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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · 11h

Spent a morning clearing vegetation around one of Dartmoor’s strangest oddities - the Rev Bray’s inscribed stones. 200 years ago he decided to carve poets’ names into boulders in the Cowsic valley. Some of the stones also have lines from the poems and others have Bardic runes….

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · 2d

The coach of bones : one of Dartmoor’s stranger stories .. I’ll be chatting to Emma Cunis about the moor’s many myths and legends at historic St Lawrence Chapel, Ashburton 9/10/25 - do join us! Tickets : dartmoortorsfestival.co.uk/tall-tales-a... @dartmoorcollective.org @visitdartmoor.bsky.social

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · 4d

Great new project : @ourdartmoor.bsky.social

Our Dartmoor @ourdartmoor.bsky.social · 5d

Slowly adding listings to the "Our Dartmoor" directory ...
Sophie Pierce - writer and broadcaster @smpierce.bsky.social

Kate Gold - Artist & Poet

Rachel Burch - Photographer

I'm lucky to know all these ladies and it's great to have them onboard!
Budget for this venture is ZERO - please share 💚

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Terri Windling @terriwindling.bsky.social · 5d

This is coming up next Tuesday here in Chagford: a remarkable evening with one of my favourite people, Alan Weisman (author of World Without Us, Gaviotas, etc.). If you're anywhere near Dartmoor, please come. And please share to help spread the word.

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624630...

Terri Windling @terriwindling.bsky.social · 11d

Local friends and those within traveling distance of Dartmoor: Please join us for a very special Celebrating the Earth event:
Hope Dies Last, an evening with the bestselling American author Alan Weisman, one of our most important writers on humans’ relationship with the Earth. #naturewriting

Image: The event poster for the next Celebrating the Earth evening in Chagford. (Celebrating the Earth is a series of nature-inspired arts events held regularly in our small market town on Dartmoor.) The poster reproduces the cover of Alan Weisman's new book Hope Dies Last (Penguin UK): Visionary People Across the World, Fighting to Find Us a Future. Alan will talk about his book at Chagford church on Tuesday, October 7, 5.30 - 6.30 pm. There will also be music by jazz pianist Dhevdhas Nair, performing an original piece inspired by one of Alan's previous books, Gaviotas. All are welcome. Admission is free.

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · 16d

Thank you Terri!

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · 18d

Dartmoor has many weird and wonderful myths and legends - I’ll be delving into them with Emma Cunis aka Dartmoor’s Daughter - do come and join us 9/10 at atmospheric St Lawrence Chapel, Ashburton 7pm dartmoortorsfestival.co.uk/tall-tales-a...
@visitdartmoor.bsky.social @dartmoorcollective.org

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · 27d

Huge congratulations @guyshrubsole.bsky.social !
Your tireless and meticulous research as well as brilliant writing is creating real social change .

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 27d

Absolutely delighted that my book THE LIE OF THE LAND has won the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing!

This week, one of the book’s recommendations, a ban on moorland burning, became a reality. Next, we need a Nature Bill for England…

bsky.app/profile/wain...

The Wainwright Prizes @wainwrightprize.bsky.social · 28d

The WINNER of the 2025 Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing...

The Lie of the Land, @guyshrubsole.bsky.social (@wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social)

#WainwrightPrize #StoriesThatConnect

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · Sep 6

Thank you !

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · Aug 17

A 5 hour swim/scramble down the Dart from Buckfast to Staverton. It’s the only way to see the river as both banks on this stretch are private. Now rather tired ….,

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · Aug 3

Love the dog ! And also the place of course !

