Wild Penwith A major new project in West - Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Issue 109 Summer 2009
Cornwall
Wild Penwith
A major new project
in West Cornwall
Threatened Plant
Survey
Tubular waterdropwort
on Scilly
Protecting Wildlife for the future

Officers
President
Jan Pentreath
Vice-president
Jane King
Hon Secretary
Howard Curnow
Hon Treasurer
Hon Solicitor
Tim Atkins
Council Chairman
Howard Curnow
Council Vice-chair
Jean Smith
Committee Chairs
Conservation Strategy
Shelagh Garrard
Finance
Mark Nicholson
Reserves
John Gowenlock
Fox Club
Jean Smith
Marketing & Fundraising
Keith Hambly-Staite
ERCCIS Advisory Board
Steve Crummay
Managers
Chief Executive
Trevor Edwards
Conservation Manager Victoria Whitehouse ext 211
Reserves Manager Callum Deveney ext 222
Environmental Records Centre Manager Gary Lewis ext 247
Central Services Manager Ba Whitehead ext 278
Marketing & Fundraising Manager Jasmin Brown ext 251
Consultancy Manager Phil Hills ext 225
Membership contacts (email: members@cornwt.demon.co.uk)
Membership Manager Andrea Toy ext 206
Membership Co-ordinator Kirstie Francis ext 203
Corporate member contact Serena Pettigrew-Collins ext 205
Conservation contacts
Deputy Conservation Manager Cheryl Marriott ext 210
Conservation Officer / Geo-conservation Sue Hocking ext 246
Education Officer Alison Forward ext 212
Marine Conservation Officers Tom Hardy ext 208
Ruth Williams ext 207
Abigail Crosby 07917 765581
Local BAP Coordinator Samantha Smith ext 214
Wild Penwith Project Officer Claire Rodger ext 201
Wild Penwith Ecologist Liz Cartwright ext 209
Nature Reserves Officers
Reserves/practical work:
Mid Cornwall Reserves Officer Sean O’Hea 07971 542185
West Cornwall Reserves Officer Nick Marriott 07973 954189
East Cornwall Reserves Officer Peter Kent 07899 430086
St George’s Island Summer Warden (Easter to September only)
Jon Ross 07974 293495
Volunteer contact
General volunteer enquiries Ba Whitehead ext 278
General contacts
Wild Cornwall Diary Editor Mark Dungey (01209) 860970
(email: diaryeditor.cwt@rame.eclipse.co.uk)
Local Group contacts:
Camel: Brian Wright (01208) 814138
Caradon:
Derek Spooner (magazine
deliveries) (01503) 265590
Carrick & North Helford: Joanna Wallis (01726) 882943
email: joannawallis@sky.com
Kerrier: Mike Thorne (01326) 563309
Friends of Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve:
Bob & Jackie Austin (01752)
844846; email bobjack@hotmail.co.uk
Friends of Kilminorth Woods Christine Spooner (01503) 265590,
email kilminorth@btinternet.com
Launceston: (Secretary) Mary Groves (01566)
86416; email altarnunwildlife@
hotmail.co.uk, (Chairman) Ian Nash
(01579) 370644; email ian@iannash.
freeserve.co.uk
Mid-Tamar Valley: Caroline Vulliamy (01579) 370411
email mid-tamargroup@hotmail.co.uk
Penwith: Jane & Nigel Haward (01736) 740991,
email: nigelhaward@hotmail.com
Restormel: Dave Thomas (01726) 861093,
email: davecarp86@hotmail.com
Tamar: Biddy Carrick (01288) 355312
Contacts
Wildlife Information Service
If you have a general wildlife query please telephone Nic Harrison-White:
(01872) 273939 ext 213
Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre
Contact for investigation of dead specimens: Vic Simpson (01872) 560623
Marine Strandings Network Hotline
For reporting stranded dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals and other marine
creatures only: 0845 2012626
For specialist information, please see below:
Specialist Group contacts
Bat contacts:
· For grounded or injured bats in Cornwall:
Sue & Chris Harlow, (01872) 278695
· West Cornwall: Steve Marshall 07900 584900
· South East Cornwall: Kevin Witts (01752) 822512
· Natural England: (01872) 262550
· Cornwall Bat Group: Daniel Eva (01872) 276057
Botanical Cornwall Group:
Ian Bennallick (email ianbennallick@
btinternet.com)
Cornish Hedge Group: c/o HQ (01872) 273939
Cornwall Birdwatching & Preservation Society:
Darrell Clegg (01752) 844775
Cornwall Dolphin Group: Nick Tregenza (01736) 711783
Cornwall Mammal Group: Jodene Williams (01872) 273939 ext 241
Living Churchyards: Robert Moor (01872) 272929
Photographic Group: David Chapman (01736) 850287
Reptile & Amphibian Group: c/o HQ (01872) 273939
RIGS Group: Sue Hocking (c/o HQ 01872 273939 ext 246)
Cornwall Seal Group: Sue Sayer (01736) 754562
Seaquest SW:
(see also Seal and Dolphin Groups);
General enquiries to Tom Hardy (01872) 273939 ext 208
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Five Acres, Allet, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9DJ
Tel: (01872) 273939 or (01872) 240777;
Fax: (01872) 225476;
E-mail: info@cornwt.demon.co.uk
Website: www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
Ecology
Landscape
Graphics
CEC Ecology CEC Landscape CEC Graphics
Page 2 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 3
Any material intended for
publication should be sent to:
Kirstie Francis
Five Acres
Allet
Truro
TR4 9DJ
email: kirstie@cornwt.demon.co.uk
A meeting to review the magazine
and submit ideas for the next issue
is held shortly after publication. If
you wish to contribute or have any
queries, please contact the Editor,
Rowena Millar, 6 Stoke Terrace,
Kelly Bray, Callington, Cornwall
PL17 8EN
rowena@naturalword.co.uk
Deadline for items for next issue:
2 September 2009.
Publication: 16 November 2009.
The views expressed by the
contributors to the magazine are
not necessarily those of the Editor
or Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Copyright 2009
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
On the cover
Kingfisher.
Photo: Adrian Langdon
Design and origination:
Sheila McCann-Downes
(01872) 273939 ext 224
sheila@cornwt.demon.co.uk
Cornwall Trust for Nature
Conservation Ltd. Trading as Cornwall
Wildlife Trust. Registered charity
No. 214929. A company limited by
guarantee and registered in England.
Registration No. 732511.
Registered Office: Five Acres, Allet,
Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ.
VAT Registration No. 557 3030 53.
Wild Cornwall is printed on paper
made from sustainable timber.
Cornwall
Editorial
This issue brings news of Wild Penwith, a major
initiative to restore and link the various wildlife
habitats and watery areas of West Penwith. The
benefits will be manifold: native wildlife will escape
the limitations of being forced into vulnerable
pockets of viable habitat, damaged and polluted
areas will be allowed to regain their wild splendour
and diversity, and people will be working together
to manage the landscape in a sensitive way. All in all, landscapescale
initiatives such as Wild Penwith should benefit us all in
the long-term, from human residents and visitors, to mammals
and fish, to the tiniest plants and invertebrates... including the
microbes!
Rowena Millar
Editor
Contents
Reserves news 4
Wild Penwith 6
A wetland on your doorstep 8
All aboard for wildlife 9
Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas 10
Donna Whitlock 11
Basking Shark Project 11
Pinger Project 12
Make a free Will 13
Notice-board 14
Diary of events 15
Tourism gives something back to wildlife 19
Beware of adders? 20
Your Local Group 21
Cornish businesses support the Trust 24
Nature news 26
A history of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust: 1985–2006 32
The Threatened Plant Survey: tubular water-dropwort 33
Biodiversity on Scilly 34
News snippets 35
Calendar and Christmas cards 36
Page 6
Page 12
Page 34

St George’s Island
Reserves news
Summer is always a busy time of year on the island,
with day visitors arriving when tide and weather allow.
Work on the island continues with ongoing maintenance
as well as the preparation of Jetty Cottage for wedding
ceremonies. This year Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Looe
Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) volunteers
and Cornwall Seal Group have joined forces to carry
out a project to learn more about grey seals around the
island. This year also marks a significant date in that
Attie Atkins, one of the sisters who left the island to the
Trust, would have been 100 years old in October.
Jetty Cottage, licensed wedding venue on
St George’s Island. Photo: Callum Deveney
Rare centipede rediscovered at
Devichoys Wood
This Easter, the British Myriapod & Isopod Group visited
our Devichoys Wood nature reserve and re-found good
numbers of the rare centipede Stigmatogaster souletina,
first discovered in the wood in 1998. This species is only
found in Cornwall and the Pyrenées.
Attie and Babs Atkins in Jetty Cottage. Attie (Evelyn
Edith Atkins) was born on 24th October 1909.
Photo: Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Allet Bog pond
In a job where the results of your work can take years to
materialise, digging ponds is one of the most satisfying
tasks to do. After a bit of planning and consultation,
you turn up in a digger, make a mess for a few hours
and depart knowing that you’ve just done something
really positive for wildlife, with the results plain to see.
The pond pictured was created on Allet Bog where the
soil is rich in clay and readily holds water. It will be very
interesting to watch it colonise with wildlife of all sorts.
New pond at Allet Bog. Photo: Sean O’Hea
New bird hide at Colliford Lake
The Trust has installed a new bird hide with fantastic
views across the lake. This site is managed by South West
Lakes Trust, but Cornwall Wildlife Trust has an access
agreement so
members can visit
the site and now
use the new hide.
Rare wire-centipede, 8cm long, called
Stigmatogaster souletina.
Photo: Tony Barber
Bird hide being
erected at
Colliford Lake.
Photo:
Dave Salmon
Page 4 Issue 109 Summer 2009

t:
d in
58
with
g
Red Moor coppicing
The woodlands in the north of Red Moor have been
monitored for dormice for years, with a consistently
healthy population. Much of the wood is old hazel
coppice, though with the hazel becoming older and
larger it would benefit from re-coppicing. By coppicing a
small area each year over a 21-year cycle we will ensure
that there is a good age range of vegetation. Through
all stages of regrowth there will be benefits for dormice
and all sorts of other wildlife. Letting the light in will
encourage shrub growth in the first years and plants such
as bramble will provide nectar and food. As the hazel
regenerates in the coming years it will bear more fruit.
The 21-year coppice cycle was started this winter.
Freshly coppiced coupe at Red Moor. Photo: Sean O’Hea
Access improvements at Kennall Vale
Work has steamed ahead over the winter at Kennall
Vale with the help of the Friends of Kennall Vale
group. We now have new and repaired steps, a new
footbridge, safety surfacing on existing footbridges
and new handrails. The main track on site has also
been resurfaced and new revetment added. The safety
improvements were road tested recently by a group
from the University of the Third Age who gave them the
thumbs up.
Newly surfaced track and revetment.
Photo: Nick Marriott
Cabilla & Redrice Woods
Last winter Trust staff supervised the clearance of
softwoods from both Cabilla and Prideaux Woods.
The sawmill at Cabilla
has been processing
this timber and is now
manufacturing gates in
a variety of sizes. For
further information
on gates and produce,
contact Branston
Sawmill on (01208)
821504.
Gates made at Cabilla from locally sourced timber.
Photo: Callum Deveney
Phytophthora kernoviae and ramorum
discovered on two of west Cornwall’s
reserves
New leaflets for Windmill Farm and
Baker’s Pit
Our Windmill Farm and Baker’s Pit reserves each have
a new leaflet thanks to the HEATH project. The leaflets
are packed full of information on wildlife, archaeology
and history and include maps of self-guided trails to
help you explore these fascinating sites. The leaflets are
available to download from our website, at the reserve
entrances and from our offices at Five Acres, Allet.
Heathland self guided trails
Baker's Pit
Windmi l Farm was purchased jointly by the
Cornwa l Birdwatching and Preservation Society
and Cornwa l Wildlife Trust in 2001. This 75ha
(185 acre) farm is home to an array of habitats,
including wet and dry heaths, hay meadows,
pasture, wetland, ponds and arable land. This
mix of habitats means the site is home to a huge
variety of plant, bird and invertebrate species. The
17th century windmill that gives the farm its name
is a scheduled ancient monument.
This leaflet shows you what you might see as you fo low
the Windmill Farm self guided trail waymarkers around
the reserve.
The trail shown inside should take between 1.5 and 2
hours to complete. If you would like a shorte route, a
short cut is highlighted on the map.
The paths are clearly defined across the reserve but the
ground is uneven, muddy and slippery in places, so suitable
footwear should be worn. Horseflies may be present in
summer, so use of insect repe lent is advised.
Dogs are not a lowed on the reserve.
Heathland self guided trails
Welcome to Windmill Farm Natur
Windmill Farm
Please be aware that catt
the summer and autumn
gate during your walk, p
Background
Windmi l Farm was a d
sta f and volunteers ha
enhance existing habit
reintroduction of graz
add fertilizers to the
and scrapes and grow
food for birds. As a r
invertebrate number
In common with hea
Windmill Farm has
remains. Archaeolo
settlement (from 5
(2000-700BC), me
World War I buil
the 17th century w
Devichoys and Baker’s Pit reserves are infected with
Phytophthora (plant pathogens). This could have serious
consequences for wildlife. Treatment will include the
removal and burning of rhododendron and the spraying
of herbicide on infected bilberry. For more information
please refer to the Forestry Commission and DEFRA
websites.
Cornwa l
The windmi l is a scheduled ancient monument (centre, pictured in 1938).
11/03/2009 12:05:37
Compiled by Callum Deveney, Reserves Manager,
with contributions from Sean O’Hea, Nick Marriott
and Tony Barber
This war
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 5

