Geri Skeens - Moorland Guide

09/06/2026

06/06/2026

Full-time job opportunities with the South West Peatland Partnership team.

Dartmoor Headwaters Assistant
Working on surveys, restoration plans, map production, monitoring, collating permissions and consents, recruiting contractors and supervising work on the high moor.
Full time, 1-year contract - hosted by Dartmoor National Park
For more info and to apply head to https://lnkd.in/e9UP89VD

SWPP Project Officer
Leading on peatland restoration projects at a site level, managing works from planning through to delivery.
Full time, permanent contract - hosted by South West Water
For more info and to apply head to https://lnkd.in/eiH6i_Dv

Both roles involve lots of time out on the moors of the South West, working to make a huge positive difference. They are hosted by Dartmoor National Park and who, alongside the National Trust, host staff who work together for the South West Peatland Partnership

05/06/2026

I had an experience today the likes of which I've never had with a pony before. I was checkpointing so just sitting waiting for teams to come along and this beauty came over and stood beside me. I told him quietly how beautiful he was and he just kept hanging out with me - for 45 minutes. It was the middle of the day and we were a big sleepy so our eyelids would droop a bit and then we would perk up a bit and I felt we were really connected, were genuinely enjoying each other's company. Every time I gently talked to him his ears moved to pick up my voice. I am a bit wary of ponies and this one was big and standing over me but I felt more and more relaxed and that my heart opened to him. I understood why occasionally horses are taken into hospices and other places where people are very sick to comfort them. There seemed to be so much feeling coming from him to me and we were both so calm.

30/05/2026

Flora training: plant pictionary (back to back, one describes a plant while the other draws it), plant classification, plant ID, surveying a patch of bog, and one trainee's first Sundew. Lovely day and I'm sure both will pass their outdoor leader assessments with flying colours.

30/05/2026

Plenty of volunteer work party dates to choose from

Some future fix it’s! Our Invasive Species work parties are looking for volunteers again over the months of June, July and August around Lustleigh, Belstone and Princetown. This will be focused on Himalayan Balsam removal. Any help very greatly received and if you would like to register your interest and find out more please email [email protected]

25/05/2026

Found the perfect place to cool off

23/05/2026

Great day on the bog! Training with South West Peatland Partnership at Tor Royal, which we surveyed before restoration and it has now been restored by damming water channels people had created in the past to drain it. It's Dartmoor's only raised bog and we found plenty of the uncommon Sphagnum medium yesterday; the boring-looking plant we're all getting excited about. And a very out-of-focus lizard trying to climb up my welly.

21/05/2026

Forecast is promising for camping out on the moors this weekend but please follow the National Park byelaws to protect Dartmoor and be aware that red listed birds like Skylarks are nesting on the ground at the moment.

20/05/2026

Oaks in leaf in the beautiful Dart valley now

19/05/2026

Not to everyone's taste but I love the bleak high moors.