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Jul 30

Excellent to hear @lewis-winks.bsky.social on the Today programme this morning discussing his research on 'Who owns the River Dart' - and why this shows we need a right of responsible access

Listen here (45mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Guardian story: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Devon campaigners call for ‘right to riverbank’ after finding Dart has 108 owners

Research shows difficulties ahead for ministers if they are to keep manifesto pledge to extend riverside public access

www.theguardian.com

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · Jun 30

This Sat - 5 July at 11am at Bude Methodist Church join Matt and I for swimming stories and amazing images of swim locations across the West Country - and after for a dip at Bude Sea Pool … @tessread.bsky.social @outdoorswimmer.com

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · Jun 24

ICYMI: What Unbound’s demise has shown, to a quite alarming degree, is how little tangible, active advocacy is available to authors in this situation, say the authors affected by the collapse of Unbound in our recent Comment piece 👇 #BookSky

Opinion: The Unbound authors' view

ebx.sh

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Alex de Campi @alexdecampi.bsky.social · Jun 24

Unbound authors’ statement on the collapse of the publisher. Please read it and share. If you want to know what really went on, here are some answers:

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · Jun 24

What Unbound’s demise has shown, to a quite alarming degree, is how little tangible, active advocacy is available to authors in this situation, say the authors affected by the collapse of Unbound in our recent Comment piece 👇 #BookSky

Opinion: The Unbound authors' view

ebx.sh

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · Jun 19

More salt bath than salt path....Matt Newbury and I will be recalling our aquatice adventures in upcoming talks.. we'll be in Bude 5/7/25 (and swimming at #BudeSeaPool of course). The next day we'll be in Fowey - venue TBA. Tix shorturl.at/pjNoM @outdoorswimmer.com @tessread.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Susannah Walker @susannahwalker.bsky.social · Jun 10

Being part of the whole Unbound saga has not been fun; one consolation has been the support of the many other authors involved.
And so, in that spirit, we've put together a list of some of the great books that now need publishers and agents. Please do share!

open.substack.com/pub/therebou...

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · May 23

The banner’s up… the #DartmoorTorsFestival starts today! Lots to enjoy inc talks with writers, archaeologists, artists incl @lisaschneidau.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social , @lewis-winks.bsky.social and walks shorturl.at/Oomce

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Matthew Kelly @matthewjkelly.bsky.social · May 21

Much to say, but for now: hurrah!

Congratulations to the relentless campaigners that made this happen and to Dartmoor National Park Authority for pursuing the case. A rare victory for people over property.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wild camping on Dartmoor backed by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court upholds the legal right to wild camp on Dartmoor in Devon.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · May 21

"Win or lose in the Supreme Court, we now want the government to step up and pass a right to roam act, to protect and extend public rights of access to nature across England.”

@lewis-winks.bsky.social ahead of this morning’s verdict on wild camping on Dartmoor:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Dartmoor case set to decide future of wild camping

Hikers can pitch a tent under the stars on the moor without permission, but for how much longer?

www.bbc.co.uk

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · May 21

This weekend the #DartmoorTorsFestival will explore and celebrate #Dartmoor - with talks and walks with fascinating people incl @lisaschneidau.bsky.social @lewis-winks.bsky.social @campaignerkate.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social - thanks BBC for coverage .

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · May 20

The Supreme Court will rule on the Dartmoor #wildcamping case 21/5 - key players will be at #DartmoorTorsFestival this Sat, incl @guyshrubsole.bsky.social @campaignerkate.bsky.social @lewis-winks.bsky.social Tix: shorturl.at/ebGva @righttoroam.bsky.social @paulpowlesland.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sophie Pierce

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · May 17

Not many people open an interview by quoting Gramsci, but @georgemonbiot.bsky.social does. Dead chuffed to be in conversation with him today at the Restoring Nature festival in Totnes, chatting about cultural hegemony, The Lie of the Land, and campaigning on nature & land reform in England

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · May 17

“A very good new book” - thanks @johnharris1969.bsky.social for your review of #RockIdols in your very interesting substack post .

John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · May 17

New Substack post on Maybe I'm Amazed: this could be the most autism-friendly place in the world... plus what govt advisers are saying about drastic changes to the Special Needs system, and The Clash's Career Opportunities on a church organ maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/the-most-a...

The most autism-friendly place in the world

The emptiness, silence and splendour of Dartmoor. Plus: news just in on what might soon happen to the Special Needs system

maybeimamazed.substack.com

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · May 17

Wow John, thank you so much ! Come and say hello next time you’re here .

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Sophie Pierce @smpierce.bsky.social · May 17

Thanks ! Xx