Tom Wigston

How I came to be working at The Dartmoor Centres

I first came to work at the Dartmoor Centres back in 2002 to run a programme of adventurous environmental education, including the popular ‘Wild Nights Out’ camps for Devon schools. With a background in learning for sustainability, nature education and bushcraft, the Dartmoor Centres offered me a fantastic opportunity to combine my love of Dartmoor and the Devon countryside with a belief in the value of enjoyable, challenging and meaningful outdoor learning. I’ve worked with other organisations and in other roles, including an interest in research, but I’ve always kept time for the Dartmoor Centres – it’s like family!

My favourite thing about Dartmoor

Few things beat taking in the view from the top of a tor, but on Dartmoor, we’re spoiled for special places. Among my favourites are the wooded river valleys and in particular, the Dart Valley. The wildlife is spectacular, as is the river, and that sense of ‘wildness’ is hard to come by in this part of the world. Walking on Dartmoor is an open invitation to read the history of the landscape – geological, cultural and natural. Passing through the remains of a bronze age settlement or a medieval village is like time travel and does wonders for the imagination and perspective. Overall, it’s the reading of landscape combined with the immersive experiences available on Dartmoor that gives the ‘sense of place’ that I love.

What makes me happy

Simple pleasures! Family, friends, nature, experience and hope for the future.