Annual Review2019-20 From the Chief Executive Taking action ‘41% of species studied in the UK since the 1970s Nature based solutions work by restoring natural are in decline’ was the sobering headline of the ecosystems to address challenges facing Cornwall. State of Nature report released in 2019. Good examples include tree-planting, wetland to restore Sadly, our records show that Cornwall reflects habitat creation and expanding the network of that trend. The shocking statistic added to the Cornish hedges to slow the flow of water and increasing volume of science and public opinion reduce the threat of flooding downstream, improve Cornwall’s backing the need for urgent action to tackle the soil health and absorb pollutants. climate and the ecological crises. Nature based solutions also provide other The coronavirus pandemic followed and benefits – green jobs, opportunities for sustainable wildlife and underlined the importance of nature for our businesses, resilient landscapes thriving with health and wellbeing, especially the importance of wildlife, improved health and wellbeing benefits the wildlife and wild places that we have on our for Cornish people and our visitors. wild places, doorsteps in Cornwall. I would like to thank everyone involved with We know this because thousands of you shared Cornwall Wildlife Trust – our staff, volunteers, your reflections, photos and videos of how nature Trustees, members, supporters, delivery partners on land and in helped you and your families through difficult and funders – for taking action. times in Cornwall. Your ongoing support means we can continue to Nature was there for us all during lockdown help Cornwall’s wildlife and wild places to survive and thrive, putting nature and the climate crisis at our seas, all Cornwall Wildlife Trust and many others support the heart of Cornwall’s recovery from the pandemic. a green recovery from the pandemic - a recovery which sees investment in low carbon and ‘nature- Carolyn Cadman year round. based solutions’. Chief Executive, Cornwall Wildlife Trust MORE THAN > 1,400 volunteers gave their time for nature to: ITO TE EL N R O CT H P O R PEOPLE MPEOPLE P H P E M L L P O T E P MONITOR R R C N H O O E I T T H T T I E P O E O N C L L R R T O E P P M H PLACES PLACES 2,341 including VISITORS to Looe Island 155 SEALS now identified MORE THAN > 1,400 FUTURE FUTURE volunteers gave their time for nature to: T ONI OR OTECT HELP R P M H P E M L L P O T E P MONITOR R R C N H O O E I T T H T T I land owners E P O E O N C Advised L L R R T O E P P 152 M H and farmers PEOPLE PEOPLE 2,341 including VISITORS Visitors to our Open Gardens raise to Looe Island 155 SEALS Wilder Places: more land, rivers and seas now identified PLACES £PLACES17,723managed.96 well for wildlife Over the last twelve months, we have identified assess local interest and demand for high quality land that could extend our existing suite of nature beef from cattle grazed on the Trust’s reserves. The Advised 152 land owners reserves, while continuing to manage established Trust also became a partner in the national Dynamic and farmers sites in accordance with our management plan Dunescape programme, joint funded by the National objectives. Work to improve habitats and ensure Lottery Heritage Fund and the LIFE programme. good access to all our reserves has continued, Success was achieved across a wide portfolio of including pond management, control of invasive FUTURE FUTURE marine and terrestrial conservation projects, ranging species and footpath maintenance. In addition, from working with farmers to vaccinate badgers in we trialled the Wilder Beef meat box scheme, to mid-Cornwall to supporting and training volunteers involved with the Marine Strandings Network. The Penwith Landscape Partnership, which operates while simultaneously protecting and enhancing 7,544 in the west of Cornwall, made great progress and biodiversity in three catchments: the Drift near completed a full re-profiling exercise in conjunction people Penzance, Falmouth reservoirs and the Cober. with the programme’s partners, funders and Visitors to our Open Gardens raise came to our Support was also given to fishermen via workshops stakeholders. for local businesses, to promote the use of locally 435 Thanks to funding from South West Water, we’ve sustainable seafood. The Trust, as a delivery partner local walks been able to provide a range of farmers and land £17,723.96 on the Tevi programme, also