Black-a-Tor Copse is an area of woodland, granite clitter (rocks) and moorland 380 metres above sea level. The reserve is one of Britain’s best examples of high altitude oak woodland and is nationally important for the variety of lichens and mosses that clothe the trees and rocks.
Main habitats: woodland
Features of interest
Black-a-Tor Copse is one of three high altitude woodlands on Dartmoor, offering views across the West Okement River Valley. English oak trees have grown through large granite boulders or ‘clitter’ to create a woodland which is nationally important for rare lichens and mosses.
The clean air and damp humid conditions of Dartmoor provide the perfect place for the lichens to thrive. As well as rare lichens such as Bryoria smithii, more common species including the beard lichen can also be spotted.
Twenty species of breeding birds have been recorded in the woodland and surrounding habitat, including ring ouzel and redstart.
The woodland isn’t actively managed, but light grazing by the cattle, sheep and ponies that reside on the open moorland help sustain the open character and abundant lichens and mosses. The moorland is also periodically burnt in an ancient practice known as ‘swaling’. This provides patches of more palatable grass for livestock in spring and reduces the spread of gorse and young trees.
Directions
Sourton is on Route 27 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Three local trails converge in the area: the Two Castle Trail, the West Devon Way and the Dartmoor Way. See the Devon County Council website for details.
The nearest train station is in Okehampton, with a regular train service to Plymouth and Gunnislake.
Bus services run from Plymouth to Okehampton via Sourton, and Gunnislake to Okehampton via Sourton. See the Traveline SW website for more details.
There are ‘Sunday Rover’ bus services from Gunnislake and Plymouth to Okehampton via Sourton. For details go to the Devon County Council website.
The reserve is two miles south east of Sourton (on the A386) and two miles south of Meldon (on the B3260). The nearest car park is at Meldon Reservoir.
Contact
To find out more about the site, or to volunteer to assist with practical management and research on the the reserve, contact site staff on 01626 832330.