One of the aims of the project is to create well linked healthy wetlands. Photo: Liz Cartwright
Wild Penwith
Liz Cartwright brings us news of Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s major new project.
Before I tell you about ‘Wild Penwith’, our new five
year project, I need to mention ‘Living Landscapes’, The
Wildlife Trusts’ big plan to work at the landscape scale.
One of the main threats facing our wildlife today is
climate change, and although no one knows exactly what
the impacts will be, we do know that changes in weather
are likely. Specifically, we should expect more extreme
weather such as high winds and floods, which means our
wildlife will be facing unfamiliar conditions. The Living
Landscapes approach focuses on restoring large areas
of habitat, and creating and maintaining links between
them. Linking existing habitats is important to allow
wildlife to move around the countryside, giving it a better
chance to adapt to changes. Without such links, habitats
become fragmented and populations isolated, making
them more vulnerable to climate change.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s first Living Landscapes
project, Wild Penwith, is a five year programme funded
by the Tubney Charitable Trust and Natural England,
with further funding from South West Water pending.
The project area is in West Penwith, where we will be
working to re-connect and restore fragmented habitats
from high, rough ground and heathland, across the
wetlands of the Drift catchment and down to the coast
via the Lamorna and Penberth valleys.
We will be working with landowners, the Farming
Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and Natural England
to encourage positive management and restoration of
habitats including wetland and heathland. Our work
will include surveying many of these habitats and
providing landowners with management advice and
guidance. We will also be helping landowners enrol
into agri-environment schemes. These are government
incentives that pay farmers to farm in an environmentally
sensitive way; they run for either five or ten years and
will help secure the long-term future of valuable habitats.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust will also administer its own
small grant scheme to help landowners with management
operations to care for their wildlife habitats.
Another aim of the Wild Penwith project is to create
a system of healthy wetlands for wildlife, and water
quality is a central issue. Drift Reservoir is known to be
affected by diffuse agricultural pollution and, as well
as habitat enhancement, the project will focus on river
catchments within the project area. We will work with
the Environment Agency to monitor water quality, and
with FWAG to advise farmers on issues such as soil and
water management, to enhance wetland health.
Page 6 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Drift Reservoir, in the centre of the project area, has had some issues with diffuse agricultural pollution.
Photo: David Chapman
The project will also help a range of Cornish wildlife.
Birds that nest on the heaths, such as the linnet and
nightjar, will gain from heathland management. Plants
like purple ramping fumitory and three-lobed water
crowfoot will benefit from the maintenance of linking
habitats, such as Cornish hedges and wet ground
respectively. Bats, too, will benefit as their foraging
habitats are enhanced through heathland and wetland
management. Healthy wetlands will also be advantageous
to wetland species such as the otter and brown trout.
The Wild Penwith project is just springing into life and is
still very much at the planning stage, but watch this space
and our website for more information about how this
exciting project is progressing.
Liz Cartwright, Wild Penwith Ecologist
Reed bunting. Photo: David Chapman
The project aims to reconnect habitats across the West Penwith landscape. Photo: Rory Goodall
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 7

A wetland on your doorstep
If you are interested in helping wildlife in your garden then think about creating a pond.
An established pond will support
a wealth of life from beetles,
pond skaters, water snails and
freshwater mussels, to mayfly
larvae, frogs and newts, so
building one could be one of the
most effective and productive
ways you’ll find to increase
biodiversity on your doorstep.
Studies have shown that the best
ponds for wildlife are those that
contain lots of submerged plants
but no fish. Plants oxygenate the
water and provide shelter from
predators and places to lay eggs.
Fish, on the other hand, predate
water fleas, and water fleas
provide an important function in
ponds, keeping the water clear
and acting as food to a range of
other animals. The BUGS project
in Sheffield found that ponds
with fish, although containing the
same range of species as ponds
without fish, had lower numbers
of individuals and were generally
all very similar. Ponds without
fish tended to be more variable.
The Sheffield Project also found
that light, shade and water clarity
affected pond life. Sunny ponds
were better than shaded ponds,
and clear water was better than
murky water. The size of pond
didn’t seem to matter too much.
Whilst larger ponds contained a
wider variety of animals, species
richness over the range of pond
sizes wasn’t significantly different.
So take the plunge and pick a
sunny spot in your garden. Here
are a few tips for creating your
pond and stocking it with plants:
around the edge of the pond.
old carpet.
Place the edge of the liner in
the trench on the bank and
backfill. To calculate the size of
liner needed use the formula:
area of liner = length of pond
x (2 x depth of pond) x (2 x
width of pond).
about 125mm thick on top of
the liner.
Building a pond for wildlife
choosing a sunny site away
from overhanging trees.
Sources of information:
shaped profile and gently
shelving sides, creating a large
area of shallow water and a
deep area with a minimum
depth of 77cm.
the surface of the hole and
tamp down the base and sides.
Native plants for your pond
Fill with water and then introduce
native plants a week later.
Peter Kent
East Cornwall Reserves Officer
Hill, F (2000). Wildlife Gardening
– a practical handbook. Derbyshire
Wildlife Trust.
Thompson, K. (2006). No Nettles
Required – the reassuring truth
about wildlife gardening. Eden
Project Books.
Submerged Floating Shallow/ledge Marsh/edge
Hornwort Fringed water lily Water forget-me-not Meadowsweet
Water-crowfoot Water soldier Water mint Purple loosestrife
Common water-starwort Potamogeton Water plantain Lady’s smock
Branched bur-reed
Arrowhead
Ragged-robin
Marsh marigold
Pond life in a tub.
Photo: Rowena Millar
A pond full of frogspawn.
Photo: Rowena Millar
Lady’s smock (cuckooflower).
Photo: Rowena Millar
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)
Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Wetland. Photo: Jeremy Northcott
Plants to avoid at all costs
Water fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
Curly waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
Page 8 Issue 109 Summer 2009

All aboard for wildlife
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company is working with both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Wildlife Trusts to help raise funds for the Trusts and to spread the word about wildlife
conservation in our seas.
Wildlife Trust guide on Scillonian III
The Scillonian is running a series of wildlife day trips
from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly during 2009 with
experienced guide Paul Semmens, a long standing
volunteer with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Previous
trippers have been treated to sightings of ocean sunfish,
orcas, minke whales and harbour porpoises as well
as bottlenose, Risso’s and common dolphins. Among
the many birds you may see are Balearic shearwaters,
Arctic skuas and great skuas. For dates or to download
a discount voucher for these wildlife trips, please visit
www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson/scillonian.htm
Supporting the Isles of Scilly Marine
Biodiversity project
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company is supporting this
project with guide Paul Semmens on board the Scillonian
every Wednesday throughout the spring and summer. Paul
will talk to passengers about the amazing wildlife they
could see during their trip. All trips depart from Penzance at
9.15am and return from Isles of Scilly at 4.30pm. Surveys
of marine wildlife such as dolphins, whales and basking
sharks are also being conducted from the Scillonian in
collaboration with Marinelife, an organisation that coordinates
a number of ferry-based wildlife research and
monitoring programmes across Europe.
Bottlenose dolphins off Newlyn. Photo: Paul Semmens
Free membership
Throughout June, July and August, anyone booking
a return day trip on the Scillonian will be entitled to a
year’s free membership of either Cornwall Wildlife Trust
or the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. So don’t forget to tell
friends and family – a form will be included with your
booking details. To book a day trip on the Scillonian call
0845 710 555.
Identification guides
When on board the Scillonian, you may notice wildlife
identification posters on display, as well as waterproof ID
guides in the back of each seat which you can take out on
deck to see what you can spot.
It is very exciting to develop such a relationship with
the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, as it will allow us
to raise much needed funds for our conservation work,
and will also help us to reach a new audience. It is often
difficult to get our wildlife message over to visitors, but
this is an important group of people with whom we
should communicate in order to help keep Cornwall, and
the Isles of Scilly, rich in wildlife.
Marie Preece, Marketing and Fundraising Manager
(currently on maternity leave)
Basking shark sighting.
Photo: Paul Semmens
Ocean sunfish just under the surface of the water.
Photo: Paul Semmens
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 9

Voluntary Marine
Conservation Areas
The incredible diversity of marine life in Looe was
recognized in 1995 by the establishment of a Voluntary
Marine Conservation Area (VMCA). This is an area
of coastline of specific wildlife interest that enjoys a
level of voluntary protection. There are opportunities
to enhance marine conservation and perception of the
environment, and to promote sustainable use of what
is also a vital economic resource. In October 2007, the
Trust successfully received Heritage Lottery Funding for
the ‘Discovering the Wonders of Looe’s Marine Heritage’
project focusing on the VMCA.
Over 12 months, this project successfully inspired and
educated people of all backgrounds and ages about their
marine environment and the pressures it faces. People
living in and visiting Looe had the chance to explore its
beautiful and varied natural world through a successful
events programme that continues to be coordinated
into next year, thanks to further funding from South
West Water. This included creating easier opportunities
for people to explore Looe Island, our marine nature
reserve. Over 30 events reached an audience of over
1,000 people. Fifteen schools were contacted, resulting
in 37 school trips and over 900 schoolchildren visiting
the VMCA in the space of six months. A volunteer group
was established and is still active, with 25 members who
run various marine conservation projects within the
VMCA. Local community members now have the chance
to gain a sense of ownership of their marine environment
and get involved in the management and planning of the
area through the Looe Working Group.
Rocky shore survey work. Photo: Dan Ransom
In December 2008, Cornwall Wildlife Trust completed the ‘Discovering the Wonders of Looe’s
Marine Heritage’ project, based around the Voluntary Marine Conservation Area in Looe. After a
successful 12 months, the Trust is now looking to the future.
We are currently developing a three-year project, thanks
to a development fund from Heritage Lottery. We aim to
increase access to all these VMCAs by establishing, for
example, trained volunteer survey groups and VMCA
steering groups. Our experience from the ‘Discovering
the Wonders of Looe’s Marine Heritage’ project is that
a number of Cornish children have never explored
their local marine environment. This project will create
opportunities for coastal and inland schoolchildren and
groups such as brownies and scouts to take part.
If this project is successful it will mean marine education
and awareness opportunities across Cornwall, from
Helford to Polzeath, St Agnes to Fowey. Somewhere near
you, a marine event will be running, so I look forward to
some of our readers popping along to a rockpool ramble,
guided walk or estuary cruise. See you there!
Abigail Crosby, Marine Education Officer
To find out more about the VMCA South West Water
funded events this summer please check out the events
pages and our website, www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.
uk/conservationprojects/living_seas/
The future
Having seen the successful outcomes of the Looe Project,
Cornwall Wildlife Trust hopes to develop our marine
education and awareness work by looking towards the
other VMCAs in the county – yes, there are more! In
total Cornwall has five VMCAs: St Agnes and Polzeath
on the north coast and Helford, Fowey and Looe on the
south coast.
A rockpool discovery. Photo: Dan Ransom
Page 10 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Donna Whitlock
We are incredibly sad to write that
Donna Whitlock, a volunteer for
Cornwall Wildlife Trust and friend
to many of the staff, died of a heart
attack unexpectedly and peacefully in
her sleep on Monday 16th February
2009, aged 60. I got to know Donna
well during my work in Looe in 2008
and enjoyed our time walking the
coastline sharing our knowledge –
me on rocky shore critters and she on
the butterflies and moths present in
the Cornish hedges. Her enthusiasm
was infectious and to this day I still
walk the same path, keeping my eye
out for a burnet moth or the migrant
painted lady. Not only was Donna
a keen naturalist, she was also a
prolific artist and musician, bouncy
and full of life; her passing is much
mourned by all who knew her.
In accordance with her wishes,
Donna’s ashes were scattered on
St George’s Island around the old
chapel site on Thursday 5th March
2009. Claire Lewis and Jon Ross,
wardens on St George’s Island, said:
“Donna was a wonderful woman
whose generosity and enthusiasm
encouraged us to build on the
butterfly work that we do here on the
Island. We were touched when asked
if Donna’s ashes could be spread here
and honoured to accept a donation
towards further conservation work.”
In the words of her partner Rick
Connolly, “Donna told me once that
she did not want to leave Cornwall –
now she will never have to”.
Abigail Crosby
Basking Shark Project
Sponsored by
Photo: Rick Connolly
Hare, by Donna Whitlock
often seen cruising the waters of our Cornish coasts.
In 2008, Cornwall Wildlife Trust
established its first effort-based
basking shark monitoring project
based on the cliffs at Carn Gloose.
Its aims were to provide a deeper
understanding of basking shark
distribution and behaviour and
encourage people to report live and
dead basking sharks. Gathering this
data allows us to provide findings
for decision makers, and to inform
conservation action including the
development of Marine Protected
Zones. Eighty-six volunteers were
involved in 71 days of surveys, and
during that time basking sharks,
Basking shark. Photo: Simon Burt
bottlenose dolphins, common
dolphins, harbour porpoises and
seals were seen, with the highlight
being the sighting of a fin whale!
With thanks to funding from
British International Helicopters,
Cornwall Wildlife Trust will be
building on last year’s success and
once again conducting surveys,
this summer from Gwennap Head.
Our volunteers will be surveying
from 1st June, dawn till dusk, for
basking sharks and other marine
wildlife, including dolphins,
porpoises, whales, seals, and
sunfish. In mid-July the project will
be joining forces with Sea Watch
South West, a project that collects
data on migratory marine species
for conservation purposes also
(www.seawatch-sw.org). The data
collected will help us to understand
the movements and distribution of
basking sharks in our waters which,
in turn, will help us to protect them.
Survey work. Photo: Lauren Davis
If you have an interest in marine life,
love the outdoors and aren’t afraid
of spending long hours in the field,
then we need your help! We are
looking for committed volunteers
to join the survey – anyone over
16 years old is welcome to join us.
To find out more see our website
www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/
conservationprojects/living_seas,
email us on baskingshark@cornwt.
demon.co.uk or call Tom on (01872)
273939 ext 208.
Abigail Crosby
Marine Education Officer
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 11

