minded organisation to help protect, conserve and enjoy the special place that is Dartmoor.”
 

About the Partnership Plan 

The Dartmoor Partnership Plan is a critical policy document. It shares a collectively agreed vision to make Dartmoor a better place and the actions needed to protect, conserve and renew this special landscape. 

This is achieved by bringing organisations and individuals together to ensure the National Park’s statutory purposes and duty are met alongside important contributions to local and national targets for nature, climate and protected landscapes. 

The current plan was adopted in 2021. Actions are grouped into seven clearly structured ‘better for’ themes: climate, the next generation, nature and natural beauty, cultural heritage, people, farming and forestry, business and communities. 

These themes will be carried forward into the updated plan. 

In December 2024 Authority Members agreed a formal governance structure that will ensure a strong partnership-based approach to tracking and monitoring the review progress through to formal adoption. 
 

What next? 

The Partnership Board will meet in July to consider next steps including public and stakeholder engagement. It will meet regularly throughout the review process. 

People who care about what happens on Dartmoor will be invited to give their views on the priorities and issues, playing a key role in shaping the National Park's future. Follow us on social media to stay up to date or sign up for our consultation newsletters. 

Stakeholder workshops will also be arranged; details will be announced in due course.  

Alongside data and evidence gathering, insights will be fed into a draft Partnership Plan which will then form the basis of further public consultation in 2026. 

Subject to final revisions, the final plan will be adopted in 2027.