advised businesses and talks managers with advice and infrastructure grants across Cornwall on the best ways to improve their to improve stream and reservoir drinking quality, environmental performance. Outreach visits to... local schools, college’s, reached over universities’ 7,544 and youth 2,560 people groups young people came to our 435 local walks and talks Outreach visits to... local schools, college’s, reached over universities’ and youth 2,560 groups young people MORE THAN > 1,400 volunteers gave their time for nature to: T ONI OR OTECT HELP R P M H P E M L L P O T E P MONITOR R R C N H O O E I T T H T T I E PEOPLE PEOPLE P O E O N C L L R R T O E P P M H PLACES PLACES 2,341 including VISITORS to Looe Island 155 SEALS now identified FUTURE FUTURE Advised 152 land owners and farmers Wilder People: more people taking action PEOPLE PEOPLE and connecting with nature OurMORE web pages, social THAN media channels> 1,400 and press well attended by members who enjoyed a range releasesvolunteers continued gave to gaintheir followers time for for nature campaigns to: Visitors to our Open Gardens raise of talks and panel debates on wilder places, wilder such as our 30 Days Wild initiative, helping to raise people and wilder futures. The Trust continued NITO OTEC ELP O R R T H awareness and inspire Ppeople to take action for H to host the Environmental Records Centre for M P E M L L P O T E wildlife. In addition, the Trust supported a rangeP of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, promoting biological MONITOR R R C N H O O E I T T H T T wildlifeI engagement activities, including a successful recording and monitoring as part of the wildlife E P O E O £ .96 N 17,723 C L L R R T O E P P M H wilder festival at Mount Pleasant eco-park; a wild information service. In addition, the Trust invested PLACES businessPLACES networking event at St Austell brewery; and in digital systems to enable greater efficiency for sharing the Cornwall Beaver Project at Woodland online searches and record-keeping. Valley Farm with visitors, amongst many others. The Trust continued to represent our members in support of the national Wilder Future campaign, building support alongside our local partners for the 2,341 including creation of a nature recovery network in Cornwall. FUTURE VISITORSFUTURE Volunteers organised and delivered a programme of to Looe Island Open Garden events across the county, which helped 155 to demonstrate and showcase how all gardens can SEALS be managed for the benefit of wildlife. Our Annual now identified 7,544 Generalpeople Meeting was held at Heartlands and was came to our 435 Advised 152 land owners local walks and farmers and talks Outreach visits to... Visitors to our Open Gardens raise local schools, college’s, reached over universities’ £17,723.96 and youth 2,560 groups young people 7,544 people came to our 435 local walks and talks Outreach visits to... local schools, college’s, reached over universities’ and youth 2,560 groups young people MORE THAN > 1,400 volunteers gave their time for nature to: T ONI OR OTECT HELP R P M H P E M L L P O T E P MONITOR R R C N H O O E I T T H T T I E P O E O N C L L R R T O E P P M H PEOPLE PEOPLE 2,341 including VISITORS to Looe Island 155 SEALS PLACES PLACES now identified Advised 152 land owners and farmers FUTURE FUTURE PEOPLE VisitorsPEOPLE to our Open Gardens raise £17,723.96 PLACES PLACES 7,544 Wilder Future: more decisions that secure the FUTURE peopleFUTURE recovery and growth of wildlife came to our Through435 involvement with a number of local and The Trust’s chief executive is a member of nationallocal consultationwalks exercises – such as the Highly the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Protectedand talks Marine Areas review – our knowledge and Partnership, which has influenced for several MORE THAN > 1,400 experience of conservation in Cornwall has enabled strategic initiatives underway across Cornwall, volunteers gave their time for nature to: us to influence the decisions of others and inform including the refresh of Cornwall’s Local Plan, NITO OTEC HELP O R R T P responses to planning applications made to Cornwall M H Cornwall’s Local Industrial Strategy and the refresh P E M L L P O T E P Council’s planning department. MONITOR R R C N H of the Environmental Growth strategy. O O E I T T H T T I E P O E O N C L L R R T O E P P M H The Trust also hosts a number of forums that help to influence decisions across Cornwall.