Pinger Project
Pingers are acoustic deterrent devices designed to reduce
the occurrence of accidental entanglement of dolphin
and porpoise species by alerting them to the presence
of fishing nets. Since 2004 EC member states have been
obliged to make pingers mandatory on vessels greater
than 12 metres in length using gillnets. However, the
UK government is yet to implement this in our seas.
In addition, there are currently no efforts to tackle
bycatch of cetaceans in vessels which fall outside the EC
regulations (those smaller than 12 metres in length).
By working closely with Cornwall Sea Fisheries
Committee the project has found five fishermen, working
on vessels under 12 m, who are volunteering to take part
in the project. The willingness of the fishing community
to be involved in this trial is paramount to our objectives,
as we aim to make sure any bycatch mitigation measures
are also practical to those using them day in day out.
Each vessel in the trial is also deploying two (C-PoD)
acoustic monitoring devices capable of differentiating
between cetacean species. By using this combination of
acoustic monitoring devices and pingers we hope to be
able to identify any change in behaviour caused by the
presence of pingers, to measure how effective they are in
certain fisheries.
Harbour porpoise. Photo: Colin Speedie
Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been campaigning for protection of our dolphin populations for many
years and we are happy to announce that we have recently received funding from the DEFRA
Fisheries Challenge Fund, and an extremely successful public appeal, to proceed with our pinger trial.
Bottlenose dolphins. Photo: Jan Loveridge
So far, reports from fishermen involved in the trial are
positive as to the practical aspects of shooting nets with
pingers attached and we are hopeful that the trial will
prove a success. The first recording of cetaceans has been
retrieved from one of the C-PoDs, and we are confident
that valuable data will be collected from all the areas we
are monitoring.
The huge support for this project, demonstrated by the
public appeal coupled with the fishing community’s
willingness to be involved, shows that conservation of
these charismatic creatures is a priority in Cornwall.
We hope that by the end of the trial period (12
months) we will be able to show the effectiveness and
practicalities of pingers. Cornwall Wildlife Trust is
extremely grateful to the fishermen volunteering in the
project and hope that, by cooperating with Cornwall
Sea Fisheries Committee, an effective solution to the
accidental entanglement problem will be found.
Common dolphins. Photo: Jan Loveridge
Tom Hardy
Marine Conservation Officer
Page 12 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Make a free Will
Will for Wildlife is back, giving you the chance to make a free Will. We are running our Will for
Wildlife campaign during the month of October and are working with local solicitors who are
delighted to offer free Wills to Cornwall Wildlife Trust supporters.
This makes it the ideal time to update existing Wills or
even make a new Will, ensuring that loved ones are taken
care of and of course, remembering your favourite charity.
People often underestimate just how important Wills are.
If every one of our members left the Trust £100 in their
Will, this would raise a staggering £1.4 million – imagine
the wildlife conservation work we could do with that!
The solicitors taking part are:
Penzance, TR18 2QH, (01736) 364261
Truro, TR1 2PZ, (01872) 278641
Mr Anthony Earl, Earl & Crocker, Market House,
Higher Market Street, Looe, PL13 1BP, (01579) 345304
19 St Michaels Road, Newquay, TR7 1LL,
(01637) 872251
Street, Launceston, PL15 7AD, (01566) 777677
Street, Saltash, PL12 6AB, (01752) 846116
(a donation to the Trust will be requested by Nicholls
& Sainsbury).
Please note – this offer is for simple straightforward Wills
only and to claim your free Will, you must state that
you are a Cornwall Wildlife Trust supporter when you
initially book your appointment.
Thank you to everyone who has kindly remembered the
Trust in their Will. If you have any questions, please feel
free to write to me, email jasmin@cornwt.demon.co.uk
or phone me on (01872) 273939 ext 251.
Jasmin Brown
Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 13

Page 14 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Diary of Events
August to November 2009
Cornwall
Five Acres, Allet, Truro, TR4 9DJ
Tel: (01872) 273939
Details of events and other Trust activities are also
available on our website:
www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
EVERYONE is welcome to attend ALL events (apart
from Out & About Club: age 11 to 16 only, with
parental consent). Donations from non-members
would be appreciated. Please bring waterproof
clothing and footwear to all outdoor events.
CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY
ADULTS
Bats
Birds
Butterflies and moths
Evening get-together
Family event
Full or partial disabled access
(see event details)
Fox Club (all children welcome)
Fungi
General event
Illustrated talk or film show
Marine
Out & About Club
Photography
Plants
Walk
AUGUST
Saturday 1
ROCKPOOL ROADSHOW
Booking essential
Allet, near Truro
10.30am to 12.30pm
Meet crabs, starfish and other marine invertebrates and
stroke them, if you dare! Afterwards, join Kirstie in making
sea creatures from recycled materials. Bring donation of £1
to cover costs. Leaders: Blue Reef Aquarium staff and Kirstie
Francis. Ring Kirstie (01872) 273939 ext 203 to book.
Organised for Fox Club to launch Marine Week 2009.
Saturday 1 to Sunday 16
ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
Booking essential
Meet at Albert Pier, Penzance Harbour (SW477303)
Twice daily 2 and 3 hour trips (subject to weather)
Exciting marine wildlife trip on a RIB. Expert guides will point
out cetaceans, basking sharks, seals, sunfish and seabirds. Wear
weather-appropriate clothing, non-slip footwear and bring
sunscreen. Cost: call the leader for more details (10% donated
to CWT). Leader/contact: Rory Goodall (01736) 811200.
Organised by Elemental Tours for Fox Club in Marine Week.
Monday 3
MESSAGE IN THE WAVES
Booking essential
Five Acres, Allet
7.00pm start
Take B3284 exit (signposted Truro) off A30. Take first left and
immediate right into Five Acres car park (SX792488)
The film made by Rebecca Hoskins and the BBC
Natural History Department that kick-started the plastic
bag free movement in the UK. Check out http://www.
messageinthewaves.com/. Leader: Alison Forward. Contact:
Abigail Crosby (07917 765581). Organised by Cornwall
Wildlife Trust for Marine Week.
Tuesday 4
BEACH AND BOAT
Falmouth
1.00 to 5.00pm
Meet at Castle Beach, Falmouth
2 hours of beach fun and education for ages 7-16 plus
accompanying adults with Dr Jo Henley from SciArt solutions,
followed by a 2-hour sea safari with Orca Sea Safaris.
More info on www.kingharryscornwall.co.uk/ferries/orca/
education_packages. £40 per person. 10% donated to CWT.
Bring warm clothing and waterproofs. Leaders: Matt McLeod,
Dr Joanna Henley. Contact: Louise Green (01326) 214928;
info@orcaseasafaris.co.uk. Organised by Orca Sea Safaris and
SciArt Solutions.
Tuesday 4
ROCK POOL RAMBLE
Polzeath VMCA
11.00am to 1.00pm
Meet at Marine Centre, Polzeath (SW934795)
Explore the rock pools of the Polzeath Voluntary Marine
Wildlife Area with north Cornwall District Council and
Cornwall Wildlife Trust and see what’s hiding out under the
water and seaweeds in the pools, gullies, nooks and crannies!
Bring appropriate footwear, bucket, net, wet weather gear,
sun cream and hat. Leader/contact: Abigail Crosby (07966
518531). Organised by South West Water.
Thursday 6
LOOE TO PORTNADLER; COASTAL
WILDLIFE AND THE LOOE VMCA
West Looe
Booking essential
11.00am to approx. 2.00pm
Meet at the coastguard station, Hannafore Point, West Looe,
opposite Looe Island. Parking on road free (SX255523)
Join our marine experts and conservation volunteers for a walk
along this beautiful stretch of coastline. Suitable for children
over 11 and adults. Wear sensible clothing and footwear as
path can be steep. Drinks and picnic lunch. Binoculars also
useful. Leader/contact: Abigail Crosby (07917 765581).
Organised by Looe Voluntary Marine Conservation Area
Group to celebrate Marine Week.
Friday 7, 14, 21, 28
WHAT LIVES AMONGST THE
GRAVESTONES?
Kenwyn Churchyard, Truro area
2.00 to 4.30pm
Meet at entrance to Kenwyn Church on B3284, Shortlanesend
Road (SW819458)
Discover wildlife that makes its home in a graveyard and then
create something, using natural materials, to remind us of our
visit to this ‘living churchyard’. Wear suitable footwear for
uneven paths and slippery slopes and bring something to sit
on. Leader: Alison Forward. Contact: Kirstie Francis (01872)
273939 ext 203. Organised for Cornwall’s Living Churchyards
Project, with funding from Truro City Council.
Saturday 8
SEASHORE SECRETS
Booking essential
East Looe Rocks, Looe
1.00 to 3.00pm
Meet at Lifeboat station, East Looe Seafront (SX256530)
A rock pooling session with a difference; the rocks are brought
to you! Join the marine experts at our shore lab on the beach
and investigate the micro monsters of the shallow reefs up
close. A marine biologist will lead a group out onto the lower
shore to explore the rocks and seaweed. Shore lab suitable
for children of all ages, rock pool ramble suitable for ages
7+. Please wear appropriate clothing and sensible non-slip
footwear. Leader/contact: Abigail Crosby (07917 765581).
Organised by Looe Voluntary Marine Conservation Area
Group for Marine Week.
Saturday 8
DISCOVERING THE WILDLIFE OF
THE INNY WAY
Booking essential
Altarnun Church
10.00am
Meet at Altarnun Church Hall, Altarnun, signposted from A30
about 5 miles west of Launceston (SX223813)
We will be walking the circular path around the beautiful
Inny Valley (about 6.5 miles) looking for plants and animals
characteristic of the valleys rolling off Bodmin Moor. Tea and
coffee (and hopefully cakes) will be available about half way.
Bring stout shoes and waterproofs, drink and a picnic lunch.
Leader/contact: Dave Groves (01566) 86416. Organised by
Launceston Group, Altarnun Parish.
Sunday 9
REPTILES AND SUNNY BANKS
Stoke Climsland area
10.30 am
Meet at the Old School, Stoke Climsland village centre
(SX360744)
Local visit, practising hedge and habitat mapping. Bring stout
shoes. Contact: Caroline Vulliamy (01579) 370411. Organised
by Mid-Tamar Valley Group.
Sunday 9
ROCKPOOL RAMBLE
Booking essential
Penzance
1.00 to 3.00pm
Discover what lives in the rockpools and learn some fascinating
facts about what you find. Wear non-slip rock scrambling
shoes that can get wet and bring water to drink, sun protection
or rain gear. Leader: Rory Goodall. Contact: Kirstie (01872)
273939 ext 203. Organised for Fox Club for Marine Week.
Sunday 9
I SPY POETRY IN THE TREES!
Booking essential
Tehidy Country Park, near Camborne
10.30am to 12.30pm
Meet at the Visitors Centre, South Drive Car Park (SW650433)
An opportunity for families to create poetry inspired by some
of the special trees in Tehidy Country Park, including the
Twisted Beech, the Monkey Puzzle with the elephant’s foot,
and the Fallen Giant. We may borrow your work to create an
exhibition for the café. Bring pens or pencils, paper, a clipboard
or something to write on and something waterproof
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 15

