Upcoming Railway Talk

On Monday 4 April at 7:30pm in St Cleer Memorial Hall we have a free illustrated talk discussing the Liskeard and Caradon Railway.

The talk will be presented by Alec Kendall who has spent a great deal of time researching the railway and has new findings to reveal!

All are welcome, just make sure you arrive in good time as this promises to be a very interesting and informative evening.  Futhermore Alec has very kindly put together a special handout to help you continue your own investigations.

Stara Woods Horse Logging Demonstration

30 March – 1 April 2011

Come and see this traditional, green method of timber extraction.

There will be a talk by horse logger Keith Trickey at 11am on 31 March.

Light refreshments will be available.

Donations in aid of Stara Community Woodland.

Directions to Stara Woods

From Liskeard follow B3254 towards Upton Cross continue to Darley Ford. From Darley Ford continue towards Launceston, taking first right signposted ‘Lower Lake Shooting Grounds’. Follow lane down to Stara Bridge over the River Lynher. The entrance to the woods is just over the bridge.

Environmental Stewardship day

On Saturday the project facilitated a workshop for farmers and landowners on Environmental Stewardship. Held at Treovis Cross farm, near Upton Cross by kind permission of Dave Taylor & Carol Horsington, the event was presented by Mary Combe of Cornwall Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group. 

The morning session explained the scheme and the procedure for applications, whilst in the afternoon David Taylor led a walk around his farm looking at the practical applications of Stewardship. Due to the beautiful spring weather the group enjoyed sitting outside for coffee and lunch, as well as the farm walk. 

If you are a farmer or smallholder and wish to find out more about how we may be able to help you, please give Jane Uglow, our Project Officer, a ring on 07814 517 089 or email her on juglow@cornwall.gov.uk.

Dog walkers remember...

It is now ground nesting bird season, 1 March to 31 July, when these little birds are especially vulnerable. There are a number that make the moor's rich landscape their home during this time such as the lapwing, snipe and curlew.

It is vital to the survival of these special birds that dog owners, in particular, remember these dates.  Between 1 March and 31 July all dogs must be kept on a short (2m) lead to avoid disturbing their delicate nesting habitat. At all other times of the year dogs should be kept on a lead when near any livestock on Open Access and Common Land. 

Illustration of a lapwing from the RSPB website

Take a look at The RSPB Bird Guide for find out more about these interesting little birds.

The Pipewell Project

As you may have seen in the local news, after a lot of hard work the St Cleer Parish Project Group have been awarded funding to help restore the Pipewell at Tremarcoombe. Over time the area has become overgrown and the Parish Group are looking forward to starting work clearing the vegetation and cleaning out the pond. Once completed a dipping platform will be built for local schools to use the pond for class projects and it is hoped locals will be able to carry out ecological surveys there too.

The Pipewell as it is now

The Project is looking for volunteers and if you are interested in finding out more and how you can get involved please come to

the Sportsfield at St Cleer on 19 March between 10:30 and 2:30pm. 

There’ll be tea and cake to celebrate the launch and it’ll be a great opportunity to find out how you can help make this exciting project happen. 

We still need you...

Last month we invited you to become a fully trained Volunteer Walk Leader as part of Naural England's Walking for Health scheme.

As some of you may know we have now arranged for training to take place for those in the Project area on... 

Tuesday 29 March, 9:45-4pm

at

Stuart House, Liskeard.

If you are interested in attending this training please do get in touch. Places are limited but we would love to hear from you.

As mentioned before in an earlier blog once the training day is completed you will gain a nationally recognised award and be covered for walks by Natural England's public liability insurance.

Please drop me an email abillinge@cornwall.gov.uk or call me on 01872 322 642.