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Public invited to sponsor national park's fingerposts

Exmoor Commons/Shaun Davey Two belted cows – with white bands around their middle, and black heads and tails – are standing on a grassy hilltop. One cow, which looks young, is looking at the camera, standing in front of a wooden signpost with place names and distances on two pointed pieces of wood. The other cow is large and is standing in the background side on. Hills are visible in the distance.Exmoor Commons/Shaun Davey
The fingerposts help to navigate 1,000km of paths and bridleways

A national park is inviting members of the public to sponsor its wooden navigational fingerposts – which can be personalised with small bronze plaques.

By sponsoring Exmoor National Park's new or replacement fingerposts, the public can help walkers, cyclists and horseriders navigate 1,000km of paths and bridleways, the park said.

The oak and chestnut posts are made at its workshop in the village of Exford, and it is hoped the money raised will help maintain the trails.

Ranger Dan Barnett said his team was "quite excited" by the project. "You get to have a little plaque on the signpost," he said. "It might be a birthday celebration, it might be a dedication to loved one."

He said: "These lovely wooden signposts that you see when you're out and about, are actually made through conservation woodland management – trees are felled and are taken back to our workshop."

Mr Barnett said the signs are hand painted after being milled at the park's very own sawmill.

Exmoor Commons/Shaun Davey A fingerpost on the right of the image on Exmoor, overlooking the Bristol ChannelExmoor Commons/Shaun Davey
Exmoor's fingerposts are made in Exford from locally harvested oak and chestnut

Exmoor National Park Authority has developed an interactive map, where those who want to sponsor a fingerpost can select exactly which one they want to fund.

Ranger Charlotte Wray said: "By sponsoring an iconic fingerpost, you're helping us keep Exmoor special for future generations."

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