to sit on. Cost: £2 per adult with up to 2 children free. Most paths
are wheelchair friendly. Book with leader Helen Jagger (01872)
323468. Organised for the Great Trees of Cornwall Project.
Monday 10
MAD ABOUT MUD!
Booking essential
Kilminorth Woods, Looe
1.30 to 3.30pm
Meet at gate to woods, at far end of Millpool car park, West
Looe (SX247537)
From tiny shells to wading herons, the chance to discover
the rich and wonderful world of the estuary mud flats, from
searching for clues to digging in the mud. Children under 16
to be accompanied by an adult. Wellies (or waders!) essential
and be prepared to get muddy! Leader/contact: Abigail Crosby
(07917 765581). Organised by the Friends of Kilminorth
Woods to celebrate Marine Week.
Monday 10
SNORKEL SAFARIS
Booking essential
A beach near Torpoint
Join marine experts from the Marine Biological Association
and explore the incredible underwater world. Snorkelling
equipment provided, however please wear a wetsuit and bring
personal snorkel equipment if you have your own. £10 per
child for a 2hr session. This is a parent-free event and you will
be sent a form for medical and contact details and asked for a
deposit on booking, so phone Kirstie on (01872) 273939 ext
203. Leader:Guy Baker (MarLIN). Organised for Out & About
Club (11-16yr olds only) to celebrate Marine Week.
Friday 14
MESSAGE IN THE WAVES
Booking essential
Penzance
7.00pm start
Meet at Penzance Sub-aqua Club, Albert Pier, Penzance
harbour TR18 2LL (SW477303)
Fundraising evening for CWT Marine Strandings Network.
The film made by Rebecca Hoskins and the BBC Natural
History Department that kick-started the plastic bag free
movement in the UK. For more information see http://www.
messageinthewaves.com/. Bar available! £3 entry donation.
Leader/contact: Rory Goodall on (01736) 811200. Organised
by Cornwall Wildlife Trust in association with Marine Scene
Solutions, Penzance for National Marine Week.
Friday 14
SNORKEL SAFARIS
See Monday 10 for details.
Saturday 15
AWARENESS / OPEN DAY
Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve, Saltash
Start 10.00am – all day event
Meet at Wearde Rd entrance to the reserve, Wearde park field
(SX421582)
Various country crafts and stalls, children’s activities, birds of
prey, falconry display, guided walks, etc. Free entrance. Bring
appropriate footwear plus waterproofs, pocket money. Contact:
Hazel Rawlings (01752) 846407. Organised by Friends of
Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve.
Saturday 15
WHALE, DOLPHIN AND BASKING SHARK WATCH
Gwennap Head, Lands End
10.00am until the evening
Meet at Coastwatch station (SW365215)
Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust and SeaWatch SW marine experts
searching for cetaceans and basking sharks as part of the
Seaquest Southwest programme. Suitable for all ages. Bring
binoculars. Leader: Tom Hardy. Contact: Abigail Crosby
(07917 765581). Organised by Seaquest Southwest and
SeaWatch SW for National Marine Week.
Sunday 16
GUIDED WALK, ST GEORGE’S ISLAND
Booking essential
11.15am
Meet at Lifeboat Station, East Looe seafront (SX256530)
Join our warden for a guided tour of St George’s Island, and
see and hear about the work of Cornwall Wildlife Trust in
conserving this magical place. Suitable for children aged 11+
and adults. Costs £4.50 for children under 10, £7.50 for
adults. Cancellation may occur in adverse weather conditions.
Wear sensible footwear and clothing, bring drinks and food
(not available on island) and binoculars if possible. Leader/
contact: Abigail Crosby (07917 765581). Organised by
Cornwall Wildlife Trust to celebrate National Marine Week.
Sunday 16
WILDLIFE WALK
Breney Common Nature Reserve
10.00am to 1.00pm
Meet at Gunwen chapel car park, Near Helman Tor
(SX053613)
A morning nature ramble around this wildlife rich Cornwall
Wildlife Trust nature reserve to look for butterflies, dragonflies
and birds. All welcome; ideal for beginners. Bring binoculars
and nature guide book. Leader/contact: Dave Thomas (01726)
861093. Organised by Restormel Group.
Wednesday 19
WATER CYCLE WALK
Booking essential
St Agnes
10.00am to approx 1.00pm
Meet outside sewage works west of Trevaunance Cove, St
Agnes (SW717514)
Follow the water cycle with South West Water’s Environmental
Manager Martin Ross. Discover where your water comes from
and what happens to your waste water when it is flushed away.
This event will include a tour of South West Water’s high tech
sewage treatment works at St Agnes. Wear sensible walking
shoes. Contact: Abigail Crosby (07966 518531). Organised by
South West Water.
Friday 21
TABLE TOP SALE
Triangle, Bude
10.00am to 1.00pm
Donations welcome: books, plants, produce, cakes, etc.
Contact: Penny Harris (01288) 354248, Gill Ruddock (01840)
230773. Organised by Tamar Group.
Sunday 23
NATURAL HISTORY PHOTOGRAPHY
Loe Pool
10.00am start
Meet at Chyvarloe: from Helston take A3083 towards The
Lizard; opposite main entrance to Culdrose take minor right
turn; after about 2km turn right, where the road bends left,
into the lane of the National Trust farm at Chyvarloe; drive
through farm and park (free) where indicated (SW653236)
Photographing flowers such as sea holly and yellow horned
poppy as well as a variety of insects. Bring camera, tripod, lunch,
suitable footwear and clothing. Leader/contact: David Chapman
(01736) 850287; please make contact the day before to make
sure trip is going ahead. Organised by Photographic Group.
Sunday 23
WHO LIVES AMONGST THE GRAVESTONES?
Booking essential (places limited to 18)
St Clement churchyard, Truro
7.30 to 9.00pm (sunset at 8.05pm)
Discover wildlife in a local churchyard. Walk with bat
detectors, weather permitting, to see if we can ‘hear’ the two
species of bats that go hunting there every night. Bring warm
clothing, something to sit on, torch and flask of something
warm to drink after dark. Leaders: Robert Moor (Living
Churchyards) and Steve Marshall (Cornwall Bat Group). Book
with Robert (01872) 272929. Organised for Fox Club for
National Bat Week.
Monday 24
LOCAL WALK
Stoke Climsland
10.00am
Meet at The Old School, Stoke Climsland village centre
(SX360744)
Walk, practising habitat recording at an interesting local site.
Contact: Caroline Vulliamy (01579) 370411. Organised by
Mid-Tamar Valley Group.
Wednesday 26
BATS!
Booking essential
Kilminorth Woods, Looe
7.15pm
Meet at St John’s Ambulance Station, Millpool, West Looe
(confirmed on booking) (SX250537)
A talk about bats, followed by an optional walk in the woods
with bat detectors. For the walk bring torch, warm clothing,
stout shoes. £2 per adult, £1 per child.
Leader: Jane Squirrell (Cornwall Bat Group). Contact:
Christine Spooner (01503) 265590. Organised by Friends of
Kilminorth Woods.
Friday 28
GOING BATTY
Booking essential (places limited)
Allet, near Truro
7.30pm to 9.00pm
Come and learn about bats from our bat expert and by
making some batty things indoors, then we’ll go on a walk
in the woods listening for bats hunting amongst the trees.
Wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear and bring a
torch. Suitable for all ages with adult help. Leader: Sam Smith
(Cornwall Bat Group) and Alison Forward. Contact: Kirstie
Francis (01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for Fox Club for
National Bat Week.
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 5
ROCKPOOL RAMBLE
Booking essential
Newquay
10.30am to 12.00 noon
Explore the rock pools with our marine expert and then use
your new-found knowledge to colour in one of the special
colouring books provided by the local, award-winning Venus
beach café. Wear sunscreen and non-slip shoes that can get wet
and bring a net and bucket, if you have them. Leader: Abby
Crosby. Book with Kirstie (01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised
by Fox Club. Funded by Venus Cafe.
Saturday 5
REPTILE HUNT
Booking essential (by 28 Aug: places limited to 12)
Penhale Army Camp near Holywell Bay
10.00am to 12.00 noon
Explore a military site that’s not open to the public. Our reptile
expert will show you the best places to look for lizards, grass
snakes and adders. Wear walking boots or sturdy shoes and
bring a hat and sunscreen or waterproofs, plus water to drink.
Leader: Mark Nicholson. Parent-free event; you will be sent a
form for medical and contact details on booking with Kirstie
(01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for Out & About Club
(11-16yr olds only).
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6
WILD WEEKENDS WITH CWT
Booking essential
Penzance
Time of start and finish varies daily
Meet at Albert Pier & Bus and Train Station, Penzance
Harbour (SW477303)
Saturdays: marine wildlife RIB trips around the magnificent
Land’s End peninsula, on the look-out for cetaceans, basking
sharks, seals, sunfish and seasonal birds.
3-hour trip. Cost £35 adult, £25 child over 10 under15 (10%
donated to CWT).
Sundays: safari-style 4x4 land tours, taking in local wildlife,
flowers, mining heritage, ancient historical sites and CWT
reserves, all set in the stunning scenery of West Penwith. 4-hour
trip. Cost £30 adult, £20 child (10% donated to CWT).
Wear warm, waterproof clothing and boots for the land tours.
Short walks part of the itinerary. Bring cameras, binoculars,
snacks and drinks. Leader/contact: Rory Goodall, see www.
cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk, or call (01736) 811200.
Organised by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Elemental Tours.
Sunday 6
BATS NEAR THE HELFORD RIVER
Booking essential (max. 40)
Mawgan-in-Meneage
7.30 to 9.30pm
Meet at Mawgan Recreational Hall, near War Memorial
roundabout, Mawgan TR126AD (SW702244)
‘Hear and see’ the local Helford bats with Dr Carol Williams
using bat detectors and night vision glasses. An evening talk at
Mawgan and a walk (weather permitting) at a bat site on the
south side of the Helford River. Bring warm clothing, torches,
binoculars and a hot drink, if required. Cost: £2.00. Group
members and children free.
Leader: Carol Williams. Contact: Martin (01326) 561952.
Organised by Helford Marine Conservation Group.
Sunday 6
BOTALLACK COUNTRY FAIR
West Penwith
12 noon to 5.00pm
Botallack Count House, Botallack, West Penwith (SW365333)
A local country fair. This year’s theme: ‘local produce’ Lots
of activities for children. Bring small change for admission.
Children free. Refreshments on site. Disabled special parking
area. Leaders/contact: Jane and Nigel Haward (01736) 740991.
Organised by Penwith group in conjunction with National
Trust.
Saturday 12
KITE FLYING / PICNIC
Saltash
2.00pm
Meet by the Allotments, Wearde Road (SX 418 577) for event
at Point Field, Churchtown Community Nature Reserve,
Saltash
Bring kite, picnic, and camera. Dogs on leads only. Leader: Bob
Austin (Chairman). Contact: Hazel Rawlings (01752) 846407.
Organised by Friends of Churchtown Farm Community Nature
Reserve.
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13
WILD WEEKENDS WITH CWT
See Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 for details.
Sunday 13
BAT WALK
Trevarno Gardens
7.00 to 9.00pm
Main car park at Trevarno Gardens, signposted from B3303 at
N end of Crowntown Village, TR13 0RU (SW643303)
Watch and listen to Trevarno’s resident bats emerge at dusk,
followed by a walk to hear bats foraging in the gardens. Bring
torch, good footwear, warm clothing and a bat detector if
owned. Weather dependent. Leaders: John Paul Gilkes & Sam
Smith. Contact: Trevarno Gardens (01326) 574274. Organised
by Trevarno Gardens and Cornwall Bat Group.
Sunday 13
BUTTERFLY FORAY
Tregellist Moors
2.00 to 4.00pm
Rose Cottage, Tregellist, St. Kew (SX00947750) – full
directions at www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson/
An opportunity to watch and photograph butterflies and
other insects. Bring wellies and wet weather gear, if necessary.
Leader/contact: Trevor Renals (01208) 880893. Organised by
Camel Branch.
Page 16 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Sunday 13
ARTRAGEOUS
Booking essential (places limited to 14)
Allet, near Truro
10.00am to 12.00 noon
Join us in designing and creating all sorts of sea creatures from
recycled and scrap materials. Please bring £1 per child to help
cover costs of materials. Suitable for all ages with adult help.
Leader/booking: Kirstie Francis (01872) 273939 ext 203.
Organised for Fox Club.
Monday 14
PHOTO GROUP MEMBERS’ EVENING
Allet
7.30pm
Please contact David Chapman (01736) 850287 or Adrian
Langdon (01208) 813440.
Organised by Photographic Group.
Tuesday 15
SEAL SURVEY AND COASTAL EXPLORER WITH ORCA
SEA SAFARIS
Booking essential
10.00am to 12.00pm
Meet at Events Square, Falmouth
Join Orca Sea Safaris on a 2-hour coastal discovery boat trip
and help to spot and record any seals in the area. You will
also be looking for any other wildlife around and will learn
all about the local coastline. £35 per adult. £20 children over
6. 10% donated to CWT. Bring warm clothing, waterproof
footwear and waterproofs/warm clothing for children. Leader:
Matt McLeod. Contact: Louise Green (01326) 214928.
Organised by Orca Sea Safaris www.orcaseasafaris.co.uk.
Saturday 19
LET’S HELP CLEAN CORNWALL
Booking preferred
Maningham Wood, Illogan
11.00am to 12.30pm
Meet at entrance to wood, opp. Co-op, pub and pasty shop, in
Illogan (SW672436)
Help the Friends of Maningham Wood clear any rubbish left
by the summer visitors and afterwards create natural works of
art. Prizes for the most creative use of rubbish and most artistic
rearrangement of natural resources! Wear clothing appropriate
for the weather and bring something to sit on afterwards.
Suitable for all ages. Leader: Alison Forward. Phone Kirstie
(01872) 273939 ext 203 to book. Organised by Fox Club and
FoMW for Clean Cornwall Week.
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20
WILD WEEKENDS WITH CWT
See Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 for details.
Sunday 20
BABY BAY BEACH CLEAN
Polzeath
10.00am to 1.00pm
Meet at Baby Bay (Polzeath) (SW934795)
Help the North Cornwall District Council beach ranger clean
the beach and the sand dunes, also take in the tremendous
scenery and find out more about the dune system and local
area. Wear appropriate footwear, sun cream, warm clothing,
wet weather clothing, gloves optional. Leader: North Cornwall
District Council. Contact: Abigail Crosby (07966 518531).
Organised by South West Water.
Sunday 20
BEACHWATCH WEEKEND
Booking essential
St Agnes area
Beachwatch is a nationwide beach clean-up and litter survey
organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Wear
suitable outdoor warm and waterproof clothing. Suitable for
all ages with adult help. Leader: Tom Hardy (Marine Officer).
Ring Kirstie (01872) 273939 ext 203 if you want to join in.
Organised by Fox Club for National Beachwatch Weekend.
Sunday 20
SHARK AND RAY CASE HUNT
Booking essential
A beach near Land’s End
3.00 to 5.00pm
Come and stroll along the beach with our marine expert,
searching for the egg cases of sharks and rays and other
treasures that the ocean has offered up. Wear suitable outdoor
warm and waterproof clothing. Leader: Rory Goodall. Book
with Kirstie (01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for Fox Club
for National Beachwatch Weekend.
Sunday 20
BIRD WALK AROUND GRIBBIN HEAD
Gribbin Head, near Fowey
9.30am, morning only
Meet at the grass car park at the end of the road at Menabilly
Barton (SX096511)
A walk through farmland and along the coast path looking
for a variety of bird life. Suitable for experienced birders and
beginners alike. All welcome. Bring binoculars if you have
them. Telescope available. Leader: Local birder expert, Sid
Cole. Contact: Matt Ward (01726) 815313. Organised by
Restormel Group.
Wednesday 23
AN EVENING PHOTOGRAPHING WILDLIFE
Tregellist Moors
6.30 to 8.00pm
Meet at Rose Cottage, Tregellist, St Kew. (SX00947750) - full
directions at www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson/
An opportunity to photograph a variety of plants and animals.
Bring camera. Leader: Trevor Renals/ Adrian Langdon. Contact:
Trevor Renals (01208) 880893. Organised by Camel Group.
Saturday 26
SEABIRDS, DOLPHINS, SHARKS AND THE SCILLIES!
Booking essential
Leaving Penzance Harbour at 9.15am
Returning from St. Mary’s 4.30pm
Meet at Lighthouse Pier, Penzance
Scillonian III is the best boat for wildlife watching. Basking
sharks, common dolphins and harbour porpoises are often seen
as well as the occasional minke whale. Seabirds can include
various shearwaters and skuas. Also, we have time to explore
the islands.
Bring binoculars and warm clothing. Mention the Wildlife
Trusts when booking to receive the discounted ticket of £25
(normal day return £35). Leader: Paul Semmens, Marine
Wildlife Guide. Booking: Isles of Scilly Travel (08457105555).
Organised by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trusts.
Saturday 26
FUNGI MEETING
Ladock Woods
10.00am to 3.00pm-ish
Meet at Ladock Wood car park between Mitchell and Ladock
(SW875523)
A walk around Ladock Woods to look for mushrooms with
Pauline Penn of the Cornwall Fungi Recorders Group. All are
welcome; ideal for beginners. Bring lunch, warm drink, fungi
guide book, binoculars and hand lens. Leader: Pauline Penn.
Contact: Dave Thomas (01726) 861093 after 6pm. Organised
by Restormel Group.
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
WILD WEEKENDS WITH CWT
See Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 for details.
Sunday 27
OTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Tamar Otter and Wildlife Centre
10.30am start
Meet at The Otter Sanctuary, North Petherwin, 5 miles northwest
of Launceston off the B3254 to Bude (SX288893)
Photographing otters in captivity as well as maybe deer and
wildfowl. Entrance fee of £6 or £7 depending upon numbers;
refreshments available on site (see www.tamarotters.co.uk).
Bring camera, tripod, suitable footwear and clothing. Leader/
contact: David Chapman (01736) 850287; please make contact
the day before to make sure trip is going ahead. Organised by
Photographic Group.
OCTOBER
Saturday 3
DEADMAN’S FINGER OR POISON PIE?
Booking essential
Tehidy Country Park, near Camborne
2.00 to 4.00pm
Discover the world of fungi on a foray around this country
park. If it’s pouring with rain, we’ll meet in the café and
look at some specimens to learn the difference anyway! Wear
walking shoes and outdoor clothing, bring a magnifying glass/
hand lens (some available to borrow). Leader: Pauline Penna
(Cornwall Fungi Recording Group). Parent-free event; you will
be sent a form for medical and contact details when booking
with Kirstie (01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for Out &
About Club (11-16yr olds only).
Saturday 3
AUTUMN WALK
Sennen to Lands End
2.00pm
Meet at car park, Lands End side of Sennen Cove (SW351263)
Steep walk up Mayon cliff, easy walking to Lands End looking
at birds, late flowers.
Leaders/contact: Jane and Nigel Haward (01736) 740991.
Organised by Penwith Group.
Sunday 4
ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
Booking essential
Penzance
12.00 to 2.00pm.
Meet at Albert pier (SW477303)
Exhilarating and educational marine wildlife trip on high-speed
RIB. Cetaceans, seals, maybe late basking sharks, seasonal
birds. Plus geology, history, and fantastic scenery! Wear warm,
waterproof clothing and bring cameras, binoculars, snacks and
drinks. Cost is £32 adult, £24 child. Mention CWT for a 10%
donation to the Trust. Leader/contact: Rory Goodall (01736)
811200 / 07971 540280. Organised by Elemental Tours.
Saturday 10
WILD FLOWERS
Saltash
2.00pm approx 2 hrs
Meet at Wearde Rd entrance to Churchtown Farm Community
Nature Reserve (SX421582)
Discovering wildflowers on the reserve. Bring appropriate
footwear plus waterproofs. Leader: Ian Bennallick. Contact:
Hazel Rawlings (01752) 846407. Sorry no dogs.
Organised by Friends of Churchtown Farm Community Nature
Reserve.
Saturday 10
SEABIRDS, DOLPHINS, SHARKS AND THE SCILLIES!
See Saturday 26 September for details.
Saturday 10
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Booking essential (places limited to 12)
Trengwainton Garden, Penzance
11.00am to 3.30pm
Our survival expert will teach you how to safely use a knife
to build a shelter and start a fire to keep you warm. Cook
your own soup and, if your fire survives, have hot chocolate
to drink in your own shelter before you leave. The gardens
will be closed to the public, and we hope to look for fox dens,
badger setts and squirrel dreys. Please bring a £10 donation per
person to cover the cost of equipment. Wear clothing suitable
for the weather and bring your own knife, if you have one,
although there will be full-tanged knives to borrow. Leader:
Gareth Wearne (NT warden). Parent-free event; you will be
sent a form for medical and contact details on booking and will
need to pay a deposit. Early booking advised: phone Kirstie on
(01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for Out & About Club
(11-16yr olds only).
Sunday 11
ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
1.00pm to 3.00pm.
For all other details see Sunday 4.
Monday 12
MEMBERS’ EVENING
Allet.
7.30pm
Please contact David Chapman on (01736) 850287 or Adrian
Langdon on (01208) 813440 for details. Organised by
Photographic Group.
Saturday 17
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF CORNISH SEALS
Gweek Village Hall
7.30pm
Meet at hall, beside the National Seal Sanctuary, TR12 6UG
(SW709266)
Sue Sayer of the Cornwall Seal Group uses a multimedia
illustrated talk to give an enthralling behind-the-scenes look
at the private life of Cornish seals throughout the season. £2.
Group members and children free. Leader: Sue Sayer. Contact:
Paul (01326) 341030 or Martine (01326) 378028. Organised
by Helford Marine Conservation Group.
Saturday 17
SEAL SURVEY AND COASTAL EXPLORER
10.00am to 12.00 noon
Meet at Events Square, Falmouth
Join Orca Sea Safaris on a 2-hour coastal discovery boat trip
and help to spot and record any seals in the area. You will also
be looking for any other wildlife around and learning all about
the local coastline. £35 per adult. £20 children over 6. 10%
donated to CWT. Bring warm clothing, waterproof footwear
and waterproofs/warm clothing for children. Leader: Matt
McLeod. Contact: Louise Green (01326) 214928. Organised
by Orca Sea Safaris, www.orcaseasafaris.co.uk.
Sunday 18
ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
For details see Sunday 4.
Sunday 18
POND DIPPING FOR MINI BEASTS
Tregellist moors
2.00 to 4.00pm
Rose Cottage, Tregellist, St Kew (SX00947750) Full directions
at www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson/
Life in a pond and guidance on how to build and maintain
wildlife ponds. Bring wellies and coat, if necessary. Leader/contact:
Trevor Renals (01208) 880893. Organised by Camel Group.
Sunday 18
BATTY ABOUT BOXES
Booking essential (limited places, book into a time slot by 9
Oct)
Allet, near Truro
11.00am to 12.30pm & 1.30 to 3.00pm
Make a bat box for your garden. Bring an adult to help with
sawing and hammering. All materials and equipment provided,
but £4 donation request on booking to cover the wood and
nails. Leader/booking contact: Kirstie Francis. Suitable for
children aged 7 yrs and above. Organised by Fox Club for
Make a Difference Day.
Sunday 18
SEED GATHERING IN KING’S WOOD
King’s Wood, near St Austell
10.00am, morning only
Meet at car parking area under trees by caravan /outdoor
store, just south of London Apprentice, between St Austell and
Pentewan (SX007497)
Join a local tree warden to gather seeds from over 12 species to
grow your own trees. Plenty of interesting bird life too! Ideal for
children – tips on growing seeds provided. Bring seed gathering
bags and binoculars if you have them. Leader/contact: Matt
Ward (01726) 815313. Organised by Restormel Group.
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 17

