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As well as conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of a vast park, Dartmoor National Park Authority has donated money in a bid to tackle climate change.

The money was awarded to the Dartmoor Circle, a new social enterprise which was formed to undertake a string of initiatives to reduce emissions across Dartmoor.

The group, which was born out of a network of climate change groups across Dartmoor, received the grant from the park's sustainable development fund to expand on the work they do within the community.

Dartmoor summers are set to get warmer

"The timing could not be better," said Andrew Shadrake, chair of the new social enterprise company.

"As money is becoming tighter, people are looking for ways to save money as they help the planet. For example, people can save hundreds of pounds by driving more carefully, and that also reduces the amount of carbon their cars emit," he added.

Park officials have already said that climate change is affecting some species and habitats on Dartmoor. There is particular concern over Dartmoor's peatlands.

And the moor's summers are predicted to get warmer during the coming decades.

Dartmoor's vegetation is already being affected

The new enterprise will look at all kinds of ideas from across the country and overseas, and choose the best ones to use within the moor.

All the initiatives plan to utilise energy resources which are plentifully available on Dartmoor, including community-scale power plants powered by bio-gas, hydro, or wood fuel.

"We know our local communities very well and know their needs and can deliver what's appropriate for them," said Cathy King, chair of Bovey Climate Action, one of the members of the circle.

"We can deliver services to people on the ground because we are a grass roots group," she added.

The first task of the enterprise is to develop a business plan to identify the work to be done across Dartmoor.

Work could start during 2009, dependent of suitable funding for the decided projects.

For more information about sustainable development on Dartmoor go to www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk