Under a row of beech trees in Yarner Wood, you can follow the lines of the old Granite Tramway, these distinctive granite tramlines forge a path across the Dartmoor landscape, from the disused quarries at Haytor. Through guided walks and Artists Days at Yarner Wood, as part of the Granite Elements project, local artists have been engaging with the story of the tramway and taking creative inspiration from this fascinating piece of our local history. Now as a culmination of this Parishscapes project, local artists have brought together a collection of their work, inspired by the Granite Tramway and the surrounding landscape.  The exhibition Granite Elements opens this weekend (9/10 September) at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Bovey Tracey and at the Woodland Centre in Yarner Wood. You can find all the details on Page 50 of the Open Studios event guide,  Venue 94

Pastel drawing by Clare Benson

The granite tramway in Yarner Wood

The exhibition at the Guild includes work by printmaker Anita Reynolds, sculptor and printmaker Angela Holmes, ceramicist Laurel Keeley, photographer Mei Lim, and textile artist Bridget Arnold, as well as environmental artist Amanda Pellatt. The exhibition runs until the 15 October.  

Ceramics by Cheryl Watson

A flag inspired by the granite heritage of Dartmoor. Image: Bridget Arnold

The Granite Elements exhibition at the Woodland Centre in Yarner Wood, runs over three weekends in September (9/10th, 16/17th, 23/24th), where you can see the artists’ work in the inspiring setting of Yarner Wood.  (Exhibition times: 11am-6pm.  Directions: Take the the Manaton Road from Bovey Tracey and follow brown signs for East Dartmoor NNR.  Turn left into Yarner Wood and follow the arrows).
Artist Clare Benson, is one of the artists exhibiting, she said…

“I shall be taking part in Devon Open Studios at the Woodland Centre in Yarner Wood for the second year running. This time I am sharing this lovely venue with other local artists who have been meeting there regularly for the last two years, and walking up to the granite tramway that runs along the edge of the wood, to sketch, take photos, and be inspired by natural and man-made aspects of this special place.”

You can find all the details for the exhibition on the flyer below… 

 

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If you are inspired to find out more about the Granite Tramway, on Saturday 9 September and Sunday 10 September you can join the Natural England Reserves Manager, Albert Knott on a guided walk to find out more about the nature along the route of the tramway – for all the details follow this link to Heritage Open Days.

Finally if you are visiting Yarner Wood, there is also a small exhibition of Clare Benson’s oil pastels – A Year in Yarner Wood – displayed in the wooden shelter, set amongst the woodland, just a short walk from the Yarner Office car park… Do drop in over the next few months.  

Launched in March 2016, the Granite Elements project has been led by community artist Bridget Arnold, the project has inspired and encouraged local residents, members of organisations and community groups to work together to develop a strong sense of place and identity.  Underpinning the whole project has been ongoing research led by the Bovey Tracey Heritage Trust.  The Granite Elements project is part of the ‘Moor than meets the eye’ Landscape Partnership scheme on Dartmoor.  This is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.