Monday 19
RESTORMEL AGM AND ILLUSTRATED TALK
Newquay
7.30pm
Meet in Griffin Hotel, Newquay, downstairs in cellar
(SW815628)
Our short AGM will be followed an illustrated talk by wildlife
photographer Adrian Langdon on a winter visit to Iceland with
landscapes featuring ice patterns, glaciers, waterfalls, etc. Also
wintering whooper swans and harbour seals. CWT Christmas
goods on sale. Also a visit to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
National Parks in Wyoming in autumn. Plenty of fall colours,
the elk rut, bison, moose, otters, etc. There will be a collection.
Full bar and parking facilities. All are welcome. Leader/contact:
Dave Thomas: (01726) 861093 after 6pm. Organised by
Restormel Group.
Sunday 25
PHOTOGRAPHY
Golitha Falls
10.00am start
From the minor road between Doublebois and Minions turn
left at Redgate and immediately left over a bridge; car park on
right (SX228689)
We will join Camborne/Redruth Camera Club for a walk
around the falls, looking specifically for fungi to photograph.
Bring camera, tripod, lunch, suitable footwear and clothing.
Disabled access limited to one section. Leaders/contact: Reg
and Mary Poad (01209) 714557. Organised by Photographic
Group.
Sunday 25
ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
11.00am to 1.00pm
For all other details see Sunday 4.
Sunday 25
SEED GATHERING SUNDAY
Booking essential
Allet near Truro
11.00am to12.30pm
Meet at CWT HQ, Five Acres Office (SW794486)
Celebrate this bountiful season by collecting seeds from our
nature reserve to plant in your own pots and then return to
the wild when grown into a young tree. We will also have
creative fun using leaves and seeds found on out nature walk.
Please bring £1 donation to cover cost of pots and compost.
Leaders: Alison Forward & Kirstie Francis. Book with Kirstie
on (01872) 273939 ext 203. Suitable for all ages. Organised by
Fox Club for Seed Gathering Sunday.
Friday 30
EXPLORE THE AQUARIUM
Booking essential for reduced entry rate
Newquay
Fun, fact-packed tour around the aquarium, identifying
creatures, their habitats and unusual features. Includes a
rockpool encounter! Cost £3.75 per adult/child (to be paid on
the day) – no unaccompanied adults. Leader: Matt Slater (Blue
Reef Aquarium aquarist). Book with Kirstie (01872) 273939
ext 203. Suitable for all ages. Organised for Fox Club by Blue
Reef Aquarium.
Saturday 31
PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE WOODS
Booking essential (just 10 places, for individual tuition)
Woodland near Camborne
10.00am to 12.00pm
Learn how to take photos showing the woods at their glorious
autumn best! Bring your own camera and something to kneel/
sit on and wear warm, outdoor clothing and footwear suitable
for muddy conditions. Parent-free event; you will be sent a
form for medical and contact details, so book with Kirstie on
(01872) 273939 ext 203. Phone the leader, David Chapman,
on (01736) 850287 the day before to check for possibility of
cancellation in poor weather. Organised for Out & About Club
in preparation for National Tree Week.
Saturday 31
FUNGI WALK
Kilminorth Woods, Looe
10.00am, approx. 2 hours
Meet at gate to woods, the Millpool, West Looe (SX246537)
Search for autumn fungi, with an expert on hand to identify
them! Bring stout footwear. Donations appreciated. Leader:
Matt Lewis, National Trust Warden. Contact: Christine
Spooner (01503) 265590. Organised by Friends of Kilminorth
Woods.
Saturday 31
ATLANTIC ADVENTURE
12.30 to 2.30pm.
For all other details see Sunday 4.
NOVEMBER
Wednesday 4
ILLUSTRATED TALK
St Blazey
7.30pm
Meet at St Blazey Football Club, Station Rd, in rear meeting
room (SX069547)
Illustrated talk by wildlife photographer Iain Stewart on the
wildlife of Tanzania and Himalaya. CWT Christmas goods on
sale. Full bar facilities and car parking. All are welcome. There
will be a collection. Contact: Dave Thomas (01726) 861093.
Organised by Restormel Group.
Saturday 7
BEACH CLEAN AND BARBECUE
Saltash
2.00pm for approx. 2 hrs
Meet by the allotments, Wearde Road (SX418577)
Cleaning flotsam and jetsam from beach area. Bring rubber
gloves, please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and stout
footwear; bring camera. Leader: Keith Rawlings. Contact:
Hazel Rawlings (01752) 846407. Dogs on leads only.
Organised by Friends of Churchtown Farm Community Nature
Reserve.
Saturday 7
SEALS AND WINTER WADERS SAFARI
2.00 to 4.00pm
Meet at Events Square, Falmouth
2-hour boat trip where you will be looking for seals along
the coastline and winter waders along the banks of the
Carrick Roads and River Fal. Learn all about the coastline
and local fascinating facts. £25 per adult. £15 children over
6. 10% donated to CWT. Bring warm, waterproof clothing,
waterproof footwear. Leader: Matt McLeod. Contact: Louise
Green (01326) 214928. Organised by Orca Sea Safaris www.
orcaseasafaris.co.uk.
Saturday 7
WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
Booking essential, places limited
Portreath
10.30am to 12.30pm
Guided walk through woods and fields looking for hidden
wildlife such as slow worms and field voles, and meet the
centre’s resident wildlife: meet Tod & Lady the foxes, learn
falconry (fly a barn owl, a European eagle owl, a grey heron
and a Harris hawk), hold Chewie the grass snake and meet his
friends in the classroom. Just £4.50 per child! Wear suitable
clothing and footwear. Leader: Gary Zammit. Book with
Kirstie (01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for Fox Club.
Monday 9
MEMBERS’ EVENING
Allet.
7.30pm
Please contact David Chapman on (01736) 850287 or Adrian
Langdon on (01208) 813440 for details. Organised by
Photographic Group.
Saturday 14
DISCOVERY DAY AND TRUST’S AGM
Booking essential
Carrick
10.00am to 3.30pm
Meet at Chacewater Village Hall, Chacewater, near Truro.
Follow brown signs in village for ‘Village Hall’ TR4 8PZ
(SW752442)
Learn all about the Trust’s Living Seas marine conservation
work at the 2009 Discovery Day. AGM starts at 10am (open
to Trust members only) then a range of exciting talks, open to
all, start at 10.30 focusing on Cornwall’s marine wildlife. Fun
activities provided by Fox Club will keep your children busy
whilst you enjoy a day learning how your support helps us
protect Cornwall’s marine wildlife for the future. £5 per adult
for whole day, £2.50 for half day, children free, lunch £5.50
per person. To book use booking form in magazine or contact
Carolyn O’Hagan (01872) 273939 ext 204. Organised by
Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Saturday 14
DIVING BAHAMAS AND HELFORD
Mawgan-in-Meneage
7.30pm
Meet at Mawgan Recreational Hall, near the War Memorial
roundabout, Mawgan TR12 6AD (SW702244)
Local diver and underwater photographer Tony Sutton will
bring to us through his captivating photographs the beautiful
underwater worlds of the Bahamas and the Helford River,
and their intriguing marine creatures. £2. Group members and
children free. Leader: Tony Sutton. Contact: Rhiannon 07710
956734 or Keith (01326) 340547. Organised by Helford
Marine Conservation Group.
Saturday 14
LAUNCESTON GROUP ANNUAL WILDLIFE QUIZ
Launceston
7.00pm
Meet at St Mary’s Church Hall, Launceston, opp. Methodist
Hall and attached to the Church tower in central Launceston
(SX331847)
Our annual fundraiser – a challenging and enjoyable quiz, a
chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, and a
review of last year’s recording efforts. The AGM will also take
place with election of the 2010 committee. Tea and coffee (and
hopefully cakes) available. Contributions to refreshments or
raffle always welcome. Small charge to cover costs and support
the Group’s work over the year. Leader/contact: Dave Groves
(01566) 86416. Organised by Launceston Group.
Sunday 15
ARTRAGEOUS
Booking essential (places limited to 14)
Allet, near Truro
10.00am to 12.00pm
Join us in creating all sorts of minibeasts from recycled and
scrap materials. Please bring along £1 per child to help cover
the cost of materials. Leader/booking: Kirstie Francis: (01872)
273939 ext 203. Suitable for all ages. Organised by Fox Club.
Saturday 21
PLANNING MEETING
Booking essential
Ludgvan
7.00pm
Phone for directions: (SW504331)
Discuss this years’ events – plan for 2010. Seasonal
refreshments. Bring contribution to funds/food welcome.
Leaders/contact: Jane and Nigel Haward (01736) 740991.
Organised by Penwith Group.
Sunday 22
LAND- AND SEA-SCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
Porthcurno
12.00 noon start
Meet at main car park in Porthcurno (SW384226)
We will be photographing one of the most beautiful stretches
of coastline in Cornwall between here and Logan Rock.
Please note the later than usual start to allow us to stay at the
location until dusk if the weather is appropriate. Bring camera,
tripod, lunch, suitable footwear and clothing. Leader/contact:
David Chapman (01736) 850287; please make contact the day
before to make sure the trip is still going ahead. Organised by
Photographic Group.
Sunday 29
TREE HUNT IN KILMINORTH WOODS
Booking essential (numbers limited to 20)
Near Looe
10.30am to 12.30pm
Come and hunt for ancient and other interesting trees in this
lovely ancient woodland. We will measure and record trees
for the Ancient Trees Project as well as hunting for wildlife
signs. Sensible footwear and clothing essential. It could be
very muddy in places. Leader: Christine Spooner (Friends of
Kilminorth Woods). Suitable for children aged 6yrs and above.
Book with Kirstie on (01872) 273939 ext 203. Organised for
Fox Club to celebrate National Tree Week and the Ancient
Trees Project.
COPY DATE for the next diary is 2 September 2009
The next diary covers the period from December to early April 2010.
Advance notices of later events can be included to increase the chances of publicising them, but if the diary is a large one these
may not be published. Wild Cornwall no. 110 will be published on 16 November 2009, but bear in mind when planning dates
of events that hand-delivery in your area may take several days.
Please send details of events (these MUST be submitted on forms available from Trust HQ to:
Diary Editor, Mark Dungey, 10 Rame Croft, Rame Cross, Penryn, TR10 9NB; Tel. (01209) 860970
Email diaryeditor.cwt@rame.eclipse.co.uk
Page 18 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Summer day at Sennen Cove. Photo: Sheila McCann-Downes
Tourism
gives something back to wildlife
Living in Cornwall you can’t fail to notice how the
population swells during the summer. The vast number
of tourists who come to enjoy our beautiful county totals
over 5.5 million. Although we may grumble about the
roads being busy and the beaches being full, tourists
provide our economy with £1.6 billion, and 22% of
all jobs in Cornwall are within the tourism industry.
At Cornwall Wildlife Trust, in partnership with local
businesses and CoaST (Cornwall Sustainable Tourism
Project) we are tapping into this income. We have set up
a number of ‘visitor gifting schemes’ where visitors are
able to make a donation to the Trust via the businesses
they use whilst on holiday.
For instance, Higher Menadew Farm Cottages have eight
holiday cottages, and ask for a voluntary donation of £2
per booking from their guests. Coriander Cottages near
Fowey donate £1 for every holiday booking made. Then
there are the five St Austell Brewery pubs that donate 5p
for every hot drink sold, which adds up to thousands a
year. We currently have nearly 30 schemes set up, with
more coming on board every month.
Some businesses choose to donate to a specific area of the
Trust’s work. Orca Sea Safaris ask for a donation of £1
per ticket for their marine wildlife trips, and the money
goes towards our marine conservation work. Venus Café
at Tolcarne beach in Newquay donate 5p from every cup
of tea and ice-cream flake sold, and the money goes into
our education work.
All schemes set up are a great way to engage visitors
with the work of the Trust and help them think a little
more about the impact they have when they visit. Many
visitors are only too happy to donate to the Trust,
knowing their money is being spent on keeping Cornwall
a wild and wonderful place to visit. We also encourage
businesses to join the Trust as Business Members, so they
are putting their own money into wildlife conservation,
whilst also encouraging their guests to do the same.
A special thank you must go to the team at CoaST who
work with hundreds of tourism businesses every year and
encourage them to set up schemes to support the Trust
and become more sustainable. Working in partnership
with organisations like CoaST will only strengthen
Cornwall’s sustainable tourism industry, ensuring
Cornwall’s wildlife is able to thrive whilst still welcoming
millions of visitors every year.
To find out more about our Business Supporters scheme
and the visitor gifting schemes we have set up visit
cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/business_support or contact
Serena Pettigrew-Collins on serena@cornwt.demon.co.uk
or (01872) 273939 ext 205.
Jasmin Brown, Marketing and Fundraising Manager
Working with
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 19

