The £120,000 is to stop the ancient Sortridge and Grimstone leat from losing water.

In 2025 the leat dried up for a devastating five and a half months, primarily due to lack of repairs. This water has been used by a remote Dartmoor rural community for over 500 years. This manmade waterway is also one of the most visited, with walkers following the water and using the bridges and crossing points to see the beauty of Dartmoor. Some of the these places, such as Windy Post Cross, are some of the most iconic of Dartmoor. This leat is a fundamental part of what makes Dartmoor unique.

The leat, and its movement of water through drier parts of the moor have developed a breath of wildlife. The importance of this was clear when the leat dried and those areas were without water for many months. Not only did the wild Dartmoor ponies and livestock disappear, but also the birds and insects fell disturbingly silent. The impact from this water loss can be seen many months later in the very few buzzards that now are seen, when previously many would congregate to eat the worms.

The money is for a not-for-profit organisation, called the Sortridge and Grimstone Leat Community Interest Company. This has been created to make the repairs to the leat and manage it on behalf of its wider community. The Dartmoor National Park Authority and local farmers are part of its committee and ensure that all our works are done for the benefit of all the leat users.

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