Open Farm Sunday Success

 

The Amiss family and ourselves were really pleased with how Open Farm Sunday at Tregullas went. Tregullas was one of over 300 farms throwing open its gates for this national event.

Tregullas Farm is owned by the National Trust, and the event was organised jointly by us and the new tenants, Rona and Nevil Amiss. It was a fantastic afternoon and the event was really well attended with a mix of local families and visitors making the most of the sunshine to join us on the farm. It was encouraging to see so many people taking an interest in the countryside and where their food comes from, and how coastal farming can be great for wildlife like the chough. Everyone liked hand feeding the young goats, and families couldn’t wait to climb aboard the huge new tractor! The sheep shearing demonstration gathered a crowd, and our education team had all sorts of fun on offer, including making mini sheep with wool from the farm. The mini farmers market was popular, with local cakes, flowers, crafts and eggs on sale. Welcome refreshments and a BBQ were also on offer in aid of Landewednack School and Landewednack Guides (senior section). 

 

 

Tregullas is one of the most important farms for wildlife in Cornwall, with many rare plants on the cliffs, as well as breeding chough, Open Farm Sunday gave people the opportunity to find out more with displays and guided walks. Nevil led three farm walks, touring the barley and vegetable crops, and meeting the sheep, goats and cattle. Rona and Nevil have only been farming at Tregullas since September, and it’s been a busy year for them so far. They are very passionate about producing high quality food in a way that is wildlife friendly, and said they enjoyed having the opportunity to share what they are doing with so many interested visitors at Open Farm Sunday.
 
We’d all like to thank everyone locally who volunteered their time and energy into making this day such a success.

Entries for the kids photography competition are welcomed, with prizes kindly donated by Cornwall Farmers and Mole Valley Farmers. Please send your entires to sales@tregullasfarm.co.uk by 5pm Friday 20th June.

- Rachel

Chough chicks fledge

On Saturday 7th June at 3.50pm the team of National Trust and RSPB volunteers, who have spent hundreds of hours watching the choughs this season, were delighted by the appearance of 3 healthy chicks from the nest cave. 

Photo: Terry Thirlaway

To see the new Lizard Point pair successfully raise a family this year is absolutely fantastic. All the hours of monitoring, nest protection and awareness raising has paid off for the new pair at Lizard Point. The newly fledged chicks took a few tentative steps or 'hops' out of the cave on the 7th, and just 8 days later  they are now off on the wing, spending most of the day feeding with their parents along the cliffs west of Lizard Point.

Photo: Terry Thirlaway

Photo: Terry Thirlaway

The chicks can stay with their parents for up to 8 weeks and will use this time getting to know the surrounding area. Although their favoured places to feed are along the cliffs between Lizard and Kynance, occasionally you will see them flying as far as Mullion or Cadgwith for feeding trips.  Now is the best time to see the choughs and their young here on the Lizard. Come and visit our Wildlife Watchpoint at Lizard Point where our volunteers will give you up to date information on the choughs and other wildlife in the area. We are open 10 am - 4 pm daily.

If you are around this weekend, we are leading a guided walk to see the new  family of Cornish choughs. Meet us this Sunday at 10am at the National Trust Car Park at Kynance for a guided walk to see wild Cornish Choughs. On route you will be introduced to the choughs and some of the other fantastic wildlife that surrounds Kynance Cove. Our Rangers will be on hand to tell you more about the history of choughs in Cornwall and talk you through the growing conservation effort supporting the chough's natural recolonisation. The walk will last approximately 2hrs. Please wear strong walking boots and suitable outdoor clothing. Dogs welcome but must be on leads. There is a charge of £2.50 per person (additional car parking charges apply to non members). For more information call 01326 291174 or email catherine.lee@nationaltrust.org.uk

As the young family head out to the cliffs to find food can we ask a favour from you? 

Please ensure you do not unnecessarily disturb the choughs. They are quite sociable birds so if you sit quietly often they will come quite close and you'll get super views, but if you try and get too close to them you may frighten them off. If you have a dog can you please ensure he / she is under control around the new family. Many thanks in advance, and good luck spotting the choughs. 

If you see the choughs please let us know at the wildlife watchpoint, you can also send in your sightings to the RSPB: cornishchoughs@rspb.org.uk 

- Cat