Beware of adders?
Or adders beware?
For me there can be no more delightful Cornish wildlife sighting than that of an adder. Strikingly
marked, fascinating in its life history, and with a slight hint of ‘danger’, the adder never fails to
excite. But lack of knowledge and understanding of this creature can lead to less enjoyable
encounters.
Never forget that we are much more dangerous and scary
to adders than they are to us. We are comparatively huge,
with big, plodding, crushing feet and access to many
weapons of wildlife destruction. All the adder has in its
armoury is a venomous bite that, though highly effective
against its small prey, has a relatively limited effect on
animals of our size.
We mustn’t minimise the risk from that bite, as in some
cases it can cause extreme pain, illness and – very rarely
– death. But to put it into perspective, many people
are bitten by adders in the UK each year and the last
time one of these bites proved fatal was in the 1970s.
Statistically, you are far more likely to die from a bee
sting – or to win a million on the National Lottery.
To avoid meeting adders, you need to do the opposite
to me. I seek out large areas of open, sunny habitat,
with good ground cover, which provide reptiles with
a combination of shelter and easy access to basking
hotspots. Heathland is ideal. So are most ‘wild’ grassland
areas – particularly in dune systems.
I especially visit those areas at times of year and times
of day when there is sufficient sun to make basking
worthwhile, but not sufficient heat to make the adders so
warm and active that they can flee rapidly as I approach.
A basking adder that’s quite cool and slow-moving is
the one that people might stand on or dogs might sniff
or chase – with unpleasant consequences. The best times
of year to see basking adders in this ‘dopy’ state are (in
Cornwall) March/April/May and September/October. The
best times of day are morning and late afternoon.
My advice to dog walkers is to avoid letting dogs run free
in adder habitats unless the weather is cold or wet, so
adders remain below ground, or nice and hot, so adders
are warm, alert and able to escape quickly. Within any
given day you will probably find a time when conditions
are hot enough, cold enough or wet enough for a safe
walk. Stick to paths – with your dog on a lead – and you
will reduce the risk at any time, as adders on paths are
easy to see.
Should we put up ‘beware adders’ signs where adders
live? We might equally say ‘beware bees’. Just keep in
mind that you are – thankfully – in an area that supports
this protected species, and follow the advice above. If
you want to see adders, send me your email address via
Cornwall Wildlife Trust HQ, info@cornwt.demon.co.uk,
and I’ll add you to the Reptile and Amphibian Group
mailing list.
Mark Nicholson
Volunteer, Cornwall Reptile and Amphibian Group
(CRAG)
The adder: enjoy it or avoid it, but always respect it. Photo: JB&S Bottomley
Page 20 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Your local group
A great way to feel more personally involved in the work of Cornwall Wildlife Trust is to join
the local groups at their many walks and events. See the Diary of events on the centre pages, visit
www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/whatson/
is happening near you.
Mid-Tamar Valley
February saw the formal end of the Stoke Climsland
Wildlife Project. Cornwall Wildlife Trust has produced
and distributed its final report. Achievements included a
biodiversity audit, volunteers trained to Phase 1 Habitat
Survey standard and trained to carry out the Hedge
Importance Test. With bat detectors given to the local
group to provide information on local bat populations,
the planned (County Wildlife Site) survey visits and the
Hedge Importance Tests, new information has been and
will continue to be provided for ERCCIS, the County
Wildlife Sites Project and the online Hedge (& Wall)
Importance Test survey.
April was an ideal time to look for spring flowers.
Danescombe near Calstock had a fantastic bloom of
daffodils growing in secondary woodland, re-establishing
itself from original ancient woodland cleared for mining
in the nineteenth century and then planted up as market
gardening in the 20th century. The daffodils were
displaced during World War II for potato crops.
In May the group was involved with Open Air
Laboratories (OPAL), at a survey event managed by
Bethan Stagg, OPAL’s community scientist. We learned
about the earth literally under our feet and the worms
that live there at Deer Park Farm near Callington,
which is overlooked by the scenic Kit Hill. The findings
will contribute to the first ever distribution map of
earthworms in England.
David Baldock
Administration Volunteer
Worm surveying. Photos: Rowena Millar
Penwith
The branch party in Penzance in February was a great
success. We all enjoyed good food and company, some
‘serious’ quizzes and a very pleasant evening. Thanks to
Liz and Roy for their hospitality. In March, about 20
walkers went from Marazion to Perranuthnoe looking
at geology and coastal erosion. The weather was good
and after some refreshments at Perranuthnoe we walked
inland (looking more closely at some daffodil fields than
we would have liked!) but saw some dolphins in the bay.
Sadly, due to the tragic flash flood and severe weather
conditions at Zennor, we cancelled the April walk. We
can only hope that the problems with the coast path
(closed as many bridges were washed away) will be
shortlived as the walking season approaches.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s initiative to trial ‘thank you’ tea
parties for the ‘hidden’ workers of the Trust in Penwith
was a really excellent idea. We met lots of supporters and
a fundraising garden opening at Wheal Darlington near
Marazion was a spontaneous spinoff and resulted in a
super afternoon. Thanks to Gerald and Jenny for their
hospitality.
Jane and Nigel Haward
Volunteers
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 21

Tamar
I recently had a very close view of a fine pale-coloured stag.
On reporting this to Tim Dingle, he said that he had seen a
similar stag (probably the same one) about seven miles away
cross country. Tim called the stag white, but I thought it
was beige. On both occasions the stag was accompanied by
females. Tim defined this deer as a red deer.
Swallows came back to my area on April 1st this year
(no, really), a good three weeks earlier than last year.
They are setting up their nests, as usual, in my garage,
an old barn, and in a small cob store in my yard. As they
were here long before me, I welcome them and park my
car outside until September.
Friends of Kilminorth Woods
The Friends of Kilminorth Woods welcomed Karen
Varnham as guest speaker at their AGM. Karen formerly
lived in Looe. She is an expert on rat eradication on
islands, and described entertainingly her experiences in a
variety of locations, including Canna, Tristan da Cunha,
and the Trust’s St George’s Island. We learned that one
of the problems on offshore islands is that rats are strong
swimmers and can soon recolonise after a successful
eradication programme, as the Trust has found out.
In April we were visited by David Chapman, who
conducted photographic workshops and shared his
experience with us. He also judged a photographic
competition, awarding first prize to Matt Nott’s
atmospheric photograph of a wading heron. In the junior
section the winner was Leia McMurdie’s picture of a
nuthatch on the bird table at the entrance to Kilminorth
Woods.
Other spring events have included the annual Dawn
Chorus walk, which again totted up over 30 species. We
were joined briefly by a surprised badger, which clearly
was not expecting to meet 13 people on the bridle path
at 6am! We also had great views of a roe deer, and of a
raven family at its nest.
Those of you who have been members of The Tamar
Group branch for some years, will be sorry to hear
of the unexpected death of Maurice Rayner in April.
Maurice was our chairman for a number of years
and a most enthusiastic member. Maurice retired as
chairman when his wife, Caroline was diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis and looked after her until recently;
he also worked very hard fund raising for MS and the
Merlin Project. Our sympathies go out to Caroline,
who is now settled at a care home, Burdon House, in
Highampton.
Gill Ruddock
Volunteer
The Group now has its own website (www.
friendsofkilminorthwoods.co.uk). Plans are afoot for
an environmental film evening later in the summer, in
partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Looe Film
Society, to show ‘The Age of Stupid’ (about climate
change), plus ‘Cornwall – the Wild Peninsula’ by Peter
McMurdie, some of which was shot in Kilminorth
Woods.
Derek Spooner
Volunteer
Nuthatch. Photo: Leia McMurdie
Heron in the West Looe River. Photo: Matt Nott
Kilminorth fox. Photo: Peter McMurdie
Page 22 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Camel
Dormice have dominated our agenda recently since our
autumn walk along the Camel trail. We have discussed
the possibility of a more accurate survey aligned with the
use of tubes and nesting boxes. We are due to meet with
the Camel trail ranger and hope to be able to target sites
along the 18 mile route that hold dormice in order to
ascertain their ideal habitat.
The colder winter seems to have taken a toll of the
vulnerable bird species, with coastal stonechat numbers
being much reduced. In the rivers the kingfishers seem
to have been hit as well, although both the Rivers Camel
and Fowey appear to have good populations of dippers
and grey wagtails, with pairs breeding at the majority of
regular sites.
We have organised several field trips to take place at
Tregellist near St. Kew on the land of keen naturalist
and professional biologist Trevor Renals. We hope to be
discovering the secrets of the very rich flora and fauna of
his fields.
Pair of dippers. Photo: Adrian Langdon
We have also continued to monitor the Treraven
marsh wetland project and are still seeking ways to
keep dog owners from causing disturbance in the
pools area.
Camel committee members have been to several meetings
on behalf of the branch, including the Wadebridge Town
Forum and planning meetings for major schemes that
are thought to have an impact on wildlife habitats or
environmentally sensitive areas.
Grey wagtail. Photo: Adrian Langdon
Camel committee
Restormel
The Restormel Group welcomed spring with a walk
along the Camel estuary from Wadebridge. Sid Cole
led a group of about 20 people on a gentle stroll along
the river, spotting various birds feeding on the outgoing
tide. Plenty of redshanks and curlews, as well as a few
greenshanks and a pair of wigeon were followed by
the sight of hundreds of golden plover flying over the
estuary. Shelduck were also feeding on the mud, along
with a variety of gulls. The day’s surprise appearance
came in the form of a fox, sunning itself on the beach
on the far shoreline. Our thanks to Sid Cole for leading
an excellent meeting.
Dave Thomas
Volunteer
River Camel birdwatch. Photo: Matt Ward
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 23

