EXMOOR National Park Authority (ENPA) is inviting people to join it for a ‘Seed to Sawmill’ event being held in Exford, on Thursday, August 17.

The fun family event will celebrate Exmoor’s trees and woodlands at the authority’s tree nursery with members of the field services team.

It will be an opportunity to learn more about the groups and organisations whose livelihoods connect to trees and the timber products which come from them.

Visitors will be able to see where the ENPA grows trees to supply Exmoor’s future woodlands and tour the yard where the field services team, who look after the national park’s 620 miles of public paths and bridleways, make wooden gates, stiles, and iconic signposts.

There will be demonstrations by local craft workers, including on a pole lathe, green woodworking by a local bodgers group, and basket weaving. 

There will also be wood and nature-themed activities for children, lots of stalls to visit in the meadow beside the tree nursery, catering on-site, and compost toilets will be available.

ENPA woodland creation officer Robin Offer said: “Trees provide so many environmental benefits, capturing carbon, improving water quality, as well as being a sustainable building material.

“At our Exford tree nursery we grow our own saplings to ensure that the trees we plant are most likely to thrive.

“Our nursery and depot in Exford enable us to grow the right trees for the right place, such as sessile oaks, Scots pine, silver birch, and mountain ash, all of which will grow well in a challenging and changing environment.

“Some of these trees may also have a second life in the Exmoor landscape as a signpost, gate, or bridge.”

The free event will run from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm, and is signed off Exford’s main car park opposite the Crown Hotel.