Community carries shroud across Dartmoor to highlight endangered species

Thirty-five people carried a hand-felted shroud across Dartmoor on Wednesday to highlight the moorland’s endangered species.

The pilgrimage formed part of the 2025 Exhibition at the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

The exhibition gathers responses from local groups including the Dartmoor National Park Authority, the South West Peatland Partnership, and the Dartmoor Preservation Association.

READ NEXT: Dartmoor village show packed with giant pumpkins, cakes and colourful blooms

Curator Kristy Turner welcomed the group before they set off on the 4.5-mile walk.

Participants included members of the South West Peatland Partnership, the Dartmoor Society, herbalist Jenny Carden, and shroud maker Yuli Somme.

At the centre of the pilgrimage was the ‘Shroud for Mother Nature’, a hand-felted artwork created by the community under Yuli’s guidance.

Usually displayed in the museum, it was carried across the moor for this special occasion.

Needle-felted images of Dartmoor’s endangered and extinct species decorate the shroud, representing both loss and hope for the landscape.

Yuli Somme said: “Our shroud has been beautifully decorated by over 50 volunteers, depicting the vulnerability of Dartmoor’s ecology and raising awareness of the issues.”

Kristy Turner added: “It was a thought-provoking pilgrimage with a group of fascinating people. The shroud remains on display at the Museum along with the current exhibition, showcasing the work of charities and individuals supporting Dartmoor’s future.”