Beverley Dobell accepts The Greenbank Hotel’s Business Supporter certificate from Jasmin Brown.
Photo: The Greenbank Hotel
Cornish businesses
support the Trust
Even during a recession Cornish business are standing strong and continue to support wildlife
conservation in Cornwall. We have had a number of new Business Supporters join the scheme
recently and plenty of activity from existing supporters:
Whipsiderry Hotel is a family
run business located just seconds
from Porth Beach, Newquay. Its
owners are dedicated to reducing
its environmental impact and are
awaiting grading for their Green
Tourism Business Scheme Award.
With a resident badger family and
deer frequenting the fields opposite,
the enjoyment of wildlife comes hand
in hand with staying at the hotel. The
hotel owners are also helping their
guests donate to the Trust by giving
£1 per person from every evening
fishing trip taken throughout the
summer. www.whipsiderry.co.uk
Badgers are a common sight on the
lawn at Whipsiderry Hotel.
Photo: Lisa Burbridge
The Greenbank Hotel overlooks the
stunning Falmouth Harbour and
the owners believe it is important
to care for their surroundings
and community, whilst providing
exceptional service for their
customers. They are currently
undertaking actions to improve their
environmental performance and
are awaiting grading for the Green
Tourism Business Scheme Award.
As an official Business Supporter
of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, The
Greenbank Hotel is making a
commitment to protect wildlife. Lena
Martin, Receptionist, said, “Our
guests’ involvement is important to
the Hotel and we encourage guests
to read our ‘Visitors’ Charter’ to see
what they can do to be a greener
visitor.” www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk
The Port William Inn is nestled
into the cliffs at Trebarwith Strand,
Tintagel. With stunning views across
the bay, there are regular scenes
of amazing marine life, including
dolphins, seals and the occasional
basking shark. The Port William is
dedicated to providing information
about, and encouraging sensitive
treatment of, its unique location.
Assistant Manger, Ashley Sharp
said, “We feel that it is imperative
to work together with Cornwall
Wildlife Trust to help preserve the
area’s natural beauty, and also to
encourage the growth of Port William
as a sustainable business. We believe
there is no limit to what the Trust can
achieve and feel privileged to work in
one of the most spectacular settings in
the world.”
www.staustellbrewery.co.uk
Atlantic Coast Holiday Park
(Coastdale Parks), boasts peace and
tranquillity, nestled against Gwithian
Towans at Hayle. Offering holiday
home ownership, holiday hire and
a touring area, the park is proud to
have guests who return year after
year. Wildlife plays a vital role in this
David Bellamy Gold Awarded park,
with new areas planted to encourage
insects and butterflies, as well as
pictorial nature signs to view. Guests
can use the park’s wildlife diary to
record their findings at the park or
in the neighbouring sand dunes. The
park managers hope to pass on their
enthusiasm to their guests, and by
becoming Business Supporters of
Cornwall Wildlife Trust they now
have a wealth of information at
hand. www.atlanticcoastpark.co.uk
Page 24 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Farm and Cottage Holidays, one of
the largest holiday cottage agents in
the South West, is delighted to be
working with The Wildlife Trusts
in two ways: first, by becoming a
Business Supporter in each of the
counties it has properties in: Devon,
Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, and
second, by making a contribution
from each holiday booking made.
The investment will benefit vital
wetland projects across the region.
www.holidaycottages.co.uk
British International Helicopters,
who fly from Penzance to St Mary’s
on the Isles of Scilly, are proudly
sponsoring the Trust’s 2009 Seaquest
Basking Shark Project through their
carbon compensation fund. The
company understand their activities
have an impact on the environment
and as well as working to reduce
their carbon emissions, they have
created a carbon compensation fund
to support projects that involve
climate change research. Read more
about the Seaquest Basking Shark
Project at cornwallwildlifetrust.org.
uk/conservationprojects/living_seas
and on page 11 of this magazine.
www.islesofscillyhelicopter.com
Rosemullion Homes win
Housebuilder of the Year Award
Rosemullion Homes, a Trust
Business Supporter, scooped five
awards at the What House? Awards
2008, including the main award
of ‘UK’s Housebuilder of the Year’
and the bronze award for the
‘Sustainable Developer of the Year’.
The team were led by the firm’s
co-founder Bruce Brooke-Smith.
Bruce sadly died in February 2009
after a brave battle against cancer.
Rosemullion’s Managing Director,
Roger Carson said, “Bruce was a big
man in stature and in character. As
well as being a very close personal
friend, he was such an integral part
of Rosemullion Homes’ success.
He touched so many people’s lives
for the good, as well as being an
extremely effective Land Director.
We shall all miss him dreadfully”.
Jasmin Brown,
Marketing and Fundraising Manager
For more information on our
Business Supporters Scheme please
contact Serena Pettigrew-Collins,
Marketing and Fundraising
Coordinator on (01872) 273939 ext
205, serena@cornwt.demon.co.uk.
For website addresses of our
Business Supporters please go to
www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/
business_support.
Our Business Supporters
Porth
Helston
Penzance
Praze-an-Beeble
Holiday Park, Hayle
Company Ltd, Truro
St Austell
Camping Park, Penzance
Padstow
Hayle
The Lizard
(SEA), Saltash
Mevagissey
St Austell
St Austell
Restaurant, Menherion
Gweek
Tywardreath
Helston
Centre, Truro
Truro
Alie and John Linsey of Atlantic Coast Holiday Park proudly receive their
Business Supporters certificate. Photo: Jasmin Brown
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 25

RIGS
New County Geology Site at Carclaze
The latest County Geology Site (the geological equivalent
of County Wildlife Sites, previously known as RIGS
sites) is at Carclaze, just north of St Austell. The site
is the southern face of Carclaze Old Tin Pit, which
was worked from Tudor times. Carclaze was one of
Nature news
The latest from our ever-active specialist groups. For contact details see page 2.
the largest open pit tin stockworks worked in the
18th and early 19th centuries and provided a uniquely
informative location for early geologists, including some
of the founding fathers of geological science, to develop
concepts concerned with the alteration of granites and
metalliferous mineralization. The pit was a ‘must see’
site for 18th and 19th century travellers and there are
many descriptions and lithographs of the site; the earliest
accounts were by scientists from France and Germany.
The pit also shows how mining technology from the open
pit tin mining industry was used by the early china clay
industry. The site may also be the location for the earliest
underground canal in Britain, possibly built as early as
1720 by John Parnell of St Austell, although nothing can
be seen of this at present. The site is owned by Imerys,
who have given a verbal assurance that, if and when the
Ecotown proposal at Baal is developed, the site will be
preserved. A paper recently published on the site can be
accessed via the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website: find the
‘Cornish Geology’ section and look in the related links
on the ‘Granites’ page.
The picture to the left is an engraving by Thomas Allom
(1831). Water issuing from adits on the right is powering
three waterwheels driving stamps which crushed the ore
in order to release the tin.
Engraving by Thomas Allom (1831)
Colin Bristow, Cornwall RIGS Group
Photographic Group
By the time you read this message we will have another
new exhibition in the Meetings Room at Five Acres.
This is free to anyone who wants to come along and also
provides something for us to look at during committee
meetings! Please phone to check the room is free before
travelling specially to see the photos.
Our annual competition is just around the corner. As
usual this event is to be held at our November meeting
and entries are invited on or before the date of our
October meeting. Having mentioned the competition I
would like to stress that we are not a competitive group;
rather more a supportive one, but the competition
evening does allow us all to sit and look at some of the
wonderful photos taken by all of our members recently.
photographs. We will also enter their competition as
a group. The standard of the photography in previous
years has been exceptionally high so it is with some
trepidation that we make this first step; but it is only
through pushing ourselves and raising the bar that we
will continue to improve. More on this in the next issue,
but for now have a look at the website of the IFWP at
www.ifwp.net.
David Chapman, Volunteer
This year we have decided to join the International
Federation of Wildlife Photography (IFWP). This is
a truly international organisation and we will be the
only British representatives. Some of our members will
be going to their annual convention in Switzerland in
September. During this convention delegates will be
taken to various wildlife locations in the country to take
Cotton wool flower. Photo: John Evans-Jones
Page 26 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Cornwall Seal Group
Once again the European Cetacean Society accepted
Cornwall Seal Group’s (CSG) submission for a poster
presentation at their annual conference. This featured
CSG’s photo identification work tracking the movements
of 29 grey seals around our coast from Morte Pointe in
north Devon, down to the Isles of Scilly and round to
Nanjizel in the south.
Notable seal movements included:
trip from St Ives Bay to Newquay and back in
12 days.
the Isles of Scilly and back in 12 days, taking only
two days on the return leg!
(‘Ghost 2’ from Morte Point in 12 days) and west
(‘Wriggle’ from the Isles of Scilly).
Only one seal has been identified at three different
locations so far: ‘Tail Scar’, seen in St Ives Bay, Treen
and on the Lizard. He’s a tough old male, who’s been
struggling with a significant wound on his face since 2004.
For the first time, we’ve managed to recognise pups
born on the mainland haul out beach returning after
their post weaning dispersal (when they explore the
open oceans). Both Curly (female) and Rocket (male)
returned 17 months after leaving the beach of their birth!
It is wonderful to know they are thriving, particularly
as Rocket had a traumatic first few days! See www.
cornwallsealgroup.co.uk for more information.
Sue Sayer, Volunteer
Curly on her return in March 2009. Photo: Sue Sayer
Seal movements map.
Cornwall Mammal Group
Wetlands are havens for mammals. Cornwall Mammal
Group (CMG), ever in pursuit of mammals to record, has
led a range of monthly events visiting some wonderful
wet places around the county. Mud is a marvellous
medium for finding records, from the tracks of a tiny
shrew to the webbed track of an otter. Sarah Hodge led a
small mammal safari at Stithian’s Reservoir and a harvest
mouse hunt in wetlands near Penryn. Tea and cakes
were provided on both occasions. Tracker Angie Nash
tempted people out of bed early in the morning with
breakfast cooked on an open fire, after seeking mammals
and their signs at Woodland Valley Farm near Ladock.
Mammals on wet moorland did not escape our attention
and Dave Groves organised a small mammal trapping
event at the Beacon on Bodmin Moor. In contrast, Cathy
Turtle sought mammals in the open dunes of Penhale. We
always hold our AGM in the first week of July, during
National Mammal Week, and this year Nick Jones broke
with tradition and organised this event mid week and
at night! Nick and Derek Lord led an intriguing greater
horseshoe bat event near New Polzeath.
Water (Pennon Environmental Fund with Viridor Waste).
Volunteers will be trained to look for and identify nuts
eaten in the unique dormouse way. Old sites will be
monitored and new sites surveyed. It’s simple, fun and
will provide invaluable information to help determine
the status of this rare mammal and secure records for
our Mammal Atlas. Training and support is provided,
not least by two top ‘nutters’, Jenny Stuart and Cheryl
Mills. If you would like take part in the Great Nut Hunt,
or hear about other mammal events, please contact the
CMG secretary: Jodene@cornwt.demon.co.uk.
Kate Stokes, Volunteer
Future events will focus on another small, special, elusive
and under-recorded mammal: the dormouse. CMG and
Devon Mammal Group have teamed up and we are
supporting the People’s Trust for Endangered Species
national dormouse survey by taking part in the third
Great Nut Hunt. We are delighted to have secured the
support of Westcountry Rivers Trust and South West
Dormouse in hand. Photo: Paul Gregory
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 27

