Dartmoor exhibition explores healing through nature and creativity

A new exhibition at Princetown Visitor Centre is showcasing the transformative impact of Dartmoor’s wild landscapes on mental health, addiction recovery, and rehabilitation. 

Running until Sunday 30 March 2025, the exhibition is free to visit during normal opening hours.

Curated by Rite to Freedom, a charity established in 2008 to support individuals in the criminal justice system and long-term addiction recovery, the display features collaborations with filmmakers, artists, photographers, musicians, composers, poets, and writers.

The exhibition, presented in partnership with Dartmoor National Park Authority, English Heritage, and various arts organisations, emphasises the healing power of creativity and the natural environment. 

Alongside the exhibition, visitors can participate in talks, walks, and workshops, with details available on the National Park’s What’s On webpage.

Caspar Walsh, exhibition curator and former Creative Director of Rite to Freedom, reflected on the charity's legacy: “This exhibition celebrates and marks the end of 16 years amazing work as an award-winning charity. We are beyond proud of the many achievements and milestones of Rite to Freedom.

“My own work as an artist finally found its true place among the many talented participants and professionals we’ve worked with over the years. This is a fraction of what we've created, charting the powerful healing journeys of everyone involved. Here's to the next chapter in our collective work as a social enterprise serving the wider Dartmoor community."

The exhibition also marks a new beginning for Rite to Freedom as it transitions into a social enterprise under the name Creative Pathways. Nature. Arts. Wellbeing.

Elements of Dartmoor, particularly Grimspound’s atmospheric Bronze Age settlement, has been central to Rite to Freedom’s work. 

The remains of 24 roundhouses, encircled by a massive boundary wall, create a space that fosters reflection and connection.

Claire Partridge, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Visitor Centre and Outreach Officer, expressed her enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to be showing this exhibition. From musicians and singers to painters to writers, Dartmoor’s beauty has been a source of inspiration to many. The works shown will help people understand how the landscape has helped those on their own personal journeys, reaffirming its position as a place of evocative beauty and personal connection.”

First designated as a National Park in 1951, Dartmoor is the largest and highest upland in southern Britain. 

Known for its rich Bronze Age archaeology, rare wildlife, and diverse habitats, the park offers 734km of public rights of way and 46,000 hectares of open-access land, making it a haven for exploration and discovery.

Princetown Visitor Centre, where the exhibition is being held, operates winter opening hours from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm. 

Visitors can explore displays, gather expert advice from Information Advisers, and purchase maps, books, and locally inspired gifts.

For those inspired by the exhibition, donations to Donate for Dartmoor help support the preservation and enjoyment of this unique landscape.