Bellever Youth Hostel - Wildlife Garden

One of the interpretation panels in the Bellever Wildlife GardenIn an exciting project led by the Manager of the Bellever Youth Hostel on Dartmoor, a wildlife area was created adjacent to the building by prisoners from the local resettlement unit, with support from Dartmoor National Park's Sustainable Development Fund.

A range of distinctive Dartmoor habitats - including a haymeadow, hedgebank, coppice and pond have been established under the guidance of a local naturalist. The area provides a valuable and sustainable resource for education and recreation.


Graphic Words was commissioned to supply a range of interpretation panels for the site, including an A1 introductory board with map; ten smaller panels strategically located throughout the site, and ancillary Opening day at Bellever Wilidlife Garden (Hostel Manager Gary Hayman, left and former Dartmoor National Park Officer Ian Mercer, right) signage. We designed the panels, write copy based on research materials supplied, and helped to source additional illustrations.

To provide a cost-efficient solution within the budget available, (and because vandalism was not a major consideration at this staffed location), we produced the panels with UV-resistant inks printed on a vinyl substrate, with a UV- and weather- resistant lamination. This was mounted onto 5mm Dibond (a rigid exterior mounting board composed of thin aluminium sheets sandwiching a plastic core). The panels were then mounted by the Hostel manager onto locally-sourced and constructed timber legs and backboards.

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