Seaquest Southwest
Winter is generally the quieter time for spotting marine
wildlife, but we have had reports of bottlenose dolphins
and harbour porpoises every month. Common dolphins
were only reported five times, but in groups of between
20 and 25, and we had a couple of sightings of Risso’s
dolphins too. Two minke whales were seen in November
and a fin whale, the second largest whale in the world,
was reported off the Isles of Scilly in February 2009. The
last basking shark of 2008 was seen off The Runnelstone
on November 6th and the first for 2009 was on 11th
February off Pendeen.
Other creatures recorded include a lumpsucker fish,
which was landed at Newquay, and a rare wrinkled
swimming crab, Liocarcinus corrugatus, which was
found trapped in a prawn pot in the River Fal in
February. It was taken alive to the Blue Reef Aquarium,
Newquay, much to the delight of the curator, as the last
record for this species in Cornish waters was in 1984,
and only 11 have ever been recorded, nine of which were
pre-1907.
We are hoping that 2009 will be a bumper year for
marine wildlife sightings. As well as our dedicated
Basking Shark Project which will be running all
summer, we would like to encourage you all to send
in records of anything you see whilst out and about
around the coast. Keep your eyes peeled and tell us
what you see!
Ray Dennis, Volunteer, and Ruth Williams,
Marine Conservation Officer
Fox Club Corner
Our younger members have been out in all the
glorious spring and early summer weather, enjoying
the bluebells and sound of birdsong, learning about
plants and the geology beneath them, and then
investigating minibeasts, the contents of an owl’s
dinner and the inhabitants of dormouse boxes and
rockpools – all before the end of the school term!
The next season of events is likely to be even
busier as we celebrate Marine Fortnight, Bat Week,
BeachWatch Weekend and National Tree Week, as
well as helping the environment with events during
Clean Cornwall Week and on Make a Difference Day.
If you have an interest in any of these subjects, or
just fancy having some fun learning about them,
have a look at the Fox Club and Out & About Club
events diaries and come along and join in.
If you don’t want to miss out on all this excitement,
just fill in the form below and send it off to Kirstie
today.
Hope to see you soon!
Alison Forward
Education Officer
Wildlife needs friends
If you are already a member,
please pass this form
to a friend
or relative.
You might
like to know
that Cornwall
Wildlife Trust now has a family
membership category which
includes Fox Club.
These youngsters were measuring trees in hugs for
the Ancient Trees of Cornwall Project.
Photo: Alison Forward
MEMBERSHIP FORM (Cut out and send to Fox Club, Five Acres, Allet, Truro TR4 9DJ)
Name .......................................................................................................................
Date of birth ..........................................................................................................
Address ....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
School .....................................................................................................................
Please enrol me as a member of Fox Club
(I enclose a cheque for £8 made out to Cornwall Wildlife Trust)
Please send me a Cornwall Wildlife Trust leaflet
Tick as appropriate
Registered Charity Name - Cornwall Trust for Nature Conservation Ltd. Registered Charity Number - 214929
Page 28 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Seasearch
Despite the awful weather during the 2008 season, 40
Seasearch surveys were reported by volunteers recording
335 different species, including both well known and
nationally rare species such as the pink sea fan, maerl,
yellow cluster anemone, trumpet anemone, ling and
eelgrass. There were also numerous records of maerl and
eelgrass from our specific eelgrass monitoring projects.
This year has also seen the completion of our Pink Sea
Fan Project. The pink sea fan (PSF) is one of only two
gorgonian corals found in UK waters, and as such is a
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and is also one of
the very few marine species which is protected under the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Although nationally
rare, PSF are widely distributed in south-west Britain
and are associated with rocky seabed habitats in depths
down to 60m. During the three year project a total of
878 fans were measured and recorded around the coast
by volunteer Seasearch divers. Results showed a healthy
and larger than expected population of PSFs around the
Below the kelp. Photo: Angie Gall
Cornish coast (a copy of the full report is on our website:
www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/conservationprojects/
living_seas).
So far this year we have completed our first Seasearch
training course in Cornwall and one has also been
completed on the Isles of Scilly as part of the Isles of Scilly
Wildlife Trust’s Marine Biodiversity Project. We are also
aiming to start a long-term monitoring project in the Fal
SAC (Special Area of Conservation), looking at the effect
the ban on mobile gear (dredging equipment) is having on
benthic marine life, and specifically PSF populations.
If you are already a qualified diver and interested in
getting involved in Seasearch in Cornwall, please contact
me: tom@cornwt.demon.co.uk.
Bloody Henry. Photo: Angie Gall
Tom Hardy
Marine Conservation Officer
The Lost Gardens of
HELIGAN
OPEN DAILY ALL
YEAR ROUND
This mysterious estate has been
beautifully restored to offer
over 200 acres for exploration.
DISCOVER...
Victorian Productive Gardens
& Pleasure Grounds,
a sub-tropical Jungle,
Wildlife Project and beyond...
WATCH...
The Heligan Barn Owls at
www.heliganwild.com
Free admission to Heligan
Tearoom, Shop & Plant Sales
Pentewan, St Austell, Cornwall
PL26 6EN Tel: 01726 845100
HELIGAN BARN OWLS 2009 –
The year to date. . . .
A new pair of barn owls have taken up residence in
the purpose built nest box at The Lost Gardens of
Heligan, and have been spotted bonding, preening
and mating.
The female barn owl will remain incubating the eggs
throughout the evening and night to ensure an
adequate ‘cache’.
Watch the unfolding drama online at the dedicated
wildlife page on www.heliganwild.com, or live
Gardens of Heligan, where the nest box images are
www.heligan.com
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 29

Page 30 Issue 109 Summer 2009

Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 31

A History of the Isles of Scilly
Wildlife Trust: 1985–2006
Part 4: A new Director
Mike Gurr continues his historical saga
In 1994, the first director, Peter Murrish, retired.
As the Trust took its first hesitant steps, he had
contributed significantly to its establishment, through his
organisational abilities and financial management. What
was lacking was a clear sense of what constituted good
public relations and any expertise in nature conservation.
A second director was in post only a few months and the
third, Andrew Gibson, came to the Trust from a position
as Warden of Lundy Island and so was able to begin to
give the Trust some leadership in conservation.
By this time, however, the finances were pitifully inadequate
to entertain any ideas of habitat management on a scale that
was envisaged by the original management plan and that
was needed by the Islands. It is interesting to note that the
body that could have helped enormously at this stage, in
terms of expertise, if not in funding, was the then Cornwall
Society for Nature Conservation, later Cornwall Wildlife
Trust. Although the possibility of approaching colleagues in
Cornwall had been given passing mention in the minutes,
there is no record that such an approach was ever officially
made. English Nature (now Natural England), because of its
duty of care for the two dozen or so SSSIs (Sites of Special
Scientific Interest) in Scilly, had primary responsibility for
nature conservation in Scilly and an important development
for the Trust was entry into the Reserves Enhancement
Scheme (RES) in 1995. Beginning in 1996, another
important initiative was the Countryside Stewardship
Scheme (CS), administered by MAFF (Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, now DEFRA, Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). This provided
modest funds for the management of specified areas of
land in accordance with very precise guidelines, until 2006.
By the end of the 1990s, three relatively secure sources of
funding for environmental management by the Trust had
become established: RES, CS and a grant from English
Heritage for habitat management around seven scheduled
monument sites on Trust-leased land.
Funds did not allow the Trust to employ the number of
staff needed to manage over 1,000 hectares of land. The
practical solution had to be the efficient use of volunteers
and it did not seem practical to find such volunteers from
within the resident population. In Scilly, recruitment of
staff or volunteers from the mainland has always been
limited by the availability of suitable accommodation.
The Director proposed that a long-disused naval gun
battery on ‘The Garrison’, a fortified hill on St Mary’s,
could be adapted to provide volunteer accommodation.
A substantial grant toward this conversion was obtained
from MAFF with small inputs from other sources. As
the scheme developed, the Trust was obliged to use a
significant proportion of reserves laid down in its early
years, leaving it in a somewhat precarious financial
situation. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that the facility,
though costing the Trust dearly, has enabled it to attract
many first-rate volunteers who have enabled it to carry out
far more conservation work than would otherwise have
been possible.
Mike Gurr
Teän Sound, St Martins. Photo: Angie Gall
Page 32 Issue 109 Summer 2009

The Threatened Plant Survey:
tubular water-dropwort
Rosemary Parslow highlights a rare and threatened plant
The Threatened Plant Survey is a
Botanical Society of the British Isles
(BSBI) initiative that commenced in
2008. The aim is to learn more about
threatened and near-threatened plants
in Britain. Ten species of plant were
targeted in 2008 for BSBI vice-county
recorders to survey and this resulted
in thousands of records and a much
better understanding of the actual
state of the British populations of the
selected plants.
In 2009 another ten rare species
of plants are being targeted for
investigation. One of these is Oenanthe
fistulosa (tubular water-dropwort), a
plant that is found in the Isles of Scilly.
All the known current and former
sites where the plant is found will need
to be visited and the plants counted,
mapped and details of the habitat and
associated species recorded.
Tubular water-dropwort is a plant of
marshy places and shallow water. At
one time it was common in Britain
especially in the south, less so in
Scotland, Ireland and Wales. It is now
classified as Vulnerable which means
that during the last decade or so
numbers have been decreasing.
In Scilly it is very rare. It has only been
recorded on St Mary’s and on Tresco.
Formerly it was known on St Mary’s
from Higher and Lower Moors and
the wet fields near Rocky Hill. On
Tresco it was recorded from Great
Pool and the reed bed. It is still known
from Lower Moors and the wet fields
between Rocky Hill and Porthloo, but
nowhere is it abundant. On Tresco
the plant still occurs in the reed bed
around Great Pool where it grows in
the water among the reeds.
Tubular water-dropwort. Photo: Rosemary Parslow
Tubular water-dropwort is not a
particularly spectacular or distinctive
plant. It is one of the family Apiaceae
that includes plants such as carrot
and hedge parsley, with the typical
umbel (like the spokes of an umbrella)
arrangement of the flowers. The
flowers are white and the leaves have
few leaflets, unlike the ferny leaves of
carrot, etc. The petioles (leaf stems)
and stems are hollow – hence the
specific name fistulosa (pipelike).
Although we know some of the
places where the dropwort grows, if
anyone knows or finds any new sites,
please let us know. We can then get a
complete picture of the status of the
plant in Scilly and the kind of site and
management it requires.
Rosemary Parslow
BSBI Vice-County Recorder for Scilly
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 33

Biodiversity on Scilly
Angie Gall continues her updates on this important marine programme.
In the last issue of Wild Scilly I told you about our plans
for the new Isles of Scilly Marine Biodiversity Project.
One of the first project activities has been a Seasearch
training course for local divers. This was well attended
and we now have eight local divers who are on the way
to completing the Seasearch Observer qualification. This
involves recording marine life seen on dives, including
describing the seabed. Divers across the country are
involved in this scheme, allowing us to compare our reefs
to those in other parts of the UK. Thanks to St Martin’s
Diving Services for hosting the course and to the local
divers for their participation.
Reefs are not the only focus of Seasearch. Once trained,
divers can record marine life on any site they visit; sandy
areas, wrecks and even mooring chains all have their own
marine communities. Our divers can join organised dives
offered by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust or conduct
surveys on their own favourite dive sites. Visiting divers
will be encouraged to record the marine life in this way
to help us build up a picture of the marine biodiversity in
our waters.
Another project activity which is now well underway
is the marine education programme with the Five
Islands’ School. The children have been taking part
in rockpooling, beach art and beach cleans with great
eagerness and the teachers seem to enjoy the days too.
Paul Semmens has been on the Scillonian every
Wednesday for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, talking to
passengers about marine wildlife and carrying out survey
work. Paul’s enthusiasm is infectious. He says, “I love the
Scillonian; I never want to go inside though, even for a
moment, in case I miss something!”
Angie Gall
Project Officer
Local divers on a Seasearch Training Course.
Photo: Angie Gall
Going out on a dive: local divers are learning to record marine life in a variety of habitats. Photo: Angie Gall
Page 34 Issue 109 Summer 2009

News snippets
The Trust Wildlife Information Centre on St Mary’s quay
has been given a makeover: a new layout, new range
of stock and more things to keep the kids occupied,
including a rock pool fish tank. It is open Monday to
Saturday, 9.30am to 4.30pm; closed for an hour after the
Scillonian has docked; half-day opening on Thursdays.
We need volunteers to run the Centre and if you want to
help please get in touch (on 422153).
Trust volunteers are now kitted out with special T-shirts
and caps thanks to a kind donation from a long-standing
volunteer. It is really lovely to be able to give the
volunteers something for all of their hard work.
disturbing them. The Nursery class have made a bird hide
in their role play area and are waiting for a lovely cedar
bench from Greenspace that is carved with different birds
so that they can do rubbings.
The IOS Bat Group now has its own website. Look at
www.scillybatgroup.org.uk to find out about us and
our work schedule for 2009. Members of the Group
led a successful bat walk as part of the ‘Walk Scilly
Festival’. Eighteen visitors joined in and were kitted out
in new reflective jackets purchased with an NHS health
promotion grant. Monthly bat walks through the season
will be advertised.
‘BAFTA’ success. Congratulations to Adam White,
IOSWT Trustee, for his ‘BAFTA’, awarded jointly with
Sir David Attenborough for his role in producing and
directing Armoured Giants, one of Sir David’s BBC 1
wildlife series: Life in Cold Blood.
Members of the Local Volunteer/Bat Group discuss which
trees would be suitable for bat boxes. Photo: Mike Gurr
A new St Mary’s local group meets every Wednesday.
Anyone welcome! You do not need to commit to a whole
day, just contact us in the office (on 422153) and we will
let you know where we are working and organise a pick
up or drop off. Volunteering is a great way to meet people
and get some exercise.
Thanks to the AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund
for providing funding for a marine strandings course,
improvements to ponds and footpaths, equipment for
the Bat Group and materials for work with Five Islands
School. These included a new bird feeding area, also
supported by the Isles of Scilly Bird Group. There are
different sorts of bird feeders that will attract different
types of birds, and insect houses so that the pupils can
study butterflies and insects as well. We have put up a nest
box camera so that the pupils in the nursery and reception
classes can use their computer to see birds feeding without
Local volunteer installing bat boxes. Photo: Mike Gurr
Wild Scilly is prepared by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Editorial Team:
Suzanna Jeffries, Mike Gurr and Anne Gurr.
Issue 109 Summer 2009 Page 35

Calendar 2010 for sale
We have produced another stunning calendar for next year, which is available now.
Featuring 13 spectacular full page colour photographs of some of the best scenes around Cornwall, the
Wild Cornwall calendar is a must have for 2010. It makes the perfect Christmas present too, coming
with its own envelope to send to friends and family. All the photographs were donated by members of
our Photographic Group, with production costs met by our generous sponsors, so every penny raised
from sales goes towards protecting Cornwall’s wildlife for the future.
Christmas cards for sale
We are offering two wonderful designs this year,
the stunning ‘stag’ and the adorable ‘robin’.
Both measure 120mm x 120mm and come in
packs of 10. The greeting reads ‘Happy Christmas’.
ORDER FORM
The calendar and Christmas cards are also available to order from our online shop:
cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/supportus/shop
Please send me:
Wild Cornwall calendar(s) at £5.00 + 75p p&p each = £
pack(s) of ‘Stag’ Christmas cards at £3.00 + 60p p&p each = £
pack(s) of ‘Robin’ Christmas cards at £3.00 + 60p p&p each = £
Total = £
Name
Address
Postcode
Daytime phone number
Email
Please enclose a cheque for the full amount made payable to Cornwall Wildlife Trust and send with order form to
Carolyn O’Hagan, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ. Call (01872) 273939 ext 204 with any queries.
Page 36 Issue 109 Summer 2009